The faculty are the greatest resource of the Department of Music. They design and deliver the curriculum, and mentor and advise students while establishing regional, national and international reputations for their expertise and contributions to the profession. The music faculty earned their credentials from premiere institutions and were selected to teach at IPFW for their extraordinary talents as artists, performers and scholars, and for their proven abilities to communicate effectively with students.

The Music faculty number thirteen full-time and six half-time professors, augmented by more than twenty part-time faculty.  This highly qualified and experienced faculty teaches interactively in small classes and through individualized instruction and mentoring.  All classes are taught by accomplished professionals; there are no graduate assistants teaching in the arts at IPFW. 

2012

Dr. Sam Savage, Coordinator of Studio Voice, was a participant in the Opera of Festival of Rome during this summer. Savage performed tenor roles in the Mozart's "Magic Flute," directed, and taught voice.

Assistant professor of music therapy Linda M. Wright-Bower is the 2012 recipient of the Friends of the University Outstanding Teacher Award. The award carried a stipend of $1,500. Her philosophy of teaching encompassed the idea that students learn best when they first experience music before learning musical concepts such as pitch and rhythm, and that the teacher’s role was to constantly look for ways in which the students can actively work with concepts to deepen their understanding. Linda was founding the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching advisory board member and recipient of the CELT Luminary Award.

Sam Savage, assistant professor and coordinator of studio voice, performed the leading role of Ciano in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci in June, 2012 at the Western Plains Opera in Minot, North Dakota. He also taught and performed at The Art Song Festival in Toledo, Ohio, and served on the faculty for the Operafestival di Roma and covered all of the tenor rolls in The Magic Flute in July 2012.

Assistant professor of music therapy Linda M. Wright-Bower is the 2012 recipient of the Friends of the University Outstanding Teacher Award. The award carries a stipend of $1,500. Ms. Wright-Bower has taught at IPFW for 25 years. Her philosophy of teaching encompasses the idea that students learn best when they first experience music before learning musical concepts such as pitch and rhythm, and that the teacher’s role is to constantly look for ways in which the students can actively work with concepts to deepen their understanding.

Over the years, Wright-Bower’s introductory music therapy course has become less about careers in music and more about using music to promote health and wellness. Students now create their own CD covers, make mandalas, write songs, study guided imagery, meditate with music and write critical thinking journals. Linda is a founding CELT advisory board member and recipient of the CELT Luminary Award.

The Fort Wayne Youtheatre Sarah Shroyer-Smith Scholarship for 2012-13 was awarded to IPFW theatre major Halee Bandt. Sarah Shroyer-Smith was a teacher who volunteered with Youtheatre for 55 years, serving as both board president and treasurer. Shroyer-Smith endowed a $1,000 scholarship for former Youtheatre students pursuing theatre arts in post secondary school. Bandt debuted on the Youtheatre stage 17 years ago playing the Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland. Her other Youtheatre credits include Grease, High School Musical, and Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Bandt is now serving as a classroom and production assistant for their 2012-13 seasons.

Chris Rutkowski, clinical assistant professor of music composition and technology and director of IPFW/Sweetwater music technology program, was appointed as one of nine editors of the College Music Society (CMS) academic journal, Symposium. CMS is a consortium of college, conservatory, university and independent musicians and scholars from all disciplines of music. Symposium provides students and professionals in the field of music with information on conferences, workshops, scholarly articles and reviews. Rutkowski will be editing the music business and industry pages for Symposium, which after 50 years of publication moved from print to an online format.

Robert Bean, professor and chair of the IPFW Department of Music, was honored by the Mississippi State University Department of Music as one of their two alumni of the year (2011). During a recent visit to the MSU campus he led master classes for piano students, coached various ensembles, and spoke to MSU music majors about career paths in the field of music. Dr. Michael Patilla, who studied with Dr. Bean at the University of Montevallo, nominated him for this award and was selected by a committee of MSU faculty members.

2011

Assistant Professor Sam Savage, tenor, was featured in performances of Turridu from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana with the Cape Cod Opera in July and August.

Dr. Sam Savage, Coordinator of Studio voice, performed the role of “Alfred” in Die Flederamaus with the New Rochelle Opera, New York, June, 2011  

Dr. Robert Bean, Professor and Chair of the Department of Music, was selected as the 2011 Alumnus of the Year by the Department of Music at Mississippi State University.  Dr. Bean went to MSU in November for a short residency as part of the award.

Dr. Melanie Bookout, Music History and Literature, completed her two year term as an IPFW Featured Faculty member with an early music concert at Northern Arizona University, May 5, 2011

Dr. Farrell Vernon, Director of Jazz Studies, was granted a sabbatical leave for the Spring 2011 semester to continue work on creating, publishing and recording works for the Sopranino saxophone.

2010

Professor Peggy Farlow, Music Therapy, delivered the paper “Music Interventions to Improve Communications Skills in Persons with Autism” at the Expressive Therapies Summit in New York City, November 14, 2010

Dr. Nancy Jackson, Director of Music Therapy, was selected to present her research at the 2010 European Music Therapy Congress, May 3 – 9, 2010, Cadiz, Spain

Dr. Kenneth Johnson, Lecturer in Music Theory, composed Chamber Concerto for Guitar Quartet, Winds and Percussion, which was premiered on IPFW campus in early spring, 2010, and at the Mid-American Guitar Ensemble Festival, March 21, 2010, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Dr. Aaron Mitchell, Director of Choral Studies, served as a guest conductor and clinician at the Northern Montana District Honor Choir, November 21- 24, 2010

Dr. Chad Nicholson, Director of Instrumental Studies, served as a guest conductor and clinician at the Rocky Mountain Band Festival, Fort Collins, Colorado, November 18 – 20, 2010

Dr. Sam Savage, Coordinator of Studio voice, performed and directed at the Operafestival di Roma, June 30 – July 25, 2010

Dr. Hamilton Tescarollo, Director of Keyboard Studies, performed solo piano recitals in Indiana, Arizona, New York, Wyoming and New Mexico and  chamber recitals with cellist Carlos Audi in Indiana, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and other cities in Brazil  

Professor Linda Wright-Bower received Student’s Choice for Excellence in Teaching Award, April 7, 2010