Music | Stevenson University
Source: https://www.stevenson.edu/about/arts-cultural-programs/music
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:21
Music | Stevenson University
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Hitting All The Right Notes
Regardless of whether you’re a beginner student or an advanced creative, you’ll easily be able to find a home within the music department at Stevenson. Opportunities to perform are consistent and year-round, ranging from classical concerts in the Inscape Theatre to energetic performances in the Mustang Stadium. Students are eligible to receive at least two SEE Fine Arts credits per class; for more information, please address inquiries to
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Coming Soon: The Berman Family Performing Arts Center
Construction of Stevenson University’s 38,000-square-foot Sandra and Malcolm Berman Family Performing Arts Center will begin in 2024.
Learn more
.
Music Opportunities at Stevenson
Greenspring Valley Orchestra
The Greenspring Valley Orchestra is an advanced classical ensemble. Stevenson students, as well as local musicians, are invited to join. The orchestra is one of the most respected organizations of its type in the Baltimore area and performs one concert per semester. For more information, please contact the orchestra director,
Dr. Harlan Parker
.
Harlan D. Parker
Harlan D. Parker has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Greenspring Valley Orchestra in the summer of 2017. He is also the Conductor of the Peabody Wind Ensemble and Coordinator of the Music Education Division at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University since the fall of 1990.
As well as his duties at Stevenson University Dr. Parker has a very active musical life outside of the Institute. He is a Past-President of The International Conductors Guild, an international service organization dedicated to encouraging and promoting the highest standards in the art and profession of conducting. Dr. Parker is also a member The American Bandmasters Association, an organization has approximately 300 members worldwide and whose membership is by invitation only. The American Bandmasters Association recognizes “outstanding achievement in the field of the concert band and its music.” He is active regionally, nationally and internationally as a guest conductor, conducting pedagogue, clinician, and adjudicator, having worked with professional musicians and students from all 50 states and over 40 countries.
A member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Delta Kappa, Dr. Parker received his Bachelor of Music from Emporia State University and his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting, and Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education with an emphasis in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Kansas. He has also completed post-doctoral work at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York City.
University Singers
The University Singers is a premier vocal ensemble. This co-ed group performs a wide variety of choral music, including Renaissance madrigals, classical works, show tunes, and contemporary popular music. This ensemble holds one concert per semester, while also performing at events like open houses, on-campus events, and at events within the larger Baltimore area. For more information, please contact the choral director,
Jessica Cummings
.
Jessica Cummings
jcummings@stevenson.edu
Jessica Cummings is the Choir Director at Stevenson University, where she conducts the University Singers. In addition to this appointment, she is a Lecturer at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where she teaches undergraduate music education courses in choral conducting and elementary and secondary choral methods.
Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Cummings taught high school choir and elementary and middle school general music for fifteen years in Maryland and Illinois. Her passion for choral music led her to serve as the Associate Choral Director of the Frederick Children’s Chorus, where she directed the acclaimed Chamber Singers. Under her guidance, her choirs performed at the Maryland Music Educator Association Conferences, the PBS special
Celebrate America
, NBC’s
Sounds of the Season
, and many state and national festivals where they received superior ratings. Her students have been selected to sing in All-County Choirs, All-State Choirs, the NAfME All-Eastern Honor Choir and the NAfME All-National Choir.
Mrs. Cummings is a sought-after guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician who has presented professional development sessions in multiple states. She has mentored and supervised student interns at both the Peabody Institute and Towson University. Recognized for her contributions to the field of music education, she was nominated for
Who’s Who Among American Teachers
, and was featured in the 5th annual
Choral Directors of Note
article in the Choral Director Magazine.
An avid soprano soloist, Mrs. Cummings has performed with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society under Tom Hall, the Concert Artists of Baltimore under Edward Polochick, the Chicago Chamber Choir under Timothy Adams, Da Corneto Opera Company (IL), and is in frequent demand as a soprano soloist and section-leader in numerous churches in the Maryland and DC areas. Mrs. Cummings holds a Masters in Music Education from The Florida State University (FL), and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from DePaul University (IL). She is a Past President of the Maryland Choral Educators Association and is a member of ACDA.
Ukulele Ensemble
The Ukulele Ensemble combines Hawaiian history with contemporary music. Performing in one concert per semester, this ensemble is a fun and engaging way for all students to learn more about the ukulele. For more information, please contact the ensemble director,
Terri Iacarino
.
