Jill Van Buren and Eduardo Guzman have joined the University of the Ozarks Music Department as adjunct faculty members for the 2025-26 academic year.
Van Buren, who has previously served as an adjunct voice instructor at Ozarks, will serve as the director of the University Chorus. She has been an active music educator in the Arkansas River Valley since 2014, with a broad teaching background that spans K–12 public schools, private instruction, and collegiate-level voice. She has taught a wide range of musical disciplines, including choral directing, general music, music theory, and private voice and piano.
Van Buren also served as an adjunct voice instructor at Don Tyson School of Innovation in Springdale, Ark.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in music education with a vocal emphasis from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville and is currently pursuing a master’s of music education degree at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Guzman, who has 15 years of experience in the music and theater industry and nearly 100 production credits, is a professional pianist, music director, and producer — and recent Arkansas transplant. He will accompany Ozarks choir rehearsals, teach voice lessons to students of all levels, and offer beginner piano lessons.
Guzman said his approach is focused on a concept called Growth Mindset, which simply says “the harder you work, the better you can become.” This approach has proven effective with students and creative professionals alike, earning Guzman local and national recognition for music direction, vocal coaching, and student performances.
In 2014, Guzman founded PMT Productions, a Houston-based production company focused on contemporary, fringe musical theater and commercial music productions. In 2018, he launched PMT YAS! Studio (PMT Young Artist Series), a youth theater company in Friendswood, Texas, that focused on creating an environment where students could become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the stage.
Guzman holds a bachelor’s degree in music in voice performance from Houston Baptist University. He is also a dual master of public service and master of business administration candidate at the University of Arkansas.
Topics: Music