Department of Music alumni continue to make meaningful contributions across a wide range of professions and disciplines. From careers in music performance, education, scholarship, and arts leadership to roles in healthcare, business, technology, law, and public service, our graduates demonstrate the versatility and value of a music education.
Explore the accomplishments of our alumni and discover how their experiences at Case Western Reserve University have shaped successful and impactful careers around the world.
Learn about the diverse professional journeys of CWRU music alumni and the many ways they apply their musical training in their careers, communities, and beyond.
Top Graduate Programs and Conservatories
Our graduates have pursued advanced degrees at leading institutions, continuing their studies in music, education, and related disciplines.
Careers in Music Education, Performance, Arts Administration, and More
Alumni have built successful careers as educators, performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and arts leaders, making a lasting impact on the music world.
Success Across Diverse Fields
Many alumni leverage the skills gained through their music education in other professions, thriving in fields such as medicine, law, technology, business, and public service.
Discover how CWRU music alumni are combining music with fields such as medicine, engineering, technology, psychology, business, and the humanities to advance research, creativity, and innovation.
Music Cognition & Neuroscience
Exploring the intersection of music, psychology, and brain science to understand the impact of music on human cognition and development.
Engineering & Acoustics
Applying music to hearing technology, instrument design, sound engineering, and acoustics––blending creativity with technical expertise.
Music Therapy
Using music in clinical, educational, and mental health settings to support well-being, foster connection, and enhance therapeutic practices.
Arts Administration & Cultural Policy
Leading arts organizations, advocating for the arts, and shaping cultural policy at local, national, and global levels.
CWRU music graduates are shaping the future of their fields, demonstrating how music can enrich lives, drive innovation, and inspire meaningful change.
Emma Bentley
Band Director (Grades 3–12), Manlius Pebble Hill School (Syracuse, NY)
Education
BS in Music Education, 2025
Case Western Reserve University, College of Arts and Sciences (Cleveland, Ohio)
Lilyanne (Dorilas) Leccima
Violinist and Composer
Degrees
BA in Music and BA in Cognitive Science, 2024
Case Western Reserve University, College of Arts and Sciences (Cleveland, Ohio)
Notable Achievement
In 2024, Lilyanne made history as the first CWRU Concerto Competition winner to compose and premiere her own work.
Her Violin Concerto No. 1, II. Golden Hour debuted on February 28, 2024, at the Maltz Performing Arts Center, showcasing her talents as both a composer and performer.
Thomas Lipker, J.D.
Associate, Frantz Ward LLP
Education
Doctor of Law (JD), 2025
Case Western Reserve University, School of Law (Cleveland, Ohio)
BA in Music, 2022
Case Western Reserve University, College of Arts and Sciences (Cleveland, Ohio)
BA in Economics, 2022
Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management (Cleveland, Ohio)
graduated magna cum laude
Leadership & Honors
- President, Graduate Student Council (2024–2025)
- Black Law Students Association Mock Trial Team
- Backus Fellow
- CALI Award in Advanced Legal Research (2024)
- Louis K. Levy Prize]
- Marvin J. Barloon Award
- Arthur H. Benade Prize
- Vice President of Alumni Communications, CWRU Wolstein Society (2022–2023)
Nick Taylor
Manager of Orchestra Personnel, Colorado Symphony (Denver, Colorado)
Education
BA in Music, 2025
Case Western Reserve University, College of Arts and Sciences (Cleveland, Ohio)
BS in Business Management, 2025
Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management (Cleveland, Ohio)
Devin Reddy
Vascular and Interventional Radiology Resident, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts)
HMS Clinical Fellow, Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts)
Education
BA in Music, 2019
Case Western Reserve University, College of Arts and Sciences (Cleveland, Ohio)
BA in Biochemistry, 2019
Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine (Cleveland, Ohio)
graduated magna cum laude
- Thesis: Novel Cyto-Protective Compounds Rescue Cells from Bax-Induced Death with a Metabolism Shift
MM in Horn Performance, 2023
Royal College of Music (London, United Kingdom)
- Thesis: Orofacial Injuries in Wind and Brass Musicians
MD, 2025
The University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston, Texas)
Al Rodriguez
Director of Orchestras, Mount Vernon High School (Alexandria, Virginia)
Music Director, Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (Alexandria, Virginia)
Education
BS in Music Education, 2014
Case Western Reserve University, College of Arts and Sciences (Cleveland, Ohio)
MM in Music Education, 2021
Ithaca College (Ithaca, New York)
Recognition
- Two time "Orchestra Director of the Year" winner from the Fairfax Orchestra Directors Association
- Grammy Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist (2024)
- Yamaha Corporation Honoree (2026)
Vincenzo G. Volpe
Fife Specialist, Staff Sergeant
The United Stated Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp (Washington, D.C.)
