Academic Programs

Department of Music

The curriculum exposes students to a broad spectrum of musical influences (western European, jazz, world music, American folk, African-American, computer music). The department encourages interested students campus-wide to participate in its varied ensembles and orchestras. Private instruction (instrumental, vocal and composition) is also available to all students.

Department of Music

The Performer's Certificate enables accomplished performers who are not majoring in music to obtain the equivalent of a music minor by focusing on performance studies within the department of music.

Department Chair and Associate Professor Ching-Chu Hu joined the faculty at Denison in 2000. He earned a B.A. at Yale University, an M.A. and M.F.A. at University of Iowa and a D.M.A. at University of Michigan. Hu teaches composition, theory, arranging and conducting. Hu is the recipient of the 2002-2003 and 2004-2005 ASCAP Award. In 2004 he received the Bayley-Bowen Faculty Fellowship.Associate.

Instructor Belinda Andrews-Smith joined the faculty at Denison in 1998. She earned a B.Mus. in vocal performance from Bowling Green State University and an M.A. and D.M.A. in vocal performance and pedagogy from Ohio State University. Andrews-Smith is the Coordinator of Vocal Studies for Denison's Department of Music and is director of the ensemble Singers' Theatre Workshop. Dr. Andrews-Smith maintains an active singing career and performs an extensive array of professional and collegiate engagements, including professional opera roles, oratorio performances and orchestral concert performances.

Professor Andrew Carlson joined the faculty at Denison in 1999. He earned a B.Mus. and an M.Mus. at the University of Georgia and an D.M.A. at the University of Iowa. Carlson has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States. His expertise is in classical violin, traditional fiddle music, string arranging and music history. He currently directs the Denison University Orchestra and co-directs the Bluegrass Ensemble.

Instructor Tom Carroll joined the faculty at Denison in 1980 and has served as coordinator of jazz studies since 2000. He leads his own trio, has performed professionally with Louis Bellson, Rusty Bryant, Ernie Watts, and Gene Bertoncini, released several discs on the CoJazz Label, and has appeared at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., the Columbus Jazz & Ribs Fest, and at several I.A.J.E. conventions. He also teaches at Ohio State University and Capital University. 

Assistant Professor Wei Cheng joined the faculty at Denison in 2008. She earned her bachelor's degree in choral conducting at Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and a doctorate at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. During her graduate studies she was the music director of the University of Cincinnati Women's Chorus from 2002 to 2004 and was a three-time winner of the annual CCM conducting competition.

Assistant Professor Nelson Harper joined the faculty at Denison in 1987. He earned his B.M., M.M. and D.M.A. at Ohio State University. Harper is a piano soloist, chamber musician and vocal accompanist. He has been featured in numerous live broadcast recitals and on seven compact discs.

Assistant Professor Raymond Wise joined the faculty at Denison in 2000. He earned a B.F.A. at Denison University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. Wise conducts the University's gospel choir. He established the Center for the Gospel Arts in Columbus, which provides training for gospel artists. He also is the founder and president of Raise Productions, a gospel music production company.

Affiliated Studio Instructors

Affiliated Studio Instructor Casey Cook joined the faculty at Denison in 2006. He teaches private bluegrass guitar and co-directs the Bluegrass Ensemble. A member of his family's band, "Special Cookin'" since childhood, Cook and his brother were inducted into the North Florida Bluegrass Hall of Fame as its youngest professionally performing duo. He has been featured in Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, which noted his aggressive playing style and tasteful execution and showcased an original tune he wrote with bandmate Michael Smith.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Timothy Davis joined the faculty at Denison in 2003. He is currently studying at Ohio State University and is pianist and musical director for the Ink Spots. His specialties are the piano and trumpet.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Linda Habig joined the Denison faculty in 2007 and is a flute instructor in the Suzuki program.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Stephanie Henkle joined the faculty at Denison in 2003 and teaches voice. She earned a B.M. at Ohio Wesleyan University and an M.M. at Indiana University.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Jed Hudson joined the faculty at Denison in 2004 and teaches trombone and tuba and directs the brass ensemble. He earned a B.M. in music performance at the University of North Texas and an M.M. in music performance at Ohio State University.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Mary Frances Kirsh joined the faculty at Denison in 2001 and is Suzuki Events Coordinator and teaches violin. She earned a B.S. at West Chester University and an M.A. at Ohio State University.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Cora Kuyvenhoven joined the faculty at Denison in 2000 as cello instructor. She earned an A.R.C.T. from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto,  an M.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her D.M.A. at the University of Iowa. She performs with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra as assistant principal and with Duo Advendo.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Susan Larson joined the faculty at Denison in 2004 and teaches violin in the Suzuki Program.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Leslie Maaser joined the faculty at Denison in 2002. She earned a B.Mus. at Michigan State University, an M.M. at the University of Wisconsin and a D.M.A. at Ohio University. Maaser teaches flute and is the director of the flute ensemble. She is a member of the Columbus Camerata and principal flute of the Newark-Granville Symphony.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Jacquelin McCarroll joined the faculty at Denison in 2005 and teaches private piano lessons for the Denison Suzuki Program.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Russel Mikkelson joined the faculty at Denison in 2002 and is conductor of the Heisey Wind Ensemble. He earned a B.M.E. at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an M.M.E. and a D.M.A. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Pete Mills joined the faculty at Denison in 1999 and is the Jazz Ensemble instructor. He earned a B.A.M. at the University of Rochester and an M.Mus at the University of North Texas.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Kaitlin Moore joined the Denison faculty in 2007 and teaches cello in the Suzuki program. 

