Adjunct Music Faculty

Meadow makes new music from old ideas—a kind of musical upcycling, an antique restoration. Their melodies spin out and layer like the Baroque; their form is firmly constructed like the Classical; their gestural language is sweeping like the Romantics; and their harmonic signature is born from 20th-century neotonality, where kaleidoscopic chord progressions shift and cycle endlessly, forming chains of modulations.

Many dichotomies hold their music together—minimal-maximal, tonal-atonal, new-old—and Meadow balances it all with extramusical framing; this includes the anthropomorphizing of insects, the allegorizing of stories from their life, and the commenting on aspects of their identity.

Meadow has worked with important composers such as William Bolcom, Martin Bresnick, Aaron Jay Kernis, Libby Larsen, Bright Sheng, and Joan Tower. Additionally, as a fellow of the Rubin Institute of Music Criticism, they had the privilege of working with influential writers such as Alex Ross, Tim Page, John Rockwell, and Anne Midgette.

Their music has been performed as part of the American Music Festival, the New York Festival of Song, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Third Place [MusicFest], and the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference. They have reached international audiences through the Westben Composer-Performer Residency in Canada, the Brisbane Music Festival in Australia (forthcoming), and the International Double Reed Society Convention in Thailand.

Meadow holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Yale School of Music, where their Violin Sonata was awarded the Frances E. Osborne Kellogg Memorial Prize for best composition written in a contrapuntal style.

Background

Violist Susan Chan is co-founder and coordinator of the New Century String Quartet ncsq.wordpress.com (based at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center 1999-2013). Formerly the Accord Chamber Music Society of San Francisco, the NCSQ has earned high praise from California and Indiana critics. A recipient of multiple grants from the Arts Council of Indianapolis, NCSQ has also been featured in the Indianapolis Star, WFYI "Art of the Matter" for its distinctive programming, commissions and performances. Its performances can be heard on WICR and WFIU as well.

In addition to NCSQ and numerous Faculty Artist Series concerts at UIndy, Susan Chan also performed in the U.S., Asia and Europe, collaborating with Oxford Quartet and Rostislav Dubinsky of Borodin Quartet/Trio, bassoonist Kim Walker, members of the Lark Quartet, Ronen Ensemble, Scott Chamber Players, Gary Hoffman and the Jade Quartet. At Festivals at Princeton University (NJ), Tanglewood (MA), Grand Tetons (WY), Tage Alter Musik (Regensburg, Germany), Music in the Mountains (CA) and Taipei International 20th Century Lyricism Festival (promoting works banned by the Nazis), Susan Chan also performed numerous works from the baroque, on authentic instruments, to the present, including a viola sonata written for her. A former member of the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia San Francisco, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, and a founding member of the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra in 1997, she also appears frequently with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Serving as Principal Viola under conductors Seiji Ozawa and Gunther Schuller, she was twice a fellow at the Tanglewood Festival and a fellow at IHEM, Switzerland. A student of the late Abraham Skernick and Walter Trampler, she was coached by Rostislav Dubinsky, Louis Krasner and the Juilliard String Quartet. She earned a master's degree from Indiana University (Bloomington) where she also served as an Associate Instructor in Viola in 1980-82. In 2005-2006, Susan Chan received a Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship awarded by the Arts Council of Indianapolis.

She researched in Italy, retracing the evolution of string instrument making and chamber repertoire, and influences by Sephardic and Islamic musicians in the 1500s, culminating in “The Glorious Viola I & II”, chamber music presentations highlighting the viola from the late 1500s to today, including a commission. In addition to teaching Applied Viola at UIndy, Susan Chan serves as an adjudicator for several scholarship funds and regional orchestral Young Artist Competitions in Indiana.

Joyce Click has been a lifelong educator of over 4 decades. Mrs. Click is in her third year as an Adjunct Instructor for the University of Indianapolis in Music Education and Special Education and supervising music student teachers from Anderson University. She is also teaching courses in Music Education at Butler University during the 2024 Fall semester.

Currently she co-directs the MSDWT Musical Theater Summer Enrichment for Kids and Teens that she co-founded in 2000. She is in her 30th year of leading Children’s Music at St. Mark’s UMC. As an active member of ICDA, she leads the Choral Mentorship Initiative that pairs experienced choral directors with early career choral educators. She is a choral clinician for festivals, an adjudicator for ISSMA, and a published author with her most recent publication by Beat by Beat Press: Building a Musical Theatre Program for Kids: The Essential Handbook.

