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.
Melissa Coppola (Piano, Individual
Instruction, Keyboard Club) holds a Bachelor of Music in piano
performance from Manhattan School of Music and is currently pursuing her
Master's degree in piano performance at University of Michigan. She
has taught as an instructor with the Manhattan School of Music
Educational Outreach team and has also been on the piano faculty at
Piano School of New York as well as Fred & Tian Music Studio in
Brooklyn, NY. Melissa has been on the AASPA faculty since 2009.
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.
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.
Sherry Meyers -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.
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.
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.
VOICE
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.
DRUMS & PERCUSSION
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) holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan in flute performance. Ms. Gresh is a former student of Jeff Zook, Amy Porter, Lorna McGhee, and Jan Angus and has been an instructor in flute for 14 years. She instructs a Flute Ensemble class at the Rudolf Steiner high school in Ann Arbor, teaches sectionals and classes for local middle and high schools and is a performer with many Metro-Detroit ensembles. Ms. Gresh is currently a member of the Southeast Michigan Flute Association and is an employee at Shar Music in Ann Arbor.
CLARINET
