Christopher Baumgartner

Christopher M. Baumgartner is Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Oklahoma where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education, supervises music student teachers and graduate music education research, and directs the OU New Horizons Band. Dr. Baumgartner also serves as Associate Director and Graduate Coordinator for the School of Music.

Prior to his appointment at OU, Dr. Baumgartner taught music education and bands at Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Missouri. An advocate for new music, he made routine guest conducting appearances with the Mizzou New Music Ensemble at Missouri, collaborating with the late Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Steven Stucky and Grammy-nominated composer Anna Clyne. Dr. Baumgartner taught instrumental music in the Kenton (Ohio) Public Schools for four years, directing the high school, middle school, and beginning band programs. He continues to serve as a clinician and adjudicator for school bands of all levels in Oklahoma and beyond.

Keeping an active agenda in music education research, Dr. Baumgartner routinely presents at state, national, and international conferences. His research interests include music student teaching, instrumental music methods and rehearsal techniques, community music, and music teacher mentoring. Dr. Baumgartner is published in Journal of Research in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, International Journal of Music Education, Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education, Visions of Research in Music Education, Music Educators Journal, and various state music journals. His book chapter on music student teaching appears in the Oxford Handbook of Preservice Music Teacher Education in the United States (Oxford University Press, 2020). His solo text Bridging the Gap: Stories for Music Student Teaching Seminar (2023) is published by Conway Publications.

Dr. Baumgartner is a member of the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education Editorial Review Committee. As a member of the Society for Music Teacher Education Executive Board, he serves as ASPA (Area of Strategic Planning and Action) Coordinator, overseeing the 12 workgroups charged with developing and implementing action plans related to current critical issues in music teacher education. Dr. Baumgartner currently serves on the National Executive Board of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) as President-Elect for the Southwest Division. In Oklahoma, Dr. Baumgartner founded the OkMEA Mentorship program, where he designed and initiated a statewide music mentoring program and Beginning Teacher Workshop. He also is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Tau Beta Sigma, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.