Department of Music
Faculty & Staff
Dr. Jonathon Allen is a passionate leader and accomplished educator in the field of music, currently serving as the Chair of the Department of Music and Assistant Director of Bands at 性视界传媒. Since joining the faculty, Dr. Allen has played a pivotal role in enhancing the music department鈥檚 programs, with a focus on fostering academic excellence, artistic development, and student success.
With a deep commitment to providing students with diverse musical opportunities, Dr. Allen has worked to strengthen the instrumental music offerings, ensuring that students are equipped with the skills and experiences necessary for success both in the classroom and in the professional world. His leadership extends to various musical ensembles, where he emphasizes collaboration, skill development, and performance excellence.
Dr. Allen鈥檚 dedication to mentorship has resulted in significant growth for his students, many of whom have gone on to achieve success in various areas of music. Under his guidance, students are encouraged to hone their craft, engage in meaningful musical experiences, and develop a strong sense of discipline and professionalism.
With a focus on creating a supportive and dynamic environment for musical exploration, Dr. Allen continues to shape the future of 性视界传媒鈥檚 music department, helping students to thrive and succeed in their academic and musical careers.
Mezzo-Soprano Bailey Bovenschen is a passionate vocalist with a love of bringing characters to life through music. She has performed as Morticia Addams in听The Addams Family Musical, La Vecchia in听Gianni Schicchi, and The Witch in听Into the Woods. Bailey has also recently competed in the听International L茅opold Bellan听Competition in Paris, France, where she received first place for her performance of 鈥淢ein Herr,鈥� from听Cabaret.
Her teaching philosophy highlights finding what makes a singer’s voice unique in an ever-changing industry. Once a singer discovers who they are, then they will find success.
Bailey holds degrees from Oklahoma City University with a BM in Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance, and a Master’s in Vocal Performance at Oklahoma State University.
Dr. Chukwuebuka Gabriel Ezeakacha is a Nigerian-American choral artist: a creative conductor, composer, vocalist, and educator. His performance experience spans over two decades across a wide range of styles and genres. Throughout his musicianship, he has conducted works by notable composers such as Josquin des Prez, Palestrina, William Byrd, Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert, as well as contemporary composers such as Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre, Z. Randall Stroope, 膾riks E拧envalds, Daniel Elder, George Walker, Moses Hogan, and Andre J. Thomas.
Dr. Ezeakacha’s academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria, a Master of Science degree in Communication from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Oklahoma, and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting (Choral), also from the University of Oklahoma. His interdisciplinary vitae has allowed him to function in several capacities as a choral clinician and adjudicator, music consultant, and concert facilitator in Nigeria, West Africa, and internationally.
Dr. Ezeakacha studied choral conducting briefly with Dr. William Plummer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and extensively with Dr. David Howard and Prof. Richard Zielinski at the University of Oklahoma. He also studied instrumental conducting with Dr. Shanti Simon and has taken voice lessons with Prof. Shawn Roy (UL Lafayette) and Dr. Joel Burcham (OU Norman). Dr. Ezeakacha’s growth as a conductor is further strengthened by his choral internship experience with Dr. Lee Cooke and conducting masterclasses with Prof. Jerry McCoy (choral) and Dr. Frank Ticheli (instrumental). His conducting style is characterized by precision, passion, and a deep understanding of the music, aiming for audience edification and entertainment.
As a composer, Dr. Ezeakacha specializes in English and indigenous sacred and folk music, drawing inspiration from his native Igbo culture and other sub-Saharan African traditions. Applying his cultural background to choral music education, his doctoral research focused on diasporic best practices for the performance of African choral music. Before his appointment at 性视界传媒, Dr. Ezeakacha served as Choir Director at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Oklahoma City from August 2022 to December 2024. Dr. Ezeakacha is a freelance music instrumental synthesizer/producer, voice-over artist, and video editor/producer, and he enjoys quality family time with his wife, Amaka, and his two sons, Odiraa and Sinobi.
