CMS Faculty

Sun Hye (Sunny) Chung, piano
MM in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville(SIUE); Piano Performance Certificate, Judson University(JU); MA in Church Music and BA in Piano Performance, Seoul Theological University(STU). Staff pianist, SIUE; Worship Accompanist, New Bethel United Methodist Church; Director, Youth Ambassadors Orchestra of Korean-American Association of St. Louis; Private Instructor, Glen Carbon, IL. Former positions: Collaborative Pianist/Accompanist, String Orchestra Camp of Webster University Community Music School; Adjunct Instructor, STU; Private/Academy Instructor, South Korea; Choir Accompanist, SIUE, JU, STU, various churches. Awards/Scholarships: 2nd Prize, 2022 Baroque Music Competition by Charleston Intl Music Competition; Dr. Linda Perry Piano Performance Scholarship, Dr. Warren L. Brown Memorial Graduate Student Music Award, Ernest A. Karandjeff Music Award, Graduate Assistant Scholarship, SIUE(2020-2022). Performances: French Embassy Invitational Performance, Paris American Church(2018); Piano Concerto with Phil Con Spirito Orchestra, Vienna(2018); Various solo, chamber, ensemble, orchestra, choir, musical, and opera performances.

Nina Ferrigno, piano*
MA - MM with Distinction in Performance, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston; BM with Distinction in Performance, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston; described by the St. Louis-Dispatch as "a magnificent pianist;" has appeared in major concert venues throughout North America; has performed with the Chicago Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Boston Symphony, Boston Pops and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP); experience includes teaching in Massachusetts at Brandeis University, Walnut Hill School for the Performing Arts. Current faculty of Webster University and Washington University; pianist of the Boston-based Calyx Piano Trio; committed to bringing classical music to new audiences and strives to commission and perform new works in a variety of settings. Co-director of the Missouri Chamber Music Festival.

S. Diane Fukunaga, piano
PhD, University of Kansas, Music Theory; MM Michigan State University, Clarinet Performance; BA and BME, University of Kansas, Spanish and Music Education; Instructor of various music theory, history, and music education classes at Aquinas College of Grand Rapids, MI, Grand Rapids Community College, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Former elementary band, elementary strings, and high school Spanish teacher, and high school choir accompanist. Accompanist for Solo and Ensemble Festival.

Antonina Gerassimova, piano
MM in Piano Performance and Music Education, Academy of Music, Sofia, Bulgaria; BM in Piano Performance and Music Education, College of Music and Arts, Rousse, Bulgaria; faculty member, Townsend Music School; former piano, ear training and music theory teacher, Chesterfield Day School and College of Music and Arts (Rousse, Bulgaria); former conductor, College of Music and Arts; accompanist for Townsend Music School, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Webster University, Academy of Music (Sofia, Bulgaria) and College of Music and Arts (Rousse, Bulgaria); guest recitals at University of Missouri-Kansas City, Webster University, Basel Academy of Music (Basel, Switzerland), Academy of Music (Sofia, Bulgaria), Festival of Music for Young Talents (Berjeraque, France) and the Rousse State Orchestra (Rousse, Bulgaria); accompanist, National Society of Arts and Letters- St. Louis Chapter's Career Opportunity Vocal Competition, March 2008.

Douglas Gilliland, piano

D.Th - dissertation in progress “A Theological Construct of the Music of Aimee Semple McPherson”; M.M. Sacred Music (Organ) – University of Florida (scholarship student), B. M. Piano Performance – Southern Illinois University; Graduate Assistant Keyboard Development SIUE; Former teacher Bismarck State College, Life Pacific University, Angelus Bible Institute, Former Keyboardist Bismarck-Mandan Symphony, Former Accompanist SLSO School of Music; Recitals and recording with Soprano Youngmi Kim; Piano and Voice students have won scholarships and placed/won competitions such as the National Fine Arts Festival; Competition adjudicator; performances in Belgium, Hungary, Moldova, and the Republic of Georgia. Teachers – Jane Allen, Ruth Slenczynska, Willis Bodine, Kathleen Thomerson, and Holly Hughes. Minister of Music Angelus Temple (Dream Center), Calvary Temple, Winnipeg. Former Pianist Riverbend Piano Trio.

Valentina Gurevich, piano
MA, Byelorussia Academy of Music, Minsk; BA, Georgia State Musical College; former faculty member and accompanist, Minsk Special Music School; member, Music Teachers National Association and Missouri Music Teachers Association.

Chelle Habecker, piano
MA in Music (ethnomusicology), University of Hawaii; BA in Music and Associate of Arts in piano pedagogy (teaching), Spring Arbor University; accompanist for children's and youth choirs at Peace UCC and accompanist for soloists at various festivals; former accompanist for CHARIS (St. Louis Women's Chorus); her students have taken and passed the exams for the Achievement Program by the Royal Conservatory.

Zena Ilyashov, piano*
MA, Byelorussian Academy of Music; BA, Minsk Special Music School; former faculty member, Minsk Special Music School for Gifted Children; member, Music Teachers National Association and Missouri Music Teachers Association; among her students are international, national, regional and state competition winners who have performed as soloists with orchestras and live on radio, including Classic 99, the Radio Arts Foundation and "From the Top" on National Public Radio.

Inessa Kaplan, piano
BA in piano, music theory and music literature, State Music College of Gomel, Belarus; piano teacher and accompanist, Gomel School of Music, private studio; member, MTNA.

Soo Kyung Kim, piano*
DMA in piano performance, University of Georgia; MM piano performance, New England Conservatory of Music; BM piano performance, Seoul National University; private piano instructor, private studio, Eugene Lee Music & Art School, Roma Academy; accompanist, Korean Martyrs Catholic Church; former accompanist, Seoul National University Choir; awarded first place, Convention Recitalist at GMTA Spring Audition, UGA Concerto Competition, Worlgan Music Piano Competition; soloist, Ludwig Symphony Orchestra, University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra, New Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra; has performed all over the world on numerous solo and chamber music recitals including the 17th Benefit Concert for the KASF. www.sookyungkimpiano.com

Becky Lee, piano
MM piano performance, University of Nevada Las Vegas; BM piano performance, Yonsei University, South Korea; private piano teacher, private accompanist; teachers include Timothy Hoft, Keum-Bong Kim, Young-Bang Cho and Mari Kwon; winner of numerous competitions internationally; recitals and chamber concerts at such festivals as SMC Music Festival, J&R Music Festival, Las Vegas Baroque Festival and University of Florida Music Festival; currently serves as a program chair and a Master Class chair in Saint Louis Area Music Teachers Association (SLAMTA) and a district audition chair in Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA).

Mihyun Lee, piano
DMA piano performance, Ohio State University; MM piano performance, Cleveland Institute of Music; BM piano performance, Sook-Myung Women’s University; former faculty member, Baek-Seok Arts University and Sook-Myung Women’s University; former piano instructor; Ohio State University (GTA); former staff accompanist, Hobart and William Smith Colleges; current faculty of St. Charles Community College. Performances with Russia Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Vienna CMS Orchestra, Romania Oltenia Craiova Philharmonic Orchestra, Janacek Concert Chamber Orchestra and Sae- Jong Symphony Orchestra; guest performance at Triumph Music Festival-Gala Concert (Philadelphia); first prize of International Young Artist Piano Competition, Asia International Music Competition, Korean World Arts Association Piano Competition, Music Education Newspaper Piano Competition and recipient of American Protégé Competition; winners concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Carnegie Weill Hall in New York; broadcast on WOSU TV and Classical 101, Columbus; actively performing in US (New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C, Ohio, Indiana), Europe (Italy, Czech) and Asia including solo recital in Seoul Arts Center in Korea.

Jorge Modolell, piano
Ph.D. in Musicology, Washington University in St. Louis; B.M in Piano Performance, summa cum laude, University of Miami Frost School of Music; Lecturer in music history, Washington University in St. Louis; Former positions: ear training & sight-singing instructor, Washington University in St. Louis; conductor associate, Conductor’s Institute of South Carolina; graduate teaching assistant, Frost School of Music; assistant conductor, Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra (Fort Lauderdale, Florida); Awards/Scholarships: Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship (Washington University); Outstanding Graduating Student Award (Department of Piano Performance, Frost School of Music); Rosalina Sackstein Scholarship (Frost School of Music); Van Steenberg Scholarship (Miami Music Teachers Association); piano soloist with New World School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra; active performer through local clubs and organizations, including the Rubinstein Music Club and the St. Louis Piano Society.

Matt Pankratz, piano
MM in Piano Performance, Louisiana State University; BM in Piano Performance (summa cum laude), Webster University. Current adjunct faculty member Webster University and Community Music School of Webster University; past instructor Louisiana State, Performing Arts Academy of Louisiana, and Jackson Pianos; current lead accompanist for CMS Suzuki Strings program and co-director of the Chamber Music Encounter; former accompanist positions include choirs, strings and woodwinds at Louisiana State, Masterwork’s Chorale of Belleville, Illinois; studied under Daniel Schene (Webster University), Sheila Paige (Dorothy Taubman Institute), Gregory Sioles and Michael Gurt (Louisiana State), Karl Koesterer (CMS), Gail Delante, Michael Chertok, Norman Krieger; winner of numerous performance scholarships, including the Buder Foundation and Jack Guerry Foundation; winner of Webster University Concerto Competition; recent performances include soloist with the Forte Chamber Orchestra, guest recital and masterclass at the Webster University Piano Camp. A native of St. Louis, Pankratz began his studies at the Community Music School of Webster University studying with Karl Koesterer. Pankratz focuses on a healthy piano technique, using the body’s natural physiology to dictate movements at the keyboard, applying years of experience studying the Taubman Method.

Susan Pankratz, piano
MM Piano and BM Theory, Webster University; former instructor and theory coordinator, Saint Louis Conservatory and Schools for the Arts; former teaching assistant, Webster University; judged on numerous festivals and competitions; Saint Louis Music Teachers Association board member for several years; freelance accompanist.

Vera Parkin, piano*
B.M and MM Piano Performance with chamber music certificate, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; undergraduate studies at Northwestern University; doctoral work at Washington University; teachers include Gui Mombaerts, Ruth Slenczynska and Seth and Maryse Carlin; keyboardist, St. Louis Symphony since 1987; former Artist Presentation Society winner; former Director of Student Life and teaching artist, Innsbrook Institute. Staff accompanist for 30 years at many area institutions; teach in Beirut, Lebanon through the cultural diplomacy agency American Voices and American-Lebanese Suzuki Talent Education Program; St. Louis Symphony Music Educator of the Year, 2011. Founding artistic director of the Preparatory Program 1998-2020.

Pam Roussin, piano
MM Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; BM University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana; studied with Soulima Stravinsky (son of Igor Stravinsky) Menahem Pressler, and Ronald Arnatt; played with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra; former member of piano faculty at Portland State University, St. Louis University, St. Louis Community College, and former teacher for Ritenour School District; current accompanist at St. Charles Community College.

