Murray State University: College of Humanities and Fine Arts

05/29/2026

"ON THE MARK," an exhibition on view on the sixth floor of the Price Doyle Fine Arts Building through June 22, spotlights abstract art held in the collection of the Clara M. Eagle Gallery on the campus of Murray State University.

"ON THE MARK" features a sampling of two-dimensional artworks created in a range of mediums by artists who have been selected to represent a variety of interests within abstraction.

Curator/Director of University Galleries and Professor of Art & Design at Murray State, T. Michael Martin, explained that abstraction began as a practice to move away from realistic and naturalistic representation to emphasize visual elements such as color, shape, line, texture, pattern, gesture and composition. Rather than depicting the world as it appears, artists use these formal properties to communicate emotion, movement, atmosphere, meaning and/or ideas in a more interpretive or expressive way.

Emerging strongly in the early 20th century through artists like Willem de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Wassily Kandinsky, Hilma af Klint, Piet Mondrian, Jackson Po***ck and Mark Rothko, abstraction challenged traditional expectations of art and expanded possibilities within visual language.

Featuring artists Gloria Defilipps Brush, Piero Dorazio, Cynthia Huff, Sharon Johnson, Sherry Shutt, Robert Sajnovsky, William Walmsley and Adja Yunkers, this exhibition allows visitors to discover a curated assortment of remarkable work ranging from 1953 to 1987.

The University Galleries visitor hours for Summer 2026 are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the galleries is free and open to the public. For more information about the Department of Art & Design, visit murraystate.edu/art or follow them on Instagram .

05/29/2026

Two music composition students, Brady Johnson and Tyson VandenBrook, in Murray State’s Department of Music have recently received prestigious recognitions for their work.

Senior Brady Johnson's original work, Octet no. 2 for eight trombones, will be featured in a concert at the International Trombone Festival this summer in Latvia. The piece won the 2025 International Trombone Association Composition Contest (Octet Division) last year. The competition is open to everyone from students to professional composers.

Johnson, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, said he wanted the composition to highlight the frolicking, bold and cartoon-like personality that a trombone ensemble can bring to life.

“Those qualities reflect some of my favorite memories performing and writing for this kind of repertoire, and I hoped to capture both the fun and expressive power of the ensemble,” said Johnson.

Johnson has been composing since high school, though his passion for creating music, and especially for film, began much earlier.

“I had been surrounded by music from a young age, but I didn’t begin composing my own works until I was 16,” said Johnson. “After experiencing several meaningful opportunities and achievements with composition during high school, that passion only continued to grow and confirmed my desire to pursue a career in the arts. What I love most about being a music major is the constant opportunity for collaboration. Whether I’m working with fellow music students, student filmmakers or faculty, I’m surrounded by creative people who inspire and challenge me daily. That environment of support and artistic connection has been one of the most valuable parts of my college experience, and it continues to open new doors for my growth as a composer.”

Freshman music major Tyson VandenBrook's original piece "Fireflies," for two vibraphones and three marimbas, was accepted for performance at the Great Lakes chapter of The College Music Society's annual conference, held at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in April. VandenBrook was also selected by the judging committee to receive the Best Student Composition Award. The contest was open to graduate students as well as undergraduates.

VandenBrook, who originally hails from Olive Branch, Mississippi, says the idea for the piece came from the local landscape.

“The inspiration for the piece came to me when I was visiting my mom who lives out by Land Between the Lakes,” VandenBrook said. “One evening, I was looking out across the vast grassy fields, and I saw fireflies flashing and dancing rhythmically across them. I realized observing them collectively was far more picturesque than watching just one. I wrote ‘Fireflies’ with this in mind; the piece shows how different parts ‘communicate’ with each other and come together to create something complex and beautiful.”

Read the full article at the link, and congratulations Brady and Tyson!

Murray State University Music Department

https://www.murraystate.edu/news/posts/music_composition_students_recognition.aspx

05/14/2026

Congratulations to all the CHFA students who made the spring 2026 Dean’s List and President’s List.

Dean’s List recipients have attained a GPA of 3.50 or above for the semester. President’s List recipients have obtained a semester GPA of 4.00 and are marked with an asterisk.

05/13/2026

Thanks, , for spotlighting so many seniors from CHFA!

05/12/2026

Last Friday, CHFA held its annual Robing Ceremony in Lovett Auditorium for graduates of the Doctorate of Arts in English Pedagogy, Master of Arts in English, Master of Arts in TESOL, Master of Arts in History, Master of Public Administration, and the Master of Arts or Science in Psychology (Clinical and General Experimental) Programs. Congratulations to all MA, MS, MPA, and DA grads on your distinguished accomplishment!

