Emily Book McGree - Studio Head (piano) D.M.A. in progress University of Colorado at Boulder, is a native of Ohio and is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado where she is studying piano with Andrew Cooperstock and piano pedagogy with 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.

 

Anne Choi is pursing a Doctoral Degree in piano performance at the University of Colorado, Boulder, under the tutelage of David Korevaar. She is a graduate from the University of Southern California, 2008, where she received her Masters Degree, and Indiana University, 2006, for her Bachelor of Music Degree. Her past teachers include Norman Krieger, Arnaldo Cohen, Evelyne Brancart, Larry Graham, and Carolyn & Bernard Shaak. Anne has won top prizes in many numerous competitions such as the Colorado State Music Teacher Association, Wells Music Yamaha competition, Nancy Clark, Colorado Young Music Foundation, the Colorado All-State Piano Competition, Ball State Piano Competition, Music Teachers National Association, and the Breckinridge Concerto Competition. In 2001, she won the Lakewood/Chester Exchange Program Competition that led to a series of concert appearances in Chester, England. Anne has performed with many orchestras including her debut with the Breckenridge Festival Orchestra when she was eleven years old and a performance with the Lakewood Symphony Orchestra playing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2. In 2000, Anne won the All-State piano competition and performed with the All-State Men’s choir as well as a solo performance at Colorado State University’s Arts Center. She has been on the teaching faculty at Indiana University for the Young Artist Piano Program, and at USC and CU as a Graduate Assistant teaching group class piano and private lessons. She is a member of the Phi Kappa Lambda Music Society and is currently on the administrative faculty for the International Institute for Young Musicians.

 

Yuan-Jen Cheng (piano) D.M.A., University of Colorado at Boulder, originally from Taiwan, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in piano performance from Soochow University, Taipei, where she studied with John Vaughan, Yo-Huei Lo, and Tuan-Mei Yang. She received her Master’s degree with distinction from Western Michigan University, where she was a teaching assistant of Lori Sims. Recently, she received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado-Boulder, studying with David Korevaar. A member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society since 1999, she has also performed in many masterclasses with world-class artists including Yefim Bronfman, Richard Cass, Penelope Crawford, John Perry, Pascal Rogé, Ursula Oppens, Arie Vardi, and Earl Wild. She was named “Senior Young Artist” in the Kalamazoo Bach Festival in 1999 and was the winner of the Bruce Ekstrand Competition at CU Boulder in December, 2002. She is an active performer and teaches students of all ages and levels including adults. With extensive experience as a collaborative pianist, Yuan-Jen also coaches chamber ensembles at Parlando.

 

 

Kayla Dare (piano) B.A., Faith Baptist Bible College, began playing the piano at age five and soon developed a lasting love for music. During her teen years she was successful in various local, state, and national piano competitions, and received a piano scholarship for college. While attending Faith Baptist Bible College, Kayla was actively involved in the music program as an instrumental, vocal, and chorale accompanist as well as solo pianist. After graduating in 2005 Kayla began teaching at an elementary school in Iowa while continuing to teach private piano lessons. Kayla has taught piano at four music studios including Parlando, and has several years of piano teaching experience. In addition to private piano lessons, Kayla teaches Kids N Keys classes and group piano lessons. Her goal for her students is that they obtain excellence as musicians as well as develop a lifelong appreciation for music. (Photo credit Sue Daniels Photography,©2008)

 

 

 

Kirsten Farnsworth (piano) began her piano studies at the age of six.  Throughout her pianistic career she has earned numerous awards and honors including first place in the 2006 Oklahoma State MTNA Young Artists competition. Kirsten has been honored to perform in Master classes with the renowned Olga Kern, Valery Kuleshov, Cecil Licad, and Nancy Weems.  Her most influential teachers include Doris Pridinoff-Lehnert, Dr. Edward Gates, and Margaret Francis.  She has performed in solo recitals in Norman, Oklahoma; Cape Charles, Virginia; and Boulder, Colorado.  In addition to her solo performances, Kirsten has enjoyed accompanying the Collegiate Chorale at CU, student recitals and juries, and competitions in Ft. Collins, Colorado and Wichita, Kansas.  Kirsten studied Piano Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma with the renowned Jane Magrath and Barbara Fast and at the University of Colorado with Alejandro Cremaschi.  Her research poster was recently accepted at the National MTNA conference in 2010.  Kirsten currently holds an assistantship teaching class piano to music majors at the University of Colorado.  She plans to graduate with a master’s degree in piano performance in May, 2010.  In her spare time she likes hiking, running, cooking, playing the accordion and spending time with friends and family.

 

 

 

Brad Ferree (piano, violin, viola) B.M., University of Colorado at Boulder, 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.