Terri Iacarino
tiacarino@stevenson.edu
Theresa (Terri) has been teaching elementary vocal music in Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) since August 2005. She holds two degrees from Towson University including a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (2005) and a Master of Science in Music Education (2012). She earned a second master’s degree in School Leadership and Administration from Goucher College in 2018. She has led various professional development sessions for the BCPS Office of Performing Arts, Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA), Towson University, and surrounding Maryland school districts. Terri has written elementary vocal music curriculum for Baltimore County Public Schools and arts-integrated curriculum for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Midweek Concert Series. In 2018, she was awarded the Beacon Scholarship from the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement (ACEMM) in which she hosted schoolwide drum circles. Terri was named Joppa View Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year nominee for the 2019-2020 school year. In 2020, she was awarded as one of the MMEA Outstanding Music Educators. Currently, she teaches at Cromwell Valley Elementary Magnet School in Towson, MD. She earned the distinguished National Board-Certified Teacher (NBCT) title in January 2022. Terri is also an adjunct professor teaching ukulele ensemble at Stevenson University.
Marching Band
The Stevenson University Marching Band is a contemporary style university marching band. Membership is open to all Stevenson University students, including non-music majors. The band uses standard woodwind, brass and percussion instruments and synthesizers, guitars, dance and color guard. The main requirement to join the SU Marching Band is a strong desire to be part of an energized university marching band! For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Pep Band
The Stevenson University Pep Band performs for the Stevenson University Men’s and Women’s basketball games. The Pep Band is cherished by fans for its spirit, support for the teams, and entertainment at games. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Concert Band
The Stevenson University Concert Band, directed by Mark Lortz, Ph.D., is comprised of non-music major students and community members. The Concert Band performs one formal concert in the spring semester. The ensemble meets one day per week, totaling two hours of rehearsal. Repertory performed includes standard wind literature and pieces to broaden musical expectations of its members. This program gives its participants the opportunity to explore different genres of music and welcomes players of all levels to join. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Drum Line and Front Ensemble
This audition-based class offered in the spring encourages percussionists to hone their skills and become a part of a premier corps-style ensemble. The group performs at one concert during the spring, but are also visible around campus at student events and open houses, along with other members of the band. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Visuals: Color Guard & Dance
The music department houses more than instrumentalists and vocalists; we also welcome dancers and color guard performers! The visual aspect has a major impact on show performances. Training classes are offered during the spring for both color guard and dance in preparation for the fall season. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Music Technology
For those not performing in our instrumental programs, music technology classes are also available. Taught by Professor Mark Lortz, these courses offer insight into how today’s music is produced. Through the use of state of the art music notation and editing software, students can create, edit, and produce original music. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Earn a Music Minor
Scholarship Opportunities
Earn a Music Minor
Stevenson’s music minor combines performance with academic excellence, inviting students to take additional classes such as Music Technology and Music History. Students who complete this minor will graduate as a well-rounded musician and a balanced student.
View Music Courses
Scholarship Opportunities
Stevenson University now offers Marching Band, Color Guard, and Dance Line Scholarships. Students will need to submit a
Marching Band, Color Guard, and Dance Line Scholarship application
and participate in a virtual interview with Mark Lortz Ph.D., Director of Music and Bands. To sign up for a virtual interview, please contact Dr. Lortz at mlortz@stevenson.edu.
Recipients of the Marching Band, Color Guard, or Dance Line Scholarships are expected to participate in their respective program for all four years. Awards are in the amount of $1,300/year (Marching Band) and $650/year; fall semester only (Color Guard and Dance Line). Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion students are expected to participate in both the Fall Semester Marching Band and Spring Semester Pep/Concert Band. Awards are renewable for four years of attendance. Incoming freshmen and transfer students are eligible to apply. Recipients are required to attend all performances, class rehearsals, and an on-site August Band Camp.
Learn more about our Marching Band, Color Guard, and Dance Line Programs
Meet Our Students & Alumni
Hitting the Right Notes
Emma Cathy Smith
Business Communication / Music Minor
“Music is a major part of my life, and I’m thankful that Stevenson has given me the opportunity to stay involved through college.”
Read Emma’s Story
Have a Question?
