Guest Scholars

The MSU Music Theory Area has a vibrant guest-scholars program. Seven renowned theorists visit us each year to present their research, guest-teach our classes, and mentor our students.

Guest lecture in Music building classroom with lecturer at the front of the class and camera perspective from the audience with several attendees listening

Guest Lectures

Graduate students in the music theory area are exposed to cutting-edge research through guest lectures. Visiting scholars present their most current thinking on a variety of topics, bringing the plurality of the music-theoretic discipline right here to East Lansing.

Guest Teaching

Our students interact directly with the guests as master pedagogues. Visiting scholars are selected so that their expertise aligns with a seminar or workshop in our graduate curriculum in music theory. Each of them guest-teaches this course, and many of them teach a graduate course for performers and/or a course in our undergraduate core sequence as well.

Professional Mentoring

We reserve time in each guest scholar’s itinerary for individual meetings with any interested students, as well as a group lunch with graduate students in music theory. These conversations offer opportunities for candid mentoring about students’ research projects, professional development, teaching, and applications for jobs and doctoral programs.

Upcoming Events

Online

Saturday, January 17, 2026

MSU Jazz at the National Collegiate Jazz Championship

Other

Jazz Ensembles

January 17 and 18, MSU Jazz takes the national stage—live from Jazz at Lincoln Center. Explore performance details and tune in via livestream.

Event Details

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Jian Xiong, viola

4:00 pm

Cook Recital Hall

DMA Solo Recital

A student-led event that features performances and presentations by music majors from the MSU College of Music.

Event Details

Free

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Jazz: Spirituals, Prayer and Protest Concert

3:00 pm

Fairchild Theatre

MSU Jazz Ensembles

Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., this annual concert features MSU Jazz Orchestras and jazz voice students of artist-faculty member Carmen Bradford in a powerful program of spirituals and jazz works that celebrate hope, justice, and reflection.

Event Details

Free

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Emily Trapani, conducting

6:00 pm

Fairchild Theatre

DMA Chamber Recital

A student-led event that features performances and presentations by music majors from the MSU College of Music.

Event Details

Free

Online

Friday, January 23, 2026

American Song Marking 250 Years

7:30 pm

Cook Recital Hall

Artist-Faculty and Guest Recital Series

Join MSU’s Jane Bunnell, Marc Embree, and Elden Little for a captivating evening of American music, celebrating 250 years of song from the nation’s early spirit to the diverse and eclectic sounds of today.

Event Details

$$$

View All Event Listings

"A highlight of my time at MSU was getting to talk about my research and my future plans with a variety of prominent theorists in the field through the guest scholar program."

Alexandrea Jonker '18 (MM Theory), Now A Ph.D. Student In Music Theory at Mcgill University