Emily Book McGree - Education Director (piano) DMA, received her doctoral degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder where she studied piano with Dr. Andrew Cooperstock and piano pedagogy with Dr. Alejandro Cremaschi. She received her M.M. from Louisiana State University under Jennifer Hayghe and Gregory Sioles, and her B.M. from Ohio Wesleyan University under Cameron Bennett, both with honors. In addition to several performance scholarships and awards at all three institutions, she has also been the recipient of many teaching awards, including the STAR award from the Music Teachers National Association. During summers, Emily has fostered her love for chamber music at numerous music festivals with acclaimed teachers such as Martin Canin, Benjamin Rawitz and Michael Gurt. Emily has been teaching at the collegiate level for over 5 years and has held a private studio for much longer. She loves teaching students both young and old, and strives to create thoughtful musicians with a love for the arts.

 

 

 

 

STRINGS FACULTY

 

 

Michaela Borth (violin) recently relocated to Boulder from the New York City area. While there she was the director of Suzuki and traditional string programs at music schools in New York and Connecticut. In addition to her private teaching, she has held adjudicating responsibilities for Canadian national music festivals. Ms. Borth is a certified Suzuki teacher, having trained with renowned pioneer pedagogues Alice Joy Lewis and Nancy Lokken.  She is most passionate about music being used as an inspirational vehicle for developing the student’s awareness of creativity and confidence through nurtured and focused discipline, leading into all aspects of life. As an orchestra musician, Ms. Borth has performed in the Rockland Symphony Orchestra, the AIMS Festival Orchestra in Austria and the Mahler Festival in Boulder among others. As a chamber player, she has performed in the Stravinsky Festival in Kansas City, Missouri, and at the Gem Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. Ms. Borth earned her masters degree in violin performance from SUNY Purchase College Conservatory in New York, and bachelors at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Her teachers have included Stephan Clapp, Laurie Smukler, and Benny Kim.

 

Brad Ferree (viola, violin, piano) Brad Ferree has enjoyed an extensive career performing with his two main instruments, violin and piano. From 1996, when he won his first concerto competition on the piano, he has performed extensively enjoying such honors as the “Louisiana State University Music Award” which gave him a full tuition scholarship to attend college. Brad has performed professionally with many symphonies from Louisiana to Colorado. Some of his notable experiences were with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and Acadiana Symphony. In 2007, Brad was honored with the opportunity to perform the Stamitz viola concerto with the McPherson Chamber Orchestra. Through his many years of studies, he has had the opportunity to perform in master-classes with Roland Vamos, James Dunham and Donald McInnes. He has also studied with several important musicians such as Geraldine Walther, Dr.Jerzy Kosmala, Erika Eckert, Dr. David Lowe and Borislava Iltcheva. Brad obtained his Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from Louisiana State University and his Master of Music from the University of Colorado in Boulder

 

 

 

Marissa Swanson Ferro (violin, viola) began her violin studies at the age of three. At age 10, she started playing the viola as a chamber and string orchestra musician, performing a solo recital on both instruments at the age of 16. She then decided to focus on Viola Performance, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota, and continued her graduate studies at the University of Southern California. During the past 5 years, Marissa became a beloved string teacher in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA. She taught violin and viola to beginning through advanced students, age 3 to adult, using both Suzuki and traditional methods. In addition to her private studio, she spent 4 years teaching small and large group string classes and ensembles in public and private schools. Marissa’s extensive performing experience includes solo appearances with orchestras, principal viola positions, chamber music recitals and competitions, and solo recitals. A prize-winner in numerous competitions, she was also a fellowship recipient of the Aspen Music Festival. Marissa’s principal teachers and chamber music coaches have included Korey Konkol, Donald McInnes, Ralph Fielding, Heidi Castleman, Cheryl Minor Stewart, Lydia Artymiw, Peter Howard, and Jorja Fleezanis.

 

 

 

Ingrid Peoria (violin) began her violin studies at the age of four with Suzuki pedagogue John Kendall.  She has also studied with Curtis Peacock, Abraham Chavez Jr., Harold Wippler, and Dylana Jensen. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso and was a member of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra for nine years. She has been an active freelance violinist in the Boulder/Denver and Front Range area for over twenty years, playing with such groups as the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Colorado Ballet, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Cheyenne Symphony, Denver Chamber Orchestra, Greeley Philharmonic, Mercury Ensemble, St. John’s Festival Orchestra, and Ensemble Con Grazia. She has played in the Central City Opera orchestra since 1990.  She has taught public school strings in Texas and Colorado and currently teaches at Shepherd Valley Waldorf School in Niwot and Harrington Elementary in Denver.

