UNA Music Faculty Member Earns Professional Awards for Esteemed Composition
Feb. 03, 2026
Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392
FLORENCE, AL – Dr. Martin Hebel, a Lecturer in the Department of Music at the University of North Alabama has been awarded two American Prizes for his recent composition, Defiance.
“I am thrilled and humbled to win two American Prizes, and I am most thankful for their recognition of my work,” said Dr. Hebel, whose professional portfolio includes orchestral, choral, and chamber music, multimedia compositions as well as collaborations with other artists. “I strive to lead by example in my classroom at UNA and on the world stage.”
Dr. Hebel’s piece secured second place in the Orchestral Composition category and third place in the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award category, marking the professor’s seventh and eighth American Prize wins in his career, respectively.
Dr. Hebel’s eighth American Prize was jointly awarded to the Miami University Orchestra and the university’s maestro, Ricardo Averbach. The trio took home the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award, which recognizes and rewards the best performances of American music by ensembles and soloists worldwide, based on submitted recordings.
“Collaborating with the Miami University Symphony Orchestra and their brilliant maestro [Ricardo Averbach] to premier Defiance was a tremendously joyful and inspiring experience,” Dr. Hebel said. “I am forever grateful to have that opportunity to work together to bring my music to life.”
Initially structured as a musical essay, Dr. Hebel’s Defiance was commissioned by Averbach and the Miami University Symphony Orchestra and premiered at the 2024 College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) National Conference that took place in Nashville.
Dr. Hebel’s recent honors reflect his ongoing impact as both a composer and an educator. His work continues to bring national and international recognition to UNA, enriching the academic and artistic experiences of students. He said he hopes to continue inspiring students to forge their own creative path, and he looks forward to hearing the music they will bring to the world stage.
“Dr. Hebel’s American Prize wins reflect the departmental faculty experience,” said UNA Music Department Chair Dr. Whitney O’Neal. “We are beyond proud of his many accomplishments, and we look forward to his students’ success in years to come.”
About The University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; the Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.