SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association Honors Jack Dring ’16 of Toronto with 2023 Rising Star Award
Jack Dring ’16 (left) of Toronto is a recipient of the 2023 Rising Star Award from the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association. He is pictured here receiving the distinction from College President Dr. Suzanne Smith at Reunion.
The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored Jack Dring ’16 of Toronto with the College’s Rising Star Award, during Reunion 2023.
The Rising Star Award is presented to alumni who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in the first decade following graduation. Dring was recognized for all he has achieved and the impact he has made on the music business industry in under 10 years.
About the recipient:
As an exchange student from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the United Kingdom, Jack Dring ’16 embraced every opportunity available to him at The Crane School of Music. In Birmingham, Jack had been a jazz studies major, but upon coming to Potsdam he challenged himself to become a classically trained trumpet student in John Ellis’ studio. In a short time, he was playing in the Crane Opera Ensemble Orchestra, with the Crane Wind Ensemble and the Crane Latin Ensemble, in addition to playing lead trumpet in the Crane Jazz Ensemble.
After one semester as an exchange student, Jack applied for full admission at The Crane School of Music as a music business major and became an essential part of the SUNY Potsdam family. Throughout his time, he served as a resident assistant, Fund for Potsdam caller, tutor and member of several honor societies. Jack was also the keynote speaker for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event at SUNY Potsdam in 2016.
In the 2015-16 academic year, Jack served as an intern for Yamaha Corp.’s prestigious Artist Relations and Education Department in Indianapolis, one of the most significant opportunities available in the industry.
Jack’s dedication and success as a student has now transferred to the professional sphere. Since graduating from Crane, he has worked for Buffet Crampon, the French wind-instrument manufacturer. After starting as the Division Sales Manager of the Central Plains territory of the United States, he has now served as the Canadian Sales Manager for over four years.
For more information about SUNY Potsdam’s Alumni Association, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.