 

 

 

 

 

James Shaw (viola) is currently a violist in the Boulder Chamber Orchestra and Greeley Philharmonic. He is also a violist and chamber musician with the Mercury Ensemble. Mr. Shaw formerly held viola positions with the Florida Grand Opera and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.  Mr. Shaw currently teaches violin and viola at Parlando School for the Arts and has previously taught violin, viola and chamber music at Rice University’s Shepherd school preparatory department in addition to string programs in New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Colorado.   Mr. Shaw holds a Bachelors in Music Performance from the University of Denver and a Masters in Performance from Rice University.  He also held a quartet fellowship from Kent State University, studying with the Miami and Miro String Quartets, where he received a Masters in Orchestral Conducting.

 

 

 

Britt Swenson (violin) received her B.M. and M.M. degrees from the Juilliard School. She made her Carnegie Hall debut soloing with the New York Pops Orchestra and gave a Carnegie Hall recital in Weill Hall to benefit the Northern Lights Organization, which benefits children born with HIV/AIDS. She has performed throughout the US, Europe and Asia with such artists as Jean Pierre Rampal, Mstislav Rostroprovich and Yehudi Menuhin. Britt has been featured on NPR’s “Performance Today” and “Music from the Grand Teton Music Festival.” She has recorded extensively, including as soloist in Vivaldi Four Seasons with the Bismarck Symphony, as a chamber musician and in over 30 Hollywood movie soundtracks. Awarded the prestigious Frank Huntington Beebe Fellowship, Britt spent a year studying at the Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg, Austria. She is currently violinist with the five-member Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, which tours throughout the US, performs regularly at Chautauqua and is featured in silent films on Turner Classic Movies. Britt has been a devoted teacher for over 15 years. She has been a teaching fellow at Harvard University and the Juilliard School. Britt has also worked with students of all ages in New York, Los Angeles and the Boulder/Denver area. Her teachers have included Cho Liang Lin, Sally Thomas, Stephen Clapp and Bayla Keyes. (Photo credit Sue Daniels Photography,©2008)

 

 

Clayton Vaughn ('cello) is an accomplished cellist and a dedicated teacher who is committed to helping his students find beautiful tone, technical ease, and artistic expression through the relationship between their instrument and natural body mechanics. He is a faculty member at the Parlando School for the Arts and was the cello Teaching Assistant for Judith Glyde from 2009 to 2012 at CU Boulder.  Clayton is the principal cellist of the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, a member of the Greeley Philharmonic and the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, as well as a substitute for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.  He is also an active chamber musician who has recently performed with the Veronika String Quartet and will be joining the Walden Chamber Music Society this season.  Mr. Vaughn is an alumnus of Tanglewood, National Repertory Orchestra, Music Academy of the West, Meadowmount, and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.  He has performed in masterclasses for many renowned artists such as the Cavani Quartet, Leipzig Quartet, Ralph Kirshbaum, Kronos Quartet, Peter Salaff, Norman Fischer, David Geber, Alan Stepansky, and the Takács Quartet.  Clayton is also the Music Director of the Boulder Cello Project, a cello ensemble for adult cellists. Currently, Clayton is enrolled at the University of Colorado Boulder where he is working to complete his Doctorate in cello performance, and studies with both Judith Glyde and András Fejér of the award winning Takács Quartet. He earned his B.A. from the University of Louisville with Paul York.  For his Masters degree, Clayton studied with Dr. Melissa Kraut and Stephen Geber at the Cleveland Institute of Music. 

 

Eleanor Wells (cello) graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts high school division in 1995 and went on to study at the University of Colorado at Boulder, as a full scholarship student with Judith Glyde. While at the University of Colorado, she received the Denes Koromzay Quartet Award and placed in the finals of the honors competition two years in a row. She also spent several summers at the Eastern Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival. Her teachers have included John Erhlich, Yehuda Hanani, Robert Marsh, and Charles Wendt. Elle received her Master of Music degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara where she studied with Geoffrey Rutkowski and was awarded first place winner of the Santa Barbara Performing Arts Competition. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Colorado at Boulder and performs with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, the Greeley Philharmonic, and the Central City Opera Orchestra.

