The University of Mississippi - Music

FALL 2021SUMMER 2022

From the Chair

It is my great pleasure to share with you an inaugural departmental publication that celebrates and highlights UM Music. It is truly an honor to be part of this vibrant community of distinguished faculty who are dedicated to teaching, research, performance, and community engagement. The talent and enthusiasm of our students is abounding. I am proud to see the rigorous individual attention our students receive in and out of the classroom, the development in their trajectories, and the ways they are reaching their fullest potentials.

Our growth is exciting and there has never been a better time to experience or study Music at the University of Mississippi. We continue to serve a diverse and large representation of the campus by providing stimulating academic courses and performance opportunities. The Department of Music is central to the musical art in the Lafayette/Oxford/University community and the region.

Whether you are an old or new friend, we want to hear from you. Come to a concert, watch us online, visit campus, and share your updates and ideas. The best is yet to come for UM Music and we want to experience it with you.

NANCY MARIA BALACH CHAIR AND PROFESSOR CEO/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, LIVING MUSIC RESOURCE™ DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS PAST MISSISSIPPI DISTRICT GOVERNOR, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING

UM Music Noteworthy Highlights:

The second year of the Music Track for Summer College took place with an ever-expanding approach in the classroom, studio, and on the stage. This program for rising junior and senior high school students awards full scholarships made possible by private donations.

Our concert events included: 30 ensemble concerts, 38 degree recitals, 7 guest recitals, 7 faculty recitals, 12 public guest master classes, and 8 lectures/presentations.

Students completed 27 BA and BM degrees, 20 MM degrees, and 4 PhD degrees.

Music Major Advantage (MMA) continues to be a thriving scholarship initiative that awards prospective music majors full tuition through a combination of financial sources. Since its inception in 2020, we’ve seen a 46% increase in music major applicants and a 25% increase in full tuition awards.

We hired three new tenure-track professors in Opera, Collaborative Piano, and Ethnomusicology and Gender Studies with the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies (first College of Liberal Arts cluster hire).

We hosted many esteemed professionals, such as Adam Guettel, Andrea Ramsey, Brett Young, etc. for coachings, concerts, productions, public master classes, lectures, interviews, and casual Q&As.

The Chancellor committed $3.5 million to build a state of the art practice field for The Pride of the South Marching Band.

New Faculty Hires

Dr. Bonita Bunt

Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Opera Theatre

Soprano, director, and educator Bonita Bunt has studied Music, Theatre, Musical Theatre, and English literature and is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she earned her Doctorate and Master of Music in Vocal Performance. Dr. Bunt recently completed a graduate certificate in Vocology, and is pursuing licensure through the Association for Body Mapping Education to teach their somatic education course to prevent pain and injury in performers. Dr. Bunt has worked on over 35 shows in the Las Vegas Valley as performer, director, assistant director, and stage manager with many of the region’s local opera and theatre companies including Vegas City Opera, Super Summer Theatre, Voccalis International, Vegas Theatre Company, and Majestic Repertory Theatre. This summer she completed her 20th show with Opera Las Vegas. Favorite roles include Tytania in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Zerbinetta in Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, Pernille in Dan Shore’s The Beautiful Bridegroom, the Nightingale in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les sortilèges, Edith in The Pirates of Penzance, The Queen of the Night, and Giannetta in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore.

Dr. Obianuju Njoku Prof. Adrienne Park

Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology and Gender Studies

Obianuju Akunna Njoku is an Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology and Gender Studies, affiliated with the Department of Music and the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies. She has broad experiences as an ethnomusicologist, performer, educator, music director, and researcher. Dr. Njoku received her Ph.D. in Music (Ethnomusicology) from Rhodes University, South Africa, M.A in Performing Arts (Music), University of Ilorin, and B.A (Hons) in Music, University of Nigeria. Before joining the University of Mississippi, she was a lecturer in the School of Visual and Performing Arts, Kwara State University, and a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Music and Musicology/ International Library of African Music (ILAM), Rhodes University. In addition to her scholarship, Dr. Njoku has performed at local and international music events, including the World Choir Games and the National Arts Festival, South Africa. She will teach and supervise dissertations across ethnomusicology and gender, including their intersection with ethnicity, race, class, and nationalism. Her awards include the Mellon Intersecting Diaspora Ph.D. Scholarship, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship, and African Humanities Programme (AHP) Fellowship of the American Council of Learned Societies, New York.

Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano

Adrienne Park has extensive experience as a collaborative pianist in chamber, symphonic, and contemporary music settings. She has performed in recital with violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Shauna Rolston, bassist Edgar Meyer, flutist Tara Helen O’Connor, bassoonist Frank Morelli, saxophonist Nikita Zimin, horn artist Frøydis Ree Wekre, percussion group NEXUS, and soprano Mary Wilson. Her own UM concert series, Sonic Explorations, features multimedia performances with music faculty and professional musicians in the region. She mentors graduate collaborative pianists, coaches chamber ensembles, and has collaborated with UM students since 2001. Park is Principal Piano with Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and she performs regularly with Iris Orchestra and Memphis Chamber Music Society. At Crosstown Arts in Memphis, she performs with Blueshift Ensemble and recently with the Mahogany Chamber Series. She was Banff Centre’s faculty collaborative pianist for six years, working closely with Isobel and Tom Rolston. Park studied with Abbey Simon and Ruth Tomfohrde at the University of Houston and Robert Silverman at the University of British Columbia.

Opera

Tony Award-winning Musical The Light in the Piazza

UM Opera Theatre presented the Tony Award-winning musical The Light in the Piazza on November 19th and 21st in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Los Angeles based actor and singer Blake McIver Ewing came to Oxford to direct, with Prof. Amanda Johnston as the music director. Actor and UM Music alumna Mary Haskell played the lead role of Margaret Johnson. The story follows mother-daughter duo Margaret and Clara, portrayed by undergraduate Emma Johnson, as they explore Florence, Italy together. When Clara falls in love with an Italian man, Fabrizio, portrayed by undergraduate Isaiah Traylor, Margaret is forced to reconsider not only Clara's future but her own hopes and regrets as well.

"Clara Johnson is one of my dream roles and I was ecstatic to find out UM Opera Theatre was producing the show. On top of the thrill of playing this amazing character with this beautiful music, getting to work with professionals like Mr. Ewing, Mrs. Haskell, and even Mr. Guettel created one of the most memorable experiences of my musical career thus far."

-Undergraduate student Emma Johnson

"I was excited finding out that I had gotten the role. Fabrizio is a challenging role because he is young, transparent, and an authentic character. It was an honor to be a part because I felt like the directors, crew and cast were able to synergistically create a magical production that audiences thoroughly enjoyed. The 'Light in the Piazza' is not an opera, so the added experience of being in a musical theater production was an excellent opportunity for growth, fun, and created lifelong memories. I will always remember this production."

-Undergraduate student Isaiah

Traylor

Adam Guettel Residency

Composer of The Light in the Piazza Adam Guettel visited Oxford from November 3rd-5th, bringing loads of expertise to the cast, as well as the department as a whole. Guettel participated in a SouthTalks conversation, starred in an LMR Live!, and worked with voice students in a public master class. Guettel sat in on rehearsals for The Light in the Piazza, and even gave private coachings to the leads of the show.

Music in Motion

Music In Motion, from the University of Mississippi Music Department, is a collaborative program that embodies music through the movement of body and connection to the mind. This program gave audience members a complete sensory experience. The first two segments of this program focused on guided movement through Tai Chi and Yoga, breath work and active listening to music in German and Italian. The last two segments focused on free-form expressive movement in response to the music and the lyrics which were in English. The four musicians, Jovania Correa-Coleman (student director), Rebecca Goff, Abby Miller, and Daniel Wynn, each performed a song while also incorporating one of the four different forms of movement during their performances. This interactive experience of vocal Music In Motion was performed at the University of Mississippi for Mississippi Day and in the community at Goose Creek Tennis Club. This student-led program introduced a creative and transformative way for our community to experience Strauss, Gluck, and even a little music theater.

Linda Lister's State of Grace in Nutt Auditorium

In the spring semester, UM Opera Theatre presented State of Grace by Linda Lister, a one-act opera that follows yoga teacher Grace, portrayed by graduate students Katherine Hovan and Christine Powell, as she is confronted with a breast cancer diagnosis and is forced to rediscover the yoga principles she has taught for years. Directed by Chair and Prof. Nancy Maria Balach and music directed by Prof. Amanda Johnston, the show was presented in Nutt Auditorium April 23 and 24, 2022. UM Opera Theatre had the pleasure of premièring the chamber orchestration of the work, scored for string quartet, wood block, tubular bells, and piano. The UM production also featured an all-female student orchestra. Composer Linda Lister was in residency for production week and worked with students via Zoom to prepare the yoga sequences. While at UM, she offered a voice master class, a Yoga for Singers class, and mentored the students in UM Opera Theatre.

“Having the opportunity to play Grace in Linda Lister’s 'State of Grace' is an experience that I will always remember. I am so grateful that I was able to play a part in bringing this moving story to Oxford, and the way it helped me to grow personally as a performing artist.”