For Music Inquiries
Mark Lortz
Director of Music & Assistant Professor
443-334-2124
Email
Facebook
Instagram
Stevenson Bands
Request Info
Visit
Apply
Skip to content
Stevenson Music
Arts Alive! Menu
Home
/
About Stevenson
/
Arts & Cultural Programs
/
Music
Hitting All The Right Notes
Regardless of whether you’re a beginner student or an advanced creative, you’ll easily be able to find a home within the music department at Stevenson. Opportunities to perform are consistent and year-round, ranging from classical concerts in the Inscape Theatre to energetic performances in the Mustang Stadium. Students are eligible to receive at least two SEE Fine Arts credits per class; for more information, please address inquiries to
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Coming Soon: The Berman Family Performing Arts Center
Construction of Stevenson University’s 38,000-square-foot Sandra and Malcolm Berman Family Performing Arts Center will begin in 2024.
Learn more
.
Music Opportunities at Stevenson
Greenspring Valley Orchestra
The Greenspring Valley Orchestra is an advanced classical ensemble. Stevenson students, as well as local musicians, are invited to join. The orchestra is one of the most respected organizations of its type in the Baltimore area and performs one concert per semester. For more information, please contact the orchestra director,
Dr. Harlan Parker
.
Harlan D. Parker
Harlan D. Parker has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Greenspring Valley Orchestra in the summer of 2017. He is also the Conductor of the Peabody Wind Ensemble and Coordinator of the Music Education Division at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University since the fall of 1990.
As well as his duties at Stevenson University Dr. Parker has a very active musical life outside of the Institute. He is a Past-President of The International Conductors Guild, an international service organization dedicated to encouraging and promoting the highest standards in the art and profession of conducting. Dr. Parker is also a member The American Bandmasters Association, an organization has approximately 300 members worldwide and whose membership is by invitation only. The American Bandmasters Association recognizes “outstanding achievement in the field of the concert band and its music.” He is active regionally, nationally and internationally as a guest conductor, conducting pedagogue, clinician, and adjudicator, having worked with professional musicians and students from all 50 states and over 40 countries.
A member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, and Phi Delta Kappa, Dr. Parker received his Bachelor of Music from Emporia State University and his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting, and Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education with an emphasis in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Kansas. He has also completed post-doctoral work at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York City.
University Singers
The University Singers is a premier vocal ensemble. This co-ed group performs a wide variety of choral music, including Renaissance madrigals, classical works, show tunes, and contemporary popular music. This ensemble holds one concert per semester, while also performing at events like open houses, on-campus events, and at events within the larger Baltimore area. For more information, please contact the choral director,
Jessica Cummings
.
Jessica Cummings
jcummings@stevenson.edu
Jessica Cummings is the Choir Director at Stevenson University, where she conducts the University Singers. In addition to this appointment, she is a Lecturer at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where she teaches undergraduate music education courses in choral conducting and elementary and secondary choral methods.
Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Cummings taught high school choir and elementary and middle school general music for fifteen years in Maryland and Illinois. Her passion for choral music led her to serve as the Associate Choral Director of the Frederick Children’s Chorus, where she directed the acclaimed Chamber Singers. Under her guidance, her choirs performed at the Maryland Music Educator Association Conferences, the PBS special
Celebrate America
, NBC’s
Sounds of the Season
, and many state and national festivals where they received superior ratings. Her students have been selected to sing in All-County Choirs, All-State Choirs, the NAfME All-Eastern Honor Choir and the NAfME All-National Choir.
Mrs. Cummings is a sought-after guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician who has presented professional development sessions in multiple states. She has mentored and supervised student interns at both the Peabody Institute and Towson University. Recognized for her contributions to the field of music education, she was nominated for
Who’s Who Among American Teachers
, and was featured in the 5th annual
Choral Directors of Note
article in the Choral Director Magazine.
An avid soprano soloist, Mrs. Cummings has performed with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society under Tom Hall, the Concert Artists of Baltimore under Edward Polochick, the Chicago Chamber Choir under Timothy Adams, Da Corneto Opera Company (IL), and is in frequent demand as a soprano soloist and section-leader in numerous churches in the Maryland and DC areas. Mrs. Cummings holds a Masters in Music Education from The Florida State University (FL), and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from DePaul University (IL). She is a Past President of the Maryland Choral Educators Association and is a member of ACDA.
Ukulele Ensemble
The Ukulele Ensemble combines Hawaiian history with contemporary music. Performing in one concert per semester, this ensemble is a fun and engaging way for all students to learn more about the ukulele. For more information, please contact the ensemble director,
Terri Iacarino
.
