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Music Faculty Profiles

Southeastern Oklahoma State University




Faculty Profiles:


Dr. Michael A. Miles - Dr. Michael A. Miles - Chair, Department of Music, Director of the SOSU Jazz Ensemble and Brass Ensemble, Teaches Graduate and Undergraduate Conducting Courses, and Brass Methods. B.M., University of Hartford (Hartt School of Music); M.M., Florida State University; D.M.A., University of Kentucky. All degrees in trumpet performance. Previously on the faculties of Western Carolina University and Florida International University. Music Director/Conductor of the Oklahoma Youth Symphonies and Executive Director of the Red River Arts Academy. Guest conducting appearances with Tulsa Philharmonic, Springfield Symphony, Vidin (Bulgaria) Philharmonic, and Xinghai Conservatory (Guangzhou, China). Musical Director of the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival and SOSU Musical Theater productions. Released compact disc recording of music for trumpet and piano, Reflections in Time's Mirror. Active as guest clinician and conductor.






David H. Christy - Director of the Spirit of Southeastern Marching Band, the SOSU Symphonic Band and SOSU Concert Band, Teaches Instrumental Music Education Courses. B.M.E. and M.E., Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Post-graduate work at the University of Oklahoma. In his eighth year at Southeastern, he has also enjoyed seventeen years of successful teaching in the public schools of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas with nationally acknowledged sweepstakes caliber programs. A recipient of the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence and Band Director of the Year for the State of Oklahoma. Listed in WhoÕs Who in American Education and WhoÕs Who in America. Active in numerous professional organizations, he is a past president of the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association and former international board member of both the National Band Association and Phi Beta Mu. He has over 20 years of adjudication experience having judged in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Colorado, and Texas and has been a clinician and consultant for bands throughout the south central United States.






Dr. Mary Ann Craige - Applied and Class Piano. B.M., Oklahoma Baptist University; M.M., in piano performance, University of North Texas; Ph.D. in college teaching with emphasis in music, University of North Texas. Her internationally known show/jazz choir, The Chorvettes, has traveled and performed in approximately 20 foreign countries, many states in the United States including Hawaii, several cruise lines, and many national and international conventions including four appearances at Kiwanis International. Active as a performer accompanist, clinician, lecturer, and adjudicator. Organist at the First Baptist Church of Durant. Active in a variety of professional organizations.





Dr. Steven W. Emge - Applied Voice, Director of Opera Theatre, Elementary Music Education. B.M.E, M.M.E., Drake University; M.A. (vocal performance), Ph.D. (music education), the University of Iowa. Made his Dallas Opera Company debut in 1997, and recently appeared in the role of Pasek in the company's production of Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen. Operatic roles have included Pedrillo in the Cedar Rapids Symphony's production of The Abduction from the Seraglio by Mozart, and Rodolpho in the University of Iowa's production of Puccini's La Boheme. In addition to his operatic experience, Dr. Emge has had experience on the recital stage and has been invited to serve as clinician and adjudicator for state, local, and regional music education clinics and solo voice competitions.





Dr. Robert McFadden - Applied Piano, Music History and Literature, Accompanying. B.M., Wichita State University; M.M., University of Michigan; D.M.A., University of Kansas. All degrees in piano performance. Previously on the faculty of Hesston College and South Carolina State University. Active in research of Suzuki method. In his twentieth year at Southeastern, he is active as a solo and collaborative pianist, lecturer, and adjudicator. Organist/pianist at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church and First Church of Christ, Scientist, both of Denison, Texas. Adjudicated at the 2000 Second Chinese Piano Works Competition in Hong Kong. Currently he is serving at Vice President for Membership and Certification of the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association.






Dr. Stacy Weger - Director of Choral Activities, Director of the University Chorale and Chamber Singers, Teaches Secondary Vocal Methods, Conducting. B.M.E. and M.M.E., University of Southern Mississippi; D.M.A. in Choral Conducting, University of Texas at Austin. Previously taught at University of Texas, Southwest Texas State University, and the public schools of Forest and Natchez, Mississippi. Former Artistic Director/Conductor of the Austin Boys Choir, and Symponic Choir manger for New Texas Music Works. Has served as state ACDA president for Mississippi, as President-elect and high school chair for Mississippi Music Educators Association, and served as director of the Lakeshore Choral Music Camp. Member of ACDA, MENC, OMEA. Active as choral festival clinician, conductor, and adjudicator.




