Gretchen Foley

Professor Emerita
Area of Focus: Music Theory
Ph.D., The University of Western Ontario, Systematic Musicology (Music Theory), 1999
Bachelor of Music, Memorial University of Newfoundland (Piano Performance), 1984
Bachelor of Music Education, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1984

Dr. Gretchen Foley is Professor Emerita of Music Theory in the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As a member of the Society for Music Theory, Music Theory Midwest, and the College Music Society, she served these associations in a variety of capacities.

Dr. Foley’s research interests focus on George Perle's theory of twelve-tone tonality and music theory pedagogy, with satellite interests in analysis for performance, genre fusion, and progressive rock. She has presented her work internationally in England, Spain, Italy, Germany, Finland, Costa Rica, and Australia, and at national and regional conferences throughout the United States. Her research appears in a variety of journals, including Music Theory Online, Theory and Practice, Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy, Computer Music Journal, Indiana Theory Review, and College Music Symposium. She has written two electronic textbooks and companion workbooks, Foundations of Tonal Music, Volumes 1 and 2, for use in the freshman music theory sequence at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Kendall Hunt Publishing Company).

Dr. Foley joined the faculty at UNL in 2001 and retired in 2022. She taught an array of music theory courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels and coordinated the freshman musicianship program in theory and aural skills. Dr. Foley was the recipient of the first Leadership Award in Curricular or Programmatic Development in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts in 2009, and the College’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2007. In 2005, 2008, and  2019  she received the UNL Parents Association and Teaching Council Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students.



Links: 

Courses

MUSC 165: Music Theory I
MUSC 165A / 198-I: Aural Skills I
MUSC 166: Music Theory II
MUSC 166A / 198-II: Aural Skills II
MUSC 455 / 855: Techniques of Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint
MUSC 457 / 857: Post-Tonal Theory
MUSC 941: Music Theory Pedagogy
MUSC 979: History of Music Theory Seminar

Honors and Awards

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN:
Professor Emerita, Music Theory, 2022
College Award for Outstanding Leadership in Curriculum and Program Development, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, 2009
College Award for Distinguished Teaching, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, 2007
Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students, sponsored by UNL Parents Association and UNL Teaching Council, 2005, 2008, 2019

UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO:
Nominee for Governor General’s Gold Medal for Academic Excellence, 1999
Special University Scholarship, 1995
Graduate Admission Scholarship, University of Western Ontario, 1990

THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO:
Graduate Scholarship (each award valued at $12,000), 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND:
University Medal for Academic Excellence in Music, 1984
Department of Music Faculty Scholarship, 1982

THE KIWANIS CLUB OF ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND:
Music Scholarship, 1983