 

 

 

Kristina Fuller (piano, voice) is a coloratura soprano and holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, Classical Voice from the University of Colorado and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance, Musical Theatre from New York University where she was an Adjunct Voice Faculty member. Her New York credits include Gianetta in The Gondoliers, Mrs. Anderson in A Little Night Music, and ensemble in 110 In the Shade. Other regional credits include The Mikado (Yum Yum), Pirates of Penzance (Kate), Cabaret (Rosie and Lady), L’Enfant et les Sortileges (The Bat), and Fables (The Narrator). Other productions include The King and I, Iolanthe, H.M.S. Pinafore, L’Elisir D’Amore, Dialogues of the Carmelites and La Bohème. Kristina is excited to be back in Boulder and teaching with the Broadway in Boulder program at the Parlando School for the Arts

 

 

 

Andrew Halladay (piano, guitar) M.M. in progress, University of Colorado at Boulder, is a recent graduate from the University of Colorado at Boulder where he has received both his Master’s and Bachelor’s in Music Composition. Since 2001, Andy has been teaching students of all ages in a variety of genres and styles with a focus on musical expression. Being primarily a composer, Andy enjoys challenging students not only with musical technique but also with musical meaning, and often improvisation. Since the Fall of 2005, Andy has been working with Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church as a guest conductor and resident composer. Andy has written and conducted several pieces for church services and concert performances including "My God, my god, why hast thou forsaken me?" for the Westminster Choir and Montview Orchestra. He has also written music for theater productions including Buntport Theater's "Kafka on Ice." Currently, Andy enjoys singing alongside his wife, Rachel, in the Colorado Conductors Chorus.

 

 

 

Keiko Haneda (piano) M.A., Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo, began piano lessons at age four. She received a Master of Arts in Piano Performance from Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo. She had lessons with Vladimir Ashkenazy, Jorg Demus, Detlef Klaus, Beveridge Webster, Akira Imai, Max Egger, and participated in the piano classes of Professor Paul Badura-Skoda. Ms. Haneda has taught and accompanied at the Boulder Arts Academy, as well as for the summer program at the Boulder Conservatory Theater and the Saint Thomas University Church’s Choir. As a teacher, she emphasizes the importance of speaking the language of music and incorporates music theory into every lesson. With more than 25 years of teaching experience, many of her students have gone on to study piano in college and have won awards and competitions.

 

Pam Hayoun (piano) B.M., University of Denver Diplôme Supérieur d'Enseignement, École Normale de Musique, Paris, is an experienced accompanist performing with numerous chamber ensembles including Vivaldi and musical theaters in the U.S. and in France. She accompanies for the eurhythmy classes at Shining Mountain Waldorf School and the Tara Performing Arts High School. Pam performs with vocalist Patricia Irby to bring musical theater excerpts to senior residences and other venues in the community. She has over 25 years of teaching experience in Paris, Annecy and in the United States. (Photo credit Sue Daniels Photography,©2008)

 

 

 

Kate Klotz (piano) M.B.E., University of Colorado at Boulder, began studying piano at age five and has been actively involved in music and the arts ever since. In 1998, Kate began studying voice and went on to study with renowned instructors including Ms. Charmaine Coppom, Dr. Juliana Bishop Hoch, and Ms. Margaret Lattimore. In 2004, Kate received a full scholarship to study voice and music education at the University of Colorado at Boulder. During her time at CU, she specialized in choral music and choral conducting. Kate performed as part of the University Choir and was honored with numerous awards during her time at CU, including the Provost Award for Outstanding Achievement. She graduated with highest honors for her bachelor’s degree in music. Kate has taught music lessons for over five years and is passionate about spreading her love for music and the arts.  She hopes to inspire her students to become life-long musicians and to help them succeed in their pursuit of musical excellence. ( Photo credit Sue Daniels Photography, ©2008)

 

 

 

Leslie Ann Leddy (piano) B.A., Shorter College in Rome, Georgia, a native of Georgia, is a graduate of Shorter College, Rome, GA. She attended the Brevard Music Festival in Brevard, NC and the Shorter Summer Keyboard Extravaganza in Rome, GA. Leslie Ann’s awards include the Georgia Music Teacher's National Association State Piano Competition, winner of the Kawai Southern Keyboards Piano Competition, and an honorable invitation to study at the St. Petersburg Piano Institute from Francis Larimer. Her teachers include Mary Ann Knight, Dr. Douglas Weeks, Dr. Ruby Morgan, and Joan Yarborough. She has also attended master classes and lectures of Dr. Frederick Olsen, Barbara Lister-Sink, Andrew Cooperstock, and Peter Schikele (P.D.Q. Bach). She has concertized throughout Eastern Europe and Greece. Her passions include composing, the study of world music and art, traveling, exploring the great outdoors, and most of all, “getting young students enlivened with the joy of music.”

 

 

Sharla Macy (piano) M.E., Austin College had the pleasure of growing up in a very accomplished musical family. Her grandmother was her first teacher of piano at age four. Sharla now brings to Parlando a blend in backgrounds. She holds a B.A. in Music and Masters in Education from Austin College, Special Studies in Music Therapy from SMU and a Masters in Counseling from St. Mary’s University. She has been licensed as a Marriage, Family Therapist for twenty years. Sharla has over twenty years experience teaching piano to students of ages elementary through adult at all levels of learning. In addition, she specializes in teaching students with special needs and works with music as a means of relaxation and life enhancement. She has a particular enthusiasm for and many years of experience in performing and teaching two-piano and duet repertoire as a means of connection and pleasure in performance. She was on the faculty for many years at the Community School of Music and Arts in California and also the Boulder Arts Academy. Sharla values the joy music brings to the lives of her students, families and community.

