The Glenn Korff Distinguished Undergraduate and Graduate Artist/Scholar Awards were awarded as part of the Glenn Korff School of Music Honors Day Convocation in Westbrook Music Building on Thursday, April 27 on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
Intended to recognize and reward excellence in performance and/or scholarship in the Glenn Korff School of Music, the winners of these prestigious awards for 2017-18 are – Undergraduate: Kennedy Rolfes; Graduate: Andrew Janak.
Kennedy Rolfes was raised in Le Mars, Iowa by her parents, Mark and Sandy Rolfes. Kennedy started dancing at her local studio, The Turn Around, when she was three years old. At The Turn Around, Kennedy participated in every style of dance, including tap, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, pointe, and modern. She also danced competitively for four years. Rolfes is currently in her third year as a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she is Pre-Med and working on her dance major. Throughout college, she has attended the American College Dance Association and performed in the Evenings of Dance, the Student Dance Project, and the Orchesis show: UNLeashed. Rolfes will be taking the MCAT this coming summer in hopes of pursuing a career in the medical field in the future!
Andrew Janak is an active young saxophonist/composer/arranger currently based out of Lincoln, NE, formerly out of Chicago, IL. He has also worked with various groups around the Midwest such as the Omaha Big Band, Omaha Symphony, Bob Lark Alumni Big Band, Tom Matta Big Band, Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, UNL Jazz Orchestra and the DePaul Jazz Ensemble. Also an up-and-coming composer, some of Andrew’s compositions have been performed/recorded by groups around the United States including the UNL Jazz Orchestra, DePaul Jazz Ensemble, Bob Lark's Alumni Big Band, Tom Matta Big Band and the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra. He has also been commissioned to arrange big band music by jazz legends Randy Brecker and Victor Lewis. Janak graduated with a degree in music education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a masters of music in jazz composition from DePaul University. Currently he is pursuing a DMA in jazz studies/composition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.