School of Music, Theatre
and Dance
Varner Hall, Room 207
371 Varner Drive
Rochester,
MI
48309-4485
(location map)
Academic Office: (248) 370-2030
Box Office: (248) 370-3013
Fax: (248) 370-2041
smtd@oakland.edu
Faculty and Staff
The School of Music, Theatre and Dance has a world-class faculty of actors, choreographers, composers, conductors, dancers, designers, directors, instrumentalists, scholars, singers and more. While the work of our faculty in the performing arts is wide-ranging, they all share a singular commitment to teaching and mentoring students. In collaboration with our faculty, students are transformed through experiences in the classroom, rehearsal space, practice room, studio and beyond.
SMTD Administration
Academic Leaders
| Deborah VanderLinde, Ph.D. | Interim Director, School of Music, Theatre and Dance Chair, Department of Music Associate Professor of Music | vanderlinde@oakland.edu (248) 370-3022 |
| Kerro Knox 3, M.F.A. | Associate Director, School of Music, Theatre and Dance Professor of Theatre | knox@oakland.edu (248) 370-3025 |
| Elizabeth Kattner, Ph.D. | Assistant Director, School of Music, | kattneru@oakland.edu (248) 370-2917 |
| Jeffrey Heisler, D.M.A. | Chair, Department of Music Associate Professor of Music | jaheisle@oakland.edu |
| Jeremy Barnett, M.F.A. | Chair, Department of Theatre Associate Professor of Theatre | barnett@oakland.edu |
| Gregory Patterson, M.F.A. | Chair, Department of Dance Associate Professor of Dance | patterso@oakland.edu (248) 370-3009 |
Office Staff
| Kristina Allen | Office Assistant II | kallen4@oakland.edu (248) 370-2033 |
| Jaime Finn | Office Assistant III | finn@oakland.edu (248) 370-2035 |
| Manjit Gill | Budget Manager | gill@oakland.edu (248) 370-2046 |
| Michelle Tschirhart | Recruitment and Outreach Manager | mtschirhart@oakland.edu (248) 370-2039 |
| Carly Uhrig | Marketing Manager | uhrig@oakland.edu (248) 370-2032 |
Production Staff
| Joseph Beck | Technical Director | jbeck@oakland.edu |
| Katherine Boersma | Production and Facilities Manager | keboersm@oakland.edu (248) 370-3012 |
| Box Office Manager | Megan Herald | smtdboxoffice@oakland.edu |
| Jenna Fiorini | Production Office Assistant | jkfiorin@oakland.edu |
| Megan Herald | Assistant Production and Facilities Manager | meherald@oakland.edu (248) 370-3012 |
| Terry Herald | Technical Coordinator, Sound Technician | herald@oakland.edu |
| Christa Koerner | Costume Shop Supervisor | koerner@oakland.edu (248) 370-3011 |
Collaborative Pianists
| Laura Blanchard | Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre | lblanchard@oakland.edu |
| Cat Dacpano | Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre | cdacpano@oakland.edu |
| Frank Pitts | Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre | fepitts@oakland.edu |
| Vladimir Kalmsky | Collaborative Pianist for Dance | kalmsky@oakland.edu |
| Aran Kim | Collaborative Pianist for Vocal Music | arankim@oakland.edu |
| Alissa Hetzner | Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre | hetzner@oakland.edu |
| Mike List | Collaborative Pianist for Dance | |
| Amanda Sabelhaus | Collaborative Pianist for Vocal Music Coordinator of Collaborative Piano, Voice | sabelhau@oakland.edu |
| Amy Sauve | Collaborative Pianist for Vocal Music | sauve@oakland.edu |
| Won Kyung Shin | Collaborative Pianist for Instrumental Music | wonshin@oakland.edu |
| Philip Solomonick | Collaborative Pianist for Instrumental Music | |
| Marina Stojanovska | Collaborative Pianist for Vocal Music | mstojanovska@oakland.edu |
| Hannah Watson | Collaborative Pianist for Vocal Music | hannahwatson@oakland.edu |
| I-Chen Yeh | Collaborative Pianist for Instrumental Music Coordinator of Collaborative Piano, Instrumental | yeh@oakland.edu |
Undergraduate Advisors
| Jim Bilinski | Undergraduate Academic Advisor | |
| Matt Prentice | Undergraduate Academic Advisor | mwprenti@oakland.edu |
Music Ensemble Staff
| Joan Hovda | Orchestra Librarian, OSO | |
| Sherri Martilla | Orchestra Manager, OSO | |
| Michele Soroka | Orchestra Management Assistant | mrsoroka@oakland.edu |
Department of Music
Music Theory and Musicology
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Melissa Hoag, Ph.D. | Associate Professor of Music Music Theory Program Coordinator Master's Program Coordinator | hoag@oakland.edu (248) 370-4153 |
| David Kidger, Ph.D. | Associate Professor of Music, Musicology Music History Program Co-Coordinator | kidger@oakland.edu (248) 370-4308 |
| Jessica Payette, Ph.D. | Associate Professor of Music, Musicology Music History Program Co-Coordinator | payette@oakland.edu (248) 370-3148 |
| Sarah Komer, M.M. | Lecturer, Music Music Theory | sarahkomer@oakland.edu |
| Stephen Komer, M.M. | Special Lecturer, Music Music Theory | smkomer@oakland.edu |
| Victoria Shively, M.M. | Special Lecturer, Music Music Theory and History, Opera Coach Music Director, opera production | shively2@oakland.edu (248) 370-3321 |
Music Education
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Cat Bennett, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor of Music Music Education Field Services Coordinator | catherinebennet@oakland.edu |
| Pamela L. Klena, D.M.A. | Assistant Professor of Music | pamelaklena@oakland.edu (248) 370-2287 |
| Joseph Shively, Ed.D. | Associate Professor of Music Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences | shively@oakland.edu |
| Deborah VanderLinde, Ph.D. | Interim Director, School of Music, Theatre and Dance Associate Professor of Music Coordinator, Graduate Music Education | vanderlinde@oakland.edu |
| Lauri A. Hogle, Ph.D. | Lecturer, Music | laurihogle@oakland.edu 248-370-2763 |
| Niki Rose, M.Ed. | Lecturer, Music | darose@oakland.edu |
| P. David Visnaw II, M.M. | Lecturer, Music Music Education | pdvisnaw@oakland.edu |
Ensembles and Conducting
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Gregory Cunningham, Ed. D. | Professor of Music Instrumental Conducting Instrumental Program Coordinator | cunningh@oakland.edu (248) 370-3015 |
| Pamela L. Klena, D.M.A. | Assistant Professor of Music | pamelaklena@oakland.edu (248) 370-2287 |
| Kenneth Kroesche, D.M.A. | Professor of Music Applied Brass, Brass Band and Ensembles Brass Program Coordinator | kroesche@oakland.edu (248) 370-4303 |
| Michael Mitchell, D.M.A | Professor of Music Director of Choral Activities | mmitchel@oakland.edu (248) 370-2002 |
| Zeljko (Bill) Milicevic, M.M. | Lecturer, Music Chamber Orchestra | milicevi@oakland.edu |
Music Technology
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Fuhrman, D.M.A. | Lecturer, Music Music Technology and Composition | bfuhrman@oakland.edu |
| Terry Herald, M.M. | Lecturer, Music Audio Technology | herald@oakland.edu |
Music for the non-major
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Kristen Tait, D.M.A. | Special Lecturer, Music Music for the Non-Major | tait@oakland.edu |
| Carly Uhrig, M.A. | Lecturer, Music Foundations of Rock | uhrig@oakland.edu (248) 370-2032 |
| Phyllis White, Ph.D. | Special Lecturer, Music Music for the Non-Major | pwhite@oakland.edu |
Applied Music
Keyboard
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Tian Tian, D.M.A. | Associate Professor of Music Piano Performance and Pedagogy | ttian@oakland.edu |
| Dennis Curry, M.M. | Applied Instructor, Carillon | dncurry@oakland.edu |
| Laura Blanchard, M.M. | Lecturer, Music | lblanchard@oakland.edu |
| Rebecca Happel, D.M.A. | Applied Instructor, Piano Lecturer, Music | happel@oakland.edu (248) 370-4152 |
| Lois Kaarre, M.M. | Special Lecturer, Music Keyboard Classes | kaarre@oakland.edu (248) 370-2913 |
| I-Chen Yeh, D.M.A. | Applied Instructor, Piano Coordinator of Instrumental Accompanying | yeh@oakland.edu |
Voice
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Alta Marie Boover, D.M.A. | Assistant Professor of Music Applied Voice | altadantzler@oakland.edu (248) 370-2943 |
| Drake Dantzler, D.M.A. | Associate Professor of Music Applied Voice Opera Program Coordinator | dantzler@oakland.edu (248) 370-2042 |
| John-Paul White, Perf. Cert. | Distinguished Professor of Music Voice Program Coordinator | jpwhite@oakland.edu (248) 370-2040 |
| Barbara Bland, M.M. | Applied Instructor, Voice | blbland@oakland.edu (248) 370-4309 |
| Edith Diggory, D.M.A. | Adjunct Assistant Professor, Voice | diggory@oakland.edu (248) 370-3019 |
| Elise Eden, D.M.A. | Lecturer, Music | eden@oakland.edu |
| Melissa Maloney, M.M. | Applied Instructor, Voice | maloney@oakland.edu (248) 370-2943 |
| Constantine Novotny, M.M. | Lecturer, Music | ccnovotny@oakland.edu |
| Katrina VanMaanen, MM | Lecturer, Music | kvanmaanen@oakland.edu |
Brass
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Kenneth Kroesche, D.M.A.Professor of Music | Applied Brass, Brass Band and Ensembles Brass Program Coordinator | kroesche@oakland.edu (248) 370-4303 |
| Amanda Ross, D.M.A. | Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Applied Trumpet | aross2@oakland.edu |
| David Denniston, D.M.A. | Applied Instructor, Horn | dennisto@oakland.edu |
| James Long, M.M. | Lecturer, Music | jalong@oakland.edu |
Woodwinds
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Heisler, D.M.A. | Chair, Department of Music Associate Professor of Music Applied Saxophone | jaheisle@oakland.edu (248) 370-2871 |
| Stacey Jamison, M.M. | Lecturer, Music Applied Bassoon | sljamiso@oakland.edu |
| Brandon LePage | Applied Instructor, Flute Flute Ensemble | blepage@oakland.edu |
| Timothy Michling, M.M. M.P.A. | Applied Instructor, Oboe | michling@oakland.edu |
| Alex Sellers, M.M. | Lecturer, Music Applied Saxophone | fasellers@oakland.edu |
| Ralph Skiano, B.M. | DSO Affiliate Applied Faculty, Clarinet | rdskiano@oakland.edu |
| Jaquain Sloan, Perf. Cert. | DSO Affiliate Applied Faculty, Bassoon | sloan@oakland.edu |
| Michelle Tschirhart, M.M. | Lecturer, Applied Clarinet | mtschirhart@oakland.edu |
| Jeffery Zook, M.M. | DSO Affiliate Applied Faculty, Flute | zook@oakland.edu |
Strings
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Bret Hoag, M.M. | Applied Instructor, Guitar Special Lecturer, Music | hoag2@oakland.edu |
| John Kennedy, M.M. | Lecturer, Applied Double Bass | jckennedy2@oakland.edu |
| Roman Kosarev | Applied Instructor, Viola | kosarev@oakland.edu |
| Úna O'Riordan | DSO Affiliate Applied Faculty, Cello | uoriordan@oakland.edu |
| Elizabeth Rowin, M.M. | Applied Instructor, Violin Lecturer, Music Coordinator, Chamber Music | rowin@oakland.edu |
Percussion
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Stone, M.M. | Professor of Music World Music and Percussion Coordinator, World Music and Percussion | stone@oakland.edu |
| Dan Maslanka, M.M. | Applied Instructor, Percussion Lecturer, Music | maslanka@oakland.edu |
Jazz and World Music
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Stone, M.M. | Professor of Music World Music and Percussion Coordinator, World Music and Percussion | stone@oakland.edu |
| Enrique Rios-Ellis, D.M.A. | Visiting Professor of Music | eriosellis@oakland.edu |
| Patrick Fitzgibbon, M.M. | Special Lecturer, Music World Music | pwfitzgi@oakland.edu |
| Scott Gwinnell, M.M. | Special Lecturer, Music Applied Instructor, Jazz Piano | gwinnell@oakland.edu |
| Marion Hayden, B.A. | Applied Instructor, Jazz Bass | mtgardner@oakland.edu |
| Mark Kieme | Applied Instructor, Jazz Saxophone | kieme@oakland.edu |
| Gayelynn McKinney | Applied Instructor, Jazz Percussion | gmckinney@oakland.edu |
| Jay Shankar Balan | Applied Instructor, Indian Raga | jbalan@oakland.edu |
Collaborative Pianists
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda Sabelhaus | Collaborative Pianist accompanying Voice Coordinator of Vocal Accompanying | sabelhau@oakland.edu |
| I-Chen Yeh | Collaborative Pianist for Instrumental Music Coordinator of Instrumental Accompanying | yeh@oakland.edu |
Department of Theatre
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
| Jeremy Barnett, M.F.A. | Interim Chair, Department of Theatre Doris and Paul Travis Associate Professor of Theatre Theatre Design and Technology Program Coordinator Scenic Design | barnett@oakland.edu |
| Joseph Beck, M.F.A. | Technical Director Lecturer, Theatre Stagecraft | jbeck@oakland.edu |
| Laura Blanchard, M.M. | Vocal Coach Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre | lblanchard@oakland.edu |
| Rick Carver, B.A. | Lecturer, Theatre Mime, Acting for Non-Theatre Majors | carver@oakland.edu |
| Kelli Crump, M.F.A. | Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre | kcrump@oakland.edu |
| Cat Dacpano, B.M. | Vocal Coach Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre | cdacpano@oakland.edu |
| Kitty Dubin, M.A. | Lecturer, Theatre Playwriting | dubin@oakland.edu |
| Dana Gamarra, B.F.A. | Lecturer, Theatre Stage Management | danagamarra@oakland.edu |
| Milica Govich, M.F.A. | Special Lecturer, Theatre Acting Coach Acting for the Camera | vukasovi@oakland.edu |
| David Gram, M.F.A. | Assistant Professor of Theatre Acting, Directing | dgram@oakland.edu |
| Anthony Guest, M.F.A. | Associate Professor of Theatre Acting, Directing | aguest@oakland.edu (248) 370-3023 |
| Beth Guest, M.F.A. | Special Lecturer, Theatre Musical Theatre History | bguest@oakland.edu |
| Alissa Hetzner | Vocal Coach Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre | hetzner@oakland.edu |
| Lisa Kander, Ph.D. | Lecturer, Theatre Theatre History | lhkander@oakland.edu |
| Christa Koerner, M.F.A. | Costume Shop Supervisor Lecturer, Theatre Costume Construction | koerner@oakland.edu |
| Kerro Knox 3, M.F.A. | Associate Director, School of Music, Theatre and Dance Associate Professor of Theatre Lighting Design, History | knox@oakland.edu (248) 370-3025 |
| Karen Kozlowski, MFA | Lecturer, Theatre Scenic Painting, Computer Design | kmkozlowski@oakland.edu |
| Lynnae Lehfeldt, M.F.A. | Doris & Paul Travis Associate Professor of Theatre Stage Voice, Acting | lehfeld2@oakland.edu (248) 370-2956 |
| Whitney Locher, M.F.A. | Assistant Professor of Theatre Costume Design, Stage Makeup | whitneylocher@oakland.edu |
| Thomas Mahard, B.A. | Special Lecturer, Theatre Theatre for Non-Majors | mahard@oakland.edu |
| Emily Padgett-Young | Vocal Coach | emilyyoung@oakland.edu |
| Frank Pitts, B.A. | Vocal Coach Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre | fepitts@oakland.edu |
| Karen Sheridan, M.F.A. | Distinguished Professor of Theatre Co-founder, Classical Theatre Study in Greece Program Acting, Directing | sheridan@oakland.edu (248) 370-2045 |
| Rachel Stevens, M.F.A. | Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre | rachelstevens@oakland.edu |
| Josh Young, B.F.A. | Assistant Professor of Theatre Program Coordinator, Musical Theatre | joshuayoung@oakland.edu (248) 370-2605 |
| Sara Catheryn Wolf, M.F.A. | Lecturer, Theatre | scwolf@oakland.edu |
Department of Dance
| Name | Title | Contact Information |
| Gregory Patterson, M.F.A. | Chair, Department of Dance | patterso@oakland.edu (248) 370-3009 |
| Deavondre Jones | Lecturer, Dance | |
| Eliza Lanham Jones, B.F.A. | Lecturer, Dance | elizajones@oakland.edu |
| Thayer Jonutz, M.F.A. | Associate Professor of Dance | jonutz@oakland.edu (248) 370-2804 |
| Elizabeth Kattner, Ph.D. | Assistant Director, School of Music, Theatre and Dance: Coordinator of Assessment and Evaluation | kattneru@oakland.edu (248) 370-2917 |
| Amanda Lehman | Lecturer, Dance Dance for Musical Theatre | alehman@oakland.edu |
| Roberta A. Lucas, M.A. | Special Lecturer, Dance | rlucas@oakland.edu |
| Mary Murphy, M.A.T. | Lecturer, Dance | marymurphy@oakland.edu |
| Teresa Muller, M.F.A. | Special Lecturer, Dance | tmuller@oakland.edu |
| Renee Petkovski, B.A. | Lecturer, Dance | reneepetkovski@oakland.edu |
| Elizabeth Riga, M.F.A. | Special Lecturer, Dance Director, Oakland Dance Theatre | elizabethriga@oakland.edu |
| Christina Tasco, M.S. | Special Lecturer in Dance | tasco@oakland.edu |
| Ali Woerner, M.F.A. | Associate Professor of Dance Director/Founder of Take Root | woerner@oakland.edu (248) 370-3604 |
Production Staff
| Jeremy Barnett | Set Design | barnett@oakland.edu |
| Joseph Beck | Set Construction | jbeck@oakland.edu |
| Kerro Knox | Lighting Design | knox@oakland.edu |
| Christa Koerner | Costume Construction | koerner@oakland.edu |
Dance Accompanists
| Vladimir Kalmsky | Accompanist for Dance | kalmsky@oakland.edu (248) 370-2049 |
| Mike List | Accompanist for Dance |
Faculty Advisers
| Program | Name | ||
| Jazz Studies | Enrique Rios-Ellis | stone@oakland.edu | |
| World Music Studies | Mark Stone | stone@oakland.edu | |
| BA | Music | Melissa Hoag, Jessica Payette, Mark Stone | hoag@oakland.edu, payette@oakland.edu, stone@oakland.edu |
| Instrumental Performance | Jeff Heisler, Ken Kroesche, George Stoffan | jaheisle@oakland.edu, kroesche@oakland.edu, stoffan@oakland.edu | |
| BM | Piano Performance and Pedagogy | Tian Tian | ttian@oakland.edu |
| BM | Voice Performance | John-Paul White, Drake Dantzler, Alta Boover | jpwhite@oakland.edu, dantzler@oakland.edu |
| BM | Choral Music Education | Mike Mitchell, Deb VanderLinde | mmitchel@oakland.edu, vanderlinde@oakland.edu |
| BM | Instrumental Music Education | Pam Klena | shively@oakland.edu |
| BM | General Music Education | Deb VanderLinde | vanderlinde@oakland.edu |
| MM | Choral Conducting | Mike Mitchell | mmitchel@oakland.edu |
| MM | Instrumental Conducting | Greg Cunningham | cunningh@oakland.edu |
| MM | Instrumental Performance | Jeff Heisler, Ken Kroesche, George Stoffan | jaheisle@oakland.edu, kroesche@oakland.edu, stoffan@oakland.edu |
| MM | Piano Performance & Piano Pedagogy | Tian Tian | ttian@oakland.edu |
| MM | Voice Performance & Vocal Pedagogy | Drake Dantzler, John-Paul White, Alta Boover | dantzler@oakland.edu, jpwhite@oakland.edu |
| MM | World Music Performance | Mark Stone | stone@oakland.edu |
| MM | Music Education | Deborah VanderLinde | vanderlinde@oakland.edu |
| MM | Graduate Program Coordinator | Melissa Hoag | hoag@oakland.edu |
| PhD | Music Education | Deborah VanderLinde | vanderlinde@oakland.edu |
| Minors | Theatre | Lynnae Lehfeldt | lehfeldt@oakland.edu |
| Transfers | Theatre | Jeremy Barnett | barnett@oakland.edu |
| BA | Theatre | Lynnae Lehfeldt | lehfeldt@oakland.edu |
| BFA | Acting | David Gram Karen Sheridan | dgram@oakland.edu sheridan@oakland.edu |
| BFA | Musical Theatre | David Gram | dgram@oakland.edu aguest@oakland.edu joshuayoung@oakland.edu |
| BFA | Theatre Design & Technology | Whitney Locher | whitnerlocher@oakland.edu |
| BA, BFA, & minors | Dance and Dance Education | Elizabeth Kattner, Gregory Patterson, Thayer Jonutz, Ali Woerner | kattneru@oakland.edu, patterso@oakland.edu, jonutz@oakland.edu, woerner@oakland.edu |
Emeriti
| Laurie Eisenhower | Professor Emerita of Dance |
| Robert Facko | Professor Emeritus of Music |
| Michael Gillespie | Professor Emeritus of Theatre |
| Adeline G. Hirschfeld-Medalia | Professor Emerita of Theatre |
| Marvin D. Holladay | Professor Emeritus of Music |
| Flavio Varani | Professor Emeritus of Music |
| Jackie Wiggins | Distinguished Professor Emerita of Music |