Kathryn Bove

Dr. Barbara Chamberlain Award for Outstanding Excellence in Singing

Kathryn Bove will be graduating in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education: Vocal and a Bachelor of Arts in Education: Subject Matter Teaching. During her time at Rowan University, she was a member of various musical ensembles including Concert Choir, Women’s Choir, Concert Band, and Voces, where she also served as section leader for two semesters. As a vocal student, she studied under Don Marrazzo her freshman year and Colin Levin for her last three years. During her time at Rowan University, she was also a member of various chapters in the Music Department including National Association for Music Educators and served as a leader for American Choral Directors Association in 2018-2019. She also had the opportunity to study her instrument at Opera Viva, a summer opera program in Verona, Italy for three weeks in the summer of 2019. In addition to the Chamberlain Medallion for Excellence in Vocal Performance, Kathryn was also a recipient of the Rowan Scholars Program, Rowan University Performing Arts Scholarship, John J. Schaub Scholarship, and the Class of 1962 Scholarship. Kathryn is excited to begin a career teaching music in addition to continuing her passion of lifelong learning, singing, and performing.

Mariah Cottrell

Dr. Barbara Chamberlain Award for Outstanding Excellence in Performing Arts Education

Mariah Cottrell is a recent graduate from Rowan University who obtained a Bachelor of Music in Music Education: Instrumental and a Bachelor of Arts in Education: Subject Matter Teaching. Within the University, she studied flute with Dr. Adeline Tomasone. In her college career, she was principal flautist of Rowan University’s Orchestra, assistant principal of Rowan University’s Wind Ensemble, and played in Rowan University’s Flute Ensemble. In addition to the Chamberlain Award for Outstanding Excellence in Performing Arts Education, she is a scholar of the Charis M. Wilson Scholarship. Mariah is a member of the Atlantic Pops Community Band, conducted in Cape May’s Summer Community Band, and was a counselor of Rowan University’s Summer Music Camp. Currently, Mariah is a kindergarten and first grade General Music Teacher in Egg Harbor Township. In this position, she is excited to educate her students by enriching their musical knowledge.

Anastasia Culin

Bryna G. Goldhaft Dance Award

Anastasia Culin is Dance major from Washington Township, NJ, and a transfer student from The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts, where she had the opportunity to travel all over the US and Japan performing and teaching singing and dancing. She transferred to Rowan University because the Theatre and Dance Department offered what she was looking for, a department where Theatre and Dance collaborated and would allow for many opportunities to perform and create as an artist. While at Rowan she has had such an amazing time growing not only as a performer and  artist, but as a person too. Within her 2 years at Rowan she has had the wonderful opportunity to work on dance shows, musicals and plays while at Rowan. She looks forward to continuing to create art with those in the department and alumni in future.

Elizabeth Culver

Bryna G. Goldhaft Dance Award

Liz Culver is a performing artist specializing in comedic dance and musical theatre. She is receiving Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Dance and Theatre. Her recent performances include Big Stone in Eurydice, Ivubala in In America, That is to Say No Where, and a featured dance soloist in Groove and Beloved Community. She also wrote, directed, and performed in a musical dance theatre piece entitled Higher Learning for her senior project. She is excited for what lies ahead and hopes that everyone stays healthy.

Aaron Fagerstrom

W. Clarke Pfleeger Award for Musical Excellence & Jacobs Music Steinway Award

Aaron Fagerstrom is receiving a double major in Piano Performance and Music Industry. During his time at Rowan, he studied piano under Professor Veda Zuponcic. Within the university, Aaron has accompanied countless student recitals, juries, and competitions for his vocal and instrumental colleagues. As an active ensemble musician himself, Aaron has enjoyed playing percussion, piano, and auxiliary keyboards for Rowan’s Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and choirs. He has consistently placed in various solo piano competitions and has performed concerti with orchestras in Minnesota (his home state) and New Jersey. While attending Rowan, Aaron received the Presser Foundation Scholarship, was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society, won the annual concerto competition, and received the Jacobs Music Steinway award. In addition to performing, Aaron has a passion for audio and video engineering. The skills he developed in the Music Industry program gave him the opportunity to produce and engineer recordings for faculty, students, and ensembles.

Stephen Kummer

Dr. Barbara Chamberlain Award for Outstanding Excellence in Music Production

Ever since I can remember, I had a love of sound, from the time I started banging on plastic tupperware, to joining elementary and high school bands as a drummer, and even running the soundboard at Cherry Hill West musicals. I took that passion to Rowan as a music industry major, with a focus on audio technology.

At Rowan, I learned a range of new skills, putting them to use as a freelance audio technician in the Philadelphia region. In between, I also started an LLC with a partner while at Rowan, where we produced and prompted live music shows. Not only did Rowan give me lifelong friends, but it provided a range of other opportunities like a financial grant for our company, and sending me to the SXSW music festival in Austin, TX, an experience I will never forget.

Through it all, I also grew academically, making the dean’s list each year and will graduate summa cum laude.  Already, I have a job lined up as an audio engineer and am eager to start my new career. So it’s with both sadness and excitement that I leave Rowan, but I will always look back with the fondest memories of my college years.

Abigail Leyh

Joseph Robinette Excellence in Theatre and Dance Award

Abby Leyh will be graduating with a BA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Design and Technology and a minor in Creative Writing. Abby has stage managed over 15 productions in her four years at Rowan University in theatre, dance, and music. Recent productions include Groove and Urinetown. She recently closed the premiere of her play, Colors in the Dark, which she wrote, directed, and sound designed for Rowan University’s Lab Theatre. Abby has additionally worked in costume and sound design at Rowan and has stage managed with companies such as Bellarine Theatre Company and EgoPo Classic Theater.

Madison Roberts

Phillip Graneto Excellence in Theatre Award

Madison Roberts is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, with concentrations in Acting and Design/Tech. A born and raised southerner, Maddy was excited to find Rowan at the South Eastern Theatre Conference in 2015. While going to school 700 miles away from home was initially daunting, the cherished friendships and education Rowan has given her made the decision invaluable. In her time at Rowan, Maddy has directed, stage managed, production managed, designed for, and performed in over 20 shows. She also served on executive boards of three clubs, including as President of Campus Players. Most recently, she assisted Chris Roche in directing Rowan’s production of Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice. In addition to working with Rowan’s Theatre Department, Maddy has professionally stage managed for companies including South Camden Theatre Company and The Princeton Festival. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Maddy was excited to intern with the Education Department of Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA and return to The Princeton Festival to Assistant Direct and Stage Manage Into the Woods. She would like to thank her friends, professors, Mom, Michael, Shawn, Grandmother, Grandaddy, and her dogs for their support and love over the years.