Jane Thomas, piano
MA and BA in Music, Webster University; taught numerous courses as adjunct faculty, Webster University; private instructor of piano and flute students; studied in England with William Bennett of the London Symphony Orchestra as a masterclass performer; Concerto Competition Winner (2003), Webster University Symphony Orchestra; composer of music with World Premiere at Webster University Faculty Composers' Concert; commissioned composer/arranger; member, National and Missouri Federation of Music Clubs, National Guild of Piano Teachers, Music Teachers' National Association, Missouri Music Teachers' Association, National Flute Association, St. Louis Flute Society; performances with Webster Symphony Orchestra and as freelance solo and chamber musician.

Carolbeth True, piano (Jazz)
Carolbeth True has been a very active member of the St. Louis musical community for many years. She is adjunct faculty at Webster University—teaching jazz and classical piano, accompanying Webster Jazz Singers; maintaining an extensive private student roster. She performs with Two Times True with son Dave True on drums, Larry Johnson on saxophones, Glen Smith on bass; The Carolbeth Group; The Randy Holmes Quintet; The Oikos Ensemble led by Reverend Cliff Aerie--saxophones; and Wind of the Spirit Praise Band at Webster Groves Christian Church. Carolbeth and Randy Holmes are original cast members of "The Jazz Story", a 1-hour overview of jazz history at the Sheldon, now in its 22nd season. Carolbeth has been the pianist for the MCDA All State Jazz Vocal ensemble for 7 years; and rehearsal and orchestra pianist for Variety Children’s Theatre’s world-class fall musical production for 9 years. Carolbeth received the Excellence in the Arts Award from the Arts and Education Council; the Riverfront Times and St. Louis Magazine’s Best Jazz Artist Award; and the Citizen of the Year Award for Rock Hill, her home community. Carolbeth is heard on several cds: “True”, “Two Times True”, Larry Johnson’s “Circles” and “I’m Just Sayin’ and “I’m All Smiles” with vocalist Debby Lennon. A new Christmas jazz cd will be out in late November.

Richard Zelle, piano (Jazz and Traditional)
Pursued music education degree, University of Missouri-St. Louis; teachers included Richard (Dick) Zelle Sr., Seth Greiner Jr., Seth Greiner Sr. and Jane Allen; currently performs with international traveling jazz group Cornet Chop Suey and several other local groups including The Sappingtons; former member, St. Louis Jazz Quartet, Gateway Jazz Ensemble and 40 West Band; performed for Six Flags auditions, rehearsals and shows; performed on many radio and TV commercials; recordings include solo CD "I've Got The World On A String," May 2002.

Kristin Edmonds, adapted voice lessons and traditional*
Edmonds is offering voice lessons adapted for the needs of students with autism spectrum disorder who are high-functioning. Typical adaptations include visual supports and cues for total body communication.
MM in Vocal Performance, New England Conservatory of Music; MA in Speech Pathology and Audiology, University of Connecticut; BM in Vocal Performance, University of Missouri; studied voice with Helen Hodam, Virginia Pyle and Carole Gaspar; soloist with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, American Kantorei and in the Poulenc Festival at Christ Church Cathedral with Dalton Baldwin and Gail Hintz; toured with guitarist/musicologist Jeffrey Noonan; cabaret performances at Royal George Theatre, Chicago and the Algonquin Club, Boston. Won or placed at numerous vocal competitions including Midwest Regional NATS Auditions and St. Louis Symphony Young Artist Competition; formerly the pediatric voice therapy specialist at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital in Massachusetts; consulted with Whole Vibes Music Therapy which partners with Palm Beach Opera and Els Foundation to manage the Interability Chorus; currently runs voice therapy practice and voice studio; taught voice at New England Conservatory of Music, Webster University and Maryville University, vocal pedagogy at University of Connecticut. Ms. Edmonds has raised a musical child with developmental disabilities.

Jeffrey Heyl, voice
DMA, University of Iowa; Master of Music, University of Hartford (Hartt Talent Scholarship recipient); BME., Eastman School of Music. Director of Worship Arts, Green Trails Methodist Church; Adjunct Faculty, Lindenwood University, Missouri Baptist University and Covenant Theological Seminary; frequent soloist and recitalist; member, National Association of Teachers of Singing, American Choral Directors Association and St. Louis Symphony Chorus.

Dr. Song Lyu, voice
D.M.A. Voice Performance, Artist Certificate in Voice Performance from the University of Kansas; MM and BA, Sichuan Conservatory of Music; stage performances include Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, The Second Knitter in Game of Chance, La Fortuna in L’incoronazione di Poppea, and Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw; other performance experiences include solo soprano in the world premiere of Psalm Symphony, H.175 by Leo Sowerby, and the roles in scenes of Lakmé, La Traviata, La clemenza di Tito, Così fan Tutte, Lucia di Lammermoor, Into the Woods, Hansel and Gretel; guest artist with International Professional Piano Association, and Kansas City Chinese Association; founder of the KU Chamber and Vocal Music Organization; produced the “Singing in KC” Vocal Audition and the Vocal Chapter of Kansas City Lunar New Year Gala, etc. More details: https://www.homepagecards.com/

Dominique Eldraco Price, voice
BM Jazz Vocal Performance (Honors), Webster University; studied contemporary voice with Debby Lennon and Eric Dalbey, Scholarship awardee for training in the Webster U. Opera Studio under Alice Nelson and Carole Gaspar, studied composition and songwriting with Melissa Bishop and Kim Portnoy at Webster U.; Winner of The John Lennon Songwriting Stuck-at-Home contest (2020), Noted songwriter by ASCAP Experience Magazine, International Songwriting Competition Semi-Finalist 2023; currently performs nationwide as the premier entertainer/frontman of the award-winning event band The LustreLights, a Hall of Fame inductee for The Knot Magazine; bandleader/frontman of his own band Eldraco+FreeNation, has made musical appearances at Jazz at The Bistro, The Grandel, Off-Broadway, Blueberry Hill, Delmar Hall, The Ozark Theatre, Schlafly Tap Room, and more, headliner of various noted festivals including St.Charles PrideFest (2018-2022), Artica Fest (2020-2023), Tower Grove Pride (2022), WERQ Fest (2022), Festival of the Little Hills, and most recently The Whitaker Music Festival (2023); A featured artist for So-Far Sounds Chicago (2019). As an educator Dominique has maintained a private studio for 7 years, mentored and advised the Ignite theatre Co. in dance and musical techniques, and founded/directed and mentored P!NG Performance Art Collective (a community musical-theatre association for non-major at Webster U.) www.eldracoprice.com

Nathan Ruggles, voice
MM Vocal Performance, Washington University, BM (cum laude), Washington University; Principal Singer, St. Louis Symphony Chorus. Roles include Senator Pompe in a world premiere production of Shell of a Troll (Sussman), and Prince Charming in Cendrillon (Viardot) with Gateway Opera, Blanche in The Stranger the Better (Wade) with St. Louis Opera Collective, Mandarin in Turandot, Imperial Commissioner in Madame Butterfly, Prison Guard and Anthony DeRocher in Dead Man Walking with Union Avenue Opera, Lakai in Ariadne auf Naxos with Winter Opera, Bunthorne in Patience with Franklin Opera, and The Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance) and Priest/Armored Man in The Magic Flute with OperaFest! Of New Hampshire. Chorus credits include Carmen with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Cover artist for Carmina Burana, Missa Solemnis, LindberghFleug (Weill) and Sinfonia Espansiva (Nielsen) with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Previous teaching experience includes Washington University, Saint Louis University and Southeast Missouri State University.

William Bauer, violin, viola, chamber music
BM Performance, University of Texas; Artistic Director of the (Dallas area) McKinney Kammergild and the St. Louis Baroque Festival and Academy; active member of Atlanta's New Trinity Baroque, Chicago's The Comic Intermezzo and Ars Antigua, Milwaukee's Ensemble Musical Offering; recent member of the Chicago Baroque Band, Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra and the New York State Baroque; soloist at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., in Mexico at the Journadas de Musica Antigua in Gunanajuato, the Festival de Musica Barocca in San Miguel De Allende, the Iraklion International Festival (Crete) and the Lisbon and Vancouver Early Music festivals; has programmed and led concerts for special exhibits at The Art Institute of Chicago, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Saint Louis Art Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts; recordings can be found on the Deutsche Grammophon, Polydor, Naxos, First Edition, Nannerl and Studio 115 labels.

Brad Besand, violin/viola
BM, University of Missouri-St. Louis; Every Child Can and Violin Book 1, Chicago Suzuki Institute; Studied with David Gillham, John McGrosso and Julia Sakharova; 2nd Violinist, Landolfi String Quartet and Ensemble; Section Violinist, Gateway Festival Orchestra; Suzuki Strings Instructor, Ferguson-Florissant School District; Summer Strings Conductor, Community Music School of Webster University; Former Assistant Concertmaster, Alton Symphony Orchestra, Former Section Violinist, St. Louis Philharmonic; Former Section Violinist, St. Louis Civic Orchestra; Former Violin/Viola Instructor, Mozingo Music; Former students have gone on to study music at UMC, Lawrence University, Belmont University and Jacobs School of Music; Former students have played in Vienna, Berlin and the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina.

Rebecca Chung Hamilton, violin
MM Violin Performance, The Juilliard School; BM Violin Performance and BA Psychology, Northwestern University; studied with Naoko Tanaka, Almita and Roland Vamos, and Yuan-Qing Yu; member of Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra, Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra and New West Symphony; former substitute of Pasadena Symphony and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; has performed with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Barry Manilow and Ariana Grande; has performed on many tv and film scores such as "Ferdinand", "Onward" and "House of Cards." For more information, visit Rebecca Chungs personal website .

Joo Kim Czyzewski, violin*
BM, MM, Juilliard School; first violinist, St. Louis Symphony; former concertmaster, SpoletoUSA Orchestra in Charleston, South Carolina, the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Japan; former principal second violin, Jerusalem International Symphony Orchestra in Israel; toured with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; solo and chamber music, Encore, Aspen, Sun Valley, Taos and Zephyr music festivals; performed as a soloist, St. Louis Symphony, SpoletoUSA Orchestra, New World School of the Arts Orchestra in Miami, Florida, the Sebastian Chamber Ensemble in Korea; teachers include Naoko Tanaka, Dorothy DeLay, Todd Phillips, Felicia Moye and Ivan Chan.

Nancy Daby, violin; Conductor, String Orchestra
MM, Converse College, Spartanburg, S.C.; AS in String Instrument Technology, Indiana University; BA, New York State University at Albany; former faculty member, Converse College Pre-college Division, Suzuki String Program at University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Cincinnati Public Schools; member, American String Teachers Association and Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Timothy Eshing, violin/viola, theory
MA Philosophy, Saint Louis University; BM Composition, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance; former CMS student of William Bauer (violin, viola, viola d’amore) and prizewinner of the CMS Harry and Arden Fisher Young Composers Competition; studied viola with Scott Lee and composition with Chen Yi and James Mobberley; spent summers at the Innsbrook Institute and studied at UMSL with Joanna Mendoza and other members of the Arianna String Quartet; assistantships, fellowships, or residences at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts (Nebraska City), Seasons Music Festival (Yakima, WA), U-Louisville, and St. Louis University (SLU). Seventeen years of experience as a freelance performer, educator, composer, arranger, and editor, including a decade as instructor of strings and theory/composition at Townsend Music School (Ballwin). Currently a doctoral student at SLU studying philosophy and bioethics.

