Encore! 2017

ENCORE! ncore!

E THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF MUSIC MAGAZINE

WELCOME Dr. Richard Kravchak

DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC

What a wonderful year we have had at the Southern Miss School of Music! With our internationally-regarded faculty, exceptional students and world-class programs, we are training the next generation of performers, teachers and cultural guides who will inspire generations to come through their music.

Our programs seek to prepare the 21st-century musician with skills that enhance traditional music study to create a wellrounded, viable candidate who is sought after as an employable part of arts and educational organizations. With the ever-changing landscape of arts around the globe, this versatility is vital to the future of our students.

Whether you are a potential student, an alumni, or part of our extended musical family as a parent or interested community member, we invite you to join us at one of our many public performances. Your engagement and enjoyment is another piece of the educational package. Your support through your attendance, encouragement and - when possible - financial investment, helps continue a tradition that is a cornerstone of The University of Southern Mississippi.

ON THE COVER Ezekiel Andrew (MM Vocal Performance) in performance as the title role of Guiseppe’ Verdi’s Rigoletto, presented by the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company at Southern Miss. A student of Dr. Maryann Kyle, he will share the role of Phantom in the fall production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.

The School of Music at The University of Southern Mississippi is a family.

We live on a friendly and beautiful campus in a vibrant Southern community.

Our students and faculty perform and teach on the national and international stage.

An education here is affordable and accessible yet priceless to your future.

Students who major in music live, work and play in an environment of talented peers and professors who are creative and passionate about pursuing a successful musical future. The School of Music offers a comprehensive music program of over 400 majors. It sponsors more than 300 recitals, concerts, performances and lectures annually, in nearly every genre. You will experience individual attention as you work toward graduation. We care about training musicians and placing our graduates into competitive jobs and graduate programs. In the School of Music, there are a myriad of performance opportunities in a variety of ensembles.

The School of Music provides a wealth of valuable opportunities for the professional and artistic growth of our students. Our faculty members perform at major venues around the world and teach at international festivals and conferences every year. Our ensembles host important guest artists such as PlĂĄcido Domingo, Yo-Yo Ma, RenĂŠe Fleming, Denyce Graves, Christopher Parkening, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Doc Severinsen, Sir James Galway, Joshua Bell and Ray Charles, to name a few.

The University of Southern Mississippi is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.

APPLY ONLINE NOW!

www.usm.edu/music To register for School of Music audition days, click Future Students and Auditions.

To speak to our admissions coordinator, please call 601.266.5366.

FACILITIES

The School of Music facilities reside in two three-story buildings: the Mannoni Performing Arts Center and the Fine Arts Building. These two facilities provide our students with state-of-the-art classrooms and equipment, four major rehearsal halls, two dedicated chamber music rehearsal rooms, a computer lab, sound isolation practice rooms with VAE technology, a student commons area, 53 practice rooms, and faculty offices and studios. They also contain our three primary performance venues: Marsh Hall Auditorium (200seat recital hall), the Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium (740-seat proscenium stage), and the Intermezzo @ Woods Gallery Stage (70-seat, cafe-style intimate venue). The School of Music also performs in Bennett Auditorium, a 1,000-seat venue.

ALUMNI

Southern Miss School of Music alumni teach in the finest universities and school systems in the country and perform on national stages from coast to coast. Our alumni perform as orchestral and jazz musicians, in opera and musical theater productions, and as concert soloists all over the world. We produce more public school music teachers each year than all other music programs in the state combined. These music educators are making an impact in music education at local, state, regional and national levels through their work and research. Our alumni are also teaching at universities, colleges and conservatories in the United States and other countries around the globe.

UNIVERSITY BANDS

The University of Southern Mississippi Bands have a long tradition of excellence in performance. Housing six different ensembles — The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, the basketball band, the renowned Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Winds, the Concert Band, and the University Band — you are sure to find your home within some facet of the university band program. Through our ensembles, we have meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of our students, whether they be music majors or non-music majors.

Our students learn what it takes to pursue and define excellence, working every day to achieve that in all of our musical endeavors. A vital part of the University, Hattiesburg and southeast regional communities, the bands represent the best of the University to the public through concert tours, on-campus performances and athletic events. The University of Southern Mississippi Bands are one of the many entities that continue to push The University of Southern Mississippi TO THE TOP!

HOMECOMING

10.14.17 FEATURING

DIXIE DARLING ALUMNI AND

ALUMNI BAND

Dr. Andrew Hunter is Director of Bands at Denham Springs High School in Denham Springs, La., which is located just east of Baton Rouge. A historically successful program, the band has appeared through invitation across the United States and has recently accepted an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in February 2018 as one of six invited participants in the inaugural Cleveland Orchestra/Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Invitational Festival.

Recent flooding in southeast Louisiana forced over 130 Denham Springs band students from their homes and caused the school to relocate to a satellite campus for the fall 2016 semester, but recovery efforts are well underway.

In addition to his doctoral studies at Southern Miss, Dr. Hunter served on the band faculty during the 2015-16 academic year, conducting the Symphonic Winds and University Band, assisting with the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, teaching instrumental conducting, and supervising student teachers.

He said, “The opportunities provided for me at Southern Miss to grow as a musician and as an educator were tremendous. The level of musicianship of the students and the faculty motivated me each day to prepare and work to become a more thoughtful artist and teacher.”

As a public school educator, Dr. Hunter is able to put into practice the standards set forth during his time as a student at Southern Miss, as well as the principles he taught to undergraduate music education majors.

His classroom is one in which music holds primacy – a guiding principle imparted by Dr. Catherine Rand, Director of Bands. “I recall on numerous occasions having conversations with Dr. Rand about the repertoire that we select for our students, serving as our program’s curriculum. It was not simply about pieces that I enjoy programming; we must, as conductors, seek to set forth for our students music of significant artistic merit that will challenge them musically, technically and emotionally.”

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

The Southern Miss Band Program is the oldest wind program in the state of Mississippi and is considered the best program for performance and music education majors in the state. The Wind Ensemble and The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band have been selected to perform at national and international venues, including College Band Directors National Association, American Bandmasters Association, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland, and with the Italian Army Band based in Rome. The Wind Ensemble premieres new works from contemporary composers each year, including David Maslanka, Joseph Schwantner and guest performers. All graduate and undergraduate students, both performance and music education majors, have the opportunity to audition for concerto competitions within both the Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Bachelor of Arts in Music • Bachelor of Music - Performance • Bachelor of Music - Jazz Studies •Bachelor of Music Education •Instrumental Licensure •Minor in Music

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The University Bands program has a rich tradition of excellence in performance and training the music educators of tomorrow. With almost 100 years of band at Southern Miss, there is a network of alumni who are lifelong friends who support one another throughout their careers. There is nothing like meeting an alumnus of the band program while traveling and hearing about the fond memories of their experiences in the ensembles, The Pride of Mississippi or the Dixie Darlings. SMTTT!”

