2026 Department of Music Award Recipients

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Department of Music Awards:

• Carol and Peter Polk Music Award (Instrumental or Vocal Performance)
  Isabella McCormick, harp
• The Blew-Culley-LaFollette Prize (Piano Performance)
  Aliya Alsafa
• Daniel V. Robinson Prize (Instrumental Performance)
  Zachary Lin, alto saxophone
• Rita Taylor Prize (Vocal Performance)
  Mack Smith, baritone
• Patrick Butler Prize (Piano Performance)
  Ellen Li
• Marie Gibson Prize (Vocal Performance)
  Emma Leibowitz, soprano
  Flora Yuan, soprano
• Musical Theater Artistry Award
  Rachelle Weiss, mezzo-soprano
  Henry Cargill, baritone
• Costanza Prize for Cello Performance
  Eujeong Choi
• Friends of Music Graduate Prize in Music (Vocal or Instrumental Performance)
  Baba Ogunlade, baritone
• Glen & Barbara Smerage Violin Performance Prize
  Tristan Zhu
• Glen & Barbara Smerage Chamber Music Performance Prize
  Eric Wang, guitar
  Sarah Kendell, violin
  Theresa Jiao, violin
  Luke D'Silva, viola
  Cooper Kaligis, cello
• Geoff Nuttall Friends of Music Chamber Music Award
  Hannah Lin, piano
  Daniel Chang, piano
• Friends of Music Undergraduate Composition Award
  Zachary Guo

Congratulations to all our prize winners! Don't miss the Department of Music Awards Concert on Friday, April 24, at 3:00 PM in Campbell Recital Hall.