Founder’s Medal

Catherine Brenmark has been named the recipient of the 2026 Founder’s Medal, the highest student honor at Blair School of Music. A senior bassoon performance major, Brenmark is from Plainfield, Illinois, and will be recognized at the 2026 Vanderbilt University Commencement Ceremony, Friday, May 8. Catherine “Catie” Brenmark is honored… Read More

Charles Schmitt with Dean Melissa Rose Charles Thomas Schmitt, from Maitland, Florida, is this year’s Founder’s Medalist for Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music. Schmitt majored in trumpet performance with a concentration in jazz studies. As a member of several Blair jazz ensembles, he has performed at some of Nashville’s… Read More

Dean Mark Wait, Founder's Medalist Nora Pertz and Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos at the May 8 graduation ceremony. At 14, Nora Pertz began pestering her mother to let her study abroad. Her high school piano teacher found a program in Vienna in which Pertz studied piano… Read More