Mrs. Click completed her undergraduate and graduate Music Education degrees at Butler University. She also earned an MS degree from Indiana University with a focus on Mild and Moderate Interventions. She is currently in the Doctoral Program for Educational Leadership and Innovation at Purdue (Global).

Joyce Click is a career music educator. Throughout her legendary career, she helped thousands of K-12 students cultivate a deep love and appreciation of music, singing, and performing. She served as an Elementary Choral director in MSDWT for 20 years and a High School Choral Director at North Central H.S. for 24 years where she directed advanced, intermediate, and beginning choirs that received numerous ISSMA gold with distinction and state finalist ratings  She directed the yearly NC Madrigal Feast production, assisted with the annual musical, coordinated the MIC Choral Competition, and was area chair for Indiana All-State Choir.

 In 2017, she was named  a California Casualty Teacher of Excellence as well as a Global Scholar by the NEA Foundation. In 2016 she was named Hoosier Educator of the Year. In 2015 she was named a Grammy Award semi-finalist in the top 25 of 5000 nationally nominated music teachers. Other awards received for her teaching included Teacher of the Year at Fox Hill Elementary and North Central High School, Washington Township Teacher of the Year, Golden Apple Award for Excellence in  Teaching, Shining Star Award, two Lilly Creativity Fellowships, and a Nationally Board Certified Teacher. 

As an advocate for inclusive music education practices, Mrs. Click has presented at numerous state and regional ICDA and NAfME conferences. When she retired from MSDWT, the Joyce Click Vocal Instruction Endowment fund was set up in her honor to award scholarships to traditionally underserved students for voice lessons and music instruction.

Mrs. Click currently lives in central Indiana with her spouse, Steve. They visit their adult children, spouses, and their pups in sunny California several times per year.

Melanie Eakman received her BA degree in Dance Performance with the Conservatory of Performing Arts from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2009, Professor Eakman became a company member with the professional dance company Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre in Carmel, Indiana. During her time at GHDT, she was the Rehearsal Director and Assistant Director as well as a company dancer. She performed in more than 50 productions.

Her teaching focus includes ballet, jazz, and modern dance which are incorporated in the dance courses at UIndy. Professor Eakman has taught at many dance studios and organizations throughout the Indianapolis area, including Kids Dance Outreach, Roncalli High School, the Academy of GHDT, and Dance Connection. Continuing her dance education, she attended the Jazz Dance World Congress with Giordano Dance Chicago in 2012.

Professor Eakman’s early training began at Jordan College Academy of Dance with Butler University in Indianapolis. In 2005, she also had the opportunity to attend the Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan as a dance major.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Mark graduated with honors with his Bachelor of Music degrees in Education and Performance and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Illinois State University.  The 1995 Indiana NATS Artist Award winner, he has appeared in recital at the Australian embassy in Washington, D.C., the Harold Washington and Newbury libraries in Chicago. A versatile singing actor, Mr. Gilgallon’s roles range from Cervantes ~ Quixote in Man of La Mancha to Giorgio Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata.  

A familiar face to Indianapolis audiences, Mark has made over twenty appearances with the Indianapolis Opera, and as an ensemble member of Yuletide with the Indianapolis Symphony for over ten years. While singing in the ensemble of Yuletide, he became the vocal director for Yuletide and other pops concerts.  

Mark made his solo Carnegie Hall debut under the direction of Henry Leck; at the Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis symphonies with Maestro Jack Everly; and at the Cincinnati Pops with Erich Kunzel.  In May 2015, Mark made his Avery Fisher Hall debut at Lincoln Center as the baritone soloist in Mark Hayes’ Requiem, which he also recorded with the composer in Indianapolis.  A former Artistic Ambassador to India, Pakistan and Bahrain for the United Information Agency, Mark performed concerts of American music for heads of state and other dignitaries. 

As a studio session singer, Mark has recorded for Warner Brothers Publishing, Shawnee Press, Beckenhorst Press, Lorenz, Alfred Press among others. In addition to his performing career, Mark serves as Director of Music at North United Methodist Church and Choirmaster for high holy days at Temple Beth-El Zedeck.

Kent Hickey is an in-demand trumpet player and educator based in Indianapolis, IN.  He received his undergraduate degree in jazz studies from Butler University and his master’s degree from the esteemed Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of John Raymond.  Locally, Kent has played alongside some of the scene’s best including Sean Imboden, Rob Dixon, Nick Tucker, Joel Tucker, and Kenny Phelps among others. The trumpeter currently leads two of his own projects, the Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective and the Kent Hickey Trio.  Previously, Kent worked as a trumpeter aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the Summers of 2018 and 2019. 

