Dr. Stephanie Rea

For Prospective Students


Any flute student interested in pursuing music at Murray State is encouraged to contact Stephanie Rea at Stephanie.rea@murraystate.edu to set up a campus visit and a private lesson free of charge.  By touring our campus, observing classes, meeting students and faculty, and having a lesson, prospective student obtain a more realistic view of what life is like as a music student at Murray. The flute studio upholds the highest standards of musicianship. If you are serious about music study, you belong here!


About the Flute Studio


The flute studio at Murray is an interesting mix of students with various interests in music and various majors.  Flute students have recently performed at the following:


Murray Calloway County Hospital Long Term Care

Spring Creek Retirement Center

Kentucky Flute Festival

Mid South Flute Festival

National Flute Association

Kentucky Music Educators' Association Conference All-Collegiate Band

WASBE's International Youth Wind Orchestra in Sweden and Singapore


The flute studio is a supportive atmosphere in which students learn from their professor as well as from each other.  Students are expected to exhibit professional, collegial behavior.  Murray State is very fortunate to have a close-knit group of flute students who are welcoming to new students and remain friends after graduating.


About Current Flute Students


Kalin Alvey is a first-year music education major from Owensboro, KY. She is majoring in voice with a minor in flute and is in the color guard in Racer Band and flute in Symphonic Band. She is interested in becoming field commander, also enjoys playing piano, and is excited to be gaining musical knowledge and talent in college at Murray.


Devan Caton  is a 5th year flute student majoring Music Education.  She has participated in the Racer Band, Orchestra, and Wind Ensembles and is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.  Devan also enjoys volunteering in campus ministry and traveling all over the world.  


James-Kyle Damron is a third-year music education major from Murray, KY. He is an active member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity.  He plays saxophone in Jazz Orchestra, flute in Wind Ensemble and tuba in Orchestra.


Kala Dunn is a third-year piano performance major from Princeton, KY.  She graduated from Interlochen High School (flute) and attended Brevard Music Center (piano) this summer. Flute is her secondary instrument. She plays second flute in orchestra and piano in Jazz Orchestra.


Jocelyn Dora is a first-year music education major from Newburgh, IN. She pays saxophone in addition to flute and enjoys being active in her church environment and interacting with friends. She is in Racer Band and Symphonic Band.


T.J. Edwards is a first-year music education major from Edwardsville, IL. She is in both Racer Band and Symphonic Band.


Cassie Fischer-Flaherty is a fourth-year student seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and political science. She is from Murray, KY and was head field commander for the Racer Marching Band for two years, and plays flute with guitar effects pedals in the rock/funk band The Great Gatsby Jazz/Funk Odessey. She plays flute in Wind Ensemble this year.


Jenny Harsson is a first-year music education major from Jackson, TN. She is in the Racer Band color guard and plays flute in Symphonic Band.


Rachel Owen is a second-year music education major from Livingston County, KY with an interest in teaching elementary school music. She has played flute for eight years and also enjoys playing guitar as a hobby. Rachel plays flute in Racer Band and Symphonic Band.


Nikki Pierceall  is a second-year music education major from Murray, Kentucky and performs in Racer Band and Orchestra.


Rodney Mills is a first-year music education major with a double major in flute and voice.  He is principal flute in Symphonic Band this semester. He is from Eddyville, KY.


Jennifer (Jen) Myers is in her second year at Murray, majoring in music education and is from Buffalo, NY. Her goal after graduation is to pursue a career as an assistant high school band director in Buffalo while also earning a master's degree in music education. She is field commander for Racer Band during the fall 2008 semester and plays flute in Symphonic Band.


Kaleigh Ray is a first-year music minor at Murray State.  She performs in Racer Band.


Hannah Rodgers is a first-year student seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in music and international affairs and is a member of Racer Band and Symphonic Band. She is from Nortonville, KY.


Marshall Shank is a third-year student from Owensboro, KY and is majoring in music performance. He enjoys improvising in jazz combos, jazz bands and worship bands and performs in the Wind Ensemble. Marshall also enjoys soccer, frisbee, camping and hiking.


Heather Waters is a graduate of MSU, holding a BM in flute performance with a minor in German. She is currently pursuing music education certification and is principal flute in both Wind Ensemble and Orchestra.


Caroline Weiland is a second-year music education major from Columbus, Indiana.  She has an interest in music therapy and pursuing graduate work in music. She is section leader in Racer Band during the fall 2008 semester and plays in Symphonic Band.


