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About Us

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

The Music Program plays a vital role in the life of the University and the community. The training environment it provides continues to produce musicians of distinction for careers in a variety of professional fields including performance and music education. The faculty is comprised of dedicated professional musicians who are active in both performance and teaching.

Our Faculty Members

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MEET
OUR TEAM

Distinguished faculty members dedicated to providing a, world-class culturally responsive education for HTU's music students. Students experience a special relationship with their faculty mentors and come from around the world to study under these distinguished musicians and scholars.

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Faculty

Applied Faculty

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Dr. James Miller

Flute

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Lee Thomason

Trumpet (Jazz)

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Icy Monroe

Voice

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TBD

Oboe

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Andre Hayward

Trombone (Jazz)

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Dr. Christine Yoshikawa

Piano

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Patrick Dolan

Clarinet

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TBD

Tuba/Euphonium

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Stephen Krishnan

Guitar

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Grant Teeple

Saxophone (Jazz)

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Daniel Dufour

Percussion

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Dr. Jessica Valls

Double Bass (Classical)

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Shawn Karson

Bassoon

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Eric Scott Reed

Piano (Jazz)

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Da'Shon Hayes

Horn

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Dr. Marco Santos

Guitar (Jazz)

Dr. William Oliver
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William Oliver, Ph.D.

Director of University Bands

Assistant Professor of Music - Instrumental

Coordinator of Music Education

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Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education: The Pennsylvania State University

 Dissertation: The Influence of Isomorphism on HBCU Music Education (Performance and Training Programs) and the Alignment of Broader Institutional Mission

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Master of Music in Music Education: Boston University

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Bachelor of Science in Music Education: Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University

Bio

Dr. William P. Oliver, a native of Hollywood, Florida, serves as the Director of University Bands and assistant professor of Music Education at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. He holds a Bachelors degree in music education from Florida A&M University, a Masters from Boston University, and his Ph.D. in Music Education with a minor in Higher Education Administration from The Pennsylvania State University. His dissertation examined the influence of isomorphism on HBCU music programs and its alignment with their broader institutional mission. His current research addresses post-graduate degree creation and expansion for fine arts programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Prior to starting his doctoral studies, he spent ten years teaching high school music in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Oliver is a 7-time National Band Association “Citation of Excellence” recipient—an award given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of bands and whose ensembles have a history of a distinguished level of accomplishment. Most recently, Dr. Oliver was named Yamaha’s “40 under 40” for his action, courage, creativity, and the growth of his university music program in Austin, TX. Dr. Oliver serves as a board member for Austin Theatre Alliance (Paramount & State Theaters) and as a band clinician and adjudicator throughout the southeast. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Inc., and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

woliver@htu.edu

512-505-6445

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Marcus Rhodes, D.M.A
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Marcus Rhodes, D.M.A.

Director of Choral Activities

Associate Professor of Music - Voice

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Doctor of Musical Arts: University of Florida

 Dissertation: Expanding entrepreneurial skills amongst music performance majors through university partnerships and modern curriculums

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Master of Music in Music Education: University of Louisiana at Monroe

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Bachelor of Arts in Music Education: Grambling State University

Bio

Marcus Rhodes, bass-baritone soloist received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Grambling State University, the Master of Music degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Florida where his research focus was on expanding entrepreneurial skills amongst music performance majors through university partnerships and modern curriculums.  He has performed various genres of music as a recitalist and with opera companies including the Houston Ebony Opera, Dallas Opera, Javacya Symphony, and Shreveport Opera Companies, and played roles such as Figaro (Le Barbier de Séville), Zuniga (Carmen), Don Alfonso (Cosí fan tutte) and others. In 2021, Dr. Rhodes was featured in the premier Opera Film “The Golem of Prague” in which he starred in the role of Rabbi. As a professor of music, Dr. Rhodes is the former conductor of the Grambling State University Choir (2001-2008) and toured extensively throughout the United States and globally including a presentation in the Republic of Trinidad, West Indies. Under his direction, the choir shared the stage with some of the gospel industry’s legendary artists such as Smokie Norful, Robert Ray, and Dorothy Norwood, and R&B soulstress, Kelly Price. He also formerly taught at Florida A&M University (2008-2012) as an assistant professor in the voice area where he taught many top student vocalists that received awards and recognition at several festivals and competitions including district and regional National Teachers of Singing Competitions and performances at Carnegie Hall. Dr. Rhodes was selected by the VOH Board in 2008 as one of the original board of National Conductors for the 105 Voices of History National Historically Black Colleges and University Choir at the Washington D.C. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2008-2012) in which he served as National and Regional director, and as a presenter and officiator at the 105 conference workshops, and worked with celebrity artists such as Kim Burrell, Shirley Caesar, and Take 6. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association, and the National Association for Music Educators.  Dr. Rhodes has served as a sacred music director, Hammond organ and keyboard accompanist, and worship leader at various churches from the young age of 15, holding positions as music director, minister of music, and district denominational head posts such as assistant music coordinator for the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s 11th District of Florida, and performing with sacred music artists such as Beverly Crawford, Richard Smallwood, and Earnest Pugh.

