Staff
Dr. Christopher Baumgartner - New Horizons Director
Graduate Student Staff
Undergraduate Student Staff
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 Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education Editorial Review Committee. As a member of 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. Dr. Baumgartner currently serves on the National Executive Board of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) as President-Elect for the Southwest Division. In Oklahoma, Dr. Baumgartner founded the OkMEA Mentorship program, where he designed and initiated a statewide music mentoring program and Beginning Teacher Workshop. 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)
Diego J. Fuentez is a current Music Education PhD student and Graduate teaching assistant at the University of Oklahoma. A native Oklahoman, Mr. Fuentez received his Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Nevada, Reno (2021) and his Masters of Education-Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2024). Prior to attending OU, Mr. Fuentez taught High School Band, AP Music Theory, and Mariachi in the Clark County School District for four years.
Shelby Swanson is a third year Instrumental Music Education PhD graduate assistant at OU, with an interest in developing, expanding, and sustaining Community Music Organizations. Bringing 5 years as a public school band director, and a wide array of teaching experiences in Arkansas and Oklahoma, Shelby earned a masters degree in instrumental conducting at the University of Arkansas. In addition to her time teaching wind band, Shelby has coached Colorguard and cymbals in Winter Guard and Percussion ensembles in Oklahoma, and worked with and inspired inexperienced musicians from sixth grade through undergraduate studies in Music Appreciation courses. As an oboist, Shelby is an active lessons instructor and most recently enjoyed performing with the Oklahoma City Winds at the Oklahoma Bandmasters' Association Summer Conference. Shelby strives to program music which comes from and speaks to people from all kinds of experiences and backgrounds, and that is enjoyable and engaging to practice, perform, and perceive.
When not doing musical and/or teaching things, Shelby spends as much time as possible outdoors gardening, playing with their dogs (and cat), and spending time with family.
Mackenzie Caddell is a junior studying Instrumental Music Education at the University of Oklahoma, where she specializes in flute and alto saxophone. At OU, she has had the opportunity to perform with a variety of ensembles, including the OU Wind Symphony, Jazz U, multiple chamber groups, and the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band. In addition to her musical pursuits, Mackenzie is an active leader in the OU community. She serves as a project lead for the OU Collegiate chapter of NAfME, is a team member of BreatheOUt—OU's wellness initiative for music students—and is President-Elect of C-OkMEA. Outside of her academic and musical endeavors, Mackenzie enjoys expanding her teaching experience by working as a woodwind specialist for local public schools. Mackenzie looks forward to another great semester with New Horizons Band!
Rebekah Campbell is a Sophomore Music Education Major at the University of Oklahoma, specializing in percussion. While at OU, she has performed with the OU percussion ensemble, Symphony Band, Wind Symphony, Pride of Oklahoma, and the OU Steel Band. She is also a member of the OU percussion Society. Additionally, Rebekah works as a percussion tech at Clinton High School in Oklahoma. After graduating, Rebekah plans on becoming a band director in Oklahoma, specializing in percussion.
Isaiah is a senior music education student at the University of Oklahoma. He teaches tuba and euphonium at Blanchard and Tuttle and assists with the Tuttle High School Marching Band. He is a proud member and section leader of the Pride of Oklahoma. He is an active member of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha. He also plays the OU Wind Symphony, Frontier Brass Band, and the internationally acclaimed tuba-euphonium quartet TubaFour. After graduation, Isaiah plans to teach band and inspire students in the Oklahoma area.
Candice Neel is a Music Education major from Moore, Oklahoma. She has participated in the Pride of Oklahoma, the OU Wind Symphony, OU Trombone Choir, and is in an internationally acclaimed quartet named Tubafour. Additionally, Candice is Solo Euphonium for the Frontier Brass Band, where she has been a featured soloist in national brass band competitions. She has also been a member of Kappa Kappa Psi and CNAFME here at OU. Candice regularly teaches chamber music, private lessons, and works with high school marching bands. When she graduates, Candice wants to pursue a Masters in Euphonium Performance and perform in a military ensemble before going into education.
Dylan Sneed is a senior Music Education student at the University of Oklahoma. As an active saxophonist, Dylan has been a member of the Pride of Oklahoma, the OU Symphony Band, the OU Wind Symphony, and the Lighthouse Quartet, a nationally competing saxophone ensemble. He has performed at multiple national and international conferences and competitions such as the OU Concert Gala, the Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, North American Saxophone Alliance conferences, the MTNA National Chamber Music Competition, and the Plowman Chamber Music Competition. As an advocate for music access to everyone, Dylan serves as Vice Chair of Outreach in the Music Outreach at OU organization where he coordinates events around the state to provide music education and performances to communities that typically lack these opportunities. Through outreach, he has performed and taught at the JD McCarty Center, Oklahoma Children's Hospital, the SunHive Collective, and numerous high schools and middle schools. After graduating, he will teach music in Oklahoma public schools before pursuing graduate degrees in Wind Conducting. Outside of music, Dylan enjoys making pizza and spending time with his cats, Moonshine and Cashew.
