Faculty
Dr. Connor Stevens
Assistant Professor of Music (Percussion)
Office: Catlett Music Center 107D
Dr. Connor Stevens has served on faculties at the University of Arkansas -Fort Smith, the University of Missouri, and the Interlochen Arts Camp.
He performs with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles, including the Fort Smith Symphony, Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, Tulsa Symphony, and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Performances have taken him across the U.S. and abroad, including appearances in China, Mexico, Italy, Spain, and Canada.
As a founding member of Frozen Earth Duo, alongside percussionist Brant Blackard, Connor has performed and presented at several colleges and universities. The duo has also performed and presented at the 2018 Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar, Interlochen Arts Academy, and the 2019 Ontario Day of Percussion.
Connor holds Doctorate and Master's degrees from the Eastman School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida State University. He is an artist/endorser for Malletech instruments and mallets.
Dr. Cory Doran
Instructor of Percussion
OU Bands Percussion Coordinator
Email: Cory.Doran-1@ou.edu
Website: corydoranmusic.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@corydoran2392
Dr. Cory Doran is a multi-faceted and energetic musician in the percussion community. Cory is active as a performer, educator, clinician, arranger, commissioner and adjudicator. He has commissioned and premiered various works for solo and ensemble percussion and continues to work with percussion and non-percussion composers to enhance and develop the percussion repertoire. Cory is also an avid proponent for the evolution of electronics in percussion and the marching arts. He has given multiple electronics clinics and masterclasses across the globe to engage audiences of all experience levels. Dr. Doran is passionate about creating an inclusive community of musicians who enjoy all styles and genres of music and percussion.
Previously, Dr. Doran held the position as Assistant Director of Percussion at Texas A&M University-Commerce from 2017 to 2022 and Interim Professor of Percussion at Kent State University from 2016 to 2017. He has instructed throughout the mid-west and Texas as a front ensemble specialist as well as an orchestral percussion and drum set clinician. As a teacher, he has made a name for himself as a front ensemble instructor for Matrix Indoor Marching Percussion Ensemble (2009- 2017), Front Ensemble Coordinator for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2015- 2022), and Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps (2009-2011).
In tandem with his involvement in education, Cory is a dynamic performer and composer/arranger. He has been a freelance marching percussion music designer for Ferguson Design Solutions and Integrated Effects arranging companies and continues to compose and arrange for marching bands throughout the Midwest and Texas. Cory has been a featured performer and clinician for high school, collegiate and independent groups in Italy, Taiwan, Belgium, Poland and throughout the continental United States. Recently, Cory was a featured clinician and performer at the Varna International Music Festival in Columbia, South Carolina.
Cory Doran completed a DMA in Percussion Performance (2025) at Michigan State University under the direction of Professor Gwendolyn Dease and Dr. Jon Weber. Cory received his Masters degree (2011) in Music Performance from Texas A&M University-Commerce under the instruction of Dr. Brian Zator and his Undergraduate degree (2009) in Music Performance from Youngstown State University under the instruction of Dr. Glenn Schaft.
Cory is a proud endorser of Majestic Percussion, Mapex Drums, Innovative Percussion and Sabian Cymbals.
