Faculty & Staff Directory

Bonnie Miksch is a composer who writes both acoustic and electroacoustic works. Her music explores the distinctly human realms of emotions, dreams, and states of consciousness, and combines diverse elements with an...

Antares (Tara) Boyle is a music scholar, music theory teacher, and flutist. Her research focuses on modernist, experimental, and improvised music of the twentieth and twenty- first centuries. Tara has published or presented...

Professor Karin Magaldi, Head of the Theater program and Associate Director of the School, is also the Secondary Education Advisor. Since joining the PSU faculty, she has directed several departmental productions including...

Devon Allen is head of Acting and resident artist. Before coming to PSU, Ms. Allen taught at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Duke University, U.C.S.D., and Muhlenberg College. A professional actor and...

Sherry’s performances are an exploration of the great song writers and story tellers of the past and present. Her clear tone and improvisatory vocal approach create fresh and nuanced musical experiences. Her debut...

Northern California native Dr. Harry Baechtel enjoys a wide-ranging career in the vocal arts.  An advocate for new music, he created the role of Adam, a returned war veteran struggling with PTSD, in Ethan Gans-Morse’...

Dave Bamonte was trained at the New England Conservatory of Music and the Eastman School of Music. He has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and served as principal trumpet in the Israel Philharmonic under...

Hamilton Cheifetz has been described in Fanfare Magazine as “unquestionably a magnificent player" for his solo recordings, and he has performed throughout North America and in Europe, Asia, and Australia. A native...

George Colligan is not only one of the great jazz pianists of his generation, but he has earned an international reputation as a multi-instrumentalist (drums, trumpet, organ, keyboards), composer, accompanist, teacher,...

Hailed by Michael Tilson Thomas as “an excellent violinist,” Tomás Cotik is internationally recognized as a soloist, chamber musician, and professor. A much sought-after recording artist, Dr. Cotik has released...

Whether he is collaborating with an instrumentalist, coaching a singer, conducting an opera, or accompanying a choir, Chuck Dillard is a musician at his best while working with others. Hired as a church pianist at age...

Theresa Robbins Dudeck received her M.A. in Theater History, Literature, and Criticism from California State University, Northridge, and PhD in Theater Arts from University of Oregon.Dr. Dudeck is an international theater...

Zach's "irresistible energy, appealing tone, and dazzling technique" (The Oregonian) have made him a fixture in the Portland music community. Serving as Solo Piccolo of the Oregon Symphony since 2012, he also frequently...

Jazz pianist and composer Darrell Grant has performed in some of the best clubs in the country as a sideman to legends like Betty Carter and Chico Freeman, while his recordings as a bandleader have won critics' praise....

A devoted educator, clarinetist Dr. Barbara Heilmair engages communities as a clarinet professor, performer, and teaching artist. She serves as Associate Professor of Clarinet & Music History at the Portland State...

One of the most highly sought after conductors of the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Edward Higgins has spent his musical career imparting the joys of music as a performer, educator, and conductor. Dr. Higgins began his versatile...

Li Kuang is Assistant Professor of Music at Portland State University. Along with his duties as the trombone professor, Li teaches music theory courses, coaches chamber ensembles, and serves as the Director of the Portland...

Caroline Louise Miller is a composer and intermedia artist based in Portland, Oregon. Her music broadly explores affect, ecology, labor politics, tactility, and digital materiality, often addressing contemporary issues...

Coty Raven Morris is a proud alumnus of Texas State University-San Marcos where she studied with Drs. Lynn Brinckmeyer, Jonathan Bacock, and Joey Martin. She received her Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan...

Kelley Nassief's critically acclaimed performances on symphonic stages across the globe have established her as one of the world's leading concert and recital artists. She has performed with such conductors as Kurt...

Edward F. Protzman is the Director of Bands and an assistant professor of music education at Portland State University in Portland, OR. Before his appointment at Portland State, he had a successful career as a high...

After 23 years in the elementary and middle school music classroom, Mari Schay recently transitioned to inspiring future music teachers at Portland State University. Though her primary degrees were in percussion performance,...

Jelena Simonović Schiff, Associate Professor of Music History, Musicology coordinator, holds doctoral degree in Music Education with emphasis on music history pedagogy from Boston University (dissertation mentor Dr....

Ken Selden is conductor and music director of the Portland State University Orchestra, a position he has held since 2006. Under his direction, the PSU Orchestra has received three awards in Adventurous Programming from...