-Dr. Catherine Rand

GRADUATE DEGREES

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

• Master of Music - Performance, Conducting, Woodwind Performance and Pedagogy • Master of Music Education - Traditional Track, Track II - Licensure, Online • Doctor of Musical Arts - Conducting • Doctor of Musical Arts - Performance and Pedagogy • Doctor of Philosophy - Music Education

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Graduate students in performance participate in a wide range of large ensembles, chamber ensembles and master classes with nationally recognized performers and teachers. Similar to undergraduate students, both performance and music education majors have the opportunity to audition for concerto competitions within both the Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.

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Graduate students in wind conducting will have ample podium time to conduct each of the three major wind bands and smaller chamber ensembles. Each year wind conducting majors have the opportunity to conduct the Instrumental Concerto Competition Winners. Conducting majors also work with more than 300 members of The Pride and basketball pep bands.

Daniel Murin, Ph.D. currently resides in San Diego, Calif. and works as a postdoctoral research associate at The Scripps Research Institute. His path to San Diego began at USM in the biochemistry research lab at the young age of 14. He was allowed work on independent research projects while in middle and high school at Oak Grove and later joined the lab as an undergraduate on a presidential scholarship.

Daniel describes his training at USM as fundamental to all subsequent steps that he has taken in his career. Outside of science, Daniel was an active participant in both the music and dance departments, where he was able to take ballet/modern dance classes, trumpet lessons, give recitals and also participate in orchestra concerts through volunteering to usher.

For more information, visit www.usm.edu/band.

“Take advantage of the many opportunities that USM offers while in school. Having an outlet for artistic expression is essential to stay energized and creative, which are attributes that scientists need but often miss out on due to the rigorous nature of their scientific training.”

BAND FACULTY

Catherine Ann Rand, D.M.A.—bands, conducting Colin McKenzie, D.M.A.—bands James Standland, D.M.A.—bands

BRASS FACULTY

Jacquelyn Adams, D.M.A.—horn Ben McIlwain, D.M.—trombone Richard Perry, D.M.A.—tuba/euphonium Timothy J. Tesh, D.M.A.—trumpet

WOODWIND FACULTY

For bios and more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/faculty-bios.

Lawrence S. Gwozdz, D.M.A.—saxophone Galit Kaunitz, D.M. —oboe Jackie McIlwain, D.M. —clarinet Danilo Mezzadri, D.M.A.—flute Kim Woolly, D.M.—bassoon

CHORAL ACTIVITIES

Choral Activities at Southern Miss works with students to increase their awareness and access nationally and internationally. It is apparent when a teacher’s vision is limited because their musical experiences and relationships have been contained to a local perspective during their education. Our students leave Southern Miss having interacted with national and international composers, singers, and venues. Over the last 15 years, groups have had national performances in Los Angeles, Portland, Chicago, Indianapolis, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville and New York. International appearances have occurred in France, England, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Austria, the Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, The West Indies and Mexico. Graduate Choral Seminars have been held in Estonia, Russia, Sweden and Salt Lake City. We believe our students leave Hattiesburg with a larger view of our profession.

The Southern Chorale visited Norway and Sweden in May 2017. The tour featured performances in six wonderful venues, including the great Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Performances included a collaboration with Karlstads Motettsällskap while in Sweden and with two choirs in Trondheim at the Cathedral: Stavanger Domkor, directed by Oddgeir Kjetilstad, and Nidaros Domkor, directed by Karen Haugom Olsen. The tour followed regional performances of the “Martin Double Choir Mass,” and two state convention appearances in Louisiana and Mississippi. This year also included the compact disc release of a Southern Miss commission, “The Seven Last Words of Christ,” by Louisville composer Richard Burchard and performed by the Hattiesburg Choral Union and the Symphony Orchestra. The work will be presented again in spring of 2018 as part of a Carnegie Hall premiere.

Joey Wolfe (DMA, ’16) recently completed his first year as associate professor and director of choral activities at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky. There, he conducts the Chorale and teaches voice, church music, conducting and other academic courses. Prior to his current appointment, he taught at Mercer University in Macon, Ga.

When asked about his workload and his readiness to step into his current role, Wolfe said that it was his studies in the School of Music at Southern Miss that prepared him to hit the ground running on his first day in Williamsburg. “Every day, I draw upon the knowledge I gained in all of my music courses while earning my degree at Southern Miss. Every. Single. Day. Whether it is showing students a harmonic progression in a choral anthem or talking with a voice student about the historical importance of a particular composer, I am constantly reminded of the excellent professors in the School of Music who shared their knowledge so freely with me.

“I cannot think of another graduate choral music program in the country that could have prepared me better than the one Dr. Fuller administers at Southern Miss. He makes sure that all of his graduate students have opportunities for hands-on experiences related to managing and growing a choral program. He trusted me to organize tours, coordinate rehearsal schedules for major choral-orchestral presentations, lead department recruiting efforts like the annual Southern Invitational Choral Conference, and just about everything else in between.” He went on to say that, whether the tasks were large or small, everything that he did and learned in Choral Activities at Southern Miss has direct bearing on his work today. “My professors at Southern Miss had teachers’ hearts. They care about their students and give all that they have to see their students succeed.”

Many people, events and concerts came to mind when Joey was asked about his fondest memories as a student in the School of Music. He recalled trips to Estonia, Hungary, Romania and Jamaica as particular highlights of his time here. “The Southern Chorale visited Jamaica in 2011. The trip coincided with my wedding there; my wife, Karen, is Jamaican. For all the rest of my days, I will never forget all of my fellow Chorale members on that beach in Montego Bay, singing as my bride walked the aisle.”

For current and potential students, Joey encouraged them to dive into all that the School of Music has to offer. “There is no time in one’s life quite like the college years. For the most part, a student’s main focus is learning. I heartily challenge students to squeeze every drop they can from their college days. All too soon, it will be over; and the real world will be waiting. In the School of Music, there are women and men who are committed to helping you prepare to be successful as musicians and as human beings. I wouldn’t be where I am today without those professors.”

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

Southern Miss Choral Activities has become a regional leader in choral music excellence. From the placement of outstanding teachers, to exceptional performances locally, nationally and beyond, Southern Miss Choral Activities is making a difference and adding to the quality of life in many communities. For undergraduates, we offer degrees in music education, vocal performance, music history, a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in voice, and Bachelor of Science in entertainment industry. Choral Service Awards are available for majors and non-majors singing in major choral ensembles.

