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Christina Smith

What plays piano, saxophone, tuba, drums, marches, directs and sings?

The answer is not one thing - it is the new School of Music faculty.

"We are replacing very influential positions in the school and major leadership positions that affect a lot of our students," School of Music Dean Robert Weiss said.

Weiss said it is an unusual situation to have eight new faculty members starting at one time.

"I am also really pleased with the quality of the people we were able to find, both in the tenure track positions and even the term positions," Weiss said.

Weiss said that the new faculty members have a lot of experience and credentials.

Tyler Kuebler, the new assistant professor of applied saxophone and music theory, said he is looking forward to being part of such an experienced and esteemed faculty.

"I think that the large influx of new faculty in the School of Music will provide a burst of fresh energy and a wealth of new perspectives that can only help carry on the high level of teaching here at SIUC," Kuebler said.

Andrew Tucker will teach tuba and marching band for a one-year term. He will be the new director of the Marching Salukis, Weiss said.

"I am extremely excited about coming to SIU this fall," Tucker said.

Tucker said the faculty has been friendly and that it is an honor for him to be at SIU.

Tucker said the students are the exceptional part of SIUC and everyone he has met is full of fire, joy and energy.

"I enjoy working with college marching bands because it is about music at a fairly high level as well as an entertainment value that needs to be there and also the students have to have a great time," Tucker said.

Susan Stewart is the new choir director, who was a choir director at Texas Woman's University. She has also taught at Texas Tech University and was a teacher for 14 years at Bowling Green High School in Kentucky, Weiss said.

The other positions will be filled by the following people: David Dillard, lecturer and voice professor; Junghwa Lee, assistant professor of applied piano; Billie Whittaker, staff accompanist; Ronald Coulter, applied percussion; and Christopher Morehouse, director of bands.

"Having some new ideas and some new energy on the faculty will be a positive," Weiss said.

Reporter Christina Smith can be reached at christina_smith@ dailyegyptian.com.