“I was drawn to the Michigan State University College of Music because I felt like my experiences here were focused on weaving me in instead of weeding me out,” said Dr. Derrick Fox.

Dr. Fox is the newly appointed Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Creative Endeavors in the college. It is the second time he has chosen to be in East Lansing, his first while earning a doctorate in choral conducting.

“I say this each time I talk about MSU. I was drawn here. My experiences with college admissions have been with processes meant to weed out people who aren’t ready-made for college as opposed to those processes that weave people in who have the will to learn and the potential to succeed,” he said. “MSU is different. To see this commitment to progress and growth, as evidenced by the expanding and diverse student, staff and faculty community, was an instant draw for me as a student and now as a faculty member.”

An accomplished leader in music, Dr. Fox gained extensive experience teaching at the collegiate, high school, and middle school levels following his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University and master’s degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia. A winner of the 2021 Bryan R. Johnson Service Award by the Nebraska Music Educators Association and the 2022 University of Nebraska Omaha Award for Distinguished Research/Creative Activity, he most recently held the positions of Director of Choral Activities and Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Ithaca College.
 

In addition to teaching, Dr. Fox is a conductor, baritone soloist, composer, arranger, and educational consultant. His list of collaborations around the world is extensive and varied. At MSU, his primary focus is on the success of graduate level students while also leading creative endeavors. 

“MSU is a destination for graduate studies. That is not a mistake,” he said. “It is the result of a strong faculty that represents the best in the profession and a graduate student body that includes current and future professional leaders across the varied musical disciplines represented in the College.”

In his role, he replaces the retiring Dr. David Rayl who served as associate dean for graduate studies and research while also leading the choral programs at MSU for more than 20 years. Dr. Rayl’s retirement also led to the appointment of Dr. Sandra Snow as director of choral programs, an area in which she has built a prominent national reputation over many years as a member of the MSU faculty. After many years of distinguished service to MSU, Dr. Rayl feels confident handing the reins of graduate studies to Dr. Fox after mentoring him as student and observing his career since.

“In the decade since completing his DMA at MSU, Derrick has earned a national reputation as a gifted conductor-teacher and a visionary leader in our profession,” Dr. Rayl said. “I am so proud of the work he has done and look forward to seeing the impact he’ll have at MSU. I can’t imagine a better choice to join Dean James Forger’s administrative team and to join Sandra Snow and Jon Reed in training the next generation of American choral conductors.”

With the return of Dr. Fox to MSU, he will rejoin several people he worked with during his studies who are still leading the way in their programs. 
 
“I worked with Sandra Snow and Jon Reed, I studied voice with Richard Fracker, and I was in the opera with Melanie Helton. I enjoyed working with them,” he said. As for Dr. Rayl, “I just think the world of David Rayl and owe much to him for the conductor and teacher I am today.” 

This enthusiasm for MSU and specifically the College of Music seeps out of every sentence Dr. Fox says when discussing his enthusiasm for this new role. He notes trailblazing alumni, the rich experiences offered by the College, and the faculty and peer learning and mentorship as reasons he is looking forward to his official start date on August 16.

“I plan to carry forward the excellence that has been established in the College while adding to the innovative ways we support graduate faculty and student learning experiences and creative endeavors,” he said. “Taking on roles like this can feel like flying the airplane while it is being built, but I already feel supported.”

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As he prepared a choir for a trip to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall, Dr. Derrick Fox was featured on a news broadcast in Omaha, Nebraska, where he tought at the University of Nebraska before accepting his new faculty and administration position at Michigan State University. Click here or click the image to watch the video which features a cameo by his daughter who played a role in the Carnegie Hall performance. 

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