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INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION:
PIANO
Richard Carnes (Piano, Individual Instruction) - holds Master of Music degrees from the University of Michigan in both piano performance and music theory and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago in classical languages and literature. Mr. Carnes had additional studies at the Taubman Institute of Piano with Katherine Mizruchi and was also a student of Katherine Collier and Arthur Greene. Mr. Carnes has been a soloist with the San Antonio Symphony and the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra. He was formerly a piano teacher at Emerson School in Ann Arbor and is certified in elementary general music by the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. Mr. Carnes has been a member of the AASPA piano faculty since 2004 and participates regularly in the National Music Certificate Examination program, AASPA faculty and student recitals.
Jennifer Fisher (Piano, Individual Instruction, MusicPlay, Keyboard Musicianship Club) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy from Western Illinois University, a Certificate of Ministry from Global University and a Master of Arts in Piano Pedagogy from Eastern Michigan University. She has served on the faculties of the Preparatory Piano School at WIU, the Community Music Academy at EMU and is currently an Adjunct Lecturer at Eastern Michigan University. Ms. Fisher also holds certification in the area of early childhood musical arts.
Helen Xie-Geary (Piano, Individual Instruction) holds both a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in piano performance. In addition, Ms. Xie-Geary possesses the Artist's Diploma, from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Ms. Xie-Geary has been a member of the AASPA piano faculty since 2003.
Sarah Malick (Piano, Individual Instruction, Early Childhood Musical Arts) holds a Master of Music from Ithaca College in piano performance, and a Bachelor of Music Education from SUNY College at Fredonia. Ms. Malick also participated in summer studies at the Chautauqua Institute School of Music (piano performance). A student of Ozan Marsh, Ms. Malick has been a music educator and a piano instructor for over 15 years. In addition to her piano teaching, she was a vocal and general music teacher at Spiritus Sanctus Academy, Ann Arbor, and organ/piano player at the daily liturgies. In addition to her wealth of experience as a piano teacher, Ms. Malick is also a licensed Kindermusik instructor and has a special rapport with young children. Ms. Malick has been a member of the AASPA piano faculty since 2001.
Stephanie Weaver (AASPA President, Piano, Individual Instruction, Chamber Music Studies) has performed solo and chamber music recitals in Canada and the United States, and in addition has been a regularly featured artist on Radio Western in Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Western Ontario, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Solo Performance from Michigan State University. She has been a member of the piano faculty of the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts since 1999. Presently, she is serving as the Executive Director and a Faculty Piano Instructor at the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts and as a Collaborative Pianist/Adjunct Faculty at Concordia University-Ann Arbor. In addition, she has served on the faculties of Michigan State University, University of Michigan-Residential College and Grand Valley State University.
VIOLIN
Leslie Capozzoli (Violin, Youth Orchestra Program) holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Michigan and currently conducts the AASPA Junior String Orchestra and Sterling String Orchestra. In addition, Ms. Capozzoli is the manager of the Classic Touch String Ensemble and Director of Strings/Orchestra at Emerson School in Ann Arbor.
Krista Knight (Violin, Individual Instruction, Chamber Music) holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Lawrence University, Conservatory of Music, in Appleton, WI. Ms. Knight has a wide range of experience as a music educator, and has served as violin teacher, performer, general music teacher, and orchestra director. In addition, Ms. Knight has maintained an active performance schedule as an orchestral musician, chamber musician and Celtic fiddler. Ms. Knight has been a member of the AASPA violin faculty since 2007. In addition to her violin instruction, Ms. Knight is also actively involved in the COMP tutor program, an after school music lesson program for scholarship students, in partnership with the Ann Arbor Public Schools.
David Lamse (Violin, Individual Instruction, Chamber Music, Adult Studies) has been a featured violinist in live shows with Shirley Jones, Sarah Brightman, Marvin Hamlisch, Sandi Patti, Smokey Robinson, Anne Murray, Michael Feinstein, Doc Severinsen, Mannheim Steamroller, Garrison Keillor, and Liza Minelli. He has performed in Broadway National Tour productions including Peter Pan, Carousel, Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, The Sound of Music, Sunset Boulevard, The Producers, Camelot, and The Color Purple. David's playing can be heard on the Black Carnation album "It Remains the Same," "Painting a Burning Building" by Brandon Wiard, and the "Saint Ange" movie soundtrack.
