Langston University

Dr. Jonathon Allen is a passionate leader and accomplished educator in the field of music, currently serving as the Chair of the Department of Music and Assistant Director of Bands at Langston University. Since joining the faculty, Dr. Allen has played a pivotal role in enhancing the music department’s programs, with a focus on fostering academic excellence, artistic development, and student success.

With a deep commitment to providing students with diverse musical opportunities, Dr. Allen has worked to strengthen the instrumental music offerings, ensuring that students are equipped with the skills and experiences necessary for success both in the classroom and in the professional world. His leadership extends to various musical ensembles, where he emphasizes collaboration, skill development, and performance excellence.

Dr. Allen’s dedication to mentorship has resulted in significant growth for his students, many of whom have gone on to achieve success in various areas of music. Under his guidance, students are encouraged to hone their craft, engage in meaningful musical experiences, and develop a strong sense of discipline and professionalism.

With a focus on creating a supportive and dynamic environment for musical exploration, Dr. Allen continues to shape the future of Langston University’s music department, helping students to thrive and succeed in their academic and musical careers.

Mezzo-Soprano Bailey Bovenschen is a passionate vocalist with a love of bringing characters to life through music. She has performed as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family Musical, La Vecchia in Gianni Schicchi, and The Witch in Into the Woods. Bailey has also recently competed in the International Léopold Bellan Competition in Paris, France, where she received first place for her performance of “Mein Herr,” from Cabaret.

Her teaching philosophy highlights finding what makes a singer’s voice unique in an ever-changing industry. Once a singer discovers who they are, then they will find success.

Bailey holds degrees from Oklahoma City University with a BM in Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance, and a Master’s in Vocal Performance at Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Chukwuebuka Gabriel Ezeakacha is a Nigerian-American choral artist: a creative conductor, composer, vocalist, and educator. His performance experience spans over two decades across a wide range of styles and genres. Throughout his musicianship, he has conducted works by notable composers such as Josquin des Prez, Palestrina, William Byrd, Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, and Schubert, as well as contemporary composers such as Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre, Z. Randall Stroope, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Daniel Elder, George Walker, Moses Hogan, and Andre J. Thomas.

Dr. Ezeakacha’s academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria, a Master of Science degree in Communication from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Oklahoma, and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting (Choral), also from the University of Oklahoma. His interdisciplinary vitae has allowed him to function in several capacities as a choral clinician and adjudicator, music consultant, and concert facilitator in Nigeria, West Africa, and internationally.

Dr. Ezeakacha studied choral conducting briefly with Dr. William Plummer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and extensively with Dr. David Howard and Prof. Richard Zielinski at the University of Oklahoma. He also studied instrumental conducting with Dr. Shanti Simon and has taken voice lessons with Prof. Shawn Roy (UL Lafayette) and Dr. Joel Burcham (OU Norman). Dr. Ezeakacha’s growth as a conductor is further strengthened by his choral internship experience with Dr. Lee Cooke and conducting masterclasses with Prof. Jerry McCoy (choral) and Dr. Frank Ticheli (instrumental). His conducting style is characterized by precision, passion, and a deep understanding of the music, aiming for audience edification and entertainment.

As a composer, Dr. Ezeakacha specializes in English and indigenous sacred and folk music, drawing inspiration from his native Igbo culture and other sub-Saharan African traditions. Applying his cultural background to choral music education, his doctoral research focused on diasporic best practices for the performance of African choral music. Before his appointment at Langston University, Dr. Ezeakacha served as Choir Director at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Oklahoma City from August 2022 to December 2024. Dr. Ezeakacha is a freelance music instrumental synthesizer/producer, voice-over artist, and video editor/producer, and he enjoys quality family time with his wife, Amaka, and his two sons, Odiraa and Sinobi.

Mark Giammario joined the music faculty at Langston University as a percussion instructor. He holds a Master of Music with Honors from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies from the University of Oklahoma.

Mr. Giammario has a robust teaching background, having taught percussion, music theory, and directed the student jazz band at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), where he also arranges and composes for the ensemble. He has also taught courses in Music Appreciation and World Music at OCCC. In addition to his role at OCCC, Mr. Giammario taught individual percussion and directed the student jazz band at Rose State College. He has also worked as a percussion instructor and jazz band director at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.

