About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
The Music Program plays a vital role in the life of the University and the community. The training environment it provides continues to produce musicians of distinction for careers in a variety of professional fields including performance and music education. The faculty is comprised of dedicated professional musicians who are active in both performance and teaching.
Our Faculty Members
MEET
OUR TEAM
Distinguished faculty members dedicated to providing a, world-class culturally responsive education for HTU's music students. Students experience a special relationship with their faculty mentors and come from around the world to study under these distinguished musicians and scholars.
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Applied Faculty
William Oliver, Ph.D.
Director of University Bands
Assistant Professor of Music - Instrumental
Coordinator of Music Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education: The Pennsylvania State University
Dissertation: The Influence of Isomorphism on HBCU Music Education (Performance and Training Programs) and the Alignment of Broader Institutional Mission
Master of Music in Music Education: Boston University
Bachelor of Science in Music Education: Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University
Bio
Dr. William P. Oliver, a native of Hollywood, Florida, serves as the Director of University Bands and assistant professor of Music Education at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. He holds a Bachelors degree in music education from Florida A&M University, a Masters from Boston University, and his Ph.D. in Music Education with a minor in Higher Education Administration from The Pennsylvania State University. His dissertation examined the influence of isomorphism on HBCU music programs and its alignment with their broader institutional mission. His current research addresses post-graduate degree creation and expansion for fine arts programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Prior to starting his doctoral studies, he spent ten years teaching high school music in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Oliver is a 7-time National Band Association “Citation of Excellence” recipient—an award given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of bands and whose ensembles have a history of a distinguished level of accomplishment. Most recently, Dr. Oliver was named Yamaha’s “40 under 40” for his action, courage, creativity, and the growth of his university music program in Austin, TX. Dr. Oliver serves as a board member for Austin Theatre Alliance (Paramount & State Theaters) and as a band clinician and adjudicator throughout the southeast. His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America Inc., and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
512-505-6445
Marcus Rhodes, D.M.A.
Director of Choral Activities
Associate Professor of Music - Voice
Doctor of Musical Arts: University of Florida
Dissertation: Expanding entrepreneurial skills amongst music performance majors through university partnerships and modern curriculums
Master of Music in Music Education: University of Louisiana at Monroe
Bachelor of Arts in Music Education: Grambling State University
Bio
Marcus Rhodes, bass-baritone soloist received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Grambling State University, the Master of Music degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Florida where his research focus was on expanding entrepreneurial skills amongst music performance majors through university partnerships and modern curriculums. He has performed various genres of music as a recitalist and with opera companies including the Houston Ebony Opera, Dallas Opera, Javacya Symphony, and Shreveport Opera Companies, and played roles such as Figaro (Le Barbier de Séville), Zuniga (Carmen), Don Alfonso (Cosí fan tutte) and others. In 2021, Dr. Rhodes was featured in the premier Opera Film “The Golem of Prague” in which he starred in the role of Rabbi. As a professor of music, Dr. Rhodes is the former conductor of the Grambling State University Choir (2001-2008) and toured extensively throughout the United States and globally including a presentation in the Republic of Trinidad, West Indies. Under his direction, the choir shared the stage with some of the gospel industry’s legendary artists such as Smokie Norful, Robert Ray, and Dorothy Norwood, and R&B soulstress, Kelly Price. He also formerly taught at Florida A&M University (2008-2012) as an assistant professor in the voice area where he taught many top student vocalists that received awards and recognition at several festivals and competitions including district and regional National Teachers of Singing Competitions and performances at Carnegie Hall. Dr. Rhodes was selected by the VOH Board in 2008 as one of the original board of National Conductors for the 105 Voices of History National Historically Black Colleges and University Choir at the Washington D.C. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (2008-2012) in which he served as National and Regional director, and as a presenter and officiator at the 105 conference workshops, and worked with celebrity artists such as Kim Burrell, Shirley Caesar, and Take 6. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association, and the National Association for Music Educators. Dr. Rhodes has served as a sacred music director, Hammond organ and keyboard accompanist, and worship leader at various churches from the young age of 15, holding positions as music director, minister of music, and district denominational head posts such as assistant music coordinator for the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s 11th District of Florida, and performing with sacred music artists such as Beverly Crawford, Richard Smallwood, and Earnest Pugh.
512-505-6466
Gloria Quinlan, D.M.A.
Director of Choral Activities (Retired)
Professor of Music Emterius - Voice
Doctor of Musical Arts: The University of Texas at Austin
Master of Music in Vocal Performance: Colorado State University
Bachelor of Science in Music Education: Texas Southern University
Bio
Coming Soon.