The Hickey-Shanafelt 9ollective is an Indianapolis-based jazz nonet that highlights composers and arrangers within the ensemble and shares a goal of sharing this music with the community.  The 9ollective released their debut album, “illuminate” in October of 2022.  The Kent Hickey Trio performs Kent’s original compositions and lesser-known jazz standards.  The group draws inspiration from groups led by Avishai Cohen, Mike Rodriguez, John Swana, and Tim Hagans.  Kent’s groups have performed at venues like the Chatterbox, Merriman’s Playhouse, Blockhouse Bar, Fulton Street Collective (Chicago), Blu Jazz+ (Akron), and the world-famous Jazz Kitchen.

In addition to performing, Kent is also a passionate educator who strives to share his love of music with the next generation.  He maintains a private studio of about 30 trumpet students at various schools in the Indianapolis area and is also the outreach liaison for the Butler Youth Jazz Program, a branch of the Butler Community Arts School.  Kent is also Adjunct Professor of Jazz Trumpet at both Butler University and the University of Indianapolis where he teaches applied lessons and jazz combo.

Although Elisabeth has performed notable opera roles in recent years, including Pamina (The Magic Flute), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), Third Lady (The Magic Flute), and Second Witch (Dido and Aeneas), her true love of music is found in oratorio and other choral masterworks. Elisabeth has been a featured soloist in numerous large choral works, including Bach’s Ascension Oratorio and Christmas Oratorio, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, and Requiem, Vivaldi’s Magnificat and Gloria, Bernstein’s Missa Brevis, and John Rutter’s Magnificat and Gloria. Since the beginning of her musical career, she has been a well sought-after choral singer for many churches and other professional ensembles.

Elisabeth enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Tyler, and their daughter, Effie. Elisabeth also works for Northminster Presbyterian Church as their Family Engagement Coordinator and is an avid supporter of animal welfare and mental health awareness.

Daniel Lewis holds the position of second trumpet with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining the ISO, he held positions with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (Ohio), Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Williamsburg Symphony, and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra (Virginia). Daniel has also performed with several other orchestras including the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (Ohio), West Virginia Symphony, Charleston Symphony, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. His additional performing experience includes extensive touring with The King’s Brass on several national and international tours.

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Daniel obtained a master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music after completing his undergraduate degree in music at Cedarville University. His teachers include Michael Sachs and Charles Pagnard.

Outside of his musical pursuits, Daniel is a competitive runner and disc golfer.

Dr. Sarah Majorins is a composer, arranger, pianist and music educator. She earned her Masters of Music as well as her Ph.D. in Music Theory and Composition from the University of California, Davis. Her research centered on understanding how the details of musical form can facilitate communal expressions of sorrow. Specifically, she analyzed John Adams’ Pulitzer winning piece On the Transmigration of Souls (a memorial for September 11). 

Dr. Majorins composes and arranges for a variety of voices and instruments, combining her classical training with her first love: improvisation. She maintains a private piano studio and is the lead piano accompanist at St. Mark’s the Evangelist Catholic Church in Indianapolis. She has been an adjunct lecturer at UC Davis, Sierra Community College and Ivy Tech Community College, teaching Music Appreciation, Aural Skills, Theory, Intro to Jazz and Keyboard Skills. Currently, she is at UIndy and is enjoying its diverse and interesting community.

A life-long Californian, Dr. Majorins moved to Indianapolis in 2019. In her spare time she loves to cook, attend concerts and explore downtown Indy with her kids and husband, Philip. 

Shawn McGowan is a multifaceted American pianist, keyboardist, and composer. Shawn’s music has been described as a unique blend of jazz that’s both imaginative and stimulating, yet very accessible. His albums, Shades (2019) and Vista (2024), showcase his talent for combining rich harmonies and luscious melodies with contemporary beats, creating a sound that is truly his own. Shawn says, “I love creating new music and always strive to come up with something that’s beautiful and will inspire others to be creative.” 

