KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 16, 2016

The KSU School of Music held its annual Fall semester student convocation today in Morgan Concert Hall welcoming students, faculty, and staff back to campus for the start the 2016-17 academic year.

Following a welcome and introduction by School of Music Director Dr. Stephen Plate, today’s meeting kicked off with a special performance featuring Senior Music Education student Mark Fucito performing Rudolf Haken’s Serenade for a Flugelhorn and Piano accompanied by KSU collaborative pianist Judy Cole.

As of the beginning of this semester, the School of Music is home to a total of 243 students, including 66 new music majors and 8 new music minors beginning school this semester. Of these students, 13% are pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A.) degrees, 51% are pursuing Bachelor of Music in Music Education (B.M.) degrees, and 39% are pursuing Bachelor of Music Performance (B.M.) degrees.

View the all the photos from the welcoming students, faculty, and staff back to campus for the start the 2016-17 academic year.

In addition to new students, the School of Music also welcomes several new faculty and staff members beginning this academic year:

• Stephanie Adrian, Part-Time Assistant Professor of Voice
• Andrew Brady, Artist-in-Residence in Bassoon
• Anna Dodd, Artist-in-Residence in Horn
• Tyrone Jackson, Lecturer in Jazz Piano
• Rob Opitz, Artist-in-Residence in Jazz Trumpet
• Cecilia Price, Part-time Assistant Professor of Music
• Christopher Thibdeau, Limited Term Assistant Professor of Music Education
• Luke Weathington, Artist-in-Residence in Saxophone
• Nathan Zgonc, Artist-in-Residence in Trombone
• Erik Kosman, Technical Coordinator
• Shawn Rieschl Johnson, Operations Manager

In an exciting announcement, Professor John Lawless (Director of Percussion Studies) unveiled a new set of Adams Timpani. Lawless described this exciting addition to the School of Music’s instrument inventory saying “These timpani would be at home on stage with the world’s greatest orchestras, and now we have a set. These drums will fundementally change the sound of each performing ensemble using them!” The School of Music will also be upgrading several practice rooms with the addition of seven new Boston upright pianos.