Administration

Before coming to Tennessee, Stephens was the director of the School of Music at Ohio University from 1993-2001, where he also directed the opera program. From 1980-93 Stephens was the director of The Ohio State University Opera/Music Theater, as well as serving in two administrative positions as Acting Director and Chairperson of the Performance Division. A native of Springfield, Ohio, he received his education at Capital, East Carolina, and North Texas State universities, and served as director of opera at the Universities of Nebraska and Washington State prior to coming to Ohio. Stephens has received critical acclaim as a stage director and performer for such productions as La Bohème, Sweeney Todd, and Madama Butterfly. In October ‘98, he directed and performed the role of Dr. Engel in the opening production of Student Prince for the newly renovated Southern Theatre in Columbus, OH. Regional opera directing assignments have included the Orlando Opera, Opera/Columbus, Knoxville Opera, and Shreveport Opera. Stephens served as stage director for Columbus Light Opera from 1987-2000 and his productions of Iolanthe (1989), The Gondoliers (1990), H.M.S. Pinafore (1991), and Patience (1993) were all named in their respective years to the Columbus Dispatch’s “Ten Best” list. Recent directing engagements include Man of La Mancha and H.M.S. Pinafore (Opera Columbus), Elijah’s Angel (Columbus ProMusica Chamber Orchestra), The Merry Widow (Knoxville Opera and Opera Columbus), The Student Prince (Gold Coast Opera in Ft, Lauderdale, FL), and Iolanthe (Nashville Opera). Stephens will be directing The Mikado for Opera Columbus in June, 2009. Professor Stephens was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award from both Capital University and East Carolina University.

Research/Creative Activity: Roger Stephens

Barbara Murphy is Associate Professor of Music Theory and Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies. She received the B.M. from Youngstown State University, and the M.A. and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. Her research focuses on the use of chunking in harmonic dictation, the readiness of college music majors for theory classes, and programming CAI lessons in basic music theory topics. She serves as Technology Directory Editor for the Association of Technology in Music Instruction (ATMI).

Angela Batey is recognized as a prominent conductor, clinician, adjudicator and teacher whose wide variety of experience encompasses professional, university, high school, community and church choruses. She is Director of Choral Activities and conducts the Chamber Singers and teaches conducting courses at the graduate levels.

Dr. Batey is Conductor of the Roane Choral Society in Kingston, Tennessee, and is also Director of Music at Farragut Presbyterian Church. She is a Past-President of the Tennessee American Choral Directors Association.  She has been Associate Conductor of Schola Cantorum of Florida, a professional chorus and Associate Music Director of the Florida Ambassadors of Music which tours Europe biannually. She is also Festival Director of the International Cathedral Music Festival held annually in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Batey has appeared as a clinician for the American Choral Directors Association, South Carolina Music Educators Association, Florida Vocal Association, and is a frequent adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor of choral festivals, honors choirs and educational workshops. Her concern for excellence in education is the focal point of her teaching career.

Dr. Batey holds two degrees from Birmingham-Southern College in Music Education and Musical Theatre, a master's degree from The Florida State University in Music Education and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina. In addition, she has studied Conducting with Hugh Thomas, Joseph Flummerfelt, Robert Shaw, Colleen Kirk, Clayton Krehbiel, Andre Thomas, Don V Moses and Larry Wyatt.