Mark Deakins, Ph.D.

Education

• Ph.D. in Musicology
  The Union Institute, Cincinnati, OH - April 1999
• Master of Music in Choral Conducting
  Kent State University, Kent, OH - August 1988
• Bachelor of Arts in Church Music
  Malone College, Canton, OH - December 1986
• Associate in Music
  Ozark Christian College, Joplin, MO - May 1976

Professional Experience

Dr. Deakins professional experiences, while widely varied, have focused primarily on conducting and church music. As a music minister, he has ministered to churches in Indiana and Ohio building large church music programs. Dr. Deakins is the College/University Chair for District 8 Kentucky Music Educators and servers as the host of the District 8 Festival Choruses and the All-State chorus and string auditions for Eastern Kentucky. He has served the past 15 years as the Church Music Consultant for the Berean Christian Store in Canton, OH selecting choral music to be sold, presenting seasonal music workshops, and hosting the Choral Music Celebration which brings together the top Christian music publishers in America.

Since 1989, he has served as a music educator at Kentucky Christian University building a choral program that has a national reputation for excellence. Among the numerous accomplishments in the choral field, the KCU Concert Choir has performed 5 times in Carnegie Hall - twice under the baton of composer and conductor John Rutter and three times under the baton of Deakins. Dr. Deakins was guest conductor in Carnegie Hall with MidAmerica Productions in a performance of Durufle's Requiem in April, 1999 and Vivaldi's Gloria in April, 2002. In April, 2004 the KCU Concert Choir performed at the International Choral Festival (Corhabana) in Havana, Cuba.

Dr. Deakins has prepared the Concert Choir for performances with The West Virginia Symphony, The Louisville Orchestra, The Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and as back-up vocalists for Judy Collins' Christmas Concert.

Dr. Deakins adjudicates vocal solo, ensemble, and chorus competitions for Kentucky Music Educators Association and has guest conducted festival choirs in West Virginia, Kentucky, Colorado and Ohio.

In additional to his regular teaching and conducting responsibilities on campus Dr. Deakins is the conductor of the East Carter High School Choir in Grayson. The choir took a superior rating in Division III at the Dixie Classic National Choral Competition last spring in Virginia Beach, VA.

Professional Organizations

• Music Educators National Conference
• Kentucky Music Educators Association
• American Choral Directors Association
• Association of Christian College Music Educators

Teaching Responsibilites

• Foundations of Music Theory (MUF 101)
• Vocal Techniques (MUAP 462)
• Conducting (MUF 311)
• Private Conducting (MUAP 313/314)
• Concert Choir (MUEN 401/402)
• Chorale (MUEN 201/202)
• Ars Nova (MUEN 301)
• Theory I (MUTH 111)