UNT takes No. 2 spot for rockin’ alumni

From a UNT News Service press release

Spinner.com, an AOL music web site, has ranked UNT No. 2 on its list of College Rankings of Rock: Top 20 Universities Rated for Their Musical Alumni.

UNT was ranked ahead of several other universities across the U.S., Canada and England, including Cornell (No. 20), Harvard (No. 15) and Columbia (No. 12).

The Spinner.com list cited a few of UNT's musically famous former students — The Eagles' Don Henley, crooners Roy Orbison and Pat Boone, singer Norah Jones, rocker Meat Loaf, saxophonist Lou Marini of the Blues Brothers band, Sister Hazel drummer Mark Trojanowski and Brave Combo.

This latest recognition is part of UNT's long list of accolades for its musical excellence. Several alumni, faculty members and students have clinched Grammy nominations or awards — including six Grammy nominations for UNT One O'Clock Lab Band albums in the last 35 years. In 2005, the UNT College of Music landed a spot as one of the nation's best music programs in Schools that Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide.

About the UNT College of Music

The UNT College of Music has more than 1,600 music majors from all over the world who are pursuing a wide variety of specializations, including classical music performance, jazz studies, music education, composition, musicology, theory and ethnomusicology. The college provides a rich musical environment with 100 full-time faculty members, 200 adjuncts and graduate assistants, a vast music library, and more than 40 student ensembles. The highly comprehensive programs enroll the largest number of music majors of any university in the country.

Ellen Rossetti with UNT News Service can be reached at ellen.rossetti@unt.edu.

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• President's Note
• Murphy Center luncheon to feature sports writer Frank Deford
• Moving Forward: More leading researchers join faculty
• UNT generating clean energy, raising water issue awareness
• Grant bolsters Student Support Services program
• Faculty Focus: Feifei Pan
• Traditions: Fouts Field Finale honoring stadium’s last season
• Featured Link: Learn how alumni are driving the economy in The North Texan
• UNT Alumni Association