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���� alumni Thomas Knific (BM’82) and Katie Wyatt (MM ’05, Konopka) made Musical America Worldwide's list of top 30 Professionals of the Year. This year, the publication asked for nominations for “top innovators of the field; people who have recently generated new ideas, launched or notably advanced a business, programmed a new series, or all of the above.”

Knific currently serves as a professor of double bass and the head of jazz studies at the College of Fine Arts, Western Michigan University. Knific is also the founder and director of the school’s Western Jazz Quartet, which is known for putting together diverse groups of musicians.

Wyatt serves as Executive Director of both Kidznotes and El Sistema USA. Both programs focus on classical music training for young children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Kidznotes serves 400 Pre-K through 12 students from low-income areas of Durham and Raleigh.

“Our queries generated numerous responses, and it wasn’t easy winnowing it down to a mere 30,” says Musical America Worldwide. “Here they are; wish them a well-deserved, hearty congratulations!”

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