Music Department Faculty & Staff

Don Chamberlain, Professor of Music, teaches a range of courses in music theory, composition, jazz improvisation and history, and other areas. He directs Cornell's Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo, and has led the groups on tours to New Orleans, Kansas City, and elsewhere for performances and research.  Dr. Chamberlain is a professional jazz guitarist and composer whose recent scores include two Shakespeare productions and Paula Vogel's A Long Christmas Ride Home. D.M.A in composition and M.M.A. in theory and composition, University of Texas at Austin; B.M. in jazz performance, Berkelee College of Music.

Lisa Hearne, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Music, directs Concert Choir and Chamber Singers and teaches studio voice and related courses.  She has led Cornell's choral ensembles on tours in Europe and the United States. She is also an active soprano soloist and has performed recitals, sung with orchestras, and appeared in shows in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Southwest, and Mid-South. D.M.A. in choral conducting, University of Iowa; Master of Music in vocal performance/pedagogy, Arizona State University; Bachelor of Music in piano and voice, Eastern Illinois University.

Martin Hearne, Professor of Music, directs Cornell College's Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and Steel Drum Ensembles, and has led the groups on tours in Europe and the United States. He teaches courses on conducting and music education. Ph.D., Louisiana State University; B.M.Ed., Northeast Louisiana State University; M.M.Ed., Louisiana State University.

James Martin, Professor of Music, teaches studio piano, as well as courses on Wagner, Mozart and Beethoven, opera, and music history. During Wagner and Wagnerism, he introduces students to historical research at Chicago's Newberry Library as well as to live performances, lectures, museums, etc. Dr. Martin has given close to 200 public piano performances in his career, which include solo recitals, lecture recitals, chamber music performances, and concerto soloist appearances with orchestra. D.Mus., Northwestern University; M.Mus., University of Illinois; B.Mus., Butler University.

Personal Pages 

Jama Stillwell, Assistant Professor of Music, teaches studio flute and a diverse array of music courses. Her recent dissertation also reflects her wide-ranging interests, drawing upon the histories of opera, chamber music, theater, performance practice, and popular culture in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Dr. Stillwell is an active performer on the one-keyed baroque flute, both as a soloist and with the chamber duo Traversi.  Ph.D. in musicology, University of Iowa; M.M. in musicology, Northwestern University; B.M. in flute performance, University of Iowa.

Lynda Hakken, College Organist and Visiting Assistant Professor of Music, teaches Fundamentals of Music, Music Theory I & III, studio organ, and piano. Ms. Hakken is an active solo performer and accompanist, having performed throughout the Midwest. Her recent doctoral research on keyboard harmony resulted in a  beginning method for which she is seeking a publisher.  D.M.A in  organ performance and pedagogy, M.A in organ performance, University of Iowa; B.M. in organ performance, Hope College (Mich.).

Jonathon Thull, Adjunct Professor of Voice, teaches courses in vocal performance and pedagogy, was the founder of Cornell Lyric Theatre and is its current music director. He has performed more than thirty operatic and musical theatre roles including a number of world premieres. Dr. Thull has also served as Chorus Master for the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre as well as directed and designed one-act operas for their Young Artist Program.  Ph.D. in vocal performance and pedagogy and M.M. in choral conducting, University of Minnesota; B.A. in music, College of St. Thomas (Minn.).  Read more

Casey Thomas, low brass instructor at Cornell College and St. Ambrose University in Davenport, is the conductor of the Iowa Brass Choir and the Eastern Iowa Brass Band. He is the former bass trombonist with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band and has performed with the Ottumwa, Muscatine and the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestras. Since 2003, Mr. Thomas has been working towards a doctorate in trombone performance from the University of Iowa.  B.Mus. in  music education, Jacksonville State University (Ala).

Bruce Western, saxophone instructor at Cornell and Kirkwood Colleges, operates a woodwind lesson studio in Cedar Rapids, directs a small church choir, and is a chartered financial consultant. He was a member of the Iowa Saxophone Quartet for 13 years, is currently a member of the River Cities Saxophone Quartet. He has frequently performed with a variety of area ensembles, including orchestras, concert, jazz, polka and circus bands. M.F.A. and B.Mus in saxophone performance, University of Iowa, where he studied with Ronald Tyree.