Faculty & Staff
Our faculty offers students an extraordinary 1:9 teacher-to-student ratio, ensuring personal attention from teachers who get to know their students. As highly accomplished performers and academic experts in their field, our excellent faculty members bring to teaching an important balance of scholarship and experience.
Staff
Laurie Brown
Department Secretary
Laurie.G.Brown@usd.edu
Keyboard Faculty
Dr. Susan Keith Gray, D.M.A.
Professor
studio piano, class piano, Rawlins Piano Trio
605-677-5724
Susan.Gray@usd.edu
Dr. Larry Schou, D.M.A.
Interim Dean, College of Fine Arts
Professor
studio organ, harpsichord, world music
605-677-5275
Larry.Schou@usd.edu
Dr. Susanne Skyrm, D.M.A.
Professor
studio piano, class piano
605-677-5723
Susanne.Skyrm@usd.edu
Music Education Faculty
Dr. Darlene Fett, Ph.D.
Interim Chair, Department of Music
Associate Professor
music education
605-677-5720
Darlene.Fett@usd.edu
Electronic Music Faculty
Dr. Gary L. Reeves, D.M.A.
Associate Professor
horn, conducting, instrumental methods, bands
605-677-5715
Gary.Reeves@usd.edu
Dr. Stephen Yarbrough, D.M.A.
Associate Professor
music theory, composition, electronic studio
605-677-5717
Stephen.Yarbrough@usd.edu
Music History Faculty
Dr. David Moskowitz, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
music history
605-677-5716
Dave.Moskowitz@usd.edu
Percussion Faculty
Dr. Darin Wadley, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor
studio percussion and methods, percussion ensembles, steel drum band, music theory, marching band
605-677-5730
Darin.Wadley@usd.edu
String Faculty
Dr. Marie-Elaine Gagnon, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor
studio cello, music appreciation, Rawlins Piano Trio
605-677-5186
MarieElaine.Gagnon@usd.edu
Dr. Eunho Kim, D.M.A
Assistant Professor
violin
Eunho.Kim@usd.edu
Dr. Richard Rognstad, D.M.A.
Professor
Graduate Music Coordinator
studio bass, string methods, music theory, orchestra, American music
605-677-5722
Richard.Rognstad@usd.edu
Theory/Composition Faculty
Dr. Richard Rognstad, D.M.A.
Professor
studio bass, string methods, music theory, orchestra, American music
605-677-5722
Richard.Rognstad@usd.edu
Dr. Darin Wadley, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor
studio percussion and methods, percussion ensembles, steel drum band, music theory, marching band
605-677-5730
Darin.Wadley@usd.edu
Dr. Stephen Yarbrough, D.M.A.
Associate Professor
music theory, composition, electronic studio
605-677-5717
Stephen.Yarbrough@usd.edu
Voice Faculty
Dr. Tracelyn Gesteland, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor
studio voice, opera workshop, diction, vocal pedagogy, song literature
605-677-5719
Tracelyn.Gesteland@usd.edu
Dr. David Holdhusen, Ph.D.
Director of Choral Activities
Assistant Professor
studio voice, choral literature
605-677-5721
David.Holdhusen@usd.edu
Rick Piersall, A.B.D.
Assistant Professor
studio voice, opera workshop, diction, vocal pedagogy, song literature
605-677-5718
Rick.Piersall@usd.edu
Woodwind and Brass Faculty
Dr. Jonathan Alvis, D.M.A.
Athletic Bands Director
Assistant Professor
studio low brass, marching band techniques
605-677-5274
Jonathan.Alvis@usd.edu
Dr. Holly Haddad, D.M.A.
Adjunct Teacher
clarinet
605-677-5274
Holly.Haddad@usd.edu
Dr. Christopher Kocher, D.M.A.
Associate Professor
studio saxophone, woodwinds, jazz studies
605-677-5728
Christopher.Kocher@usd.edu
Stephanie Kocher, M.Mus.
Adjunct Teacher
flute
605-677-5274
Stephanie.Kocher@usd.edu
Dr. Rolf Olson, D.M.A.
Director of Bands
Associate Professor
Symphonic band director, studio trumpet, brass choir, jazz ensemble
605-677-5727
Rolf.Olson@usd.edu
Dr. Gary L. Reeves, D.M.A.
Associate Professor
horn, conducting, instrumental methods, bands
605-677-5715
Gary.Reeves@usd.edu
Loretta Thomas, M.Mus.
Adjunct Teacher
bassoon
605-677-5274
Loretta.Thomas@usd.edu
Emeriti Faculty
Usher Abell (deceased)
Frank Aiello, Frank.Aiello@usd.edu
Bea Chaffee (deceased)
Paul Cherry, pdcherry@bellsouth.net
Ray DeVilbiss (deceased)
Robert Marek (deceased)
Lawrence L. Mitchell, Lawrence.Mitchell@usd.edu
Jack Noble
Courtland 'Skip' Swenson
Larry Torkelson (deceased)
Our faculty are not only academic experts in their fields, but also highly accomplished performers.