Faculty Spotlight: Sheri Falcone

Mississippi State Department of Music Instructor Sheri Falcone knew from a young age that she always needed some type of music in her life. For the Syracuse, New York native, one of her first memories of someone playing an instrument was listening to a student play the clarinet while attending a concert at a school for the deaf and hard of hearing. Falcone, who is not deaf or hard of hearing, but whose parents are, has always been intertwined with the deaf community.

“When I went out to the school for the deaf, I saw a deaf band program and I was floored by it. A little girl played ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’ on clarinet and I said, ‘Mom, Dad, that’s the instrument that I want to play,” Falcone explained.

Her parents purchased a clarinet and became her biggest supporters, attending every fourth through 12th grade band concert continuing their encouragement once she became a musician in college. Falcone’s love and passion for music also was influenced by her teachers. In community college, while she was taking a clarinet course for non-majors, she decided to change paths from pre-medicine to music. She fondly remembers approaching her clarinet teacher at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York, to tell him she had decided be a clarinet major. Dr. David Abrams informed her that she’d have to have a new clarinet to pursue her dream, and once her parents had bought a new one, she was ready to work—and work she did. 

Now in her 19th year of teaching in MSU’s Department of Music, Falcone directs several ensembles and quartets for both saxophone and clarinet. The saxophone quartet was invited to the Mississippi University for Women to perform at the Mid-South Chapter of the National Association of Composers USA in the fall of 2018.

“It was a big deal for them to perform a piece by a composer that’s local and in front of composers from around the Midsouth,” Falcone explained. “It was a little nerve-wracking, but they played very well. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

When asked if she had any plans to retire, Falcone explained that she didn’t stay in one place for 19 years without “absolutely loving it.” In her position, she has the opportunity to collaborate with different departments on research, and because she teaches a lot of different majors she gets to interact with a number of students that many faculty might not.

“Words can’t really explain it,” she said. “Let’s just put it this way: I really love it here.”

Her ensembles and teaching career at MSU aren’t the only things she cherishes. In fall 2018 she was invited to play, alongside one of her former professors, at her alma mater Onondaga Community College, as part of the music department’s music day. Playing with her former professors had always been one of Falcone’s goals.

“I got to talk a little bit about myself and being inspired by my teachers there,” Falcone said. “I also wanted the kids to know it took me a long time to get where I am, but that they can do it too and should follow their dream wherever it may be.”