Our mission includes orchestral opportunities and collaborative efforts such as a recent church music conference, featuring Mack Wilberg. The Southern Invitational Choral Conference now hosts more than 700 participants each year. The Southern Experience Summer Show Choir Camp is growing in reputation as one of the most popular educational camps in the nation.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Bachelor of Arts in Music • Bachelor of Music - Performance • Bachelor of Music Education • Choral Licensure • Minor in Music

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Singers at Southern Miss are afforded diverse performing opportunities at the highest level. Whether they are concert tours around the world, national and regional convention appearances, or resident opera and musical theatre productions with staging and high-level orchestral musicians, we give our students a path to careers.”

-Dr. Gregory Fuller

Assistantships, partial assistantships, out-of-state waivers, and service awards/ scholarships are available on a competitive basis to students that are accepted to the program. In addition, students pursuing the MMEd and PhD with a choral emphasis, the MM and DMA in piano or voice and the MM theory students are also considered for those awards if active in the choral program. Podium time is deemed important for all MM and DMA students and is achieved with multiple ensembles. The Chamber Singers is a fully dedicated ensemble for graduate conductors.

Customized travel seminars are a regular part of the agenda for graduate choral conductors at Southern Miss. Recent interaction includes the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) in Tallinn, faculty members at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (Finland), the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Choir School at Madeleine Cathedral in Salt Lake City, the Latvian Radio Choir in Riga, and the Saint Petersburg Chamber Choir (Russia). In addition, the conducting studio attended Laulupidu (Five-year Estonian Song Celebration) in 2014, also in Tallinn. Workshops have focused on conductors, composers, choral singers, repertoire, research, culture and organizational administration. Multiple face-to-face meetings have occurred with Arvo Pärt, Tõnu Kõrvits, Daniel Reuss, members of the EPCC, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Tõnu Kaljuste, Länsiö Tapani, Matti Höykki, Kaspars Putninš, Galina Grigorjeva, Veljo Tormis, Aarne Saluveer, Mack Wilberg, Gregory Glenn, members of the St. Petersburg Chamber Choir and Nicolai Kornev.

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

• Master of Music - Performance, Conducting • Master of Music Education - Traditional Track, Track II - Licensure, Online • Doctor of Musical Arts - Conducting • Doctor of Musical Arts - Performance and Pedagogy • Doctor of Philosophy - Music Education

For more information, visit www.usm.edu/choirs.

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Southern Miss offers the Master of Music (MM) and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degrees in choral conducting. Job placement in full-time academic and sacred settings is over 95 percent. Over the last decade, 20 graduates have been placed in collegiate teaching positions. In those same 10 years, students have come to Southern Miss for graduate study in choral conducting from more than 30 different institutions in higher education.

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GRADUATE DEGREES

Courtney Wilson graduated in 2006 with a BA in Music but ultimately ended up as an attorney with the Tynes Law Firm in Pascagoula, Miss. “My music experiences prepared me for my current career and I actively use things I learned everyday. I was taught to be a confident performer at USM. This helps me each and every time I step into a courtroom to try a case. You’d be surprised at how many attorneys suffer from stagefright!” Her advice to current or future students in music classes, as majors or not, was to practice! “Though you may be talented, there is no substitute for hard work.”To the parents of music students, Wilson shared that she has enjoyed few things more in life than her music degree at Southern Miss.

She holds every memory dear and continues to have a lifelong love and appreciation for the arts.

“Music teaches us to express emotion and connect with people and that it is a beautiful gift.”

VOICE STUDIES

The University of Southern Mississippi offers one of the most comprehensive vocal music programs in the Southeast. In addition to the major ensembles offered by Choral Activities, students at Southern Miss have the opportunity to be involved in the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company.

Since 1948, The University of Southern Mississippi Opera, now known as the Southern Opera and Music Theatre Co. (SOMTC), has risen to a program of excellence in the area of music stage production. As a representative ensemble of the University, the SOMTC has performed both operas and musicals each year, some of which feature guest artists. In recent seasons, the SOMTC has presented operas including Carmen, Così fan tutte and La Boheme, as well as musicals like West Side Story, Sweeney Todd and Mary Poppins.

Undergraduate students come from all over the U.S. and overseas to study music at Southern Miss. The SOMTC has a very high percentage of members who are awarded scholarships. Besides being part of this renowned ensemble, undergraduate voice majors receive regular coachings and lessons with our experienced and dedicated faculty. The program offers a vast number of opportunities for undergraduate students to develop their musical abilities and get the most valuable college experience they can have.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Bachelor of Arts in Music • Bachelor of Music - Performance • Bachelor of Music Education • Choral Licensure

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

• Master of Music - Performance, Conducting • Master of Music Education - Traditional Track, Track II - Licensure, Online • Doctor of Musical Arts - Conducting • Doctor of Musical Arts - Performance and Pedagogy • Doctor of Philosophy - Music Education

For more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/voice or www.usm.edu/opera.

VOICE/CHORAL FACULTY

Kimberley M. Davis, D.M.A.—voice J. Taylor Hightower, D.M.—voice Maryann Kyle, D.M.A.—voice, opera Jonathan Yarrington, D.M.A.—voice Gregory A. Fuller, Ph.D.—choral activities Jonathan Kilgore, D.M.A.—choral activities For bios and more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/faculty-bios.

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Being a voice teacher at The University of Southern Mississippi has its many perks. We have the ability to work with students in all levels of their education, from incoming freshmen pursuing their Music Education degree to MM and DMA in performance candidates. We provide them the important building blocks of vocal technique and coach them through the many different performance opportunities available at Southern Miss. Seeing our students blossom into seasoned performers in the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company and in the various choral ensembles is exciting, but the most satisfying part of my job is seeing these talented students grow into the next generation of teachers and performers.”

-Dr. J. Taylor Hightower

SOUTHERN OPERA AND MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY At Southern Miss, students have the opportunity to participate in rhe Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company that provides a series of life-changing musical experiences. There are numerous opportunities for vocal performance majors in fully-staged opera and musical theatre productions, as well as opera scenes programs, recitals, and other special events. Our vocal performance majors are also provided with professional experience beyond the walls of Southern Miss with organizations like the Natchez Festival of Music, Mississippi Opera, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera, and the International Performing Arts Institute.

