Faculty

Samuel D. McIlhagga, chair and associate professor.
B.Mus.Ed., 1992, Grand Valley State University; M.M. (wind conducting), 1993, Northwestern University; Ph.D. (music education), University of Minnesota. Appointed 2003.

David W. Abbott, associate professor.
B.M., 1977, Eastman School of Music; M.M., 1980, The Juilliard School; D.M.A., 1995, Eastman School of Music. Appointed 2005.

Maureen Balke, professor.
B.A., 1974, Marquette University; B.M., 1978, M.M., 1980, D.M. (vocal performance and pedagogy), 1991, Indiana University. Teachers and coaches include Lorna Warfield, Martha Lipton, Gianna d'Angelo and Carol Smith, Martin Katz, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Dalton Baldwin, Gerhard Hüsch. Post-doctoral studies at the CIFM International Music Institute in Nice, France; the Mozart Opera Studies Institute in Kaprun, Austria; the Aston Magna Academy on Schubert (NEH Fellowship); the Schubert Lied and Keyboard Festival, Westminster Choir College; and the International Festival of the Art Song. Appointed 1988.

James S. Ball, professor.
B.M. (trombone), 1974, Oberlin Conservatory of Music; M.M. (trombone), 1982, Georgia State University; M.M. (orchestral conducting), 1983, Northwestern University; D.M.A. (orchestral conducting), 1992, Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City. Appointed 1999.

Lia Jensen-Abbott, visiting assistant professor.
B.M. (piano performance), 1995, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.M., (piano performance and pedagogy), 1999, M.A. (music theory and music history), 2003, Pennsylvania State University; D.M.A. (piano performance), 2006, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Performer Diploma, 2006, Indiana University.

Mark R. Webb, visiting associate professor.
B.M.E., 1975, M.M. (music education), 1976, University of Michigan; D.M.A. (choral conducting), 2008, Michigan State University.

Applied Music Faculty

Takeshi Abo, adjunct instructor, violin and viola.
B.M. (violin performance), 1994, Kyoto City University of Arts; M.M. (violin performance), 1997; D.M.A. (violin performance), 2006, Michigan State University.

Emily Benner, adjunct instructor, voice.
B.M., 1995, M.M., 1997, D.M.A., 2005, University of Michigan.

Robert Doyle, adjunct instructor, voice.
B.M., 1985, Michigan State University; M.M., 1992, University of Texas, Austin; M.M. candidate in organ and church music, University of Michigan.

Cynthia Duda, adjunct instructor, bassoon.
B.M., 1999, Bowling Green State University; M.M., 2003, Western Michigan University; D.M.A. candidate, Michigan State University.

Ed Fedewa, adjunct instructor, string bass.
B.A., 1991, Michigan State University; M.A., 1993, Michigan State University.

David Gilliland, accompanist.
B.M. (piano performance/composition), 1997, DePauw University; M.M. (collaborative piano), 1999, Eastman School of Music; D.M.A. (collaborative piano), 2004, University of Minnesota.

Ellen Grafius, adjunct instructor, harp.
B.M.E., 1970, Michigan State University.

Ross Hoksbergen, adjunct instructor, trumpet.
B.M., 2005, Western Michigan University; M.M., University of South Florida, 2007; D.M.A. candidate, Michigan State University.

Stacey Renee Jones, adjunct instructor, percussion.
B.M., 1994, University of Oregon; M.M., 1996, University of Indiana, Pennsylvania; D.M.A. candidate, Michigan State University.

John King, adjunct instructor, voice and opera workshop.
B.M.E., 1972, Central Michigan University; M.M., 1974, University of Colorado.

Susan Lawrence, staff accompanist.
B.F.A., 1980, Albion College; M.M., 1982, Western Michigan University.

Meghan Merciers, adjunct instructor, clarinet.
B.M., 2001, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga; M.M., 2005, University of New Mexico; Ph.D. candidate, Michigan State University.

Tess Miller, adjunct instructor, flute.
M.M., 2001, D.M.A., 2004, Michigan State University.

Russell Nebelung, adjunct instructor, guitar.
M.M., 2006, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Dessislava Nenova, adjunct instructor, cello.
B.M., 2002, University of Central Arkansas; M.M., 2005, Michigan State University; D.M.A. candidate, Michigan State University.

James Otto, adjunct instructor, horn.
B.Mus.Ed., 1979, M.M., 1985, University of Michigan.

Megan Schaut, adjunct instructor, piano.
B.M. (piano performance), 2003, M.M. (piano pedagogy), 2003, Michigan State University.

Elena Melinda Solero, accompanist.
B.M., 1982, DePauw University; M.M., 1984, Bowling Green State University.

Bobby Streng, adjunct instructor, saxophone.
B.M. (saxophone performance), 2002, University of Dayton; M.M. (saxophone performance), 2004, University of Michigan.

Rebecca Van de Ven, adjunct instructor, oboe.
B.S., 1998, University of Wisconsin, Madison; M.M., 2002, San Francisco Conservatory.

Larry Williams, adjunct instructor, guitar.
A.A., Jackson Community College; B.A., Spring Arbor College.