Dr. Morgan Soja is an associate professor in the School of the Arts and the Director of Music Education. Dr. Soja most recently coordinated the music education program at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina where she taught general, secondary, string, and woodwind methods courses, supervised teaching internships and student teaching placements, directed the University Chorale, and advised music education majors. While completing her masters and doctoral degrees at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Dr. Soja taught undergraduate courses, supervised internships, and assisted in conducting research for the Music Research Institute. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Soja completed her bachelor of music in music education degree from Bowling Green State University before serving as the director of choirs in Norton, Ohio.
As a performer, Dr. Soja has performed with the Eastern Music Festival and the Greensboro Early Music Ensemble. She studied in the voice studios of Levone Tobin-Scott, and Jeanne Bruggeman-Kurp. Dr. Soja also has many years experience as a violin and woodwind performer. As a clinician, Dr. Soja has conducted choirs, orchestras, and bands at the middle and high school levels and has served as an adjudicator for the North Carolina Music Educators Association.
A bulk of Dr. Soja’s current research and practice is related to supporting beginning music teachers, and she also has studied music for individuals with special needs. Recently, Dr. Soja led a nationwide training for state mentor program chairpersons on characteristics of beginning music teachers. Her research has also investigated the status and methodologies used by state music education associations related to mentor programs for beginning music teachers. Dr. Soja has also conducted music perception research with elementary aged children who use cochlear implants. She has also studied music perception and cognition for individuals with hearing loss/deafness, and individuals with autism/autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Soja has presented at the National Association for Music Education Music Research Conference, the Symposium for Music Teacher Educators, and the North Carolina Music Educators Association conferences. She maintains active membership in the Supporting Beginning Music Teachers Area of Strategic Planning and Action, which functions as part of the Symposium of Music Teacher Educators. Dr. Soja is also a passionate supporter of student and young professional research, with former students presenting at the Alphi Chi National Honors Society Conference.
Degrees and Certifications:
- BM: Bowling Green State University
- MM: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- PhD: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Kodály Levels: I and II
Professional Associations:
- National Association for Music Education
- American Choral Directors Association
- Sigma Alpha Iota
- Pi Kappa Lambda