Education
DMA in Music Performance, 2023
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory in Music (Cincinnati, Ohio)
- Research Focus: History and celebration of the LBGTQIA+ community in classical music.
MM in Music Performance, 2019
University of Toronto (Toronto, Canada)
BA in Music Performance, 2017
Case Western Reserve University, College of Arts and Sciences (Cleveland, Ohio)
Paul Abdullah
2021, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Learning Experience Designer, Sun Communities & Sun Outdoors, Gross pointe, Michigan, 2022-present
Instructional Designer | E-learning Developer, CWRU, 2021-2022
Lecturer, Department of Music, Case Western Reserve University, 2021
Michael Bane
2016, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Lecturer, San Diego State University, 2021-2022
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, 2016-2022
Daniel Batchelder
2018, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Visiting Assistant Professor of Musicology, University of Cincinnati (CCM), 2019-2020
Sophie Benn (see full profile)
2021, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Assistant Professor of Music, Jordan College of the Arts, Butler University, 2022-present
Assistant Professor of Music History and Literature, Western Kentucky University, 2021-2022
Daniel Boomhower (see full profile)
2017, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Director of the Research Library, Dumbarton Oaks, 2017-present
Leah Branstetter (see full profile)
2019, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
womeninrockproject.org
Copyright Specialist, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, 2024-present
Director of Digital Content, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 2021-2024
Digital Education Manager, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, OH, 2018-2020
Devin Burke (see full profile)
2016, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Assistant Professor, School of Music, University of Louisville, 2017-present
David Dolata (see full profile)
1998, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Professor of Musicology, Area Coordinator of Music History, Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts, Florida International University
Kate Doyle (see full profile)
2018, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Assistant Professor of Music, Arts, Culture & Media, School of Arts & Sciences-Newark, Rutgers University, 2019-present
Adam Knight Gilbert (see full profile)
2003, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Professor and Director of Early Music, Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California, 2022-present
Rotem Gilbert (see full profile)
2005, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Vice Dean, Research and Scholarly Studies Division; Professor of Practice, Early Music & Musicology, Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California, 2022-present
Peter Graff (see full profile)
2018, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Visiting Assistant Professor, Denison University, 2019-present
Armin Karim
2014, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Director of Classic Worship, Bay Presbyterian Church (Bay Village, Ohio), 2019-present
Brian MacGilvray
2017, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Lecturer, Department of Music, Case Western Reserve University and Music Literature Faculty, Joint Music Program, Cleveland Institute of Music, 2016-present
Rachel McNellis
2019, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Archives Processing Technician, Library of Congress, Music Division, 2019-present
Kate Rogers
2019, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Instructor of Music History and Viola, Pacific University, 2021-present
John Romey (see full profile)
2018, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Assistant Professor in Musicology, Purdue University/Fort Wayne, 2019-present
Stephanie Ruozzo
2020, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Education and Engagement Associate, Cleveland Opera Theater, 2020-present
Erin Smith
2016, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Research Services Librarian, Kelvin Smith Library, Case Western Reserve University, 2019-present
Mandy Smith
2020, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Director of Education, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 2019-present
Nicholas Stevens (see full profile)
2017, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Musicologist (Production Associate) at ArkivMusic/Naxos of America, Inc.
Kelly St. Pierre (see full profile)
2012, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Associate Professor of Musicology, Wichita State University, 2015-present
Barbara Swanson
2013, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Graduate Studies and Research, Fountain School of the Performing Arts, Dalhousie University, 2019-present
Alanna (Ropchock) Tierno (see full profile)
2015, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
International Programs Coordinator and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music History, Shenandoah University, 2022-present
Jürgen Thym (see full profile)
1973, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Professor Emeritus, Eastman School of Music (Affiliate Faculty: Organ, Sacred Music, & Historical Keyboards), 1973-present
Brian Wright (see full profile)
2018, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Musicology, Case Western Reserve University
Assistant Professor of Music History, College of Music, University of North Texas, 2019-present
The Department of Music recognizes outstanding achievement through a variety of awards and honors presented to undergraduate and graduate students. These awards celebrate excellence in performance, scholarship, research, leadership, teaching, and interdisciplinary study, reflecting the diverse accomplishments of our students and alumni.
Explore the awards and distinctions that have helped shape the success of generations of Department of Music graduates.
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