Pavel Ilyashov, violin and viola*
BM violin performance, Curtis Institute of Music; 14-year tenure with Virginia Symphony; appeared with Tacoma Symphony, the National Philharmonic of Honduras, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Caramoor Festival, Bargemusic and on Performance Today radio program; chamber collaborations with Yo Yo Ma, Jaime Laredo, Paquito D’rivera and members of the Emerson String Quartet; recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Music Educator Award with the Bay Youth Orchestras of Virginia; served on the faculty of the Governor’s School for the Arts and the Hampton Roads Chamber Players; has taught master classes throughout the Americas and participated in teaching festivals in New York, Colorado and Lima, Peru; global ambassador for the Youth Orchestra of the Americas.

Lucy Kaymakanova, violin
BM and MM in Violin Performance and Violin Pedagogy, Academy of Fine Arts, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; former member, Rousse Opera Orchestra, Usti nad Labem Opera Orchestra, Webster University Orchestra, St. Louis Chamber Orchestra; member, Gateway Orchestra, St. Louis Ballet Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra; maintains a private studio in her Chesterfield home; faculty, Townsend Music School. Many of her students are past and present members of STYSO, YPCO, YPSO, All-Suburban and All-State Orchestras.

Manuela Kaymakanova, violin
MM Performance, University of Missouri-Kansas City; BM, Webster University-St. Louis; studied with Benny Kim and Yuly Ilyashov; currently performs with Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Union Avenue Opera, Winter Opera, Salem Chamber Orchestra and American Chamber Chorale, Bach Society of St Louis, The Masterworks Chorale, Webster University Symphony Orchestra and others; In 2018 Manuela was a member of the Fox Orchestra for Phantom of the Opera and MUNY Orchestra for Jerome Robbins Broadway; member of Perseid String Quartet; former member, graduate string quartet of University of Missouri — Kansas City; member, Trinity Piano Trio.

Joanne Keefe, Suzuki violin; Director, Suzuki Ensemble; Conductor, String Ensemble
MM, Performance and Pedagogy, University of Colorado-Boulder; BM, Violin Performance (cum laude), Lawrence University Conservatory; long-term Suzuki Teacher Training with William Starr, also studied with John Kendall and Calvin Wiersma; studied chamber music with members of the Hungarian, Manhattan and Takacs Quartets; former section violin and Principal Viola, Fox Valley Symphony (WI), section violin, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis and Simply4 String Quartet; former faculty and String Coordinator at Lawrence Academy of Music (WI); former elementary strings specialist for Ladue and Webster Groves School Districts; faculty member, New England Suzuki Institute; member, Suzuki Association of the Americas; recently published a book with Kevin M. Mitchell titled Jazz Songs for the Student Violinist.

Jessica Ray King, viola/violin
PhD in Progress-Musicology, Washington University in St. Louis; MM Viola Performance, Central Michigan University; BA Music and BA English with honors, University of Iowa; primary teachers: David Holland, Christine Rutledge, Dr. Alicia Valoit; Health and Wellness Department editor for the American Viola Society Journal; fellowships/residencies: Viola and Chamber Music at I Suoni di Sillene Festival Musicale (Chianciano Terme, Italy), Festival Artist at Saarburg International Music Festival and School.(Saarburg, Germany), Orchestra Fellow at Miami Music Festival (Miami, FL); District 221 Chamber Music, Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Macomb Symphony Orchestra, Disney Encore! cast, choir, and orchestra; Presentations: “I Will Sing: Voice, Viola, & Poetry.” 2022 American Viola Society & 47th International Viola Congress. June 2-5, 2022. Columbus, GA. “This is Not a Toy.” American Viola Society Congress. July 12-17, 2018. Los Angeles, CA. “Eugenio Cavalli-Fantasia per la Santa Cristina.” American Viola Society Congress. July 12-17, 2018. Los Angeles, CA; Publications: “Strategies for Reducing Performance Anxiety.” Journal of the American Viola Society (Vol. 36 No. 1, Spring 2020). “This is Not a Toy.” Journal of the American Viola Society (Vol. 33, Spring 2017).

Grace Ko, violin
B.M. Sung-Shin Women’s University – summa cum laude; post graduate study included mentorship under James Buswell with New England Conservatory and Frank Spinosa with Arizona State University, School of Music; Seoul Arts High School; active member of the Engedi Ensemble and the Aionios Trio; previous 1^st Violin and Asst. Concertmaster for Arizona Opera Orchestra, Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Du Page Symphony Orchestra and Rockford Symphony Orchestra; contracted member with New Seoul Philharmonic, Seoul National Symphony and Phoenix Symphony Orchestra; tenured member of the Lancaster Summer Music Festival between 2006 and 2014; related activities include France Flaine Musique Festival, Indiana University Summer Music Festival, Boston Conservatory Summer Music Festival, and San Francisco Summer Music Festival.

Susan McDonald, Suzuki violin, Coordinator of Suzuki Program
MA in Violin Performance from Western Illinois University; BME from Lawrence University Conservatory (cum laude). Registered Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Has served on the faculties of the Chicago, Colorado, Education for Happiness, Florida, Los Angeles, Louisville, Peaks to Plains, and American Suzuki Institutes and numerous Suzuki workshops. Served a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA). Received the SAA Certificate of Achievement and the Byron Hester Award for excellence in teaching. Former faculty, University City Public Schools, Knox-Galesburg Suzuki Program, WIU Suzuki Program, and Lawrence University Preparatory Program. Studied with Almita Vamos, John Kendall, Karen Clarke, and Francesca Koscielny. Has performed with the Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, Washington University Symphony, the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, the Fox Valley Symphony, SImply4 String Quartet, The Two Rivers String Quartet and as a soloist with the Kishwaukee Symphony and the Lawrence University Symphony. Member, Suzuki Association of the Americas and American String Teachers’ Association.

Amy Meschke, violin/viola
BA Truman State University, MAE. Truman State University, MA Educational Administration Lindenwood University. Studied violin and viola with Norma Tomlinson, Dr. Eugene Dowdy, Jorge Richter, Dr. Clifford Panton and Dr. Sam McClure. She attended master classes with Ani Gregorian Resnick and Ara Gregorian while she was a student at Truman State. Amy has performed with the St. Louis Community College Meramec orchestra under the direction of Mr. Gary Gackstatter. She has performed with numerous guest artists with the Meramec orchestra over the years including Eugene Friesen, Paul Winter, John McCutcheon, Barbara Higbie, Laura Love and Sam Bush. Amy is an orchestra director in the Mehlville School District. She coordinates the strings program in Mehlville. Amy has taught strings to elementary, middle and high school students for over twenty years.

Marilyn Park-Ellington, violin
MM and BM, both with distinction, Indiana University. Merit scholar at the Eastman School of Music and the St. Louis Conservatory of Music. Teachers include Henryk Kowalski, Josef Gingold, Rostislav Dubinsky, Jaime Laredo and Masao Kawasaki. Former acting assistant principal and section violin, St. Louis Symphony. Solo recitalist and soloist with the Alton Symphony Orchestra and New World Symphony.

Matt Pickart, violin/viola
DMA Candidate Viola Performance, Michigan State University; MM Violin Performance, Duquesne University; BM Violin Performance, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Director and Co-founder of Clazz International Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy; Assistant Professor of Music at Webster University, teaching violin, viola, improvisation and music entrepreneurship; performed at both Jazz at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Music Hall’s Weill Recital Hall; appeared as soloist with orchestras in the USA, Italy and the Netherlands; performed and recorded in multiple genres internationally; former violinist and vocalist of the Hot Club of Pittsburgh and featured artist of Jazzstadt Stuttgart; served on the faculty of Beloit College, Michigan State University Community Music School, Duquesne University’s City Music Center and University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Summer Music Clinic among numerous other programs; teachers include Sidney Harth (legendary American concertmaster); Yuri Gandelsman (former principal violist of Israel Philharmonic and violist with the Fine Arts Quartet); and Rodney Whitaker (bassist of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.)

Jessica Platt, violin
PhD, Violin Performance with minor in Vocal Performance, Ball State University; M.M. and B.M. Violin Performance, Boston University; current concertmaster of The Gateway Festival Orchestra and the Edwardsville Symphony; past concertmaster of the University City Symphony, the Clayton Orchestra, the Saint Louis Civic Orchestra, The Fabulous Fox Theater Orchestra, the Salem-Chamber Orchestra, and the Saint Louis Philharmonic Orchestra; performed with the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theater, the Union Avenue Opera, the St. Louis Bach Society, the Winter Opera, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra; founder of and performer for both the Cardinal Quartet (2004) and the Arch String Project (2018); Suzuki teacher trained instructor registered in all levels, studying under the tutelage of John Kendall, Donald Becker, Vera McCoy-Sullentic, Winifred Crock, and Thomas Wermuth; former teacher of individual and group lessons at the Suzuki Institute of Boston, the String Project at the University of Texas in Austin, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the Kirkwood Academy of Music; currently teaches strings in the Parkway School District and violin, viola, chamber music, and string pedagogy at Lindenwood University.

Ingrid Popp, Suzuki viola, viola/violin
MM Viola Performance, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Music Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; BM Performance, summa cum laude, University of Missouri-St. Louis; primary teachers include: Scott Rawls, Joanna Mendoza, and the Arianna String Quartet; Suzuki training registered for books 1-8 with Ann Smelser, Kathleen Spring, Sarah Montzka, and April Losey. Adjunct String Faculty- Missouri Baptist University, Former violin and viola instructor, Music and Arts, and Midwest Music Conservatory; Current Principal Viola, Alton Symphony Orchestra, Section viola, Webster University Orchestra, former section viola, Western Piedmont Symphony, Brevard Music Center Orchestra; Soloist, Town and Country Symphony 2009, freelance musician.

Bailey Salinero,  violin
B.M. Violin Performance and M.A. Arts Administration, Florida State University; masterclasses with Eighth Blackbird, Rachel Barton Pine, Ann Schein & Earl Carlyss; Section Violinist for Tallahassee Community Chorus and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra; Baroque Violinist, Tallahassee Bach Parley.

Angie Smart, violin*
Angie Smart has been a First Violinist with the St. Louis Symphony since 1998. Originally from England, she began violin lessons at the age of six and won a scholarship to study at Chetham's School of Music at the age of 13. She continued her studies in the U.S. in 1990 where she attended the University of Miami, Lamar University in Texas, and completed her master's degree at Rice University in Houston. Smart has performed extensively in Europe and the U.S. with representation by Encore Concerts, and has appeared as soloist with the St. Louis Symphony, Alhambra Chamber Orchestra, Gorton Philharmonic, Lamar Chamber Orchestra and both Chethams' Chamber and Classical Orchestras. Her television appearances have included masterclasses with Yehudi Menuhin and as the subject of a documentary profiling "A Day in the Life of a Young Musician at Chetham's School of Music." Among other masterclasses, she has played for Midori and Zachar Bron. Ms. Smart has competed in the 10th International Tchaikovsky Competition and the Yehudi Menuhin Competition and has been a prizewinner in many other competitions, including the British Violin Recital Prize, Elizabeth Harper Vaughn Concerto Competition and the William C. Byrd Young Artists Competition.

