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People in the Department of Music

The Department of Music is a vibrant and nurturing community. Get to know our dedicated faculty, outstanding alumni and hardworking students.

In the Department of Music, our caring faculty provide individualized instruction to students, leveraging our location within a major research university and a vibrant cultural metropolis to offer students a wide range of scholarly and creative experiences. Students compete in regional and national competitions, join faculty research projects and perform in venues across the city. Upon graduation, they go on to prestigious graduate programs and successful careers, as our alumni spotlights demonstrate. Learn more about these amazing people below!

Faculty & Staff

Department of Music faculty are nationally active artists, scholars and pedagogues who are committed to preparing students of diverse backgrounds and interests for successful lives as musical advocates and professionals.

Faculty & Staff

Alumni Spotlights

Our alumni are successful music educators, composers and performers, as well as music lovers who excel in a wide range of careers, from sound engineer, to medical doctor, to IT specialist.

Alumni Spotlights

Student Spotlights

Students in the Department of Music benefit from a tight-knit community, a rigorous research university and a culturally rich urban setting that provides opportunities for internships, performances and exciting arts experiences.

Student Spotlights

Administration

Joseph Skillen Department Chair, Tuba and Euphonium
Jennifer Whitaker Associate Chair
Lisa Addison Office Manager
Jennifer Anderson Marching Band Business Services Coordinator
Hannah Harrell Performing Arts Academic Advisor
Beth Rucker Performing Arts Business Services Coordinator

Band, Wind and Percussion

Hunter Kopczynski Director of Bands
Will Campbell Saxophone
Jennifer Dior Flute
Rick Dior Percussion
Kevin Dugat Low Brass and General Education
Byron Johns Horn
Jessica Lindsey Clarinet
Eric Millard Trumpet
Nick Nichols Marching Percussion Director
Nick Ritter Bassoon
Ben Still Saxophone
Brian Taylor Associate Director of Bands/Director of Athletic Bands
Elizabeth Sullivan Oboe

Choir and Voice

Brian Arreola Voice, Opera Workshop
Sequina DuBose Voice
Michael Figgers Gospel Choir
Susan Gouthro Voice
Monica Hunter Voice
Christina Pier Voice
Jason Dungee University Chorale & The Mallard Creek Chorale (Men’s Chorus)
Ginger Wyrick Women’s Chorus

Jazz Studies

Will Campbell Jazz Saxophone, Director of Jazz Studies
Le Roy Barley Jazz Trumpet
Patrick Brown Jazz Ensemble Techniques
Troy Conn Jazz Guitar
Rick Dior Jazz Drum Set

Keyboard

Claudio Olivera Department Pianist
Dylan Savage Piano
Jacqueline Yost Organ, Music Theory and Ear Training

Music Education

Fred Spano Coordinator of Music Education
Evelyn K. Orman Music Education
Jennifer Whitaker Music Education

Musicianship

James A. Grymes Music History
Kristi Hardman Music Theory
Jason Mitchell Music History
Stephen Morris Composition
Elizabeth Sullivan Music Theory and Ear Training

Orchestra and Strings

Mira Frisch Cello, Director of String Chamber Music
Eric Boruff Viola
Jason McNeel Bass
David Russell Violin
Alan Yamamoto Visiting Director of Orchestras