Dr. Marc M. White - Assistant Director of Bands, Director of Percussion Studies, New Student Coordinator, Teaches Music Fundamentals. B.M., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; M.M., percussion performance, University of North Texas; D.M.A percussion performance, University of North Texas. Director of the Red River Drum & Auxiliary Camp. Previously on the faculty at Tarleton State University, Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Texas. Has performed with the North Carolina Symphony, Greensboro Symphony, North Carolina Theater, and a variety of commercial groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Raleigh-Durham areas. Former teachers include Robert Schietroma, Ron Fink, Ed Soph, Leigh Howard Stevens, Lynn Glassock, Al Payson, Michael Green, and Scott Meister. Currently pursuing publication of Percussion Methods: An Introduction, a comprehensive percussion manual. Active in a variety of professional organizations.




Betty Wintle - Applied Voice, Assistant Director of Opera Theatre. B.M.E. (voice) and M.S. (vocal performance), Pittsburg State University. Additional work at Pittsburg State University and Texas Woman's University. Orff-Schulwerk certification, University of Cincinnati. Was vocal director and coach of the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival for 18 years. Opera roles include Michaela in Carmen, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and Gretel in Hansel and Gretel. Former president of the Southern Oklahoma chapter of National Association of Teachers of Singing. Active as a clinician and performer. Listed in Who's Who among American Teachers, 2000, sixth edition.





Dr. James Wintle - Teaches all Theory and Composition Courses. B.M., Pittsburg State University, M.M. and D.M.A., University of Kansas. Actively engaged in composing for a variety of chamber ensembles. Recent work for trumpet, piano and percussion recorded and released on compact disc. Performances of his work include recitals at Merkin Hall, Yale University, Mannes School in New York, and Carnegie Hall in New York City, as well as international performances in Australia, Germany, France, Switzerland, and China. His works are performed by leading chamber music ensembles and soloists, including the American Brass Quintet, the Verdehr Trio, the Chelsea Chamber Ensemble, Voices of Change, Aspen Wind Quintet, Hexagon, Aeropagitica, and the Chester String Quartet. In great demand as commissionee for new works. Also serves as director of the SOSU Musical Arts Series.

  • Carol Maciel - Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet. B.M.E.,ÊBaylor University; M.M., University of Missouri-Kansas City; D.M.A., in progress, University of North Texas. Mrs. Maciel has performed with the American Wind Symphony, the Kansas Lyric Opera, San Angelo Symphony, and is currently performing with the Sherman Symphony Orchestra. While at North Texas, she has performed with the UNT Wind Symphony and can be heard on the GIA recordings for 2005 and 2006 of Teaching Music through Performance in Band series. Mrs. Maciel currently maintains a studio of students at Lewisville, TX ISD.

  • David Begnoche - Adjunct Instructor of Trombone. B.M., New England Conservatory of Music; M.M., Manhattan School of Music. A native of Mystic Connecticut, trombonist David Begnoche has performed with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago (IL), Sarasota Opera (FL), the Charleston Symphony (SC), and has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and recorded with the Boston Pops Orchestra under John Williams. Previously, Mr. Begnoche has severed on the faculty of the Longy School of Music and as chamber music coach at Harvard University. Since coming to Texas he has joined the faculty of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and is a member of the Waco Symphony Orchestra in addition to an active national performing schedule.

  • Jeremy Blackwood - Adjunct Instructor of Voice. M.M., University of North Texas; D.M.A. in progress, University of North Texas. Originally from Harrisburg, Arkansas, Jeremy began his opera studies at Arkansas State University where he performed the roles of Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, St. Peter in Too Many Sopranos and the title role in Don Pasquale. Jeremy came to the University of North Texas in 2003 and since has performed the roles of Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, Mr. Lindquist in A Little Night Music, Bonze in Madame Butterfly, Pandolfe in Cendrillion, Superintendent Budd in Albert Herring and Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte. Mr. Blackwood has also had the distinct honor of singing with Graeme Jenkins and the Dallas Opera Orchestra for Happy Birthday, Wolfgang! Additional concert appearances include Ralph Vaughan Williams' Hodie with the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Symphonic Choir. Blackwood holds professional membership in Pi Kappa Lambda and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

  • Mike Cantwell - Adjunct Instructor - Jazz Improvisation, Music in American Society. B.S. University of Missouri, Columbia; M.A. University of Missouri, Columbia, theory and composition. Mr. Cantwell is a free-lance musician in Sherman, Texas. He has taught public school in Kansas City, Mo. and Lubbock, TX, at Grayson County College in Denison, TX. and at Austin College in Sherman, TX. He is the founder of the Border Big Band. He is currently co-leader of the Austin College Jazz Ensemble, where he is instructor of saxophone and jazz piano.

