Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education (2018)

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Master of Music in Instrumental Wind Conducting (2012)

University of Houston, Houston, TX

Bachelor of Music Education (2002)

VanderCook College of Music, Chicago, IL

Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education | University of Houston - Houston, TX  (2017 - present)

Adjunct Faculty | Boston University - Boston, MA (Spring 2021 - present)

Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education, Assistant Director of University & Athletic Bands | Kennesaw State University – Kennesaw, GA (2015 - 2017) 

Graduate Assistant: Music Education, University Bands, Athletic Bands | University of Washington – Seattle, WA (2012 - 2015)

Graduate Assistant: University Bands, Athletic Bands, Music Education | University of Houston – Houston, TX (2010 - 2012)

Director of Music, Director of Bands | Waller Independent School District – Waller, TX (2006 - 2010)

Assistant / Associate Band Director | Klein Forest High School – Houston, TX (2004 - 2006)

Assistant Band Director | Indian Springs Middle School – Keller, TX (2002 - 2004) 

Refereed Scholarly Publications 

Meals, C.D. (2023). Composer Diversity in State Music Lists: An Exploratory Analysis. Journal of Research in Music Education, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00224294231218272

Meals, C.D. (2020). The question of lag: An exploration of the relationship between conductor gesture and sonic response in instrumental ensembles. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(573030). doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.573030.  

Meals, C. D., Morrison, S. J., & Confredo, D. A. (2019). The effects of temporal action-sound congruence on evaluations of conductor quality. Music & Science. doi: 10.1177/2059204319891968.

Meals, C. D. (2018). Questions of gesture and sound: Temporal interactions in conducted ensembles – A multiple study dissertation (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations. (https://search.proquest.com/docview/2125484156?accountid=14784).

Meals, C. D. (2016). Autonomy without anarchy: Peer interaction, learning, and musical growth in the school ensemble. Praxis: The Electronic Journal of the Sam Houston State University Center for Music Education, 1(2).    

Morrison, S.J., Price, H.E., Smedley, E.M., & Meals, C. D. (2014). Conductor gestures influence evaluations of ensemble performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 5(806). doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00806.

Interactive Music Education Lesson Scaffold - IMELS.AI: University of Houston (2023 - 2024)

Principal Investigator

Music Education Research Working Group: University of Houston (Fall 2019 - present)

Co-Director, Principal Investigator

 Institute for Composer Diversity: Head of Analytical Activities (Fall 2019 - present)

University of Houston Faculty and Department Instructional Support 'Teaching Innovation Program' Grant - Spring 2023

"Development of an Interactive, AI-Powered, Lesson Planning Rubric System" | Award: $20,000

Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts Impact Grant - Spring 2021

"Bridging the Repertoire Divide: Expanding Composition Access and Opportunity in School Music Ensembles" | Award: $3,000

New Faculty Research Grant – Spring 2020

“Musician's Affective Response to Expressive Conductor Gesture” | Award: $6,000

“Life in the Hyphen: My Experience as a Mexican American Music Student” 

• Joint spoken paper presented with Eric Jimenez at the 2022 Music Mexico Symposium at Dartmouth - Hanover, NH

“Performer's Affective Response to Expressive Conducting”

• Spoken paper to be presented at the 2020 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Conference, November 2020 – Orlando, FL (conference rescheduled due to COVID-19) 

"’Y’all Means All’: Investigating Diversity in American Concert Band State Music Lists”

• Spoken paper to be presented at the 2020 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Conference, November 2020 – Orlando, FL (conference rescheduled due to COVID-19)

• Spoken paper to be presented at the 2020 International Society for Music Education (ISME) Conference, August 2020 – Helsinki, Finland (conference cancelled due to COVID-19)

“A Question of Lag: An Investigation of Sonic Response to Conductor Gesture”

• Spoken paper to be presented at the 2020 Oxford Conducting Institute International Conducting Studies Conference – Oxford, UK (conference rescheduled due to COVID-19)

• Spoken paper to be presented at the 2020 International Society for Music Education (ISME) Conference, August 2020 – Helsinki, Finland (conference cancelled due to COVID-19)

• Spoken paper presentation at the 2019 International Symposium on Performance Science (ISPS), July 2019 – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 

• Spoken paper presentation at the 2018 Together in Music Conference (TIM-18), April 2018 – York, England, UK

 “Effects of Temporal Congruence on Evaluations of Conductor Efficacy”

• Spoken paper presentation at the 2016 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Research and Teacher Education Conference, March 2016 – Atlanta, GA 

• Spoken paper presentation at the 2015 International Conference on the Multimodal Experience of Music (ICMEM), March 2015 – Sheffield, England, UK

 “In the Zone of Proximal Spirit: Culture and Learning in Collegiate Athletic Band”

• Spoken paper presentation at the 2014 College Band Director’s National Association (CBDNA) Athletic Band Symposium, May 2014 – Charlottesville, VA

“Preference Between Temporally Offset Music Performance Pairs”

