NATCHITOCHES – Ten members of Northwestern State University’s music faculty and six graduate students will be representing the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at the annual Louisiana Music Educators Association Conference on Jan. 17-20 in New Orleans.
Faculty members Dr. Douglas Bakenhus, Drs. Andrew and Molly Blair, Dr. Paul Forsyth, Dr. Malena McClaren, Adam Philley, Dr. Jennifer Pulling, Dr. Anthony Pursell, Dr. Terrie Sanders, Dr. Shane Thomas and graduate students Taylor Carrell, Lhareen Lazo, Melissa Patiño, Jack Stanley, Tucker Uebersax and Kat Wilkinson will be presenting sessions, assisting 13 All-State ensembles or serving on panels at the conference.
Pursell will conduct the NSU Wind Symphony in a performance on Jan. 19 featuring student conductor Turner Sugg, Associate Director of Bands Trevor Bailey, Dr. Andrew Blair, the assistant director of bands, and CAPA Director Emeritus Bill Brent
Thomas said conference presenters are chosen through a juried selection process, and this reflects the high level of creative research and scholarship being conducted by Northwestern faculty.
“NSU faculty have consistently been leaders across the state of Louisiana and served in several impactful capacities to promote musical excellence and advocate for music education since the university was founded,” said Thomas. “As faculty members, our ability to promote our university and share relevant and innovative performance knowledge is crucial to our roles as professors to recruit and retain the best possible students and allow our university to thrive beyond our classrooms.”
Northwestern works closely with the LMEA and hosts the organization’s Hall of Fame located outside Magale Recital Hall. The Hall of Fame includes former faculty Brent, Richard Jennings and Dr. Jerry Payne as well as several NSU alumni.