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Our dynamic and accomplished alumni are making an impact all over the world. They are accomplished musicians, dancers, choreographers, actors, singers, educators, technicians, and arts administrators who have earned awards and acclaim in their respective fields.
Alumni News
Christopher R. Selby '92 Awarded the 2024 Hartt Alumni Award
Hartt alumnus Christopher R. Selby ’92 is the recipient of the 2024 Hartt Alumni Award. Since 1959, this prestigious award has recognized outstanding Hartt alumni who have made significant accomplishments in the performing arts as artists, scholars, educators, managers, and technicians.
Christopher R. Selby is the author of Habits of a Successful Orchestra Director, Music Theory for the Successful String Musician and the lead string author of the Habits of a Successful String Musician method book series published by GIA Publications. He is an active clinician and conductor and has presented sessions at numerous Midwest Clinics, American String Teacher Association (ASTA) National Conferences, and state conferences across America. Selby currently directs the high school orchestras at the School of the Arts in Charleston, SC. His orchestras have performed at the Midwest Clinic and have twice won the top award of Grand Champion at ASTA’s National Orchestra Festival. Selby guest conducts Regional and All-State Orchestras across America.
After earning a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The Hartt School, he earned a master’s and a doctor of musical arts degree in orchestral conducting from the University of South Carolina. He is married to Margaret Selby, herself a string teacher, conductor, and clinician. Their latest project (with Sarah Ball and Scott Rush) is the new beginning string method published by GIA: Habits of a Successful Young String Musician.
Mikaela Papasodero
BFA, Dance Performance, 2019
Mikaela's senior piece, Spectrum, has since been performed at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, and the Versatility Dance Festival. She was also recently asked to perform the work for a show at RIOULT Dance Center, where she was able to present alongside artists such as Jenn Freeman, Maleek Washington, Jon Lehrer, Pascal Rioult, and Hannah Cullen.
Mikaela currently works for two professional dance companies in NYC: Amirov Dance Theater and Rioult Repertory Project. She also enjoys traveling all over the United States to perform and guest teach. Learn more about Mikaela's Hartt experience.
I was extremely close with my class, and still talk to all of them everyday. They’re my family, and they always will be.
Ryan Speedo Green '08, World Renowned Bass BaritoneI firmly believe that my time at The Hartt School laid the musical foundation that I rely on every time I step on stage to perform, and it's because of this remarkable foundation that I am able to stand so tall today.
Nicole Arruda
BA in Performing Arts Management, 2019
After landing an internship at the artist management company, Triple 8 Management, Nicole secured her current full time position with AGD Entertainment in the Zero to Sixty artist development program– a curriculum based day-to-day management program that provides education, mentorship, and support services for developing artists. Learn more about Nicole's Hartt experience.
Lean on a small, tight-knit family like the PAM program and it's professors and maximize every connection it gives you. Trust me, that [program] ended up making me stand out...because it gave me a deeper, more personal, and different look at the industry.
The Hartt Alumni Award
Since 1959, The Hartt School has recognized an outstanding alumnus/alumna with the Hartt Alumni Award.
2023 – Steve Davis '89
2022 – Javier Colon '00
2021 – Gregory J. Banaszak ’88
2020 – Gwyneth Walker M.M. '70, D.M.A. '77
2019 – David Lazaar Katz ’77, AD’84, M’89; Orin Wolf '01
2018 – Shane Shanahan '98
2017 – Martha Summa-Chadwick '83
2016 – Jimmy Greene '97
2015 – Phillip Boykin '95
2014 – Ed Alton '81