DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT
KEVIN SANDERS
The new director of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music brings a fresh vision to one of the College of Communication and Fine Arts’ most prominent establishments WHEN DR. KEVIN SANDERS TOOK UP HIS NEW ROLE WITH THE RUDI E. SCHEIDT SCHOOL OF MUSIC in mid-2020, he traded in his many previous titles with the school for just one: director.
at once,” said Sanders. “We are growing and enhancing our unique community partnerships, we are in the process of creating a five-year vision for the School to ensure our faculty and students thrive in this decade, and, of course, we are looking forward to the completion of the new Scheidt Family Music Center.”
Sanders, who has been with the University of Memphis since 2008, started as tuba euphonium professor and eventually saw his musical Community partners of the School faculty work shift from of Music include the likes performance-related of Shelby County Schools, “We are at a matters to include more Memphis Symphony administrative functions Orchestra, IRIS Orchestra, unique point such as overseeing the Memphis Music Initiative, in the journey school’s undergraduate Opera Memphis and more. scholarships and of the Rudi “These kinds of relationships graduate assistantships. E. Scheidt are the tide that lifts all Despite the new singular boats,” said Sanders, “and School of Music title, his job remains I think all parties involved as varied as ever. where there are aware of that. We look is a palpable “One of the things I’ve forward to working with come to love about the all of these organizations momentum position of director again in the near future.” of initiatives is the opportunity to And in a city like Memphis, interact with all of the converging finding local talent to work school’s stakeholders,” at once.” with is rarely an issue. said Sanders. “One week will see me talking to “That’s one of the things people about the new music center or that makes us so special,” said meeting with faculty, another week may Sanders. “We’ve got this incredibly be spent visiting with our supporters large and comprehensive music or talking about ways we can better program right inside of a city that’s impact the Memphis community.” anything but a college town. That’s Among Sanders’ chief goals as director are to provide a world-class curriculum deeply instilled in performance, teaching, research, arts advocacy and entrepreneurship, all while encouraging community engagement through strategic partnerships. “We are at a unique point in the journey of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music where there is a palpable momentum of initiatives converging
36 VOICES | UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
become one of the School of Music’s greatest resources in the form of these community partnerships.” Sanders said he also hopes to continue to grow and evolve as a School of Music by introducing new academic programs, as well as examine the curriculum to address the changing landscape students will face after graduation. “In many ways, there are less defined positions you might see in a symphony
