NATCHITOCHES – The Department of Music at Northwestern State University has bestowed the title of professor emeritus on retired faculty members Dr. Dennette McDermott and Dr. Burt Allen. McDermott and Allen will be honored at a reception on March 18 at 6 p.m. in the Orville Hanchey Art Gallery and recognized at the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra Concert which begins at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. 

The title of emeritus is reserved to honor, in retirement, faculty and administrators who have made distinguished professional contributions and have served significant portions of their careers at the institution. 

“Dr. McDermott and Dr. Allen have had an incredible impact on the Department of Music at NSU, both during their tenure and in their continued service after retirement,” Dr. Terrie Sanders, head of the Department of Music at Northwestern. “Their dedication, expertise and ongoing commitment truly embody the spirit of a professor emeritus. It is inspiring to see them recognized for their contributions to Northwestern in this way. “ 

McDermott retired after 32 years serving as professor of flute and coordinator of graduate studies at Northwestern. Her passion for research inspired her uncle to create the Donald F. Derby Endowed Professorship for the music and art areas at NSU in 1996.  

“I am truly honored to represent the music area in the School of Creative and Performing Arts, with the title of professor emeritus,” said McDermott. “When I began teaching at NSU in 1990 I imagined the potential for growth that was here at Northwestern. I dedicated my entire academic career in order to educate and train music students to earn degrees and go out into the world and share their knowledge and passion for music with others. 

“My curiosity for music has never left me and my service as graduate coordinator was quite meaningful. NSU has been a place where my love of performing was able to be combined with research and as a result, I am a lifelong learner.” 

Allen served as director of choral activities and professor of music at NSU for 32 years. He was also coordinator and head of the Department of Music. Allen was named to the CAPA Hall of Fame in 2019.  

“I consider being named professor emeritus to be a true honor,” said Allen. “To me it demonstrates a respect and appreciation for my efforts and accomplishments during my tenure at NSU. I am grateful to the students, my colleagues, alumni and administrators for this honor.” 

McDermott holds music degrees from Michigan State University (BM), the University of Michigan (MM), and the University of North Texas (DMA).  

McDermott spent many years playing in regional orchestras such as the Shreveport Symphony, also performing solo and chamber recitals funded by research grants in the U.S. and Europe. Her fascination for Czech music began with her dissertation topic on Jindřich Feld, which led to teaching at the Janacek Academy of Music on a faculty exchange in fall of 1995. 

A passion for 18th-century music, and the love of Czech composer Jiri Čart’s music, inspired her to learn to play a historical baroque flute. In 2015, she attended the Tafelmusik Summer Institute, Twin Cities Baroque Course, American Bach Soloists and the Berwick Academy, all of which allowed her to learn from some of the world’s most respected baroque musicians and scholars. McDermott has performed with the Austin Baroque Orchestra and has presented many solo and chamber recitals at other universities on baroque flute sharing her knowledge and research. Last year, she was selected to present a lecture recital at the National Flute Association convention in San Antonio. 

She authored the article on Čart (Czart/Zarth) in the Grove Music Online in 2021. McDermott edited and published many of the composer’s works, placed manuscripts on IMSLP and has identified some of his works in European libraries, such as the Royal Danish Library. In 2021. McDermott recorded an album with Douglas Bakenhus, Leighann Ragusa and David Schrader, “Jiri Czart, Flute Sonatas, released in 2023,” which is online and free funded by the Magale Endowed Professorship at NSU. Her most recent research can be read in the Professional Journal of The National Flute Association in the Winter issue of the Flutist Quarterly “Rediscovering Jiri Čart (Czart/Zarth).” 

Allen served as director of choral activities and professor of music at Northwestern from 1983-2015. Allen built a strong and responsive choral area that grew from 40 students to more than 150. His work with the choral program was an important part of the overall growth in the School of Creative and Performing Arts as it achieved a national reputation. Allen led the department through National Association of Schools of Music re-accreditation. The choral rehearsal room at NSU was recently named in his honor. 

Allen was the first Northwestern faculty member to appear in Carnegie Hall, and the NSU Chamber Choir under his direction is the only Northwestern ensemble to appear there in a solo performance.  

Allen was invited to conduct choirs in Canada and Japan and was the first to lead a Northwestern musical ensemble on a European tour. He was selected as one of 15 conductors from a national pool to take part in a seminar with Robert Shaw on score preparation and conducting Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” at Emory University. Allen was an adjudicator for contests and festivals in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Missouri, Michigan, Illinois, and Kansas.  

Allen was the first CAPA faculty member to successfully author an externally funded grant, followed by several others, totaling more than $350,000 which created the first music computer labs, purchased several Yamaha Disklavier pianos and funded a group piano lab and multimedia capabilities for several classrooms. He started the local tradition of performing the Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols in Natchitoches. Allen was artistic director for the Red River Chorale in Alexandria from 2008-2020. 

 Caption

Dr. Burt Allen, left, and Dr. Dennette McDermott