 

WOODWINDS FACULTY

 

Carol Codrescu (flute, recorder) holds a Bachelor of Music in flute performance from Baylor University where she studied with Helen Ann Shanley, a Master of Music degree in Early Music Performance on baroque flute from New England Conservatory where she studied with Peter Bloom, and a Certificate of Advanced Study on baroque and keyed flutes from Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, where she studied with Stephen Preston. She has studied in masterclasses with Stephen Preston, Jed Wentz, Geoffrey Gilbert, and Trevor Wye. Carol has performed in solo, chamber, and orchestral concerts in Colorado, England, Massachusetts, and Texas. She performed at the National Flute Association’s 1993 Convention in the Baroque Flute Masterclass for Sandra Miller. She was a semi-finalist in the 1998 National Flute Association’s Baroque Flute Artist Competition and was invited to perform at the 2001 and 2007 NFA Conventions on concerts of baroque chamber music. She has also served as tape judge for the NFA Baroque Flute Masterclass and Baroque Flute Artists Competitions. She teaches recorder, flute and chamber music at Parlando. (Photo credit Sue Daniels Photography,©2008)

 

 

Brian Jack (bassoon) currently teaches and performs in the Boulder-Denver area, having played with ensembles such as the Colorado Ballet, Colorado Music Festival, MahlerFest Symphony Orchestra, and the Boulder Symphony. He is an avid chamber musician and founding member of the Boulder Bassoon Quartet. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance and Education at Ithaca College, he earned both his Master’s Degree and DMA in Bassoon Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Colorado. In addition to his studies with Dr. Lee Goodhew-Romm, Dr. Yoshiyuki Ishikawa, and Glenn Einschlag, Brian has performed in masterclasses and studied with Michael Sweeney, Christopher Millard, Peter Kolkay, and Kim Walker.

Dr. Jack is the Executive Director of the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras, the premier youth orchestra experience in Boulder and the surrounding areas. Celebrating its inaugural season, this non-profit youth orchestra is under the musical leadership of Gary Lewis, the Director of Orchestral Studies at the CU College of Music.

Brian lives in Boulder with his wife Kaori Uno, bassoonist in the award-winning Antero Wind Quintet.

 

 

 

Jessica Lindsey (clarinet, saxophone) currently resides in Boulder, Colorado where she is pursuing the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Clarinet Pedagogy and Performance at the University of Colorado (CU).  In Boulder, Ms. Lindsey is a Teaching Assistant at CU, a mentor for the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras, and the clarinet instructor at Parlando School for the Arts.  From 2004 to 2010, Ms. Lindsey held adjunct positions in southeastern Nebraska at Concordia University of Nebraska, Doane College, and Nebraska Wesleyan University where she taught applied clarinet and music-related courses. Ms. Lindsey maintains an active schedule as a clinician and performer; since 2004 she has presented clinics, recitals, and chamber music concerts in Alabama, Colorado, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.  Ms. Lindsey completed a Bachelor of Arts in Music (2002) and a Masters of Music (2004) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Her primary teachers include Mr. Daniel Silver, Dr. Diane Barger, and Dr. John Klinghammer.

 

 

 

 

Malia Alford Van Rooy (flute, piano) B.M., Baylor University - Malia Van Rooy has been musically involved throughout her life, performing in various ensembles in Colorado, Texas, Washington, D.C., Washington State, France, and China. Her performances include solos, duos, quartets, quintets, octets, and orchestras as well as weddings, church services, and with various singer/songwriters. Malia graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in flute performance and minoring in piano studies. She has performed in masterclasses with flute players William Bennett, Sheryl Cohen, and Walfrid Kujala and has studied under Karen Yonovitz, Marilyn Prestia, and Helen Ann Shanley. On piano, Malia has studied under Jane Abbott-Kirk and Tamara Goldstein. Malia has taught and accompanied since the age of fifteen, and currently teaches both piano and flute full time in her studio and at Parlando School for the Arts in Boulder, Colorado. Additionally, Malia has served on the Lafayette Cultural Arts Commission in Lafayette, Colorado bringing grants, arts awareness, networking, and various opportunities to local artists and musicians in the Lafayette/Boulder area. Malia's other passions include reading, traveling, soccer, snowboarding, and hiking.

 

Sam Williams is a versatile saxophonist and music educator currently living in Boulder. After earning a Bachelors Degree in Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, he relocated to San Diego, CA to perform, teach, and enjoy the sunshine. He moved to Colorado in 2008 to study with Dr. Andrew Dahlke at the University of Northern Colorado, and earned a Masters Degree in both Saxophone Performance and Jazz Studies. While at UNC, Sam was the Saxophone Studio Teaching Assistant for two years, and took over teaching responsibilities during Dr. Dahlke's sabbatical leave in 2011. Sam also worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Jazz Studies Department, where he taught jazz combos. Since graduating in 2011, Sam has worked as a freelance musician throughout Northern Colorado, and has also performed overseas on various cruise ships.

