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Faculty and Staff

The School of Music, Theatre and Dance has a world-class faculty of actors, choreographers, composers, conductors, dancers, designers, directors, instrumentalists, scholars, singers and more. While the work of our faculty in the performing arts is wide-ranging, they all share a singular commitment to teaching and mentoring students. In collaboration with our faculty, students are transformed through experiences in the classroom, rehearsal space, practice room, studio and beyond.

Academic Leaders
Elisabeth Honn Hoegberg, Ph.D Director, School of Music, Theatre, and Dance Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Professor of Music
ehoegberg@oakland.edu
Elizabeth Kattner, Ph.D. Associate Director, School of Music,
Theatre and Dance
Coordinator of Assessment and Evaluation
Professor of Dance
kattneru@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2917
Melissa Hoag, Ph.D.

Assistant Director, School of Music, Theatre and Dance
Professor of Music Theory
Music Theory Program Coordinator

hoag@oakland.edu
(248) 370-4153
Jeffrey Heisler, D.M.A. Chair, Department of Music
Professor of Music
jaheisle@oakland.edu
Jeremy Barnett, M.F.A. Chair, Department of Theatre
Associate Professor of Theatre
barnett@oakland.edu
Gregory Patterson, M.F.A. Chair, Department of Dance
Associate Professor of Dance
patterso@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3009
Office Staff
Kristina Allen Office Assistant II kallen4@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2033
Sean Delaney Communications Associate sdelaney@oakland.edu
Jaime Finn Office Assistant III finn@oakland.edu 
(248) 370-2035
Lisa Hinchman Business Manager
(248) 370-2046
Alex Sellers Recruitment and Outreach Manager

fasellers@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2039

  Marketing Manager smtd@oakland.edu
Production Staff
Joseph Beck Technical Director jbeck@oakland.edu
Katherine Boersma Production and Facilities Manager keboersm@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3012
Ellen Peck Production Manager epeck@oakland.edu
Caroline Sheridan Box Office Manager smtdboxoffice@oakland.edu
Caroline Sheridan Assistant Facilities Manager csheridan@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3013
Terry Herald Technical Coordinator, Sound Technician 

herald@oakland.edu 

(248) 370-3014

Christa Koerner  Costume Shop Supervisor koerner@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3011
Shelby VanOphem Costume Shop Assistant

svanophem@oakland.edu

Collaborative Pianists
Laura Blanchard Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre lblanchard@oakland.edu
Cat Dacpano Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre cdacpano@oakland.edu
Frank Pitts Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre fepitts@oakland.edu
Aran Kim Collaborative Pianist for Vocal Music arankim@oakland.edu
Alissa Hetzner Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre hetzner@oakland.edu
Mike List Collaborative Pianist for Dance

mikelistpercussionist@gmail.com

Amanda Sabelhaus  Collaborative Pianist for Vocal Music
Coordinator of Collaborative Piano, Voice
sabelhau@oakland.edu
Won Kyung Shin Collaborative Pianist for Instrumental Music wonshin@oakland.edu
Philip Solomonick Collaborative Pianist for Instrumental Music  
Marina Stojanovska Collaborative Pianist for Vocal Music mstojanovska@oakland.edu
Hannah Watson Collaborative Pianist for Vocal Music hannahwatson@oakland.edu
I-Chen Yeh Collaborative Pianist for Instrumental Music
Coordinator of Collaborative Piano, Instrumental
yeh@oakland.edu
Undergraduate Advisors
Matt Prentice Undergraduate Academic Advisor

