Terry Walker joins the Rhodes College Department of Music faculty for the Fall 2026 term, bringing a rich background as a conductor, music educator, and scholar. He is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Choral Conducting at the University of Memphis, where he has served as an instructor of record and assistant conductor for the university’s premier choral ensembles. Walker holds a Master of Music degree and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Southern Mississippi.
An active and sought-after clinician, adjudicator, and administrator, Walker has deep roots in regional choral leadership. He is the past president of the Mississippi Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and has served as a guest clinician for numerous honor choirs and regional festivals, including the District VI Louisiana Honor Choir. His conducting career is highlighted by international performance tours, including leading ensembles throughout Italy, and performances at state conferences.
Walker attended master classes taught by renowned artists, including Andrew Crane, Lori Hetzel, Jerry Blackstone, and Arvo Pärt. Mentors include Gregory Fuller, John Flanery, Jeffrey Murdock, and Francis Cathlina.
As a scholar and composer, Walker’s research centers on vocal pedagogy, rehearsal efficiency, and the structural analysis of contemporary choral literature, most notably the works of composer Richard Burchard. In addition to his academic work, he served as the Chancel Choir Director at Highland Heights Presbyterian Church in Cordova, TN, and Adult Choir Director at Main St. United Methodist Church in Bay St. Louis, MS.
