KINGSVILLE (May 5, 2022) — Dr. Greg Sanders, Regents Professor of Music and coordinator of theory/composition studies at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, has been selected by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi — the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society — as the 2022-2024 Phi Kappa Phi Artist. Sanders received the award for his career accomplishments as a professor, musician and composer and his scholarly achievements.
Sanders' career as an artist and scholar spans decades and includes performances around the world in addition to his extensive academic work at Texas A&M-Kingsville. He earned a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of North Texas and degrees from North Texas State University and Arkansas State University.
Sanders' music has been called "powerful" by the New York Times and is in demand both in this country and abroad. His music has been featured on National Public Radio, CBS' Osgood File and is performed on almost every continent and in all 50 states. In 2005, his composition Elegy: Jesus Wept was selected for inclusion in Thomas Dvorak’s Best Music for Young Bands.
His music has been performed by national and international groups, including the Indianapolis Symphony, Samara National Symphony (Russia), Boston Metropolitan Wind Symphony, Drum Corps International, the Royal Danish Marine Band, and over 1,100 universities and secondary school music ensembles. His music is published by Keiser Southern Music, LarAsh Music, and TRN Music, and he is a member of Broadcast Music Incorporated.
In 2016, Sanders joined Phi Kappa Phi as a charter member of Chapter 332 at A&M-Kingsville and later served as the chapter president.
"I have tried to create a distinct and diverse personal musical language that draws from many different musical styles and composition disciplines in my 50-plus years of being a composer," said Sanders. "I have always found it immensely satisfying that my music is of interest to a broad spectrum of listeners of varying ages and musical backgrounds. To receive this honor from an organization that is such a diverse and inclusive organization as Phi Kappa Phi is undoubtedly a high point of my career and one that I will treasure."
First presented in 1983, the Phi Kappa Phi Artist Award recognizes the achievements of those who, in addition to their outstanding scholarship, have displayed talents in the broad realm of the arts — creative, graphic, performing, visual and fine arts. The recognition is awarded once every biennium.
To learn more about the Phi Kappa Phi Artist Award, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Scholar-Artist.
About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The society has chapters on more than 325 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors.
Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society's mission is to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engage the community of scholars in service to others. For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.