Mc Kayla Talasek, violin/viola
MM Viola Performance, University of Nevada, Reno; BA Violin Performance, University of the Incarnate Word; Alumni of the CMS orchestra programs, private lessons and PREP program; Primary Teachers: Yizhak Schotten, Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, Dustin Budish, Gerald Schoelzel, Jenny Jones and Richard Kilmer; Section Viola of the Reno Philharmonic, Section Violin and Viola of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Substitute Viola with Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Heartland Festival Orchestra; Former Violist with Reno Chamber Orchestra, Susanville Symphony, Flint Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Texas Symphony and the Laredo Philharmonic; Former Violinist with the Symphony of the Hills, Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony and Corpus Christi Symphony; Former member of the Red Tango Quartet, Mango Moon Quartet and the Nightingale String Quartet; In attendance at the Missouri Symphony Orchestra: Hot Summer Nights Music Festival, Bear Valley Music Festival, Montecito International Music Festival, Prague Summer Nights Music Festival, Mozart Festival and Fischoff Chamber Competition; Currently, teaching with CMS, Suzuki Harmony, Gateway Outreach and Joyner School of Music. For more information about Mc Kayla’s teaching style and upcoming concerts, please visit McKayla Talaseks website .

Ana Cecilia Villegas-Weitzel, violin
MM in Music Education with an Emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy, Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville (SIUE). BM, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. Violin performance, National Conservatory of Music “German Alcantara”, Guatemala City, Guatemala. Filosofía Suzuki, violin 1 and 2, Festival de guitarra Suzuki en Guatemala. Registered Long-Term Suzuki Training, Violin Books 1-8, Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Suzuki Early Childhood Education Stage 1, American Suzuki Institute. SIUE Orchestra, Former second violin section. National Conservatory of Music “German Alcantara” Orchestra, former violin 1 and 2 sections. Member, American Suzuki Association.

Graham Woodland, Suzuki violin; Conductor, String Ensemble
M.M. in Violin Performance with Suzuki Pedagogy Emphasis, The Hartt School; B.M. Violin Performance, University of Missouri; Long-term Suzuki Association of the Americas Teacher Training, with Christie Felsing; additional Suzuki Teacher Training with Teri Einfeldt, Edward Kreitman, and Thomas Wermuth; solo experience with the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, University of Missouri Philharmonic, Hartt Contemporary Players, and the MU Chamber Orchestra; currently assistant concertmaster of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra and substitute with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra; summer festivals include Texas Music Festival, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Innsbrook Institute Academy and Festival; Masterclasses with Paul Biss, Pinchas Zukerman, Robert Lipsett, Lawrence Dutton, and members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra; previous principal second violin of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, and assistant concertmaster of the Keene Chamber Orchestra in New Hampshire; studied under Katie Lansdale, Eva Szekely, Chin Kim, and Mikhail Lobko.

William Bauer, violin, viola, chamber music
BM Performance, University of Texas; Artistic Director of the (Dallas area) McKinney Kammergild and the St. Louis Baroque Festival and Academy; active member of Atlanta's New Trinity Baroque, Chicago's The Comic Intermezzo and Ars Antigua, Milwaukee's Ensemble Musical Offering; recent member of the Chicago Baroque Band, Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra and the New York State Baroque; soloist at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., in Mexico at the Journadas de Musica Antigua in Gunanajuato, the Festival de Musica Barocca in San Miguel De Allende, the Iraklion International Festival (Crete), and the Lisbon and Vancouver Early Music festivals; has programmed and led concerts for special exhibits at The Art Institute of Chicago, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Saint Louis Art Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts; recordings can be found on the Deutsche Grammophon, Polydor, Naxos, First Edition, Nannerl and Studio 115 labels.

Brad Besand, violin/viola
BM, University of Missouri-St. Louis; Every Child Can and Violin Book 1, Chicago Suzuki Institute; Studied with David Gillham, John McGrosso and Julia Sakharova; 2nd Violinist, Landolfi String Quartet and Ensemble; Section Violinist, Gateway Festival Orchestra; Suzuki Strings Instructor, Ferguson-Florissant School District; Summer Strings Conductor, Community Music School of Webster University; Former Assistant Concertmaster, Alton Symphony Orchestra, Former Section Violinist, St. Louis Philharmonic; Former Section Violinist, St. Louis Civic Orchestra; Former Violin/Viola Instructor, Mozingo Music; Former students have gone on to study music at UMC, Lawrence University, Belmont University and Jacobs School of Music; Former students have played in Vienna, Berlin and the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina.

Timothy Eshing, violin/viola, theory
MA Philosophy, Saint Louis University; BM in Composition,University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance; former CMS student of William Bauer (violin, viola, viola d’amore) and prizewinner of the CMS Harry and Arden Fisher Young Composers Competition; studied viola with Scott Lee and composition with Chen Yi and James Mobberley; spent summers at the Innsbrook Institute and studied at UMSL with Joanna Mendoza and other members of the Arianna String Quartet; assistantships, fellowships, or residences at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts (Nebraska City), Seasons Music Festival (Yakima, WA), U-Louisville, and St. Louis University (SLU). Seventeen years of experience as a freelance performer, educator, composer, arranger and editor, including a decade as instructor of strings and theory/composition at Townsend Music School (Ballwin). Currently a doctoral student at SLU studying philosophy and bioethics.

Amy Meschke, violin/viola
BA Truman State University, MAE. Truman State University, MA Educational Administration Lindenwood University. Studied Violin and viola with Norma Tomlinson, Dr. Eugene Dowdy, Jorge Richter, Dr. Clifford Panton and Dr. Sam McClure. She attended master classes with Ani Gregorian Resnick and Ara Gregorian while she was a student at Truman State. Amy has performed with the St. Louis Community College Meramec orchestra under the direction of Mr. Gary Gackstatter. She has performed with numerous guest artists with the Meramec orchestra over the years including Eugene Friesen, Paul Winter, John McCutcheon, Barbara Higbie, Laura Love and Sam Bush. Amy is an orchestra director in the Mehlville School District. She coordinates the strings program in Mehlville. Amy has taught strings to elementary, middle and high school students for over twenty years.

Jessica Ray King, viola/violin
PhD in Progress-Musicology, Washington University in St. Louis; M.M. Viola Performance, Central Michigan University; B.A. Music and B.A. English with Honors, University of Iowa; Primary Teachers: David Holland, Christine Rutledge, Dr. Alicia Valoit; Health & Wellness Department Editor for the American Viola Society Journal; Fellowships/Residencies: Viola and Chamber Music at I Suoni di Sillene Festival Musicale (Chianciano Terme, Italy), Festival Artist at Saarburg International Music Festival & School.(Saarburg, Germany), Orchestra Fellow at Miami Music Festival (Miami, FL); District 221 Chamber Music, Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Macomb Symphony Orchestra, Disney Encore! Cast, Choir, & Orchestra; Presentations: “I Will Sing: Voice, Viola, & Poetry.” 2022 American Viola Society & 47th International Viola Congress. June 2-5, 2022. Columbus, GA. “This is Not a Toy.” American Viola Society Congress. July 12-17, 2018. Los Angeles, CA. “Eugenio Cavalli-Fantasia per la Santa Cristina.” American Viola Society Congress. July 12-17, 2018. Los Angeles, CA; Publications: “Strategies for Reducing Performance Anxiety.” Journal of the American Viola Society (Vol. 36 No. 1, Spring 2020). “This is Not a Toy.” Journal of the American Viola Society (Vol. 33, Spring 2017).

Matt Pickart, violin/viola
DMA Candidate Viola Performance, Michigan State University; MM Violin Performance, Duquesne University; BM Violin Performance, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Director and Co-founder of Clazz International Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy; Assistant Professor of Music at Webster University, teaching violin, viola, improvisation and music entrepreneurship; performed at both Jazz at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Music Hall’s Weill Recital Hall; appeared as soloist with orchestras in the U.S., Italy and the Netherlands; performed and recorded in multiple genres internationally; former violinist and vocalist of the Hot Club of Pittsburgh and featured artist of Jazzstadt Stuttgart; served on the faculty of Beloit College, Michigan State University Community Music School, Duquesne University’s City Music Center and University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Summer Music Clinic among numerous other programs; teachers include Sidney Harth (legendary American concertmaster); Yuri Gandelsman (former principal violist of Israel Philharmonic and violist with the Fine Arts Quartet); and Rodney Whitaker (bassist of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.)

Ingrid Popp, Suzuki viola, viola/violin
MM Viola Performance, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Music Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; BM Performance, summa cum laude, University of Missouri-St. Louis; primary teachers include: Scott Rawls, Joanna Mendoza, and the Arianna String Quartet; Suzuki training registered for books 1-8 with Ann Smelser, Kathleen Spring, Sarah Montzka, and April Losey. Adjunct String Faculty- Missouri Baptist University, Former violin and viola instructor, Music and Arts, and Midwest Music Conservatory; Current Principal Viola, Alton Symphony Orchestra, Section viola, Webster University Orchestra, former section viola, Western Piedmont Symphony, Brevard Music Center Orchestra; Soloist, Town and Country Symphony 2009, freelance musician.

Mc Kayla Talasek, violin/viola
MM Viola Performance, University of Nevada, Reno; BA Violin Performance, University of the Incarnate Word; Alumni of the CMS orchestra programs, private lessons and PREP program; Primary Teachers: Yizhak Schotten, Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, Dustin Budish, Gerald Schoelzel, Jenny Jones and Richard Kilmer; Section Viola of the Reno Philharmonic, Section Violin and Viola of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Substitute Viola with Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Heartland Festival Orchestra; Former Violist with Reno Chamber Orchestra, Susanville Symphony, Flint Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Texas Symphony and the Laredo Philharmonic; Former Violinist with the Symphony of the Hills, Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony and Corpus Christi Symphony; Former member of the Red Tango Quartet, Mango Moon Quartet and the Nightingale String Quartet; In attendance at the Missouri Symphony Orchestra: Hot Summer Nights Music Festival, Bear Valley Music Festival, Montecito International Music Festival, Prague Summer Nights Music Festival, Mozart Festival and Fischoff Chamber Competition; Currentl, teaching with CMS, Suzuki Harmony, Gateway Outreach and Joyner School of Music. For more information about Mc Kayla’s teaching style and upcoming concerts, please visit Mc Kayla Talasek's website.

Catherine Begin, cello
BM in Cello Performance, Osher School Music at University of Southern Maine, MM Education, Southern Illinois University. Studied under William Rounds of Boston Symphony Orchestra, and William Cernota of Chicago Lyric Opera. Masterclass participant with cellist Inbal Segev, cellist Yibing Chu and A Far Cry Orchestra. Music festival participant at Miami Classical Music Festival, Southern Illinois Music Festival, Outside the Box Music Festival. Performed with Southeast Missouri State University, Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, The Paducah Chamber Singers, The Portland Stage Theatre Company, The Raymond Arts Alliance and Acadia Quartet. Recipient of Graduate Teaching Assistantship at Southern Illinois University (2022-2024), Music Performers Trust Fund Scholarship (2022, 2023), and Southern Illinois Chamber Music Society Scholarship (2023). Previous positions include co-director of the Southern Illinois Youth Orchestra and principal cello seat for the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Suzuki teacher training, Suzuki Association of the Americas, Dr. Shu Yi Scott, Dr. David Evenchick.