In addition to being an accomplished jazz pianist, Shawn is a skilled and versatile keyboardist who has collaborated with prominent artists across various genres. Shawn's impressive resume includes performances with GRAMMY-winning artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Darmon Meader of the New York Voices, and Janis Siegel of the Manhattan Transfer, as well as engagements with NEA Jazz Master Jamey Aebersold, country star Trace Adkins, rock legend Bret Michaels, and NBC's "The Voice" winner Josh Kaufman. From 2017 to 2024, Shawn was a member of the high-energy band Party Crashers, captivating audiences across North America, Central America, and Europe, including an opening set at Super Bowl LIV in Miami and appearances at premiere Las Vegas nightclubs. In 2024, he appeared at the Indy Jazz Fest alongside pianist Steve Allee. 

Shawn holds a BM and Performer’s Certificate from Indiana University, where he studied with NEA Jazz Master David Baker and pianist Luke Gillespie. He then served as the Associate Instructor of Jazz Piano at the university until 2016 and earned his MM from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. With a passion for music education, Shawn is the Adjunct Professor of Jazz Piano at the University of Indianapolis and is currently designing his own online school for aspiring jazz musicians, launching in 2025.

Background

Mark is a Las Vegas native and attended Loyola University in New Orleans for two years majoring in bassoon and jazz saxophone. After transferring to Boston University, Mark received a Bachelor of Music degree in Bassoon Performance, graduating Magna Cum Laude. While in Boston, he won the Alan Mark Roberts Performance Competition, and was the top woodwind finalist for the Boston Pops Concerto Competition on bassoon. Mark played for one season with the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra then joined the United States Air Force Band at March Air Force Base in California as saxophone soloist (and woodwind doubler), and 4 years later moved to the Air Force Academy where he was the principal bassoonist with the United States Air Force Band of the Rockies for 4 years.

He moved to Cincinnati to study bassoon at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and completed his Masters Degree. Over the last 20 years, Mark has performed in many different musical projects including professional recordings, musical theater, chamber ensembles, jazz and R&B groups, as well as many orchestral performances, including being a member of the Saxophone section for the Cincinnati Pops under Erich Kunzel. He has performed all over the world in many different venues, ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Grand Ole Opry and MTV. A versatile performer, Mark plays all the saxophones, clarinets, flutes, and bassoons.

Mark has studied bassoon with William Winstead at CCM, Matt Ruggiero at Boston University, Crawford Best at Loyola University. Mark also studied saxophone with Paul McGinley, Garvin Bushell, Craig Yancey, Jeff Barash, and has studied woodwind doubling with John Reilly. In June 2003, Mark was the featured soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under the baton of John Williams, playing the second live performance of Williams’ "Escapades for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra." Mark is an active studio musician and records regularly for the Hal Leonard and Alfred Publishing Companies as well as many other projects.

He teaches Bassoon at the University Of Indianapolis and is a founding member of the Icarus Ensemble and plays in several rock and jazz groups including the Ortwein JazzTet. Mark’s wife Carrie is a Nurse Practitioner with IU Health Physicians and they are the owners of “Grove Haus” - an old historic church in Fountain Square that they have turned it into their home and an event/ performance venue. Grove Haus can be found on Facebook and at: grovehaus.com. Mr. Ortwein is a Yamaha and D'Addario Performing Artist on Saxophones and Bassoon.

Violinist Jayna Park joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2001.  In 2013, she was acting Assistant Concertmaster for the ISO and won first violin position with the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra in 2015.  Born in South Korea, she began her violin studies at the age of 6 and by age 7, Jayna won a concerto competition in Daegu, Korea which led to her orchestra solo debut with Daegu Philharmonic that same year. Since then she has won numerous competitions both in Korea and in the USA where she came to study violin at age 11 with the renowned violinist Berl Senofsky at the Peabody Conservatory.

Jayna has won first prizes in the Korean Times National Competition, American String Teachers Association National Competition, Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, and the Philadelphia Concerto Soloists Young Artist Competition taking the Grand Prize. She was a finalist at the International Music Competition of Japan and a semifinalist at the Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition in England. That same year in New York, Jayna won the Manhattan School of Music Concerto Competition leading to a solo engagement with the Manhattan Chamber Sinfonia conducted by Marin Alsop.

An active soloist and chamber musician, Jayna has performed as soloist with the Korean Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, the Suwon Symphony, the Netherlands National Radio Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. She has also appeared in recital and chamber music concerts around the world with performances in France, South Korea,Canada, and the US - including a concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall. In 2023, she became a music director of the Ronen Chamber Ensemble based in Indianapolis. 

Jayna received a Bachelor of Music and an Artist Diploma at the Peabody Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music where her teachers included Sylvia Rosenberg, Victor Danchenko, and Ik-Hwan Bae.

