MSU Department of Music

MSU Department of Music Welcome to the home of the MSU Department of Music!

05/20/2026

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.
05/18/2026

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

05/17/2026

Congratulations to all Spring 2026 graduates. We were proud to be part of your big day. Hail State!

The Community Music School recitals were a success. We had piano, flute, violin, and oboe students performing at 10:00 a...
05/02/2026

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.
05/01/2026

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...
04/26/2026

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 piani...
04/26/2026

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 ex...
04/21/2026

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!!!

Five MSU brass quintet students presented a terrific performance for the junior high school band students at the Starkvi...
04/17/2026

Five MSU brass quintet students presented a terrific performance for the junior high school band students at the Starkville/MSU Partnership Middle School this afternoon!

Johnna Nail (trumpet, Music Education), Luke Palmer (trumpet, BA in Music), Alyssa Laughlin (horn, Music Performance), Rachel Williams (euphonium, Music Education), and Caleb Drawdy (tuba, Music Education) represented our department brilliantly today!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

04/16/2026

Wow—what a privilege to hear Ryan Gardner live! 🎺✨

His trumpet doesn’t just play… it sings. Absolutely stunning musicianship!
And beautifully accompanied by our one and only Anne Katherine Ragsdale—such an incredible collaboration! 🙌
🙌

Address

124 Hardy Road
Starkville, MS
39759

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