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portrait of Jonathan Bailey Holland

May 04, 2022

Personal Mention

Jonathan Bailey Holland has been appointed as the Jack G. Buncher Chair and head of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music beginning Aug. 1. Most recently, Holland served as chair of composition, contemporary music and core studies at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, a position he has held since 2016 in addition to serving as professor of composition. After earning his bachelor’s degree in composition from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Holland earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University. His educational, academic and professional experience spans public and private institutions; world-class conservatory and university training; and urban music college and conservatory instruction — all of which have helped to shape his vision of the necessary elements to nurture artistic acumen and proficiency. Learn more about Holland

portrait of Aaron LauthFollowing a nationwide search, Aaron Lauth has been named CMU’s new Chief of Police, effective May 23. Lauth joins CMU from the Mt. Lebanon Police Department, where he served for the past 23 years. During his tenure, he took on increasing leadership roles in Mt. Lebanon’s Crime Prevention Unit, Patrol Division and Support Services Division, before ultimately becoming its Chief of Police in 2015. In those roles, he focused on public communication and community outreach initiatives, such as deploying crisis resources with officers when responding to behavioral- and mental-health-related calls. He also helped the department develop an officer wellness program and enhance its diversity and inclusion efforts. “Everyone desires to be heard, respected and treated fairly. I am optimistic that a new era of public safety can be achieved that focuses on communication, compassion and a balanced approach to problem solving,” he said. Prior to Mt. Lebanon, Lauth served with the police department in Ocean City, Maryland. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Mercyhurst University and a master of science degree in strategic leadership from Mountain State University.

portrait of Jeremy OlisarContinuing a tradition of alumni leadership, Jeremy Olisar has returned to his alma mater to direct the Kiltie Band, which entertains fans with music and traditions that are more than a century old on the field during football season and on the stage during the off-season. The Kiltie Band is a student group composed largely of non-music majors. Hailing from every school and college on campus, Kiltie Band members join the low-pressure group to connect with like-minded friends and play music for fun. Olisar is an inspired choice to lead the band that he participated in as an undergraduate while he was majoring in clarinet and minoring in music education and conducting. He succeeds another College of Fine Arts alumnus, Paul Gerlach, who directed the band for nearly four decades before retiring in 2021. Olisar also teaches music education classes in the School of Music to prepare future music teachers. “One of the things that makes the group exciting is that the traditions and the atmosphere are always evolving. The Kiltie Band is definitely an organization like no other. We have students coming from a wide variety of backgrounds, both in and outside of music.” Read more