About Us
Welcome to the Department of Music
Providing students with an environment that supports academic and artistic growth.
We strive to cultivate a vibrant musical community that celebrates diversity, fosters creativity, and enriches the cultural fabric of our university and beyond.
On behalf of the Music Department — Welcome!
The Department of Music is a vibrant community of distinguished faculty, talented students, and supportive staff dedicated to learning, performing, researching, and engaging in profound ways. I am proud to see the individual attention our students receive in and out of the classroom and the ways in which they are reaching their fullest potential. Our department is ever evolving and there has never been a better time to experience or study Music at the University of Mississippi. We are central to the musical art in the Lafayette-Oxford-University community and beyond. Whether performing at top venues, traveling to present research, exploring innovative paths that connect to the creative economy, or collaborating on research or creative activity projects, we meet students where they are and take them farther than they often can imagine. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming visit day, concert, or event!
Nancy Maria Balach
Chair and Professor of Music and Director of the University of Mississippi Institute for the Arts
Meet Our Faculty
Nancy Maria Balach Schuesselin
- Chair and Professor of Music and Director of the University of Mississippi Institute for the Arts
Debra Atkinson
- Adjunct Instructor in Music
Bonita Bunt
- Assistant Professor of Music/Director of Opera
Ricky Burkhead
- Professor of Music
David Carlisle
- Instructor in Music
Randy Dale
- Associate Professor of Music, Associate Director of Bands, and Director of Athletic Bands
George Dor
- Professor of Music
Adam Estes
- Associate Professor of Music
Micah Everett
- Professor of Music
Dianne Falkner
- Adjunct Instructor in Music
Michael Gardiner
- Associate Professor of Music
Selim Giray
- Associate Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies
Rhonda Hackworth
- Associate Professor of Music Education
Elizabeth Hearn
- Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education
Ian Hominick
- Professor of Music
Armee Hong
- Instructor in Upper Strings
Amanda Johnston
- Professor of Music
Yoojung Kim
- Instructor in Collaborative Piano
Sarah Koval
- Visiting Assistant Professor of Music (Musicology)
John Latartara
- Associate Professor of Music
Jos Milton
- Associate Professor of Music
Vincent Morreale
- Instructor in Horn
Mel Morse
- Instructional Assistant Professor of Music and Assistant Director of Bands
Obianuju Njoku
- Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology and Gender Studies
Tim Oliver
- Professor of Music and Director of Bands
Andy Paney
- Professor of Music
Adrienne Park
- Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano
Thomas Peattie
- Associate Professor of Music
Bradley Robinson
- Professor of Music
Jennifer Robinson
- Lecturer in Music
Michael Rowlett
- Associate Professor of Music
John Schuesselin
- Associate Professor of Music
Austin Smith
- Instructor in Oboe
Philip Snyder
- Instructor in Flute
Kelsey Smith
- Instructor in Cello
Carol Trott
- Adjunct Instructor in Music
Donald Trott
- Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities
Susanna Whitney
- Adjunct Instructor in Music
Michael Worthy
- Professor of Music
Learn more about our Ensembles
The Department of Music offers a wide array of student ensembles available to both majors and non-majors. Find your creative community! Join an Ensemble!
The University of Mississippi offers students the opportunity to participate in wide variety of bands and ensembles from marching band to concert band. Music majors and non-majors, find your band!
- Wind Ensemble
- Symphonic Band
- Concert Band
- University Band
- Pride of the South
- Sound of the Sip
The Department of Music's Choir program offers diverse ensembles and exceptional performance opportunities for all students. All students enrolled at the University of Mississippi are welcome to join in a choir.
- Concert Singers
- University Chorus
- Men's Glee
- Women's Glee
UM Opera Theatre trains future singing actors through comprehensive stagecraft and interpretation, producing acclaimed performances.
Members of the LOU Symphony Orchestra include Students, Community Members, Faculty Members, and Professionals.
Student enrollement is open to both majors and non-majors by audition.
Jazz at the University of Mississippi has a long lineage on campus. 2022 marked 100 years since the Ole Miss Jazz Orchestra first appeared on campus and in the Ole Miss Yearbook.
- The Mississippians
- The Collegians
- UM Jazz Combos
- Trombone Ensemble
- Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble
- Trumpet Ensemble
- Horn Ensemble
- UM Percussion Ensemble
- Steel Drum Orchestra
- UM Salsa Project
- Chamber Ensembles
- Woodwind Ensembles
Student Focused Learning
Present
attend, compose, create
In the fall of 2022, Las Vegas enjoyed a taste of the creative talent within The University of Mississippi’s Master of Music (MM) program. Letters to Lily, an Opera Las Vegas production solely produced by women, written by M.M. student, Emily Clements, hit the stage from September 30th through October 2nd, 2022. Opera Las Vegas selected Letters to Lily for the Women Composers Festival season to celebrate women’s power and highlight LGBTQ themes.
Perform
rehearse, collaborate, develop
Under the baton of Dr. Timothy Oliver, the UM Wind Ensemble highlights the work of emerging composer and University of Texas undergrad, Kevin Charoensri by performing “An American Songkran”—a work which blends Charoensri’s culture as a Thai-American musician. The ensemble prepared for the concert performance by connecting with the composer through an interactive Zoom rehearsal, where he provided feedback to the group and insight into his compositional process.
Research
experiment, explore, publish
Undergrad Will Nelson’s musicological interests lie primarily in video game music and playfulness with music. Working under the mentorship of Dr. Thomas Peattie, Will revised and expanded a paper he wrote in MUS 520 for publication in Venture: The University of Mississippi Undergraduate Research Journal. In the paper, entitled “Link’s Sword is Mightier than the Pen: Composing and Performing in the Super Mario and Legend of Zelda Series,” he explores ways in which the creative agency of video game players is reflected through interaction with a game’s sound effects and background music.
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