Affiliated Studio Instructor David Nesmith joined the faculty at Denison in 2000 and teaches Alexander Technique and the horn. He earned a B.Mus. at Capital University and an M.Mus. at Indiana University.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Caryl Anne Palmer joined the faculty at Denison in 1985 and is a Suzuki instructor. She earned a B.M.E. at Oberlin College and an M.M.E. at the University of Michigan.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Deborah Blunt-Barret Price joined the faculty at Denison in 2001 and teaches viola and violin. She earned a B.Mus. at Baldwin-Wallace College and an M.Mus. and M.A. at Ohio State University. She is the founder and artistic director of the Chamber Music Connection, the co-conductor of the Youth Strings Camerata at the Cleveland Institute of Music and coordinates chamber music for Capital University's Suzuki Institute.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Sarah E. Ramsey joined the faculty at Denison in 2003 and teaches piano. She earned a B.M.E. at Denison University and an M.Mus. at Northwestern University.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Paul Richards joined the Denison faculty in 2006. He teaches private percussion lessons. A native of Granville, Richards moved to New York City to study music and percussion at The Borough of Manhattan Community College and C.W. Post College (Long Island University). He has studied privately with Charles Persip and Michael Carvin, as well as traditional African, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian percussion with Roger "Montego Joe" Sanders, leader of the Harlem Youth Percussion Ensemble, "Har-You."

Affiliated Studio Instructor Douglas J. Richeson joined the faculty at Denison in 1999. He teaches classical, jazz and contemporary music on the string bass and electric bass. Richeson has toured and recorded with many jazz greats, including Phil Collins and Tony Bennett, with whom he has appeared on three Grammy-award winning albums.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Seth Rogers joined the faculty at Denison in 2007. He earned a B.A. in music and economics at Denison and a M.M. in jazz studies at Youngstown State University. He teaches music theory and percussion, performs with the faculty jazz group and directs the Latin Jazz Percussion Ensemble and the Balinese Gamelan Ensemble.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Steven Rosenberg joined the faculty at Denison in 1983. He earned a B.Mus. at Oberlin College and teaches oboe at Denison. An active chamber music player, he has also played with the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, Opera Columbus, the Lancaster Festival Orchestra and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. He serves as artistic director of CityMusic.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Stephen Sims joined the faculty at Denison in 2005 and teaches private violin lessons. He earned his B. Mus. at the University of Illinois, his M.Mus. at the Cleveland Institute of Music and his D.M.A. at the University of Iowa.

Affiliated Studio Instructor James Van Reeth joined the faculty at Denison in 1995 and teaches violin in the Suzuki Program.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Mark Wade joined the Denison faculty in 2007. He earned a B.M. degree at Ohio Wesleyan, and an M.M. at Ohio State University where he is a candidate for the M.M.A. degree in trumpet performance. He toured Europe as the principal trumpet in the Classical Music Festival Orchestra and Brass Quintet of Eisenstadt, Austria. Wade is the former principal trumpet of the OSU Wind Symphony. A national hammered dulcimer champion, he has released six CDs, the most recent a solo classical album entitled Serenade.

Affiliated Studio Instructor Kevin N. Wines joined the faculty at Denison in 2000. He earned his B.Mus., M.A. and M.Mus. at Ohio State University. Wines, a private voice teacher and coach, has performed extensively with opera companies as a professional opera singer.