Midwestern State University Department of Music

09/01/2026

It's fast approaching! Our annual music major shadow day, now being rebranded as Music Honors Day, will take place on Wednesday, September 23rd! If you want to learn more about our programs, or are interested in attending MSU, then sign up using the QR code. We can't wait to see you all!

09/01/2026

Our Communiversity ensembles are back in swing! Do you play an instrument or sing? Its not too late to join! If you sing then join our Oratorio Choral Ensemble, and if you play an instrument then join our Communiversity Ensemble! Communiversity meets Monday evenings at 6pm in the Band Hall. The Choral Ensemble meets at 7pm in Fain Fine Arts Room C117C.

08/25/2026

Josh Lemley is thrilled to serve as Secretary for the MSU Department of Music. As a lifelong musician and advocate of the arts, he is excited to play a role in promoting music at MSU and in his native town of Wichita Falls. He has been a bass trombone player for 25+ years and plays in several ensembles in the area.

Josh earned his BA in History from Adams State University in Colorado.

08/24/2026

Communiversity Instrumental Ensemble will NOT meet tonight. We will see you all next week!

08/20/2026

Mustangs, were you greeted by this smiling face when moving in? If so, you just met one of our awesome music majors!

Chase Williams is a bass clarinetist from Holliday High School pursuing a Bachelor of Music with Teacher Certification degree. He has been recognized as both MSU’s Outstanding Freshman and Outstanding Sophomore—fitting honors for someone who is a member of the Redwine Honors College while working two jobs and volunteering in our community. You may hear him in the First Baptist Church Orchestra on Sundays or see him wrangling our decoy coyotes on campus in the early hours of the morning, if you don’t catch him in the practice room or hanging out in the woodwind studio of Dr. Rafael Powell!

08/19/2026

Welcome to the department Dr. Chad Pittman!

Dr. Chad Pittman is honored and excited to serve as the new Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Midwestern State University, where he will conduct the choirs and teach classes in musicianship, conducting, and music education.

Dr. Pittman recently earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at The University of Arizona, and holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University, a Master of Educational Administration from Cleveland State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education (specializing in choral music and organ performance) from the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music.

Prior to joining the faculty at MSU, he held a similar position at Yavapai College (Arizona) and taught high school choral music in Ohio for nearly a decade, earning a reputation for excellence in performance and teaching. His former students have been accepted to schools of music and conservatories across the country. Dr. Pittman holds the record — twice — for the most ensembles invited to perform at a single music convention in Ohio — three in 2019 and four in 2021. His choirs also made an appearance at the Ohio Music Education Association convention in 2017 and the Ohio Choral Director’s Association summer conference in 2015.

Dr. Pittman believes in the transformative power of music and works hard to facilitate a culture that is accepting, joyful, and rigorous. He can’t wait to make music with the wonderful students and faculty/staff of Midwestern State University.

08/19/2026

Welcome to one of our new faculty members, Dr. Erica Rumbley!

Dr. Erica Rumbley serves as an Assistant Professor of Music at Midwestern State University. Prior to moving to Texas, Dr. Rumbley taught and served as a Collaborative Pianist in the United States and China. She received a Masters in Piano and a Masters in Musicology, as well as a PhD in Musicology, from the University of Kentucky, and has since taught at the collegiate level for over ten years.

Dr. Rumbley has published in the Journal of American Music and presented papers and lecture recitals at numerous College Music Society and American Musicological Society conferences. Her research interests include 19 th and 20 th century American music, as well as Chinese piano music and the composer Zhang Zhao. She also has a deep interest in exploring ways to use music as a means of empowerment and healing for refugee and underprivileged populations.

As a pianist, Dr. Rumbley has performed widely as a collaborative artist and a soloist, and she takes great joy in the act of making music with others.

Dr. Rumley says she is very excited to begin the semester and to meet everyone! She loves any type of music, and is especially looking forward to teaching Western and World music and exploring different musical styles and traditions together.

08/18/2026

08/18/2026

We want to give a HUGE thank you to our incredible custodian Kayla! She has been working hard all summer at keeping our department clean and functioning. We wouldn't be able to do this without you! Thank you so much Kayla for all of your hard work!

08/17/2026

Welcome back mustangs! We are so excited to see all of you back here this fall!
Our Marching Band, however, is already back and working hard to prepare for this upcoming season!
If you want to see more of them, or are interested in joining us next year, then go follow for more insight! Keep up the good work!