05/11/2026

The final CHFA newsletter of the academic year is also our last issue of this year's Shout-Out, celebrating the many accomplishments of our students and faculty. Congratulations to all included in this issue, and thank you to everyone who submitted this year!

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

05/07/2026

Congratulations to these CHFA faculty who were recently recognized for their years of service at Murray State!

10 YEARS
Julie Cyzewski, English and Philosophy
Ben Post, Global Languages and Theatre Arts
Selina Gao, History
Christine Lindner, History
Eleanor Rivera, History
Ashley Cu***ng, Music
Todd French, Music
Marc Polizzi, Political Science and Sociology

15 YEARS
Danielle Nielsen, English and Philosophy
Daryl Phillipy, Global Language & Theatre Arts
Jie Wu, Global Languages & Theatre Arts
Marjorie Hilton, History
Matthew Gianforte, Music
Jana Hackathorn, Psychology

20 YEARS
Siahua Xia, English & Philosophy
Brian Clardy, History
Todd Hill, Music
Justin Patton, Music

25 YEARS
Jim Bryant, Art & Design

30 YEARS
Lissa Graham, Global Languages & Theatre Arts

35 YEARS
Dan Wann, Psychology

05/06/2026

Lissa L. Graham-Schneider, Professor of Theatre, will retire at the end of this academic year, after 30 years at Murray State University. She received her MFA in Directing from Virginia Commonwealth University and went on to work across the country as a professional director, stage manager and actor. She taught play analysis, and all levels of directing courses, as well as children’s theatre and puppetry. Lissa also taught film history and pop culture classes on zombies and sci-fi films, and completed training as an Intimacy Director.

“To me, Lissa Graham-Schneider was Murray State University. Lissa’s top priority, the reason she showed up everyday to work, was her students. Through her mentorship, I grew to have a greater understanding of theatre, a greater love for theatre, and most importantly, an understanding that life is much richer when we are unabashedly ourselves, and when we can see the beauty in the uniqueness of those around us. I would not be where I am in my field, nor the person I am today, without Lissa Graham Schneider.” ~ Andrew Bittenbender, Theatre Arts Alum

Read more on our blog, linked below and in our Instagram bio!

https://murraystatechfa.wordpress.com/2026/05/04/2025-26-retirements-todd-hill-and-lissa-graham-schneider/

05/06/2026

Dr. Todd E. Hill, Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Murray State University, will retire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year after 37 years of teaching. Dr. Hill holds Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees from Murray State University and the Doctor of Education (EdD) in Curriculum and Instruction (Music Education and School Reform) from Boise State University.

In Murray State’s Department of Music, he directs the MSU Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Band, Jazz Combos, and teaches the courses Music in a Historical Context, History & Analysis of American Popular Music, Honors College Jazz History, and Music Education courses. Under his leadership since 2006, the MSU Jazz Orchestra has played at numerous state conferences, won “Outstanding Big Band Performance” through regular appearances at the famed Elmhurst College Jazz Festival, and performed at the prestigious Mid-West International Band Clinic. Dr. Hill founded both the MSU Jamey Aebersold Jazz Festival (2007) and the MSU Town & Gown Community Band (2012). which he directed for ten years before stepping down to play his euphonium and trombone. In 2016 and again this year, he was honored by the Kentucky Music Educators Association as “College-University Teacher of the Year.”

“I first met Todd Hill when I interviewed at Murray State, and I felt an instant connection with him. Todd is one of the finest and most versatile musicians I have ever had the pleasure of performing with; the guy truly can play anything! ... Beyond that, Todd is an incredible music educator with more than 35 years of experience. His student-centered teaching and genuine care for his students are evident in the development of the Murray State jazz program into a state, regional, and national powerhouse, as well as in the success of his many former students, who are now teaching and performing across the country." ~ Dr. Todd French, Murray State Professor of Tuba & Euphonium (tuba & euphonium)

Read more about Dr. Hill on our blog, linked below and in our Instagram bio.

https://murraystatechfa.wordpress.com/2026/05/04/2025-26-retirements-todd-hill-and-lissa-graham-schneider/

05/05/2026

Congratulations to these CHFA faculty members on their university awards for scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and leadership & service.

BOARD OF REGENTS TEACHING EXCELLENCE
**Todd French, Professor of Music (Tuba and Euphonium)
**Brittany Wood, Assistant Professor of Political Science

UNIVERSITY MENTOR AWARD
**Brittany Wood, Assistant Professor of Political Science

MSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EMERGING SCHOLAR AWARD
**Cintia Segovia Figueroa, Assistant Professor of Art (Photography / New Media)

DR. STEVE JONES FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARD
**Brian Clardy, Department of History