MSU Department of Music

Congratulations to Department of Music BME graduate Dr. Wes King for his outstanding presentation yesterday at the CBDNA - College Band Directors National Association Athletic Band Symposium in Blacksburg, VA. "Automation, AI, and Other Ways to Help Run Your Band Program" was very well received by those in attendance.

Dr. King is the Director of Bands at the University of Findlay in Ohio. In this photo, he is with the MSU Band Directors, who also presented at the same conference earlier in the week.

University of Findlay Bands
University of Findlay
Famous Maroon Band

Congratulations to the 2026-27 Famous Maroon Band drum majors! Chosen from auditions, the 2026-27 drum majors include:

—Olivia Dickerson, senior biochemistry major, Gautier

—Josh Ducey, sophomore aerospace engineering major, Arlington, Tennessee

—Ava Hinyub, junior music education major, Gulf Shores, Alabama

—James Leon, junior electrical engineering major, Biloxi

MSU music faculty member Jason Baker presenting today at the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy in Lubbock, TX.

The Department of Music is seeking an energetic, collaborative, and artistic candidate to build a dynamic applied trumpet studio at Mississippi State University. This is a tenure track position. For more information and to apply, visit https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/en-us/job/510429/assistant-or-associate-professor-of-music-trumpet

The Community Music School recitals were a success. We had piano, flute, violin, and oboe students performing at 10:00 am and 11:30 am.
We are also very proud of the 18 piano students who are representing Starkville as they advance to the Mississippi Music Teachers Association Pre-College State Finals. Congratulations to them and their teachers: Dr. Klein, Dr. Wang, Dr. Sebba, and student teachers Dylan Hall and Seth Matlock.

MSU professor Jason Baker traveled to Arkansas State University today to give a recital for their percussion studio.

The MSU Percussion Studio hosted its annual Percussion Symposium, hosting performances by percussion ensembles from East Mississippi Community College, Itawamba Community College, Neshoba Central HS, New Hope HS, and West Lauderdale HS. The MSU percussion ensemble and steel band also performed and MSU professor Dr. Robert Damm hosted a drum circle as part of the event.

The MSU Department of Music hosted the Starkville/Tupelo Piano Honors Recital on Saturday morning, featuring guest pianist and adjudicator Dr. Ilka Araujo, Chair of the Texas Wesleyan University Department of Music. Dr. Araujo delivered a performance of works by Alberto Nepomuceno and Villa-Lobos. The afternoon session showcased piano majors and minors in a recital of diverse solo and ensemble pieces, highlighting multiple periods and styles. The day's events were filled with piano music.

Sarah Beth Heard successfully defended her Honors Thesis! Her research explored the relationship between formal music experience and memory in emerging adults. Her research fills a gap in existing research and is a topic she plans to continue to explore! Way to go, Sarah Beth!!!