New Conservatory Dean at UMKC

On Tuesday, UMKC officials announced selecting Peter Witte as the new Dean of the Conservatory of Music and Dance.

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, MO – Professor Peter Witte has served as chair of the Department of Music and Director of Instrumental Studies at Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Atlanta since 1999. During Witte's time at KSU, major music enrollment increased by 60 percent and participation in performing ensembles was up by 200 percent. Witte also oversaw the planning and design of $12 million in new music facilities. As a conductor, Witte has experience leading performances in Carnegie Hall with the National Wind Ensemble. He also served as co-founder and co-conductor of the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble and as music director of the Atlanta Wind Symphony. Lawrence Dreyfus, Dean of the School of Biological Sciences at UMKC, led the search committee. According to Dreyfus, "Both the committee and faculty of the Conservatory (of Music and Dance) and members of the community that visited with him...just had the sense of his dynamic character. Sort of a get things done kind of individual." Witte begins his duties at UMKC as Dean of the Conservatory of Music and Dance on August 18th. Composition professor James Mobberley has served as interim dean since Randall Pembrook left the position in July 2007 to become provost of Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan.

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