Dr. Darci Wright is a recent graduate from Florida State University, where she earned her Doctor of Music in Percussion Performance with a Certificate of Specialized Studies Program in College Teaching. She also earned the Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from FSU in 2023 and her Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education at the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith in 2021, where she graduated with Honors Magna Cum Laude. Her primary teachers include Dr. John W. Parks IV and Dr. Tommy Dobbs. At FSU, Dr. Wright鈥檚 assistantship responsibilities included assistant-coaching the award-winning FSU Percussion Ensemble, managing and coordinating percussion equipment logistics, maintenance, acquisition, budgeting and purchasing, and teaching Percussion Methods for non-percussion Music Education majors. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is also an avid performer within the College of Music. Performances at FSU with ensembles such as the University Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and FSU Percussion Ensemble, including the 2023 Percussive Arts Society International Convention IPEC Winners Showcase and National Tour. She has also been a guest on multiple chamber recitals, including FSU鈥檚 Festival of New Music in 2022 and 2024.Dr. Wright continues expanding her performance experience outside the FSU College of Music. She serves as utility percussion for the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and Tallahassee Ballet, alongside regional chamber groups such as the Bay Area Choral Society.
An avid educator, Dr. Wright has also gained teaching experience through working with the FSU Summer Music Camps and TriState Band Festival. Her appointment duties included presenting masterclasses and clinics, coaching percussion ensemble electives, serving as an audition adjudication, coaching percussion sectionals for large ensembles, teaching applied lessons, and assisting with gear logistics. Further, she teaches private percussion lessons (classical, drum set, marching) in Tallahassee. Students of Dr. Wright have regularly achieved honorary positions, including placing in All-District, All-State, All-County, and earning superior ratings in Solo and Ensemble.
Outside of her performing and teaching endeavors, Dr. Wright also excels in academic and professional development. With her high level of performance skills and high GPA, she was invited and accepted into Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Chapter, one of the most honorary achievements a musician can receive. In 2022, she won the Percussive Arts Society Cloyde Duff Scholarship, rewarding her with the opportunity to attend the largest convention in our field for free and be paid to attend.
While at UAFS, Dr. Wright earned numerous academic achievements, including the Academic Excellence Award in Music Education, Outstanding Music Education Internship Award, and achieving Dean鈥檚 List every semester of her undergraduate career. She was also involved in numerous academic organizations including the Percussive Arts Society, National Association for Future Music, and Kappa Kappa Psi.
As a student of Dr. John W Parks IV, she quickly gained interest in recording high-quality audio/video projects. After taking Dr. Parks鈥� Recording DIS class, she further developed her previous recording skills and has recently accepted a position with The Percussion Pedagogy Podcast, hosted by Dr. Tommy Dobbs, as an audio editor/curator. Within the percussion studio, she assists Dr. Parks with the “Again, But Better” Podcast, serving as associate producer. She has also gained experience building click tracks as the result of rehearsal, performance, and recording tools.
Her treatise, Implementation of Click Tracks in Classical Percussion Performance and Recording, examines the historical evolution of click tracks and their contemporary applications in percussion chamber music performance and recording. Addressing ensemble-specific challenges, such as stage position, time-of-arrival discrepancies, rehearsal preparation, and workflow, her study considers technical factors, including software configuration, signal routing, and demarcation strategies, to evaluate the benefits of using click tracks in chamber music settings. By positioning these practices within broader performance aesthetics, the study identifies click tracks as tools that enhance precision, synchronization, and overall musical outcomes in classical percussion settings. Dr. Wright鈥檚 most recent article, “The Transformative Role of Recording in Percussion Practice,” can be found in Percussive Arts Society’s Percussive Notes June 2026 publication.
She is a proud endorser of SABIAN Cymbals.
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Mark Gordon has been the Director of Bands at 性视界传媒 since 2018 and he has grown the band to 275 students. Before that, he had more than 20 years of experience directing bands at the high school and collegiate levels.
Mr. Gordon earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in applied music in 1996 from Prairie View A&M University. He went on to earn a master鈥檚 degree in divinity theological studies in 2007 from St. Agnus Georgian School and a master鈥檚 degree in music composition from Texas Southern University in 2014.
He began his career at M.B. Smiley High School in Houston, Texas, in 1996. There, Mr. Gordon built the band up to nearly 400 students. After 10 years with Smiley High School, Mr. Gordon returned to his alma mater, Prairie View A&M University, to serve as the assistant director of bands for another 10 years. He then served as the director of bands at Charles H. Milby High School in Houston, Texas, before moving to Oklahoma to take up his current post at 性视界传媒.
Throughout his career, Mr. Gordon has remained involved with the surrounding communities at each of his respective schools through band and choir performances, youth outreach, and involvement at church.
