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SHERMAN, TEXAS—Dr. John McGinn, Austin College associate professor of music, will present a Sabbatical Series Lecture, “Spontaneity and Structure: Dancing the Fine Line Between Improvisation and Composition,” in Wright Campus Center, Room 231 on Wednesday, April 5, at 5 p.m. A 4:30 p.m. reception in nearby Johnson Gallery precedes the lecture. Both events, free and open to the public, are presented by the College’s Johnson Center for Faculty Development and Excellence in Teaching.
Dr. McGinn joined the Austin College faculty in 2008 and teaches courses in music theory, composition, and ear training. He received his undergraduate music degree from Harvard University in 1986 and his doctorate in composition from Stanford University in 1999. He served as a lecturer at Stanford from 1999 to 2001 and taught for a number of years at Clark University in Worcester, Maine.
A composer and pianist, has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe and appeared on more than a dozen commercial recordings, including the first two of The Shakespeare Concerts CDs.
The lecture is presented by Austin College’s Robert and Joyce Johnson Center for Faculty Development and Excellence in Teaching, directed by Randi Tanglen, associate professor of English. Within the mission of the center is the encouragement of “bold exploration of intellectual frontiers” and “fostering lively intellectual dialogue within and across academic disciplines.”
The Johnson Center schedules a number of events throughout the year, with presentations by Austin College faculty and guest lecturers.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
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