2009: David Palko. A multi-talented student whose infectious enthusiasm permeates our beings, this student is at home with Bach as well as Shakespeare. While it seems incongruous to see a gavotte being danced by someone who is in army fatigues, this student's interests are as diverse and all-encompassing as the dancing scenario would suggest. For his infatuation with the art of music, for the joy with which he approaches both the keyboards of the piano and the word processor, and for his insatiable love of learning, the Music Department is delighted to name this year's winner of the Richard Ross Memorial Music Award: David Michael Palko.

2008: Mejin Leechor. Through her exquisite artistry and insatiable curiosity, this year's award recipient embodies all things honest and radiant in music. Her dedication to serving the community manifests itself in her work as a soloist, chamber musician, and concertmaster for the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra. This year's Richard Ross Memorial Music Award goes to a young woman whose resonant laughter is music all on its own Alice Mejin Leechor.

2007: Lee Ballard. For his achievements in both the classroom as well as on the stage, for his steady leadership of the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra, and for his sensitive ear for music as well as the musicality of verbal language, the Music Department is pleased to name a student full of bright teleological ideas as the recipient of this year's Richard Ross Memorial Music Award: Lee Wilson Ballard.

2005: Kyota Ko. During his Davidson career, this senior music major has cultivated exceptional musical diversity. Equally at home improvising jazz on electric violin as he is playing Beethoven in our symphony orchestra, as capable of analyzing the latest Pulitzer Prize-winning composition as he is analyzing a Bach fugue, as facile in writing electronic pop music as he is composing for such uncommon ensembles as flugelhorn and djembe, this year's Richard Ross Memorial Music Award goes to an individual of fewer words than this citation (!) Kyota Ko.

2004: Susan Dawn Stroebel. For her achievements both in the classroom and on the stage, her leadership in the orchestra, and her dedication to performing chamber music throughout the community, the Music Department is pleased to name Susan Dawn Stroebel as this year's recipient of the Richard Ross Memorial Music Award.

2003: Stephanie Clark Corwin. This year's winner has spent many a solitary hour in practice rooms with her bassoon, honing her craft and art. Yet this has not prevented her from double majoring in Music and German, or from excelling in the classroom as she does in the orchestra, in the Wind Ensemble, and on the stage. The winner of the Richard Ross Memorial Music Award for 2003 is Stephanie Clark Corwin.

2002: Andrew Carl Oster. The Richard Ross Memorial Music Award was presented to Andrew Carl Oster. He stayed at Davidson an extra semester in order to double major and pursue his passion for the history of music. While at Davidson, he was a valued member of the instrumental ensembles and a calm and warming presence within the department. While the department misses him, it takes great pride in the fact that major musicology graduate programs have pursued him based, in part, on his work done at Davidson. // This year's winner stayed at Davidson an extra semester in order to double major and pursue his passion for the history of music. While at Davidson, he was a valued member of the instrumental ensembles and a calm and warming presence within the department. While we miss him, we take great pride in the fact that major musicology graduate programs have pursued him based, in part, on his work done in our department. The winner of the Richard Ross Memorial Music Award for 2002 is Andrew Carl Oster.

2001: David Eugene Kang. This year's winner may be compared to the prodigal son who stayed away (in this case, to the Eastman School of Music) and then returned. Yet he has never strayed from excellence in hi academics, even as he excelled as a performer in the areas of voice, piano and choral conducting. The winner of the Richard Ross Memorial Music Award for 2001 is David Eugene Kang.

2000: Wesley Goldsberry. As a senior music major, this recipient has distinguished himself by becoming the only major who will have accomplished the exceptional task of completing three separate senior projects, with a senior recital, participation in the upcoming student composition recital, and the impending submission of a major paper. These activities are complemented by his role as concertmaster of the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra, his years of service in the Music Library, and his independent pursuit of a separate major in philosophy. The Music Department is honored to recognize Wesley Goldsberry with the 2000 Richard Ross Award in Music.