Mr. Giammario’s performance experience includes an extensive period of study and performance in New York City, where he worked with leading Afro-Caribbean musicians and percussionists. His musical focus during this time included Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Trinidadian music, as well as Greek and Russian rhythms. He also has foundational knowledge of Arabic music and rhythms.

He began his formal studies in applied percussion at the University of Miami. As a teenager, Mr. Giammario was a member of both the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra (New Jersey) and the Bucks County Youth Orchestra (Pennsylvania), performing for several seasons with each group.

In addition to his academic and performance roles, Mr. Giammario has been the house drummer for a jazz trio at Hefner Grill in Oklahoma City, performing regularly on Friday and Saturday evenings as well as during Sunday brunch.

Mark Gordon has been the Director of Bands at Langston University since 2018 and he has grown the band to 275 students. Before that, he had more than 20 years of experience directing bands at the high school and collegiate levels.

Mr. Gordon earned a bachelor’s degree in applied music in 1996 from Prairie View A&M University. He went on to earn a master’s degree in divinity theological studies in 2007 from St. Agnus Georgian School and a master’s degree in music composition from Texas Southern University in 2014.

He began his career at M.B. Smiley High School in Houston, Texas, in 1996. There, Mr. Gordon built the band up to nearly 400 students. After 10 years with Smiley High School, Mr. Gordon returned to his alma mater, Prairie View A&M University, to serve as the assistant director of bands for another 10 years. He then served as the director of bands at Charles H. Milby High School in Houston, Texas, before moving to Oklahoma to take up his current post at Langston University.

Throughout his career, Mr. Gordon has remained involved with the surrounding communities at each of his respective schools through band and choir performances, youth outreach, and involvement at church.

Lisa M. Hoel currently serves as an adjunct professor in woodwinds and piano accompanist. She teaches courses such as Woodwind Techniques, Music Fundamentals, and Applied Woodwinds, covering flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone.

Mrs. Hoel earned a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) from the University of Central Oklahoma, with an emphasis in flute and piano pedagogy. She continued her education at UCO, receiving certifications in organ and clarinet through the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA). She later completed a Master’s Degree (M.A.) in Collaborative Piano and Woodwind Pedagogy from UCO.

An accomplished performer, Mrs. Hoel has a diverse background in music theater as a woodwind doubler and lead keyboard accompanist. She has played flute, clarinet, oboe, and various whistles in productions at the Pollard Theatre, Guthrie High School, Poteet Theatre, Jewel Box Theatre, Oklahoma State University, and Oklahoma Christian University. Some of the major productions she has contributed to include My Fair Lady, The Fantasticks, The King and I, Into the Woods, The Music Man, Funny Girl, and Guys and Dolls, among many others.

Beyond her teaching roles at Langston, Mrs. Hoel is deeply involved in the local music community. She operates an independent music studio and teaches for the Guthrie Public Schools Band Program. She frequently accompanies students for solo events and concerts across the region, including providing accompaniment for Leah Galloway in 2023 during her winning performance at the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s Chamber Competition.

Mrs. Hoel is a long-time member of the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA), where she has served in various roles, including Parliamentarian, Audition Committee member, Music Theory test writer, and Adjudicator. She is also an active member of the National Association for Music Educators, the National Flute Association, and the Oklahoma Flute Society, where she has held the position of Vice-President and currently serves as Historian. In the Spring of 2025, she will honor her late flute teacher, Ms. Feodora Steward, through a special recognition at the Oklahoma Flute Society’s Piccolo Project during the Flute Fair.

Meichen Hou Hughbanks, M.M., is an accomplished pianist and educator currently serving as a full-time piano instructor and accompanist at Langston University. She has built a distinguished career as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and teacher, earning recognition both in China and the United States.

Born and raised in China, Meichen began playing the piano at the age of four and has been performing on stage since the age of six. Her impressive achievements include winning 1st prize at the 2015 Hong Kong International Piano Invitation Competition and the 2015 International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival in the China Division. Additionally, she was the alternative winner of the 2016 Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA) Collegiate Piano Competition and received third prize in the 2016 Young Artist Performance Competition in Oklahoma.