mjrhodes@htu.edu

512-505-6466

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Gloria Quinlan, D.M.A
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Gloria Quinlan, D.M.A.

Director of Choral Activities (Retired)

Professor of Music Emterius - Voice

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Doctor of Musical Arts: The University of Texas at Austin

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Master of Music in Vocal Performance: Colorado State University

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Bachelor of Science in Music Education: Texas Southern University

Bio

Coming Soon.

Icy Monroe
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Icy Monroe, D.M.A.

Adjunct Professor of Applied Voice

Bio

Bio Coming Soon

DaShon Hayes
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Da'Shon Hayes

Adjunct Professor of Horn

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Master of Music: Michigan State University

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Bachelor of Music: Florida A&M University

Bio

Coming Soon.

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Patrick Dolan
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Patrick Dolan

Adjunct Professor of Clarinet

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Master of Music: The University of Texas at Austin

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Bachelor of Music: Rowan University

Bio

An active freelance clarinetist, Patrick Dolan currently resides in Austin, TX, where he performs with local ensembles and maintains a vibrant private studio. He has performed with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Density 512 (an Austin-based chamber orchestra), and the Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, Mr. Dolan joined Adelante Winds, a “dynamic” chamber ensemble that performs throughout the central Texas area. Today, Mr. Dolan serves as the Artistic Director to Adelante Winds. Having recently completed a Master of Music in Performance at the University of Texas at Austin, he toured with the UT Wind Ensemble in 2014, performing in Hawaii, Asia, and Europe. He finished his undergraduate degree at Rowan University where he performed Mendelssohn’s Konzertstuke No. 1 as a winner of the 2011 Rowan University Soloist Competition. He has attended and performed at several music festivals including Bear Valley Music Festival with conductor Michael Morgan, Texas Bach Festival, Fresh, Inc. Festival, Quinteto Latino’s Seminario, and the Miami International Music Festival. His previous teachers include Louis Colella, Rie Suzuki, Nathan Williams and Richie Hawley.

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Stephen Krishnan
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Stephen Krishnan

Adjunct Professor of Guitar (Classical/Contemporary)

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Master of Music: The University of Texas at Austin

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Bachelor of Music: University of Southern California

Bio

Stephen Krishnan is a Grammy-Nominated guitarist and educator based in Austin, Texas. As a soloist and member of the Austin Guitar Quartet, he is an advocate for contemporary classical music, and often takes part in unique interdisciplinary projects. Among these projects are collaborations with Austin Classical Guitar, Ballet Austin, The Contemporary Austin, and the world-renowned choir Conspirare.  Stephen was featured on Conspirare's album The Singing Guitar with the Austin Guitar Quartet, which received a Grammy Nomination in 2021. He directs the guitar program at the Orpheus Academy of Music, holds an Adjunct Professor position at Huston-Tillotson University, and directs the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Camerata, a large ensemble of young guitarists across Austin. He has studied with Bill Kanengiser at the University of Southern California, Adam Holzman at the University of Texas, and Alan Johnston at the MacPhail Center for Music, and Jamie Grossman. Stephen's solo performances have been met with high praise. In Spring 2022 he made the premiere recording of Dusan Bogdanovic’s “About Time”,  a piece dedicated to him by the composer. In Spring 2019 he premiered Matthew Lyons’ Guitar Concerto with the UT New Music Ensemble directed by Dan Welcher. His performance aired on KMFA’s radio show “Live from the Butler School”. He has won first place in two competitions, including the Schubert Club Scholarship Competition, and has received four prizes as a finalist. He has been featured by major concert presenters including Austin Classical Guitar,  the Guitar Foundation of America's Regional Symposium, the American Guitar Society , the University of Minnesota at Morris, Springboard for the Arts, and Tetractys New Music. In 2017 he was the dedicatee of a new microtonal work by the acclaimed Cypriot composer Hakki Cengiz Eren, which he premiered at the Austin-based new music series, Tetractys. He has been featured on radio programs such as Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music, NPR's From the Top,  KUT's Nuts and Bolts., and KMFA’s “Live from the Butler School”  In February 2017, Stephen was an Artist-In-Residence at Springboard for the Arts' Hinge Artists residency program in Fergus Falls, MN. During his two-week residency, he performed many concerts, gave talks, and worked on several recording projects. Stephen's interest in early music led him to study baroque guitar and continuo with USC Professor and acclaimed lutenist Jason Yoshida. The USC Baroque Sinfonia, which Stephen performed in, was invited to perform a concert of Polish Baroque music at the 2016 Early Music America festival in Berkeley, CA. Stephen holds a Master's in Guitar Performance at the University of Southern California, where he was awarded the guitar department's Outstanding Master's Graduate. Prior to that, he completed his Bachelor's in Music at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Adam Holzman.

