Chowan University is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Mary Hellmann as the new Chair of the Department of Music. Hellmann, an Associate Professor of Music, joins Chowan from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Elizabeth City State University and maintains an active performing schedule as both a soloist and chamber musician.

With Chowan’s motto Faith in your future in mind, Hellmann is excited about molding young musicians into their future careers as composers, conductors and other entertainers.

“Students at Chowan University are provided a unique experience that will develop their musical and spiritual lives. Their education at our institution will provide the foundation for years of continued growth in their respective fields of study,” Hellmann stated. “I am honored to be growing music colleagues who will interact with me professionally for many years.”

With a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Alabama, and two Masters of Music degrees from the University of Illinois in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy, Hellmann will revive the Music Department’s piano program with fresh zeal. Hellmann has experience growing such programs through smart decisions, like receiving a federally-funded grant that obtained her previous department a new 9 foot Concert Grand Steinway Piano, a 6.8 Yamaha Grand Piano, a 15-seat electronic piano lab, and Yamaha T-115 practice room pianos.

Hellmann also has excellent experience in music administration and accreditation as a former co-chair for the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) for her department’s self-study preparations for a 10-year reaccreditation review in 2014. As well as being a member of the NASM organization, Hellmann is also a member of the College Music Society, the Music Teachers National Association, and the National Association for Music Education.

In November of 2015, Hellman showcased her talents on the national arena as a guest artist for the Society of Composers, Inc.’s National Conference’s 50th Anniversary convention in Gainesville, Florida. She also performed at NYC’s International Electroacoustic Music Festival at the Abrons Art Center.

Hellmann has participated in a variety of master classes with some of the most renowned pianists of our time, and has completed additional graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music with Rebecca Penneys and as a student of Menahem Pressler at Indiana University.  Recordings of her performances can be found on itunes.com, amazon.com, and cdbaby.com.

Chowan University is proud to announce Dr. Mary Hellmann as the new Chair of the Department of Music. We look forward to the continued growth of her department, as well as her upcoming performances.