Catch up on the latest academic, research, and outreach news from the School of Music at Washington State University. Click on a headline to read an individual story or follow the links at the bottom to see all of our news and information.
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Generosity that comes from a love of teaching music
Puyallup’s very own Gary ’67 (MME ’71) and Merilyn “Mimi” ’69 (MM ’76) Jacobson have devoted their lives to teaching music and creating a world of learning, a world their WSU professors created for them when they were students.
Jacqueline Wilson named 2026 Native Performing Arts Fellow
Jacqueline Wilson (Yakama), an assistant professor of music at Washington State University, has been named a 2026 Native Performing Arts Fellow by First Peoples Fund, joining a national cohort of 15 Native artists selected for a yearlong program supporting creative growth in music, dance, theater, and live performance.
Honors College Bornander Chair unlocks the healing power of music
When Washington State University music professor Melissa Parkhurst learned that renowned North Indian classical music and dance troupe Anantya was touring Seattle last fall, she used funding from her 2025-26 Bornander Honors Distinguished Chair appointment to help bring the group to Pullman for a concert in October.
Wierenga named CAS 2025 Fall Commencement Gonfalon Bearer
Grace Wierenga, an Honors College student majoring in music education, has been selected as the 2025 Fall Commencement Gonfalon Bearer for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Lifelong bonds built in the Cougar Marching Band
By Levi McGarry, College of Arts and Sciences On crisp autumn Saturdays, as the roar of the crowd echoes across Gesa Field, another sound rises above the din — the bold brass and rhythmic percussion of the Cougar Marching Band. For more than a century, this ensemble has been the pulse of Washington State University’s game-day […]
WSU conductor bridges cultures at Japan’s premier music conservatory
A short summer residency at Japan’s premier music conservatory yielded a big result for Dahn Pham, conductor of the Washington State University Symphony Orchestra and director of Bands and Conducting.