Yeon Park, D.M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Applied Voice
Doctor of Musical Arts: The University of Texas at Austin
Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins University
Bio
Dr. Yeon Ha Park received a scholarship to attend the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University, where she graduated with honors in 2020. She furthered her education by obtaining another scholarship to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in opera performance at the University of Texas at Austin, completing her doctorate in 2023 with an analytical lecture recital on Tchaikovsky's opera Iolanta. Her repertoire includes significant operatic roles, such as the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte," Adina in Donizetti's L’elisir d'amore," Titania in Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream," Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte, Musetta in Puccini's La Bohème, Susanna in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. Noteworthy experiences in her career include serving as an Apprentice Artist with the Miami Classical Music Festival, a Professional Artist with Songfest, and a Young Artist with the Butler Opera Center.
Da'Shon Hayes
Adjunct Professor of Horn
Master of Music: Michigan State University
Bachelor of Music: Florida A&M University
Bio
Coming Soon.
Stephen Krishnan
Adjunct Professor of Guitar (Classical/Contemporary)
Master of Music: The University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Music: University of Southern California
Bio
Stephen Krishnan is a Grammy-Nominated guitarist and educator based in Austin, Texas. As a soloist and member of the Austin Guitar Quartet, he is an advocate for contemporary classical music, and often takes part in unique interdisciplinary projects. Among these projects are collaborations with Austin Classical Guitar, Ballet Austin, The Contemporary Austin, and the world-renowned choir Conspirare. Stephen was featured on Conspirare's album The Singing Guitar with the Austin Guitar Quartet, which received a Grammy Nomination in 2021. He directs the guitar program at the Orpheus Academy of Music, holds an Adjunct Professor position at Huston-Tillotson University, and directs the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Camerata, a large ensemble of young guitarists across Austin. He has studied with Bill Kanengiser at the University of Southern California, Adam Holzman at the University of Texas, and Alan Johnston at the MacPhail Center for Music, and Jamie Grossman. Stephen's solo performances have been met with high praise. In Spring 2022 he made the premiere recording of Dusan Bogdanovic’s “About Time”, a piece dedicated to him by the composer. In Spring 2019 he premiered Matthew Lyons’ Guitar Concerto with the UT New Music Ensemble directed by Dan Welcher. His performance aired on KMFA’s radio show “Live from the Butler School”. He has won first place in two competitions, including the Schubert Club Scholarship Competition, and has received four prizes as a finalist. He has been featured by major concert presenters including Austin Classical Guitar, the Guitar Foundation of America's Regional Symposium, the American Guitar Society , the University of Minnesota at Morris, Springboard for the Arts, and Tetractys New Music. In 2017 he was the dedicatee of a new microtonal work by the acclaimed Cypriot composer Hakki Cengiz Eren, which he premiered at the Austin-based new music series, Tetractys. He has been featured on radio programs such as Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music, NPR's From the Top, KUT's Nuts and Bolts., and KMFA’s “Live from the Butler School” In February 2017, Stephen was an Artist-In-Residence at Springboard for the Arts' Hinge Artists residency program in Fergus Falls, MN. During his two-week residency, he performed many concerts, gave talks, and worked on several recording projects. Stephen's interest in early music led him to study baroque guitar and continuo with USC Professor and acclaimed lutenist Jason Yoshida. The USC Baroque Sinfonia, which Stephen performed in, was invited to perform a concert of Polish Baroque music at the 2016 Early Music America festival in Berkeley, CA. Stephen holds a Master's in Guitar Performance at the University of Southern California, where he was awarded the guitar department's Outstanding Master's Graduate. Prior to that, he completed his Bachelor's in Music at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Adam Holzman.
Shih-Min Tang, D.M.A.
Adjunct Professor of Bassoon
Doctor of Musical Arts: The University of Texas at Austin
Master of Music: Indiana University of Bloomington
Bachelor of Music: Indiana University of Bloomington
Bio
Shih-Min Tang is a passionate educator. Dr. Tang has build up a large bassoon studio in the Austin, TX area. She enjoys playing a wide range of genres and in different formats. Dr. Tang was the principle bassoonist for the Richardson Symphony Orchestra (Dallas, TX) for their 2017-2018 season. She also performed with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, The New York Gilbert&Sullivan Players, Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, and Proart bassoon ensemble (Taiwan). She won second prize in the 2017 “Golden Classical Music Awards” International Competition and performed in Carnegie Hall. She has also received accolades at The Asian Double Reed Society Bassoon Competition and The Texas Young Artist Competition. Her performances have taken her across the world, including concerts in Europe, Asia, and the United States. She also participated in the World Tour of Asia and Europe with The University of Texas at Austin Wind Ensemble as principal bassoonist.Dr. Tang holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, and a Master of Music from Indiana University of Bloomington.