-Graduate Student Katherine Hovan

Orchestra

LOU Symphony Concert at Center Hill

High School in Olive Branch, MS

The LOU Symphony presented a runout concert at Center Hill High School in Olive Branch, MS on Friday, April 2, 2022. The concert featured two winners of the Concerto Competition: Nathan DuVall, trombone, and Linna Zheng, violin. The concert was attended by the students and teachers of Center Hill High School. Recent graduate, Jiwon Lee, who is the assistant band director at Center Hill High School, helped host the event.

"My students at Center Hill High School really enjoyed the concert. They have not been exposed much to live music, especially classical music. LOU Symphony traveling to our school meant so much as we learned about different instrument families and its sound throughout the semester. The students have been talking about how they can't quite relate to the content we have been learning, but with listening and watching the performance, they thought it was so cool and found it very interesting. They paid attention throughout the program and even came up to me afterwards to ask if they could go talk to the performers. As an educator, it was such a meaningful experience as my students showed interest in music."

-Recent Graduate Jiwon Lee

Mississippi All-State String Orchestra

Oxford High School cellist Gabriel Reyes (previously with Oxford String Project) was placed Principal Cello at 2022 All-State Orchestra. Gabriel studies with Orchestra Graduate Student and recent PhD graduate, Starkey Morgan. Second chair was Connor Carlisle, who studies with Susan Gaston.

LOU Symphony Side-by-side Concert at Overton High School in Memphis, TN

Also on April 2nd, 2022, the LOU Symphony presented a concert at Overton High School in Memphis, TN. This was a side-by-side concert with the Overton High School Orchestra. Overture in D Minor from Concerto Grosso Op. 3, No. 5 was performed along with the Overton High School Orchestra members. The concert also featured two winners of the Concerto Competition: Nathan DuVall, trombone, and Linna Zheng, violin.

LOU Symphony

Concerto Competition Winners Concert

The LOU Symphony Concerto Competition Winners concert took place on March 22, 2022 at the Ford Center. LOU Symphony performed Ferdinand David’s Concerto for Trombone in E-flat Major, featuring Nathan DuVall, trombone, Scherzo-Tarantelle, by Henryk Wieniawski, featuring Linna Zheng, violin, and first movement of Serge Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, featuring Olga Dahl, piano. The soloists were winners of the 2021 Concerto Competition, which took place on November 9, 2021 and was sponsored by the Department of Music. First Place: Olga Dahl, piano, Second Place: Linna Zheng, violin, and Third Place: Nathan DuVall, trombone.

Choir

UM Choir Performs Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra

UM Choirs (Dr. Donald Trott and Dr. Elizabeth Hearn, directors) performed the monumental Ninth Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven on March 25, 26, and 27, 2022. The first performance was in the Ford Center for the Performing Arts in Oxford followed by two performances at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts in Memphis. Maestro Robert Moody led the Memphis Symphony Orchestra with soloists LaQuita Mitchell (soprano), Taylor Raven (mezzo-soprano), Limmie Pulliam (tenor) and Joshua Conyers (baritone) with the combined choral forces of Ole Miss and the MSO Chorus (Larry Edwards, director). All three performances were presented to a full house of listeners eager to hear the genius of Beethoven’s work.

“For our students to have the experience of performing one of the monuments of choral/orchestral literature is a thrill. It offers such a unique choral experience and a lifetime musical memory.” -Dr.

Donald Trott, Director of Choral Activities

Concert Singers Perform at ACDA

Southern Region Conference in Raleigh, NC

The University of Mississippi Concert Singers journey to Raleigh began on Thursday, March 12, 2020. At 11:00 am that morning, the choir left campus en route to Mobile to perform at the 2020 ACDA Southern Region Conference. About two hours into the trip, the choir had to turn around and return to the Oxford campus as the COVID19 pandemic had begun. Moving the clock forward two years, the Singers again left campus heading this time to Raleigh to perform at the 2022 ACDA Southern Region Conference. This time there was no turning back, just pure excitement about the opportunity in front of them. After a stop in Atlanta for a joint rehearsal with the choir from Georgia State University, the Singers continued to Raleigh. On February 23, 2022, the Concert Singers performed their 25-minute program followed by the honor of jointly presenting the annual Raymond Brock Commissioned Work with Ole Miss and Georgia State University conducted by Dr. Donald Trott. The Concert Singers were proud to represent the University of Mississippi in front of choral directors from the elevenstate Southern Region.

