Governor's School for the Arts | Middle Tennessee State University

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Music Faculty

Jerome Reed - Music Division Chair and Piano Faculty

Jerome Reed has been on the faculty of the Governor's School for the Arts for 17 years, serving not only as a piano faculty member, but coordinating the chamber music program, solo competition, theory and interdisciplinary studies . He has taught at Lipscomb University for 18 years and holds the rank of professor. His B.M. degree in piano performance is from Middle Tennessee State University and his M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in Piano Performance are from The Catholic University of America. He has served as president of both the Tennessee Music Teachers Association and the Southern Division of Music Teachers National Association. He has performed throughout the U. S. and in Europe and has had performances broadcast over public radio in the U. S. and Australia. His recordings appear on the Capstone label. He has received grants for research on the music of Olivier Messiaen and Charles Ives. This year he will present recitals in Hungary, Italy and Belgium.

Raphael Bundage - Choral Faculty and Conductor

Raphael Bundage is the Director of Choral Activities at Middle Tennessee State University and is the assistant conductor and chorus master of the Nashville Opera Association. He has recently led international concert tours to England, France and Austria. Dr. Bundage has had extensive experience as clinician and adjudicator in the choral field and as a teacher of conducting. He holds a bachelor degree from Texas Christian University and a masters and doctorate from the Eastman School of Music. Prior to his graduate study, he was supervisor of choral music in the Texas Public School System and while at Eastman, he was director of the Eastman Chamber Chorus and the assistant director of the Eastman-Rochester Symphony Chorus, Donald Neuen, conductor. He studied with such extraordinary master teachers as Alfred Mann, Julius Herford, and Robert Shaw. Dr. Bundage has conducted a wide range of musical activites including opera, musical theatre, choral and orchestral literature. His recent repertoire has included Brahms' German Requiem, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Verdi's Rigoletto, Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado and Mozart's Missa Brevis in F which marked his debut at Carnegie Hall.

Phil Barham - Saxophone

Michigan native Phil Barham's phenomenal playing has literally taken him around the globe. 'An American master saxophonist…' declared a London critic after Phil Barham's debut there in 1990. That recital in the Purcell Room, London, was part of his first European tour of debut recitals that also took him to Oslo, Norway, where he played in the Universitetets Aula, and to Geneva, Switzerland, with two recitals, one at the Musee International de la Croix-Rouge and the other in the Palais de I'Athenee. Audiences and critics agreed with the opinion already offered by the New York Times: '…ability to swing at a dancing rhythm or to blister through a swift rippling melody…' published after his New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1987. Mr. Barham has received critical acclaim across the country. At a recent concert in the Midwest, one critic was moved to write:'…world-class saxophonist…technical virtuosity…a dazzling performance that brought the audience to its feet in a standing ovation.'On March 2, 1991, Mr. Barham completed his 1990-1991 season with a solo recital at Merkin Concert Hall, New York City. Mr. Barham presented his Tokyo debut under the auspices of "Music 2000"; on October 30, 1993. This concert was held in Sogetsu Hall and featured music by American composers. On September 28, 1994, Mr. Barham performed for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series held at the Chicago Public Library Cultural Center. Recently, he was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to record the works for U.S. contemporary composer Rodney Waschka II. Mr. Barham has performed at the University of North Texas, Denton as guest artist. Phil Barham received the Bachelor of Music degree in woodwinds (1982) from the University of North Texas and the Master of Music degree in wind instruments/saxophone (1983) from the University of Michigan. A former saxophone instructor at California State University, Northridge, Mr. Barham was also a clinician under the Yamaha Musical Instruments Performing Artist program. Mr. Barham is presently a clinician for the Selmer Company and Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Tennessee Technological University. He has also been the Saxophone Instructor for Western Michigan University's Summer Seminar. In 1989, he received the honor of being among the 'Outstanding Young Men of America.' In constant demand as a clinician and performer, Mr. Barham has appeared regularly with the Southwest Michigan Symphony, the South Bend Symphony and the Kalamazoo Symphony. Mr. Barham has also appeared on Public Television's WNIT "Open Studio";. His recent appearances include solo performances with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and the Holland, MI Symphony Orchestra. This year he will premiere three new works under the auspices of Worldwide Concurrent Premieres Commissioning Fund.