Meichen is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (OMTA), and the Central Oklahoma Music Teachers Association (COMTA), where she has been a member since 2016. She also joined the Oklahoma City Pianist Club in 2023.

She holds a Bachelor of Management in Accounting from Zhengzhou University of Light Industry in China and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Through her dynamic teaching and performance career, Meichen Hou Hughbanks continues to inspire and cultivate a love of music in her students and audiences alike.

Clifton M. Love III is a dedicated music educator and percussion specialist based in Oklahoma. Originally from Houston, Texas, he has spent the past five years contributing to the field of music education in Oklahoma. An alumnus of Langston University, Mr. Love earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and has been a valued faculty member at Langston for the past five years. In addition to his role as a percussion specialist, he serves as the Drumline Coordinator for the Langston University Marching Pride Band, where he shares his expertise and passion for music with the next generation of musicians.

Beyond the classroom, Mr. Love is actively involved in the broader music education community. He regularly adjudicates band performances, attends industry events, and stays up-to-date with the latest trends and methodologies in music education.

Originally from Springdale, Arkansas, Jason Potts is an active teacher and performer in Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. He joined the Langston University faculty in 2024 as an adjunct instructor of trombone and euphonium. Jason earned his bachelor’s in music performance from Ouachita Baptist University, where he won the McBeth Concerto Competition in 2015 and 16, and led the school’s jazz combo and brass quintet. Jason earned his master’s in music performance as a teaching assistant at Oklahoma State University. During his time there he placed in or won multiple national and international competitions, including the International Women’s Brass Conference, Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Brass, Yamaha/Xeno Tenor Trombone Solo Competition, Hyechka Collegiate Competition, Eastern Music Festival Concerto Competition, and the Oklahoma State University Concerto Competition. Since 2018 Jason has performed with multiple professional orchestras, including the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Opera, and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. He has also played with other local ensembles such as the Oklahoma City Winds and the national award-winning Frontier Brass Band. After finishing his master’s in 2019, Jason began teaching private lessons in the Oklahoma City area. He currently teaches lessons, gives masterclasses, and leads studio classes and small ensembles for over 40 students in the Deer Creek, Mustang, Yukon, and Casady school systems.

Professor Brandon Stevenson stands as a beacon of musical excellence within the esteemed Langston University Music Department. Since joining in 2021, his youthful enthusiasm and unwavering dedication have propelled him to the forefront of music education. A proud alumnus of Langston University, Professor Stevenson harnesses his alma mater’s legacy to inspire and empower students on their educational journey.

At the core of Professor Stevenson’s pedagogical philosophy lies a profound belief in the intrinsic value of music education. Whether students aspire to pursue a career in music or not, he advocates for a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the musical arts. Through his guidance, students are encouraged to delve into the rich tapestry of music, cultivating a lifelong passion for the subject.

Professor Stevenson’s academic journey culminated in attaining a Master of Music in Music Education from the esteemed University of Central Oklahoma. Armed with this advanced degree, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role, enriching his students’ educational experience.

Throughout his tenure at Langston University, Professor Stevenson’s motivation and dedication have reverberated through the halls of the music department. Each day, he works to nurture the talents of young musicians, fostering their growth and development with unwavering commitment. As a mentor and educator, Professor Stevenson continues to leave an indelible mark on the next generation of musical virtuosos, shaping the future of the discipline with passion and dedication.

Eric Upchurch, M.M., is a distinguished trumpet professor at Langston University, where he imparts his expertise and passion for music to the next generation of musicians. With a diverse career as a performer, Upchurch has worked with an impressive array of artists across a wide range of genres. His performance credits include collaborations with Grammy Award-winning musicians such as Diane Schuur, Kenny Garrett, Grupo Fantasma, and The Temptations, as well as renowned figures like Jon Faddis, James Morrison, and Donny McCaslin.

Upchurch’s extensive performance experience spans prestigious venues and international festivals, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, The Roxy in Los Angeles, the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, and the Antibes Jazz Festival in France. He has also showcased his talents at notable events such as the International Trumpet Guild Conference and the Midwest Clinic.

Through his work as a performer and educator, Eric Upchurch continues to contribute significantly to the world of music, blending technical mastery with a deep appreciation for diverse musical traditions.