James Czyzewski, cello*
Member, St. Louis Symphony; previous co-principal cellist, Civic Orchestra of Chicago; previous assistant principal cellist, Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra; BM, Northwestern University; primary teachers include Hans Jorgan-Jensen, Bruno DiCecco, Peggy Swartz; soloist, Saint Louis Symphony and Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra; first prize, Samuel and Elinor Thaviu Scholarship Competition; grand finalist, ASTA National competition; finalist, Sulberg International String Competition; participant, ARD International Music Competition, Munich, Germany; recipient, multiple full scholarships to Meadowmount School of Music; solo performance, 2003 National Cello Congress; masterclasses with Ralph Kirshbaum, Paul Katz, Ronald Leonard, John Sharp.

Patricia Ruiloba Gitto, cello, Suzuki cello
MM in Performance, Texas State University-San Marcos; Cellist, National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Texas State Chamber Orchestra, Instrumenta Oaxaca México; Principal Cellist, Texas State Symphony Orchestra; Performed with Cronus, Oxus Quartet, Sforzato Quartet, Musik String Studio Ensemble, Orquesta Juvenil de Panamá, Orquesta Juvenil Istmeña; Former faculty, Conservatory of Panama, Alamo City Strings, After School String Program in San Antonio, Texas, Musical Summer Camp of the Concerts National Association; After School String Instructor Webster Groves School District (2012 - 2017); Suzuki registration, books 1-10; performer, founder and administrator for Renacer Latino Orchestra and Tropical Mood of St. Louis; Former Member, Texas Music Educators Association; Member, Musicians Association of St. Louis, Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Julia Hornberger, cello
BM Cello Performance, University of Missouri, St. Louis and The St. Louis Conservatory; teachers included John Sant' Ambrogio and Yuan Tung, both former SLSO members; accepted to the Chicago Civic Orchestra and offered a full scholarship for the Masters program in Cello Performance at the University of Depaul, in Chicago; performed as principal and section cellist in the Illinois Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic in Indiana, Kenosha and Racine Symphony Orchestras, in Wisconsin; performed in numerous European summer music festivals, including the AIMS festival, in Austria; performed in the String Divas Violin/Cello Duet while residing in Wisconsin, private cello teacher and cello coach for students in the Midwest.

David Kim, cello*
MM and BM, Julliard School; teachers include Harvey Shapiro, Ronald Leonard, Stephen Geber and David Finckel; current member St. Louis Symphony Orchestra since 1999, named Assistant Principal Cellist in 2014; also played with Violoncello Society of New York and served as Principal Cellist of Julliard Orchestra and New York String Orchestra under Jaime Laredo; recent chamber performances at Pulitzer Foundation, Saint Louis Art Museum, Insbrook Institute and Sheldon Concert Hall.

Gary Lee, cello
MM in Cello Performance from the St. Louis Conservatory of Music; BM in Cello Performance (cum laude) from Illinois Wesleyan University; teachers include Yuan Tung, Robert Luke and Gordon Robson; education includes training in chamber music (coaching under Leslie Parnas, Yuan Tung and Rico McNeela; master class under Michael Tree and under gambist Wendy Gillespie), orchestral repertoire with John Sant'Ambrogio and Yuan Tung, contemporary music ensemble and early music ensemble; received Outstanding Studio Educator 2016 Award from the American String Teachers Association, Missouri Chapter; core cellist of Landolfi String Quartet, current principal cellist and librarian of the Alton Symphony Orchestra, cellist and librarian of Gateway Festival Orchestra, and a cellist for Matt McCallie Orchestra; additional work with Town & Country Symphony, Florissant Valley Symphony, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Masterworks Chorale, Fleur de Lis Ball, Veiled Prophet Ball and other area ensembles; touring work includes Johnny Mathis, Classic Albums Live!, Bernadette Peters, Johnny Mathis, Il Divo, Amy Grant with Michael W. Smith, and Celtic Women; former principal cellist of Town & Country Symphony, former associate principal cellist of University City Symphony and former member of the late Richard Wappel Trio, St. Louis Philharmonic, Webster Symphony, and Bloomington-Normal (IL) Symphony; member of Musicians’ Association of St. Louis (AFM Local 2-197), Suzuki Association of the Americas, American String Teachers Association, and Viola da Gamba Society of America. Fun facts: He was a member of Missouri All-State Orchestra in the first three years of its existence and his best cello was made in London in 1770.

Catherine Lehr, cello*
DMA, University of Missouri-Kansas City; MM, Indiana School of Music; BM, Eastman School of Music; Former Assistant Principal Cello, St. Louis Symphony; soloist, Rochester Philharmonic, State of Mexico Symphony, Hamilton (Ontario) Philharmonic and the Saint Louis Symphony; collaborated with conductors Leonard Slatkin, Gerhardt Zimmermann, Enrique Batiz and Sidney Harth; former principal cellist, Xalapa (Mexico) Symphony and San Diego Symphony; named 2008 Missouri Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (MoASTA) Artist Teacher of the Year; faculty, National Conservatory of Music, Mexico City and Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory; Suzuki registration, books 1-10; students have been featured soloists with the St. Louis Symphony and with community orchestras in the US and Mexico; students have appeared on NPR’s From the Top radio program; recorded a work written for her by Chuck Mangione on the Mercury record label; recorded string trios by Reger and Taneyev on the Laurel record label; regularly appeared at the Park City International Music Festival in Utah and at many other chamber music venues throughout the Midwest; presented at national and international music conferences; primary teachers include Janos Starker, Ronald Leonard, Carter Enyeart and Peter Howard; was granted the 2013 Owen Miller Award by the St. Louis Musicians' Union, Local 2-197, for service, fairness and contributions to the music profession.

Ken Rapini, cello
MS in Education from SW Baptist University; BM Cello Performance, University of Missouri (Yuan Tung), St. Louis; Cello Performance at Hochschule fur Music und Darstelende Kunst (conservatory) in Vienna, Austria (Navarra). Teachers include Carl Steppi (SLSO) Elizabeth Fischer, Yuan Tung (SLSO), Andre Navarra. Master classes with Pierre Fournier, Janos Starker. Orchestras: Webster Symphony, Civic & Kirkwood Symphony (principal), SLSYO (prin. under Slatkin & Zimmerman), MMEA College All State Orchestra (prin), St. Louis Philharmonic (current co-prin), UMSL orchestra (prin), Vienna conservatory orchestra (prin), Austrian Nat Youth Orchestra (prin), Municipal Theater Orchestra (asst prin), Substitute SLSO orchestra,  ORF Symphony Orchestra in Vienna (section), St Louis String Ensemble - Ficcocelli (prin); professional engagements with Trans Siberian Orchestra, Manheim Steamroller, Veiled Prophet Ball orchestra, Celtic Women, as well as many other shows and concerts.

Marta Simidtchieva, cello
D.M Florida State University, M.M and B.M. Bulgarian State Academy of Music in Sofia; faculty at the Eastern Music Festival since 2004; regular performer with Chamber Project of St. Louis; past performances include Vivaldi Concerto for two cellos with vocalist Bobby McFerrin and performances with the Eppes String Quartet, Illinois Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Tallahassee Symphony, and the New Symphony Orchestra in Sofia, Bulgaria; albums include “Bulgarian Sketches” (2018) and “Irminden” (2022); Professor of Cello at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Tara Santiago, Suzuki cello
MM in Cello Performance, BM, New England Conservatory of Music; teachers include Paul Katz, Natasha Brofsky and Janet Anthony; Suzuki training, American Suzuki Institute, Chicago Suzuki Institute; soloist, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra; former orchestra member, Florida Grand Opera; summer festival performer, National Orchestral Institute; member, American String Teachers Association and Suzuki Association of the Americas. Tara also preforms as a member of the Erin Bode Group.

Dr. Jun Seo, cello
BM, New England Conservatory School; Master of MM and Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Performance, University of Texas at Austin; current cello faculty member for University of Illinois in Springfield; former Resident Artist at the Lake George Music Festival in Lake George, NY; former cello faculty member at Omaha Conservatory of Music Summer Institute, Chamber Music Encounter, Austin Chamber Music Center, Songbird Rising String Camp at Austin; Assistant Director at Texas Strings Camp Young Artist Division; registered Suzuki Cello Teacher Training; studied with Jin-kyung Chee, Hee-song Song, Laura Blustein, Yeesun-Kim and Bion Tsang; played in Cello masterclasses of Brinton Smith, Laurence Lesser, Alexander Baillie, Ralph Kirshbaum, Peter Wispelwey, Lynn Harrell and Anner Bylsma; collaborated with Yehonatan Berick, Lynn Chang, Thomas Landschoot, Sheila Browne and Christof Huebner; toured with the Cappella Choir of Seoul Theological University in and the Austin Eurythmy Ensemble; recorded the cello part for “Learning Together: Sequential Repertoire for Solo Strings or String Ensemble Volume 2" by Laurie Scott, Winfred Crock and William Dick.
Jun Seo's website

Andrew Binder, double bass
DMA Jazz Performance with Music Composition Cognate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; MM Composition & Music Theory, University of Miami; BM Jazz Studies, Composition, and Double Bass Performance, Bowling Green State University; Adjunct Faculty at Jefferson College; Studied jazz bass with Willem Von Hombract, Jeff Halsey, Don Coffman and Larry Gray; Jazz composition and arranging with Gary Lindsay and Jim Pugh. Winner of the 2018 Ensemble Ibis Competition and 26th Annual Craig's Keyboards/UT Young Composer's Competition; Current member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop; Performs regularly as a freelance bassist around St. Louis and the Midwest; Performed regularly with Chip McNeill, Chip Stephens, Joel Spencer, Tito Carrillo, Jose Gobbo, and Mark Tonelli.

Anita M. Hagerman, double bass
BM, magna cum laude, Ball State University; MA, University of Chicago (Humanities); PhD, Washington University in St. Louis (English Literature); teachers included Philip Albright, Rolf Erdahl, Hans Sturm and Lou Fischer; past principal bassist positions include Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks, Fort Smith Symphony, Springfield Regional Opera; performs regularly in St. Louis as a freelance bassist and music educator, including the Bach Society Orchestra, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, the Kingsbury Ensemble and others; member International Society of Bassists; member Viola da Gamba Society of America; member American String Teachers Association.

