• Piano Service Request Form

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• DMA Area Qualifying Exam Report - Please submit to Music.Advising@ttu.edu
• Graduate Handbook and Degree Plans
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• Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Music - Degree Plan
• Bachelor of Arts in Music - Degree Plan
• Bachelor of Music in Music Education - Degree Plan
• Bachelor of Music in Composition/Theory - Degree Plan
• Bachelor of Music in Performance - Degree Plan
• School of Music Undergraduate Handbook 
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I am currently a first-year PhD student in Fine Arts Music, specializing in Musicology, at Texas Tech University, where I also have the privilege of serving as an Instructor of Music. I hold both a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Makerere University, which provided a solid foundation for my scholarly pursuits. Driven by a deep passion for advancing music scholarship, I am particularly interested in the dynamic interplay between fusion music and technology. My research aims to illuminate these intersections, and I am dedicated to fostering an enriching educational environment through my teaching, leadership, and active contributions to the academic community. 

Email:dahabwe@ttu.edu

Born and raised in Mexico, Ibis Laurel is a first-year student in the Master of Music inOrchestral Conducting programunder the tutelage of Lanfranco Marcelletti. She holds a bachelor's degree in music education as well asa master's degreein choral conducting obtained as a Fulbright Foreign Scholar.Before coming to Texas Tech, Ibis Laurel taught choir and music from middle-school through college and worked as anEnglish/Spanishinterpreter. Her musical interests have led her to obtaintwo Mexican federal awardsthat allowed her to produce and record an album of colonial(baroque) music from the New Spain and, more recently, to foundChimæraEnsemble, a string groupthat performs once a year. Currently, she serves as alto scholar at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. She is honored and looking forward to serving on the School of Music Student Advisory Committee. 

Email:ibis.betancourt@ttu.edu

Harrison Biggers is a current junior music education major at Texas Tech.He has been playing the trombone for 13 years, and is the current Vice-President of the TTU trombone studio. He is also proud to serve as a Drum Major for the Goin’ Band From Raiderland. You can see Harrison regularly performing with the Texas Tech Jazz Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Trombone Choir. He is also a founding member of the esteemed Red Dirt Brass Quintet. Harrison regularly teaches private lessons in the Lubbock & Frenship schools, along with working with the local marching bands. He also actively serves in a leadership capacity with the Texas Tech chapter of Phi Mu Alpha. In his free time, he loves cooking and spending time with his Fiancé Alyson, and his cat Remy.  

Email:hbiggers@ttu.edu

Beyond music, he enjoys baseball, soccer, scuba, aviation, and real estate. 

For further information please visit www.davidboxmusic.com 

Stephanie Burton is in her first year at Texas Tech to earn her DMA in Choral Conducting. Stephanie has taught in Texas for over twenty years in music education, from Pre-K through college age students. Stephanie earned her master’s in music education from Texas Woman’s University, where she directed the University Chorus, taught music education courses, and was a voice instructor. Stephanie is happily married, and they have four beautiful children together. Stephanie is excited to serve on the School of Music Student Advisory Committee and hopes to represent the choral students of Texas Tech well.

Email:stburton@ttu.edu

Esteban is currently pursuing a master's degree in Horn Performance and is a TA in the Horn studio. He is a member of the TTU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Symphony Orchestra, Horn Octet as well as a Section Horn with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. Esteban received his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University and is originally from Pasadena, Texas.

Esteban is happy to serve on the student advisory committee as the representative for the Graduate Woodwind, Brass and Percussion areas.

Email:estebcha@ttu.edu

Jack Dobrott is a junior at Texas Tech University pursuing degrees in Jazz Performance and Music Education. An active member of the Saxophone Studio and Jazz Department, he performs with the TTU Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, saxophone ensembles, and concert ensembles. In addition to his performance work, Jack is a woodwind repair technician. Outside of music, he enjoys movies, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. Jack is excited to return as the Jazz Department Chair and looks forward to supporting the program in any way he can.

