Conducting Faculty

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 has been selected as a James R. Cox Professor, one of only three at the University of Tennessee. She is Director of Music at Farragut Presbyterian Church. Dr. Batey is a Past-President of the Tennessee American Choral Directors Association.  She has been Conductor of the Roane Choral Society, Associate Conductor of Schola Cantorum of Florida, a professional chorus, Associate Music Director of the Florida Ambassadors of Music and 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.

James Fellenbaum is Associate Professor of Music and Director of the UT Symphony Orchestra. Fellenbaum comes to UT from Chicago, where his extensively diverse background as a conductor has found him collaborating with some of the world's great artists and orchestras. Recently, his conducting collaborations have included members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Northwestern University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, the DePaul University Symphony and Opera Orchestras, and the Midwest Young Artists youth orchestra organization. Fellenbaum served as an assistant conductor with Omaha Opera, and participated as an academy conductor in the American Academy of Conducting, during the 2002 Aspen Summer Music Festival. He has conducted orchestras around the country, including recent guest conducting concerts with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Chicago ensemble Fulcrum Point New Music Project, the Aspen Summer Music Festival Academy Orchestra, and in Europe with the Russe Philharmonic and the Vidin Philharmonic of Bulgaria. Previous university appointments have included director of orchestral activities and instructor of violoncello at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and North Park University in Chicago, Ill. Additional positions have included music director and conductor of the Orchestra of the Pines in Texas; Artistic Director of the North Shore Chamber Orchestra in Evanston, Ill; and Music Director of the Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra, Ill. Fellenbaum holds a bachelor of music degree in violoncello performance from James Madison University in Virginia, and holds a double masters degree in violoncello performance and orchestral conducting from Northwestern University.

Full Bio: James Fellenbaum

Research/Creative Activity: James Fellenbaum

Dr. Donald D. Ryder is Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of Bands. His duties include working extensively with the "Pride of the Southland" Marching Band, conducting the UT Symphonic Band, and teaching undergraduate instrumental conducting. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Iowa, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Iowa. Dr. Ryder studied conducting with Myron Welch and Mark S. Kelly. Dr. Ryder was also a private conducting student of William D. Revelli. Prior to his appointment at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Ryder was on the faculty at Sam Houston State University in Texas. Dr. Ryder successfully taught public school instrumental music in Ohio and Iowa for numerous years where his marching and concert bands were nationally recognized for superior levels of musicianship and performance. During his tenure, he has received many honors and awards including Teacher of the Year. In 1991, Dr. Ryder was recognized by the American School Band Directors Association as the top high school band director in the country and was presented with the coveted Stanbury Award. This award recognized Dr. Ryder for his outstanding levels of teaching achievements with the Troy High School Band in Ohio. In 2003, Dr. Ryder was inducted into the Newton High School Hall of Fame. In 2006, he received the "Distinguished Alumni Award" from Bowling Green State University. Dr. Ryder serves as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor in the field of instrumental music education and holds membership in many professional organizations such as the College Band Directors Association, National Band Association, American School Band Directors Association, East Tennessee School Band & Orchestra Association and the Tennessee Music Educators Association.

Dr. Gary Sousa is the Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. As Director of Bands, Professor Sousa conducts the University of Tennessee Wind Ensemble, teaches graduate courses in conducting and repertoire, directs the Masters program in Wind Conducting, and oversees the entire band program, consisting of concert bands, athletic bands, and The Pride of the Southland marching Band. Prior to accepting this appointment, Dr. Sousa was Director of Bands at Sam Houston State University from 1988 until 1997, and Associate Director of Bands at Baylor University from 1982 until 1986. Under Sousa's leadership, ensembles have received critical acclaim from both composers and conductors alike. His bands' performances at the 1991 Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the 1994 College Band Directors National Association Southwestern Conference, the 1995 College Band Directors National Association 28th National conference, and the 2000 College Band Directors National Association Southern Conference, as well as four compact disc recordings on the Mark and Vestige labels, have drawn praise for excellence in performance, interpretation, and creative programming. In particular, his work has been heralded by Pulitzer Prize composers Karel Husa and Michael Colgrass, and renowned composers Donald Grantham, Dana Wilson, Dan Welcher, Ron Nelson, and Cindy McTee for outstanding preparation, performance, and interpretation of their music. Dr. Sousa maintains an active schedule as guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and Canada. He is listed in multiple editions of Who's Who Among America's Teachers, and holds memberships in many organizations including The American Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, National Band Association, Music Educators National Conference, Tennessee Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Research/Creative Activity: Dr. Gary Sousa

Dr. Michael Stewart serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. As Assistant Director of Bands, Dr.
Stewart assists with the ³Pride of the Southland² Marching Band, conducts the university Concert Band and the University of Tennessee Pep Bands.  Dr.
Stewart¹s responsibilities in the field of Music Education include the teaching undergraduate courses such as Brass Methods and Marching Band Techniques.  Research interests within the field of instrumental music education include recruiting and retention, rehearsal techniques, and teacher attrition.
 
Dr. Stewart received his Bachelor of Music Education from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. His teaching career began within in the Delaware City School district (Delaware, Ohio) teaching instrumental music education to students, grades 5 through 12.  Dr. Stewart received his masters and doctorate degrees from The Ohio State University where he served as the Graduate Assistant Director with The Ohio State University Marching Band and Teaching Assistant within the School of Music.
 
Dr. Stewart continues to actively serve as a clinician, adjudicator, drill writer, and guest conductor throughout the nation.  Dr. Stewart is a member professional organizations such as the College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, East Tennessee School Band & Orchestra Association and the Music Educators National Association.

Gene Peterson is the Associate Director of Choral Activities and is the conductor of the UT Concert Choir and UT Men’s Chorale.  He also teaches courses in undergraduate choral conducting and secondary choral methods.  Beyond his duties at the university, Peterson serves as the Director of Sanctuary Choir at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville. 

Prior to his arrival to Tennessee, Peterson has held posts as music director and conductor for college, high school, church, and community choirs in California and Washington. Ensembles under his leadership have performed in venues throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, including the Sistine Chapel, the Sydney (Australia) Opera House, and Chicago Symphony Hall. 

Peterson regularly appears as a clinician and adjudicator for local, regional, and international choral festivals.  He holds membership in many professional organizations including the American Choral Choral Directors Association, National Collegiate Choral Organization, and East Tennessee Vocal Association.  He has served in professional leadership roles such as High School Standards and Repertoire Chair for the California American Choral Directors Association and as Bay Area Choral Representative for the California Music Educators Association.

Peterson has had the pleasure to be mentored by and to study with Geoffrey Boers, William Hall, Jane Hardester, and Weston Noble.  He holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Conducting and a Masters of Arts in Education from Chapman University in Orange, California and has completed residency for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington, Seattle.