David is the Assistant Concertmaster of the Jackson Symphony, and Assistant Principal Second of the Ann Arbor Symphony. As a tenured member of the Lansing Symphony, he has served as [acting] Concertmaster, and Assistant Concertmaster. David also performs with the Ann Arbor Camerata, and regularly appears with ensembles in Dearborn and Kalamazoo. David teaches at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish and is on the violin faculty of the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts, and the Point CounterPoint chamber music camp.
Sherry Quint-Bourland (Violin, Individual Instruction, Chamber Music Studies, Adult Studies) holds a Master of Music from the University of Michigan in violin performance and education and also possesses a State of Michigan Permanent Teaching Certificate. Ms. Meyers was a student of Angel Reyes, Paul Kantor and Marion Tanau. She has been a performer with the Toledo Symphony, the Canary Islands Opera Festival Orchestra, the AIMS-Graz European Festival Orchestra in Austria, the Ann Arbor Chamber Orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony and also the local Terrabella Trio. Ms. Meyers was a teacher of strings, orchestra and general education for 27 years in the Ypsilanti Schools, and she has been a member of the AASPA violin faculty since 2004.
Jacqueline Nutting (Violin, Individual Instruction) is currently a D.M.A. candidate at the University of Michigan, in violin performance. In addition, Ms. Nutting holds a Master of Music from the University of Michigan in violin performance and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University in violin performance. In addition to her teaching, Ms. Nutting maintains an active performance schedule as an orchestral and chamber musician. Ms. Nutting is the founder of the Ensemble Baroken, a non-profit performance ensemble, dedicated to raising money to support music education through a series of high quality, accessible concerts in the Ann Arbor community.
Elaine Sargous (Violin, AASPA Founder) studied at the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto, where she later was on the faculty of the Music Education Department. Ms. Sargous was a Founder of AASPA, teacher of strings in the Ann Arbor Public Schools and performer with several orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the area. She has made appearances with the Toronto Symphony and the Toledo Symphony, CBC and National Public Radio. In addition to her musical expertise, Ms. Sargous is experienced in speech arts and theater and has made appearances in film, stage productions, and narrations.
VIOLA
Antione Hackney (Viola, Individual Instruction) holds a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music in viola performance. A Pioneer High School graduate, Mr. Hackney was also the principal violist for the Disney Grammy All-American Orchestra, and a performer with UBS Verbier International Orchestra.
Joanna Myers (Violin, Viola, Individual Instruction) holds a Master of Music from Bowling Green University in viola performance and a Bachelor of Music, sum cum laude from Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music. Ms. Myers has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony and numerous other regional orchestras. In addition to maintaining a busy schedule as teacher and performer, Ms. Myers is a licensed Feldenkreis practitioner.
CELLO
Monica Fry (Cello, Individual Instruction, KinderStrings) holds a Master of Music from the University of Michigan in cello performance a Bachelor of Arts from Goucher College in music performance and possesses a K-12 Teaching Certification from Eastern Michigan University. Ms. Fry has been a member of the AASPA string faculty since 2005 and maintains an active schedule of group string classes for young children. In addition, Ms. Fry participates regularly on student and faculty recitals at AASPA.
BASS
Kurt Krahnke (Acoustic and Electric Bass, Jazz Studies) was a student at the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston. Mr. Krahnke has many recordings, and performances to his credit, and these include touring with such artists as: Ellen Rowe, Joe Henderson, Leon Thomas, Sonny Fortune, Maria Muldaur, James Dapogny and Mugrew Miller.
GUITAR
Daniel Ripke (Guitar, Individual Instruction) studied classical guitar and music theory at Delta College and theory and composition at Central Michigan University. Mr. Ripke has been a private studio instructor for 12 years, specializing in beginning and intermediate students. Mr. Ripke specializes in building a strong musical foundation for students as well as introducing them to styles such as classical, jazz, blues, and popular music. He has a numerous performances and recordings to his credit, with groups in Michigan and San Francisco. He currently performs solo and with his band Back Forty. In addition to performing and teaching, Mr. Ripke regularly conducts songwriting and recording workshops.
