Oksana Komarenko
Instructional Consultant
About Oksana Komarenko
Dr. Oksana Komarenko is an Instructional Consultant in the Division of Online and Strategic Learning at Ball State University. A dedicated educator, researcher, and performer, she brings over 18 years of international teaching experience spanning K–12 and higher education settings. Her interdisciplinary background blends music education, voice performance, psychology, and inclusive pedagogy. Oksana’s research focuses on pre-performance rituals, emotional regulation, student belonging, and gifted education. She presents regularly at national and international conferences and has published in Psychology of Music and the International Journal of Music Education.
Oksana holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Music Education and Voice Performance from Ball State University, with a cognate in Gifted and Talented Education, and remains active as a vocal artist and clinician, empowering learners through creative, evidence-based practice. She is passionate about supporting faculty in designing student-centered and emotionally sustainable learning environments.
Professional Experience
- Instructional Consultant (2025 – Present) Division of Online and Strategic Learning, Ball State University
- Adjunct Professor (2024 – 2025) Department of Music, Theater and Dance, Taylor University, Upland, IN
- Instructor of Record (2021 – 2025) Department of Music Education and Voice Performance, Ball State University
- Music and Speech Development Teacher (2019 – 2020) Sophia Ukrainian School in the UAE
- Music Teacher (2019) Orane Tree Children’s Nursery (International Preschool of Oman), Muscat, Oman
- Voice and Piano Teacher, Yamaha Junior Course
- Instructor (2009 – 2013) Popular Music Institute, Dubai, UAE
- K–12 Music Educator (2006 – 2009) International Schools, United Arab Emirates
Education
Doctor of Arts (DA) in Music Education and Voice Performance, 2025
Ball State University, Cognate: Gifted and Talented Education
Master of Music (MM) in Music Education, 2022
Ball State University
Licentiate Diploma in Classical Singing Performance (with Distinction), 2010
London College of Music, UK
Bachelor and Master of Arts in Vocal Performance and Music Education (with Distinction), 2006
Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music
Awards and Grants
- 2nd place winner in National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Regional Singing competition, Indiana, March 1, 2025
- 2nd place winner in National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) State Singing competition, Indiana, October 26, 2024
- The Society of Education, Music and Psychology Research (UK)/Research Grant – The Arnold Bentley New Initiatives Fund Grant, Awarded June 2024
- 1st place winner in NATS State Singing competition, Indiana, November 2023
- Creative Aging Program Grant from Lifelong Arts Indiana and Indiana Art Commission, June 2023
Publications and Presentations
- Komarenko, O., Gold, R., & Ramirez, G. (2025). How music education students embrace pre-performance rituals to enhance their craft. Psychology of Music. https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356251331062
- Komarenko, O., Ramirez, G., & Speirs Neumeister, C. (2024). High-pressure in music education: Understanding the phenomenon and empowering students. International Journal of Music Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/02557614241265907
- Gold, R., Komarenko, O. & Ramirez, G. (in prep). How students use rituals to gain control in academic college settings.
Peer-reviewed Conference Presentations:
- Komarenko, O. (2025). Mindful Music-Making: The Science of Group Pre-Performance Rituals in Performance. Poster/Oral presentation for the Chirp Week at Ball State University. Muncie. Indiana. April 16, 2025
- Gold, R., Komarenko, O. & Ramirez, G. (2025). The Role of Pre-Performance Rituals in Education. Poster presentation for the Midwestern Psychological Association conference. Chicago, Illinois. April 11, 2025.
- Komarenko, O. (2025). Tuning the Mind: How Group Rituals Shape Performance and Unity in Music Ensembles. Paper presentation for the College Music Society (CMS) Great Lakes Conference at Roosevelt University. Chicago, Illinois. March 7, 2025.
- Komarenko, O. & Ramirez, G. (2025). Empowering Educators: Creating Effective Pre-Performance Rituals for Student Success. The workshop at the Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA) annual conference. Fort Wayne, Indiana. January 17, 2025.
- Gold, R., Komarenko, O., Ramirez, G. & Rubenstein, L. (2024). Nurturing Young Leaders: Practical Strategies for Talent Spotting and Development. The workshop at the Indiana Association for the Gifted (IAG). Indianapolis, Indiana. December 10, 2024.
- Komarenko, O. (2024). The power of Pre-Performance Rituals in Music. Poster presentation for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Conference. Knoxville, Tennessee. June 2024.
- Komarenko, O. & Ramirez, G. (2024). Ritual Use in Music Education. Paper presentation for the Midwestern Psychological Association conference. Chicago, Illinois. April 18, 2024.
- Komarenko, O. (2024). Pre-Performance Rituals in Music/High-Pressure in Music Education. Poster presentation for the Indiana Music Educators Association annual conference. Fort Wayne, Indiana. January 2024
- Komarenko, O. (2024). High-Pressure in Music Education: Understanding the Phenomenon and Empowering Students. Paper presentation for the Hawaii International Conference on Education. Waikoloa, Hawaii. January 4, 2024.
- Kang, S. & Komarenko, O. (2023). Can We Ever Truly Feel Interculturally Competent? Research presentation for the Mountain Lake Colloquium. Pembroke, Virginia. May 21, 2023.
- Kang, S. & Komarenko, O. (2023). Intercultural Competence. Poster presented at the Indiana Music Educators Association annual conference. Fort Wayne, Indiana. January 2023.
Selected Invited Talks
- Komarenko, O. (2025). Pre-Performance Rituals as Tools for Emotion Regulation in High-Pressure Academic Contexts. Virtual presentation and Q&A for the Department of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada. September 2025
- Komarenko, O. (2025). Ритуали перед виступом та емоційна регуляція: Розвиток зосередженості та впевненості через цілеспрямовані практики [Pre-performance rituals and emotional regulation: Cultivating focus and confidence through intentional practices]. Talk-training presented to teachers at Lviv State School of Art №11 (virtual professional development session), Ukraine. September 2025
- Komarenko, O. (2025). Сила ритуалів: Як створити атмосферу єдності та зосередженості на уроці [The power of rituals: Fostering connection and focus in the classroom]. Workshop presented to teachers at Ukrainian School "Sophia," Dubai (online professional development session), United Arab Emirates. September 2025
- Komarenko, O. (2025). Creating Effective Rituals for Belonging and Cohesion in Arts-Based Learning Environments. Invited Workshop Facilitator at the Project Brilliance Teacher Training Retreat (Javits Grant-Funded Initiative). Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. May 27, 2025
- Komarenko, O. & Zakharova, R. (2025). Bridging Cultures Through Music: A Journey with the Bandura. Invited talk presenter at Taylor University World Music, Music History courses. Upland, Indiana. April 4, 2025.
- Komarenko, O. & Zakharova, R. (2025). From Ukraine to the World: Exploring Culture Through the Bandura. Invited talk presented for the Anderson University Introduction to Music Education Course. Anderson, Indiana. February 18, 2025.
- Komarenko, O. (2024). Music Around the World. The invited talk for the NAfME at Ball State event. Muncie, Indiana. March 2024.
- Komarenko, O. (2023). Pre-Performance Rituals. Invited talk presented at the 2023 Educational Psychology Research Symposium. Muncie, Indiana. December 2023.
- Komarenko, O. (2022). Ukraine Culture and Traditions. Presentation for the Ball State Lifelong Learners Organization. Muncie, Indiana. September 2022.
- Komarenko, O. (2022). Intercultural Exchange: Music Education for Children in Ukraine. Presentation for the Anderson University Introduction to Music Education Course. Anderson, Indiana. March 2022.