mwprenti@oakland.edu

Marti Engman Undergraduate Academic Advisor

meengman@oaklandedu

Annie Hegedus Undergraduate Academic Advisor

ahegedus@oakland.edu

Music Ensemble Staff
Joan Hovda Orchestra Librarian, OSO  
Sherri Martilla Orchestra Manager, OSO  
Music Theory and Musicology
Name Title Contact Information
Melissa Hoag, Ph.D. Assistant Director, School of Music, Theatre and Dance
Professor of Music
Music Theory Program Coordinator
hoag@oakland.edu
(248) 370-4153
David Kidger, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Music, Musicology
Music History Program Co-Coordinator
kidger@oakland.edu
(248) 370-4308
Jessica Payette, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Music, Musicology 
Music History Program Co-Coordinator
payette@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3148
Sarah Komer, Ph.D. Special Lecturer, Music
Music Theory
sarahkomer@oakland.edu
Stephen Komer, Ph.D. Special Lecturer, Music
Music Theory
smkomer@oakland.edu
Victoria Shively, M.M. Lecturer, Music 
Music History, Opera Coach
Music Director, opera production
shively2@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3321
Music Education
Name Title Contact Information
Cat Bennett, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Music
Music Education Field Services Coordinator
catherinebennet@oakland.edu
Pamela L. Klena, D.M.A. Assistant Professor of Music pamelaklena@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2287
Joseph Shively, Ed.D. Associate Professor of Music
Senior Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
shively@oakland.edu
Deborah VanderLinde, Ph.D. Professor Emerita, Music Education,
Coordinator, Doctoral Program in Music Education
vanderlinde@oakland.edu

Lauri A. Hogle, Ph.D.

Lecturer, Music Education

laurihogle@oakland.edu
248-370-2763
Niki Rose, M.Ed. Lecturer, Music Education darose@oakland.edu
P. David Visnaw II, M.M. Lecturer, Music Education pdvisnaw@oakland.edu
Ensembles and Conducting
Name Title Contact Information
Gregory Cunningham, Ed. D. Professor of Music
Instrumental Conducting
Instrumental Program Coordinator
cunningh@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3015
Pamela L. Klena, D.M.A. Assistant Professor of Music pamelaklena@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2287
Kenneth Kroesche, D.M.A. Professor of Music
Applied Brass, Brass Band and Ensembles
Brass Program Coordinator
kroesche@oakland.edu
(248) 370-4303
Michael Mitchell, D.M.A  Professor of Music
Director of Choral Activities
mmitchel@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2002
Zeljko (Bill) Milicevic, M.M. Lecturer, Music
Chamber Orchestra
milicevi@oakland.edu 
Music Technology
Name Title Contact Information
Edward Stumpp, D.M.A. Visiting Assistant Professor, Music
Music Technology and Composition
edwardstumpp@oakland.edu
Terry Herald, M.M. Lecturer, Music
Audio Technology
herald@oakland.edu
Music for the non-major
Name Title Contact Information
Patrick Fitzgibbon, M.M. Special Lecturer, Music
World Music
pwfitzgi@oakland.edu
Bret Hoag, M.M. Applied Instructor, Guitar
Special Lecturer, Music
hoag2@oakland.edu
Kristen Tait, D.M.A.  Special Lecturer, Music
Music for the Non-Major
tait@oakland.edu
Phyllis White, Ph.D. Special Lecturer, Music 
Music for the Non-Major
pwhite@oakland.edu 

Applied Music

Keyboard
Name Title Contact Information
Tian Tian, D.M.A. Associate Professor of Music
Piano Performance and Pedagogy
Graduate Program Coordinator
ttian@oakland.edu
Dennis Curry, M.M. Applied Instructor, Carillon dncurry@oakland.edu
Laura Blanchard, M.M. Lecturer, Music lblanchard@oakland.edu
Rebecca Happel, D.M.A. Applied Instructor, Piano happel@oakland.edu
(248) 370-4152
Lois Kaarre, M.M. Special Lecturer, Music
Keyboard Classes
kaarre@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2913
I-Chen Yeh, D.M.A.  Applied Instructor, Piano
Coordinator of Instrumental Accompanying
yeh@oakland.edu
Voice
Name Title Contact Information
Alta Marie Boover, D.M.A. Associate Professor of Music
Applied Voice
altadantzler@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2943
Drake Dantzler, D.M.A. Associate Professor of Music
Applied Voice
Opera Program Coordinator
dantzler@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2042
John-Paul White, Perf. Cert.  Distinguished Professor of Music
Voice Program Coordinator
jpwhite@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2040
Barbara Bland, M.M. Applied Instructor, Voice  blbland@oakland.edu
(248) 370-4309
Nicole Joseph Applied Instructor, Voice nicolejoseph@oakland.edu
Melissa Maloney, M.M. Applied Instructor, Voice  maloney@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2943
Katya Powder  Applied Instructor, Voice katyapowder@oakland.edu
Constantine Novotny, M.M. Applied Instructor, Voice ccnovotny@oakland.edu
Katrina VanMaanen, MM Applied Instructor, Voice kvanmaanen@oakland.edu
Brass
Name Title Contact Information
Kenneth Kroesche, D.M.A. Professor of Music
Applied Brass, Brass Band and Ensembles
Brass Program Coordinator
kroesche@oakland.edu
(248) 370-4303
Amanda Ross, D.M.A. Visiting Assistant Professor of Music
Coordinator of Jazz
Applied Trumpet
aross2@oakland.edu
David Denniston, D.M.A. Applied Instructor, Horn dennisto@oakland.edu
Brandon Thibault, M.M. Applied Instructor, Tuba bjthibault@oakland.edu
Woodwinds
Name Title Contact Information
Jeffrey Heisler, D.M.A.

