Academic Music Faculty Profiles | University of Portland

Academic Music Faculty Profiles

Julia Banzi

Adjunct Professor, World Music
banzi@up.edu

Dr. Julia Banzi is an Ethnomusicologist and award winning musician/composer. One of a very few female flamenco guitarists worldwide, Julia is co-artistic director of the international performance ensemble Al-Andalus. Her work reflects her international touring and over twenty years of living, studying and performing in Spain and North Africa.

Julia Banzi is a devoted teacher, composer and performer who truly enjoys working with students of all levels. Whether in ethnomusicology (world music) or guitar (flamenco, folk and classical), Julia provides students with a clear and solid foundation while guiding students toward creating original thoughts and music they can call their own. Many of her students have gone on to become professional musicians (Elliott Smith was one of Julia students!). 

Academic Credentials

Ph.D. Ethnomusicology, University of California, Santa Barbara. 2007
Master of Music. University of California, Santa Barbara, California 2002.
Bachelors in Music. Lewis & Clark College, Portland Oregon. 1996

David De Lyser

Professor, Director of Choral Activities, Music Theory, Composition, Musical Theater
delyser@up.edu 

Dr. David De Lyser, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, joined the University of Portland faculty in 2010. His conducting duties at the University include the University Singers, Chamber Choir and music director/pit orchestra director for campus musical productions. He has previously conducted the UP Orchestra. He teaches composition, orchestration, music theory and musical theater courses.

Outside of the University, he is the Artistic Director/Conductor of the Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland and maintains a busy schedule of guest conducting and adjudicating. He holds graduate degrees in conducting and composition from the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Portland, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Business from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Dr. De Lyser is a published author and award-winning composer whose works have been commissioned, premiered and performed by professional, collegiate, community and high school performing ensembles across the country.

Education:

Doctor of Arts, University of Northern Colorado
Master of Arts, University of Portland
Bachelor of Music, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Nicole Leupp Hanig

Associate Professor of Music, Music Program Director, Director of Vocal Studies
hanign@up.edu 

Soprano Nicole Leupp Hanig is dedicated to the singing voice in all its forms but has expertise in the teaching of opera, music theater and jazz. She has appeared as a soloist with L'Atelier Lyrique concert series in Paris, Jussi Björling Festival in Sweden, the Maggio Musicale Festival in Italy and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. She has performed a solo recital at St. Martin’s in the Field in London, Berg’s Sieben Frühe Lieder at Durham Cathedral in Durham, England and was a soloist in Opera Galas for Amnesty International at St. James’ Picadilly in London and for the Cairo Opera in Egypt which was recorded for Egyptian television. Opera roles include Die Feldmarschallin in Der Rosenkavalier. The Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw, and the role of Sian in development workshops of James McMillan’s opera The Sacrifice which was commissioned for Welsh National Opera.

Dr. Hanig holds degrees from The University of Colorado, and The University of Illinois as well as a Post Graduate Diploma from The Royal Academy of Music in London where she was awarded the Diploma of the Royal Academy for distinction in performance. Prior to her appointment as Assistant Professor of music at the University of Portland, she served on the voice, music theater and opera faculty at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois where she taught classical and music theater majors. In addition to heading the voice department at University of Portland, Dr. Hanig is an artist faculty member at Music in the Marche, an Italian opera training program in Mondvaio, Italy.

Rebekah Hanson

Assistant Professor, Director of Orchestral Activities, Music History
hansonr@up.edu

Rebekah Hanson is an Assistant Professor of Music and Fine Arts and Director of Orchestral Studies. As a conductor, violist and musicologist, Rebekah is especially interested in compositions by female and marginalized composers and strives to bring these lesser known works to new audiences.
With a passion for teaching, Rebekah emphasizes the collaboration and community engagement that music can inspire. Her goal as a conductor, teacher, and chamber musician is to help students and audiences understand both the technical work that goes into a performance, and also the sense of awe and wonder that music brings to our lives.Rebekah is the President of the Oregon Suzuki Association and President-Elect of the Oregon String Teachers Association. She has spoken at the ASTA, SAA and NAfME Conferences, as well as serving as a guest clinician for orchestras and festivals throughout Oregon and Washington. In addition to playing music, Rebekah loves reading, board games, and hiking with her wife and dog.


Education:

Doctor of Arts, University of Oregon
Master of Music, University of Oregon
Bachelor of Arts and Science, George Fox University

Hal Logan

Adjunct Professor, Music Technology
loganh@up.edu

Hal Logan is a composer, sound designer and studio owner, and a professor of Music Technology at the University of Portland. He has been involved in the Portland theater scene for about 11 years, and has worked with most of the professional theaters in town. He lives in Portland with his wife, actor and University of Portland professor, Mindi Logan.

Hal Logan has provided professional set drumming and percussion work in bands and performance groups across a wide variety of genres. He has performed and arranged professional vocal solo and ensemble works, and he has created a vast repertoire of original compositions, songs and advertising music.

Hal Logan received a Bachelor’s of Music in vocal education, and a Master’s of Music in Composition from the Lionel Hampton School of Music, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho.

Sarah Maines

Adjunct Professor, Voice
maines@up.edu

Mezzo-soprano Sarah Maines is a versatile performer experienced in musical theatre, classical, and choral styles. As an active singing voice specialist, she also administers voice rehabilitation to injured singers referred by Portland laryngologists. Dr. Maines is the Cascade National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions Co-Chair and President-Elect. Dr. Maines is a member of the Portland Opera Chorus, voice faculty at the University of Portland, and serves as Past President of the Cascade Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.She holds a BA in music from Berea College as well as MM and DMA degrees in voice pedagogy from Shenandoah Conservatory.

