Trombone Ryan McDonnell wins 2015 Sudler Prize

Ryan McDonnell, has been named the 2015 winner of Purdue’s Sudler Prize in the Arts, marking the tenth time in 12 years a Purdue Bands & Orchestras student has been named Purdue’s top senior in the arts. Ryan has participated in every different type of ensemble within Purdue Bands & Orchestras.  Currently, Ryan plays trombone in both the Purdue Wind Ensemble and Purdue Jazz Band.

Each year, top seniors in the arts are nominated by their respective departments to compete for the award.  Contestants come from Visual and Performing Arts, Purdue Musical Organizations, Purdue Bands & Orchestras and the Purdue Black Cultural Center.

Majoring in Chemical Engineering, McDonnell is a senior from Winter Garden, FL who will be continuing his education at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law in the fall. McDonnell’s talent on the trombone has led him to participate in virtually every ensemble offered at Purdue Bands & Orchestras, sometimes up to three in one semester.

Jay Gephart, Director of the Wind Ensemble, says “Ryan has been a leader in the department throughout his time at Purdue and that contributed to his strength as a Sudler competitor.”