Instrumental Program

Tennessee’s Premiere Musicians

Students in the instrumental music program participate in orchestra, wind ensemble, or piano ensemble. They take classes in theory, conducting, improvisation, and world music, participating in chamber music as well. They also rehearse within their groups and present several concerts.

Instrumental Music Faculty

Tuba – Euphonium Faculty

Preston Light

Dr. Preston Light currently serves as Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Tennessee Tech…

Saxophone Faculty

Matthew Younglove

Saxophone Josh Holritz – Violinist | Concertmaster | Educator Hailed as “particularly outstanding” (Chattanooga Times…

Violin Faculty

Josh Holritz

Violin Faculty Josh Holritz – Violinist | Concertmaster | Educator Hailed as “particularly outstanding” (Chattanooga…

Trombone Faculty

Justin Waller

Trombone Dr. Justin Waller is an active musician and teacher across the United States. He…

Double Bass Faculty

Taylor Brown

Master’s degree from Duquesne University Bachelor’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University…

Tumpet Faculty

Dr. Michael Arndt

A native of the Midwest, Dr. Michael Arndt joined the MTSU School of Music as…

Clarinet Faculty

Todd Waldecker

Todd Waldecker has served on the faculty of the Middle Tennessee State University School of Music…

Bassoon Faculty

Staci Spring

University of Tennessee Chattanooga and Lee University Based in Chattanooga, TN, Staci A. Spring leads a versatile…

Percussion Faculty

Brian Mueller

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Dr. Brian Mueller is currently Lecturer in Percussion at Middle…

Oboe Faculty

Amy Collins

Amy Collins is a highly respected oboist, educator, and entrepreneur with a career spanning many decades. …

Cello

Bryan Hayslett

Cellist Bryan Hayslett continues to distinguish himself as a versatile solo, chamber, and orchestral player….

Piano Faculty

Kevin Chance

Named Teacher of the Year by the Alabama Music Teachers Association and Music Educator of…

Flute Faculty

Deanna Hahn

Associate Professor, MTSU DM, Indiana University Deanna R. Hahn, associate professor of flute at Middle Tennessee State…

Viola Faculty

Ayn Balija

DMA, James Madison University Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music Violist Ayn…

Horn Faculty

Angela DeBoer

Associate Professor of Horn & Music Theory Middle Tennessee State University Angela DeBoer is the Associate Professor…

Violin Faculty

Andrea Dawson

Andrea Dawson joined the MTSU Music Faculty in 2007 and the faculty of the Tennessee Governor’s…

Music Production Coordinator

Reggie Coleman

Reginald (Reggie) Coleman serves as the band director at Rocky Fork Middle School. A native…

Music Chair

Dr. Jerome Reed

Jerome A. Reed is the Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Piano at Lipscomb University….

Piano Faculty

Amy Dorfman

Pianist Amy Dorfman has enjoyed a wide variety of musical collaborations throughout her career. For…

Past Commissioned Composers

1985 Orchestra Kenneth Schermerhorn – Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Overture “Celebration! A Tennessee Quilting Party” 1986 Orchestra Marvin Lamb – Tennessee Technological University, “Amazin” for Orchestra and Chorus Wind Ensemble Don Freund – Memphis State University, “Jug Blues and Fat Pickings” 1987 Orchestra L. Thom Hutcheson – MTSU, “We, the People…” for Orchestra, Mixed Choir, and Narrator Wind Ensemble Jeffrey Wood – Austin Peay State University, “Symphonic Fantasy” 1988 Orchestra Gilbert Carp – University of Tennessee, Martin, “Serenade for Orchestra” Wind Ensemble Robert Jager – Tennessee Technological University, “Old Hickory Suite” 1989 Orchestra Jordan Tang – Jackson and Paducah Symphony Orchestras, “Preludes for Orchestra (1989)” 1990 Orchestra Paul Martin Zonn – University of Illinois, “Dawn River” 1996 Orchestra and Chorale Commissioned for the Tennessee Bicentennial Celebration Vernon Whaley – Cedarville College and President, Integra Music Group, “Tennessee Morning”