Music at Morehead State

05/27/2026

Now that we've announced the appointment of Dr. Brandon Hollihan to our choral position, it's time to post our appreciation to Dr. Greg Detweiler. Dr. Detweiler returned to us at MSU to conduct the Concert Choir this past academic year after two years of retirement after 25 years at MSU. He stepped in and our students had the benefit of his vast experience, wonderful teaching skills, and musicality. He shepherded the choir toward its collaboration with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra's performance of Haydn's Creation in April and mounted a performance on campus of the same work with student soloists. Dr. Detweiler, you stepped in when MSU needed you, and we will forever be grateful! Thank you!!!

(pictured with Drs. Lori Baruth and Thomas Pappas)

05/26/2026

We are so excited to officially announce that we have hired Dr. Brandon Hollihan as our Director of Choral Activities, and to thank our search committee, led by Dr. Michele Paise, for their work in this process. Dr. Brandon Hollihan has enjoyed a varied career as a conductor, singer, keyboardist, educator, church musician, and performer. Prior to his appointment at Morehead State University, he served as Director of Choral Activities at Carson-Newman University in East Tennessee. During his time there he led the choral program in major oratorio performances, outreach to area schools and churches, and a performance at the Tennessee Music Education Association Professional Development Conference with the A Ca****la Choir in spring of 2026.

Recent conducting credits for Dr. Hollihan include Messiah, Faure's Requiem, Vivaldi's Magnificat RV 611, Brahms' Liebeslieder Wälzer, op. 52, Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, with Dr. Ryan Fogg playing piano. He has sung professionally with Opera Columbus and South Bend Lyric Opera, and in August of 2024 presented a staged dramatization of Schubert's Winterreise at Carson-Newman with his wife, Dr. Junghwa Lee, playing piano.

Dr. Hollihan earned his Bachelor’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Notre Dame and dual Master’s degrees from The Ohio State University. His teaching philosophy places an emphasis on "maximizing" one's musical curriculum, emphasizing that the quality of musical output is far more important than its quantity.

05/07/2026

Congratulations! Dr. Michele Paynter-Paise! Quarterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award!

https://www.recordingacademy.com/press-releases/music-educator-award-2027-grammys

202 QUARTERFINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2027 MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD™ PRESENTED BY THE RECORDING ACADEMY® AND GRAMMY MUSEUM® | RECORDINGACADEMY.com
RECIPIENT, FINALISTS AND SEMIFINALISTS TO RECEIVE CASH HONORARIUMS

05/01/2026

Calling all MSU Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble alumni! Dust off your lederhosen and join us for Octubafest 2026! SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, September 26, 2026 in Downtown Morehead! *we are planning to play from 6:00-7:30p. Contact me if you want to play! [email protected]

04/28/2026

04/15/2026

04/14/2026

Join us for the final MSU Symphonic Winds concert of the year on Thursday, April 30 at 7:30pm in Duncan Recital. The ensemble will present a program entitled “Time Signatures” featuring Deciduous by Viet Cuong, Unquiet Hours by David Biedenbender, Hymn to a Blue Hour by John Mackey, Things to Come by Jeff Tyzik, These Radiant Moments by Harrison Collins, and Atomic Time by James David. We hope to see you there!