Article By: Denise Ray
Scholarships have provided life-changing opportunities for UNG students, including performing with and learning from faculty who have performed at Carnegie Hall.
Tyler Howell is a senior at the University of North Georgia (UNG) pursuing a degree in music performance for saxophone. He hails from Cumming, Georgia.
Howell plans to become a music therapist, and his next step would be to pursue a graduate degree in music therapy equivalency, which then leads to a master’s in music therapy.
There are different types of music therapists, but the idea is to use music as a therapeutic tool to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of an individual, Howell explained.
“Some music therapists help with communication from infants and their mothers to kind of build communication between the two before the infant is able to speak. Others work with Alzheimer’s patients just trying to upkeep and maybe revive memories. And then there are some that deal with motor movements, like stroke patients utilize percussion to kind of rebuild motor functioning,” Howell said.
Last year Howell did a prospectus thesis on how music therapy could eventually rebuild parts of the brain that deal with empathy, thus helping improve the standard of living for patients dealing with narcissistic personality disorder. He presented in the classroom and shared that “it was cool because psychology professors attended.”
Howell credits the generosity of donors with being able to achieve his career goal. As a recipient of scholarships, he’s been able to focus more on academics than finances.
“Having these scholarships has really enabled me to dedicate my time to performance practice and studying my craft rather than stressing about certain financial needs,” he said. “It has helped me cultivate a strong artistic standard for myself and really encourages my academic productivity, which is really helpful.”
At one point Howell considered transferring but chose to stay because UNG’s faculty is “world-renowned, engaging and provide opportunities” including performing with pianist Mengyao Sun, who performed at Carnegie Hall with violinist Yeasol Kang and cellist Dr. Philip Snyder as The Crown Mountain Trio.
“It’s cool because I’ve performed on stage a couple of times with her,” Howell said. “Honestly, she’s incredible.”
Howell also highlighted faculty member Dr. Adam Frey, who he credits with creating opportunities for the euphonium “that didn’t exist before.”
“I’m taking an entrepreneurship class with him where we’re talking about how to survive in the professional musician world in terms of promoting ourselves, starting our own businesses and how to market our craft,” Howell said. “It’s really cool getting to learn from people who have done this and have real-world experience and are the most respected people in their fields. It’s been an incredible experience to study with them.”
Jennifer Mandzyuk is pursuing a degree in music education. Now in her junior year, Mandzyuk acknowledges that a scholarship has done more than supporting her financially.
“The scholarship was actually a very big kind of acknowledgement from my work,” she said. “Dr. Joanna Kim encouraged me and said, ‘You deserve this.’ It was more than just money. Receiving the scholarship was just so encouraging. It felt like recognition of everything I have been doing for three years. It was encouraging knowing that they have my back.”
Mandzyuk, who is from Cumming, Georgia, will be classically trained in opera upon graduation and looks forward to performing on stage.
© 2024 The University System of Georgia and the University of North Georgia.
UNG follows the section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.0 for web accessibility. If you require this content in another format, please send an email to the ADA Coordinator.
Use of military-themed imagery does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense.
At the University of North Georgia, we deeply value and uphold the cherished right of every American to freely express themselves. It is a hallmark of our history, our tradition, and permeates our culture. As a distinguished Senior Military College, with a legacy spanning over 150 years, we take great pride in our role of cultivating leaders who tirelessly defend these fundamental freedoms for all citizens. The legacy of our graduates in this regard is second to none.
As campus leaders, our primary responsibility is to cultivate an academic environment that ensures this exchange of ideas and the safety of our community. Across all five campuses, we are committed to fostering a welcoming atmosphere where individuals feel empowered to freely express themselves and engage in exploration and learning. However, it is essential that these rights are exercised in a manner that upholds our academic mission, preserves the safety of all, and is in accordance with our institutional policies, without unlawful behavior. This means breaking the law, harassment, intimidation, trespassing, violence, and other criminal acts will not be tolerated at the University of North Georgia.
Together, let’s uphold the principles of respect, understanding, and civility as we equip our students to walk toward their purpose.
Bold Forward!