Terri Iacarino
tiacarino@stevenson.edu
Theresa (Terri) has been teaching elementary vocal music in Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) since August 2005. She holds two degrees from Towson University including a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (2005) and a Master of Science in Music Education (2012). She earned a second master’s degree in School Leadership and Administration from Goucher College in 2018. She has led various professional development sessions for the BCPS Office of Performing Arts, Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA), Towson University, and surrounding Maryland school districts. Terri has written elementary vocal music curriculum for Baltimore County Public Schools and arts-integrated curriculum for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Midweek Concert Series. In 2018, she was awarded the Beacon Scholarship from the American Center for Elemental Music and Movement (ACEMM) in which she hosted schoolwide drum circles. Terri was named Joppa View Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year nominee for the 2019-2020 school year. In 2020, she was awarded as one of the MMEA Outstanding Music Educators. Currently, she teaches at Cromwell Valley Elementary Magnet School in Towson, MD. She earned the distinguished National Board-Certified Teacher (NBCT) title in January 2022. Terri is also an adjunct professor teaching ukulele ensemble at Stevenson University.
Marching Band
The Stevenson University Marching Band is a contemporary style university marching band. Membership is open to all Stevenson University students, including non-music majors. The band uses standard woodwind, brass and percussion instruments and synthesizers, guitars, dance and color guard. The main requirement to join the SU Marching Band is a strong desire to be part of an energized university marching band! For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Pep Band
The Stevenson University Pep Band performs for the Stevenson University Men’s and Women’s basketball games. The Pep Band is cherished by fans for its spirit, support for the teams, and entertainment at games. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Concert Band
The Stevenson University Concert Band, directed by Mark Lortz, Ph.D., is comprised of non-music major students and community members. The Concert Band performs one formal concert in the spring semester. The ensemble meets one day per week, totaling two hours of rehearsal. Repertory performed includes standard wind literature and pieces to broaden musical expectations of its members. This program gives its participants the opportunity to explore different genres of music and welcomes players of all levels to join. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Drum Line and Front Ensemble
This audition-based class offered in the spring encourages percussionists to hone their skills and become a part of a premier corps-style ensemble. The group performs at one concert during the spring, but are also visible around campus at student events and open houses, along with other members of the band. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Visuals: Color Guard & Dance
The music department houses more than instrumentalists and vocalists; we also welcome dancers and color guard performers! The visual aspect has a major impact on show performances. Training classes are offered during the spring for both color guard and dance in preparation for the fall season. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Music Technology
For those not performing in our instrumental programs, music technology classes are also available. Taught by Professor Mark Lortz, these courses offer insight into how today’s music is produced. Through the use of state of the art music notation and editing software, students can create, edit, and produce original music. For more information, please contact
Mark Lortz Ph.D.
, Director of Music.
Earn a Music Minor
Scholarship Opportunities
Earn a Music Minor
Stevenson’s music minor combines performance with academic excellence, inviting students to take additional classes such as Music Technology and Music History. Students who complete this minor will graduate as a well-rounded musician and a balanced student.
View Music Courses
Scholarship Opportunities
Stevenson University now offers Marching Band, Color Guard, and Dance Line Scholarships. Students will need to submit a
Marching Band, Color Guard, and Dance Line Scholarship application
and participate in a virtual interview with Mark Lortz Ph.D., Director of Music and Bands. To sign up for a virtual interview, please contact Dr. Lortz at mlortz@stevenson.edu.
Recipients of the Marching Band, Color Guard, or Dance Line Scholarships are expected to participate in their respective program for all four years. Awards are in the amount of $1,300/year (Marching Band) and $650/year; fall semester only (Color Guard and Dance Line). Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion students are expected to participate in both the Fall Semester Marching Band and Spring Semester Pep/Concert Band. Awards are renewable for four years of attendance. Incoming freshmen and transfer students are eligible to apply. Recipients are required to attend all performances, class rehearsals, and an on-site August Band Camp.
Learn more about our Marching Band, Color Guard, and Dance Line Programs
Meet Our Students & Alumni
Hitting the Right Notes
Emma Cathy Smith
Business Communication / Music Minor
“Music is a major part of my life, and I’m thankful that Stevenson has given me the opportunity to stay involved through college.”
Read Emma’s Story
Have a Question?
For Music Inquiries
Mark Lortz
Director of Music & Assistant Professor
443-334-2124
Stevenson Bands
Request Info
Visit
Apply