• 2020 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Research and Teacher Education Conference, November 2020 – Orlando, FL (conference rescheduled due to COVID-19) 

“A Question of Lag: An Investigation of Sonic Response to Conductor Gesture”

• 2019 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, February 2019 – San Antonio, TX 

• 2019 Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) In-Service Conference, January 2019 – Athens, GA

• 2018 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Research and Teacher Education Conference, March 2018 – Atlanta, GA

“’Y’All Means All’: Investigating Diversity Within the University Scholastic League Prescribed Music List”

• 2019 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, February 2019 – San Antonio, TX

“Effects of Temporal Congruence on Evaluations of Conductor Efficacy”

• 2015 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, February 2015 – San Antonio, TX

“Keeping Up: Do Extramusical Factors Influence Ensemble Performance at Compulsory Music Contest?”

• 2015 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, February 2015 – San Antonio, TX

“Conductor Gestures Influence Evaluations of Ensemble Performance”

• 13th International Conference on Music Cognition and Perception (ICMPC13), August 2014 – Seoul, South Korea 

• 2014 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Research and Teacher Education Conference, March 2014 – St. Louis, MO

“What Becomes a Legend Most: The Teachings of Eddie Green”

• Group presentation at the 2024 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, February 2024 - San Antonio, TX

“Mexican Repertoire Initiative”

• Panel presentation at the 2023 Midwest Clinic: An International Band & Orchestra Conference, December 2023 - Chicago, IL

• Panel presentation at the 2023 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, February 2023 - San Antonio, TX

“Mise-en-Place for the Busy Music Teacher”

• Presentation at the 2023 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, February 2023 - San Antonio, TX

“Diversifying the Repertoire: Strategies & Resources”

• Panel presentation at the 2022 Midwest Clinic: An International Band & Orchestra Conference - Chicago, IL

“State Music Lists: A Network of Works” 

• Presentation at the 2022 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, February 2022 - San Antonio, TX

“Building a Second (Music Teacher) Brain” 

• Presentation at the 2022 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention, February 2022 - San Antonio, TX

“Improving Composer Diversity through Resources, Practice, and Analysis”

• Panel presentation to be presented at the 2020 Midwest Clinic: An International Band & Orchestra Conference – Chicago, IL (conference cancelled due to COVID-19)

"The Score: An Urban Music Education Live Podcast"

• Panel presentation at the 2020 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Conference, February 2020 - San Antonio, TX 

“’Y’all Means All’: Investigating Diversity and Representation in Wind Band Literature”

• Presentation at the 2020 Illinois Music Educators Conference (IMEC), January 2020 – Peoria, IL   

“The Digital Revolt: What to Do When Technology Isn't the Silver Bullet”

• Presentation at the 2019 Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) In-Service Conference, January 2019 – Athens, GA 

“Under the Hood: The Inner Game of Sight-reading”

• Presentation at the 2017 Louisiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference, November 2017 – Baton Rouge, LA 

“It CAN Be Done: edTPA, Performing Ensembles, and YOU!”

• Presentation at the 2017 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service, January 2017 – Athens, GA

• Presentation at the 2016 Midwest Clinic: An International Band & Orchestra Conference, December 2016 – Chicago, IL 

“Promoting Listening Skills Through Conducting and Rehearsal”

• Presentation at the 2016 Louisiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference, November 2016 – Baton Rouge, LA

Lecture

“Diversity in Ensemble Music Literature” Univ. of North Florida – Tallahassee, FL (Fall 2020)

“Music Education Research: A Quantitative Focus” Univ. of St. Thomas – Minneapolis, MN (Fall 2017)

“Effective Design and Effect in Design for Marching Band” Lamar Univ. – Beaumont, TX (Fall 2016)

“Contest Culture in School Band” Univ. of St. Thomas – Minneapolis, MN (Fall 2016) 

Panel Discussion

“Discussing the Diversification of State Repertoire Lists” – NafME Webinar (June 2020)

“Adding New Music to State Lists” – On the List Webinar (May 2020)

“Inside the Director’s Office” – Collaborative Student-Teacher Workshops (Spring 2020)

Interview

“Perform Inclusively” – Yamaha SupportED Magazine (Volume 5, Number 3 – Winter 2020)

“Band Talk with Charlie Menghini” – Dr. Charles Menghini, host (May 2020)

“Hey Band! Network Remote Teaching Series” – Chad Dempsey, host (May 2020)

Professional Service

• Co-Organizer: MusicMexico 2023 (hosted by the University of Houston)

• Committee Member: TMEA College Division Research Committee

• Reviewer: Texas Music Education Review

• Guest Reviewer: Studies in Educational Evaluation (ISSN: 0191-491X)

• Guest Reviewer: Frontiers in Psychology - Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience (ISSN: 1664-1078)

• Adjudicator: TMEA All-State Auditions

University Service

• Faculty Senate: McGovern College of the Arts Representative (2020 - 2023) 

• Member: Graduate & Professional Studies Committee (2020 - 2023)  

