Faculty and Staff

Faculty

Dr. David Abbott
Department Chair
Professor - Piano, Music History
Email:
Office: Goodrich Chapel
Phone: 517/629-0483

Dr. Maureen Balke
Professor - Voice, Diction, Intro to Opera, Honors, FYS
Email:
Office: Goodrich Chapel
Phone: 517/629-0471

Dr. Lia Jensen-Abbott
Assistant Professor - Piano, Keyboard Skills, Music Theory
Email:
Office: Goodrich Chapel
Phone: 517/629-0698

Dr. Clayton Parr
Professor - Director of Choral Activities, Choral Conducting, Choral Music Education
Email:
Office: Goodrich Chapel
Phone: 517/629-0251

Dr. Ji Hyun Kim
Visiting Assistant Professor - Violin/viola and Orchestra
Email:
Office: Goodrich Chapel
Phone: 517/629-0481

Rufus Ferguson
Visiting Assistant Professor - Jazz and Popular Music
Email:
Office: Goodrich Chapel
Phone: 517/629-0481

John Johnston
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music, Assistant Director of Athletic Bands
Email:
Office: Goodrich Chapel
Phone: 517/629-0396

Staff

Hope Anderson
Department Secretary
Email:
Office: Goodrich Chapel
Phone: 517/629-0481

Applied Music Faculty

Keyboard

Dr. David Abbott
Professor - Piano
D.M.A. Eastman School of Music;
M.M. the Juilliard School;
B.M. Eastman School of Music
Email:

Dr. Lia Jensen-Abbott
Visiting Assistant Professor - Piano
D.M.A. (piano performance) University of Nebraska-Lincoln;
Performer Diploma from Indiana University;
M.M.and M.A. in (piano and music theory) Pennsylvania State University;
B.M. (piano performance) University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Email:

Nicholas Laban
Staff Accompanist
M.M. 2013, Western Michigan University
B.A. 2011, Albion College
Email:

Elena Solero
Accompanist
M.M. 1984, Bowling Green State University;
B.M. 1982, DePauw University
Email:

Jackie Livesay
Applied Instructor - Organ
M.A. in Education, Spring Arbor University;
M.M. University of Michigan;
B.M. Westminster Choir College
Email:

Rufus Ferguson
Visiting Assistant Professor - Jazz and Popular Music
M.M. and B.M. (jazz piano) Western Michigan University
Email:

Strings

Ellen Grafius
Applied Instructor - Harp
B.M.E., 1970, Michigan State University
Email:

Mark Mathias
Applied Instructor - Double Bass
M.F.A. Eastern Michigan University
B.M. The University of Michigan
Email:

Daniel Palmer
Applied Instructor - Guitar, Guitar Ensemble
M.M. 2013, University of Toledo;
B.A. in Music Performance, 2011, Albion College
Email:

Dr. Ji Hyun Kim
Visiting Assistant Professor - Violin/viola and Orchestra
D.M.A. (contemporary music performance and music therapy) Michigan State University
M.M. Michigan State University
B.M. (violin performance) Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Australia

Winds and Percussion

Dr. Cynthia Duda
Applied Instructor - Bassoon
D.M.A. Bassoon Performance, Michigan State University
M.M. Music History/Literature, The University of Akron
M.M. Bassoon Performance, Western Michigan University
B.M.E. Music Education, Bowling Green State University
Email:

Dr. Matthew Kay
Applied Instructor - Trumpet
D.M.A. 2017 Michigan State University
M.M. 2009, Houghton College
Post Graduate Diploma in Music Performance, 2005, University of Salford
Post Graduate Certificate in Education, 1999, University of Leeds
B.M., 1996, University of Huddersfield
Email:

Dr. Marissa Olin
Applied Instructor - Flute, Flute Ensemble, Woodwind Teaching and Techniques
D.M.A. Michigan State University
M.M. Michigan State University
B.M. Lawrence University Conservatory of Music
Email:

James Otto
Applied Instructor - Horn, Brass Teaching and Techniques
M.M. in Brass Winds Performance, University of Michigan;
B.M. in Music Education, University of Michigan
Email:

Gabriel Renteria
Applied Instructor - Oboe, Reed-making Class
D.M.A. 2006, Colburn Conservatory;
M.M. 2006, University of Washington;
B.M. Oberlin Conservatory
Email:

Nathan Salazar Applied Instructor - Saxophone
M.M. in progress, Michigan State University
B.M. 2020, Arizona State University

Nick Schumacher
Applied Instructor - Clarinet
D.M.A. in progress, Michigan State University
M. M. Michigan State University
B.M. University of Northern Iowa

Christopher Cameron
Applied Instructor - Percussion
M.M. 2010, American Band College-Sam Houston State University
B.M. 2002, Western Michigan University

Dr. Emily Dierickx
Applied Instructor - Flute
D.M.A. 2020, University of Miami, Frost School of Music
M.M. 2017, The Ohio State University
B.M. 2015, Michigan State University

Nathan Wood
Applied Instructor - Euphonium
D.M.A. in progress, Michigan State University
M.M. 2018 University of Central Arkansas
B.M. 2015 Sam Houston State University

Voice

Dr. Maureen Balke
Professor - Voice
D.M. Indiana University, 1991;
B.A. Marquette University, 1974, B.M. 1978, M.M. 1980
Email:

Robert Doyle
Applied Iinstructor - Voice
M.M. candidate in organ and church music, University of Michigan;
M.M. 1992, University of Texas, Austin;
B.M. 1985, Michigan State University
Certified at Level 3 in Somatic Voicework(sm) - The LoVetri Method
Email:

Dr. Elise Eden
Applied Instructor - Voice
D.M.A. 2021, University of Michigan
M.M. 2018, University of Michigan
B.M. 2016, Oakland University
Email:

Music Education

Robert Livingston
Brass Teaching and Techniques
M.M. in Wind Conducting 1998, Michigan State University
B.M. 1979, Northern Michigan University
Email:

Dr. Clayton Parr
Secondary Choral Music Education
D.M.A. in Choral Conducting, 1990, Michigan State University;
M.M. in Voice Performance, 1989, Michigan State University;
M.M. in Choral Conducting, 1987, Michigan State University;
B.A. 1980, Albion College
Email:

Stacey Root
Elementary Music Education
M.A. in Music Education, 2010, Michigan State University
B.A. in Music Education, 2002, Michigan State University
Email:

Faculty Emeriti

Dr. James Ball
Professor Emeriti
Email:

Dr. Samuel McIlhagga
Professor Emeriti
Email: