Texas Wesleyan University Department of Music

05/21/2026

Congratulations to our Chair, Dr. Ilka Araújo, for receiving the Texas Music Teachers Association Award (TMTA) for Outstanding Collegiate Teaching Achievement! This award is presented to those with outstanding success in collegiate-level teaching in music performance, composition, pedagogy, collaborative arts, theory, history, or any combination thereof.

She will be heading to Houston this summer for the annual Texas Music Teachers Association Convention to receive this award along with a plaque.

We are so proud of the work Dr. Araújo continues to do for this department, and we hope everyone will congratulate her in the comments below!

05/20/2026

Keith Critcher has been selected to serve as a Collaborative Pianist for the Collegiate Conducting Sessions at the Texas Choral Directors Association Summer Convention. He will collaborate with clinician James Han of Lamar University during the conducting sessions featuring emerging undergraduate and graduate conductors from universities across Texas.

Selected student conductors will lead live reading sessions of choral repertoire. Directors and students participate as the demonstration choir. Dr. Han will provide pedagogical feedback, rehearsal strategies, and conducting technique skill sets throughout the sessions. Mr. Critcher will serve as collaborative pianist, supporting all aspects of the conducting and rehearsal process.

05/20/2026

Keith Critcher has been selected to serve as a Collaborative Pianist for the Collegiate Conducting Sessions at the Texas Choral Directors Association Summer Convention. He will collaborate with clinician James Han of Lamar University during the conducting sessions featuring emerging undergraduate and graduate conductors from universities across Texas.

Selected student conductors will lead live reading sessions of choral repertoire. Directors and students participate as the demonstration choir. Dr. Han will provide pedagogical feedback, rehearsal strategies, and conducting technique skill sets throughout the sessions. Mr. Critcher will serve as collaborative pianist, supporting all aspects of the conducting and rehearsal process.

05/19/2026

Shout out to one of our Alumni for the amazing work he is doing in and outside of the classroom! 💙💛🐏

Jan Lässker helped start the children’s choir program at Fort Worth After School Music Academy to inspire students to find their voices.

04/28/2026

Join us this Thursday, April 30th, as our Wind Ensemble, directed by Thomas Willmann, takes the stage for their concert JOY! Featuring a special performance with the I.M. Terrell Orchestra, it’s an evening of music you won’t want to miss.

04/28/2026

We’ve officially transitioned to our new YouTube channel, , for all recordings and live streams! Be sure to check it out and subscribe so you don’t miss anything. We’re also in the process of uploading past concerts to the new channel—stay tuned for more content coming your way!

04/27/2026

Join us this Friday, May 1st, as Marisol Rodriguez(flute) presents their senior recital accompanied by Keith Critcher!

04/27/2026

Join us this Friday, May 1st, as Danielle Rector (piano) presents their junior recital!