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.

John Russell, visiting instructor.
B.M. (education and vocal performance), 1999, Western Michigan University; M.A. (education and choral conducting), 2007, Columbia University Teacher's College; D.M.A. candidate (choral music and musicology), University of Southern California.

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.

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.

Gabriel Renteria, adjunct instructor, oboe.
B.M., 2004, Oberlin Conservatory; M.M., 2006, University of Washington.

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.

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