Lisa M. Hoel currently serves as an adjunct professor in woodwinds and piano accompanist. She teaches courses such as Woodwind Techniques, Music Fundamentals, and Applied Woodwinds, covering flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone.
Mrs. Hoel earned a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) from the University of Central Oklahoma, with an emphasis in flute and piano pedagogy. She continued her education at UCO, receiving certifications in organ and clarinet through the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA). She later completed a Master鈥檚 Degree (M.A.) in Collaborative Piano and Woodwind Pedagogy from UCO.
An accomplished performer, Mrs. Hoel has a diverse background in music theater as a woodwind doubler and lead keyboard accompanist. She has played flute, clarinet, oboe, and various whistles in productions at the Pollard Theatre, Guthrie High School, Poteet Theatre, Jewel Box Theatre, Oklahoma State University, and Oklahoma Christian University. Some of the major productions she has contributed to include听My Fair Lady,听The Fantasticks,听The King and I,听Into the Woods,听The Music Man,听Funny Girl, and听Guys and Dolls, among many others.
Beyond her teaching roles at Langston, Mrs. Hoel is deeply involved in the local music community. She operates an independent music studio and teaches for the Guthrie Public Schools Band Program. She frequently accompanies students for solo events and concerts across the region, including providing accompaniment for Leah Galloway in 2023 during her winning performance at the Oklahoma City Philharmonic鈥檚 Chamber Competition.
Mrs. Hoel is a long-time member of the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA), where she has served in various roles, including Parliamentarian, Audition Committee member, Music Theory test writer, and Adjudicator. She is also an active member of the National Association for Music Educators, the National Flute Association, and the Oklahoma Flute Society, where she has held the position of Vice-President and currently serves as Historian. In the Spring of 2025, she will honor her late flute teacher, Ms. Feodora Steward, through a special recognition at the Oklahoma Flute Society鈥檚 Piccolo Project during the Flute Fair.
Meichen Hou Hughbanks, M.M., is an accomplished pianist and educator currently serving as a full-time piano instructor and accompanist at 性视界传媒. She has built a distinguished career as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and teacher, earning recognition both in China and the United States.
Born and raised in China, Meichen began playing the piano at the age of four and has been performing on stage since the age of six. Her impressive achievements include winning 1st prize at the 2015 Hong Kong International Piano Invitation Competition and the 2015 International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival in the China Division. Additionally, she was the alternative winner of the 2016 Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA) Collegiate Piano Competition and received third prize in the 2016 Young Artist Performance Competition in Oklahoma.
Meichen is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA), and the Central Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (COMTA), where she has been a member since 2016. She also joined the Oklahoma City Pianist Club in 2023.
She holds a Bachelor of Management in Accounting from Zhengzhou University of Light Industry in China and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Through her dynamic teaching and performance career, Meichen Hou Hughbanks continues to inspire and cultivate a love of music in her students and audiences alike.
Clifton M. Love III is a dedicated music educator and percussion specialist based in Oklahoma. Originally from Houston, Texas, he has spent the past five years contributing to the field of music education in Oklahoma. An alumnus of 性视界传媒, Mr. Love earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and has been a valued faculty member at Langston for the past five years. In addition to his role as a percussion specialist, he serves as the Drumline Coordinator for the 性视界传媒 Marching Pride Band, where he shares his expertise and passion for music with the next generation of musicians.
Beyond the classroom, Mr. Love is actively involved in the broader music education community. He regularly adjudicates band performances, attends industry events, and stays up-to-date with the latest trends and methodologies in music education.
Originally from Springdale, Arkansas, Jason Potts is an active teacher and performer in Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. He joined the 性视界传媒 faculty in 2024 as an adjunct instructor of trombone and euphonium. Jason earned his bachelor鈥檚 in music performance from Ouachita Baptist University, where he won the McBeth Concerto Competition in 2015 and 16, and led the school鈥檚 jazz combo and brass quintet. Jason earned his master鈥檚 in music performance as a teaching assistant at Oklahoma State University. During his time there he placed in or won multiple national and international competitions, including the International Women鈥檚 Brass Conference, Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Brass, Yamaha/Xeno Tenor Trombone Solo Competition, Hyechka Collegiate Competition, Eastern Music Festival Concerto Competition, and the Oklahoma State University Concerto Competition. Since 2018 Jason has performed with multiple professional orchestras, including the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Opera, and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. He has also played with other local ensembles such as the Oklahoma City Winds and the national award-winning Frontier Brass Band. After finishing his master鈥檚 in 2019, Jason began teaching private lessons in the Oklahoma City area. He currently teaches lessons, gives masterclasses, and leads studio classes and small ensembles for over 40 students in the Deer Creek, Mustang, Yukon, and Casady school systems.