 

 

 

 

Tenly Williams (oboe) is an active contributor to the Colorado music community, performing with several orchestras and chamber music groups across the Front Range. Her career has included positions with the Binghamton Philharmonic and Fort Collins Symphony, as well as performances with the Austin Symphony, Boulder Philharmonic, Cheyenne Symphony, Colorado Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic, and San Antonio Symphony Orchestras. A Colorado native, Tenly is happy to be living in Denver after completing her Bachelor of Music degree at the Eastman School of Music in 2001 and her Master of Music degree at the University of Texas at Austin in 2005. She has performed at numerous summer festivals around the world from Dublin, Ireland to Banff, Canada. The summer of 2008 includes a performance with members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Music in the Mountains Festival in Durango, Colorado. Also an active educator, Tenly has taught students of all ages and abilities at the University of Texas at Austin, the Denver School of the Arts, Boulder High School, and other community music schools. A commercial reed maker for Midwest Musical Imports since 2004, Tenly also presents reed making workshops.

 

 

BRASS FACULTY

 

 

Devon Park (French horn) received his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University. He is a member of many area ensembles including the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, Greeley Philharmonic, and Central City Opera Orchestra. He has performed as soloist with the Mercury Ensemble of Denver, Inside the Orchestra children's concerts in Denver, and made guest appearances with the Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado, and Colorado Music Festival. Devon has taught horn at Colorado Christian University, Colorado State University, Metro State College, Rocky Ridge Music Camp in Estes Park, and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

 

 

 

 

 

Ryan Van Gilder (Trombone) is an active educator and performer in the Colorado Front Range area. As a private instructor, clinician, and adjudicator he has worked with schools and honor bands in the state of Colorado for the past five years. In this capacity he has taught lessons, conducted master-classes, and led low-brass sectionals. As a trombonist, he has performed with the Colorado Ballet, Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Longmont Symphony Orchestra, Steamboat Springs Orchestra, and Wyoming Symphony Orchestra as well as jazz musicians John Fedchock, Bob Mintzer, Kenny Wheeler, and Paul McKee. He holds the BM degree from the University of Iowa and MM and DMA (in progress) degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he served as a graduate teaching assistant. His teachers have included William Stanley, David Gier, and David Stuart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donald R. Williams (trumpet) is a long-time resident of Colorado and completed his Master’s degree in trumpet performance in 2005 at the University of Colorado – Boulder, studying with Terry Sawchuk. Don received his Bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Northern Colorado where he studied with William Pfund, professor emeritus of trumpet, and Dan Kuehn of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. In 1999, Don was a featured soloist with the University of Northern Colorado Symphonic Band as one of the winners of the Rocky Mountain Concerto Competition. Don has also studied with Thomas G. Wilson from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.  An active private instructor and clinician, Don has been teaching in the Loveland, Boulder, and Denver areas for nearly a decade. A founding member of the Apollo Chamber Brass and currently second trumpet with the Wyoming Symphony, Don is also an active free-lance trumpeter and has appeared with the Longmont Symphony, the Fort Collins Symphony, and the Steamboat Springs Orchestra as well as the Greeley Philharmonic, the San Juan Symphony, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

 

 

 

PERCUSSION AND JAZZ FACULTY

 

 

Sam Williams is a versatile saxophonist and music educator currently living in Boulder. After earning a Bachelors Degree in Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, he relocated to San Diego, CA to perform, teach, and enjoy the sunshine. He moved to Colorado in 2008 to study with Dr. Andrew Dahlke at the University of Northern Colorado, and earned a Masters Degree in both Saxophone Performance and Jazz Studies. While at UNC, Sam was the Saxophone Studio Teaching Assistant for two years, and took over teaching responsibilities during Dr. Dahlke's sabbatical leave in 2011. Sam also worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Jazz Studies Department, where he taught jazz combos. Since graduating in 2011, Sam has worked as a freelance musician throughout Northern Colorado, and has also performed overseas on various cruise ships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUITAR FACULTY

 

 