  • Marilyn Comer - Adjunct Instructor of Sacred Music and Elementary Music Education. B.A. Music Ed., University of Northern Colorado-Greeley; M.A. in Liturgy, St. Thomas Seminary-Denver; Orff Schulwerk Certification, University of North Texas-Denton, Texas and Hamline University-St. Paul, Minnesota. Taught Elementary Vocal Music for ten years, Durant and Denver; active as an Associate in Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; edited a hymnal for children, LifeSongs, for Augsburg Fortress Publishers; recognized for her work with children's choirs; travels extensively conducting workshops. Teacher of the Year, 1988, Durant Public Schools; musical director of the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, Children's Theater, for three years. Active as a life member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and Delta Omicron (music fraternity); member of Choristers Guild and Liturgical Conference. Presently serving as an Associate in Ministry at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Durant, as Parish Assistant.

  • Roy Couch - Adjunct Instructor of Euphonium and Tuba, Director of Low Brass Ensemble. B.M. Kent State University, M.M. University of Akron, Doctor of Musical Arts in Tuba Performance degree is in progress at the University of North Texas. Mr. Couch is currently principal tuba with the Allen Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Texas Chamber Orchestra, Garland/Las Colinas Symphony, Shreveport Symphony, Texas Wind Symphony, and has performed and recorded with the North Texas Wind Symphony. He has been a teaching fellow at the University of Akron and at UNT, both as a studio teacher and in the classroom. At Akron, he was named an Outstanding Graduate Student. In addtion to free-lancing in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and teaching, Mr. Couch is an experienced brass instrument repair technician and works part-time for UNT in that capacity.

  • Todd M. Gentzel - Adjunct Instructor of Saxophone. B.M., Mansfield State University, PA; M.M., Bowling Green State University, OH; D.M.A., University of North Texas (course work completed). All degrees in saxophone performance. Mr. Gentzel is an active member of the North American Saxophone Alliance, the College Music Society, and the Texas Music Educators Association. He has taught at the University of North Texas, Stephen F. Austin State University, and currently teaches saxophone, woodwind techniques, and jazz improvisation at SOSU. Additionally, Mr. Gentzel teaches saxophone for the Frisco Independent School District in Frisco, TX. He is an active classical and jazz performer. Some of his jazz work may be found on the CD entitled "Goodwood Live" from the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, Denton, TX. He may also be heard playing the solo tenor saxophone in "Bolero" featuring the University of North Texas Orchestra. Mr. Gentzel has toured the Central and Eastern United States, including New York City, performing solo and chamber works for saxophone and saxophone quartet. He has presented a world premier of Bernard Rands', "Memo 6" which he commissioned through the alumni association of Bowling Green State University. Mr. Gentzel has also presented masterclasses which included contemporary techniques and classical transcription. He is a freelance musician in the Metroplex area.

  • Stacey Miles - Adjunct Instructor of Horn. B.M.Ed., University of Hartford; M.M.Ed., Western Carolina University. Hornist with the Sherman Symphony Orchestra and free-lance musician. Performed with Hartford Symphony, Tallahassee, FL, Symphony, and Asheville, NC, Symphony. Performed at Carnegie Hall with the String Orchestra of New York. Studied with Paul Ingram, principal horn, New York City Ballet.

  • Rira Linn - Adjunct Instrumental and Vocal Coach - Piano Accompanist.

  • LeeAnne Thompson - Adjunct Instructor of Flute. B.M. Louisiana State University; M.M. University of North Texas, D.M.A. in progress, University of North Texas. Ms. Thompson is principal flutist with the Garland Symphony Orchestra and an active free-lance flutist in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. Her major teachers include Terri Sundberg and Dr. Katherine Kemler. Ms. Thompson is a teaching fellow at the University of North Texas and on the flute faculty of the Frisco and Southlake Independent School Districts. She has competed and placed in numerous competitions including winner of the 2002 Upper Midwest Flute Association's Young Artist Competition, second place in the Summerhays Competition, semi-finalist and finalist in the Frank Bowen Competition, and a finalist in the MTNA National Competition.



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    Last modified: October 2, 2006