Music Department News & Media
All News
Music Department Adding Graduate Degrees
May 23, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi and the city of Oxford will host the 44th annual World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival this weekend.
The comprehensive competitions, which run through Sunday (May 27), feature pianists ages 11 to 81 from the United States, Great Britain and France performing styles including ragtime…
Read more: “Music Department Adding Graduate Degrees”
UM Hosts Old-Time Piano Playing Contest Memorial Day Weekend
May 22, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi and the city of Oxford will host the 44th annual World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival this weekend.
The comprehensive competitions, which run through Sunday (May 27), feature pianists ages 11 to 81 from the United States, Great Britain and France performing styles including ragtime…
Read more: “UM Hosts Old-Time Piano Playing Contest Memorial Day Weekend”
Yoga class tailored for performers offered at Ole Miss
April 8, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – Performing live on a stage can be stressful for even the most accomplished musician, actor or public speaker.
Students at the University of Mississippi now have the option to use yoga as a means to combat that stress by taking Yoga for Performers, an actual credited elective class that meets Tuesdays and Thursdays on the stage of Nutt Auditorium…
Read more: “Yoga class tailored for performers offered at Ole Miss”
Concert Singers to Perform at Carnegie Hall
April 4, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi Concert Singers will travel to New York City to perform in the world-famous Carnegie Hall this weekend.
The Concert Singers were invited to perform at 8 p.m. Sunday (April 8) by Distinguished Concerts International. The group will be singing a wide range of pieces, including classics…
Read more: “Concert Singers to Perform at Carnegie Hall”
Fisk University Singers Coming to UM for Black History Month Concert
February 20, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi Department of Music is bringing the world-renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers to campus this week for the university’s 2018 Black History Month Concert.
The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 22) at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Admission is free and open to the public…
Read more: “Fisk University Singers Coming to UM for Black History Month Concert”
Music Professor Returns from Columbia University Fellowship
February 16, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. –Thomas Peattie, an assistant professor of music at the University of Mississippi, has returned to campus after completing a prestigious fellowship at Columbia University during the fall semester.
Peattie spent the semester at the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America, part of the university in New York City, which takes scholars from around the world in a variety of fields…
Read more: “Music Professor Returns from Columbia University Fellowship”
Inaugural Living Music Institute Deemed an ‘Incredible Success’
February 14, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. –The inaugural session of the Living Music Institute, which ran Jan. 18-21 at the University of Mississippi, got high marks from students and music professionals alike.
The Living Music Institute, a production of the Living Music Resource in the UM Department of Music, is an intensive workshop for opera aria singers. During the workshop, students…
Read more: “Inaugural Living Music Institute Deemed an ‘Incredible Success'”
UM Music Faculty, Alumni Win at Oxford Day for Art Awards
February 06, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. –The Oxford Day of Art was held last month at the Powerhouse. Many community artists were honored at the ceremony, and the University of Music department particularly came away with several wins.
Upon learning about the ending of Volunteer Mississippi and Mississippi Day of Giving programming, Wayne Andrews, the director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council and the…
Read more: “UM Music Faculty, Alumni Win at Oxford Day for Art Awards”
Living Music Institute Hosts Leading Opera Soprano
January 18, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – The Living Music Resource at the University of Mississippi is holding its inaugural Living Music Institute this weekend. This intensive opera aria workshop includes a residency by world-renowned soprano and recording artist Kallen Esperian.
A member of the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala Opera, Esperian has performed in leading roles at major opera houses around the globe…
Read more: “Living Music Institute Hosts Leading Opera Soprano”
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Alan Spurgeon
January 05, 2018
OXFORD, Miss. – Alan Spurgeon, professor of music and Director of Graduate Studies in the Music Department, has been at Ole Miss for 17 years.
Prior to coming to Oxford, Spurgeon taught at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma for 18 years. There he taught music theory, voice, and music education courses on top of being the Graduate Coordinator for…
Read more: “Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Alan Spurgeon”
UM Student Chosen for SEC Student Music Ensemble
December 14, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – Lazarrus Miller, a senior music performance major at the University of Mississippi, recently participated in the 2017 SEC Football Championship festivities in Atlanta as part of the conference’s Student Music Ensemble.