Jocelyn Fisher - Voice and Opera Scenes Soprano

Jocelyn Fisher has recently returned to her home state of Tennessee after living in Columbus, Ohio for fifteen years. She holds a BS in Music Education from The University of Tennessee, MA in Vocal Performance from Middle Tennessee State University, and has done work toward a DMA in Vocal Performance at The Ohio State University. She has been on the voice faculties of Kenyon College, Otterbein College, Middle Tennessee State University, and currently teaches at Belmont University. Her teaching and singing encompass a variety of styles including classical, musical theatre, jazz, and pop. Winner of the Opera Columbus vocal competition, Ms. Fisher was also a national winner of the recitalist's competition sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, (NATSAA). In concert, Ms. Fisher has performed with the Orchestra of Santa Fe {Messiah and Lloyd Webber's Requiem), Indianapolis Summer Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, and Dallas Symphony. She made her European debut with the Graz (Austria) Festival Orchestra with conductor Julius Rudel. Her opera engagements include the companies of Opera Columbus, Fort Worth, Dayton, Lyric Opera of Dallas, Columbus Light Opera, and Starlight Musicals of Indianapolis. A long-time favorite at Opera Columbus, she has appeared as Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Frasquita in Carmen, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, and Marzelline in Fidelio. Highly acclaimed for her portrayal of operetta heroines, Ms. Fisher has sung and danced her way through the roles of Kathie in The Student Prince, Margot in The Desert Song, Marsinah in Kismet, the title role and Valencienne in The Merry Widow, and Johanna in Sweeney Todd, as well as the romantic lead in numerous productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado, Pirates, Pinafore, Ruddigore, Yeomen, and Gondoliers.

Keith Moore - Voice and Opera Scenes

Dr. Keith B. Moore is Coordinator of Vocal Studies at Belmont University, where he teaches voice, foreign language diction courses and opera literature. Dr. Moore is also director of the Sanctuary Chorale at the First Presbyterian Church of Nashville. During his twenty-four years in Nashville, he has performed many roles with Nashville Opera and has taught in exchange programs with the Hochscule fur Musik in Dresden, Germany. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, he returns to Governor's School for his second year. Dr. Moore performs a wide range of repertoire and is available for private voice lessons.

Amy Tate Williams - Voice and Opera Scenes

Amy Tate Williams serves as Chorus Master and Accompanist for the Nashville Opera Association. Joining the company in 1998, Amy has musically prepared all mainstage productions, acted as Music Director for OperaNET, and performed as soloist and accompanist for all NOA fundraisers, promotions and events. A native of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Amy holds degrees in Piano Performance from Western Kentucky University and Florida State University. She has been a free-lance coach accompanist at Glimmerglass Opera, Nevada Opera, Augusta Opera, and Des Moines Metro Opera, served two years as Music Director for OPERAIowa, and trained for two years in the Opera Studio program at Houston Grand Opera. She has also directed a high school choral department, taught private voice, piano and drama and led an acappella ensemble on a European tour. Amy is a published composer of sacred anthems and music for solo voice. Her two children's operas, RUMPELSTILTSKIN and THE LOOKING GLASS, have been produced for educational tours by Nashville Opera's OperaNET, Des Moines Metro Opera's OperaIOWA, and The University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Lynn Rice See - Piano Faculty

Since her 1982 Carnegie Recital Hall debut, Lynn Rice-See has appeared as recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber musician in the United States and in Europe. She has appeared three times with the Janácek Philharmonic Orchestra in Ostrava, Czech Republic. In the United States she has appeared as soloist with the Gulf Coast Symphony, the Huntsville Symphony, the Johnson City Symphony, and the Kingsport Symphony. In 1992, she appeared in recital in Brussels, sponsored by the Ministere de la Communauté Français, and her 1993 recital tour of Germany was sponsored by the German-American Institute in Saarbrücken. She was a member of the Tennessee Arts Commission touring roster from 1991 through 1994. Rice-See holds the Bachelor of Music degree from Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Walter Hautzig, the Master of Music from The Juilliard School where she studied with Beveridge Webster, and the Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California, where she studied with John Perry. She is also a member of the faculties of the Adamant Music School in Vermont and the Piano Wellness Seminar . Prior to coming to MTSU, Rice-See worked as an opera coach/assistant conductor at the opera houses of Münster and Essen, Germany as well as at Michigan Opera and Dayton Opera in the United States. She has also taught at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, East Tennessee State University, and William Carey College. In celebration of the Tennessee bicentennial she and mezzo-soprano Sharon Mabry issued a compact disk on the Heartdance label of works by Tennessee composers. This disk contains world premiere recordings of works for solo piano and mezzo-soprano and piano by Kenton Coe of Johnson City, Michael Alec Rose of Nashville, Jeffrey Wood of Clarksville, and Michael Linton of Murfreesboro.

