Two new faculty members, Assistant Professor Dr. Carline Waugh and Assistant Band Director Jesse Stevens, have joined the Marshall University School of Music.
Waugh is a Jamaican-born soprano and singing actor who has entertained audiences around the world. She has given recent performances in Russia, Finland, Italy, Austria, the United States and the Caribbean.
Waugh has performed the lead role of Arlene Fox in the premiere of the opera Buffalo Soldiers, and Ermia in Sogno, which is based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has also sung the part of Gretel from Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Liú from Turandot, Zerlina from Don Giovanni, Valencienne from The Merry Widow, Polly from Die Dreigroschenoper and Gianetta from The Gondoliers. Her concert repertoire includes André Previn’s “Honey and Rue,” Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915,” Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, J.S. Bach’s Magnificat in D Major.
Waugh has earned a Doctor of Musical Arts from Louisiana State University, a Master of Music from University of Mississippi, and a Bachelor of Music from Atlantic Union College.
She will serve as an assistant professor in the vocal area and says she looks forward to serving as a teaching artist.
Jesse Stevens is joining Marshall University as an assistant professor and assistant band director. Stevens received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and his Master of Arts in Music Education degrees at Jacksonville State University.
While at Jacksonville State University, Stevens was a member of the Marching Southerners, JSU Percussion Ensemble, JSU Chamber Winds, JSU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. While pursuing his graduate degree, Stevens was the University Bands graduate assistant for two years, working alongside Dr. Kenneth G Bodiford and the rest of the band staff. He coordinated Bands of America JSU Regional, Contest of Champions, and the JSU Honor Band. Stevens has also served as the social media manager and video editor for the JSU Marching Southerners and Gadsden Music Company in Gadsden, Alabama.
He is a percussionist and avid marching band arranger for several ensembles in the southeast. He has written for groups such as Sonoraville High School in Calhoun, Georgia; Luella High School in Luella, Georgia; Prattville High School in Prattville, Alabama, and others.
Stevens was a Drum Corps International World Championship finalist in 2011 and 2012. He’s also a member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and Kappa Kappa Psi national honorary band fraternity.
“I am thrilled to start working with a great faculty and staff at Marshall University and looking forward to continuing the already amazing achievements within the music department and across campus,” Stevens said.