Chair, Department of Music
Professor of Music
Applied Saxophone

jaheisle@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2871
Erin Dowler, D.M.A. Applied Instructor, Clarinet edowler@oakland.edu
Stacey Jamison, M.M. Applied Instructor, Bassoon sljamiso@oakland.edu
Brandon LePage Applied Instructor, Flute
Flute Ensemble
blepage@oakland.edu
Ben MacDonald, D.M.A.

Applied Instructor, Saxophone

bmacdonald@oakland.edu

Timothy Michling, M.M. M.P.A. Applied Instructor, Oboe  michling@oakland.edu 
Alex Sellers, M.M. Applied Instructor, Saxophone fasellers@oakland.edu
Ralph Skiano, B.M. DSO Affiliate Faculty, Clarinet rdskiano@oakland.edu
Cornelia Sommer DSO Affiliate Faculty, Bassoon

sommer@oakland.edu

Jeffery Zook, M.M.  DSO Affiliate Faculty, Flute  zook@oakland.edu 
Strings
Name Title Contact Information
Bret Hoag, M.M. Applied Instructor, Guitar
Special Lecturer, Music
hoag2@oakland.edu
John Kennedy, M.M. Applied Instructor, Double Bass jckennedy2@oakland.edu
Roman Kosarev Applied Instructor, Viola kosarev@oakland.edu
Úna O'Riordan DSO Affiliate Applied Faculty, Cello uoriordan@oakland.edu
Elizabeth Rowin, M.M. Applied Instructor, Violin
Coordinator, Chamber Music
rowin@oakland.edu 
Percussion
Name Title Contact Information
Justin Lamb, D.M.A. Visiting Assistant Professor of Music, Applied Percussion jlamb3@oakland.edu
Mark Stone, M.M. Professor of Music
World Music and Percussion
Coordinator, World Music and Percussion
stone@oakland.edu
Patrick Fitzgibbon, M.M. Special Lecturer, Music
World Music
pwfitzgi@oakland.edu
Gayelynn McKinney Applied Instructor, Jazz Percussion gmckinney@oakland.edu
Jazz and World Music
Name Title Contact Information
Amanda Ross, D.M.A. Coordinator of Jazz
Director of Jazz Band
aross2@oakland.edu
Mark Stone, M.M. Professor of Music
World Music and Percussion
Coordinator, World Music and Percussion
stone@oakland.edu 
Patrick Fitzgibbon, M.M. Special Lecturer, Music
World Music
pwfitzgi@oakland.edu
Scott Gwinnell, M.M. Special Lecturer, Music
Applied Instructor, Jazz Piano
gwinnell@oakland.edu
Marion Hayden, B.A. Applied Instructor, Jazz Bass mtgardner@oakland.edu
Mark Kieme Applied Instructor, Jazz Saxophone kieme@oakland.edu
Gayelynn McKinney Applied Instructor, Jazz Percussion gmckinney@oakland.edu
Jay Shankar Balan Applied Instructor, Indian Raga jbalan@oakland.edu
Collaborative Pianists
Name Title Contact Information
Amanda Sabelhaus Collaborative Pianist accompanying Voice
Coordinator of Vocal Accompanying
sabelhau@oakland.edu
I-Chen Yeh Collaborative Pianist for Instrumental Music
Coordinator of Instrumental Accompanying
yeh@oakland.edu
Name  Title  Contact Information
Jeremy Barnett, M.F.A. Chair, Department of Theatre
Doris and Paul Travis Associate Professor of Theatre
Theatre Design and Technology Program Coordinator
Scenic Design
barnett@oakland.edu

