To celebrate award-winning performers, the Didzun Honors Recital was hosted in Akin Auditorium on May 1.

“This is just a little representation of the success they’ve been having and I couldn’t be prouder,” Martin Camacho, dean of the college of fine arts, said. “I just could just go on about the performances this department has had.”

The recital featured five musical performances by students and a presentation of awards.

“The Bolin Award is for students with vocal potential and academic achievement,” Lindsay Rittenhouse, vocal performance junior, said.  “I got this same award last year, and I received one the year before for something similar.”

Emory Arnold, vocal music sophomore, was awarded the Madge Davis Chorister Award, but was unable to attend the performance.

“I received this award just for showing vocal excellence throughout the year. It just means I have a lot of promise and that I’ve been working hard this year,” Kara Hicks, Cornelius Reid Award recipient and vocal performance sophomore, said. “I did not know I was getting this award and I’m just really excited.”

After announcing that she is moving to Denton, Jerri Sparks was awarded a personal plaque for her outstanding contribution over the last couple decades.

“It’s an honor to be awarded tonight along with the other women who were recognized for their hard work,” Rittenhouse said. “I feel like I did pretty well, and tonight’s performance went great.”

Betty Wagner was also recognized at the event for the more than 63 years of support of the music department and was awarded a plaque.

“I am extremely proud of these students and the hard work the music department has been doing the last couple of years,” Camacho said. “I make a point to attend [all of the performances]. I think that the last few performances the department has put on has been showing their strong quality.”

The last performance will be held May 4 at the Juanita Harvey Art Gallery for the Opening Reception: Juried Student Show and Senior Exhibition.