The Hillsdale College Music Department has over 30 faculty members, including nine full-time positions and over 20 part-time instructors ranging from double bass to flute to harp. Our faculty includes well-established and active performers, teachers, published scholars, commissioned composers, and church musicians. They present recitals and lectures, play with local and national ensembles and orchestras (including the Detroit Opera, Windsor Symphony, Jackson Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, and Toledo Symphony, to name a few) as well as lead our own College/Community Orchestra and other departmental ensembles.

Chair

• James A. Holleman, Chairman and Associate Professor of Music, Choirs, Orchestra and Conducting

Choirs

• James A. Holleman, Music Director, College Choir, Chamber Choir
• Debra Wyse, Artist/Teacher of Music, Choir Accompanist and Assistant Conductor

Jazz

• Christopher C. McCourry, Artist/Teacher of Music and Director of Jazz Ensembles, Hillcats
• Jonathon Gewirtz, Adjunct Instructor, Saxophone, Hillcats
• Matthew Endahl, Adjunct Instructor, Jazz Piano, Hillcats
• Jim Ball, Adjunct Instructor, Jazz Bass, Hillcats
• Larry Ochiltree, Adjunct Instructor, Jazz Drum Set, Hillcats

Keyboard

• Brad Blackham, Artist/Teacher of Music (Piano), Director of Keyboard Studies
• Dean James, Adjunct Instructor, Organ
• Rebecca Mayer, Adjunct Instructor, Piano
• Linda Smith, Adjunct Instructor, Piano
• Douglas Spangler, Adjunct Instructor, Piano
• Debra Wyse, Artist/Teacher of Music (Piano), Choir Accompanist

Music History, Music Theory and Composition

• Renée Clark, Assistant Professor of Music, Music History
• Mathew Fuerst, Assistant Professor of Music, Theory/Composition

Music Education

• Melissa Knecht, Professor of Music, Supervisor of Music Certification Program
  
  

Orchestra

• James A. Holleman, Hillsdale College Symphony Orchestra, Music Director

Percussion

• Stacey Jones, Artist/Teacher of Music, Director of Percussion Ensemble, Music Admissions Coordinator
• Larry Ochiltree, Adjunct Instructor, Jazz Drum Set, Hillcats

Strings

• Melissa Knecht, Professor of Music, Violin, Viola, Chamber Music, String Pedagogy, Director of String Studies
• Dana Duncan, Adjunct Instructor, Violin
• Amy Ley, Adjunct Instructor, Harp
• David Peshlakai, Adjunct Instructor, Cello
• Aaron Johnson, Adjunct Instructor, Bass
• Larry Williams, Adjunct Instructor, Guitar
• Daniel Palmer, Adjunct Instructor, Guitar

Wind Symphony

• Robert Livingston, Adjunct Instructor, Director of Hillsdale Community Wind Symphony

Woodwind and Brass

• Cindy Duda, Adjunct Instructor, Bassoon
• Jonathon Gewirtz, Adjunct Instructor, Saxophone
• Daniel Harris, Adjunct Instructor, Trombone and Bass Trombone
• Christopher C. McCourry, Artist/Teacher of Music (Trumpet) and Director of Jazz Ensembles
• Nermis Meises, Adjunct Instructor, Oboe (on one year professional leave of absence)
• Kaycee Ware-Thomas, Adjunct Replacement Instructor, Oboe
• Andrew Sprung, Adjunct Instructor, Clarinet
• Alan Taplin, Adjunct Instructor, Horn
• Jaimie Wagner, Adjunct Instructor, Flute

Voice

• Cynthian Brundage, Adjunct Instructor, Voice
• Kristen Matson, Adjunct Instructor, Voice
• Melissa Osmond, Artist/Teacher of Voice, Director of Voice Studies, Director of Opera Workshop
• Karl Schmidt, Adjunct Instructor, Voice