Email: jdobrott@ttu.edu

Emily Eligio is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelors of Music in Music Education with a Spanish minorat Texas Tech University. She has performed with the Concert Band as the principal clarinetist, served as a member of the Visual Team for Goin’ Band, played an instrumental role in making the Caprock English Bagpipe Consort available to students, and was admitted to the Honors College through the San Francisco Scholars program.This year, Emily is serving as an Undergraduate Representative for the Music Humanities area. She is so excited to be a part of this council and to have another great year at Texas Tech! 

Email:eeligio@ttu.edu

Gregory is a second-year undergraduate music performance major who specializes in classical double bass. He performs in many ensembles including Abilene Philharmonic, Lubbock Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, and The Texas Tech University Symphony. In addition to playing in all these ensembles, Gregory is a member of the ASTA-TTU student chapter and attends all meetings and social events. Gregory is excited to serve on the student advisory committee as the undergraduate representative of the string area.

Email:grfaught@ttu.edu

Devin is a fourth-year PhD student of music theory in the TCVPA Fine Arts Doctoral program. He holds degrees in music theory and music education from the University of North Texas and the University of Colorado, Boulder. Between earning his degrees, Devin worked as an orchestra and choir director in Austin ISD. His research has featured at the Society for Music Theory and Society for Music Perception and Cognition conferences and received an award for best student paper at the 2024 Texas Society for Music Theory conference. His research investigates interactions of the voice and music, including vocal production in pop, phrase in rap, and the interaction of harmony and lyrics in indie rock. His other interests include corpus study, theory pedagogy, music cognition, and improvisation. Devin also works as a freelance bassist and string pedagogue. As the Graduate Student Liaison for the Student Affairs Committee, Devin hopes to assist in maintaining transparency between students and faculty in the School of Music. He is excited and grateful to serve.

Email: devin.guerrero@ttu.edu

Mark Huffines is a fifth-year double major in Music Education and Vocal Performance, and is happy to be serving his second year on the Advisory Council. He is active in the University Choir, where he serves as president, and the Opera Theatre department. He is currently a member of the Lubbock Chorale, the First United Methodist Church Choir, and serves as an assistant director of the First United Methodist Church Children’s Choir. He is committed to serving this program and its members in any way he can; if you have any concerns about the state of affairs at the School of Music, please feel free to reach out! 

Email:mhuffine@ttu.edu

Yuwei Jiang, originally from China. She is a second-year DMA student in Piano Performance at Texas Tech University. She is a teaching assistant for group piano teaching and accompaniment. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Musicology (teacher education) from Nanjing Normal University in China and her Master's degree in Music Performance from Bowling Green State University. Yuwei is thrilled to join Student Advisory Committee this year, she is supportive and looking forward to growing up with peers and the School of Music.

Email:yuwjiang@ttu.edu

Kassie Lindamood Smith is a flutist, educator, and performer based in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. She is Lecturer of Music at Eastern New Mexico University, where she teaches flute, and is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Texas Tech University, studying with Dr. Lisa Garner Santa and serving as teaching assistant for the flute studio. Kassie also maintains a private studio and teaches beginner students as well as middle and high school flute sectionals in Lubbock, Texas. She serves on the board of the College Music Society South Central Chapter. 

An active performer, Lindamood Smith appears regularly with the Roswell and Southwest Symphonies and has performed with Texas Tech ensembles including the University Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Opera Theatre, and Early Music Ensemble. Her solo work is featured on the GRAMMY-nominated Star Wars Outlaws soundtrack, and she has performed at conventions for the National Flute Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and the College Music Society. She has appeared in masterclasses with renowned flutists such as Robert Langevin, Susan Milan, Christina Jennings, Conor Nelson, and Ebonee Thomas, and attended Trevor Wye’s summer course in Kent, England. 

Email: kassie.lindamood@ttu.edu
 

Saige Long is currently in their second year at the Texas Tech University School of Music as a transfer student working towards a BM in Music Education with piano as their primary instrument. Originally from Central Texas, Saige earned an Associate of Arts degree in Music from McLennan Community College in Waco, and whilst there participated in three different choirs on campus, performed roles with MCC Opera, and taught private piano lessons. Since moving to Lubbock and attending TTU, they have become an active member in the school’s Historical Performance Ensemble, where they perform and study on period instruments such as recorders, psaltery, and organ. Recent achievements include earning the Friends of Music Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Musicology, and over the summer attending the Texas “TOOT” Early Music Workshop in Kerrville, Texas, through a scholarship earned from the American Recorder Society. Outside of school, Saige remains a devoted music educator, teaching guitar, piano, and ukulele.  

