Staff
Dr. Christopher Baumgartner - New Horizons Director
Graduate Student Staff
Jackson Anderson - 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)
Jackson Anderson
Masters Music Education
New Horizons Band - Jazz Band Director
Jackson Anderson is a dedicated educator and musician, known for his commitment to excellence in music education. He is an accomplished composer, conductor, clinician, and performer. He is also in high demand as a collaborative pianist throughout Oklahoma.
Mr. Anderson has spent the last 8 years as a Band Director, serving as Director of Bands at Garber Public Schools and Associate Director of Bands at Shawnee Public Schools, where his Bands consistently received Superior Ratings in Concert, Sight Reading, and Marching. He previously served as the Worship Arts Director for Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, OK where he oversaw the entire music department, including directing the choir and orchestra.
Mr. Anderson is a graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he received his Bachelor's in Music Education and currently attends the University of Oklahoma pursuing his Master's in Music Education. In addition to his studies, he serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Professional affiliations include OkMEA, OBA, as well as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Sigma Alpha Iota, ASCAP, and the International Percy Grainger Society.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Jackson enjoys traveling and taking pictures of his food. He can also be found performing with the OKC Winds and behind the piano with his band JnJ Dueling Pianos. He lives in Oklahoma City with his wife, Katherine (Katie), who is living out her passion as a Middle School Choir Director.
Mackenzie Caddell is a sophomore 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 coaching tennis lessons. Mackenzie looks forward to beginning her journey with New Horizons this semester!
Caden is a third 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!
From Blanchard, Oklahoma, Isaiah Crawford is in his junior year at the University of Oklahoma as an Instrumental Music Education major. He is a euphonium player studying under Professor Brian Dobbins. Isaiah has performed with the OU Wind Symphony, OU Symphony Band, Frontier Brass Band, the Pride of Oklahoma, and with OU’s internationally competitive tuba-euphonium quartet TubaFour. Additionally, he is an active member within the university’s band service fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi. Isaiah is a private tuba and euphonium instructor at Blanchard and Tuttle and has worked with the Tuttle High School Tiger Pride Marching Band. After college, he plans to become a band director in the Oklahoma area and leave lasting impacts on students with the gift of music.
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.
Dill Pavelschak is currently a junior Music Education major at The University of Oklahoma. His primary instrument is percussion and while at OU he has performed as a member of the Percussion Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, Pride of Oklahoma, and OU Steel Band. He is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, where he currently serves as the Fraternity Music Director. After graduating, he plans to teach instrumental music in the Oklahoma area or pursue a graduate degree in Percussion Performance.
