Our Team

Adam Sheldon is the director of the Community Arts School at Baldwin Wallace University. Prior to being appointed to this role, Sheldon was the operations and finance manager for the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (now Arts Cleveland). In this role, he led the national Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute, assisted with the Creative Workforce Fellowship program, provided technical assistance to artists and arts-related organizations while overseeing the financial and human resource operations of the organization. In tandem to this position, he served as the executive director of SMART360, a comprehensive music and literacy program for students grades one to four in the Akron Public School System. For this work, Sheldon was awarded the Education Impact Award from the Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation and the Volunteer of the Year award by the Superintendent of Akron Public Schools.

Sheldon holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace University with an emphasis in Arts Management and with additional studies at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Brisbane, Australia. He has completed educational field work at the Akron School of the Arts (Firestone CLC) and Litchfield Middle School in Akron, OH, at the Chancellor State College – primary campus in Sippy Downs, Australia and at the Nasivikoso Village School in Fiji.

Sheldon continues to stay professionally involved both regionally and nationally as a Trustee of the Dalcroze Society of America, a certified visiting evaluator for the National Association of Schools of Music, the co-ambassador of the Collegiate Divisional Network of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, a member of the Cleveland Arts Education Consortium, a member of the Higher Education Protection Network, a member of the American Camp Association and as a nationally certified instructor of Mental Health First Aid. In addition, Sheldon is sought after as an independent consultant for non-profit financial management, risk management and compliance, revenue generation, strategic planning and program development and evaluation.

Cory Isler has appreciated a diverse career in Northeast Ohio’s nonprofit sector and is thrilled to return to his alma mater. Most recently, Cory served in fundraising and business development roles at The City Club of Cleveland, one of the nation’s oldest free speech forums. Previously, Cory was the Associate Director of Education and Nonprofit Engagement at BVU: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence. He holds a BA in Music with a focus in Arts Management and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University. Cory also remains active as a musician throughout the Northeast Ohio community and is currently the baritone soloist/section leader at Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights.

Laura brings 30 years of graphic design, project management, marketing communications and strategy experience to the Community Arts School. She has worked in organizations on all sides of the business – print, agency, client – throughout Northeast Ohio, including a local Fortune500 company and a leading not-for-profit healthcare system. Laura currently enjoys life in the country outside of Oberlin with her husband, two teen-aged sons, and a very silly yellow lab.

Heather Dennen is the Program Coordinator – Dance for the Community Arts School. Dennen grew up in New York City where she began her dance training at the age of 2. Training extensively in multiple dance genres, Dennen competed nationally, winning multiple awards, top honors and titles. After graduation, Dennen worked with Ohio Dance Theater performing in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Firebird, The Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Dennen then went on to do a national and international tour of Sesame Street Live, Super Grover Ready For Action! as the first cast role of Zoe. Dennen has been teaching various dance genres and choreographing for ten years. Her students have found success on the collegiate and professional level. Dennen has choreographed multiple musicals, figure skating programs and gymnastic floor routines at the national level in addition to her dance credits and choreography. Dennen is certified at the highest levels through Dance Masters of America and the Cecchetti Council of America.

Jeanette Hagerty is the Program Coordinator – Theatre and Music Ensembles for the Community Arts School and is a proud graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in arts management in 2016. Hagerty is a member of the Arts Management Association and brings three years of leadership experience with her, including a performance background in theatre. As program coordinator, she holds a working knowledge of community engagement as well as event and program management. She was born and raised in the Northeast Ohio area.

Dawn Hyde is the Administrative Assistant for the Community Arts School, Whistle Stop location, and has more than 20 years of experience in the performing arts sector. She holds professional and technical knowledge of the day-to-day operations at CAS. In addition to being meticulous to detail, she is also responsible for maintaining office efficiency and making the office run smoothly by frequently interacting with the CAS students and families through various platforms.  Her past experience includes positions in human resources, casting for theatre and film, teaching gymnastics, graphic design and sound design for community theatre. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking and being outdoors, photography, and baking cupcakes!

Meredith Kurtz is the assistant director of the Community Arts School and has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, including positions at The Cleveland Play House and Lyric Opera Cleveland. In addition to this, Kurtz worked in the financial sector as a conference manager, planning and coordinating community bank investor conferences across the country. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in arts management from Baldwin Wallace University and has been with the BW Community Arts School since 2009. She is not only connected to BW CAS as a staff member, but also as the mother of two children who experience music through BW CAS programs including MusicPlay and Dalcroze.

Lisa Manning is the Professional Development Coordinator of the Institute for Music Teaching and Learning for the Community Arts School. She has held this position since she retired four years ago as a music educator. Manning taught a choral director, general music teacher and assisted with marching bands in the Lorain County area for over 30 years. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Bowling Green State University and a Masters in Music Education from Ohio University. In addition to the professional development program for BW CAS she is also the coordinator for the BW Men’s Chorus, one of the many ensembles BW CAS offers. In addition to working with the BW CAS programs Manning enjoys spending as much time as possible with her two grandsons.

Jennifer Andersen-Germaine is an accomplished flutist although the piccolo is her main instrument. She has studied under Mary Kay Fink, William Hebert, George Pope, and Randy Hester. Jennifer has been an Adjunct Professor of flute for the Baldwin Wallace University Community Arts School since 2001. An active musician, Jennifer is a member of the Ekklesia Ensemble and the Cleveland Winds. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Baldwin Wallace and a Master of Music in Flute Performance from the University of Akron.