Mark Reneau - Violin Faculty

Mark Reneau is Concertmaster of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, and prior to assuming that position in the 1998 season, he was the Associate Concertmaster of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Orchestra for 14 years. He has played with many orchestras in the Southeast, including Charleston, Asheville, and Augusta. He is also a member of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. He was a full-time member of the Nashville Symphony for two seasons in the mid- seventies. Since 1986, he has joined the North Carolina Symphony for their summer residency at Appalachian State University in Boone. Also, for many years, he was a violinist in the Cullowhee (NC) Music Festival. He holds two degrees in violin performance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and his teachers include Donald Zimmer and William Preucil. He has also received coaching from Eugene Sarbu, Chee-Yun, Pamela Frank, and Emanuel Borok. He attended the Aspen Music Festival, where his primary teacher was Shirley Givens and his chamber music coach was Ruth Laredo.

Christine Isley-Farmer - Voice / Alexander Technique

Christine Isley-Farmer is Professor of Voice at Middle Tennessee State University and a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. Dr. Isley received her Alexander Technique training at the Alexander Alliance in Philadelphia and became a certified teacher with Alexander International in 1997. Further studies have included work with Brabara Conable, author of How to Learn the Alexander Technique and What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body as well as at the American School for the Alexander Technique in New York City and with Alex and Joan Murray in Urbana, Illinois. Dr. Isley frequently gives workshops on the Alexander Technique. She has taught at universities and colleges througout the Southeast. She has also been invited as guest clinician for several professional societies including the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Last year her article on the Alexander Technique was published in the NATS Journal of Singing. In addition to her workshops, Dr. Isley also teaches a course on the Alexander Technique at MTSU and maintains a private client base . She continues her singing career with performances in the US and abroad.

John Dodson - Orchestra Conductor

John Dodson is Music Director of Adrian Symphony Orchestra. Previously he was Music Director of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra New York, Philharmonia Orchestra of Tucson, and of the Coronado Music Festival. Dodson has guest conducted in the United States, Mexico, and Europe, working with such orchestras as the Budapest Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfónica UANL in Monterrey, Mexico, Poland's Bialystok Symphony Orchestra, and, in Russia, the Omsk Philharmonic, Irkutsk Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra of Bashkortistan and the National Symphony Orchestra of Tomsk. He has served as cover conductor for the Saint Louis Symphony and been active in summer festivals across the country, conducting at the Oklahoma Arts Institute, Sewanee Music Center, the Colorado Symphony Summer Orchestra Camp and the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts. Mr. Dodson studied conducting with Frederik Prausnitz at Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he received a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting. He was a Conducting Fellow at the Aspen Music School with studies under Paul Vermel, and holds a Bachelor's degree in music from Tennessee Technological University.

Amy Dorfman - Piano Faculty Pianist

Amy Dorfman has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and in Europe. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Ms. Dorfman attended Indiana University's School of Music, where she studied with Alfonso Montecino and James Tocco. Other teachers and coaches have included Rosalyn Tureck, Menachem Pressler, Josef Gingold, Janos Starker, and Pierre Fournier. As a guest artist, she has performed at the Sedona Music Festival and in chamber recitals at Carnegie Recital Hall,CAMI Hall, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Ms.Dorfman has joined the Blair String Quartet in programs at the Music Mountain Chamber Series in Connecticut. For over twenty years, Dorfman has collaborated with the great American bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer performing in such series as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in Alice Tully Hall and Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, as well as on NPR's St. Paul Sunday Morning and The Lonesome Pine Special. In 2002, Dorfman joined colleagues Carolyn Huebl and Felix Wang to establish the Blakemore Trio. In addition to their concerts at home in Nashville, the trio has appeared in chamber music series around the country. Since 1990, Amy has been a member of the Dorfman/Katahn Piano Duo with Enid Katahn. The Duo has appeared with the Nashville Symphony and has presented recital programs nationally. She has received several awards for her playing, including the Individual Artist Fellowship from the Tennessee Arts Commission and first prize in the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. She is currently Associate Professor of Piano at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University.

