The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music welcomed two new faculty leaders in music education this academic year, signaling a new era within a highly successful academic program that has produced hundreds of outstanding graduates.
EMMETT O’LEARY: LEADING THE NEXT CHAPTER IN MUSIC EDUCATION
Emmett O’Leary, associate professor of music education, serves as the new music education area coordinator within the College. The role was previously held by Professor David Royse, who retired last year after two decades of dedicated leadership.
“This program has been in great hands, and I am very thankful for the work that David did during his tenure. It’s exciting to join a program with such a strong foundation and continue building upon that momentum,” O’Leary said. “I knew the quality of the program here and often ran into UT alumni at conferences who spoke so highly of their experience. I’d visited UT before, attended football games, and heard the Pride play. When the opportunity arose to join the community, I was thrilled to apply. I’m so grateful to be here.”
Before moving to Rocky Top this past summer, O’Leary served on the faculty of the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech and previously as an associate professor of music education at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam.
A band kid at heart with a background in low brass, O’Leary credits his high school experience for sparking his lifelong passion. He began his career as a public school band director before transitioning to higher education.
“I had the good fortune of being in a great music program in high school, and it showed me early on how quality music instruction can impact a student’s life,” he said. “I still see the world through the lens of a marching band. It was in that setting that I discovered my passion for working with students who wanted to become future teachers.”
O’Leary hopes to instill that same passion for music education in others and inspire more people across the state to pursue the field. One of his goals at UT is to show how teaching music can be an incredibly joyful and rewarding career, and that UT’s program provides one of the best paths to becoming a music educator.
“Our program offers an incredibly comprehensive and supportive path to enter this field. The more graduates we produce,the more influence we have on music in the state,” he said. “UT is an incredible place to be a current or future music teacher. The students want to be here, their energy is contagious, and they work so hard. It’s a privilege to work with such a kind, focused group of students and faculty. It’s just a thrill.”
ANGELA AMMERMAN: EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRING EDUCATION IN TENNESSEE
Angela Ammerman, teaching associate professor of music education, joins the College as UT’s first professor for string music education: a new role created to help meet the state’s significant need for string educators.
Referred to by The Washington Post as a “music teacher prodigy,” Ammerman has devoted much of her career to expanding access to quality music education for children of all backgrounds. She is in high demand as a clinician and guest conductor, having led All-State Orchestras in Georgia, California, Utah, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Ammerman has authored multiple books in The Music Teacher’s Guide series, including The Music Teacher’s Guide to Engaging English Language Learners and The Music Teacher’s Guide to Recruitment and Retention. Her third book, The Music Teacher’s Guide to General Music, was recently published. She brings many of these ideas to life in short-form, high-impact video content on her viral Instagram page for educators, @musicteachersguide.
Ammerman’s teaching roots run deep. Her mother was a piano teacher, and her earliest memories with music were spent at the keyboard. As a young girl, she would line up her dolls to “teach” them how to sing, complete with handmade worksheets and pretend grading. Her middle school music teacher later helped her realize that teaching was her true calling.
“I remember telling my teacher I was worried I couldn’t afford private lessons,” Ammerman recalled. “She said something that changed my life: ‘You don’t want to perform music – you want to teach it.’ She encouraged me to start offering my own lessons out of my home for $5 an hour. From a very early age, I loved teaching. My parents and my teachers along the way were my biggest supporters.”
In her new position at UT, Ammerman hopes to play that same formative role for students: helping them discover a love for teaching, particularly in the orchestral realm. Because there are so few string teachers in Tennessee, many schools lack orchestral programs entirely. She hopes to change that.
“I’ve already visited five schools, and I plan to visit many more,” Ammerman said. “I want to celebrate the incredible work already happening and help build even more access to string education. The fact that the state’s flagship university created this position shows real commitment to growing this area of music education in Tennessee.”
The addition of O’Leary and Ammerman reflects the College’s ongoing investment in growing its nationally recognized music education program. Through their teaching, mentorship, and statewide engagement, UT continues to strengthen its impact on music learning and teacher development across Tennessee’s schools and communities.