Many of our opera and musical theatre students have been accepted into young artist programs as well as summer and international festivals. Singers from our program are often invited to participate in high-profile special events. Annually, our students win local, state and regional competitions on a regular basis. The opportunities that vocal performance majors receive at Southern Miss are indeed real-world experiences that enable them to prepare for professional careers as performing artists. Our vocal performance alumni can be found performing on stages and teaching at prestigious institutions around the globe.

The University of Southern Mississippi’s Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company began the 2016-17 season by preparing for two full productions, The Mikado and Rigoletto. Both productions were presented in cooperation with Mississippi Opera, the ninth oldest, continuously operating company in the United States. Our relationship with Mississippi Opera is an important one because our students have the opportunity to perform operas on a professional level. They receive hands-on training from professional coaches, directors and performing artists. In addition to having the opportunity to perform leading roles on our university campus, some very advanced students are offered the opportunity to be part of the Mississippi Opera Association (MOA) Young Artist Program (YAP).

The YAP program allows students to perform secondary and cover roles in Mississippi Opera productions. These opportunities are life changing in that they help pave the way for admission to major graduate schools, major apprentice programs and other professional career opportunities.

Anticipation is high for this fall’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. Performed completely by students, it follows in a long line of exceptional musical theatre productions including Sweeney Todd, Mary Poppins and more. Preparation of shows, from the classical and modern opera repertoire and a wide range of musical theatre genres both in fully-staged productions and cabaret, offer students a diverse and highly marketable skill set to help prepare them for a competitive performing career.

The Symphony Orchestra performs an average of eight concerts per year, ranging from full orchestral concerts featuring major symphonic literature to chamber orchestra works, opera, musical theatre and special high-profile events. The repertoire chosen each season is selected based on the value to the students, as well as balanced and interesting programming that continues to draw one of the largest audiences in the state. Since the orchestra’s beginning in 1919, it has presented numerous world-class artists, particularly within the last three decades.

Students have had the opportunity to perform with guest artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma and Plácido Domingo. Also, each year, master classes are offered with highly-qualified professional artists on every orchestral instrument, and students are provided the opportunity to perform in a variety of chamber music ensembles. Symphony musicians are sought after to perform at community events on a regular basis and has cemented their integration with the local community.

The Symphony Orchestra’s 97th season was a “Parade” of musical offerings. From masterworks

by Schumann, Strauss and Brahms to the university’s annual gift to the community, the Holiday Choral Spectacular, the venerable Symphony Orchestra has had a long-standing tradition of musical excellence that has welcomed some of the greatest artists of our time as well as prepare its members for an international career.

A highlight of this past season was “An International Serenade.” With one of the strongest university string sections in the country, the program featured both the Dvořák and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, two of the most challenging and well-known works in the string orchestra repertoire. The special challenges that international citizens face today in our country offered us the opportunity to not only celebrate the internationalism of the orchestra, but to launch a new scholarship program to raise funds for international music students. Music is the vehicle with which we have the ability to bring international students to Southern Miss and help them dramatically change their lives in a very positive way.

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The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra does not operate like the average college or university orchestra. The performance schedule and variety of events mirror that of a regional professional orchestra. Music is the vehicle through which our students pursue their professional goals, and it is the life-changing experiences that they have at Southern Miss that have a lifelong impact. Not only do our students have great opportunities as part of our curriculum, they also have numerous performing opportunities in our community, state and region.

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ORCHESTRAL ACTIVITIES

Ron Hancock works with a wide range of frequencies everyday. “As a Hearing Aid Specialist, I help people hear sounds better and understand speech. It’s an extremely rewarding career choice that I love!” Hancock earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 1993. “My experiences at USM, whether as section leader in marching band, principal in Wind Ensemble or as a graphic designer of the College - all these acquired skills - prepared me for future employment with three Fortune 500 companies over the next 17 years.” Ron goes on to say he realized that most skills are transferable and that in the University of Life, each of us may not end up with jobs in our respective majors. He believes the secret is to exploit your strengths, see what you have to offer that directly benefits others and then apply yourself.

He currently serves as a member of the USM School of Music Advisory Committee and as a board member of Partners for the Arts.

For more information, visit “I hold my music degree and time at USM near www.usm.edu/symphony. and dear to my heart, and I know that I am not alone in my love for my alma mater.”

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

Undergraduate students come from all over the U.S. and overseas to study music at Southern Miss, making the orchestra one of the biggest international communities on campus. The Symphony Orchestra has a large number of scholarships available, and a very high percentage of orchestra members are awarded scholarships.

Besides being part of this renowned ensemble, undergraduate string students form chamber groups receive regular coaching and lessons with our experienced and dedicated faculty. The Symphony Orchestra offers a vast number of opportunities for undergraduate students to develop their musical abilities and get the most valuable college experience they can have.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Bachelor of Arts in Music • Bachelor of Music - Performance • Bachelor of Music - Jazz Studies • Bachelor of Music Education •Instrumental Licensure • Minor in Music

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The Symphony Orchestra has helped change the lives of numerous students in many ways. Our orchestral musicians come from all over the world to pursue graduate and undergraduate degrees. Many pursue music degrees while working on other degrees, such as engineering, education and business. While musical excellence is always at the forefront of our priorities, helping students improve their future is, without question, our most important work.”

-Dr. Jay Dean

GRADUATE DEGREES

Graduate students who play in the Symphony Orchestra not only share the stage with great artists, but also receive private lessons, form chamber music groups and receive regular coaching as part of the degree program. Also, graduate students get experience in teaching, coaching and promoting music through the educational outreach programs. The Symphony Orchestra has many scholarships and graduate assistantships available. A large number of graduate students hold scholarships up to full tuition or assistantships, including full-tuition waivers plus monthly stipends. Topquality teaching, performance opportunities and financial aid make Southern Miss a great environment for graduate students to further their musical knowledge and get the experience needed for the future.

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

• Master of Music - Performance, Conducting, Woodwind Performance and Pedagogy • Master of Music Education - Traditional Track, Track II - Licensure, Online • Doctor of Musical Arts - Conducting • Doctor of Musical Arts - Performance and Pedagogy • Doctor of Philosophy - Music Education

Jorge Gonzalez is both a performing artist and an educator. He is the concertmaster of the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra in Biloxi, assistant concertmaster of the Mobile Symphony and principal second violin of the Meridian Symphony. He is a teacher and a conductor for the strings program with Hattiesburg Schools where he works with string students grades 7 through 12. He is the Director of Youth Orchestras at The University of Southern Mississippi as founder,artistic director and conductor of the Southern Mississippi Youth Orchestra; as well as the founder and artistic director of the FestivalSouth Orchestral and Chamber Music Academy.

