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Ole Miss Department of Music

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Ole Miss Department of Music

Information about the people and events at the University of Mississippi Music Department.

Ole Miss Music will update you on departmental recitals, concerts, and throw in the occasional bit of news from around campus!

09/02/2026

The new academic year brings new faces in the department. Join us as we extend a warm welcome to Dr. Ryan Lemoine–visiting instructor of saxophone. Dr. Lemoine has taken over Dr. Adam Estes's teaching duties while he is on sabbatical.

"I’m incredibly grateful, excited, and honored to begin this journey with the UM Music community. Joining a place so deeply rooted in creativity, collaboration, and artistic growth is a wonderful opportunity, and I hope to learn just as much as I hope to contribute.I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences and perspective as a performer and educator in and out of academia, while continuing to grow alongside the wonderful students and faculty at UM. I’m especially excited to share my love of performance, teaching, and mentorship with the talented students and faculty at UM." –Dr. Lemoine

Dr. Ryan Lemoine is a saxophonist and educator previously based in New Orleans, Louisiana who has performed and taught throughout the United States and Europe. He is an award-winning performer, recognized at the Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Competition (2015) and the inaugural NASA Saxophone Quartet competition (2008). As a researcher, he conducted an ultrasound study of saxophonists' tongue motions during pitch bends. He has published (Saxophone Symposium, 2020) and presented his findings at regional and national North American Saxophone Alliance conferences as well as at the inaugural American Single Reed Summit. An Adjunct Faculty member at Paradise Valley and Estrella Mountain Community Colleges, he also maintained a private lesson studio in southeast Louisiana, and was previously the resident saxophone instructor at the Ellis Marsalis Music Center, Harmony Project PHX, and Rosie’s House Music Academy.

09/01/2026

UM Music is excited to announce our Fall 2026 Events which kick off on Thursday, September 10th at 7:30pm with a Faculty Recital featuring Philip Snyder, Austin Smith, Amanda Johnston, and J. Joshua Kim in Nutt Auditorium.

A full list of events offered by the Department of Music can be found at https://olemiss.edu/music/events/. We can't wait to see you at an event!

08/31/2026

Be a part of Ole Miss African Drum & Dance Ensemble!

Join the group for audition and rehearsals on Mondays in Room 224 of the Music Building from 7:00pm-9:00pm.

Learn more about the ensemble by visiting https://olemiss.edu/music/ensembles/omadde

Questions? Contact OMADDE Director Dr. Dor at [email protected]

08/28/2026

The new academic year brings new faces in the department. Join us as we extend a warm welcome to faculty member J. Josh Kim, Instructor in Low Strings.

J. Joshua Kim is a cellist and educator who recently earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Cello Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). His doctoral studies focused on contemporary cello repertoire and pedagogy, culminating in a project examining the extended techniques and performance practices found in Sofia Gubaidulina’s Ten Preludes for Solo Cello and Isang Yun’s Sieben Etüden. Through performance, analysis, and recorded demonstrations, his research explores the technical and musical challenges these works present and their applications to contemporary cello pedagogy.

Kim began studying the cello at age five with Samuel Woodward, a former student of Pablo Casals, and continued his studies with Dr. Alexander Russakovsky at the University of Southern Mississippi. His early accomplishments included performing Haydn’s C Major Cello Concerto with the Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra at age thirteen and making his professional solo debut with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in Elgar’s Cello Concerto. He was also a prizewinner in the Lois Pickard Competition, Birmingham Music Club Scholarship Competition, and Louisiana Philharmonic Concerto Competition.

In 2018, Kim earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Alabama. During his undergraduate studies, he performed as a soloist with the Alabama Symphony and, after winning the university’s Concerto Competition, performed Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the Huxford Symphony under the baton of Dr. Blake Richardson. In 2019, he joined the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, where he continues to perform.

As an educator, Kim is dedicated to developing technically sound and expressive musicians while encouraging students to engage with both the traditional canon and contemporary repertoire. He has served as Professor of Low Strings at the University of North Alabama, where he taught cello and double bass and coached chamber music.

08/27/2026

The new academic year brings new faces in the department. Join us as we extend a warm welcome to faculty member John Norigian, Collaborative Piano.

Pianist John Norigian is a multifaceted performer and educator whose work spans solo, chamber, operatic, choral, and liturgical music. His most recent performances have been in collaborations with his sister, soprano Kate Norigian including concerts with Encore Opera and Music on the Hill Chamber Music Festival in Rhode Island. Other notable performances include musical direction for L’elisir d’amor with Opera Providence, Ned Rorem’s Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters with The Contemporary Theater Company of Wakefield, and concert adaptations of La Boheme and Turandot with Coffee Milk Opera. Equally at home with instrumental repertoire, John was a semi-finalist with his trio representing the Cleveland Institute of Music in the Plowman Competition in Columbia, Missouri and was a prize winner in the Darius Milhaud Chamber Music Competition in Cleveland, Ohio.

Chorale and liturgical music have also been an important part of John’s career. He has served as assistant music director and pianist for the South County Chamber Singers, and the music director and organist for St. Catherine Catholic Church and Holy Apostles Catholic Church in RI. As an educator, John has served on the piano faculty of the RI Philharmonic Music School, Suzuki School of Newton, MA and the Community College of Rhode Island. He looks forward to joining the vibrant musical community at the University of Mississippi, where he aims to bring passion and dedication to his teaching and engage in meaningful collaborations with students and faculty.

Welcome to Music!

08/25/2026

The new academic year brings new faces in the department. Join us as we extend a warm welcome to faculty member Christine Powell-Thomas, Instructor of Voice.

Dr. Christine Powell-Thomas is a Jamaican-born mezzo-soprano and voice educator whose career encompasses opera, concert performance, and university-level teaching. An accomplished educator, Dr. Powell-Thomas has served as an adjunct voice instructor at Claflin University and Benedict College and as a Teaching Assistant at the University of South Carolina. Her teaching and performance work reflect her commitment to developing versatile, expressive singers while fostering meaningful connections between classical vocal traditions and diverse musical cultures. Dr. Powell-Thomas continues to maintain an active performance career while cultivating the next generation of singers through her work in higher education.

"I’m excited to join the UM Music family and be part of a community that values artistry, creativity and musical excellence. I’m thrilled to bring my passion for performance, teaching, and mentorship to this amazing community and can’t wait to make music, an impact and connections with the incredible students and faculty at UM. Here’s to new connections, new music, and an exciting chapter ahead!"
–Dr. Powell-Thomas

Welcome to Music Dr. Powell-Thomas, or should we say welcome back to our esteemed alumna--Master of Music class of '23!

08/24/2026

Calling all Music Students, Faculty, and Staff...join us in Nutt Auditorium on Wednesday, August 26th at 1:00pm for the 2026 Fall Convocation to kick off the 26-27 Academic Year.

08/21/2026

UM Opera Theatre AUDITIONS for the 2026-2027 Season will take place Wednesday August 26, 2026 at 4:00pm in Music Building Room 224.

08/19/2026

LOU Symphony Orchestra string seating auditions for the 2026-2027 season will take place at noon on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 in room 118.

For more information, audition excerpts, or to sign up for auditions visit olemiss.edu/orchestra.

08/18/2026

Be a part of Ole Miss Jazz! Auditions take place next week. Visit olemiss.edu/jazz for more information or to sign up for auditions.

Address

350 University Avenue
Oxford, MS
38655

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+16629157268

Website

https://olemiss.edu/music/

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