Composition Faculty & Staff

Joseph Klein

Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair of Composition Studies

Degrees from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (BA, 1984), University of California, San Diego (MA, 1986), and Indiana University (DMus, 1991). Composition studies with Roger Reynolds, Robert Erickson, Harvey Sollberger, and Claude Baker. Interests in intermedia composition, musical process, and fractal aesthetics. UNT appointment: 1992.

Courses taught: Beginning/Class Composition, The Music of Frank Zappa

William Coble

William Coble

Visiting Assistant Professor

Degrees from Boston University (BM, 1985), Curtis Institute of Music (Artist Diploma, 1986), Roosevelt University (MM, 2002), University of Chicago (PhD, 2012). Composition studies with Ned Rorem, David Del Tredici, Gunther Schuller, Mario Davidovsky, Marta Ptaszynska, John Eaton, and Stephen Albert. Electro-acoustic studies with Howard Sandroff. Composition interests include orchestra, chamber music, voice. Performance interests include collaborative piano, symphony trumpet, conducting, church music. Research interests include gesture, Ligeti, 20th Century, American music. UNT appointment: 2012.

Courses taught: Contemporary Music, Orchestration, Sophomore Composition Seminar

Panayiotis Kokoras

Assistant Professor

Degrees from University of York (MA, 2000; PhD, 2004). Composition studies with Tony Myatt, Yiannis Ioannidis, and Anri Kergomard. Interests in sound-based composition (instrumental and electroacoustic), mixed music, transcontextuality, music information retrieval compositional strategies, and timbre studies. UNT appointment: 2012.

Courses taught: Graduate Composition Seminar

Andrew May

Associate Professor and Director of CEMI

Degrees from Yale University (BA, 1990), California Institute of the Arts (MFA, 1994), and University of California, San Diego (PhD, 2000). Composition and computer music studies with Roger Reynolds, Miller Puckette, Mel Powell, and Jonathan Berger. Interests in chamber music with live interactive computer systems, statistical analysis of real-time music data, extended notations and improvisation; also an active violinist. UNT appointment: 2005.

Courses taught: History and Techniques of Electroacoustic Music, Topics in Electroacoustic Music ("Interactive Composition"), Topics in Contemporary Music ("Music of György Ligeti"), Graduate Composition Seminar.

Elizabeth McNutt

Principal Lecturer and Director of Nova Ensemble

Degrees from St. Louis Conservatory (BM, 1990) and University of California, San Diego (MA, 1994; DMA, 2000). Flute studies with Harvey Sollberger, John Fonville, and Jacob Berg; computer music studies with Miller Puckette. Specialization in performance of experimental and virtuosic new repertoire, including computer music; collaboration in development of new works. UNT appointment: 2005.

Courses taught: Nova Ensemble, Contemporary Music, Contemporary Performance Practices.

Jon Christopher Nelson

Professor and Associate Dean for Operations in the College of Music

Degrees from Bethel College (BA, 1982) and Brandeis University (MFA, 1988; PhD, 1991). Composition studies with Allen Anderson, Arthur Berger, Martin Boykan, and Charles Dodge. Extensive experience in electroacoustic and acoustic music with specializations in software synthesis, digital signal processing, and set-theoretical compositional strategies. UNT appointment: 1996.

Courses taught: Topics in Electroacoustic Music ("Composing for Loudspeakers"' "Physical Modeling"), Topics in Contemporary Music ("Structural Multiplicities").

David Stout

David Stout

Professor and Coordinator of iARTA

Degrees from the University of Oregon (BFA, 1980 — Visual Art & Design) and California Institute of the Arts (MFA, 1985 — Film/Video & Music). Intermedia, Cinema, Music and Performance studies with Ed Emshwiller, Jules Engel, Jim Pomeroy, Barry Schrader, Michael Scroggins, Gene Youngblood and Bill Viola. Interdisciplinary art and technology works include live cinema performance, generative systems, video-dance, animation, sound-art, and telematic video events that integrate multi-screen environments as an extension of performer, audience and architecture. UNT appointment: 2009.

Courses taught: Intermedia Performance Arts, Inter-Arts Seminar.

Affiliated Faculty

These faculty teach courses outside of the Composition Division that help support the program's mission for collaborative and interdisciplinary opportunities:

Richard DeRosa

Richard DeRosa

Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Composition and Arranging

Degrees from New Jersey City University (BM in Music Education, 1977) and Manhattan School of Music (MM in Jazz Composition, 1984). Composition studies with Mike Gibbs. Extensive experience in jazz composition and arranging for big band and orchestra as well as film/video/TV scoring, musical theater, and vocal ensemble writing in jazz and traditional styles. UNT appointment: 2010.

Courses taught: Jazz Arranging, Advanced Jazz Arranging, Graduate Jazz Arranging, Composition for the Media.

Claudia Howard Queen

Claudia Howard Queen

Assistant Professor of Music for Dance, Department of Dance & Theatre

Degrees from Oberlin College (BA in Communication Arts, 1978); Tisch School of the Arts, New York University (MFA in Musical Theatre Writing, 1991). Dance studies in NYC and Chicago professional studios. Vocal studies with Mary Royal. Musical theatre composition studies with Sarah Schlesinger, Mel Marvin, Martin Epstein, Sybille Pierson and Steve Weinstock. Composition studies with Marilyn Shrude. Film composition studies at CalArts Summer Intensive. Interests in composing music for dance, theatre, and film, multi-instrumental dance musician. UNT appointment: 2008.

Courses taught: Dance Improvisation/Composition, Music Analysis for Dancers, Composer/Choreographer Collaboration

Supporting Staff


Graduate Assistants