Denzel Washington
Composer Denzel Washington(M.M in Music Composition from University of Northern Iowa) (B.A in Music from Mercer University) is a member of ASCAP and SCI (Society of Composers Inc). He studied under Dr. Jonathan Schwabe (UNI) and Dr. Christopher Schmitz (Mercer). He has participated in masterclasses with Dr. Zae Munn, Dr. Paul Salerni, and Dr. PQ Phan. His musical inspiration stems from a variety of composers, such as Charles Ives, Edward Elgar, and Igor Stravinsky. In the Spring of 2019, Washington placed first in the 1st UNI Composition Contest and had his piece, American Pastorale premiered by the Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra.Washington also placed first and received $1000 in the Atlanta Mu Phi Epsilon Alumni Chapter Scholarship Competition.In the fall of 2015.
Bethany Washington
Bethany Washington is working towards her Masters in Violin Performance at the University of Northern Iowa in the studio of Dr. Ross Winter. She received her Bachelor of Music in Violin performance from the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University, where she also earned a composition certificate. Her past teachers include Amy Schwartz-Moretti, Robert McDuffie, David Kim, David Halen, and Samantha George. Bethany performed on the album Mike Mills: Concerto for Violin, Rock Band & Orchestra with the MSC Ensemble, released in October 2016. She has also soloed with the Milwaukee, Madison, and Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestras as a competition finalist. Bethany looks forward to growing her teaching and performing career and becoming more involved in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area.