Gonzalez regularly performs chamber music with USM alumnus and pianist Adonis Gonzalez as part of “The Gonzalez Duo.” During the summers, he is a faculty member with the Harlem Quartet Workshop at Music Mountain in Connecticut. In addition, he serves as the personnel manager for the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, Natchez Festival of Music and FestivalSouth.

There were many performance opportunities for Gonzalez, not only as a member of the USM Symphony Orchestra where he served as concertmaster from 1998 until 2005, but also through chamber music performances with other students and faculty members, as well as performing in master classes for world-renowned teacher-artists. He had the opportunity to perform alongside world class musicians such as Jean-Pierre Rampal, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Alexandre Brussilovsky, Sir James Galway, Placido Domingo and Leonard Slatkin. Dr. Stephen Redfield, his violin professor, was a very important influence on his musical growth. Gonzalez recalled always trying to imitate his sound, phrasing and musicality. Being exposed to all these wonderful local and visiting performers allowed Gonzalez to apply this knowledge to his playing.

There are two memories that Gonzalez will always cherish: When he performed as concertmaster of the Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra for the first time at Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center in New York at age 18, Dr. Tim Cook, Director of Choral Activities at the time, was the conductor of the orchestra for that concert. He told the orchestra “Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the youngest concertmaster of the USM Symphony Orchestra”; that was a very special moment for Gonzalez .

The memory that also stands out to him was walking on stage holding Itzhak Perlman’s Stradivarius when he performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Symphony.

“That moment when he handed me his violin, and they exchanged jokes about it.”

Gonzalez said that was something he will never forget.

To future students, Gonzalez encourages them to set goals for the future. “Work toward these goals by attending music camps and festivals so you establish a network with other musicians from around the globe. Play for as many different teachers as possible. There is always something to learn. Compare yourself and do your best to consistently achieve higher levels. Be realistic about your future. Capitalize on the tools that you have at hand and do something with them. As Dr. Jay Dean always says, ‘how do you see yourself in five years?’”

STRING/ORCHESTRA FACULTY Jay Dean, D.M.A.—orchestra Michael A. Miles, D.M.A. —orchestra Nicholas Ciraldo, D.M.A.—classical guitar Hsiaopei Lee, D.M.A.—viola Marcos Machado, D.M.A.—bass Stephen Redfield, D.M.A.—violin Alexander Russakovsky, D.M.A.—cello For bios and more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/faculty-bios.

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The Southern Miss cellists form an international community that includes students from the United States, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Honduras and Brazil. Weekly individual lessons provide guidance for establishing a strong and healthy technical foundation and help students cultivate a sense of stylistic awareness. The Studio Recital Class serves as a forum where the cellists perform and discuss their current repertoire. The Southern Miss Cello Festivals offer students a unique opportunity to participate in master classes, hear guest artist performances and rub elbows with the best professionals in the field.”

-Dr. Alexander Russakovsky

CLASSICAL GUITAR STUDIO

The Classical Guitar Studio at Southern Miss is one of the leading guitar departments in the region. It is headed by nationally recognized concert artist and educator, Dr. Nicholas Ciraldo, and boasts a large number of talented students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students of Dr. Ciraldo have gone on to pursue graduate degrees at the New England Conservatory, the Manhattan School of Music, Arizona State University and the University of Texas at Austin, among others. Students have also graduated cum laude and won teaching positions at various institutions around the country.

The Classical Guitar Studio focuses on creating and developing the “whole guitarist” – someone with solid technique, well-trained musicianship, keen sight-reading ability, excellent aural skills, practical foundations in teaching, well-versed knowledge of the major repertoire, and realistic perspectives on the field. It also provides a positive approach to competition, collegiality, careers and performance confidence.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Bachelor of Arts in Music • Bachelor of Music - Performance • Bachelor of Music - Jazz Studies • Bachelor of Music Education •Instrumental or Choral Licensure

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Master of Music - Performance • Master of Music Education • Doctor of Musical Arts Performance and Pedagogy

For more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/guitar.

“It was an invaluable experience for me as a musician,” alumnus Nathan Jones says of his time at Southern Miss. “I was afforded a wealth of opportunities – be it as a solo pianist or collaborative artist.

So many skills, pieces of advice and life lessons that I carry with me to this day can be traced back to that place. To my teachers, Dr. Moak, Dr. Elder and Mr. Zaninelli, I owe so much that a simple ‘thank you’ seems insufficient.”

Nathan earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance at USM. He and his wife, Allison, now live in Laurel, Miss., where he serves as the Director of Music and Organist at the historic First Trinity Presbyterian Church. His duties there include playing for all services, directing the Chancel Choir and coordinating the church’s concerts throughout the year. “I find myself in an incredible church that truly appreciates the arts and houses one of the finest AeolianSkinner pipe organs in the Southeast. Spending a couple of my undergraduate years in the Southern Chorale under Dr. Fuller helped prepare me for the unexpected pleasure of getting to work with the choir at First-Trinity.”

In addition to his piano and organ work while at Southern Miss, Nathan had the opportunity to study composition privately with retired Composer-in-Residence, Luigi Zaninelli. He still fondly considers this experience to be one of the most life changing for him as a musician and young composer. “It was a whole new world and a new way of looking at music for me. I had always wanted to write music but had no idea where to start. My time with Mr. Z changed everything, and as much as I enjoy performing and playing, nothing compares to crafting a new piece of music and hearing it for the first time. Now I’m writing for myself, my choir and other choirs in the area, and it’s incredibly rewarding for me personally.”

Most recently, Nathan has begun something of an alternate musical persona – incorporating a new-found love for recording/sound designing techniques in a new compositional style. “I have a number of projects coming up that I’m really excited about. I have no doubt that my time as a collaborative artist at Southern Miss has translated to my ability to network and meet incredibly talented people with similar interests.”

“It is true that the real world is much bigger than college, but if you apply yourself, practice professionalism while you’re there and take advantage of the opportunities offered, you will find that you are well prepared when it’s time to walk across the stage on graduation day.”

PIANO FACULTY

Michael Bunchman, D.M.A.—collaborative pianist Ellen Price Elder, D.M.A.—piano Elizabeth Moak, D.M.A.—piano Zhaolei Xie, M.M. —piano

For bios and more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/faculty-bios.

WELCOME Dr. Michael Bunchman

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COLLABORATIVE PIANO

“I am thrilled to be joining the accomplished music faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi!

I look forward to many fulfilling musical experiences to come.”

