Four School of Music Alumni Invited to Join the Recording Academy

ATLANTA - Georgia State University School of Music alumni Glenn Zekser (B.A. '21), Marcus Moore (B.Mu. '19), Rose Bishop (B.Mu. '10) and Travis Hall (M.M. '25) have been invited to join the Recording Academy's 2026 New Member Class, placing them among the professionals who shape the Grammy Awards.

Zekser, who earned his invitation on the strength of his mastering credits, graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a concentration in composition. Bishop graduated in 2010 and Moore in 2019, both with a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance.

"It's an honor to participate in a community of music professionals and creatives and to support and advocate for the people who are the music of today," Zekser said. "Music is shaped by those who make and observe it and I'm ecstatic to be a part of that in a new way."

The Recording Academy extended invitations to more than 4,000 music creators and industry professionals on July 9, spanning genres, backgrounds and disciplines. It is the largest class of invitees in the organization's history.

"I'm thrilled and honored to be invited to join the Recording Academy's 2026 New Member Class," Bishop said. "I'm excited to advocate for the music community, support fellow creators, participate in the Grammy Awards process, and collaborate with so many gifted artists and professionals."

Moore, who has since accepted his invitation, pointed to the musicians who backed his candidacy. "I was able to get there with the help of some amazing musicians," he said, naming Kim Scott, Tessa Gross, Mike Ducassoux and fellow Panther Glenn Zekser. Bishop credited Megan Ihnen and Jeannie Tanner, who wrote letters of recommendation on her behalf, and Audrey Martinovich, who helped her assemble her materials.

All four join as voting members, the category for music creators who help select Grammy winners each year. Moore's candidacy drew on a wide-ranging career: commercial releases, a composition catalog with recent commissions and premieres, a touring schedule as a clarinetist and flutist across Asia, the Pacific Islands and Africa, and his work as a classical music talk show host for Hawaii Public Radio. Bishop's invitation reflected her performing and recorded work.

Hall entered the Recording Academy through Grammy U, its category for students and emerging professionals, before joining as a voting member. A soul and R&B vocalist, he sold out a 16-piece-band performance at Vinyl at Center Stage in October 2025 and took part in the Atlanta Jazz Festival in May 2026. His debut album, "HeART Museum," is entered for consideration in the best R&B album category for the upcoming Grammy Awards.

"Today, I'm honored to share that I've officially joined the Recording Academy as a voting member," Hall said. "I'm so excited to connect with more of this creative community, continue learning and create art that makes people feel."

That support is central to how the Recording Academy builds its membership. Professionals cannot apply or nominate themselves. The process begins with recommendations from two people working full time in music, followed by a spring review from a peer panel of existing members. Approved candidates are then invited to join.

"Every year, we look forward to welcoming a new group of dedicated music creators and professionals through our membership invitations," said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. "Our membership is the engine of the Grammys, and we're excited for invitees to join our vibrant community, engage with their peers and help shape the future of the music industry."

The four join a growing group of Panthers inside the organization. Al Thrash, a professor of practice in music management in the School of Music, and alumna Lizz Wright were both invited to the academy's 2020 class. Thrash brought more than 20 years of industry experience to that invitation, including seven years at BMG Distribution handling sales and marketing for artists such as Outkast, Whitney Houston and Usher, and a role as project manager at Thirty Tigers.