Mississippi Women's Choir Festival & Dr. Andrea Ramsey's Suffrage Cantata

On April 30, 2022, the University of Mississippi Choirs hosted over 140 treble singers for the inaugural Mississippi Treble Choir Festival - a day of performing, learning, sharing, and celebrating the “unstoppable voices” of women. The choir, made up of students from Mississippi middle schools, high schools, community colleges, and adult choirs, performed three of Dr. Andrea Ramsey's compositions, which centered on themes of strength, resilience, and hope. Following the festival choir performance, UM Women’s Glee, accompanied by string quartet, percussion, and piano, and in collaboration with Dr. Ethel Scurlock, who served as the narrator, performed a new work entitled Suffrage Cantata. This poignant work was composed by Dr. Ramsey to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. Dr. Ramsey travelled to Oxford to talk to the choir about her journey and process for composing the Cantata. She also rehearsed Women’s Glee in their final preparations for the performance. Through the preparation and performance of this extended work, the students learned about and critically examined the roles of the brave Suffragists whose stories we shared through song - women were human and flawed. The most powerful moment was when the festival choir joined Women’s Glee, surrounding the audience in the Ford Center, to sing the final refrain - “Lifting as we climb. Onward and upward, we go. Struggling and striving and hoping. We knock at the bar of justice; asking an equal chance.”

Band

UM Band Getting Bigger, Better Practice Field

Seeking to expand and improve outdoor rehearsal conditions, the University of Mississippi is committing $3.5 million to build a bigger, better practice field for the Pride of the South marching band. Chancellor Glenn Boyce made the announcement on April 27th at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts to Ole Miss band students, faculty, and staff. The university’s commitment will pair with various gifts and major donations to the project from Helen Overstreet, Sumner and Risa Spradling, Cora Mitchell, and Alex and Linda MacCormack totaling approximately $330,000. The new practice field will have proper drainage structures and lights, a new director’s tower, a storage building, and proper field access. Construction is slated to be completed by summer 2023.

Ole Miss Marching Band Performance at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans

The Pride of the South attended the 2022 Allstate Sugar Bowl in support of the Ole Miss Rebels football team on January 1, 2022. The band performed in the NYE Sugar Bowl Parade through the New Orleans French Quarter, as well as numerous small events that surrounded the game.

Mississippi Bandmasters State Band Clinic in Natchez, MS

The University of Mississippi Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the 2021 Mississippi Bandmasters State Band Clinic, which took place in Natchez on December 10, 2021. This was in front of hundreds of the finest high school band students in the state, as well as their directors. This is quite an honor for the program.

“Performing at the Natchez state band clinic is a fantastic experience, because not only are you getting to travel and create memories with your peers, but you're also getting to bridge highschoolers, college students, and band directors together. There's a thrill to performing to a crowd that listens well, and we could feel that energy amongst ourselves in every count off and page turn. We had three incredible trumpet soloists with us (Ryan Todd, Danny Blurton, and Brandon Lewis), and from this concert, I learned a lot about rehearsal etiquette and preparations needed for soloists with a larger ensemble. The Natchez concert is one that I think back to with fondness, as we students had a lot of fun traveling together and sharing our love of music with those who were receptive to listening to us." -Graduate

Catherine Adams

Assistant

Mid-South Honor Band Concert at the University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi Wind Ensemble performed a concert as part of the Mid-South Honor Band Clinic on February 18, 2022. This concert had over 1,000 in attendance and featured Dr. Nave Graham on flute.

“This was an unbelievable night. There was an amazing energy in the concert hall and it was an honor to perform "Paradiso" to close the concert in front of its composer, Robert W. Smith.”

-Prof. Randy Dale, Associate Director of Bands

Jazz Combos

Mississippians Jazz Ensemble tours High Schools

In the fall, the Mississippians Jazz Ensemble resumed their high school visits, performing for Lake Cormorant, Hernando, and DeSoto Central high schools. Dr. Worthy, professor of music and director says, "We love performing for high school musicians! They really appreciate the high level of musicianship that we bring, and it's also great to interact with them after the performance."

Jazz Education Network National Conference

UM Jazz's top combo traveled to Dallas in January 2022 to attend the Jazz Education Network National Conference and perform on the JENerations Jazz Festival. While UM's big band has performed on numerous festivals and conferences in the past, this was a first for one of our small jazz groups. Tom "Bones" Malone from the Late Show with David Letterman band was one of the clinicians and he offered great insights about performing in smaller, more interactive jazz combos.

"One of the things I enjoyed most about the JEN conference was that it created an opportunity for students to meet and take in the knowledge shared by players who have been influential in both performance and the education side of Jazz. For me personally, my favorite moment was when I attended a master class by the bassist, John Clayton. He’s someone who I have the most tremendous respect for and never in a million years thought that I would even be in the same room with. He was incredibly open to questions and gave incredible advice. This was something I noticed in every other part of the conference as well. The desire to share and pass on expertise and advice was present in everything " -Undergraduate Music Education Major Camden Boutwell

Ole Miss Jazz Combos at Proud Larry's

Each semester three student combos and a faculty combo go out into the community and perform for a lively audience at Proud Larry's.