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As a piano student at Southern Miss, you will work closely with our dedicated faculty members and enjoy ample performance opportunities, including solo, chamber music and collaborative experience. Our students can also participate in the School of Music Concerto Competition, leading to a performance with the Symphony Orchestra or Wind Ensemble if selected as winner.

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The piano program aims to develop the student’s abilities as a pianist and musician and to prepare and qualify the student for either a career as an independent piano instructor or for graduate study in music, leading to a possible college teaching position. Specific objectives include technical development at the keyboard; increasing the student’s knowledge of repertoire (both in quantity and scope); developing interpretive abilities in a wide variety of styles; increasing familiarity with the literature of the keyboard; providing opportunities to perform; and developing sight-reading and memorizing abilities, as well as “functional” piano skills.

Our students can also gain valuable teaching experience by participating in our community music program, the Southern Miss Piano Institute (SMPI). Our mission is to offer a quality education in piano to pre-college students and adults in the community. Our faculty is dedicated to help students reach their highest potential and to equip them with musicianship skills that can be applied to all areas of music. All students enrolled in SMPI will receive private instruction, as well as performance opportunities in institute recitals and in local, state and regional festivals and other competitive events.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Bachelor of Arts in Music • Bachelor of Music - Performance • Bachelor of Music Education • Instrumental Licensure • Minor in Music

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

• Master of Music - Piano Performance • Master of Music - Performance - Collaborative Piano • Master of Music Education

KAWAI EPIC INSTITUTION

ELITE PERFORMING INSTRUMENT COLLECTION

For more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/keyboard/about.

Joe Trahan is the Media Relations and Corporate Communications Coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys and the primary PR/ Media contact for both the AT&T Stadium and the new training and practice facility, The Star, where he helps promote information for both facilities, including working events from the college National Championship Game to Beyonce. Being a part of The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band was something that translated well to working with a sports organization. Joe admitted he was never the best saxophonist, but, instead, he focused and prided himself on being the best marcher on the practice field because that was his role.

“It is the same thing when working with the Cowboys, as everyone has a role, no matter how big or small.” Even as a non-music major, he still felt that he was important to the success of The Pride because of what he could bring, and he felt that his bandmates saw and recognized that.

“The Pride helped me carve discipline, honor and a sense of commitment into the person that I am today. SMTTT!”

PERCUSSION STUDIES

The Percussion Studio at Southern Miss has earned an excellent national and international reputation, performing at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and several national and international percussion festivals. The Drum Line and Percussion Ensemble have been featured on the Vic Firth, Pearl and Remo websites and have recently performed with renowned artists such as Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Ney Rosauro, Richie Garcia, Bill Summers, Juan Alamo and Ricky Sebastian. The Steel Pan Orchestra is one of the elite steel pan programs in the country and has recorded and/or performed with the likes of Andy Narell, Victor Provost, Robert Greenidge and Ray Holman. Percussion students can also perform in the Samba Band, Percussion Jazz Combo and Latin Lab (Salsa Band). Guest artists frequently give performances and clinics on various percussion instruments. The facilities include a percussion room, steel band room, drum set lab, three teaching studios and seven additional practice rooms, all designated for percussion practice.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Bachelor of Arts in Music • Bachelor of Music - Performance • Bachelor of Music Education (Instrumental Licensure)

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

• Master of Music - Percussion Performance

and Pedagogy • Master of Music Education • Doctor of Musical Arts Performance and Pedagogy

PERCUSSION STUDIES FACULTY John Wooton, D.M.A.—percussion studies For bios and more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/faculty-bios.

For more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/percussion.

When Henrique De Almeida arrived at Southern Miss to work on his Master’s in Music Performance after attending Berklee, the first thing he noticed was how small it was! Then he realized, because of his thick accent and that of the students, understanding each other was going to be a challenge. Soon, that all faded as the caliber of musicianship he experienced became the only communication he needed. He had heard that the percussion teacher was a “beast.” What impressed him the most was that Dr. John Wooton didn’t just “talk the talk” but he literally “walked the walk.”

“He could play drum set, classical orchestral percussion and African, at such a highly proficient and dynamic range” said De Almeida. “His example became my model, and it paid off in my career path.”

While primarily a “drum set guy,” De Almeida wanted to write music so the diversity of preparation helped him. While at Southern Miss, he became the drummer for Wooton’s band, Kaiso. He got into the Air Force Band because he was able to play a variety of things, which led to a position in the Air Force Academy Band.

This vast array of experience set him up for his current position as Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music, where he teaches several classes on drum set – intro to Brazilian music, Afro-Cuban music, double bass integration, set chart reading, polyrhythms, Moeller technique, rock repertory and application, as well as private students and recital preparation. He is the department advisor for percussion students, and he is on the Percussion Dept. Education Committee that design courses and curriculum.

Recently, his book on bass integration, Double Bass

Drum Integration: For the Jazz/Fusion Drummer,

won 4 stars from Modern Drummer Magazine.

He also advises students to understand the new music business arena.

“Be concerned about your artistic side, but definitely be concerned about the business side. To make a living with music, you have to be a person that understands what it means to be of service to others. Line up your passion and dreams with servicing humanity – doesn’t matter what field.

“Sometimes you have to have a job, but that might not be your work – your mission.”

MUSIC EDUCATION

Getting a music education degree at Southern Miss has proven to be a rewarding and exciting experience for thousands of graduates over the many years of the program’s existence.

The current music education program at Southern Miss looks at the present and exciting future of the music education field in order to offer not only a strong program, but one that garners national and international attention.

Joined by conductors of some of the finest university ensembles in the world, and a full faculty providing private lessons on all instruments and voice, the music education faculty represents a deep and diverse background of teaching experiences, professional appointments and published research. A brand new distance-learning room with state-of-the-art equipment, coupled with access to standard and newly emerging tools for successful teaching, helps make the music education programs at Southern Miss unique, comprehensive and noteworthy.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

• Bachelor of Music Education • Choral and Instrumental Licensure Successful completion of this degree certifies graduates to teach in schools as band directors, choir directors, orchestra directors, elementary music teachers, etc.

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Master of Music Education

For all those with an undergraduate degree in music education who wish to further their education in music education

• Master of Music Education (Track II - Licensure)

For all those without an undergraduate degree in music education who wish to seek teaching certification in music education

• Master of Music Education (Online)

For those seeking a master’s degree in music education and wish to do so online, our MME program is one of the best financial online degree bargains in music education.

Degree completion can be accomplished in as little as one calendar year.

• Ph.D. in Music Education

The purpose of the terminal degree in music education is to provide students with knowledge and skills to become leaders in the field of music education and to advance the culture of music teaching and learning forward.

For more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/music-education.