Joseph Beck, M.F.A. Technical Director
Lecturer, Theatre
Stagecraft
jbeck@oakland.edu
Jacob ben Widmar, M.F.A. Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre jwidmar@oakland.edu
Laura Blanchard, M.M. Vocal Coach
Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre
lblanchard@oakland.edu
Rick Carver, B.A. Lecturer, Theatre
Mime, Acting for Non-Theatre Majors
carver@oakland.edu
Cat Dacpano, B.M. Vocal Coach
Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre
cdacpano@oakland.edu
Kitty Dubin, M.A. Lecturer, Theatre
Playwriting
dubin@oakland.edu
Lulu Fall Vocal Coach lfall@oakland.edu
Milica Govich, M.F.A. Special Lecturer, Theatre
Acting Coach
Acting for the Camera
vukasovi@oakland.edu 
David Gram, M.F.A. Assistant Professor of Theatre
Acting, Directing
dgram@oakland.edu
Anthony Guest, M.F.A. Assistant Professor of Theatre
Acting, Directing 
aguest@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3023
Beth Guest, M.F.A. Special Lecturer, Theatre 
Musical Theatre History
bguest@oakland.edu
Danny Gurwin, B.F.A. Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre dgurwin@oakland.edu
Alissa Hetzner Vocal Coach
Collaborative Pianist for Musical Theatre
hetzner@oakland.edu
Christa Koerner, M.F.A. Costume Shop Supervisor
Lecturer, Theatre
Costume Construction
koerner@oakland.edu
Kerro Knox 3, M.F.A.  Lecturer knox@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3025
Lynnae Lehfeldt, M.F.A.  Doris & Paul Travis Professor of Theatre 
Voice and Movement
lehfeld2@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2956
Whitney Locher, M.F.A. Assistant Professor of Theatre
Costume Design, Stage Makeup
whitneylocher@oakland.edu
Oscar Quiroz, M.F.A. Assistant Professor of Theatre
Acting, Directing 
rodriguezquiroz@oakland.edu
Karen Sheridan, M.F.A.  Distinguished Professor of Theatre
Co-founder, Classical Theatre Study in Greece Program
Acting, Directing
sheridan@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2045
Jeff Thomakos, M.F.A. Lecturer in Acting jthomakos@oakland.edu
Sam Transleau Visiting Assistant Professor in Design and Production stransleau@oakland.edu
Lynch Travis Lecturer and Director lynchtravis@oakland.edu
Sara Catheryn Wolf, M.F.A. Lecturer, Theatre scwolf@oakland.edu
Name Title  Contact Information 
Gregory Patterson, M.F.A.

Chair, Department of Dance
Associate Professor of Dance

patterso@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3009
Denise Caston-Clark

Lecturer, Dance

dcastonclark@oakland.edu
Deavondre Jones

Lecturer, Dance

deavondrejones@oakland.edu
Eliza Lanham Jones, B.F.A.

Lecturer, Dance

elizajones@oakland.edu
Thayer Jonutz, M.F.A.

Associate Professor of Dance
Director, OU Repertory Dance Company

jonutz@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2804
Elizabeth Kattner, Ph.D.