Professor Brandon Stevenson stands as a beacon of musical excellence within the esteemed 性视界传媒 Music Department. Since joining in 2021, his youthful enthusiasm and unwavering dedication have propelled him to the forefront of music education. A proud alumnus of 性视界传媒, Professor Stevenson harnesses his alma mater’s legacy to inspire and empower students on their educational journey.
At the core of Professor Stevenson’s pedagogical philosophy lies a profound belief in the intrinsic value of music education. Whether students aspire to pursue a career in music or not, he advocates for a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the musical arts. Through his guidance, students are encouraged to delve into the rich tapestry of music, cultivating a lifelong passion for the subject.
Professor Stevenson’s academic journey culminated in attaining听a Master of Music in Music Education from the esteemed University of Central Oklahoma. Armed with this advanced degree, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role, enriching his students’ educational experience.
Throughout his tenure at 性视界传媒, Professor Stevenson’s motivation and dedication have reverberated through the halls of the music department. Each day, he works to nurture the talents of young musicians, fostering their growth and development with unwavering commitment. As a mentor and educator, Professor Stevenson continues to leave an indelible mark on the next generation of musical virtuosos, shaping the future of the discipline with passion and dedication.
Eric Upchurch, M.M., is a distinguished trumpet professor at 性视界传媒, where he imparts his expertise and passion for music to the next generation of musicians. With a diverse career as a performer, Upchurch has worked with an impressive array of artists across a wide range of genres. His performance credits include collaborations with Grammy Award-winning musicians such as Diane Schuur, Kenny Garrett, Grupo Fantasma, and The Temptations, as well as renowned figures like Jon Faddis, James Morrison, and Donny McCaslin.
Upchurch鈥檚 extensive performance experience spans prestigious venues and international festivals, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, The Roxy in Los Angeles, the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, and the Antibes Jazz Festival in France. He has also showcased his talents at notable events such as the International Trumpet Guild Conference and the Midwest Clinic.
Through his work as a performer and educator, Eric Upchurch continues to contribute significantly to the world of music, blending technical mastery with a deep appreciation for diverse musical traditions.
Monae Brown is an accomplished vocalist, music educator, and performing artist from
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, whose artistry encompasses classical, opera, jazz, gospel,
contemporary music, and choral performance.
Brown earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Vocal Performance from Lane College, where
she classically studied voice with Professor Alexis Rainbow and vocal jazz with vocalist,
Joan Faulkner. She was an active member of the Lane College 鈥淔inal Authority鈥� Choral
Program, performing with the Jennie E. Lane Ensemble, Lane College Jazz Singers, LC
Praise, Bel Canto, Concert Choir, and Showcase Singers. She later earned her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Johns Hopkins University Peabody Institute, where she studied with Elizabeth Futral, Chair of the Voice Department.
Her artistic training includes master classes with distinguished artists such as Laquita Mitchell, Dashon Burton, Indira Mahajan, and Dianna White Gould. She also participated in the African American Arts Institute S.O.U.L. Summer Program at Indiana University and served as a Junior Artist with Opera Memphis.
Brown has performed extensively as a soloist in classical, opera, jazz, gospel, and
contemporary settings, with performance credits including the Jackson Symphony Youth Orchestra, Lane College, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Peabody Institute. Her distinguished honors include being the 2017 national winner of the NCAA College Baseball World Series National Anthem Competition, performing at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, and the 2021 national winner of the NASCAR Vocal Competition, performing 鈥淕od Bless America鈥� at the NASCAR Championship Race in Phoenix, Arizona. She is also a Silver Prize recipient of the Amadeus International Music Awards in Salzburg, Austria.
Most recently, Brown has continued to expand her professional career nationally and internationally. She is a member of the vocal ensemble Sonaria, which made its debut at Cleveland鈥檚 historic Severance Hall during an MLK Day celebration. She also performed with the USA Choir in Guadeloupe for the Festival International de Musique Saint Georges. Following her international engagement, Brown embarked on a solo Midwest tour with performances throughout Ohio, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri.
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