MUSIC EDUCATION FACULTY

Anita Davis, Ph.D.—music education Steven R. Moser, Ph.D.—conducting/music education Webb Parker, Ph.D.—music education Amanda Schlegel, Ph.D.—music education Mark Waymire, Ph.D.—music education For bios and more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/faculty-bios.

“

In all the classes I teach, I have one dominant, overarching philosophical tenet that dictates the content and the pedagogy of the course: the only way to predict the future is to create it. I want students to be skilled in that which we have always done, but to also kindle a passion for being change agents in the field and teach more music to more people.”

-Dr. Amanda Schlegel

Alumna Brittany Swindoll is in her first year as an assistant band director for the Petal School District in Petal, Miss., where she returned to the Hattiesburg area after beginning her teaching career on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In her daily responsibilities, she conducts a high school concert ensemble, teaches various middle school and beginner band classes, and oversees all activities at Petal Middle School, including an after school private lessons program that allows sixth, seventh and eighth grade students to study individually with USM students and alumni on a weekly basis.

Swindoll credits her preparation as an educator to the high level of standards at Southern Miss. No matter her level of preparation, there was always the lingering thought of someone being more prepared or someone who worked harder. “With the ever-growing talent pool in the School of Music, the drive to better myself was always there,” Swindoll stated. She also gives credit to USM for the paradigm shift that her professors offered. “There was a certain standard for which I had set for myself and future students that was challenged by the music education faculty at USM. Drs. Schlegel and Waymire encouraged their students to question the logic behind every philosophical and pedagogical decision made as opposed to accepting the status quo. Each and every day that I am in front of students, I now question the why and how behind what I am doing.”

In the spring of 2012, Swindoll had the opportunity to perform as part of Festa Fraschillo in what would be Dr. Thomas Fraschillo’s final ensemble at USM. She considers that performance and the rehearsals leading up to it to be one of the best memories of her time at USM. She remembers the look on Dr. Fraschillo’s face as he gave his final release. “That will forever be embedded in my memory. His sheer look of exhilaration made me fully aware of just how much of himself he had given to his students not only then, but throughout his career. On the days that I question my efficacy and worth as an educator, I reflect upon that exact moment in hopes that I will have the same impact on my students.”

Throughout her experience as an educator, her passion for both education and music has guided her every step of the way. When advising potential music educators, Swindoll urges them to find their calling within the field and pursue it. “Regardless of your role in music education, find what you truly want to do and be the absolute best at that. Right now, we are in a constant battle to substantiate music’s value in our schools. With more and more passionate educators in the field showing the positive effects of learning music, that battle will become easier to fight.”

Emily Pence Brown is the assistant professor of choral music education and director of the Women’s Chorus at Bowling Green State University. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Emily is an active researcher and presenter, focusing on teacher talk time and vocal health. Southern Miss played a vital role in preparing Emily for her success within higher education. While working on her PhD, Emily was offered multiple opportunities to collaborate on research projects, teach a variety of music courses, supervise student teachers and pursue her own research agenda. Having the freedom and trust to really find her voice was an invaluable gift that the university provided.

Southern Miss holds a special place in Emily’s heart. She has so many fond memories regarding her time as a student, teacher and collaborator.

Pinpointing a specific memory is quite difficult, but rather it’s the shared experiences and formed relationships that stick with her as she continues to grow her career. Some of her greatest confidants are peers and professors from the university that are always a phone call away.

If you are a current graduate student, potential applicant or proud alumnus, Emily’s advice is the same: “College is about relationships.” The people that she has been able to interact with have been top researchers, master pedagogs and strong allies throughout her time as a student and now professional. Southern Miss cares about the whole student and supports the individual needs, strengths and goals so that you can be successful during and after your time here. The connections that were made were the most valuable take-away and will continue to be an asset throughout the rest of her career.

Southern Miss opened doors for alumnus Dr. David Whitman. He earned his doctorate in music from USM in 2011 and considers himself “an artist first and a professional educator on a mission to change lives.” The degree from Southern Miss helped him develop his affiliation with San Diego State University, where he currently teaches jazz vibraphone, percussion pedagogy and, sometimes, classical percussion. He is also Adjunct Faculty at San Diego Christian College and the Arts Department Chair/ Instructional Leader at Guajome Park Academy – a high-performing innovative charter school. “As an educator, my students always come first – it’s about them.”

As an artist, he continues to refine his craft. He primarily performs jazz, orchestral and solo percussion engagements and covers a broad range of styles he describes as “pretty much any music you hear on the radio, at a university, on the movies or in the media, or anywhere else.” His attention to detail and versatility have made him one of the “top top-call” players in the San Diego area (San Diego Symphony, San Diego Musical Theater, San Diego City Ballet Orchestra, Sand Diego Music Awards).

“I do about a hundred shows per year – there’s only so much free time to fill with concerts,” stated Whitman.

The release of David Whitman’s new album “Oh, Clara!” is being well received internationally and was recorded in the famed “Studio ‘B’” at the Capitol Records building in Hollywood, Calif. “I picked that room because it is widely regarded as one of the best ... for recording drums in the world,” said David. Add his name to a long list that includes Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Diana Krall, Katy Perry and so many more beloved artists. The album features the trumpet and charts of Grammy Award-nominated composer Andrew Neesley (Bobby Sinabria, Jesus on the Mainline) and stellar playing by Grammy-nominated pianist Geoffrey Keezer, who himself played with Art Blakey as a Jazz Messenger (not to mention Ray Brown Trio, Chris Botti, etc.). Rob Thorsen, one of the hardest working bass players in Southern California fills out the rhythm section, along with New York-based producer/guitarist Tomek Miernowski and LAbased producer/guitarist Chris Montgomery. Chris, who has worked with major record companies for years, co-produced the album with David.

The album also features wonderful solos and ensemble work by Francisco Torres (Poncho Sanchez and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band) and Tom Luer. Tom, who subs in with the Big Phat Band and is a regular with the Monkestra, is himself a Southern Miss alum.

When asked about advice, David replied “failure is an essential stepping stone to success, no matter what you are endeavoring to do. Rejection is merely an invitation to try again.” He also believes it is important to “never think that you have ‘arrived’ or that you are better than the people around you – because you are not.”