Graduate Student Committee Chair, Member, Supervisor

• Doctoral Essay: Austin Brake - DMA, Wind Conducting

• Doctoral Essay: Cameron Kubos - DMA, Trumpet Performance

• Doctoral Essay: Carlin Truong - DMA, Choral Conducting

• Doctoral Essay: Eric Laine - DMA, Vocal Performance

• Doctoral Essay: Cristina Mendoza - DMA, Wind Conducting

• Doctoral Essay: Brian Cook - DMA, Choral Conducting

• Doctoral Essay: Zachary Averyt - DMA, Vocal Performance

• MM Capstone: Philip Wingfield, MM, Music Education

School and College Service 

• Member: KGMCA Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

• Member: MSM Music School Futurists Committee 

• Member: MSM Graduate Curriculum Committee

• Member: MSM Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

• Member: MSM Strategic Curriculum Initiatives Committee

• Member: Assistant Professor of Choral Music Search Committee 

• Member: Applied Guitar Search Committee

• Member: Music Theory Search Committee

• Member: Professor of Practice, Instrumental Music Education Search Committee

• Member: Assistant/Associate Professor of Music Education Search Committee

• Chair: Associate Director of Bands Search Committee

Space Center Intermediate – Clear Creek ISD (2023) – Houston, TX

Friendswood HS Solo & Ensemble (2023, 2024) - Friendswood, TX

“Battle at the Berry” Marching Contest Adjudicator (2022, 2023) - Cypress, TX

Pasadena ISD Pre-UIL Evaluator (2021-2023) - Pasadena, TX

Pearland High School – Pearland ISD (2023) - Pearland, TX

Porter High School – New Caney ISD (2023) - Porter, TX

West Briar Middle School – Houston ISD (2023) - Houston, TX

Eisenhower High School – Aldine ISD (2021, 2023) - Houston, TX

Aldine ISD Marching Band Pre-UIL Evaluator (2021) - Houston, TX

South Houston High School (2021) - South Houston, TX 

Clear Creek High School (2021) - Webster, TX 

Klein ISD Solo and Ensemble Adjudicator (2019, 2023) - Klein, TX

Morton Ranch High School (2019) – Katy, TX

Spring High School (2018) – Spring, TX

Heights High School (2018, 2019) – Houston, TX

A&M Consolidated High School (2017, 2018) – College Station, TX

Kennesaw State University Band Invitational (2016) – Kennesaw, GA

Seven Lakes High School (2009-2011, 2016) – Katy, TX

Allatoona High School (2015, 2016, 2018) – Acworth, GA

Husky Marching Band Drum Major and Drumline Academy (2014, 2016, 2018) – Seattle, WA

University of Washington Bands Guest Clinician Program (2012 - 2015) - Seattle, WA

Marching Band Drill Design (selected clients)

University of Houston                      University of Washington

Kennesaw State University                   University of Michigan

University of Texas, Arlington              Cypress Ranch High School (TX)

Elkins High School (TX)                  Heights High School (TX)

Seven Lakes High School (TX)             Southwest High School (TX)

Spring High School (TX)                  Waller High School (TX)

Instructional Staff (Music), Inspire Music & Art: Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps
Boston, MA (2016)

Instructional Staff (Music), Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps
Santa Clara, CA (2011)

Instructional Staff (Music), The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps
Rosemont, IL (2002 - 2006) 

Orpheus Award – Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Nu Theta Chapter (Kennesaw State Univ.) – Spring 2017

Junior Faculty Fellowship – American Assoc. of Univ. Professors, Kennesaw State University Chapter (2015 - 2017)

Honorary Member – Kappa Kappa Psi National Fraternity

Gamma Chapter (University of Washington) – Fall 2013

Beta Sigma Chapter (University of Houston) – Fall 2011

Honorary Member – Tau Beta Sigma National Sorority

Iota Psi Chapter (Kennesaw State University) – Fall 2015

Tau Chapter (University of Houston) – Fall 2018

University Interscholastic League (UIL) Concert & Sight-reading Contest

2003 – Indian Springs Middle School (Non-Varsity) – Division I

2004 – Klein Forest High School (Sub Non-Varsity) – Division III

2005 – Klein Forest High School (Non-Varsity) – Division II

2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 – Waller High School (Varsity) – Division I

University Interscholastic League (UIL) Sweepstakes Award

2006, 2007, 2009 – Waller High School (Varsity)

University Interscholastic League (UIL) Area Marching Finalist – 2007, 2009 (AAAA Classification)

University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Marching Contest – 2007, 2009 (AAAA Classification)

Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Honor Band Area Qualifier – 2008

Drum Corps International World Champion (The Cavaliers) – 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006

Jim Ott “High Music Performance” Award (The Cavaliers) – 2002, 2004

Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA)

National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

International Society for Music Education (ISME)

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Fraternity (PMA)

Kappa Kappa Psi National Fraternity (KKY)

Tau Beta Sigma National Sorority (TBS)