VOICE
Kara Alfano (Voice, Individual Instruction) holds a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance and literature from the University of Michigan. Ms. Alfano is currently on the faculty of Grosse Pointe High School and Concordia University-Ann Arbor, where she teaches voice, conducts the Chorale, an all-women ensemble, and is the creator and instructor of the Vocal Arts Lab. Ms. Alfano has been a member of the AASPA voice faculty since 2006.
Robby Griswold (Student Services Manager, Voice, Individual Instruction) recently appeared as Dr. Blind in Arbor Opera Theater's Die Fledermaus (along with Kara Alfano as Adele). In addition to performing with this group year-round, he also volunteers on their marketing committee. Mr. Griswold began studying music shortly after his graduation (a BA in Arts and Ideas in the Humanities) from the Residential College at UM in 2007. Since that time, he has performed in the opera workshop at the Detroit Opera House, with the UM Gilbert & Sullivan Society, and in the chorus at Michigan Opera Theatre. In addition to working with AASPA, he studies voice with Caroline Helton at UM and works as an accounting bookkeeper for Zingerman's Mail Order here in Ann Arbor.
Carla Margolis (Voice, Dalcroze, Early Childhood Arts, Individual Instruction) is currently studying voice at Easter Michigan University. In addition, Ms. Margolis has studied Dalcroze Technique at the Dalcroze School of Music in NYC, Westminster Choir College and the Julliard School of Music. Ms. Margolis has also studied vocal technique and jazz vocal technique at Indiana School of Music and has studied privately with Charles Preston, Janet Lawson and Diane Estes. Ms. Margolis has worked with the Ann Arbor Public Schools, the Chelsea Center for the Arts and Young People's Theatre. Ms. Margolis teaches voice and group classes in Dalcroze Technique at AASPA.
TRUMPET
Paul Finkbeiner (Trumpet, Jazz Studies Program, Jazz Program Director) was the fourth Jazz Major to graduate from Western Michigan University. He's performed in various jazz groups all over the world, including on cruise ships, the Orange County Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, the Evergreen Jazz Festival in Colorado, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the symphonic hall of the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, Spain. He has also appeared on several CD's with Paul Keller, Jan Krist, Bess Bonnier, Glenn Tucker, Steve Fentriss and Phil Ogilvie's Rhythm Kings.
Alex Young (Trumpet, Individual Instruction) is currently pursuing a Masters in Music in both trumpet performance and chamber music from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance and music education from the University of Iowa. Alex enjoys a wide variety of performance opportunities and has played in orchestras, bands, jazz bands, brass quintets, brass bands and musical theater pit orchestras. He also was a member of Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from 2006-2007, and has returned to serve on visual staff for 2010. Alex has been on faculty at AASPA since 2009 and looks forward to teaching students of all levels and ages.
DRUMS & PERCUSSION
Dane Crozier (Percussion, Individual Instruction) is currently studying music performance as a graduate student of the University of Michigan where he remains an active performer, teacher, and artist. Since moving to Ann Arbor, MI, he has had the opportunity to perform Steve Reich’s “Drumming” with New Music Detroit, as well as UofM Samba Band - Vencedores, Contemporary Directions Ensemble, the University Symphony Orchestra, and University Musical Society Choral Union. His teaching engagements include rumba seminars for students and faculty of UofM, teaching private lessons to area percussionists and giving private lessons and Master Classes as the Percussion Instructor of Detroit’s Sphinx Preperatory program and the Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts. Visit his website (www.danecrozier.com) for more information!
Jesse Kramer (Drums, Individual Instruction) a graduate of the AASPA jazz program, is now a jazz faculty member! Mr. Kramer is an active performer and teacher in the Ann Arbor area; has performed on several professional recordings and performs regularly with local groups and groups throughout southeast Michigan. Mr. Kramer is currently studying jazz performance at the University of Michigan School of Music.
