Jill Burleson joins the music faculty as conductor of the Concert Choir and will also serve as the Undergraduate Admissions Coordinator for the School of Music. Currently ABD status, Burleson holds an M.M. degree (choral conducting) from Ball State and a B.M. degree (vocal music education) from Heidelberg College. While in the DA program at Ball State, she was named Outstanding Graduate Student by the School of Music in 2006.  As a conductor, Burleson is active as a clinician, conducting choral festivals sponsored by IMEA and ISSMA. She taught music in the public school arena for nearly 20 years at all grade levels.  An accomplished mezzo-soprano, Ms. Burleson is sought after as a soloist throughout Indiana.

MARK BUSELLI, DIRECTOR OF JAZZ STUDIES

Mark Buselli, a graduate of the Berklee School of Music and Indiana University,   is the new Director of Jazz Studies at Ball State University.  Buselli has over forty arrangements published for big bands, brass ensemble, and piano/trumpet. He has six recordings out as a leader on the Owlstudios and OA2 record labels.  He has performed with artists such as  Bobby McFerrin, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Slam Stewart to Natalie Cole, Vic Damone and Ben Vereen. He has played for former presidents Jimmy Carter, George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.   Buselli currently serves as Education Director of the Buselli-Wallerab Jazz Orchestra in Indianapolis.  He is sponsored as an endorsing performing artist by Conn-Selmer, Inc.

RICK DiGIALLONARDO, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

Rick DiGiallonardo is Director of Music Technology and Research Fellow at the Center for Media Design.  Early in his career he was arranging and performing with some of the top groups on the West Coast, and was associated with Universal Studios,   and with K-Tel, Geffen, and Polygram Records.  Rick was a founding member of Quarterflash, which recorded two platinum albums in the 1980s.  He has performed, arranged, and composed with such notables as Elton John, Joe Walsh, Bob Seagar, Rick Springfield, Linda Ronstadt, Sammy Hagar.  Rick' s credits include writing and performing on movie soundtracks such as Gremlins, NightShift, Fast Time at Ridgemont High.  He has received three Gold and three Platinum Albums in the U.S., Canada, and Japan; along with an American Music Award and two Grammy nominations. 

KEVIN GERRITY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION

Kevin Gerrity is Assistant Professor of Music Education.  Dr. Gerrity spent thirteen years teaching instrumental and general music at both the secondary and university level in the state of Ohio.  He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Otterbein College and MA and PhD degrees from The Ohio State University.  At Ball State, Dr. Gerrity will teach secondary general music methods, introduction to music education, and basic musicianship.  His research interests include teacher preparation, the impact of policy on music education, the integration of music and reading, and issues related to adolescence and the teaching of secondary general music.  His recent publications are featured in Rachel Billmeyer's Strategic Reading in the Content Areas: Practical Applications for Creating a Thinking Environment, and the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education.

DAN KALANTARIAN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BANDS

Dan Kalantarian joined the BSU music faculty in 2006. He is director of the "Pride of Mid-America" Marching Band, director of the Symphonic Band, and teaches courses in music education and commercial arranging. Previously, Mr. Kalantarian served as Associate Director of Bands at Idaho State University, the University of Hawaii, and Wake Forest University. With over 250 arrangements to his credit, Mr. Kalantarian is in constant demand as an arranger and drill writer. He has presented lectures/clinics at State Music Education Conferences in California, Idaho, and Hawaii; and has been a guest conductor at the CBDNA northwest regional conference in 2000 and 2004. He holds Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from UCLA, and is currently completing the DMA in conducting at the University of Kansas.

R.D. MATHEY, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES

Richard D. Mathey will serve as Interim Director of Choral Activities at Ball State, and is Professor Emeritus at Bowling Green State University. Professor Mathey is a graduate of Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and Bowling Green State University. He has conducted All-State Choruses in Alabama, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio and over 400 county, district, regional and state choral festivals.  He made his New York singing debut in 1971 at Alice Tully Hall in a performance of Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea. He has performed 17 leading operatic tenor roles and has soloed with symphonies throughout the mid-west. In 1997 he received a service award from the Music Educators National Conference and the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America for his service to music education.

PETER OPIE, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC PERFORMANCE

Peter Opie joins the faculty as assistant professor of cello.  He is originally from the United Kingdom, where he studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Raphael Sommer and Oleg Kogan, and at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Richard Aaron.  His doctoral studies were with Anthony Elliott at the University of Michigan.  Recently on the faculty of Eastern Michigan University, he has performed frequently with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, studied at the Tanglewood Music Center, and appeared in recital and chamber music concerts in both the United States and Europe.  He currently coaches at the Five Seasons Chamber Music Festival in Iowa and New York, and has toured with the Five Seasons Chamber Players.  He has also studied with Eleonore Schoenfeld, Marc Coppey and Desmond Hoebig.