Dr. Wendy Freeland

Distinguished Professor of Music
Mason Hall 205
(256) 282-5535
wfreeland@jsu.edu 

Dr. Wendy Freeland joined the music faculty of Jacksonville State University in 2002.  As Distinguished Professor of Music she teaches applied piano, class piano, piano ensemble, accompanying and music history for graduate students.  Hailing from West Virginia, she completed her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in piano performance at the University of South Carolina under the tutelage of John Kenneth Adams.  Her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance was earned at Florida Atlantic University where she studied with Heather Coltman and Judith Burganger, and was the first music student to complete both the academic and performance honors programs.  She is the recipient of several performance and scholarship awards, and was named University Scholar by Florida Atlantic University.

Dr. Freeland enjoys performing as soloist and collaborative artist.  Performances in recent years include Carlos Franzetti’s Four Pieces for Virtuosi for the Alabama Music Teachers Association and the National Flute Convention.  With Dr. Melody Ng she performed Rachmaninoff’s Suite for Two Pianos, No. 2, along with other works in Anniston and in Huntsville, AL, and will perform Mozart’s Concerto in E-flat major for Two Pianos with Dr. Ng in the coming year.  Dr. Freeland has performed with instrumentalists, vocalists, and choral groups, and has extensive experience working in opera.  She regularly performs at Jacksonville State University, and has performed in Sweden, Italy, Korea and Serbia.

Understanding music of the twentieth century through a cultural context has been Dr. Freeland’s research interest. Her doctoral dissertation titled "An Examination of the Promenades for Piano by Francis Poulenc" revealed the influences that shaped this composition.  Her desire for the public to understand piano music by considering aspects of art and society led to her presentation and performance of this work at the World Piano Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia in 2011.  Jacksonville State University has granted her the annual "Faculty Research Award" several times in recognition of her performances and presentations.  Her broad perspective of the function of music and love for sharing it makes her an attentive and enthusiastic teacher who has worked with students in West Virginia, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama.

In addition to performing and teaching, Dr. Freeland is active in other musical pursuits.  She actively adjudicates piano competitions and auditions, and enjoys giving master classes and presentations, such as “Technique: A Sound Approach,” to such groups as the Atlanta Music Teachers Association.  Dr. Freeland organizes the annual Foothills Piano Festival on the campus of JSU, coordinates the JSU Music Academy, and is a Past President of the Alabama Music Teachers Association.  She is a member of Phi Kappa Lambda, Sigma Alpha Iota, The American Matthay Association, Music Teachers National Association, and the World Piano Teachers Association.