Background

Background

Art Reiner is a professional percussionist and drummer specializing in jazz, pop, ethnic and classical styles. He is currently a studio musician and performs with the Flip Miller Band, the Spectrum Percussion Trio and the Art Reiner Trio. Mr. Reiner has performed with Red Skelton, Bob Hope, George Burns, Mitzi Gaynor, Holiday on Ice, Ringling Brothers, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Sandy Patti, as well as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Opera, the Buselli-Wallarab Jazz Orchestra and the Indianapolis Brass Choir. He is a regular with Young Audiences of Indiana, providing percussion workshops for the young people. In addition to directing the UIndy African Drum Ensemble, Mr. Reiner teaches percussion.

Background

Steven Rickards, countertenor, has received international acclaim as one of America's finest countertenors. He has performed as soloist with Concert Royal in New York, the Gabrieli Consort in London, the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in Toronto, Music of the Baroque in Chicago, the Santa Fe Opera, and the symphony orchestras of St. Louis, Los Angeles, Indianapolis and Tokyo and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam. Highlights of recent seasons include the premiere of John Adams's opera El Ni-o in Paris, J. S. Bach's Mass in B-minor with Joshua Rifkin at New York's Mostly Mozart Festival, and J. S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the London Promenade Concerts in Royal Albert Hall. He received a Fulbright-Hayes Scholarship for study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He received his master's degree from Indiana University and his doctorate from Florida State University. He recently released CDs on the Naxos label of the songs of John Dowland and Thomas Campion. He is a faculty member at the University of Indianapolis and is director of the Vocal Arts Institute for Young Singers.

Visit Steven Rickards' Websites

Background

Darin Sorley received his BME from Butler University and an MM in Horn Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music with additional studies at Indiana University. His teachers include Philip Farkas, Michael Hatfield, Richard Solis and Jerry Montgomery. Darin is Instructor of Horn at the University of Indianapolis since 2001 and previously taught at the Universities of Evansville and Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University). In his early career as a band director, Darin taught in the Delphi, Rushville and Center Grove School Corporations.

Darin has been principal horn of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra since 2004 and previously served as principal with the Evansville Philharmonic. As a professional freelance horn player, Darin performs regularly with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as substitute principal horn with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Lafayette and Anderson Symphonies. Darin has performed with Ray Charles, Josh Groban, Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Feinstein, Amy Grant, Toni Tennille, Doc Severinsen, Mannheim Steamroller and the Moody Blues to name a few.

He has had the pleasure to perform under the batons of Krzysztof Urbanski, Raymond Leppard, Mario Venzago, Kurt Masur, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Matthew Kraemer, Jack Everly and Guy Bordo. Darin has served as the Music Director of the Indianapolis Brass Choir since 2014 and previously served in the same role with the Indianapolis Chamber Winds. As a custom horn builder and owner of Sorley Horns, LLC, Darin has made instruments that are being played in Australia, Poland, Germany and the USA. Darin plays a Sorley Model GS1 in brass which he built the Summer of 2015.

Background

Tamara Thweatt was Principal Piccolo of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 2000-2002 and has served as guest Principal Piccolo in subscription concerts of the Chicago Symphony, National Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra, and has performed as flutist with the Detroit Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony and Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, among others. As a soloist she has made concerto appearances with the Bach Sinfonia of Washington DC, the Pontiac Oakland Symphony in Michigan, the Charlotte NC Symphony, and the Michigan Chamber Players. As a Fulbright Scholar to England, Thweatt spent a year of intensive study in the studio of Trevor Wye and performed in Fulbright-sponsored recitals in London and Berlin.

Dr. Thweatt earned her DMA from the University of Michigan, a Master's degree from Northwestern University and a Bachelor's degree from Florida State University. Her principal teachers include Trevor Wye, Clement Barone, Charles Delaney, Jeffery Zook, Leone Buyse and Walfrid Kujala. Dr. Thweatt came to Indianapolis from the University of Iowa, where she was Assistant Professor of Flute from 2003 to 2006. Currently Instructor of Flute at the University of Indianapolis, Thweatt teaches privately, coaches chamber music, and performs widely in concerts and recordings in Indianapolis. Dr. Thweatt is an active contemporary music flutist and has premiered numerous new works. She is also an accomplished baroque flutist, performing the major baroque repertoire on her Folkers & Powell copy of a c. 1730 Denner, and also an avid Irish whistle player, frequently called on for Irish whistle solo parts in commercial recordings.