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Shawn Karson

Adjunct Professor of Bassoon

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Master of Music: The University of Texas at Austin

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Bachelor of Music: Florida State University

Bio

Shawn Karson is the Second Bassoonist with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, as well as Contrabassoonist with Central Texas Philharmonic, and Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, and The Florida Philharmonic. He has regularly appears in the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic, The Florida Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Lexington Philharmonic. Shawn has been involved with organizations such as Miami Ballet, National Music Festival, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and Miami Music Festival, as well as Trinity Laban Symphony Orchestra in London, United Kingdom where he served as Guest Principal Bassoonist. A devoted teacher, Shawn private lesson instructor and masterclass presenter a large private studio of students in and around the Central Texas. He has serves as Bassoon Faculty with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Contrabassoon Specialist with Bocal Majority Operation Oboe, and Woodwind Section Coach with the Central Texas Youth Philharmonic. A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Shawn holds a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance at The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from the Florida State University College of Music. His primary teachers include Kristin Wolfe Jensen and Jeff Keesecker.

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Shawn Karson
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Jessica Vals, D.M.A.

Adjunct Professor of Double Bass (Classical)

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Doctor of Musical Arts: The University of Texas at Austin

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Manhattan School of Music

Bio

Double bassist Jessica Valls is an Austin, Texas-native musician who exemplifies the ubiquitous artistry of a true music lover, heeding to no one genre, discipline, or stage. Performing regularly with several orchestras including the Austin and San Antonio Symphonies, Jessica is previous principal bassist for Orquestra da Rádio e Televisão Cultura in São Paulo, Brazil, and enjoys traveling to Brazil to perform and teach. She appears with chamber ensembles, jazz, tango and bluegrass bands, in studio recording sessions, on film soundtracks, television and radio jingles, and popular festival stages around the world such as The International Festival at Round Top and Encontro Brasileiro de Contrabaixos in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Jessica is a regular guest artist and clinician at the North Texas Bass Camps, the Austin Chamber Music Workshop, Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, and the Victoria Bach Festival, among others. A repeat presenter at the International Society of Bassists Convention, Jessica’s solo performances can be multi-instrumental, vocal and percussive. The use of multi-media tools allows her to expand her repertoire and adhere to different performance venues; adding to the growing pool of new works for solo double bass. Formal studies include Juilliard, Oberlin, The Manhattan School of Music and the University of Texas at Austin where she completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2010. Currently Dr. Valls is on faculty at Southwestern University, Huston-Tillotson University, The Girls’ School of Austin and maintains a private studio of budding string players of all ages.

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Jessica Vals, D.M.A.
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Patrick Smith

Commercial Music

Bio

Coming Soon

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The Music Program plays a vital role in the life of the University and the community. The training environment it provides continues to produce musicians of distinction for careers in a variety of professional fields including performance and music education. The faculty is comprised of dedicated professional musicians who are active in both performance and teaching.

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Affiliates & Sponsors

Registration Office

admissions@htu.edu
Tel: 512-505-3023

Financial Aid Office

finaid@htu.edu

Tel: 512-505-6478

Music Department

musicdept@htu.edu
Tel: 512-505-6445

© 2024 by Huston-Tillotson University - Austin, TX

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