Pitt State Music Department

06/05/2026

Summer Camp season kicked off for us yesterday and will continue through June!

06/03/2026

Mark your calendars for our “Sounds of the Summer Concert Series.” Featuring a mix of faculty, students, and talented young musicians from across the region, they’re free and will be held in the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts. Details:

Pittsburg State University’s Music Department will once again host the “Sounds of Summer Concert Series,” free performances featuring faculty, students, and talented young musicians from across the region.

06/02/2026

Coming up: a camp that honors a passionate local jazz band student by helping others explore their passion for the art. Our faculty and alumni partner with the Josiah Fletcher Foundation and the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts to make it happen.

Story: https://morningsun.net/news/local-news/josiah-fletcher-jazz-camp-set-for-june-8/

05/28/2026

Pianists in Grades 6-12: last chance to register for our PianoFest Summer Camp! pittstate.edu/summercamps

05/26/2026

The Music Department is entering a new chapter in its leadership.

Dr. Susan Marchant has been serving as chair since 2014, and has led the department with dedication. A beloved member of the faculty since August 23, 1979, she has devoted an incredible 47 years to Pitt State!

As she steps away from her chair responsibilities, she will continue to share her passion and expertise in a full-time faculty role — directing the university choirs and teaching organ, harpsichord, and related courses. We are deeply grateful for her decades of leadership, mentorship, and lasting impact on our students and campus.

We are also pleased to announce that Dr. Andrew Chybowski has been named interim chair, effective June 7. He has passionately supported instrumental music students at Pitt State and in school band programs throughout the region, earning a reputation as a dedicated and respected leader. He will continue conducting the Wind Ensemble and teaching in the department.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Marchant for her extraordinary service and in congratulating Dr. Chybowski on his new role!

05/26/2026

Do you know a young person who is passionate about music? Time is running out to get them registered for our summer music camps! These camps will help them take their musicianship to the next level, let them connect with other musicians their age, and will be a lot of fun! Register now: pittstate.edu/musicsummercamps

05/21/2026

High school band members: take your instrumental skills to the next level by participating in this camp June 11-12 at Pitt State! Register now: pittstate.edu/summercamps

05/21/2026

Happy belated National Band Directors Day (May 20)!

The day recognizes and honors the dedication of band directors who shape musicians across the U.S.

They don’t just direct bands — they choose music, plan programs, design halftime shows, hold rehearsals, teach, mentor, manage budgets, and enrich a community.

Hats off to our faculty band directors, and to those music educators who studied here and now are directing bands from coast to coast!

05/21/2026

High school choir members: take your vocal skills to the next level by participating in this camp June 25 at Pitt State! Register now: pittstate.edu/summercamps

05/20/2026

Happy 150th Birthday, Pittsburg! An important part of the Centennial Celebrations in 1976 was the Centennial Choir, comprised of community members, students, faculty, and alumni and embedded in the Pitt State Music Department.

Rehearsals were each Monday night at 7 p.m. starting in 1974 when the choir organized in anticipation of the city's 100th birthday. For 13 years, it was directed by faculty member Dr. Marshall Turley.

Each year, the choir presented a major oratorio such as "Messiah." The choir performed a range of music, including classical, Broadway show tunes, spirituals, and pop music.

The choir's activities were heavily documented by the Morning Sun newspaper. A 1981 article noted that the "choir has made numerous appearances at community events and programs, including broadcast programs over local television stations and an appearance at the Pittsburg Community Thanksgiving service... four concerts this fall including a Christmas concert, and in February will perform in a choral festival in Oklahoma City, Okla."

In that article, Janeil Bryan, president of the choir's board of directors and a guiding force in the choir's creation, said that many members sung in choral groups in high school and college and missed singing as adults.

"There's a real place in the community for a choral group to allow individuals who enjoy singing more of an opportunity to perform outside of singing in church," she said.

Do you recognize any names listed in the program? Were you part of the choir? Did you attend a concert? We'd love to hear from you!