Tim Weddle, double bass
Performer’s Diploma in Music Performance, Indiana University; BM in Music Performance, Southeast Missouri State University; teachers include Erik Harris, Bruce Bransby and Dr. Sara Edgerton; current principal bass with The Muny Orchestra and Orchestra Iowa, Section bass with Memphis Symphony, and substitute bass for St. Louis Symphony; other orchestral experience with Kansas City Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, The New World Symphony, Owensboro Symphony and Evansville Philharmonic; current lecturer of Double Bass – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Joanne Keefe, Suzuki violin; Director, Suzuki Ensemble
MM, Performance and Pedagogy, University of Colorado-Boulder; BM, Violin Performance (cum laude), Lawrence University Conservatory. Long-term Suzuki Teacher Training with William Starr. Studied with John Kendall and Calvin Wiersma, and studied chamber music with members of the Hungarian, Manhattan and Takacs Quartets. Performed with the Fox Valley Symphony, Washington University Symphony, Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis and Simply4 String Quartet. Former String Coordinator at Lawrence Community Music School. Served as elementary strings specialist for Ladue and Webster Groves School Districts and faculty member of the New England Suzuki Institute. Conducted the Webster CMS String Ensemble. Co-author of Jazz Songs for the Student Violinist. Member, Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Susan McDonald, Suzuki violin, Coordinator of Suzuki Program
MA in Violin Performance from Western Illinois University; BME from Lawrence University Conservatory (cum laude). Registered Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Has served on the faculties of the Chicago, Colorado, Education for Happiness, Florida, Los Angeles, Louisville, Peaks to Plains, and American Suzuki Institutes and numerous Suzuki workshops. Served a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA). Received the SAA Certificate of Achievement and the Byron Hester Award for excellence in teaching. Former faculty, University City Public Schools, Knox-Galesburg Suzuki Program, WIU Suzuki Program, and Lawrence University Preparatory Program. Studied with Almita Vamos, John Kendall, Karen Clarke, and Francesca Koscielny. Has performed with the Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis, Washington University Symphony, the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, the Fox Valley Symphony, SImply4 String Quartet, The Two Rivers String Quartet and as a soloist with the Kishwaukee Symphony and the Lawrence University Symphony. Member, Suzuki Association of the Americas and American String Teachers’ Association.

Patricia Ruiloba Gitto, Suzuki cello
MM in Performance, Texas State University-San Marcos; Cellist, National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Texas State Chamber Orchestra, Instrumenta Oaxaca México; Principal Cellist, Texas State Symphony Orchestra; Performed with Cronus, Oxus Quartet, Sforzato Quartet, Musik String Studio Ensemble, Orquesta Juvenil de Panamá, Orquesta Juvenil Istmeña; Former faculty, Conservatory of Panama, Alamo City Strings, After School String Program in San Antonio, Texas, Musical Summer Camp of the Concerts National Association; After School String Instructor Webster Groves School District (2012 - 2017); Suzuki registration, books 1-10; performer, founder and administrator for Renacer Latino Orchestra and Tropical Mood of St. Louis; Former Member, Texas Music Educators Association; Member, Musicians Association of St. Louis, Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Ingrid Popp, Suzuki viola
MM Viola Performance, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Music Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; BM Performance, summa cum laude, University of Missouri-St. Louis; primary teachers include: Scott Rawls, Joanna Mendoza, and the Arianna String Quartet; Suzuki training registered for books 1-8 with Ann Smelser, Kathleen Spring, Sarah Montzka, and April Losey. Adjunct String Faculty- Missouri Baptist University, Former violin and viola instructor, Music and Arts, and Midwest Music Conservatory; Current Principal Viola, Alton Symphony Orchestra, Section viola, Webster University Orchestra, former section viola, Western Piedmont Symphony, Brevard Music Center Orchestra; Soloist, Town and Country Symphony 2009, freelance musician.

Tara Santiago, Suzuki cello
MM in Cello Performance, BM, New England Conservatory of Music; teachers include Paul Katz, Natasha Brofsky and Janet Anthony; Suzuki training, American Suzuki Institute, Chicago Suzuki Institute; soloist, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra; former orchestra member, Florida Grand Opera; summer festival performer, National Orchestral Institute; member, American String Teachers Association and Suzuki Association of the Americas. Tara also preforms as a member of the Erin Bode Group.

Graham Woodland, Suzuki violin; Conductor, String Ensemble
MM in Violin Performance with Suzuki Pedagogy Emphasis, The Hartt School; BM Violin Performance, University of Missouri; Long-term Suzuki Association of the Americas Teacher Training, with Christie Felsing; additional Suzuki Teacher Training with Teri Einfeldt, Edward Kreitman, and Thomas Wermuth; solo experience with the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, University of Missouri Philharmonic, Hartt Contemporary Players, and the MU Chamber Orchestra; currently assistant concertmaster of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra and substitute with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra; summer festivals include Texas Music Festival, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Innsbrook Institute Academy and Festival; Masterclasses with Paul Biss, Pinchas Zukerman, Robert Lipsett, Lawrence Dutton, and members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra; previous principal second violin of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, and assistant concertmaster of the Keene Chamber Orchestra in New Hampshire; studied under Katie Lansdale, Eva Szekely, Chin Kim, and Mikhail Lobko.

Please call the main office at 314-968-5939

Tom Byrne, jazz guitar
MM and BM, in Jazz Performance from Webster University; studied with John Scofield, Lenny Breau, Gene Bertoncini and Mick Goodrick; adjunct Jazz faculty, Webster University; performed with St. Louis Symphony, the Muny orchestra, Tom Byrne Trio; recording credits include the Tom Byrne Trio, the Yule Vibe Trio, Reggie and Mardra Thomas, and the Kim Portnoy Jazz Orchestra. Performs throughout St. Louis with his duos and trios, his group Have U Heard and as a solo guitarist.

Kevin Ginty, classical guitar
MA, Arts Administration, Florida State University; Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance, Florida State University; current Executive Director of St. Louis Classical Guitar; former instructor of guitar at Mason's School of Music in Tallahassee, Florida. Finalist in the 2015 Wilson Center Guitar Competition and Concert Prize winner in the 2014 Tallahassee Classical Guitar Society Competition. Speaker for TEDxFSU in 2014 Co-founder and past president of the Classical Guitar Society at Florida State University.

John McClellan, classical guitar
MM Guitar Performance, St. Louis Conservatory of Music; postgraduate work, Yale University; Head of Classical guitar studies at Webster University; former director of the Guitar for the Young, St. Louis Symphony Community Music Schools: concerts in Europe, South America and Australia; featured artist on several Guitar Foundation of America International festivals; director of the 1996 GFA; Board of Directors, Mel Bay Publication Inc.; frequent appearances in concerto with major orchestras, St. Louis Symphony; performed with Luciano Pavarotti, Jorge Morel, Vince Gill; one-half of the renowned Hanser-McClellan Guitar duo; best selling author, Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions, Volumes 1 and 2, The Magnificent Guitar of Jorge Morel - A Life of Music, and the popular instructional DVD, Chet Licks; writes a regular column for Fingerstyle Guitar magazine.

Patrick Rafferty, classical guitar
Graduate Performance Diploma, MM, Peabody Institute of the John Hopkins University; BM in guitar performance, Southeast Missouri State University; studied with Jeffrey Noonan, Julian Gray; first place in 2011 Artist Presentation Society Auditions; first place, Southeast Missouri State University Concerto Competition, Missouri Music Teachers Association; voted top graduate performer at Peabody; regular appearances on NPR affiliate KRCU, profiled on “Inside Classical Guitar” and "Saint Louis On The Air" radio programs; appearances with Chamber Project Saint Louis, Double Fret, Early Music St. Louis and the Southeast Chamber Ensemble. Currently teaching at Southeast Missouri State University, St. Louis University and the Community Music School of Webster University. Learn more about Patrick at: patrickraffertyguitar.com

Jason Weaver, classical guitar
MM Guitar Performance, Northwestern University; BM guitar performance, Southeast Missouri State; first place in Southeast Missouri State University Concerto Competition (2003, 2006); featured soloist with Northwestern Symphony Orchestra; Hal Leonard Publications; frequent theatre pit musician in the Chicago and St. Louis regions; former instructor at McKendree University; Current faculty member of Missouri Baptist University. Session musician throughout St. Louis region.

Carolyn Hoyer, flute
BME, emphasis on performance, University of Tulsa, 1968. CMS summer flute camp director through 2019. Recipient of the 2001 St. Louis Suburban Music Education Association Merit Award in recognition of contributions for advancement of music education. Her article "Flute Pedagogy in the Mountains" appeared in the British Flute Society journal Pan in 2001. In addition to individual instruction, her record of service includes: Director of Bands, Salem Lutheran School (1992-1997); Community School (1979-1990); Ritenour Schools and Tulsa Public Schools (1969-1975; 1968-1969); memberships have included: Gateway Festival Orchestra (1970-2013; board member 1971-2013); Flute Society of St Louis (1971-2015, including board membership); Missouri Federation of Music Clubs (1991-present); and the National Flute Association (charter member, 1975-present). Studied with Mary Karen Clardy (Regents Professor, University of North Texas) and has attended numerous workshops, including Flute Pedagogy Workshops at the University of North Texas and an Alexander Method class with Professor Nora Lee Garcia (University of Central Florida).

Nadine Hur, flute
MM and Professional Studies Certificate, Juilliard School of Music; BM, The Curtis Institute of Music; performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Library of Congress; past Principal Flutist with the Knoxville Symphony; performed with the Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and St. Louis Symphony; studied under Julius Baker, Jeffrey Khaner, Jeanne Baxtresser and Keith Underwood.

Clara Richter, flute
MM, Northwestern State University in Louisiana; BM with a concentration in performance, Eastern Illinois University; teachers include Diane Boyd-Schultz, Brian Luce and Dennette McDermott; Former free-lance flutist and instructor of a large studio in Ft. Worth, TX; Former faculty and co-founder, Summer Flute Camp, Ft. Worth, TX; Former adjunct faculty, Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts; Member and Festival Co-Chair of Texas Flute Society 2005-2009; Performed with Rapides Symphony in Alexandria, LA; Piccoloist, St. Louis Civic Orchestra (2010-2014); current member of the St. Louis Wind Symphony.

Dana Hotle, clarinet
MM Clarinet Performance, Manhattan School of Music; BM Clarinet Performance, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana; studies with David Krakauer, David Harris and Tina Ward; Principal Clarinet Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Winter Opera St. Louis; Executive Director and clarinetist with Chamber Project St. Louis; Festival Director and performer with the Gesher Music Festival; has also performed with The St. Louis Symphony, Opera Theater St. Louis and The Cedar Rapids Orchestra; recorded with Sinfonia da Camera; member of The American Federation of Musicians.

Emily Mehigh, clarinet
MM Clarinet Performance, Indiana University in Bloomington; BM Clarinet Performance and BA Music Education, Truman State University; studied with Eli Eban, Jesse Krebs and Jeanine York-Garesche; clarinet instructor at Music and Arts; substitute clarinetist of the St. Louis Philharmonic; bass clarinetist with the St. Louis Wind Symphony; handbell choir director at Concord Trinity United Methodist Church; has performed at the College Music Society’s Southwestern Conference in 2020; member of the International Clarinet Association; CMS alumna.

Katherine Myler, clarinet
MM Performance, University of New Mexico; BM Education, Miami University; studied with Bob Baumann, Jeanine York-Garesche, Tina Ward, Michele Gingras and Keith Lemmons; clarinet instructor at Maryville University; clarinetist with A Fifth Above Woodwind Quintet; has performed with St. Louis Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds, and St. Louis Civic Orchestra; member of International Clarinet Association, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity. Katie studied with Jeanine York-Garesche in high school through CASA and has been a CMS faculty member since 1999.

