Toccoa Falls, Ga. (September 10, 2024) – Toccoa Falls College is pleased to welcome Dr. George Dougherty and Dr. Desmond Ikegwuonu to our Music Department. At TFC, our faculty prepare Christian musicians for career ministries in performance, teaching, church worship arts, and varied music-related vocations. Students become equipped with Godly character and professionally with the knowledge and skills needed for continued growth in music-related careers. Our community is excited to see the impact of Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Ikegwuonu and their God-given gifts!

Dr. Dougherty is an accomplished performer and educator, specializing in trumpet, composition, church music, music education, conducting, and chamber music. He has performed with the Greensboro and Winston-Salem Symphonies, Market Street Brass, and Stratford Brass in North Carolina; Orchestra Iowa, the Signature Strings and the Vivo Chamber Players in Iowa; and the Sequoia Symphony, West Coast Mennonite Men’s Chorus, and the Fresno Faculty Brass in California. His ongoing performance outlet is with Artisans in Brass, a brass quintet with whom he has recorded two CDs: Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs and Just A Little Off the Top. His reach spans internationally, with appearances in the Central African Republic, Slovakia, and Brazil. Dr. Dougherty trained in the U.S. and has over 30 years of teaching experience including time spent directing instrumental music and music education programs, conducting university, community, and church orchestras, wind ensembles, and jazz bands, coaching chamber groups, providing private instruction for brass and trumpet studio, and serving as Director of Bands and Coordinator of Instrumental Music at a university in California. He has also functioned as Minister of Music for four churches. We are proud to welcome Dr. Dougherty, Professor of Music Education and Director of Bands at TFC!

Dr. Ikegwuonu is a composer, pianist, conductor, worship leader, singer, vocal arranger, producer, and educator. Born in Nigeria, Dr. Ikegwuonu’s music is enveloped in his rich musical heritage; He flourishes in classical, jazz, and his native African music. His music has been recorded by Grammy Award nominated artists and Dove award winning artists like Ricardo Sanchez and Ingrid Rosario. Additionally, his song commission for the Houston Grand Opera was featured on the front cover of the Houston Chronicle newspaper and on ABC Channel 13 Houston. His works have also been performed by orchestras and ensembles across the world. Dr. Ikegwuonu is the recipient of many awards, including the CELT heart of a scholar award, Congregational song of the year in Bolivia, an Academic Achievement Award and the J.D. Riddle Memorial Award. He has been recognized by the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra New Music Experiment and the Louisa Stude Sarofim Competition, and he has been commissioned and performed by The Houston Civic Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Apollo Chamber players, The Houston Grand Opera’s “Opera to Go!”, Aura contemporary ensemble, Musiqa, Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, Atlantic Music Festival Orchestra, Oklahoma Composers Orchestra, Beo String Quartet, Bent Frequency Ensemble, 3 G Percussion, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary School of Church music. TFC warmly welcomes Dr. Ikegwuonu, Associate Professor of Music and Worship Arts.

Desmond Ikegwuonu

With the unique experience, giftings, and accomplishments of Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Ikegwuonu, Toccoa Falls College is thrilled to welcome them to our community. Please join us in praying over them, and all of our faculty and staff, as we continue pursuing our mission to develop Godly character with intellect. To learn more about studying Music at TFC, please visit tfc.edu/music.