Music: Faculty and Staff

Professors

Carole Choate Blankenship. 1990. Chair. B.A., Rhodes College; M.M., D.M.A., University of Memphis. (Voice, Senior Seminar, Opera Scenes.)    
Courtenay L. Harter. 2000. B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon University; M.M., Northwestern University; Ph.D., University of Connecticut. (Music Theory, Music & Psychology, Oboe/English Horn, Chamber Music.)    

Associate Professors

John B. Bass, III. 2010. B.M., University of Southern Mississippi; M.M., Ph.D., University of Memphis. (Director of the Mike Curb Institute, African-American Studies, Jazz Studies, Improvisation, Guitar.)    
Thomas E. Bryant. 1987. B.M., M.M., University of Georgia; D.M., Northwestern University. (Piano, Collaborative Piano, Music Literature.)    
Vanessa L. Rogers. 2010. B.M.E., Illinois Wesleyan University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Southern California. (Music History, Music Literature, Search.)

Assistant Professors

Jacob Sunshine. 2023. B.A.., Columbia University; M.A., Ph.D. A.B.D., Harvard University. (Ethnomusicology, African/African-American Studies, Jazz Studies, Guitar.) 

Adjunct Instructors

Mike Assad. B.M., University of Kentucky; M.M., University of Memphis. (Percussion, World Drum Ensemble.)    
Whitney Branan. B.A., Wagner College; SAG-AFTRA. (Dance, Choreography.)  
Michael Brennan. B.M., ; M.M., . (Violin.)   
Elizabeth Cawein.  B.A., Murray State University; M.A., Brunel University. (Music Urbanism, Mike Curb Institute for Music.) 
Barrie Cooper. B.M., Ithaca College; M.M., Peabody Conservatory. Memphis Symphony Orchestra. (Violin.)   
Jenny Davis. B.M., Middle Tennessee State University; M.M., Boston University. D.M.A. Candidate, University of South Carolina. (Flute, Flute Ensemble.)    
Rena Feller. B.M., Oberlin College Conservatory of Music; M.M., The Juilliard School. Memphis Symphony Orchestra. (Clarinet.)    
Tyler Fritts. B.A., Berea College; M.M., University of Louisville; Ph.D, University of Memphis. (Musicology, Southern Regional Studies.)    
Alaina Graiser. B.M., University of Texas; M.M., University of Toronto; D.M.A., Cinicinnati College Conservatory of Music. (Harp.)   
Desiree Howe. B.M., M.M., Texas Tech University; D.M.A. Candidate, University of Memphis. (Voice, Opera Scenes, Musical Theatre.)   
Kevin Houston. B.M., . (Music Technology.)   
Dennis Janzer. B.S., Marquette University; M.S., Marquette University; B.A., M.M., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; D.M.A., University of Miami. (Organ.)    
Marcus King. B.M.E., University of Memphis; M.M., University of Memphis. (Voice.)        
Will Lang. B.A., Rhodes College; M.M., University of Memphis. (Jazz Ensemble.)   
Francisco Lara. B.M., Northwestern University, M.M., Ph.D., Florida State University. (Musicology, Ethnomusicology.)    
David T. Lay. B.M., Lambuth University. (Guitar.)    
Sean O'Hara. B.M., The Julliard School; M.M., Carnegie Mellon University. (Classical Bass.)   
Žak Ozmo. B.M., Wilfrid Laurier University; M.M., D.M.A., University of Southern California. (Music History, Music and Healing.)    
Brian Ray. B.M., University of Tennessee at Martin; M.M., University of Memphis; D.M.A., University of Memphis. (Piano, Department Collaborative Pianist.)    
John Ross. B.M., Northern Illinois University; M.M., Illinois State University. (Guitar, Guitar Ensemble.)    
Alisha Rufty. B.M.E., Florida State University; M.M., D.M.A., Univeristy of Memphis. (Cello.)   
Jane Gerard-Schranze. B.M., Eastman School of Music; M.M., New England Conservatory. (Viola, Violin, Chamber Music.)    
Sylvester Sample. B.S., University of Memphis; M.B.A., Illinois Institute of Technology. (Jazz Bass.)    
Jonathan H. Schallert. B.M.E., Harding University; M.M., Ph.D., University of Memphis. (Orchestra, Conducting, Music Theory.)    
David L. Shotsberger. B.M., M.M., Pennsylvania State University; D.M.A., University of Memphis. (Music Technology, Composition, Jazz Band.)    
Debra H. Smith. B.M., Mississippi College; M.M., University of Memphis. (Piano, Organ, Music Literature and Theory.)     
Gerald Stephens. B.F.A., University of Memphis. (Jazz Piano.)    
Kate Stimson. B.A., Hollins College; M.M., University of Memphis. (Piano.)    
Mark Vail. B.M., University of North Texas. Memphis Symphony Orchestra. (Trombone, Low Brass.)    
Yukiko Whitehead. B.M., University of Tennessee; M.M., D.M.A., University of Memphis; Yamaha Music Foundation Suzuki Piano Teachers Certificate, Suzuki Association of America. (Piano.)    
Carl R. Wolfe. U.S. Navy Chief Musician (ret.); U.S. Armed Forces School of Music. Memphis Jazz Orchestra. (Saxophone.)

Staff

Erika Pope. 2016. Musical Arts Coordinator. B.A., Henderson State University.