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OFFERED: • Bachelor of Music - Jazz Studies

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The jazz studies program has a long tradition at Southern Miss, spanning almost 50 years, and offers both talented majors and non-majors the opportunity to be creatively engaged in learning and performing this uniquely American art form. The jazz program is located in our newly-renovated facility in the Fine Arts Building, which includes our large rehearsal hall, combo rehearsal space, and library and teaching studios. Jazz performance opportunities include 20-piece big bands and a variety of combos, which can include nontraditional instrumentation. Students are encouraged to explore both the great American songbook of jazz standards, as well as create their own compositions and arrangements. Course offerings include four semesters of jazz improvisation, jazz arranging and composition, jazz history, jazz band methods, as well as the previously mentioned ensembles. Jazz courses are open to interested non-majors with instructor approval.

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JAZZ STUDIES FACULTY

Lawrence M. Panella, M.M.—jazz studies For bios and more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/faculty-bios.

“

Jazz is a creative musical genre that defies set boundaries. It’s an ever-changing musical form that allows for all sorts of explorations and cross-pollinations. For me, it is an exciting prospect to introduce students to lots of inspiring musicians and their creative works, as well to help students discover their own creative voices. When that creative excitement spreads from student to student, look out!

That’s when my job can be downright fun.”

-Larry Panella

For more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/jazz-studies-program

Norris B. Thompson, MD, was a molecular biology major with a passion for music.

Thompson chose USM because of its robust and broad science curriculum, ROTC program and outstanding music program. At USM, he was a member of the Jazz Band led by Larry Panella.Thompson said he didn’t think he would’ve been as successful in college without the band and that it was integral in keeping him grounded and connected to the community.

The 1999 graduate is now an OB/GYN at University of Alabama-Birmingham. Because of music, he believes he is a better person and physician.

To parents of music students, “It’s hard. Be supportive and listen. It’s a gift. Embrace their uniqueness. Respect them as adults and artists, and to the students, do what you love. Enjoy the now. Build relationships. Share your art and be relentless.”

MUSIC HISTORY

The B.M. and M.M. programs in music history and literature at Southern Miss offer students advanced training leading toward professional careers in college teaching and scholarly research. Students enjoy a program that strikes its own balance between traditional historic musicology and interdisciplinary connections to music theory, ethnomusicology and the humanities, in general.

The musicology faculty is a friendly community of researchers whose areas of expertise represent a variety of scholarly approaches and critical methods.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OFFERED: • Bachelor of Music - History and Literature

GRADUATE DEGREE OFFERED:

• Master of Music - History and Literature

MUSIC THEORY/HISTORY FACULTY Danny Beard, Ph.D.—music theory Joseph Brumbeloe, Ph.D.—music theory Chris Goertzen, Ph.D.—musicology Edward Hafer, Ph.D.—musicology Douglas Rust, Ph.D.—music theory

For bios and more information, visit www.usm.edu/music/faculty-bios.

MUSIC THEORY

The music theory program, within the School of Music, promotes music theory as a subject of broad and passionate interest to performers, historians, ethnomusicologists, composers and theorists. For undergraduates, we offer a wide range of courses with various levels of concentration in the discipline.

While many of our undergraduates have gone on to have professional careers in music, others have used their music study as an enriching foundation for other pursuits. Within the Southern Miss Graduate School, the music theory program offers a Master of Music degree in music theory. Normally, between two and four students are admitted each year, some with generous teaching assistantships, and they add to a tightly knit community of scholars who both benefit from, and add to, the intellectual and cultural life of the University. Most graduates continue their studies at another university to earn the Ph.D., using their time at Southern Miss to begin presenting and publishing research which will make their applications more competitive.

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: • Bachelor of Arts in Music • Bachelor of Music - Performance

GRADUATE DEGREE OFFERED: • Master of Music in Music Theory

“

None of us are inventing the idea of music-this comes to us through thousands of years of people getting their hands, hearts and heads to cooperate to shape sounds with special and lasting meanings. We try at Southern Miss to balance our efforts in building on the past, to get our own hands, hearts and heads to work together to re-invent great music every day.”

-Dr. Chris Goertzen

ALUMNI: LET US HEAR FROM YOU!

We love hearing the great things our alumni are doing!

Share your story with us for possible inclusion in our next ENCORE! publication.

Visit www.usm.edu/music and click on the Alumni tab to fill out the online submission.

CONNECT

Follow us on Facebook at “USMSchoolofMusic,” on Twitter at “USMmusic,” and on YouTube at “USMmusic1” for the latest news, photos, videos and more.

MAILING LISTS

Be a part of the Southern Miss Alumni Association by visiting www.southernmissalumni.com.

“Southern mem’ries we shall cherish...”

If you would like to receive additional Southern Miss School of Music information and updates, visit www.usm.edu/music and click on the green envelope icon at the bottom right corner of the home page.

CALENDAR

For the most up-to-date list of concerts, visit our online calendar at www.usm.edu/music.

We love to have you visit for concert and events anytime!

SCHOOL OF MUSIC AUDITION DATES JANUARY 26, 2018 FEBRUARY 16, 2018 MARCH 9, 2018 FINANCIAL AID PRIORITY DEADLINE IS IN EARLY 2018 Other audition opportunities may be available on a case-by-case basis at SICC, All-South, and other events and workshops.

Please speak to specific faculty within each area to confirm.

Offering everything you need to kickstart a successful career, Southern Miss is one of the most affordable universities in the country.

Qualified music majors have the opportunity to earn up to a full-tuition scholarship or service award to offset costs!

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES All woodwind, brass and string instruments; percussion, piano and voice; music theory and history; music education, conducting, opera and jazz

GRADUATE DEGREES • Master of Music in Performance, Conducting, Theory and Composition, History and Literature, Woodwind Performance and Pedagogy

• Master of Music Education, Choral and Instrumental • Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting and Performance and Pedagogy • Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education

ONLINE

From the comfort of your home, complete your master’s degree online in music education for the cost of in-state tuition no matter where you live!

THREE EASY STEPS

APPLY TO THE UNIVERSITY NOW

choose.usm.edu

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID NOW

choose.usm.edu

Don’t wait! Apply for admission to the university so everything is all set when you audition later.

Visit choose.usm.edu to begin your journey!

With deadlines moving earlier and earlier, the sooner you apply for financial assistance, the better.

Visit choose.usm.edu and scrolll down to Financial Aid Sources to get started.

AUDITION FOR THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC

usm.edu/music

All prospective music majors must audition regardless of their choice of degree plan.

Visit www.usm.edu/music, then click Future Students tab and Auditions link to sign up.

Need help? Call the School of Music admissions coordinator at 601.266.5366.

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Partners for the Arts (PFTA) continues to provide essential funding for a variety of School of Music performances. Due to a recent reorganization of PFTA, your membership dollars will have an even greater impact on the performances we produce. Please visit www.usm.edu/arts and become a “Friend of Music� to show your support. Thank you!

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