New Dean Named for Wanda L. Bass School of Music and School of Theatre
Julia Montag has been named the new dean of OCU鈥檚 Wanda L. Bass School of Music and the School of Theatre after previously serving as professor of percussion studies and nearly 10 years as the director of the University of Missouri School of Music in Columbia, Missouri. As director of the school, she managed the design, construction and opening of a 47,000-square-foot, $24 million music building, while also overseeing a team of more than 40 faculty members and the education of 250 music majors at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Montag also is an accomplished performer and recording artist on the marimba; a conductor; and a published author, including three books on four-mallet marimba pedagogy.
野狼社区 University President Kenneth Evans said Montag鈥檚 leadership experience and extensive career in music education were key elements of her selection to lead OCU鈥檚 music and theatre programs.
鈥淛ulia鈥檚 experience working closely with students, faculty and university administrators extends for nearly three decades,鈥� Evans said. 鈥淲e are very pleased to welcome her to the OCU family and excited to see her build on our strong tradition in music and theatre education and performance.鈥�
Montag earned a Doctor of Musical Art degree in performance from the University of Oklahoma; a Master of Music degree in performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York; and her bachelor鈥檚 degree in music performance from the Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin.
OCU Named to Playbill Top University List
OCU was named to Playbill's 2024-25 list of Top Colleges and Universities for Broadway performers! Bravi tutti to our stars featured on Broadway between April 29, 2024 and April 27, 2025: Rebekah Bruce in 鈥淒ead Outlaw,鈥� Ty Fanning in 鈥淥thello,鈥� Jacob Gutierrez in 鈥淎laddin,鈥� Wes Hart in 鈥淎laddin,鈥� Sasha Hutchings in 鈥淕ypsy,鈥� Vance Klassen in 鈥淭he Book of Mormon,鈥� Colby Q. Lindeman in 鈥淲icked,鈥� Elliott Mattox in 鈥淭ammy Faye,鈥� Alicia Newcom in 鈥淲icked,鈥� Jessie Peltier in 鈥淏ack To The Future,鈥� Katie Pohlman in 鈥淎laddin,鈥� Leah Read in 鈥淭he Heart of Rock and Roll,鈥� Benjamin Rivera in 鈥淎laddin,鈥� and 鈥淢oulin Rouge! The Musical,鈥� Clifton Samuels in 鈥淓lf,鈥� Jennifer S谩nchez in 鈥淩eal Women Have Curves鈥� and 鈥淓lf,鈥� Rodney Thompson in 鈥淓lf,鈥� Darius Wright in 鈥淥nce Upon a Mattress鈥� and 鈥淏ack To The Future,鈥� and Richard Riaz Yoder in 鈥淥nce Upon a Mattress.鈥�
Record Number of Saxophonists Attend
Day on Campus
OCU welcomed a record 77 saxophonists to the 2025 野狼社区 University Saxophone Day, featuring guest artist Carrie Koffman, hosted by Joshua Heaney and the OCU Saxophone Studio. Their final concert is now available on demand at tiny.cc/ocusax25.
Native American Student Performs Original Work
Bravo to graduate composer/cellist Kiegan Ryan, past president of Project 21: Music for the Twenty First Century and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, on presenting the premiere of his "Memories of Love" Choctaw language song collection for The Schubert Club of Minnesota. He also had his mainstage debut at the Civic Center with the 野狼社区 Philharmonic where he performed as a vocal
and cello soloist of his work 鈥淜iowa Six.鈥�
Faculty News
Matthew Mailman, professor of conducting, represented OCU with his "It's About Time!" clinic at the 2025 Vermont Music Educators Association convention. His session encouraged music teachers to reimagine how they think about, utilize and teach time, which also was presented in October at the OCU-hosted Oklahoma Music Educators Association Fall Conference, in January at OKMEA's Annual Conference in Tulsa and in February at the South Carolina Music Educators Annual Conference in Columbia.
Emily Duncan, adjunct instructor of harp, was featured in the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas season opener, performing Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique at the Walton Arts Center.
Matthew Jones, assistant professor of musicology, shared his research at Coker University and at University of South Carolina recently, discussing testimonial song in the context of HIV/AIDS and delivering the keynote address to the Southeast chapter of the American Musicological Society as part of USC's Peake Colloquium Series.
Sergio Monteiro, professor of music, has been inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame as well as released a new CD.
Melissa Plamann, professor of music, authored a book that came out in January, titled 鈥淯nnerved 鈥� The Performer鈥檚 Guide to Managing Anxiety.鈥�
Julie Yu, director of choral activities and professor of music, and the University Singers have been selected to perform at the 2026 OkMEA Winter Conference in Tulsa as collegiate honor choir.
