FSU College of Music professor wins the American Prize in Instrumental Performance 

A Florida State University College of Music faculty member was selected from a competitive pool of applicants from across the United States to receive the American Prize in Instrumental Performance Award in the professional division.

Hana Beloglavec, assistant professor of trombone, won the award, which highlights excellence in performing arts across the country. She shares this honor with flutist Alexa Still from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio.

“Hana Beloglavec’s recognition as co-winner of the American Prize in Instrumental Performance is a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication,” said Greg Jones, associate dean of the College of Music. “This prestigious award not only highlights her individual achievements but also underscores the high caliber of our faculty and the vibrant musical community at FSU.”

The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts is a series of contests in the performing arts. Founded in 2010, the American Prize recognizes and rewards the best performing artists, directors, ensembles and composers in the United States at various levels, including professional, college/university, community and high school.

“I really hope my students see that being a musician isn’t just about having success. There isn’t a point at which someone is ready and can stop practicing. The best musicians are always practicing and always learning.”

— Hana Beloglavec, assistant professor of trombone

Beloglavec joined the FSU College of Music faculty in the fall of 2023 as an assistant professor of trombone. She is the third classical trombone professor in the university’s history. Beloglavec’s career spans roles as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician and educator.

“I really hope my students see that being a musician isn’t just about having success, Beloglavec said. “There isn’t a point at which someone is ready and can stop practicing. The best musicians are always practicing and always learning.”

Beloglavec holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from Northwestern University, a Master of Music from Yale University and a Bachelor of Music from Western Michigan University. Her dedication to her profession and her achievements have earned her recognition as an S.E. Shires Artist.

She currently holds the principal trombonist position with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra (TSO). She performed Mahler’s 3rd Symphony last spring.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to perform with colleagues and students from FSU and the local area who are part of the group,” Beloglavec said. “Playing for my students in the audience has also been a great joy. Working with the TSO has been a wonderful experience, and I’m enjoying getting more involved in the community.”

Her notable performances include performing Dorothy Gates’ Servant of Peace at the 2024 Busan Maru International Music Festival in South Korea and Lars-Erik Larsson Trombone Concertino at the American Trombone Workshop in 2020. She also performed as a guest artist for the International Women’s Brass Conference in 2022 and performed a recital at the most recent conference held in Japan in August 2024.

Reflecting on her childhood, she noted the scarcity of female trombonists with albums.

“I wanted to choose music that I personally connected with because you spend so much time practicing and preparing,” Beloglavec said. “Part of my inspiration for creating the album was to become a role model for younger women trombonists looking for established women with albums out.”

Winners will be featured on the American Prize website, where video and audio excerpts of their work will be displayed. This exposure helps artists gain visibility and advance their careers in the performing arts.

For more information, visit music.fsu.edu.

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