Jeanine York Garesché, clarinet
MM, St. Louis Conservatory of Music; BM, University of Nebraska; studied with George Silfies, Robert Coleman and Tina Ward; plays professionally with Union Avenue Opera, Winter Opera St. Louis, the Metropolitan Orchestra of St Louis, the Fox Theatre Orchestra, the Equinox Chamber Players and Trio Bella as well as serving as a replacement player with the St Louis Symphony and Opera Theatre of St Louis; also currently a substitute pianist/organist with St. Louis area churches; former professional engagements include the Fort Wayne Philharmonic (Indiana), the Illinois Symphony (Springfield), Quintessence Woodwind Quintet and Synchronia contemporary chamber music ensemble; served on the staff and faculty of Tidewater Music Festival (Maryland), served as clarinetist in residence for the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival (Maine) and performed at the 2008 International Clarinet Convention; member of the Ladies Friday Musical Club, ACME (the Artists, Composers, Musicologists and Educators branch of Mu Phi Epsilon) and received the Owen Miller Award from the Musician’s Association of St Louis in 2014; faculty member at University of Missouri-St. Louis and Webster University.

Ann Homann, oboe, English horn, oboe d'amore
MM Oboe Performance, Saint Louis Conservatory; BM Oboe Performance, Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University; teachers included Joseph Turner, Peter Bowman, Marc Gordon, Thomas Parkes and John Ferrillo; former co-principal oboist, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, substitute/replacement player, Saint Louis Symphony; member, Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Chamber Orchestra; principal oboist, Metropolitan Orchestra of Saint Louis, Saint Louis Philharmonic, Union Avenue Opera, Masterworks Chorale and Fox/Muny Orchestras; solo oboist, American Kantorei, a choral and instrumental ensemble that specializes in the music of J.S. Bach; adjunct faculty member, University of Missouri-Saint Louis, active chamber music performer with Trio Bella and as a founding member of the Equinox Chamber Players.

Cathy Woelbling-Paul, oboe
MM Oboe Performance Northern Illinois University; BME. Lindenwood University; teachers include Richard Woodhams, Carl Sonic, Gladys Elliot and Marc Gordon; former principle oboe and soloist, Haydn Festival Orchestra (Eisenstadt, Austria); former member American Wind Symphony (Pittsburgh, PA), Rockford (IL) Symphony; Illinois Chamber Orchestra (Chicago), former substitute, Saint Louis Symphony and Illinois Symphony (Springfield, IL) Orchestras; principal oboist with Alton Symphony Orchestra, Mighty Mississippi Concert Band of St. Louis, St. Louis Wind Symphony, Webster University Symphony, Webster University Wind Ensemble, Edwardsville (IL) Muny Band, University City Symphony and member of Gateway Festival Orchestra of St. Louis; former member of Bach Society of St. Louis, American Kantorei, Union Avenue Opera, Winter Opera, Ballet Orchestra of St. Louis and Fox/Muny Orchestra; adjunct faculty member, Webster University. Active chamber music performer with A Fifth Above Woodwind Quintet and Metro Piano Trio. Member of Gateway Festival Orchestra Board of Directors and Mu Phi Epsilon (Professional Music Fraternity) St. Louis Alumni Chapter.

Eric Ring, bassoon
DMA Bassoon Performance and Pedagogy, University of Iowa; MA Bassoon Performance, Western Illinois University; BM Bassoon Performance, University of Iowa; teachers include Ronald Tyree, Douglas Huff and Benjamin Coelho; current adjunct faculty for Webster University; other teaching experience at University of Iowa, Luther College, Grinnell College, Knox College and the West Music Conservatory; currently performs with Webster Symphony Orchestra, the Maryville Symphony Orchestra and as a substitute musician with the Illinois Symphony; previously tenured third bassoonist/contrabassoonist with the Cedar Rapids Symphony; has performed with the Des Moines Metro Opera, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and the Nova Singers, and is a former member of the Beaufort Chamber Orchestra and the Parris Island Marine Band.

Chris Hubbard, saxophone
BM Jazz Studies with an Emphasis in Saxophone Performance, Webster University; studied under Paul DeMarinis, Michael Karpowicz and Jeff Collins. Recently studied under Adam Larson (Sax) and Audrey Denny (Clarinet). Performed with Doug Lawrence, Dave Weckl, Tom Byrne, Lamar Harris, Dawn Weber, Dr. Michael Parkinson, Hugh “Peanuts” Whalum, Willie Akins, Jim Martin, Joe Meyer, Nick Schlueter, The Genesis Jazz Project, Route 66, Gary Dammer Big Bands, St. Louis Philharmonic, Webster University Symphony Orchestra, Tropical Mood. Toured with The Air Force Shades of Blue Big Band; Saxophone instructor at Maryville University; faculty assistant, 2002 and 2003 International Summer Jazz Academy (Krakow, Poland).

Angela Kraft, saxophone
BMEd, Webster University, St. Louis, MO; post-graduate study, Webster University, St. Louis, MO.; studied under Paul DeMarinis of Webster University, Jerry Greene, Mike Shannon and Rick Castor; conducted various student ensembles, including jazz combos, Big Bands and concert bands; taught saxophone master classes to various student groups, including CMS Band Camp: Music Unleashed!; freelance performer in a variety of musical settings.

John Thomas, horn, theory and composition
MM Horn and Music Theory, University of Missouri–Columbia; BA Music Education, University of Missouri–St. Louis, principal horn, St. Louis Philharmonic; solo tenor horn, St. Louis Brass Band; member, Clarion Brass Quintet, Webster University and Gateway Festival Orchestra; soloist, Kirkwood Symphony and Musical Diversion Society; published works include pieces for horn octet, woodwind quintet, brass quintet and wind ensemble; Symphony No. 1 premiered April 2000 by University City Symphony; orchestrations and arrangements performed by St. Louis Philharmonic and St. Louis Brass Band.

Brian Garrison, trumpet
MM Trumpet Performance, University of New Mexico; BA Music, Truman State University; performs with St. Louis Brass Band; former substitute player, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra; performed with San Juan Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Nomads Brass Quintet; trumpet fellow, Hot Springs Music Festival; educational brass coaching in Albuquerque, NM; occasional performances with St. Louis Philharmonic, St. Louis Wind Symphony; former instructor, Hummingbird Music Camp; national brass finalist, Music Teacher’s National Association Solo Competition.

Lemuel Johnson, trumpet
MM Trumpet performance from western Illinois University; BM in music education from Acadia University, performed a trumpet concerto with Acadia University Wind Ensemble, Graduate assistant with the Lamoine Faculty Brass quintet, lead Trumpet player with the WIU Jazz band, principal trumpet with the WIU Symphony Orchestra at Western Illinois University; former first trumpet player with the Bahamas National Symphony Orchestra, played with the maritime brass quintet and The King's Chorus in Nova Scotia Canada, performed with Symphony Nova Scotia, the Quincy symphony orchestra in Quincy Illinois, and substituted as principal Trumpet with the Knox-Galesburg Symphony in Galesburg Illinois; Finalists in the Western Illinois university concerto competition 2021 and 2022. High school music teacher at Bahamas Academy Nassau, Bahamas. Private trumpet and music instructor.

Ilya Litvin, trumpet
MM in Trumpet Performance, Gnessin Academy of Music (Moscow, Russia); BM in Trumpet Performance degree, Gnessin Music College (Moscow, Russia); teachers included Vladimir Shlepakov and Timofey Dokshitzer; former member, St. Louis Brass Band; worked with several operas in Russia, including the Gnessin Academy of Music Opera Studio, Moscow Brass Band and the Ukrainian Army Choir and Orchestra; former band director, Blossom Wood Day School; former brass instruments instructor, St. Charles Community College; assistant band director, St. Joseph School; brass instruments instructor, Band Instrument Service Company; among his students are local and regional award winners of competition and honors including positions in local and regional orchestras and bands such as St. Louis Youth Symphony Orchestra, St. Charles Youth Orchestra and Missouri All-State Honor Band; his students have received music scholarships at distinguished music colleges and universities such as Cleveland Institute of Music.

Dan Smith, trumpet
BM in Music Education from the University of Missouri at St. Louis; post graduate work at Indiana University and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Illinois. Adjunct professor at Webster University leading the Jazz Collective and has performed at The Muny, The Fabulous Fox Theatre and at Riverport Amphitheatre backing artists including Sammy Davis Jr., Doc Severinsen, Burt Bacharach, Mel Torme, Michel Legrand, Rosemary Clooney, Amy Grant, Jerry Lewis, Perry Como, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Manhattan Transfer, Natalie Cole, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, Barry Manilow, The Who to name just a few. He has performed with the St. Louis Symphony, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and has done 6 tours playing lead trumpet with the 1940's musical revue, In The Mood Live! including 2 tours in Australia. Daniel also plays solo piano around the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Steve Frioux, low brass
BM in Music Performance from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette; MM in Jazz Studies (Pedagogy) from the University of Arkansas, Monticello. Studied with Kenny Brantley, Dr Robert Schmalz and Harry Waters. Music Director of the USAF Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble. Principle trombone with USAF Band of Mid-America, Band of the West, Heritage of America Band, Air Forces in Europe Band. Lead/Solo trombone with USAF Band of Mid-America, Academy Band, Air Forces in Europe Band & Heartland of America Band, recording and touring 26 countries during 24 years of service. Staff musician at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, MI. Adjunct trombone instructor at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and McKendree University, Lebanon, Illinois. Performed with the St Louis Symphony, Acadiana Symphony, St Louis Philharmonic, St Louis Wind Symphony, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Martha and the Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Clint Black, Bill Watrous, Buddy DeFranco, Butch Miles, Bobby Watson, Maynard Ferguson, Ed Shaughnessey, Carmen Bradford, Shelly Berg, Bobby Shew, Mike Vax, Tom Kennedy, Brian Bromberg, Steve Smith, Mike Vax, Jerry Coker, Jeff Jarvis, Jamie Aebersold, Michael Feinstein, Tony Orlando, Tito Rojas, and Anacani.

Marquita Reef, low brass
Marquita Reef received her degrees from the University of Denver-Lamont School of Music and Brooklyn College; music educator at Metro Academic and Classical High School where she teaches a variety of subjects including Concert Band, Beginning Winds and Percussion, Music History, Jazz History, Piano and Classical Guitar; recipient of SLPS’s first Music Educator Award, the Pettus Award for Excellence in Education, Outstanding Music Educator Award in District #8 and the Musicians’ Union George Smith Diversity Award; board member of the International Women’s Bracc Conference (IWBC) and the St. Louis Low Brass Collective.

Bob Settle, low brass
MS in Music Education, University of Illinois; BS in Music Education, Campbell University; retired band director and taught for 16 years, Valley Park School District; taught at Kirkwood, Missouri, Duplin County, North Carolina; adjunct professor, Missouri Baptist University; former private instructor, Mozingo Music; member, St. Louis Wind Symphony, University City Summer Band, Gateway Festival Orchestra; former member, Missouri Baptist Symphonic Band, Meramec Symphonic Band, Washington University Orchestra, University City Orchestra, Webster Symphony; performed with Alton Symphony, Gateway City Big Band, Original Boneheads, Alton Municipal Band, University of Missouri-St. Louis Orchestra, St. Louis Philharmonic.