Saige is greatly looking forward for the opportunity to serve on the Student Advisory Council with their peers, and hopes to represent the voices of fellow students in the School of Music.  

Email: lon87171@ttu.edu

Khang Ma is a third year undergraduate in Piano Performance, currently studying with Professor Daniel del Pino. He has participated in lessons and masterclasses with Alexander Kobrin, Wu Han, Michael Chertock, and Jihea Hong-Park, amongst others. Khang’s accomplishments and recognitions include the School of Music Undergraduate Excellence in Keyboard Award and first prizes at the Nelda Hodges, South Texas, and Wayland Baptist competitions. He is an active performer and accompanist and has worked with many musicians from TTU and the Lubbock area, in and outside of classical settings. Past collaborations include TTU Opera Outreach program as well as the Matador Workshop. Currently, he serves as a pianist at Lakeridge Methodist Church. Khang is excited and humbled to represent the Keyboard Area as well as the School of Music student body.

Email:khang.ma@ttu.edu

Drew is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Trumpet Performance at Texas Tech University, where he also serves as a Graduate Part-Time Instructor for the Trumpet Studio. He has performed with numerous ensembles at Texas Tech, including the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Symphony Orchestra, TTU Opera, Trumpet Choir, Trumpet Ensemble, and the Graduate Brass Quintet. 

Drew holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Trumpet Performance and Music Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance and a Graduate Certificate in Baroque Trumpet, all from the University of Kentucky. 

I am honored to represent the Graduate Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion areas on the Student Advisory Committee. 

Email:anreynol@ttu.edu

Christopher Rodriguez, from Houston, Texas, is a first-year Music Education major at Texas Tech University with a focus on viola. Music is at the heart of his college experience - he performs with the Texas Tech University Symphony, sings as a baritone in the Matador Chorale, and shares his heritage through the university's mariachi program. Christopher also enjoys being part of the ASTA-TTU chapter, where he connects with friends and fellow musicians at meetings and socials.

Email: rod25641@ttu.edu

Dasa Silhova is an arts management professional and PhD in Arts Administration student residing in Lubbock, Texas. She currently serves as the Manager of Performances and Scheduling at the Texas Tech University School of Music. Prior to this appointment, she was the House Manager for the Santa Fe Opera and held the roles of Outreach Coordinator and Interim Personnel Manager with the New Mexico Philharmonic. Ms. Silhova holds a Masters in Management from the University of British Columbia and a Masters in Music Performance from the University of New Mexico. She was recently awarded the Lamond GenNext Award by the NAMM Foundation and had her research published in the International Journal of Art, Humanities, and Social Sciences. She will be presenting a demonstration on Integrating Music Business in Traditional Music Schools at the College Music Society’s National conference this fall. 

Email:dsilhova@ttu.edu

Tris Swisher is an Instructor of Record in the Music Humanities division in the Fine Arts Doctoral Program at Texas Tech University. She has presented at regional and international conferences, most recently at the International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities. In addition to her academic work, she is a locally performing clarinetist, and is an active member of the Record Club.

Email:tswisher@ttu.edu

Email: evallesc@ttu.edu

Hello, my name is Justin Wooten. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Composition degree at the Texas Tech University School of Music as well as a Minor degree in Japanese Studies. I have a wide range of interests with my pursuit of music composition, from exploring unique sounds through electronic music to having interests in ethnomusicology to inspire my own works. 

I play the tenor trombone and have been playing since I was in the fifth grade, which was back in 2011. In 2017, I started to experiment with composing my own music as a hobby, mainly concentrating on electronic music. After attempting to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from 2019 to 2021, I decided to change my major to an Associate of Arts in Music Degree at San Jacinto Community College, as I realized that music was my ultimate calling. I found composing, performing, and studying music to be my passion. In 2024, I chose to transfer to Texas Tech University and my journey in music has been incredibly enjoyable and life-changing thus far. 

Email:juswoote@ttu.edu