Hailed as a “natural, most charming” performer, mezzo-soprano Sarah Maines’ favorite roles include Margaret in The Light in the Piazza, Claudia in Nine and Maurya in Riders to the Sea.   She lives in Portland with Jasper, her faithful four-legged hiking companion.

Susan McDaniel

Lecturer, Collaborative Piano, Staff Accompanist
mcdaniel@up.edu

Susan McDaniel has appeared widely as a solo and collaborative pianist, including regional and national concert tours as well as appearances in France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. She studied piano performance with Jill Timmons and vocal accompanying with Warren Jones, and afterwards worked as a member of the music staff at Seattle Opera and Utah Festival Opera. Since returning to her home state of Oregon, Susan has maintained an active performing career as a member of the Northwest Piano Trio and Northwest Art Song, and was the resident pianist of All Classical Portland’s live-performance radio show, Thursdays at Three. She was previously a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Portland and Linfield College, and spent five seasons as the head opera coach at the Atlantic Music Festival in Waterville, Maine. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cultivating her vegetable garden, cooking, and knitting.

Education:

Master of Music, Manhattan School of Music
Bachelor of Arts, Linfield College

Patrick Murphy

Associate Professor, Chair of Department of Performing and Fine Arts, Director of Bands, Conducting, Music Education, Music Theory
murphyp@up.edu

Dr. Patrick Murphy is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Portland. He has presented sessions at regional, national, and international conferences in both the United States and Europe. His primary research focuses on Soviet wind band music, about which he is consulted by conductors and researchers worldwide. He has twice traveled to Moscow to conduct research and teach conducting at the Russian Academy of Music. Recent scholarly presentations relate to music in the Japanese American incarceration camps of World War II and the practical use of Set Theory in tonal analysis.

Dr. Murphy’s degrees include a Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from the University of Arizona, an M.A. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, and a B.M. from Washington State University, also in Music Education. Locally, he is conductor of the Southwest Washington Wind Symphony and the Portland Community Wind Band, in addition to being an active adjudicator and clinician.

Education:

Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting, University of Arizona
Master of Arts in Music Education, University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Washington State University

Donnie Norton

Assistant Professor, Director of Jazz Studies, Saxophone, Music History
nortond@up.edu 

Don Norton is an assistant professor of music and director of jazz studies at the University of Portland. As a saxophonist, he has performed extensively in a variety of styles that include jazz, classical, world music, and musical theatre, and he has performed throughout the United States and abroad, including a tour of Costa Rica with world music group Panoramic. His research interests include jazz history and pedagogical methods for jazz and saxophone performance, and he has presented research at conferences of the Jazz Education Network and the North American Saxophone Alliance.

Don previously taught at Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota State University-Mankato, Spoon River College, and Laramie County Community College, and he served as a graduate assistant in the Jazz Studies Department at the University of Northern Colorado. Additionally, he has taught at the Northern Illinois University Community School of the Arts, as well as the summer jazz camps of Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, and the Birch Creek Music Performance Center. He is also a clinician with the Vandoren Regional Artist program.  More information can be found at www.donniesax.com.

Don holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado, the New England Conservatory of Music, and Northern Illinois University. Outside of music, his interests include running, reading, watching sports and other television shows, and hanging out with his dog, Buddy.

Education:

Doctor of Arts, University of Northern Colorado
Master of Music, New England Conservatory of Music
Bachelor of Music, Northern Illinois University

Michael Prendergast

Adjunct Professor, Sacred Music History
prenderg@up.edu

A native of the diocese of Helena, Montana, Michael served as the cathedral musician at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo, North Dakota. Before coming to Portland in the fall of 2000, he was director of the Office of Worship and Christian Initiation for the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings in Eastern Montana.

Michael has given workshops on liturgy and music in the United States, Canada and Germany. He has been a presenter for the National Pastoral Musicians Association (NPM), the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC), the Southwest Liturgical Conference (SWLC) and several diocesan and archdiocesan convocations.

Michael is the editor of the Pastoral Press books Full, Conscious and Active Participation and Voices from the Council. Michael is also the co-author of Parish Liturgy Basics, Revised Edition and Music in the Liturgy for Small Parishes. He is a former liturgy specialist for OCP and editor of Today's Liturgy.

Michael has written on topics related to music and liturgy in Pastoral Music, Rite and Church. He holds a master's in theological studies from Mount Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, Oregon, and a master's in liturgical studies from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Michael is a member of the board of directors of Partners in Preaching, a national ministry of consultation, training and formation for the church's ministry of liturgical preaching.

Jennifer Wanner

Adjunct Professor, Music Theory, Aural Skills
wanner@up.edu

Jennifer is an adjunct professor at University of Portland where she teaches aural skills. Her passion is working with her students to help them develop a deeper appreciation for music as they understand its complexities. In addition to her duties at University of Portland, she is also an adjunct professor at Multnomah University where she teaches music theory, aural skills, and piano class.

 Jennifer received a B. S. in piano performance from Western Baptist College (now Corban University), a M. A. in music from Houghton College in upstate New York, and a Ph. D. in music theory and history from University of Connecticut. She began teaching as a graduate student in 2007 at UConn, and after returning to Oregon has been an adjunct professor at Chemeketa Community College, Marylhurst University, Concordia University, and Corban University.

Outside of teaching, her other interests include fishing, disc golf, hiking, bicycling, reading, watching TV, and playing video games.