About the Music Program
The Odessa College Music Program is an accredited institutional member of the National
Association of Schools of Music (NASM) offering a two-year Associate of Arts (A.A.)
degree in Music. The program provides a comprehensive foundation for students preparing
to transfer to a four-year university to continue studies in music performance, education,
or related fields. Major areas include voice, piano, organ, strings, woodwinds, brass,
percussion, and guitar.
Odessa College’s Music Department is also a proud member of the Texas Association
of Music Schools and the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA).
Students study music theory, ear training, piano, applied lessons (voice or instrument),
and participate in ensembles each semester. Courses are taken in sequence to build
skills progressively, alongside Texas Core Curriculum courses such as English, Math,
and History.
Performance opportunities include A Cappella Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Vocal
Jazz, with additional options based on audition and interest. Vocal majors may also
take International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers to support advanced study.
The department presents frequent student and faculty performances, hosts clinics and
competitions, and offers courses for both degree-seeking students and community enrichment.
Why Choose Odessa College Music
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Nationally accredited (NASM) and transfer-ready curriculum
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Expert faculty dedicated to student growth and performance excellence
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Active performance schedule with diverse ensemble experiences
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Supportive community that connects students, faculty, and regional arts organizations
Mission Statement
The mission of the music program is to provide music students training in the areas
of musical performance, music theory, music literature, and piano studies, in preparation
for transfer to upper level baccalaureate degree programs, and to provide cultural
enrichment for music students, Odessa College, and the community at-large.
Student Handbook
Students are encouraged to review the Odessa College Music Student Handbook, which
outlines program requirements, ensemble expectations, and important policies to support
academic and performance success.
Faculty
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Sarah McQueen Cunningham
Sarah McQueen Cunningham serves as Choir Director and Director of Choral and Vocal
Studies at Odessa College. She holds a Master of Music in Music Education and a Bachelor
of Arts in Jazz Studies from California State University, Sacramento, where she was
the first recipient of the Jazz Studies degree. An experienced conductor and educator,
she has led award-winning ensembles at Sierra College, Mendocino College, and Ponderosa
High School and has directed worship arts and community choirs across California.
A recipient of Sierra College’s Teacher of the Year and the Crystal Apple Award, she
is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Music Educators
National Conference, and the Jazz Education Network.
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Dr. Erica Rumbley
Dr. Erica Rumbley is an Associate Professor of Piano at Odessa College with over a
decade of collegiate teaching experience in the United States and China. She holds
dual master’s degrees in Piano and Musicology and a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University
of Kentucky. Her scholarship includes publications in the Journal of American Music and presentations at College Music Society and American Musicological Society conferences.
Her research focuses on 19th- and 20th-century American music, Chinese piano music,
and the composer Zhang Zhao, as well as the therapeutic use of music with survivors
of trauma and forced migration. An active performer, Dr. Rumbley is passionate about
both solo and collaborative piano performance.
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John Carroll
John Carroll, Head Band Director at Odessa College, retired in 2023 after a 46-year
career in Texas public school band directing. He spent 27 years as Associate Band
Director at Permian High School, leading the concert band, jazz ensemble, and percussion
program, and later directed award-winning bands in Monahans. His many honors include
the Marcia Zoffuto Hero Award, TBA Meritorious Achievement Award, and recognition
as a Grammy Music Educator of the Year quarterfinalist. A past President of the Texas
Music Educators Association, Carroll continues to serve as a clinician and consultant
across Texas. He holds degrees from Abilene Christian University and West Texas A&M
University and was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in
2024.
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Dr. Jon Ortiz
Dr. Jon Ortiz is a percussionist, conductor, and educator serving as Associate Band
Director at Odessa College. A native of Odessa, he holds a Doctor of Musical Arts
in Percussion Performance from Texas Tech University, a Master of Music from Middle
Tennessee State University, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Texas
Tech. He has taught at Texas Tech University and Middle Tennessee State University,
directing percussion ensembles, drumlines, and concert bands. An active performer
with the West Texas Symphony and other ensembles, Dr. Ortiz is also an Innovative
Percussion artist and a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Texas Music Educators
Association, and Pi Kappa Lambda.
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Dr. Young K. Whiting
Dr. Young Kwon Whiting is an internationally accomplished pianist, educator, and collaborative
artist. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Music from Chugye University for the Arts in
Seoul, South Korea. Her career includes performances, masterclasses, and adjudication
for international piano competitions across Asia, Europe, and North America. She has
presented a solo recital at Carnegie Hall and served as a pianist at Lincoln Center
and the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Her honors include teaching recognition from
National Music Conservatory of Mexico and Outstanding Performer Award, which led to
her performance with Fort Worth Symphony. She is also the founding dean of the American
Guild of Organists Permian Basin/Concho Valley Chapter and Vice President of the Odessa
Music Teachers Association.
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Events
(Tentative and Subject to Change)
Fall Semester 2025
October 24: Friday, Marine Corps Band—First Baptist Church Odessa, 7:30 p.m.
November 4: Tuesday, Veterans Day concert, Wood HSB Community Room 201, 6:30 p.m.
November 12: , Wednesday, Honors Luncheon, 11:00 a.m.
November 18: Tuesday, Student/Faculty Piano Recital, 6:00 p.m.
December 1: Monday, Winter Band Concert, Wood HSB Community Room 201, 6:30 p.m.
December 4: Thursday, Holiday Concert, Jazz Band and Choir Concert, Jack Rodgers
Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.
Spring Semester 2026
March 5: Thursday, Mid-Spring Band Concert, Wood HSB Community Room 201, 6:30 p.m.
April 21: Tuesday, Student/Faculty Piano Recital, 6:00 p.m.
April 29: Wednesday, Spring band concert, Wood HSB Community Room 201, 6:30 p.m.
April 30: Thursday, Choir and Jazz Band Concert, Jack Rodgers Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.
Our events are free and open to the public. For events requiring a ticket, use this
link:
Ticket Reservations
Music Program Resources
Degree Plans
