James Gregory
James Gregory is happy to return to the TU School of Music where he received his bachelor of music in piano performance and looks forward to helping build upon its great history. As a student, Gregory was privileged to be the accompanist for the TU Modern Choir and the rehearsal accompanist for many TU Opera Theatre productions, as well as serving as accompanist for many voice studios. He played as part of the TU Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Band and accompanied undergraduate and graduate vocal and instrumental recitals. He is most proud to have had the honor of performing as a piano soloist with the TU Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the annual Concerto-Aria competition. As one of his accompanying assignments as a student, Gregory was assigned to be the rehearsal and pit pianist for TU’s production for Fiddler on the Roof in 1991, where he fell in love with the art of musical theatre. He went on to work on subsequent musical theatre productions at TU as chorus master and assistant music director, ultimately becoming music director for years of productions at TU as a student, part-time, and finally full-time musical theatre specialist. He has worked with many local and regional theatre companies, including music director for Mr. Burns – A Post-Electric Play for the William Inge Festival in Independence, Kansas, and the on-stage pianist for area productions of the national tour of Jersey Boys.
Machele Dill
Machele Miller Dill is enjoying working more closely with her School of Music colleagues and appreciates the warm welcome they have given her. She has been the musical theatre program director and an applied assistant professor at TU for the past 20 years. She earned a bachelor of science cum laude in chemistry from the University of Arkansas, a master of science in analytical chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, an MFA in acting from the University of Arkansas, a graduate certificate in global arts entrepreneurship from the Global Leaders Program (Harvard/Duke) and is currently working on her MBA at TU. Dill is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and has performed and directed all over the world including Ireland, Scotland and Israel. She serves on many boards including OSAI-Quartz Mountain and as president of Heller Theatre Company. She also serves on the Tulsa Arts Commission. Research interests include Vaudeville, obscure musicals and using music and theatre as ways for communities to connect and heal. Dill has been married to Ed Dill for 24 years and is mom to Beau, a graduate student in sports management at Fort Hays State.