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Every year, the faculty at the College of Music call out the best of the best, rewarding one student from each undergraduate class with the Outstanding Student award. Meet the College of Music Outstanding Students of 2018!

Claire Gunsbury
Freshmen, flute performance

Coming to CU as an out-of-state student can be daunting, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped Claire Gunsbury from taking advantage of all the College of Music has to offer and winning the Outstanding Student award as a freshmen.

The first-year flute performance major from Minnesota has had a rewarding year at CU, collaborating with students and faculty outside of the flute studio. 鈥淚鈥檝e worked with a piano major for her collaborative piano credit and got to play in her recital,鈥� Gunsbury says.听鈥淚 also performed recently with Max Mondzac in his junior guitar recital, which was a great experience.鈥�

When she first heard that she had won the award, Gunsbury was ecstatic. 鈥淚 was really听happy and so honored! A lot of other freshmen are amazing musicians.鈥�

This summer, Gunsbury plans to help out at the annual Panoramic Flutist program. She鈥檒l also travel to Orlando for the National Flute Association Convention while taking lessons in the Twin Cities and taking part in a music festival in her hometown of Brainerd, Minnesota.

After her summer excursions, Gunsbury has an exciting year ahead of her.

鈥淢ax and I are going to be playing at [CU at] Carnegie Hall, so I鈥檓 super excited about that,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working on figuring out the repertoire now.鈥�

Anoushka Divekar
Sophomore, clarinet performance and music education

When the sophomore clarinet and instrumental music education major got an email last year regarding her winning the Outstanding Student award as a freshman, she was surprised.

鈥淟ast year I was so surprised to receive an email from the dean.听I thought I was in trouble, or that it had gone to the wrong person!听This year it was nice,鈥� Divekar says. 鈥淚t really made my day.鈥�

The Iowa native has won the College of Music Outstanding Student award two years in a row now, proving her hard work and determination toward her studies.

The past two years, Divekar has taken advantage of the many performances on campus, both in the audience and on stage. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been rewarding to watch other performers, as well as performing myself.鈥�

When asked about her summer plans, Divekar chuckled.

鈥淢y mother signed me up for a 10K, but then I鈥檒l be participating in the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina,鈥� says Divekar.

Divekar is already looking forward to next school year and the challenges ahead. 鈥淚 want to get my butt kicked every day and get better at my instrument,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to become a better educator, and to be pushed.鈥�

Sophia Zervas
Junior, piano performance and vocal performance

Juggling two majors within the College of Music is no walk in the park, but that doesn鈥檛 faze junior Sophia Zervas. Indeed, this winner of the Presser Scholarship is looking forward to a busy summer.

鈥淚鈥檒l first be attending SongFest at the Colburn School in Los Angeles for a three-week intensive vocal program, and then in July I鈥檒l be going to Kiefersfelden, Germany, for a collaborative piano and opera program.鈥�

This isn鈥檛 the Denver native's first time abroad, as she had the opportunity to travel with the College of Music鈥檚 six-week program in Florence, Italy, two years ago.

Zervas performed her junior piano recital this spring, and is听preparing for her junior vocal recital this fall. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to selecting new music for my piano program, as well as new chamber projects,鈥� she says.

Winning an Outstanding Student award is rewarding for Zervas鈥攁 welcome acknowledgement of her achievements as a student and performer. 鈥淩eceiving the email really made my Monday. It was a week before my recital, too, so it was a nice affirmation.鈥�

She hopes to continue on a path of growth next year. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for听my professors and the incredible opportunities they have given me. By playing in master classes, performing in three operas, and participating in the Anderson Competition, I鈥檝e been able to see my growth as a performer,鈥� says Zervas.听"I want to thank everyone who has helped me grow as a musician and a person these last three years鈥攎y professors, family and peers. I would simply not be here without them."

David Leech
Senior, clarinet performance

With graduation only a short time from now, senior clarinet performance major David Leech has been reflecting on his past four years at CU.

鈥淥ne of my fondest memories will always be the first day of classes,鈥� Leech says. 鈥淓verything seems possible in those first stressful days of class, and it鈥檚 a very exciting time.鈥�

Leech has been able to make the most of his four years, highlighting how easy it鈥檚 been to diversify his skills-set. From adding a business minor to exploring recordings and various classes, Leech is grateful for all the resources available to him.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to miss being here very much, including the limitless performance opportunities over the past four years.鈥�

Leech was honored to receive the Outstanding Student award, but not without being humbled in the process. 鈥淲hen I found out I was selected, I was kind of confused. Without my friends, family and mentors here, I鈥檇 be a disaster!鈥� he says. 鈥淪o it鈥檚 really a credit to my outstanding support system, without whom I鈥檇 be the furthest thing from outstanding.鈥�

As of now, Leech鈥檚 post-grad plans are to move back to the Loveland area to do freelance work and sub with local orchestras. 鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to the challenge of not being in school and pushing myself as a musician,鈥� he says.

Along with the award, Leech will have the honor of speaking at the College of Music鈥檚 commencement ceremony. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to touch on things the school would want the graduates to hear, what the graduates would want to hear, and things I want to say to them after sharing the past four years with them,鈥� he says. 鈥淣othing is going to get easier after this, more likely than not, but the last few years have been incredibly special.鈥