Ethnomusicology

2022 Black History Month Concert

The Annual Black History Month Concert took place on February 24, 2022 in the Gertrude C. Ford Center. The event is designed to offer a peek into the cultures of various African diasporas through music and dance for one special night. Performances included baritone Kendrick Williams, UM Gospel Choir, UM Steel Band, and the Ole Miss African Drum and Dance Ensemble (OMADDE). In addition to performances, remarks on diversity were given by Dr. Norris Allen Edney, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion.

"UM 2022 BHM Concert was another memorable concert. I am grateful to all the performers, speakers, audience, and cosponsoring offices for their participation." -Dr. George W.K. Dor,

McDonnell-Barksdale Chair of Ethnomusicology and Professor of Music

"When life throws you something new, forget about failure, forget about fear, jump right into the experience, and watch yourself grow. It will be worth it in the end" -Graduate student Christine Powell on serving as a narrator for the event

Steel Band

UMISSO & UM Salsa Project Concert and Dance

On April 26, 2022, the University of Mississippi Steel Orchestra and the UM Salsa Project presented a concert and dance in the Band Hall. Students performed Salsa, Caribbean, Latin Jazz, and Popular music. The musical styles included Reggae, Calypso, Swing, Soca, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, Bolero, Son Montuno, Bossa Nova, and Samba. The countries acknowledged were Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Trinidad, Jamaica, the United States, and Mexico. Notable artists' music performed were Carlos Santana, Tito Puente, Antonio Carlos Jobim, The Mighty Sparrow, Andy Narell, Ray Holman, and Rafael De Leon's "Roaring Lion". The audience included students, faculty members, local dancers, and the general public who danced the Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, Samba, Bossa Nova, and Calypso.

Old-Time Piano Playing Contest in Oxford, MS

The World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest resumed live competition in Oxford May 23-26, 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to Covid. Ole Miss hosted many new competitors this year representing all regions of the country, as well as the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. The weekend included four major contests, all judged by three experienced performers –Carl Sonny Leyland (California), 3-time World Champion Brian Holland (Nashville), and Oxford’s own Bill Perry, Jr. Beginning with the New Rag Contest, where composers premiere their new ragtime compositions, we entertained a record number of new works. There was a first-place tie between Warren Ertle of Tuscaloosa, AL and Sam Post of Silver Spring, MD. The Junior Contest for ages 18-andunder attracted eight aspiring pianists ages 11-16 and the winner was John Beggs of Madison, FL. The Senior Contest for pianists ages 60-and-over saw a repeat champion in Bobby van Deusen of Pensacola, FL. For the first time in 22 years, a female champion was crowned in the Regular Division. Twenty-nine-year-old Eve Elliot of Los Angeles, CA blew away the competition with her outgoing personality and innovative playing style. Plans are underway for the 47th annual event to be held in Oxford May 25-28, 2023.

Vocal Area

Renée Fleming Master Class

On September 21, 2021, acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming gave a vocal master class to four vocal students from the University of Mississippi. The master class took place in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Undergraduate students Isaiah Traylor and Emma Johnson, and graduate students Katherine Hovan and Jovania Correa-Coleman performed for Ms. Fleming and received valuable coaching and feedback. Professor Amanda Johnston collaborated with the students at the piano. In addition to the master class, Renée Fleming also led a panel entitled "Music and the Mind," which featured Dr. Elizabeth Hearn, Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education. Ms. Fleming also gave a beautiful recital in the Ford Center the evening of September 20, 2021.

Instrumental Area

Yu Tamaki Hoso Master Class & Recital

International trombone soloist Yu Tamaki Hoso visited the University of Mississippi campus in March 2022 to give a master class and recital, joined by Professor Adrienne Park on piano. The performance included a number of original works and arrangements, as well as a duet with Dr. Everett, and a piece accompanied by the UM Trombone Ensemble. The entire event was a great experience for our students and a delight for those in the audience. His visit was possible thanks to the Associated Student Body, which provided Student Activity Fee funding.

LMR

Education + Entertainment = EDUTAINMENT

The Living Music Resource™ remains dedicated to Education, Outreach, and Entertainment through innovative experiences and interactive endeavors that bring acclaimed professionals to Mississippi and showcase Mississippi artists.

