Indiana State University Newsroom

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Indiana State University music department has its first female chair with the recent appointment of Nancy Cobb Lippens.

Cobb Lippens begins her official duties July 13, coming to Indiana State from Florida Gulf Coast University, where she was the founding director of the music program. She built the Bower School of Music from scratch - writing curriculum, setting policy, fundraising and recruiting faculty, staff and students. Twenty nine students were in her first class of music majors in 2006. Currently, there are 75 music majors with the number rising to 110 when classes begin this fall.

In addition to her administrative experience, she is a prolific composer.

Under her composing name of "Nancy Hill Cobb," she has published numerous compositions with companies such as Hinshaw, Santa Barbara, Alliance, Gentry, Bourne, and Leawood. Her compositions include works for piano, orchestra, band, solo voice, and chorus. Two major works published by Cobb are Threnody, for chorus and orchestra and The Seven Last Words, for chorus and chamber orchestra.

Trained as a composer, Cobb Lippens has solid experience as a conductor, especially choral conducting.

While at Florida Gulf Coast, she conducted the University Choir and Chamber Singers and served as the artistic director and conductor of the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers. Previously, she served as artistic director and conductor of the Stillwater Chamber Singers, conductor of opera theatre at Dallas Baptist and founder and conductor of the Sine Nomine Singers of Shawnee, Okla.

Cobb Lippens hopes to focus on composing while at the helm of the Indiana State music department. She also hopes to spend time in the classroom.

"I really have a passion for music skills courses," she said. "Foundational courses such as these are essential for all who seek to be performers, teachers and other music professionals at any level. They are at the heart of being a good musician."

She's looking forward to working with the students, faculty and staff of a department with a solid reputation.

"Indiana State has a strong, solid music department," Cobb Lippens said. "I was drawn to the faculty. They want only the best for their students. Throughout the department I feel an energy and a desire for excellence."

She holds the Bachelor of Music with honors in theory and composition from Oklahoma Baptist University, the Master of Music in composition from Michigan State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Oklahoma. She also completed post-doctoral studies in choral conducting at the Eastman School of Music.

Prior to her appointment to Indiana State, Cobb Lippens taught at Mercer University, Oklahoma Baptist and Dallas Baptist University.

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Contact and writer: Paula Meyer, ISU Communications & Marketing, (812) 237-3783 or pmeyer4@isugw.indstate.edu