Dr. Alicia C. Vorel joined the faculty in 2026 as Director of Music Education and Elementary/General Music Education Specialist. She also serves as the Department of Music liaison with the Clemmer College of Education. Dr. Vorel teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, and also mentors graduate students in research. A native of Georgia, Dr. Vorel taught K-8 general music and choirs in the Bibb County School District for 12 years. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from Mercer University, Master of Music Education from Texas Tech University, and PhD from the University of Mississippi. Prior to her appointment at ETSU, she taught at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for seven years and created a satellite campus of the St. Louis Children’s Choirs during her tenure there.

She is an active conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, engaging in opportunities at the state, regional, national, and international levels, working with populations ranging from early childhood to adult. Her research and presentation interests include soprano-alto choir identity, classroom management, turn-of-the-twentieth-century music educators and singing schools, feedback systems, and authentic context learning.  An award-winning researcher, her publications have appeared in various practitioner and researcher journals, including the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, International Journal of Music Education, Choral Journal, and Contributions to Music Education.  She is presently serving on the Music Educators Journal Advisory Committee.