LMR student assistants Alexis Rose, (senior BM-Vocal Performance), Miranda Shapiro (second year MM-Vocal Performance), and Emma Johnson (senior BM-Vocal Performance) were integral to the season's programming. They were given opportunities to connect their studies to the professional world and produced the show, LMR Live!

September 2021 LMR Live!

"Voices of Mississippi" with William Ferris, Shardé Thomas & Scott Barretta

In partnership with the Center for the Study of Southern Culture

October 2021 Residency & LMR Live!

Kelly Hogan (singer-songwriter) & Jenny Conlee (accordionist, pianist, organist, keyboardist, melodica player)

In partnership with the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies

November 2021 Residency & LMR Live!

Adam Guettel (Tony Award-winning composer)

In partnership with the Mississippi Humanities Council, UM Lecture Series & the Center for the Study of Southern Culture

April 2022 Episodes:

City of Tomorrow (experimental wind quintet)

Linda Lister (composer, soprano, opera director)

Andrea Ramsey (composer, conductor, teacher, presenter)

The season was supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and in part, from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

In April 2022, the inaugural "Medal for the Arts" ceremony honored recipient Jim Weatherly (in memoriam) in partnership with Ole Miss Athletics and the Double Decker Arts Festival. The concert event featured UM Music Alumnus Darius Woodard, The Mississippians Jazz Ensemble, and Brett Young. It was an honor to celebrate the musical legacy of Jim Weatherly and to welcome Brett Young back to campus for the concert and a Q&A session with UM students.

This prestigious award was created by the Department of Music and Living Music Resource™, and serves as the highest honor given to artists and patrons of the Arts by the University of Mississippi.

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Adam Estes records albums of music with Assembly Quartet

The Assembly Quartet recorded "Catango 5" by Jodie Blackshaw in November 2021 with the Western Carolina University Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Margi Underwood. This album will be published on Mark Records and is due to be released in 2022. Assembly also finished recording its third solo album in March 2022. The album, "(Re)Mix," is set for release fall 2022 on AMP Recordings and features their own arrangements of quintets and sextets by Schnittke, Dorman, and Bill Ryan. This album showcases the "saxophone quartet plus" genre, which features quartet plus piano, and on the Ryan selection, both piano and drum set.

Dr. Micah Everett releases new album

March 2022, UM low brass professor Micah Everett released his second recording of developmental works for bass trombone along with emeritus piano professor Stacy Rodgers. Stepping Stones for Bass Trombone Vol. 2 includes 21 tracks of great music, including a new unaccompanied work by UM alumnus and Northeast Mississippi Community College professor Jason Beghtol. The album has been very well received in the trombone community, including a great review in the most recent International Trombone Association Journal.

Dr. Michael Rowlett's new professional woodwind quintet: Ricercata Winds

Associate Professor of Clarinet, Dr. Michael Rowlett, has founded a new professional woodwind quintet with colleagues from universities in the region. They have named themselves the Ricercata Winds, which means "seeking" or "searching." In spring 2022, they gave concerts at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and The University of Mississippi in Oxford. The members of the group also gave master classes for the students at both universities. They were especially excited to perform several songs for quintet and voice with soprano Mary Wilson from The University of Memphis.

SEC Travel Grant Performances

Through SEC Travel Grants and various hosting institutions, many faculty members had the opportunity to present recitals and master classes at other schools during the 2021-2022 academic year. Dr. Adam Estes traveled with Prof. Adrienne Park to Vanderbilt University, Louisiana State University, University of Southern Mississippi, and Delta State University. Dr. Adam Estes also traveled with Dr. Nave Graham to Benedict College, University of South Carolina, Western Carolina University, and Tennessee Tech. In addition, Dr. Michael Rowlett travelled to the University of Louisville with Prof. Amanda Johnston.

Prof. Adrienne Park's Performances

Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano, Adrienne Park, performed with multiple ensembles in the spring of 2022. She joined Dr. Artina McCain, Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Memphis, in her performance series Mahogany Chamber at Crosstown Arts in Memphis, TN. Prof. Park and Dr. McCain presented an invigorating program of piano duets and piano duos entitled "Dazzling Duos." Prof. Park also performed numerous concerts as the principal pianist with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra during the spring 2022 season.

Dr. Jos Milton records new solo album & receives Grammy nomination for album with Conspirare

During the fall 2021 semester, Dr. Jos Milton (Associate Professor of Voice) was on sabbatical leave. During this time, he recorded a new solo album featuring contemporary art songs by American and Canadian composers, which released August 1, 2021 on Albany Records. The album, entitled As One, explores the connection between humans and the earth. The planet-centered repertoire includes works by Robert Owens, Ned Rorem, Srul Irving Glick, and Libby Larsen. The album also contains a new song cycle that he commissioned for this project by Zachary Wadsworth, Associate Professor at Williams College. Preparation and recording of this music were completed in Carmel, California – in collaboration with Dr. Milton's dear friend and colleague, pianist Melinda Coffey Armstead.

