Dr. Doug Warner is this month’s Faculty Spotlight! Dr. Warner is our trombone professor, and conductor of the trombone ensemble. We were able to snatch some time out of his busy schedule to ask him a few questions.
Q: How long have you been teaching at Lee?
Dr. Warner: Well, that’s a bit complicated! I claim this as my 18th year, because I joined the full time faculty in the fall of 2002. But I taught as a part time faculty member for the four years before that (1998-2002). To further cloud the issue—I taught in a very part time capacity (low brass applied lessons only, of which there were usually only 2 per semester back in those days) from 1989 or 1990 to 1996. Suffice it to say that I’ve been affiliated with Lee for a fairly long time.
Q: What is your favorite part of teaching here?
Dr. Warner: This one is easy—the students! I love interacting with, instructing, guiding, counseling, inspiring, and encouraging all the young adults I get to work with every day. I don’t mean to sound clichéd, but I truly believe that having an impact on students is what God has called me to do. I want to have a positive impact of some sort on every student with whom I interact, whether it’s encouraging them to grow in their walk with God, teaching them to achieve as performers, inspiring them to love (or at least not live in fear of!) music history, or just listening to them talk about their struggles, dreams, and aspirations.
Q: What do you like to do outside of teaching?
Dr. Warner: Well, I also enjoy performing as a trombonist. I am truly blessed to be able to teach full time and perform part time as Principal Trombonist of the Chattanooga Symphony. Of course, I love to spend time with my wife and two daughters. I enjoy traveling. And, at this time of year, I love to follow college football!
Q: What is one goal you have for the School of Music?
Dr. Warner: My goal for the School of Music is that we continue to grow, not only in size, but also in the level of the graduates we produce. Ideally, I would like to see us adapt to the changing times and the changes in goals of our current students, while also demonstrating leadership in the community of Christian higher education by modeling to the world what pursuing excellence in all styles of music looks like.
We are so thankful to have Dr. Warner as part of our staff, and we appreciate all of his teaching over the years!
P.S. Take a look at some fun pictures with Dr. Warner during Halloween where Dr. Warner, his secretary Mrs. Karla Hyder, and their students workers dressed as Toy Story Characters!
Music Connect 