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

November 20, 2024

Tambuco Percussion Reading Session

7:30 pm

Cook Recital Hall

EMAR

Part of the MSUFCU Entrepreneurial Musical Artist in Residence

Free

Online

November 20, 2024

Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble

7:30 pm

Fairchild Theatre

MSU Small Ensembles

Presenting tuba-euphonium quartets, as well as the full 18-member MSU Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, performing original and transcribed works.

Event Details

$$$

November 21, 2024

Tambuco Mexican Percussion Ensemble

7:30 pm

Fairchild Theatre

Artist-faculty and Guest Recital Series

Tambuco, the renowned Mexican percussion quartet, is celebrated globally for their innovative repertoire and electrifying performances using diverse instruments and objects, earning numerous accolades including the Japan Foundation Award for Culture.

Event Details

$$$

November 23, 2024

Symphony Orchestra: Bohemian Soul

8:00 pm

Wharton Center

MSU Orchestras

This concert features Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7, Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, a Tuba Concerto by Ronald Newman performed by MSU faculty Philip Sinder, and a student-composed Fanfare, conducted by Katherine Kilburn.

Event Details

$$$

November 24, 2024

Wind Symphony and Spartan Youth Wind Symphony

3:00 pm

Wharton Center

MSU Bands

The MSU Wind Symphony performs works by Bach, Bryant, and Shostakovich, while the Spartan Youth Symphony performs Bryant, Vaughan Williams, Cuong, Chambers, and Sousa, conducted by Kevin and Dana Sedatole.

Event Details

$$$

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"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