Also during his sabbatical and during the spring semester, Dr. Milton sang 3 sets of concerts with Conspirare, the award-winning vocal ensemble based in Austin, Texas. In November 2021, Conspirare’s album The Singing Guitar (on which Dr. Milton sings) was nominated for a 2022 Grammy Award, in the category of Best Choral Performance. This distinction marked the tenth Grammy nomination for Conspirare.

2022 Graduates

Jordan Allen

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, voice

Future Plans: "I plan to stay at Ole Miss and pursue a Masters in Choral Conducting degree."

Kaylan Aven

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, flute

Future Plans: "I will be continuing my education in the Graduate School at the University of Mississippi in Music Education."

Austin Brooks

Bachelor of Arts, Music

Future Plans: "I plan to relocate to Nashville, TN to play the saxophone. I plan on continuing my musical journey by playing with musicians from my time in college and more professionals I meet along the way.”

Faith Chatten

Bachelor of Arts, Music

Future Plans: "I will be working full time at ThornCreek Church in Thornton, Colorado as their worship leader. I will also be attending Nazarene Theological Seminary online to pursue a Masters of Divinity."

Alexandra Erler

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, voice

Future Plans: "I'll be working at Bramlett Elementary School here in Oxford, and I'm so excited to begin my teaching career!"

Shelby Finley

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, voice

Future Plans: "My plans are to work as a choir director for a couple years before going back to school to get my masters degree."

James Avery Head

Bachelor of Music, Music Performance, trombone

Future Plans: "My plans for the future are to stay at Ole Miss to pursue a Master's of Musicology!"

Mayuka Ishii

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, saxophone

Future Plans: "I am going to grad school in Korea and majoring in Korean education as a foreign language."

Emma Johnson

Bachelor of Music, Music Performance, voice

Future Plans: "I will begin auditioning for masters programs, as well as auditioning for professional roles."

Dakota Kelso

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, baritone

Future Plans: "I will be attending the University of Central Arkansas to obtain a Master's degree in Euphonium Performance."

Alexis Rose

Bachelor of Music, Music Performance, voice

Future Plans: "In August, I will be a first year master’s student in the Musicology program at Washington University in St Louis."

Scarlett Sandifer

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, flute

Future Plans: "I have accepted an assistant band director position at South Jones High School in Ellisville, MS"

Samantha Simpson

Bachelor of Music, Music Performance, piano

Future Plans: "I plan on pursuing a master’s degree in Piano Performance at Bowling Green State University in Ohio with a full tuition assistantship teaching class piano."

Olga Dahl

Master of Music, Collaborative Piano

Future Plans: "I am currently considering a job at Tupelo High School as a collaborative pianist with a choir."

Nathan DuVall

Master of Music, Music Performance

Future Plans: "I will be attending the University of South Carolina pursuing a DMA in Trombone Performance and plans to become a Professor of Trombone and Jazz Studies."

John-Peter Ford

Master of Music, Musicology

Future Plans: "I will be at the University of Florida in the fall pursuing my PhD in Historical Musicology."

Keely Kelso

Master of Music, Choral

Conducting

Future Plans: "I will begin teaching 6th through 12th grade choir at Houston

Middle and High School in Houston, MS. Go Toppers!"

Justin Merriman

Master of Music, Music Education

Future Plans: "My plans after graduation are to find a music job in the school system so that I may teach students the joy of music."

Ontarius Woodland

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, voice

Future Plans: "I will be returning to the University of Mississippi for my Master’s in Choral Conducting."

Michael Richard

Master of Music, Music Education

Future Plans: "I will be starting my career as a band director at Perry Central High School and plan to expand my experience and knowledge towards my field as much as I can. "

Jose Ricardo Salazar

Master of Music, Music Education/Choral Conducting

Future Plans: "I plan to develop professionally as a choral conductor and to put into practice all the knowledge acquired from my mentors."

Nicholas Savely

Master of Music, Music Education

Future Plans: "Beginning this fall I will be starting a new journey as the assistant director at Northpoint Christian School in Southaven, MS. Go Trojans!"

Miranda Shapiro

Master of Music, Music Performance

Future Plans: "I've moved back to Alabama and am working at a music academy."

Jackson South

Master of Music, Choral

Conducting

Future Plans: "I will be continuing to arrange and compose for various ensembles, as well as conducting and directing church music."

