Distinguished Teaching Professor Marilynn Smiley recently celebrated 50 years as a faculty member at SUNY Oswego. The Indiana native ‘cut a deal’ with her father to pursue music in college. Smiley, who came to Oswego in 1961, still carries a full load as a professor of music with a specialty in musicology — and a long résumé of eclectic research, talented students, women’s equality efforts, organization work with such groups as Vega and the American Association of University Women, musical groups like the SUNY Oswego Recorder Consort and much more. Hear an interview with Smiley and share your comments below.
Dr. Smiley was a fabulous teacher! The reading and listening assignments for every single Music History class were significant, but if you did the homework (and spent a lot of hours in the listening room), you did well in the class. But more importantly, you picked up a lifelong appreciation for music with real lasting power.
Good to see your picture and read all about you, too. Congratulations!
Dr. Smiley is my favorite all time teacher through the many elementary though Master’s Degree teachers and professors I have had. I was an early student of Dr. Smiley’s, 1963, and she became my mentor and friend. Dr. Smiley has influenced me in ways beyound even her wildest dreams. I became a public school music teacher and tried to follow her example of excellent teaching and mentoring of students. I am so proud of the path that her career has taken her and humbled to be her friend. Congratulations on 50 years of service to music and women’s rights!
Dr. Smiley was my teacher for Renaissance Music way back in 1971. The class was phenomenal. Even though I wasn’t a music major, I took the class because of my interest in all aspects of the Spanish Golden Age (1500-1650). I certainly learned a great deal in the class. As a matter of fact, several years ago I gave a paper at the University of Salamanca, and at Wellesley College… the title of the paper was “Musica en las obras de Cervantes” (Music in the works of Cervantes)….I not only included and played music mentioned by Cervantes in his many works, but also included ecclesiastical works by Tomas Luis de Victoria, Cabezon, etc. Boy was the audience impressed. Recently my essay on Antijudaismo/Antisemitism in Miracles of Our Lady by Gonzalo de Berceo was published… and I mentioned the music in the Cantigas de Sancta Maria de Alfonso X el Sabio., its Moorish/Jewish influence, and the anti-jewish prejudice as illustrated in the songs and illustrations. My thanks to Dr. Smiley for allowing me to put to use all that she taught me. As we would say in Spanish…mil gracias por ensenarme e inspirarme.! Steven Strange, Miembro correspondiente, Academia norteamericana de la lengua espanola
Dr. Marilyn Smiley was a great encourager who I think of to this day as someone who believed in me during my undergraduate years. She provided key support as I completed dual BA Music and BFA Art degrees at Oswego. I believe that during her tenure as department chair, there was a golden age in Tyler Hall, both in the music and art departments, and it was an honor to be there during that time, learning with dedicated classmates from a group of remarkable professors including Dr. Smiley. Bravo!