Professors
Carole Choate Blankenship. 1990. B.A., Rhodes College; M.M., D.M.A., University of Memphis. (Voice, Senior Seminar, Opera Scenes.)
Courtenay L. Harter. 2000. Chair. 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 for Music, African-American Music, Jazz Studies, Improvisation, Guitar.)
Thomas E. Bryant. 1987. B.M., M.M., University of Georgia; D.M., Northwestern University. (Piano, Collaborative Piano, Music Literature.)
Charles Hughes. 2012. B.A., M.A., and Ph.D., University of Wisconsin. (African-American History, Popular Music and Culture, Twentieth-Century United States History.)
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
D. Jason Bishop. 2024. B.A., Rhodes College; M.M. Boston University; D.M.A. University of Oklahoma. (Choral Conducting, Music Theory, Music History.)
Jacob Sunshine. 2023. B.A., Columbia University; M.A., Ph.D., Harvard University. (Ethnomusicology, African/African-American Studies, Jazz Studies, Guitar.)
Adjunct Instructors
Brianna Allen, B.A., Arkansas State University; M.M., Ph.D. Candidate, University of Memphis. (Bassoon.)
Mike Assad. B.M., University of Kentucky; M.M., University of Memphis. (Percussion, World Drum Ensemble.)
Alex Benford. B.M., Marshall University; M.M., University of Tennessee; D.M.A., University of Alabama. (Collaborative Piano, Organ.)
Whitney Branan. B.A., Wagner College; SAG-AFTRA. (Dance, Choreography.)
Elizabeth Cawein. B.A., Murray State University; M.A., Brunel University. (Music Urbanism, Mike Curb Institute for Music.)
Brittany Cooper-D'Orsay. B.A., Vanderbilt University; M.M., University of Michigan. (Horn.)
Jawaun Crawford. B.P.S., University of Memphis. (Trumpet.)
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.)
Daniel Gilbert. B.M., Indiana University; B.M., Roosevelt University; M.M., University of Memphis. (Violin.)
Alaina Graiser. B.M., University of Texas; M.M., University of Toronto; D.M.A., Cincinnati 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., University of Memphis. (Music Technology.)
Marcus King. B.M.E., University of Memphis; M.M., University of Memphis. (Voice.)
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 Juilliard 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.)
John Ross. B.M., Northern Illinois University; M.M., Illinois State University. (Guitar, Guitar Ensemble.)
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.)
Victor Sawyer. B.M., University of Memphis; M.M., Manhattan School of Music. (Trombone, Low Brass.)
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.)
Gerald Stephens. B.F.A., University of Memphis. (Jazz Piano.)
Kate Stimson. B.A., Hollins College; M.M., University of Memphis. (Piano.)
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.