Maggie Stith was thrilled to join the UM faculty this spring as collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and theory professor. Having worked with student singers and instrumentalists for over 12 years at Baylor University, Auburn University, Belhaven University, and Colorado College, Maggie is passionate about a collaborative approach to making excellent music both on the stage and in lessons and rehearsals. She has also served as a pianist for organizations and events all over the country and internationally, including the Semper Pro Musica competition winner’s recital at Carnegie Hall in NYC, the Texas Two-Year All-State Choir at the TMEA (Texas Music Educators’ Association) National conference in San Antonio, Classic Lyric Arts Italian opera program in Novafeltria, Italy, the Miyoshi International Children’s Music Festival in Japan, NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) competitions in Mississippi, Colorado, Alabama, and Texas, the Pensacola Opera Overture summer camp, and the Baylor University Wind Ensemble performance at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, among many others. Her favorite teaching experience came at African Bible University in Uganda where she directed the music classes and performances for the school, as well as taught English and sports classes. Maggie holds a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Belhaven University, a Master of Music degree in collaborative piano from Baylor University, and she has recently relocated to the Florida panhandle where, along with teaching at UM, she is active as a pianist for Pensacola Opera and Olive Baptist Church.