Raven Thompson

Master of Music, Music Education

Future Plans: "I will be employed as a middle school band director at Horn Lake Middle School in Horn Lake, Mississippi"

George Blankson

Doctor of Philosophy, Music Education

Future Plans: "At the moment, my next steps are going to be focused on starting my career as a music educator."

Langston Boles

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, voice

Mia Boyd

Bachelor of Arts, Music

John Buchman

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, trombone

Erica Carrisoza

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, clarinet

Carly Coleman

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, trumpet

Catalina Farmer

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, flute

Hayley Jackson

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, clarinet

Elijah Kennedy

Bachelor of Arts, Music

Matthew Louis

Parker Peterson

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, saxophone

Jacob Roland

Bachelor of Music, Music Education, trombone

Clarence Teague

Bachelor of Arts, Music

Tyler Hawk

Master of Music, Music Education

Support

Corey Yngsdal

Master of Music, Choral

Conducting

Future Plans: "I am now living in Greensboro, North Carolina, serving as the Music Director at South Elm Street Baptist Church and will be teaching as the Chorus Teacher at Northwest Guilford Middle School."

Stellah Mbugua

Doctor of Philosophy, Music Education

Future Plans: "I plan to find a college/university teaching job."

Brandon Mitchell

Master of Music, Music Education

Gabriela Pestana

Master of Music, Music Education

Cody Roberts

Master of Music, Music Education

Lawrence Routt

Master of Music, Music Education

Trevor Shoup

Master of Music, Music Performance

Jessica Googe Smith

Master of Music, Music Education

Jonathan Wadkins

Master of Music, Music Education

Samuel Agbenyo

Doctor of Philosophy, Music Education

Starkey Morgan

Doctor of Philosophy, Music Education

"Being a part of UM Music helped me to make professional progress as a musician. I had the opportunity to participate in various ensembles with talented collaborators. This experience was unique for me and I am very grateful to the faculty who gave me great support and help.”

-Olga Dahl

“I enjoyed the time I spent at Ole Miss, and am very glad that I made the decision to attend Ole Miss for my education in music. But what I am most thankful for are the relationships that I developed with both my friends, and professors, both of which I hope will last a lifetime. Hotty Toddy!”

-Nicholas Savely

“The UM Music Department means so much to me because it is where I learned and grew as a singer and musician. I am grateful for the UM Music faculty, and specifically Dr. Jos Milton, for making it possible to tailor my degree track towards my goal to be a worship leader.”

-Faith Chatten

“My time in the UM Music Department has been some of the best years of my life! I’ve made new life-long friends and learned even more about the subject that I love the most, Music!”

-Justin

Merriman

“The Music Department faculty demonstrated a multitude of possibilities in studying music, enabling me to explore a new dimension of my education. This new approach not only enhanced my experience as an undergraduate in Music Performance, but also empowered me in my pursuit to gain a further appreciation and understanding of music beyond my initial degree.”

-Alexis Rose

“My time in the department was exciting and engaging. The experiences I gained as a student, graduate instructor, and teaching assistant are of inestimable value. It’s such a blessing! These experiences have greatly impacted my worldview, deepened my understanding of diversity and cultural awareness, and tremendously influenced my personal and professional life.”

-George Blankson

“UM Music has given me everything and more. I've made my best friends in this department as well as had once in a lifetime experiences in choir and as a solo vocalist.”

-Alexandra Erler

“I am honored and blessed to have learned from all the teachers in music department the last few years. Especially, Dr. Micah Everett, who helped a kid from Senatobia, Mississippi, chase his dream of making music for people and pushed me to be my very best.”

-Dakota

Kelso

“Personally, for me, UM Music meant one of the best opportunities of my life in my musical career. The musical atmosphere within the institution helped me to expand my musical knowledge in general. And I feel very grateful to the faculty and all the departments I was involved in doing music, especially the choir department, which never hesitated to give me the opportunity to specialize in that area.”

-Ricky Salazar

“Even with coming to Oxford, Mississippi during challenging times due to the Covid pandemic, UM Music provided many wonderful opportunities and an overwhelmingly welcoming environment which proved to be beneficial to my musical growth over the past 2 years.”

-Corey

Yngsdal

“UM Music, to me, is more than just the classes you take. It’s the support system you receive from faculty and the friends made over the years.”

-Shelby Finley

“My time in the UM Music Department has been the best time of my academic life. I still marvel at how incredibly supportive the faculty has been. I've had a chance to learn so much, to experience high quality music performances, and to be molded into a confident leader in the music education world. I'm incredibly grateful and will forever be a proud Ole Miss Alumna.”

-Stellah Mbugua

Spring 2023 Concert Calendar