David Northington - Piano Faculty

At his New York debut recital at Carnegie Recital Hall, the New York Times called David Northington "an immensely gifted musician…who combines the technical mastery of a virtuoso with the musical sensitivity of a poet."; Such critical accolades have followed Northington throughout the world in concerts and concerto engagements. His tours have included the United States, eastern and Western Europe, Canada, China, and Russia. In addition to recitals and concerto engagements, he has given master classes at many of the leading conservatories in these countries. David Northington's masterful pianism has won him first prizes in the Concert Artists Guild Competition, the East/West Artists Competition, the American Music Scholarship Association's International Competition, the unanimous Judges Prize at the Fourth Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and selection to the Artistic Ambassador Program sponsored by the United States Information Agency. As an Artistic Ambassador for the United States, Northington has toured extensively in France, Spain and Portugal. In addition to broadcasts throughout Europe on the Voice of America, he has filmed recitals in the historic Tallyrand Theatre in Paris for telecast on French National Television. This spring, there will be an international release of Northington's compact disc recording of the waltzes of Chopin on the Centaur Records label. Dr. Northington will perform solo recitals in the United States, Italy and Poland during the 2006 season. Since receiving degrees at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Yale University School of Music, David Northington has taught on the faculties of several universities. His many teaching awards include the Tennessee Music Teachers Association's Teacher of the Year Award and the Tennessee Governor's School of the Arts "Outstanding Teacher Award'. Dr. Northington has also been the recipient of the Tennessee Arts Commission's Artist of the Year Award. Presently he is a Professor of Piano at the University of Tennessee, School of Music.

Deanna Little - Flute Faculty

Deanna R. Hahn-Little was appointed assistant professor of flute at Middle Tennessee State University in 2002. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa, a Master of Music degree in flute performance and the Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University. Her primary instructors include James Scott, Kate Lukas, Peter Lloyd, Trevor Wye, and Angeleita Floyd. At MTSU, Hahn teaches applied flute, classes in woodwind methods, literature and pedagogy and directs the MTSU Flute Choir. She is the author of Daily Flutin', a daily warm-up and exercise book for flutists, and has arranged several works for flute ensemble. As an active performer, Hahn is a member of the Stones River Chamber Players, flutist in "Triga" (MTSU Faculty) and a frequent guest on Nashville's WPLN "Live from Studio C" radio broadcasts. She has performed with the Nashville Symphony, the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Huntsville Symphony ( AL), and Evansville Philharmonic (IN). Hahn was a two time winner in the National Flute Association's Young Artist Competition (1998, 1996) as well as the recipient of an award for best performance of a newly commissioned work at the 1996 convention. She was a finalist in the 1999 Myrna Brown Competition in Texas and a 1998 semi- finalist in the New York Concert Artists Guild Competition. finalist in the New York Concert Artists Guild Competition.

David Loucky - Trombone, Euphonium, Low Brass Faculty

Dr. David Loucky, trombonist and low brass specialist, performs on all low brass instruments. A faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University since 1989, he also performed for two seasons as Assistant Principal Trombonist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. He has performed and lectured at several International Trombone Festivals, and International Tuba-Euphonium Conferences and served on the faculty of the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts. He is an active performer with the Nashville Symphony, the New Hampshire Music Festival, the Huntsville Symphony, the Stones River Chamber Players, the MTSU Faculty Jazz Combo, the Middle Tennessee Jazz Orchestra. the MTSU Faculty Brass Quintet, and the Nashville Chamber Brass. With the St. Louis Symphony, Loucky toured 6 European countries and four states, performed six times in Carnegie Hall, and played in all the low brass chairs except tuba (Principal, Assistant, Second and Bass Trombone, Euphonium and Bass Trumpet). He was also very active in the Symphony's educational arm, the Community Partnership Program. With the Nashville Symphony he has played in every low brass chair including tuba, and also performed in that orchestra's Carnegie Hall debut in 2000. Loucky earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University, a Master of Music from Yale School of Music, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He had additional studies in Cologne, Germany and Vienna, Austria in both classical and jazz traditions. His principal teachers include John Swallow (New York Brass Quintet and NYC Ballet), Ronald Borror (American Brass Quintet and NYC Ballet), Bill Harris (Syracuse Symphony), Jiggs Whigam (West German Radio Big Band), Horst Kublbock (Vienna Symphony) and Eric Kleinschuster (Austrian Radio Big Band). Loucky performs on a period 19th century ophicleide, the predecessor of the tuba and euphonium. He engages in the research of repertoire for this instrument and collaborates with composers who are interested in writing new works for it.