 

Angela Miller is currently working toward her Doctor of Music degree in collaborative piano performance at the University of Colorado in Boulder, studying with Dr. Alexandra Nguyen and Professor Margaret McDonald. A native of South Dakota, she received her BM in piano performance from the University of South Dakota under Dr. Susan Keith Gray, graduating with honors. She earned her MM in piano performance from Central Michigan University, where she studied with Dr. Alexandra Mascolo-David. She received many performance scholarships at all three institutions and was awarded teaching assistantships at Central Michigan University and the University of Colorado. She has been a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society since 2007 and has won several performance competitions. Angela has performed on masterclasses with Nelita True, Eugene and Elizabeth Pridinoff, Gail Berenson, and many others and has attended music institutes both in the US and abroad. She has taught piano for 6 years, both privately and with community arts schools. Angela believes all students deserve a chance to experience music, whether their goal is to be a serious performer or just to play for fun. She loves teaching students of all ages, and emphasizes the importance of music theory and ear training in lessons, as well as providing opportunities for improvisation and creativity. She hopes to inspire a lifelong love of music in high quality musicians.

 

 

Janet Pettit (piano) recently earned her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Here she studied applied piano with Doris Pridonoff Lehnert and pedagogy with Dr. Alejandro Cremaschi.  She received her B.M., summa cum laude, from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Janet has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Ohio and Colorado, and in Vienna, Austria. She premiered new works by student and professional composers on the Pendulum New Music Series at CU. Janet has taught piano for over five years and also has experience teaching group piano to adult beginners at the University of Colorado. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities, especially beginners, and hopes to help her students become lifelong music lovers and learners.

 

 

 

 

 

Amanda Riggers (piano) B.M., University of Idah,) is an Idaho native, with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, where she studied with Dr. Jay Mauchley and Dr. Jonathan Mann. Amanda recently graduated Magna cum Laude and has been accepted into the masters program at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has been honored to perform in master classes given by Chih-Long Hu, Steven Spooner, Kay Zavislak, Milica Jovanovic, and Tamir Hendelman, and has attended classes from Emile Naumoff, Adam Gyorgy, and Regina Yeh. Her lifelong dedication to the music teaching profession is evidenced in the seven years she has maintained a private studio, where she taught all levels of classical and jazz piano lessons. Amanda’s teaching philosophy includes a strong commitment to ear training and theoretical understanding, which was strengthened by her collegiate aural skills teaching assistantship under the great pedagogue Daniel Bukvich. She also stresses the importance of musical sensitivity and values sound, touch, and individual interpretation. Amanda actively performs as a classical soloist and accompanist, and gigs as a jazz pianist and singer. She is the recipient of many music honors, including the STAR award from the Music Teachers National Association and scholarships from the Joyce A. Chaffer Piano Trust Fund. Amanda strives to provide her students with a solid musical foundation, so they may find their inner voice and be able to say through music what otherwise is inexpressible.

Malia Alford Van Rooy (piano, flute) B.M., Baylor University, has been musically involved throughout her life, performing in various ensembles throughout Colorado, Texas, Washington, D.C., Washington State, France, and China. Her performances include solos, duos, quartets, quintets, and octets, as well as weddings, church services, and with various singer/songwriters. She has also played in the pit orchestra for the Baylor Theatre's production of She Loves Me and Broadway in Boulder's The Secret Garden. Malia graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in flute performance and minoring in piano studies. She has won masterclasses with flute players such as William Bennett, Sheryl Cohen, and Walfrid Kujala and has studied under Karen Yonovitz, Marilyn Prestia, and Helen Ann Shanley. While at Baylor, she was the pianist and accompanist at her church, for services, choir, and in praise band. She also accompanied for various performances in the School of Music and has studied under Jane Abbott-Kirk and Tamara Goldstein. Malia has been teaching since the age of fifteen. She has taught privately, at A Child's Song, and at the Lake Arlington Academy of Music in Arlington, Texas. Malia also serves 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 jazz, reading, traveling, and hiking.

Alexandra Zelinskaya (piano) B.S. in progress, University of Colorado at Boulder is originally from Moscow, Russia. Alexandra studied in the Richter Children’s Music School and sang in the choir at Bolshoi Theater. After moving to the United States, she continued her studies in piano under the guidance of several teachers including Andrew Cooperstock. Alexandra had the esteemed privilege of attending the Brevard Summer Institute. A talented pianist, Alexandra is pursuing her other interests as a chemical engineering student at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She also enjoys tutoring and teaching math and science to children, volunteering, and taking dance classes. Alexandra’s grandmother, who was a concert pianist in Russia, inspired her to pursue her musical dreams, and she still encourages Alexandra even from the other side of the globe. (Photo credit Sue Daniels Photography,©2008)