Staff
Dr. Christopher Baumgartner - New Horizons Director
Graduate Student Staff
Lane Folds - Concert Band Co-Director
Shelby Swanson - Concert Band Co-Director
Jessica Haley - Jazz Band Director
Undergraduate Student Staff
Dr. Christopher Baumgartner
Associate Professor of Music Education (Instrumental)
Associate Director
Coordinator of Graduate Studies
Email: cbaumgartner@ou.edu
Christopher M. Baumgartner is Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Oklahoma where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education, supervises music student teachers and graduate music education research, and directs the OU New Horizons Band. Dr. Baumgartner also serves as Associate Director and Graduate Coordinator for the School of Music.
Prior to his appointment at OU, Dr. Baumgartner taught music education and bands at Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Missouri. An advocate for new music, he made routine guest conducting appearances with the Mizzou New Music Ensemble at Missouri, collaborating with the late Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steven Stucky and Grammy-nominated composer Anna Clyne. Dr. Baumgartner taught instrumental music in the Kenton (Ohio) Public Schools for four years, directing the high school, middle school, and beginning band programs. He continues to serve as a clinician and adjudicator for school bands of all levels in Oklahoma and beyond.
Keeping an active agenda in music education research, Dr. Baumgartner routinely presents at state, national, and international conferences. His research interests include music student teaching, instrumental music methods and rehearsal techniques, community music, and music teacher mentoring. Dr. Baumgartner is published in Journal of Research in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, International Journal of Music Education, Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education, Visions of Research in Music Education, Music Educators Journal, and various state music journals. His book chapter on music student teaching appears in the Oxford Handbook of Preservice Music Teacher Education in the United States (Oxford University Press, 2020). His solo text Bridging the Gap: Stories for Music Student Teaching Seminar (2023) is published by Conway Publications.
Dr. Baumgartner is a member of the Journal of Music Teacher Education Editorial Review Committee. Recently appointed to the Society for Music Teacher Education Executive Board, he serves as ASPA (Area of Strategic Planning and Action) Coordinator, overseeing the 12 workgroups charged with developing and implementing action plans related to current critical issues in music teacher education. In Oklahoma, he founded the OkMEA Mentorship program, where he designed and initiated a statewide music mentoring program and Beginning Teacher Workshop. Dr. Baumgartner currently serves as President-Elect for the Southwest Division of the National Association for Music Education. He also is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Tau Beta Sigma, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
- PhD (Music Education) - University of Missouri (2012)
- MME (Music Education) - Bowling Green State University (2009)
- BME (Music Education) - Bowling Green State University (2003)
Lane Folds
PhD Instrumental Conducting
Brass Techniques
New Horizons Band - Concert Band Co-Director
Lane A. Folds is a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a PhD in Music Education with an Instrumental Conducting Emphasis. Mr. Folds is in his fourteenth year in education, having taught instrumental music previously as the Director of Bands at Western Heights Public Schools in Oklahoma City, OK, and Assistant Director at Montgomery ISD in Montgomery, TX. His experience ranges from all aspects of marching band in both corps and military march styles, concert bands of varying levels, small ensembles, and beginner and intermediate bands.
This past summer, Mr. Folds was able to participate in the inaugural season of the Oklahoma City Winds, performing two concerts alongside music educators from the Oklahoma City metro area. He also enjoys participating in annual Tuba Christmas performances and is an alumnus of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps (2006-2007).
Mr. Folds earned his Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Music Performance degrees from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and his Master of Music Education from the University of Oklahoma. He is a member of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, Oklahoma Bandmaster’s Association, National Association for Music Education, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Shelby Swanson
PhD Music Education
New Horizons Band - Concert Band Co-Director
Shelby Swanson is currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a PhD in Music Education. An Oklahoma native from Bartlesville, Ms. Swanson attended Oklahoma City University earning her bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education (2015), and Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Arkansas (2020). Most recently, Ms. Swanson served as Assistant Band Director and Colorguard Director for Collinsville Public Schools (OK), where she taught beginning, intermediate, and advanced color guard classes, beginning and middle school bands, music appreciation, and assisted with the various district ensembles. During her time at Collinsville, she also instructed the Varsity and Junior Varsity Winter Guards, and previously marched and taught cymbals with Resistance Indoor Percussion. Ms. Swanson also volunteered as a counselor for the Music For All Summer Symposium at Ball State University (2016-2022) working with the Drum Major Institute and inaugural middle school track.
Ms. Swanson is an avid performer, having recently appeared as a guest oboist with the University of Tulsa Wind Ensemble. She also performs on various instruments with the Tulsa Winds and has performed with the University of Arkansas Bands on oboe and english horn (2019-20). She is a supporter of private lesson activities, serving as an instructor since 2010. Ms. Swanson expanded her studio from primarily oboe to include flute, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone and trombone lessons where she specializes in beginning and intermediate student level instruction.
Jessica Haley
MME Primary Instrument (Clarinet)
Experiencing Music
New Horizons Band - Jazz Band Director
Jessica Haley is pursuing her Master of Music Education degree at the University of Oklahoma. Prior to attending OU, she taught instrumental music for four years at Clear Fork Valley Middle and High School in Bellville, Ohio. Ms. Haley’s responsibilities included conducting the middle school concert bands, co-conducting the “Pride of the Valley” marching band, and assisting with the high school concert and jazz bands. She also led various chamber ensembles at Clear Fork with a focus on community engagement and student growth. Ms. Haley earned her bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Akron in 2017. As a clarinetist, she has performed in the UA Symphonic Band, the “Ohio’s Pride” Marching Band, various chamber ensembles, and the Ashland Community Band.
Caden is a second year Music Education student at the University of Oklahoma from Dallas, Texas. His primary instrument is the Clarinet, but also enjoys learning guitar. While at OU, he has had experience performing with the OU Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and The Pride of Oklahoma, in addition to being a member of the Clarity Clarinet Quartet. Caden is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi band service fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia- where he currently serves as the Fraternity Education Officer, and is also the President of OU's CNAfME chapter. Upon graduation, Caden plans to pursue a graduate degree in Music Education or Clarinet Performance and aspires to teach at the high school or collegiate level. He is excited to begin his journey with the New Horizons Band!
Isabella Garcia is a junior Music Education Major at the University of Oklahoma. She primarily plays horn and has been involved with the OU Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Horn Ensemble, and brass choir. They are also a part of the Collegiate National Association for Music Educators organization at OU. After graduating, they plan to be a music teacher in public schools in the OKC area or Dallas area, where she is from.
Tyler Johnson is a junior Music Education Major at the University of Oklahoma. He is a trombone player from Flower Mound, Texas, and has participated in the OU Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and has been section leader of the Symphonic Band. He is currently the Vice President of Service for the Delta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma. After graduating, he plans to teach middle or high school band in the DFW area.
Erin Kuehn is currently a junior Music Education major at The University of Oklahoma. Her primary instrument is the bassoon. At The University of Oklahoma, Erin has performed as a member of the OU Symphony Orchestra, OU Symphony Band, and the OU Wind Symphony, along with the school's premier bassoon ensemble, The Sooner Bassooners. Erin also marches Saxophone and is a member of the leadership team of The Pride of Oklahoma. Erin is a member of The Audax Reed Quintet, where she has participated in multiple competitions and performed in numerous concerts and recitals over the past two years. She is a member of the Undergraduate Student Council for the School of Music. Erin is also a Social Media Director and a faculty member of The Glickman Popkin Bassoon Camp. After she graduates, she plans on becoming either a middle school or high school Band Director.