About Our Flute Graduates


Flute alumni from Murray State enjoy various careers in and outside of music. If you are not on this list or would like to update your information, please email me at Stephanie.rea@murraystate.edu.  I'd love to hear from any flute alumni!


Joseph Alexander

Graduate Student at University of Minnesota (trombone performance)


Nathan Carroll

General Music Teacher in Union County, KY


Krista Clayton

Band Director, Pope County, Illinois


Esther Dowdy Julian

living in Paducah, KY


Angela Madden Yoo

Assistant Band Director, Trigg County Middle and High Schools


Ashley Mattingly

Former Band Director, Fulton County High School

Daviess County School System


Lauren Wilkerson Maxey

Band Director in Louisville, KY                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                    Devan Caton

Alyson Owens Morris

Adjunct Professor and Director of Bands at Rend Lake College, Ina, Illinois


Elixabeth Rigdon LaNeave

Elementary School Teacher in Paducah, KY


Cynthia Roop

Adjunct Professor of Flute and Music Education at Mars Hill College

Director of Bands at Rugby Middle School, Hendersonville, NC

Faculty Member at Joyful Noise, Community Music and Arts Center

Co-Artistic Director Brio Concert Series


Mark Sauerbrunn

Former Band Director at Olmstead Middle School, Kentucky


April Brewer Sexton

General Music Teacher at Sharpe Elementary School, Benton, KY



About Professor Stephanie Rea


Flutist Stephanie Rea is an accomplished soloist, frequently heard at the National Flute Association's Annual Convention and in recital halls across the United States. Hailed by Flutist Quarterly as "a name to be remembered" and "a rising star and a compelling performer", Rea's active performance schedule has recently included two seasons with the Jackson (TN) Symphony Orchestra, appearances at the National Flute Association, and recitals throughout the United States.  She has performed at the Brevard Music Center, Rome Festival, International Trujillo Bach Festival in Peru, 9th International Suzuki Conference in Japan, College Music Society International Conference in Bangkok, Thailand and at many regional music festivals. Rea is the Vice President of MidSouth Flute Society, on the Board of Directors for the Flute Society of Kentucky, and serves on the Pedagogy Subcommittee of the National Flute Association.


In her teaching career Rea has enjoyed the successes of her students in private studio teaching in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky.  She is Associate Professor at Murray State University where she teaches courses in flute and music theory and often performs in collaboration with her colleagues. Her degrees are from East Tennessee State University (B.M. flute) and The Florida State University (M.M. flute, D.M flute, M.M. theory) where she was a teaching assistant in the areas of both flute and music theory. She has given flute master classes at music schools including the University of Michigan, Arizona State University, Florida State University, and Cincinnati College Conservatory's Preparatory Department. Rea is an active member of the College Music Society and the National Flute Association. Her compact disc Solo French and American Flute Works can be purchased at centaurrecords.com or amazon.com.


Stephanie Rea has been awarded a Fulbright grant for the spring 2009 semester and will be on sabbatical while she is pursuing research and teaching at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt (am Main), Germany.


About our Guest Artists


Since 2001, Murray State has been fortunate to host the following flutists as guest artists in recitals and master classes.


Alberto Almarza

Associate Professor, Carnegie Mellon University


John Barcellona

Professor, California State University at Long Beach


Jessica Dunnavant

Assistant Professor of Flute, Univesity of Wisonsin at Stevens Point


Kyle Dzapo

Associate Professor, Bradley University


Deanna Hahn

Associate Professor, Middle Tennessee State University


Maria Harding

Principal Flute, Omaha Symphony Orchestra


Sarah Beth Hanson

Piccoloist, Memphis Symphony Orchestra


Stephanie Jutt

Professor, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Principal Flute, Madison Symphony Orchestra


Jennifer Mazzoni

adjunct faculty at Murray State University


                                                                                               Stephanie Rea and composer, Libby Larson

Rebecca Paluzzi

Associate Professor, East Tennessee State University

Director, East Tennessee Suzuki Program


Kara DeRaad Santos

Principal Flute, Evansville Philharmonic

Professor of Flute, University of Evansville


Caen Thomason-Redus

Assistant Professor at University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee

Former member Detroit Symphony Orchestra


Heather Verbeck

Adjunct professor at Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music


Jim Walker

International Soloist

Faculty, University of Southern California


Professional Associations


Music education students are encouraged to become members of CMENC and Kentucky Music Educators' Association. All flute students and prospective flute students are encouraged to become a member of the Flute Society of Kentucky (www.fskentucky.org), Mid South Flute Society (midsouthflute.org) and/or the National Flute Association (nfaonline.org).  









For more information concerning applied flute study at

Murray State University