For the second year, the SEC Student Music Ensemble provided jazz music for the football championship activities, including for the SEC Legends Dinner and SEC Pregame Hospitality…
Read more: “UM Student Chosen for SEC Student Music Ensemble”
Music Students, Faculty Stand Out at Regional Competition
December 01, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – Several University of Mississippi students fared well in the recent 2017 National Association of Teachers of Singing Southern Regional Competition in Hattiesburg, which draws voice teachers and students from universities, high schools and private studios in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Senior music major Lacey Hindman was a finalist and placed third in her category, Senior…
Read more: “Music Students, Faculty Stand Out at Regional Competition”
UM Music Majors Fare Well in Statewide Competition
November 17, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – Several University of Mississippi music majors competed at the annual Mississippi Music Teachers National Association Competition recently at Millsaps College in Jackson, with one student taking top honors in his category.
Christopher Scott, a senior music major, won the Young Artist Solo Woodwind Performance category. This win advances him to compete in the Southern Division MTNA Young Artist…
Read more: “UM Music Majors Fare Well in Statewide Competition”
UM Jazz Ensemble Aims to Go Global
November 10, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi jazz ensemble, The Mississippians, is pursuing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The group is raising funds to embark on a European jazz festival tour in July 2018.
Last year, the ensemble was invited to perform at the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, which is one of the country’s most prestigious college-level jazz festivals. Now, the group is…
Read more: “UM Jazz Ensemble Aims to Go Global”
UM Professor Lectures on African Music at University of Georgia
November 10, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – George W.K. Dor, professor of music at the University of Mississippi, recently delivered the fall lecture for the University of Georgia’s Institute for African Studies.
Dor was invited as guest lecturer by Akinloye Ojo, the institute’s director. The institute highlights a different discipline each year for the lecture series, and this year’s focus was music.
“African studies is highly multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary,” Dor said. “I gave a lecture that emphasized the interplay…
Read more: “UM Professor Lectures on African Music at University of Georgia”
Music Faculty Members Release Album
November 03, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – Three University of Mississippi music faculty members have released a new album of material by French composer François Rossé.
Adam Estes, assistant professor of music, is the lead performer on saxophone, accompanied on piano by Stacy Rodgers, professor of music, and Amanda Johnston, associate professor of music. “François Rossé: Métissage” is on the MSR Classics record label…
Read more: “Music Faculty Members Release Album”
Price Walden and Alice Anne Light Return to UM for Sarahfest
October 26, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi’s Living Music Resource and the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies are teaming up again to host events for the annual Sarahfest.
UM alumnus and composer Price Walden will perform his original work “A Song of Songs” at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Oct. 27) in the David H. Nutt Auditorium. The Oxford resident will be…
Read more: “Price Walden and Alice Anne Light Return to UM for Sarahfest”
Living Music Resource Teams with Sarah Isom Center
October 06, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – The third annual Sarahfest, billed as a multidisciplinary “artistic journey” hosted by the University of Mississippi’s Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies and Living Music Resource, is underway with the theme “Liberty and Justice for All.”
One of the highlights of this year’s Sarafest is a concert by Sharde Thomas and the Rising Star…
Read more: “Living Music Resource Teams with Sarah Isom Center”
Two UM Music Professors Chosen by SEC Faculty Travel Program
September 27, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – Two UM music professors, Adam Estes and Amanda Johnston, were chosen to be part of the 2017-18 Southeastern Conference Faculty Travel Program. Over 100 faculty members across the 14 SEC universities were chosen as part of the grant program with UM being home to seven of the recipients.
This is the sixth year the program has been in place, and its purpose is to promote collaboration between colleagues at other SEC…
Read more: “Two UM Music Professors Chosen by SEC Faculty Travel Program”
Renowned Jazz Musician Engages UM Music Majors
September 27, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – Cyrus Chestnut, the kickoff performer in the 2017-18 Jazz Series at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, conducted a jazz clinic with University of Mississippi music majors and Oxford High School band members recently in Nutt Auditorium.