Gilbert Long - Tuba Faculty

Mr. Gilbert Long, Principal Tubaist in the Nashville Symphony for 24 years. He has taught at all area universities including Vanderbilt-Blair School of Music, Austin Peay State University, Belmont University and Middle Tennessee State University. Has taught at the Sewanee Summer Music Center for over 25 years. Long is the first call tuba player for all recording session work and free-lance work in Nashville, in addition to his full time contract with the Symphony. He also performs regularly with Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet Band. He has a degree from the University of Louisville and continued graduate studies at Austin Peay State University.

Michael Ellzey - Trumpet Faculty

Dr. Michael Ellzey, Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Eastern New Mexico University, holds an undergraduate and doctorate of musical arts degree in trumpet performance from The University of Southern Mississippi, and a master of music degree in trumpet performance from the University of Akron. Dr. Ellzey also holds a doctorate minor in the secondary area of music theory and is also certified to teach grades K-12. His major teachers include Mr. Allan E. Cox currently at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Joel Treybig currently at Belmont University, Mr. Scott Johnston at the University of Akron, and Dr. Reese Land at Campbellsville University. Other private instructors include Wayne Linehan, Assistant Principal with the Mississippi Symphony; and Dr. Charles Decker, Professor of Trumpet at Tennessee Tech. He as observed and participated in master classes with world renowned trumpet performers including Phillip Smith, Tim Morrison, Ron Modell, Armando Guitalla, Arturo Sandeval, Frank Kaderabek, Scott Moore, Murray Greig, and Karl Sievers. Dr. Ellzey has performed with several ensembles, including the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, Meridian, MS; Mississippi Symphony, Jackson, MS; the Mississippi Wind Symphony, Clinton, MS; and the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, Biloxi, MS. Other performance activities include an appearance with Eastern New Mexico University Wind Symphony in December, 2006; the Clemson University Concert Band in April, 2006, and was one of the winners of the 2004 William T. Gower Concerto Competition at The University of Southern Mississippi. He was a member of the graduate brass quintet at the University of Akron and the faculty Southern Arts Brass Quintet at Southern Miss. Dr. Ellzey is an active member of several professional organizations, including the International Trumpet Guild, College Music Society and the Theta Chi Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Dr. Ellzey maintains an active teaching and performing schedule and has performed in several states including New Mexico, Texas, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Dr. Ellzey is originally from Tullahoma, TN and is an alumnus of the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts.

Laura Ann Ross - Oboe Faculty

Laura Ann Ross, an active freelance oboist and teacher in the Nashville area, has been appointed as the adjunct professor of oboe at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. She is the acting principal oboist of the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra and a substitute for both the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony in Miami, FL. Before moving to Nashville, Ross lived in the Philadelphia area where she played principal oboe with the Great Hall Chamber Orchestra in Bryn Mawr and served as a substitute for both the Haddonfield Symphony (NJ) and the Reading Symphony (PA). She was also a faculty member at Suburban Music School in Media, PA. Under the tutelage of Louis Rosenblatt, Ross earned a Master of Music degree from the Esther Boyer College of Music at Temple University in 2006. She earned a Bachelor of Music (Summa cum laude) in 2004 from Miami University (OH) as a student of Andrea Ridilla. In the fall of 2007she was a participant in the Nicholas Daniel Masterclass in Udine, Italy. She has also participated in the National Orchestral Institute, Pierre Monteux School and the Oboe Repertoire Festival in Paris and Côte d'Azur, France. Ross was also a founding member of the Athena Ensemble, and all-female oboe, clarinet and bassoon trio based in the Philadelphia area.