FLUTE
Penelope Fischer (AASPA Founder, Flute, Individual Instruction) holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Iowa, a Master of Music, cum laude from the University of Michigan, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland. Dr. Fischer is principal flutist of the Ann Arbor Symphony, member of Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, the Great Lakes Woodwind Quintet, the Melrose Ensemble and the Arbor Baroque Ensemble. In the summers, Dr. Fischer teaches and performs at the Pine Mountain Music Festival and Interlochen Center for the Arts Adult Chamber Music Camp. Dr; Fischer also regularly serves as clinician and adjudicator of national and regional competitions and festivals. Dr. Fischer is a founder of AASPA and served as Executive Director for years.
Rena Gresh (Flute, Individual Instruction)
Emily Perryman Bugala (Flute, Individual Instruction) holds a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan in flute performance and Bachelor of Music Education, summa cum laude, from Ohio State University. She joined the AASPA flute faculty in 2005 and maintains an active teaching and performance schedule. In Fall 2008, Ms. Perryman joined the administrative team as Student Services Manager.
CLARINET
Steve Sanchez Clarinet, Individual Instruction)
SAXOPHONE
Robert Young (Saxophone, Individual Instruction) holds a Master of Music in saxophone performance from the University of Michigan, a Bachelor of Music, cum laude, in saxophone performance from the University of South Carolina, and is currently a candidate in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of Michigan. His principal teachers include: Donald Sinta, Andrew Bishop, and Bert Ligon, and he is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Society of Musical Arts Young Artist Competition, the Tuesday Musicale of Detroit Performance awards, the Lawrence Teal award at the University of Michigan, a finalist in the U-M Concerto competition, 1st prize in the Josie Etta Daley Young Artist Competition, 3rd prize in the MTNA National Collegiate Woodwind Solo Competition, and many others. He maintains an active performance and teaching schedule and has been a member of the AASPA wind faculty since Fall 2008.
TROMBONE
Benjamin Allen (Trombone, Individual Instruction, Youth Orchestras Assistant Conductor) holds a Master of Music Education from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude, in General Music from Washington University in St. Louis. Mr. Allen joined the AASPA faculty in 2005 and has specialized in curriculum design for young children. Currently, Mr Allen and currently teaches individual trombone lessons and serves as Assistant Conductor to the SSO and JSO.
EARLY CHILDHOOD ARTS-MUSIC THERAPY
Monica Fry (Cello, Individual Instruction, KinderStrings)- see description under Cello
Debra Gombert (Music Therapy, Recorder Club, beginning Flute) studied flute at Vassar College, and at the University of Michigan. Ms. Gombert studied flute with John Solum, Amy Porter and Julie Stone. She received a Bachelor of Music, suma cum laude, from Eastern Michigan University in music therapy, and is currently working toward her Masters of Arts in music therapy from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
In addition to her expertise as a flutist, Ms. Gombert is a practicing music therapist employed by the University of Michigan and other clinics, maintains a music therapy studio for private clients, and teaches music at the Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor.
Sarah Malick (Piano, Individual Instruction, Kindermusik, Keyboard Musicianship Club)-See description under Individual Instruction (piano)
Carla Margolis (Dalcroze, voice) - see description under Voice
Brenda Marshall (Piano, MusicPlay) is an experienced piano teacher who has taught in the Ann Arbor area since 1981. Ms. Marshall holds a Master of Arts from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Michigan. In addition, she has been certified in Music Learning Theory since 2005.
YOUTH ORCHESTRA PROGRAM
Benjamin Allen (Orchestra Personnel Manager and SSO Assistant) - see description under Trombone
Leslie Capozzoli (Violin, JSO and YSOConductor, Youth Orchestra Program Director) - see description under violin
Timario Wilkins (Youth Orchestra Assistant Conductor)
JAZZ STUDIES
Paul Finkbeiner (Trumpet, Interim Jazz Studies Director)-see description under Trumpet
Jesse Kramer (Drums, Individual Instruction)-see description under Drums
Kurt Krahnke (Acoustic and Electric Bass) - see description under Bass
ADULT STUDIES
David Lamse (Violin Individual Instruction, Chamber Music Studies, String Orchestra for Adults) - see description under Violin
COMP PROGRAM TUTORS
Strings/Orchestra:
Monica Fry (cello)
Krista Knight (violin)
Margaret Waltz (bass)
Winds/Band:
Paul Finkbeiner
Caroline Fitzgerald
Keri Frost
Kathryn Olson