Amanda Singer holds advanced degrees in Educational Leadership and in Intercultural Management, and is an Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies in the School of Music & Theater. A former faculty member...

Hailed by The Oregonian for providing “the finest choral concerts in Portland in recent memory,” Ethan Sperry is in his eleventh year as Director of Choral Activities at Portland State University, where he conducts...

Associate Professor Karen Strand has been teaching oboe in PSU's Department of Music since 1989. Like so many of the music faculty, Karen maintains a busy schedule of performances and recordings which keep her teaching...

As a freelance designer, Solomon has created original works in drama, opera, dance, and music across the U.S., Canada, Dominican Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, and Slovenia. Highlights include Otello (Festspielhaus...

Called “hypnotic, enthralling…dynamic” (Oregon ArtsWatch), Christopher Whyte (b. 1983) is known for his wide-ranging artistry as a percussionist, timpanist, collaborator, composer, and educator. He has presented...

Ms. Willette is the Area Coordinator for the Sonic Arts and Music Production (SAMP) program in the School of Music. She developed the curriculum for distant learning in the area of music technology and currently teaches...

Julia Hwakyu Lee, pianist, has performed solo and chamber music in New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Portland, Toronto and cities in Korea including Seoul. Dr. Lee is on the faculties of the University of Portland...

Lorraine Bahr, is a four time awarded Actress, Director, Writer and Teacher. Recent local stage performances include: The Crackwalker, Sowelu; Playhouse Creatures, CoHo; The New Electric Ballroom, Third Rail Repertory;...

Julia Banzi is a multi-lingual ethnomusicologist and flamenco guitarist with a PhD in Music, specializing in Ethnomusicology, from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her academic training and extensive research...

Owen Broder is a saxophonist based in New York City. He runs in a variety of musical circles, leading his own groups and participating in others. His American Roots Project’s debut album, Heritage, was praised by...

Kenji Bunch enjoys an active career as a composer, performer, and teacher. As one of the most frequently performed composers in the Pacific Northwest, his works have been performed by over sixty American orchestras...

Flutist, Sydney Carlson has been inspiring audiences with her sparkling and expressive playing for over 30 years. Highly sought after as a performer and mentor, Sydney has concertized and taught in Mexico, Europe, China,...

The New York Concert Review described Susan Chan as “a thoughtful musician and a sensitive player,” and The New Yorker called her “an energetic advocate for contemporary music.” The Fanfare magazine and the...

JáTtik Clark serves as Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at Portland State University. He assumed this position one year after becoming the new Principal Tuba of the Oregon Symphony in the Fall of 1999. In addition...

Colin Corner was appointed principal bass of the Oregon Symphony in 2017 after serving two seasons in the same capacity with the Atlanta Symphony. Currently principal bass of the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago,...

As a classical pianist, Rory Cowal’s repertoire spans the breadth of the American avant-garde. In addition to classic works by composers such as Lou Harrison and Johanna Beyer, he has performed numerous premieres,...

Mario Díaz is a multi-instrumentalist (plucked strings/voice) whose musical activities have taken him across the U.S. and South America. He serves on the faculties of Portland State University, Willamette University...

Damen Easton received his Masters of Music in Composition in 2015, from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There he studied composition under John Morrison and Jeremy Van Buskirk. This followed his...

Damian Erskine is known for his ability to fit into any musical situation, extraordinary reading and improvising skills as well as being an educator and columnist. He has played in the studio or on the stage with •...

Renée Favand-See is a composer and soprano living in Portland, Oregon. Her works explore the music of words, natural and made environments, emotions and spiritual questions. These investigations yield vocal music of...

Sean Fredenburg serves as the Instructor of Saxophone at Portland State University where he teaches applied saxophone, chamber music, and woodwind techniques. He is dedicated to promoting new music for the saxophone,...

Denise Fujikawa studied at the Eastman School of music with the renowned harpist Eileen Malone, was awarded a graduate teaching assistantship at the University of Southern California and has taught at California State...

“One of the best bass players I've played with” - John Handy during a NW tour. Tim Gilson began studying music seriously at Mt Hood Community College and shortly thereafter began playing professionally in the Portland...

Jon Greeney has been principal timpanist of the Oregon Symphony since the autumn of 2010. He is also an adjunct professor of percussion studies at Portland State University. Jon holds a B.M. from the Peabody Conservatory,...

Kelly Gronli began her oboe studies at the age of ten in her hometown of Vienna, Virginia, where she was a student of Richard White, retired English Hornist for the National Symphony Orchestra. She quickly gained recognition...

