Department of Music Faculty and Staff

Dr. Lauren Whitham has served as the Associate Director of Choral Activities at Western Kentucky University since 2018. She directs the Western Kentucky University Singers and University Treble Chorus, teaches choral methods and materials, supervises student teachers, and teaches the first and second-year aural skills sequence. Under her direction the University Singers were invited to perform at the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) state conference in Louisville, KY in 2020 and 2021, and in 2021 Dr. Whitham was selected as the KMEA Third District University Teacher of the Year. 

Originally from Washington State, Dr. Whitham earned her degrees from Pacific Lutheran University (BME), Western Washington University (MM), and the University of Georgia (DMA). During her time at UGA, Dr. Whitham earned an award for Excellence in University Teaching, in recognition of her work directing choirs and teaching undergraduate aural skills and undergraduate conducting. Additionally, Dr. Whitham received invitations to present her doctoral research, Music Literacy: Using the Choral Public Domain Library to Integrate Sight Singing in the Choral Classroom, at regional conferences in Georgia, Oregon, and Washington in 2018. 

Prior to her appointment at WKU, Dr. Whitham served as the Visiting Associate Director of Choral Activities at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. At PLU, she created a new curriculum for the Choral Methods and Materials sequence designed to improve undergraduate advanced rehearsal skills and knowledge of choral repertoire. She also served on the curriculum development committee that laid the foundation for new graduate degree offerings in music education and music therapy. 

In addition to her university teaching, Dr. Whitham has considerable experience working with students in every level of public school, kindergarten through twelfth grade. Dr. Whitham’s public school choral programs were characterized by improved reputation and spirit for and within the choral ensembles, growing audiences and enrollment numbers, and invitations to perform at state and regional events. Her choirs were invited to perform at NAfME Conferences in Washington State in 2008, 2010, and 2014 and have been recognized at contests and festivals for their superior work. 

As an active member of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO), Dr. Whitham regularly presents interest sessions at state and regional conferences. Previous conference presentations include, Integrating Aural Skills in the Choral Rehearsal, Music Literacy: Using the Choral Public Domain Library to Integrate Sight Singing in the Choral Classroom, Creative Classroom Management: Stop Disciplining and Start Teaching, and Finding the Key to Independent Learning in the Choral Classroom.