Chestnut, a critically acclaimed jazz pianist, composer and producer, performed Sept. 14 at the Ford Center. The Baltimore native has recorded with many celebrated artists, including…
Read more: “Renowned Jazz Musician Engages UM Music Majors”
Cyrus Chestnut Quartet to Perform at Ford Center
September 12, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi’s Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts will host a night of jazz Thursday (Sept. 14) with the Cyrus Chestnut Quartet.
Chestnut, a Baltimore native and soulful jazz pianist, blends contemporary, traditional and gospel jazz styles with soulful sounds and a mix of Latin and samba. His style allows…
Read more: “Cyrus Chestnut Quartet to Perform at Ford Center”
UM Music Hosts Residency for Chamber Music Ensemble
September 07, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – The UM Music Department is hosting a guest artist recital as a part of the UM Lecture Series. The visiting artist group that will be in a week-long residency from September 18-22 is the Assembly Quartet.
The Assembly Quartet is a professional chamber music group committed to sharing its musical style to schools and communities through concerts and workshops. They have toured…
Read more: “UM Music Hosts Residency for Chamber Music Ensemble”
UM Professor Awarded MAC Artist Fellowship
July 30, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss Music Professor Micah Everett has been awarded a highly coveted Artist Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission.
The Artist Fellowship program is set up to honor the work of Mississippi artists “who demonstrate the ability to create exemplary work in their chosen field,” according to MAC. Artists across several categories are awarded up to $5,000 each year to further their work. Only artists living…
Read more: “UMProfessor Awarded MAC Artist Fellowship”
UM, Georgia Music Professors Team Up for Teaching, Performance
April 27, 2017
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi saxophone studio traveled to the University of Georgia last month for a joint event that included a teacher swap, master class and collaborative concert.
Adam Estes, UM assistant professor of music, traveled with seven of his students to Athens, Georgia, where they worked alongside Connie Frigo, associate professor of saxophone at Georgia, and her students. The event was funded by a travel grant from the Southeastern…
Read more: “UM, Georgia Music Professors Team Up for Teaching, Performance”
Living Music Resource Hosts a Night at the Opera
October 06, 2016
OXFORD, Miss. – An innovative interview series that brings music professionals to the University of Mississippi will offer students and Oxford residents a glimpse into the world of opera this week, as well as insights into the life and career of legendary diva Maria Callas.
The Living Music Resource, an online video library of interviews with vocalists and composers, is bringing renowned performers…
Read more: “Living Music Resource Hosts a Night at the Opera”
UM Music Department Acquires Instruments from Ghana
April 04, 2016
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi Department of Music has acquired several instruments from the African nation of Ghana to further educate students about world music cultures and to use for public performances.
The first of those concerts with the newly acquired instruments is set for 7:30 p.m. April 12 in Nutt Auditorium. The Spring Concert will be…
Read more: “UM Music Department Acquires Instruments from Ghana”
From Music to Mechanical Engineering
November 24, 2015
OXFORD, Miss. – A University of Mississippi drummer with the Pride of the South Marching Band has proven he’s both musically and mechanically-inclined by starting his own business and landing his first job as a student engineer.
Oxford native Joseph Reed, 21, is a senior studying mechanical engineering with a minor in music. Reed developed a love for music in high…
Read more: “From Music to Mechanical Engineering”
Donors Help Music and Opportunities Play on for UM Students
September 03, 2015
OXFORD, Miss. – When Dr. Charles Hubbert joined the band as a University of Mississippi student, a door swung open to exceptional cultural opportunities. Some 57 years later, the physician continues to reap the rewards, inspiring him and his wife, Margaret, to make a lead gift to an initiative for band scholarships.
The Mississippi native, who was born in Lambert and grew up in Grenada, had not traveled…
Read more: “Donors Help Music and Opportunities Play on for UM Students”