Linda K. Johnson has been a professional dance-based, multidisciplinary artist living in Portland, Oregon over for 30 years. Over these three decades of creative practice, she has taught, performed, created, curated,...

Wynn Kiyama is an assistant professor of musicology and ethnomusicology and the music history coordinator at Portland State University. He received a Ph.D. in musicology from New York University and has taught at Rutgers...

Liz Kohl is a pianist, instructor, collaborative musician, and yoga instructor based in Portland, Oregon. She holds degrees in music from the University of Washington (B.A. in Music, Dance Minor, cum laude) and Baylor...

Soprano Hsin Yi Lin, praised for her sparkling voice and vibrant stage presence, excels in music ranging from Baroque to contemporary. The recipient of the Chi Mei Arts Award in 2011 and a Grand Prize winner of the...

Dunja Jennings Marcum is an adjunct clarinet instructor at Portland State University and maintains a successful studio in SE Portland that consists of students throughout the Metro area. She has been an active performer...

Lisa Ann Marsh is a member of the adjunct piano faculty at Portland State University. As Director of the Coordinate Movement Program at Portland State University she specializes in wellness for musicians. Her courses...

Todd Marston has pursued a diverse music career ever since his days playing in punk bands and jazz combos as a teenager. His love of music has guided him to receive a jazz piano education at Berklee College of Music,...

Christine Meadows served as Director of Opera and Vocal Area Coordinator of the PSU School of Music and Theater from 2006-2020. Since retiring from that position she continues teaching Applied Voice. As a performer,...

Ben grew up in Andover, Massachusetts. He spent his high school years with trombonist, Phil Wilson. During his summers, he studied with German trombonist Jiggs Whigham. After attending Berklee College of Music in Boston,...

American bass-baritone Daniel Mobbs has won praise on both sides of the Atlantic for his "solid, resonant voice and boundless energy...his stage presence virtually ensured that he was the focal point of nearly every...

Momoko Muramatsu has appeared as recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, South America, Japan and the United States. She has won top prizes from international competitions in Brazil, Spain,...

Michael O'Connell joined the school in 2003 teaching acting and voice. O'Connell has served as a program director and teacher for Portland Center Stage and Vision & Voices since 2002, taught and performed with the...

Dr. Daniel Partridge has been the horn instructor at Portland State University since 2016. He is an active performer, soloist, and clinician. He is the principal horn of both Symphony Tacoma and the Vancouver (WA) Symphony...

Kerry Politzer is a jazz pianist with classical and Brazilian influences. She received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano from the New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied improvisation and composition with...

Jeff Putterman is a unique guitarist and composer who has performed as a soloist, sideman and ensemble leader in clubs and concert halls from coast to coast and abroad. A former instructor at the Musicians Institute...

Charles Reneau is an instructor of trombone and bass trombone at Portland State University, as well as the bass trombonist of the Oregon Symphony. He is a busy educator, teaching privately and at PSU, as well as regularly...

On camera, Ted has amassed over 35 TV guest-star and recurring credits including ER, Gilmore Girls, Community, My Name Is Earl, Seinfeld, CSI, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia...most recently on Boardwalk Empire,...

Suzanne Savaria, MAT, NCTM, is Co-Director and developer of the Artist as Citizen Initiative, an arts and social justice program founded in 2016 at Portland State University (PSU) in Portland, OR, and a Performing Arts...

Connie Titterington is a member of the adjunct piano faculty at Portland State University. She is an active chamber musician and accompanist. Connie teaches conceptually, with a mind for body awareness and sensitivity...

Denise Westby grew up knowing that flute was her "thing". She was accepted into the studio of John May, Principal Flute with the Oregon Symphony at the age of 12, later going on to attend the University of Oregon, where...

Jennifer Wright, M.M., B.M., is a pianist, multi-faceted performer, composer, educator, graphic artist, event producer and culture-maker. She teaches piano at Reed College, Portland State University College of the Arts,...

Shanti joined the School of Music & Theater in 2021. Her first career was in high school teaching and administration, so she is excited to be working with students and instructors in the next stage of education,...

Heather is a native Oregonian who joined PSU and the School of Music in 2007. When she is not helping students and faculty in the School of Music she enjoys reading, sewing, and hiking. She also makes a mean salad,...

Greg joined the School of Music & Theater as the Office Coordinator in 2023.