Adam Buer received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Instrumental Music Education and a Master of Music Degree in Guitar Performance from the University of Idaho.  While at the University of Idaho, Adam taught Guitar Class and private guitar lessons, served as teaching assistant for Rock and Roll History, and performed regularly in a variety of solo and group settings.  Adam’s formative years were rich with musical experiences which included performing in a versatile rock band, leading a church praise band, and teaching private lessons.  From 2007-2010, Adam lived in Colorado and held various music teaching positions, including guitar instructor through the University of Colorado’s Continuing Education Program and general music instructor at Jarrow Montessori School.  As a solo guitarist Adam has won prizes in a number of competitions including those at the 2005 Northwest Guitar Festival, the 2005 Music Fest Northwest, and the 2004 Idaho Federation of Music Clubs.  He has performed with the Symphony Orchestras of Spokane and Walla Walla as well as the Boulder Guitar Orchestra.  Adam’s teachers have included James Reid, Nicolo Spera, and Vern Sielert.  He has also studied in master classes with such notable guitarists as Christopher Parkening, Bryan Johanson, and Alieksy Vianna.  In his spare time, Adam enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, pianist Karin Buer.

 

John E. Mieras Jr. (Guitar, Voice, and Songwriting/Composition) is an award winning, performing, singer-songwriter and music educator based in Northern Colorado. John earned a MA in Choral Conducting and BA in Music Education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and Central Washington University in beautiful Washington State, respectively. John is a versatile musician having studied voice under Patrick Mason at CU, horn with Jeffrey Snedecker at CWU, and Choral music and education with Geoffrey Boers at CWU. He was the assistant conductor of the Boulder Chorale under Artistic Director and Conductor, Laura Gillette and has worked as a vocalist for various choirs along the front range including the acclaimed Ars Nova Singers in Boulder. John spent 12 years in semiconductor sales and marketing before returning to first love of music. Aside from teaching, John is gaining attention and folk radio airplay, pursuing a career as a performing singer/songwriter, receiving critical acclaim for a new E.P. of his own music entitled "Painted Glass" released in 2011. One of John's songs was recently chosen to be featured in American Songwriter Magazine for critical review. John also enjoys spending time and writing songs for his wife and two young children, Madelyn and Maxwell. www.johnmierasmusic.com

 

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey Moskovics (guitar and mandolin) has studied guitar privately since 1997 and has performed around Colorado in bands, choirs and music groups since 2000. In the spring of 2008 he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Industry Studies from the University of Colorado at Denver, where he studied guitar under Doctor Sean McGowan and Professor Paul Musso. He is currently pursuing a certificate in Luthiery to specialize in building and repairing guitars, mandolins, and violins from Red Rocks Community College. He instructs students in the areas of improvisation and in the styles of rock, blues, jazz and classical music. Jeff strongly believes that students should have fun while playing guitar as well as exposure to all different styles of music to encourage a broad understanding of music theory and the versatility of the guitar. He uses materials that encourage growth in theory, reading, and proper technique, which can be applied to any style of music that interests a student.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isaac White (guitar) started studying music at the age of eight.   He has been teaching violin, viola, guitar and bass guitar for fifteen years to students of all ages, beginning as young as three years old.  In 2000 he earned a Bachelors degree in music performance from the University of Northern Colorado, and in 2002 he earned a Masters degree in music performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has studied from such teachers as Mark Jackobs, Dr. Juliet White-Smith, Peter Salaff, Dr. Russell Guyver, Fred Hamilton, and Dr. Greg Carroll.  He has performed with Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Opera Colorado, Central City Opera, and Boulder Philharmonic.  Isaac has also performed in many different jazz and rock ensembles throughout Cleveland and Denver areas including performances with the Trans Siberian Orchestra, Andrea Bocelli and Richard Marx.  In his free time Isaac enjoys spending time with his wife, three young children and dog.      

 

 

 

 

 

Holden Young (guitar) is a teacher whose talent extends to all ages and abilities. He has studied music since the age of 5 when he started on the piano. By age 10 he was playing both guitar and piano, and by age 12 decided that the guitar was the instrument for him. After high school he continued his education at Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated in 2002 with honors. His studies included guitar performance (rock, folk, blues), world music, percussion, jazz studies, and songwriting. After graduation Holden headed to the city of music, Nashville, Tennessee. It was there he recorded his first album Not Much & Everything and became a proficient songwriter and performer. Now performing in Colorado and the mountain region with his two groups, HY3 and the Holden Young Experience, Holden is a full-time teacher and performer. His goal is to teach students what they want to learn in all-styles with a full-spectrum of chords, reading, transcribing, theory and rhythm practices.