Associate Director, School of Music,
Theatre and Dance
Coordinator of Assessment and Evaluation
Professor of Dance
Doris and Paul Travis Associate Professor of Dance
Dance History and Dance in Culture
Dance Education Program Coordinator

kattneru@oakland.edu
(248) 370-2917
Amanda Lehman Lecturer, Dance
Dance for Musical Theatre
alehman@oakland.edu
Mary Murphy, M.A.T. Lecturer, Dance marymurphy@oakland.edu
Teresa Muller, M.F.A. Special Lecturer, Dance tmuller@oakland.edu
Renee Petkovski, B.A. Lecturer, Dance reneepetkovski@oakland.edu
Elizabeth Riga, M.F.A. Special Lecturer, Dance
Director, Oakland Dance Theatre
elizabethriga@oakland.edu
Christina Tasco, M.S.  Special Lecturer in Dance tasco@oakland.edu 
Ali Woerner, M.F.A.  Associate Professor of Dance
Director/Founder of Take Root
woerner@oakland.edu
(248) 370-3604
Production Staff
Jeremy Barnett Set Design barnett@oakland.edu
Joseph Beck Set Construction  jbeck@oakland.edu
Kerro Knox Lighting Design knox@oakland.edu
Christa Koerner Costume Construction koerner@oakland.edu
Dance Accompanists
Mike List Accompanist for Dance  
Patrick Fitzgibbon M.M. Lecturer pwfitzgi@oakland.edu
Degree Program Name Email
  Guitar Bret Hoag hoag2@oakland.edu
  Jazz Studies Amanda Ross aross2@oakland.edu
  Strings Elizabeth Rowin rowin@oakland.edu
  World Music Studies Mark Stone stone@oakland.edu
BA Music Melissa Hoag, Jessica Payette, David Kidger hoag@oakland.edu, payette@oakland.edu, kidger@oakland.edu
BM Instrumental Performance Jeff Heisler, Ken Kroesche jaheisle@oakland.edu, kroesche@oakland.edu
BM Piano Performance and Pedagogy Tian Tian ttian@oakland.edu
BM Voice Performance John-Paul White, Drake Dantzler, Alta Boover jpwhite@oakland.edu, dantzler@oakland.edu
BM Choral Music Education Mike Mitchell mmitchel@oakland.edu
BM Instrumental Music Education Pam Klena shively@oakland.edu
BM General Music Education    
MM Choral Conducting Mike Mitchell mmitchel@oakland.edu
MM Instrumental Conducting Greg Cunningham cunningh@oakland.edu
MM Instrumental Performance Jeff Heisler, Ken Kroesche jaheisle@oakland.edu, kroesche@oakland.edu
MM Piano Performance & Piano Pedagogy Tian Tian ttian@oakland.edu
MM Voice Performance & Vocal Pedagogy Drake Dantzler, John-Paul White, Alta Boover dantzler@oakland.edu, jpwhite@oakland.edu
MM World Music Performance Mark Stone stone@oakland.edu
MM Music Education Cat Bennett, Pam Klena catherinebennet@oakland.edu, pamelaklena@oakland.edu
MM Graduate Program Coordinator Tian Tian ttian@oakland.edu
Minors Theatre Lynnae Lehfeldt lehfeldt@oakland.edu
Transfers Theatre Jeremy Barnett barnett@oakland.edu
BA Theatre Lynnae Lehfeldt lehfeldt@oakland.edu
BFA Acting David Gram dgram@oakland.edu
BFA Musical Theatre

David Gram
Anthony Guest

dgram@oakland.edu
aguest@oakland.edu
BFA Theatre Design & Technology Whitney Locher whitnerlocher@oakland.edu
BA, BFA, & minors Dance and Dance Education Elizabeth Kattner, Gregory Patterson, Thayer Jonutz, Ali Woerner kattneru@oakland.edu, patterso@oakland.edu, jonutz@oakland.edu, woerner@oakland.edu
Laurie Eisenhower Professor Emerita of Dance
Robert Facko Professor Emeritus of Music
Michael Gillespie Professor Emeritus of Theatre
Adeline G. Hirschfeld-Medalia Professor Emerita of Theatre
Marvin D. Holladay Professor Emeritus of Music
Deborah Vanderlinde Professor Emerita, Music Education
Flavio Varani Professor Emeritus of Music
Jackie Wiggins Distinguished Professor Emerita of Music