Kyle Spies, low brass
BM in Music Education, Southern Illinois University: Edwardsville; MA in Music (brass emphasis), Webster University; studied under Jim Martin (low brass), Ed Jacobs (trombone and euphonium), Cody Henry (trombone), Tyler Vahldick (trombone), and David Hardtung (tuba); current member of Whatcha Gonna Do Brass Band; Route 66 Jazz Orchestra; pit musician around the Saint Louis Area; founding member of the Do Re Migos Brass Quintet; former member of Saint Louis Brass Band; SIUE Wind Symphony, Orchestra, Concert Jazz Band, and Steel Band; Edwardsville Muny Band; Edwardsville Symphony; performed with Saint Louis Big Band, Genesis Jazz Project, Saint Louis Low Brass Collective, and various groups as a freelance musician; current music educator at Litzsinger School and band staff at Mascoutah High School; board member of the Missouri Illinois Musical Arts Consortium.

Tim Crockett, percussion
MM, BM, Indiana University; percussionist and co-founder, sidexside Percussion Duo; former associate principal timpanist, Chicago Civic Orchestra; former principal timpanist, American Wind Symphony Orchestra; former percussionist, Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Bloomington Camerata Orchestra; teachers include John Tafoya, Kevin Bobo, John Kasica, Rick Holmes and Steve Houghton; awarded the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award; has taught in St. Louis and Tokyo, Japan.

Michael Faris, percussion; Conductor, Young People's Orchestra Percussion
MM in Percussion, St. Louis Conservatory of Music; BA Music and BA Performance, Central Washington University. Former faculty Lindenwood University; retired founder/director of Ladue Percussion. Performance experience includes Carnegie Hall debut with Illinois Chamber Orchestra, past Principal Percussion with Illinois Symphony Orchestra, past Principal Substitute Timpanist Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Northwest Ballet, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, The Bach Society of St. Louis, St. Louis Opera Theatre, St. Louis Ballet, past Principal Percussion Lancaster Festival Orchestra, Fox Theatre Orchestra, Sophisticated Swing Big Band and Johnny Polzin Orchestras. Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Music Education by the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association, past president of the Missouri Percussive Arts Society, and Director of the Strike Institute.

Timothy Eshing, violin/viola, theory
MA Philosophy, Saint Louis University; BM Composition, University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance; former CMS student of William Bauer (violin, viola, viola d’amore) and prizewinner of the CMS Harry and Arden Fisher Young Composers Competition; studied viola with Scott Lee and composition with Chen Yi and James Mobberley; spent summers at the Innsbrook Institute and studied at UMSL with Joanna Mendoza and other members of the Arianna String Quartet; assistantships, fellowships, or residences at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts (Nebraska City), Seasons Music Festival (Yakima, WA), U-Louisville, and St. Louis University (SLU). Seventeen years of experience as a freelance performer, educator, composer, arranger, and editor, including a decade as instructor of strings and theory/composition at Townsend Music School (Ballwin). Currently a doctoral student at SLU studying philosophy and bioethics.

John Thomas, horn, theory and composition
MM Horn and Music Theory, University of Missouri-Columbia; BA Music Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis, principal horn, St. Louis Philharmonic; solo tenor horn, St. Louis Brass Band; member, Clarion Brass Quintet, Webster University and Gateway Festival Orchestra; soloist, Kirkwood Symphony and Musical Diversion Society; published works include pieces for horn octet, woodwind quintet, brass quintet and wind ensemble; Symphony No. 1 premiered April 2000 by University City Symphony; orchestrations and arrangements performed by St. Louis Philharmonic and St. Louis Brass Band.

John Thomas, horn, theory and composition
MM Horn and Music Theory, University of Missouri-Columbia; BA Music Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis, principal horn, St. Louis Philharmonic; solo tenor horn, St. Louis Brass Band; member, Clarion Brass Quintet, Webster University and Gateway Festival Orchestra; soloist, Kirkwood Symphony and Musical Diversion Society; published works include pieces for horn octet, woodwind quintet, brass quintet and wind ensemble; Symphony No. 1 premiered April 2000 by University City Symphony; orchestrations and arrangements performed by St. Louis Philharmonic and St. Louis Brass Band.

Crystal Chu-Sharp, Early Childhood Program Coordinator/Kindermusik
DMA Percussion Performance, University of Oregon; MM Percussion Performance, New York University; BM Percussion Performance, National University of Singapore; studied with Pius Cheung, Jonathan Haas and Rodney Dorsey. Worked as Graduate Teaching Fellow for various music ensembles at the UO as assistant conductor, ensemble coach, band librarian and coordinator. Former Principal Percussion, Eugene Concert Orchestra (OR). Guest artist at Space City New Music Festival. Social Media Manager, Beta Percussion International Institute. Performed at Oregon Bach Festival, Northwest Percussion Festival, soundSCAPE Festival, SICPP, World Youth Wind Orchestra Project (Austria) and the WASBE Conference. Originally from Hong Kong, Dr. Chu-Sharp is happy to call St. Louis home with her husband and daughter. Her research study in interdisciplinary art and creative performance practice enriches her teaching effectiveness at all levels, and she always aims to provide an inclusive learning environment for her students. Besides English, she is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Aiden Smith, Kindermusik and Music for Little Mozarts
BA Vocal performance, Central Methodist University. He has been teaching early childhood for four years and in 2021 started a music program at Cadence Academy in Chesterfield. When he is not teaching he serves as a section leader in the choir at First Congregational Church in Clayton. He also enjoys performing seasonally with the St. Charles festivals “Legends and Lanterns” and “Christmas Traditions.” Prior to the pandemic, he sang with the Bach Society of St. Louis for two years.

Elizabeth Smith, Music for Little Mozarts
BM Music Therapy, University of Alabama. Piano principal with secondary studies in violin and voice. Elizabeth is an experienced piano teacher and choir director and has been teaching early childhood music classes since 2002. She lives in St. Louis with her husband Brad, and they have two children who benefitted from Kindermusik classes through CMS. Their son Bradley recently graduated from the PREP program at CMS and is currently pursuing a violin performance degree.

Nancy Daby, violin; Conductor, String Orchestra
MM, Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina; A.S. String Instrument Technology, Indiana University; BA, New York State University at Albany; former faculty member, Converse College Pre-college Division, Suzuki String Program — University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Cincinnati Public Schools; member, American String Teachers Association and Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Michael Faris, percussion; Director, Young People's Orchestra Percussion
MM in Percussion, St. Louis Conservatory of Music; BA Music and BA Performance, Central Washington University. Former faculty Lindenwood University; retired founder/director of Ladue Percussion. Performance experience includes Carnegie Hall debut with Illinois Chamber Orchestra, past Principal Percussion with Illinois Symphony Orchestra, past Principal Substitute Timpanist Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Northwest Ballet, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, The Bach Society of St. Louis, St. Louis Opera Theatre, St. Louis Ballet, past Principal Percussion Lancaster Festival Orchestra, Fox Theatre Orchestra, Sophisticated Swing Big Band and Johnny Polzin Orchestras. Recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Music Education by the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association, past president of the Missouri Percussive Arts Society, Director of the Strike Institute and currently Percussion Specialist for St. Louis University High School.

Patrick Jackson, Conductor, Young People's Symphonic Orchestra
BME, Jackson State University; Master of Music, Double Bass performance, St. Louis Conservatory of Music. Recipient, Missouri American String Teachers Association's "Secondary String Educator of the Year" award, Who's Who Among America's High School Teachers,2003-04 Kirkwood School District Teacher of the Year, 2003 Emerson "Excellence in Teaching" award and ST. LOUIS AMERICAN "Excellence in Education" honors. Member of the MSHSAA Music Advisory Committee, American String Teachers Association, MMEA, MENC and past vice-president of High School Orchestra for the St. Louis All-Suburban Music Educators Association. Recently named a 2011 Distinguished Music Educator by the Yale School of Music.

Sarah Klevorn, Conductor, Young People's Concert Orchestra
MA, Music Education, Eastman School of Music; BME and Certificate in Violin Performance, Florida State University. Currently serves as Orchestra Director in Kirkwood School District; students performed at MMEA (2020) and won the Gold Rating and Adjudicator Award at the National Heritage Festival (2020 and 2016). Former faculty, Winter Park High School in Orlando, Florida, and Recipient, Winter Park High School Spirit Award for teaching. WPHS full orchestra ensemble named Orlando Philharmonic’s Orchestra of Distinction. Conducting study with Dr. Patrick Dunnigan (FSU) and orchestral training with Corinne Stillwell (FSU) and Juliana Athayde (Concertmaster, Rochester Philharmonic). Orchestral experience includes Metropolitan Orchestra of St Louis, Cordancia Chamber Ensemble and the Tallahassee Symphony.

Graham Woodland, Suzuki violin; Conductor, String Ensemble
MM in Violin Performance with Suzuki Pedagogy Emphasis, The Hartt School; BM Violin Performance, University of Missouri; Suzuki Association of the Americas Teacher Training, under Christie Felsing; solo experience with the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, University of Missouri Philharmonic, Hartt Contemporary Players and the MU Chamber Orchestra; currently Assistant Concertmaster of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra and substitute with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra; summer festivals include Texas Music Festival, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Innsbrook Institute Academy and Festival; Masterclasses with Paul Biss, Pinchas Zukerman, Robert Lipsett, Lawrence Dutton and members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra; previous Principal Second Violin of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and Assistant Concertmaster of the Keene Chamber Orchestra in New Hampshire; studied under Katie Lansdale, Eva Szekely, Chin Kim and Mikhail Lobko.

Laura Holzen, Preparatory Program Artistic Coordinator
MA, Music Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis; BME University of Missouri-St. Louis; retired elementary strings teacher and orchestra director, Rockwood School District; former faculty member, Parkway School District, Fort Zumwalt School District, and St. Charles Community College; conductor, Parkway-Rockwood Intermediate Honors Orchestra; founder and conductor, Fort Zumwalt Honors Orchestra; PLC leader and mentor of new string educators, Rockwood School District; recipient of the Missouri American String Teachers Association "Elementary String Educator of the Year" award; member, National Association for Music Education, American String Teachers Association, and Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity.

Nick Savage, High School Jazz Ensemble
MM Jazz Studies, Webster University; BM Percussion Performance, Webster University; lead singer and drummer for St. Louis band Fresh Heir; percussion and drum kit instrumentalist, Salem United Methodist Church; Program Director and Lead Instructor for LINC to Music, LLC; Music Director, Sacred Heart School in Valley Park, Lead Drum Instructor at Kirkwood Music Institute; drum kit and percussion instructor at De Smet Jesuit College Prep High School; Lead Consultant for Diamond Empire Band St. Louis; performed with John Scofield, Joshua Redman, Lou Donaldson, Lonnie Smith, Jeff Coffin, Victor Goines, Joe Lavano and many more; has played, performed and/or produced on over 100 recordings.