Sean Katsuyama - Cello Faculty

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Sean Katsuyama began studying cello at the age of 14 with Lee Fiser and subsequently with Orlando Cole in Philadelphia. Within five years he was accepted into the Juilliard School where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees under the guidance of Channing Robbins and Harvey Shapiro. A dedicated orchestral player, he has performed as Principal Cello of the Long Island Philharmonic and the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra, with whom he toured Japan and worked with musicians such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Christoph Eschenbach, and Toru Takemitsu. In 2003, he toured South Korea and Europe as a member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic. In 2007 he again toured Korea with the New Jersey Philharmonic as a soloist. Currently residing in New York City, he has performed solo and chamber music in many of its important halls, including Carnegie's Weill, Alice Tully, Steinway, and others, and had the honor to play for relief workers at the World Trade Center site. With colleagues Albert Tiu and Joseph Esmilla, he recorded original piano trio transcriptions of Astor Piazzolla's music on the Northbranch label. Aside from performing, Mr. Katsuyama is an Assistant Professor at the Globe Institute, where he teaches music appreciation, and also teaches cello privately. His hobbies include the Chinese, Japanese, and Western versions of chess, and golf.

Reed Thomas - Conductor

Dr. Reed Thomas is the Director of Bands and a full Professor of Music and conducting at Middle Tennessee State University. His responsibilities include conducting the Wind Ensemble and University Chamber Winds, teaching undergraduate courses in conducting and instrumental methods, graduate courses in conducting and wind and orchestral repertoire, and he guides all aspects of MTSU band program. He is the founding conductor of the Three Rivers Wind Symphony, a professional group of wind and percussion players from Northeast Indiana and was the Conductor of the Littleton Chamber Winds in Littleton, Colorado from 1997-99. Additionally, Dr. Thomas has been a guest conductor for the Littleton Symphony, the Ft. Wayne Community Orchestra, and several Youth Symphonies in Indiana, Colorado, and Utah. Dr. Thomas is an active conductor and clinician who has received praise and critical acclaim for his artistic interpretations, thorough preparation, and innovative programming. His groups have been invited to perform at venues throughout the United States, China, and South Korea. Beginning in 2002, Dr. Thomas began his relationship with bands from Asia and has been invited as a guest conductor and lecturer by the Korean Band Association, the Macau Band Directors Association, the Hong Kong Band Directors Association and the Hong Kong Music Office. In the summer of 2005, the MTSU Wind Ensemble was invited and performed at the Jeju International Band Festival in South Korea and in several cities in South Korea. In 2007, this group has been invited and is scheduled to perform in Hong Kong, Macau, and China. Dr. Thomas is an avid supporter of new music, commissioning over 10 compositions since 2003. He has received critical acclaim from composers such as Shafer Mahoney, Peter Fischer, Jamie Simmons, Robert Bradshaw, and from performers such as Steve Houghton and Eddie Daniels for his interpretive conducting. A native of Colorado, Dr. Thomas received his Ph.D. in Music with an emphasis in conducting from the University of Minnesota and both his Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Music Education from the University of Utah. He has studied with such noted conductors as Craig Kirchhoff, John Whitwell, Donald Schleicher, and Loel Hepworth and has studied in master classes with Frederick Fennell, Alan McMurray, Tim Salzman, and Mallory Thompson. He is also an active performer most recently playing clarinet and bass clarinet with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. He is retired from the US Army National Guard where he served for over 20 years as a conductor, clarinet, and saxophone player. Prior to his appointment at MTSU, Dr. Thomas held positions as the Director of Instrumental Studies at Indiana-Purdue University Ft. Wayne in Indiana and as the Director of Bands at Adams State College in Colorado and taught at two public high schools in Utah. He is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, the Conductors Guild, Music Educators National Conference, Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Kappa Kappa Psi.

Andrea Dawson - Violin Faculty

Andrea Dawson joins the MTSU Music Faculty as Assistant Professor of Violin in the Fall of 2007. A recent addition to the Stones River Chamber Players, she has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and Mexico. Before moving to Tennessee in 2007, she was Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Texas - Pan American and Associate Concertmaster of the Valley Symphony Orchestra in south Texas. Dawson received her Masters in Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where she was awarded the coveted Performer's Certificate. She also received a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology, with a minor in French, and a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Oberlin College. Her principal teachers include Lynn Blakeslee, Camilla Wicks, Taras Gabora, Kathleen Winkler, and Robert Koff.