Oxford – Miami University music students continue to distinguish themselves as the the semester wears on. A few of the latest:

Sean O’Neill, senior music education major, has been named one of sixteen campus-wide winners of the President’s Distinguished Service Award.

Nominated by Dr. Ricardo F. Averbach, Mrs. Rosalyn Benson, Dr. Kay L. Edwards, Dr. Jeremy Jones, and Dr. Brenda S. Mitchell, O’Neill is receiving the President’s Distinguished Service Award for “his exemplary leadership in the Ohio Collegiate Music Education Association and his contributions to Global Rhythms in Oxford and in India,” according the printed program for the April 15th presentation ceremony.  

Mezraq Ramli, a graduate student in the oboe studio at Miami University, has been awarded the AT&T Chancellor’s Fellowship to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Oboe Performance and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Fine Arts at Texas Tech University.

Mezraq will be studying under Texas Tech’s Professor of Oboe, Amy Anderson. At Miami University, Mezraq served as Principal Oboe in the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. He is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Mezraq credits his recent success to Miami University’s Professor of Oboe, Andrea Ridilla, for her generosity in sharing her knowledge and artistry, as well as being integral in his development. At Texas Tech, Ramli will be serving as the Teaching Assistant in the oboe studio and as oboist in the Graduate Woodwind Quintet. Mezraq is an alumnus of Grand Valley State University where he was a student of Dr. Marlen Vavříková.

Caitlyn Lana, first-year student in music education, has been elected to the Ohio Collegiate Music Education Association (OCMEA) State Board as Secretary. She is the third Miamian to be elected to the board since 2009, following the election of Abby Anderson as the organization’s secretary and Sean O’Neill, elected as the editor of TRIAD, OCMEA’s magazine last year.