Hampton University Department of Music

10/10/2026

Student Recital 10/9/26

Dett Auditorium

10/02/2026

Dr. Mihye Kim Vocal Masterclass

https://www.mihyekim.com

09/30/2026

Congratulations to our Director of Wind Studies, Dr. Lia Snead for being selected as conductor of the CSU Honor Band Festival Concert Band.

Renowned conductor and pedagogue, Dr. Lia Snead joins this year’s CSU Honor Band Festival as the conductor of the Festival Concert Band! As a reminder, audition applications for the annual festival are due Oct. 9.

Dr. Snead is director of Wind Studies at Hampton University and is active as a clinician, adjudicator, guest conductor, and performer. She has held teaching and conducting positions across at secondary and collegiate levels, including applied trumpet at Savannah State University, director of bands at Robert W. Groves High School, associate director of bands at Richmond Hill High School, and director of bands at Wartburg College. Her ensembles have earned superior ratings, numerous festival awards, and participated in national and international concert tours. She has performed with the Savannah Wind Symphony, serving on its board of directors and as a frequent guest conductor. Dr. Snead holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Georgia Southern University, a Master of Music from Northern Illinois University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of South Carolina.

Read more about Dr. Snead at https://music.colostate.edu/bands/honor-band/ See less

09/24/2026

Professor Benjamin Garner’s Faculty Recital in Ogden Hall.

09/18/2026

Student recital performances in the Robert Nathaniel Dett Auditorium in Armstrong Hall.

07/09/2026

Hampton University alumnus Langston Jackson '25 is inspiring the next generation as a music teacher, worship leader, choir director, composer, arranger, vocalist, and pianist.

This fall, he'll continue his journey by pursuing a Master of Arts in Music with a concentration in Choral Conducting at Morgan State University.

Congratulations, Langston—we're proud to see you carrying Hampton's legacy of excellence wherever the music leads. 🌊💙

06/25/2026

We are very excited to announce that Dr. Lori Hicks will join our faculty as our new Associate Professor of Voice!

Dr. Lori Celeste Hicks is a multifaceted artist-scholar whose career spans performance, teaching, research, and arts leadership. An acclaimed classical singer, composer, arranger, vocal pedagogue, opera director, clinician, and entrepreneur, she has dedicated her career to advancing excellence in vocal performance while expanding access to healthy, sustainable singing across diverse musical traditions.

At Hampton University and beyound, Dr. Hicks brings a deep commitment to artistic excellence, student mentorship, innovative pedagogy, and service, preparing the next generation of singers to thrive both on the stage and beyond.

As the founder and CEO of LCH Studios, Dr. Hicks leads innovative vocal training initiatives that serve singers of all genres and backgrounds. Her distinguished academic career includes leadership appointments as Director of Opera at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Chair of Performing Arts at Kentucky State University, as well as faculty positions at the University of Dayton, Central State University, and Claflin University.

Dr. Hicks’s scholarship and creative work center on the intersections of Black artistry, vocal pedagogy, and performance practice. Her research and public engagement have inspired numerous educational initiatives, including From the Black Church to the Opera Stage, an interactive lecture series exploring the connections between gospel and classical traditions; Music of My Voice, a recital series celebrating the Black experience through classical song; , a gospel-based vocal wellness program; Highest Praise Voice Care, a voice-care intensive designed for gospel singers; and the Black Women Composers Summit, a national virtual conference dedicated to elevating the music and legacy of Black women composers.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Hicks earned the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Kentucky State University, the Master of Music degree from Bowling Green State University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan. She is also the author of Affirmations for Singers, a motivational resource that combines practical encouragement with daily affirmations to foster vocal confidence, artistic resilience, and personal growth.

03/10/2026

12/05/2025

11/13/2025