Katie Comley, a 2022 graduate of Kansas Wesleyan University, will return to the institution this August as the assistant professor of vocal music, according to a news release from the university. Comley previously spent four years as a student in the school’s Philharmonic Choir and Wesleyan Chorale, frequently performing as a soloist.
The university reported that Comley earned her Master of Music degree in opera performance from Wichita State University this spring, where she also served as a graduate teaching assistant. Her recent performance credits include lead roles in productions of “The Tender Land” and “Patience,” and she has received regional awards for her solo work, the source stated.
During her undergraduate studies at Kansas Wesleyan, Comley earned a bachelor’s degree in music education with emphases in voice and piano. The school noted she received the Dora B. Newbanks Award for Distinction in Music and the Teacher of Promise award in 2022. Before returning to higher education, she served as the 7-12 choir director at Scott City schools from 2022 to 2024, where she directed multiple ensembles and prepared students for competitions.
Michelle Dolan, the executive director of music at Kansas Wesleyan, expressed enthusiasm about Comley’s return, stating that the upcoming year will be beneficial for singing programs. Comley described her time as a student at the university as formative and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to invest in the next generation of teachers and musicians.
For more information, visit kwu.edu.