In 2021, she received 麻豆影院鈥檚 Award for Excellent Teaching by an Early Career Faculty Member, one of the university鈥檚 highest faculty honors.

Perry came to 麻豆影院 after receiving her Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts, and Master of Philosophy degrees in music history from Yale University. She did her undergraduate study in both piano performance and political science at Brigham Young University.

We caught up with Perry to talk about interests in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom

Inside info:聽What鈥檚 one thing you want every student coming into your classes to know about you?

Yes, that was me on the motorcycle just now.

Also, my聽door is always open. Come talk about augmented sixth chords, or Buddhism, or tacos. I am a safe place.聽

Getting energized:聽What work have you done or will you be doing at 麻豆影院 that gets you the most excited?

I feel most excited when I am demonstrating the relevance and real-world usefulness of music theory. I want students to see that theory isn’t just about voice-leading conventions but about understanding what you’re hearing in the background of the Switch game you just bought or in the Beyonc茅 song at the grocery store. Or about being able to sit down and plunk out, and understand the function of, the chord loop you just fell in love with from In the Heights. So, in my aural skills classes, I always include segments like Pop Harmony or Melody/Asymmetrical Meter from the Real World so I can systematically help students learn to pick apart these soundscapes they encounter every day. It’s exciting because students seem to find it helpful, and it feels like a living, breathing thing because I’m always running into new examples to share as I wander through the world.

Going places:聽Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional, or spiritual) that took you by surprise?

I ended up presenting a poster about VeggieTales at an academic conference last spring. If that’s not the dream, I don’t know what is. It was a collaboration with a student (Elizabeth Hermann ’23) that grew out of her senior experience project on phrase structure in children’s music. I may or may not have demonstrated some Larry the Cucumber dance moves at our poster session. 聽聽

Out of the classroom

This or that:聽If you weren鈥檛 teaching for a living, what would you be doing? 聽

Oh, I feel so unmarketable outside the classroom. Maybe I would try to get better at Mandarin and do something with translation. Or something with radio. Oh, oh, baseball announcer鈥攖hat鈥檚 it. Color commentator for the Milwaukee Brewers.聽

Right at home:聽Whether for work, relaxation, or reflection, what鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?

The giant windows in Warch overlooking the river. Or the couch in my office. It’s this sort of vintage, scratchy brown tweed sofa that, in my mind, is the perfect “professor couch.” When I moved to Appleton in聽2017, I found it on Craigslist and went to Manitowoc to pick it up for聽$40. When I told the owner I had come from Appleton, she said, “You drove an hour for this?” If she only knew the wonderful conversations (and power naps) it would facilitate over the years.

One book, one recording, one film:聽Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

I was riveted by a聽book聽I recently read called, The Girl with Seven Names: Escape from North Korea. Gripping and heart-wrenching and important.

Billie Holiday, Lover Man (Decca, 1944), oh, or Big Mama Thornton singing Hound Dog (1952) four years before, and much better than, Elvis.

I love a Danish film from 1987 called Babette’s Feast about the redemptive, healing power of good food.

Reflecting the value of voices, Dorr said multiple board members wanted queer theory and music education to be the topic of this year鈥檚 symposium. Anybody, regardless of major, is welcome at the symposium, to be held in Room 163 of the Music-Drama Center throughout the day on April 8. A performance by LGBTuben will be held at 8:30 p.m. April 7 in Memorial Chapel. .

鈥淭he word 鈥榮ymposium鈥� is fancy, but also a little scary,鈥� Dorr said. 鈥淚 want everyone to feel welcome and invited because I feel that鈥檚 something at the core of queer theory and what we鈥檒l be discussing.鈥�

The keynote speaker is Elizabeth Gould, a retired associate professor from the University of Toronto. Her work frequently connects LGBTQ+ and music themes.

鈥淲e started looking into her works and were like, 鈥極K, she鈥檚 a leader in this field and we really want her here,鈥欌�� Dorr said.

With NAfME鈥檚 last few symposia unable to host guests due to COVID, Dorr said Gould鈥檚 attendance is special.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to have her on campus, especially as an international guest as well,鈥� Dorr said.

Other symposium participants include Julie McQuinn, associate professor of music, who first recommended Gould to the group; Ann Ellsworth, a horns professor, and her ensemble, LGBTuben; alumnus Benjamin Hiles 鈥�22, who has researched queer theory in the music room and will be presenting on his findings; and Jessica Pruett, visiting assistant professor of gender studies, who will discuss queer theory and its influence on her teaching.

鈥淚 feel having this run successfully is my greatest task and, hopefully, accomplishment as president of the board,鈥� Dorr said.

A musical journey

Music and education have long been central to Dorr. It was while playing clarinet for the Minnesota All-State Band and Orchestra that she first was drawn to 麻豆影院. Andrew Mast, 麻豆影院鈥檚 wind ensemble conductor, associate dean of the Conservatory, Kimberly-Clark Professor of Music, and director of bands, made a fateful visit to guest conduct.

鈥淚 was like, 鈥極h my god, this guy is awesome. I love how he鈥檚 leading rehearsals,鈥� and he would talk about 麻豆影院,鈥� Dorr said.

Settling on a music education major and French minor at 麻豆影院, Dorr joined NAfME during the 2019鈥�20 school year. NAfME is one of the longest-standing student associations at 麻豆影院.

鈥淚 really liked it,鈥� Dorr said. 鈥淚 thought it was a great community, so I applied to join.鈥�

Dorr said ideas central to NAfME are lifelong learning and providing fun and engaging learning outside the curriculum.

鈥淎s a teacher, you鈥檙e always learning,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e learning from your students, we learn from each other, and I learn from the people on the board every day.鈥�

Dorr became president this year. Her responsibilities include leading meetings, delegating tasks, and reaching out to potential symposium guests.

Dorr said her favorite part of the job is the ability to work with other students and communities around 麻豆影院. She also sees this symposium as an example of student leadership in action.

With Dorr graduating soon, NAfME will be holding board elections for next year. Dorr said students interested in NAfME can check out on Instagram or email Dorr directly to join the email list.

Dorr鈥檚 plan is to teach general elementary music, but she said her absolute dream is to teach music in a French-speaking nation.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just really excited about the symposium,鈥� Dorr said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to engage people on campus and we鈥檙e open to anyone who鈥檚 interested and wants to come, so it鈥檚 going to be a great time.鈥