Robert W. Becker enjoys teaching styles include classical, musical theater, pop, rock, and gospel. Robert works with the principle of releasing all interfering and unnecessary tension, manipulation, or interference of the voice. Attention is paid to releasing head, neck and shoulder tension. Natural breathing and air flow (support) are developed along with the understanding of using language and pure vowels. Robert studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music. His teachers include Irving Bushman, Eleanor Steber, Wittfield Lloyd Shanzer, Conrad Osborne, and Hanne Lore-Kuse, soprano of East German Wagnerian in Berlin, Germany.

He has performed with Goldovsky Opera Theatre, Cleveland Opera, Iceland National Opera, National Symphony Orchestra in Reykjavik, Iceland and at Radio City Music Hall. He is a cantor at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, N.Y.C., and a year round member of vocal quartet at the Hebrew Tabernacle of Washington Heights, N.Y.C. He established the very successful “Opera Gala” at La Dolce Vita, in Cleveland’s Little Italy, that ran weekly for 13 years. Robert is soloist at First Church Christ Scientist Cleveland. Robert accepts beginners to advanced professionals; a sample lesson is recommended.

David Betts teaches trombone, euphonium and recorder. He graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1981 with a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance where he studied with Alan Kofsky of the Cleveland Orchestra. Later graduating from Case Western Reserve University in 1994, where he received a Master of Arts in Early Music Performance Practices studying with Ross Duffin. He has been teaching music lessons for over 30 years, currently at the Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School, The Broadway School of Music and the Arts, and at Cuyahoga Community College West. In addition to performing on the modern trombone and euphonium, he enjoys performing on their predecessor, the sackbut, and other early wind instruments. He has performed with Ganassi, Burgundy, Red {an orchestra}, Cleveland Opera, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Playhouse, Blossom Festival Band, Music for 2, Strongsville Community Band, The B-W Alumni Brass Collective and at many Cleveland area churches and community theaters where he has been involved in over 100 theatrical productions.

William Black teaches private trumpet and cornet lessons to students of all ages and playing levels. Mr. Black teaches all styles of music but prefers classical. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Baldwin Wallace College and his Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Mr. Black has taught trumpet at Lorain Community College, Cuyahoga Community College and has taught instrumental music at parochial schools. His professional performance experience includes the Canton Symphony, Cleveland Opera and various musical theaters; he is a freelance musician.

Olivia Clark, cellist, currently serves as the 5th and 6th grade Orchestra Teacher in the Avon Local Schools in Avon, OH. Additionally, she is part of the Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School staff as Assistant Director of the New Horizons Orchestra Program. She also works part time as a contract musician and private cello instructor in the Cleveland Area. Olivia graduated from Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music in December of 2017.

Previously, Olivia has taught music at St. Peter School Lorain and in the Lakewood City Schools. She has a wide array of teaching experience, including adaptive music for moderate-severe special needs, pre-K music, marching band, beginners, and older adults.

Olivia is an active member of the Ohio Music Education Association, serving on the executive board for her collegiate chapter and attending yearly state conferences. In addition to cello, she has enjoyed studying violin, voice, and piano privately. Notable teachers and mentors include Regina Mushabac, Jordan Saul, Butch Marshall, Octavio Mas-Arocas, Dwight Oltman, Tracy Grady, Hillery Needham, and Peggie Willett.

Olivia currently resides in North Royalton and enjoys cooking, knitting, traveling, and being in nature.

Meghan Colbert is a clarinetist in the Cleveland area. She works with students of all ages and levels. Meghan obtained a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from Baldwin Wallace University where she studied with assistant principal clarinetist and Eb clarinetist of the Cleveland Orchestra, Daniel McKelway. She received her Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts where she studied with assistant principal clarinetist and Eb clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, John Bruce Yeh. Meghan has performed with chamber groups in both the Cleveland and Chicago area.

Judy Crandall understands the reasons for learning an instrument can be as unique as each individual, and works to meet each student at their current level while creating ways to help them achieve their goals. Judy has varied teaching experience with all ages and abilities. As a multi-faceted musician- teacher, pianist, accompanist, choir director, music director, she has knowledge of the piano from many different perspectives. Judy has served as a music educator in the Maple Heights and the Olmsted Falls City Schools, where she led the middle school and high school choral programs, and is twice past recipient of the Educator of the Year award. Choirs under her direction earned consistent high ratings at district and state level adjudicated events and some groups were invited to represent at state music education conventions. She holds a B.A. in Music Education and Piano Performance, studying with Joan Terr Ronis, and a Masters Degree from the Cleveland State University. Her favorite thing about teaching is sharing the gift of music and watching students surpass their personal best time after time.

Katie Cross is active member of MTNA, the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the Gordon Institute for Music Learning. She has a wealth of experience working with many ages and many abilities (and disabilities) and prefers to keep a diverse piano studio in order to keep learning the most from her students. She has had students matriculated into college music programs and one who is now an artist of international fame. Young children will find stimulation with games that allow them to write music as they learn to read it and also to use movement exercises to aid their learning.

Ms. Cross has also held teaching positions at the Oberlin Community Arts School, the Fine Arts Association in Mentor, the Cleveland Music School Settlement, and the Center for Young Musicians. Recent piano performances include appearances as a soloist with the True North Symphony and with her trumpet/piano duo. She directs a choir at the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, plays the Saturday service at Olmsted Community Church and can also be discovered among the singers hired by Quire Cleveland. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music from Ithaca College she also holds a Masters in Pedagogy from Ithaca.

After spending two years as the Coordinator of Musical Theater Voice at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Benjamin Czarnota is thrilled to return to his alma mater, Baldwin Wallace University, where he served as a member of the voice faculty in the Conservatory for over a decade. He has seen students go on to perform in leading roles on Broadway in the casts of American Psycho, Anastasia, Godspell, Hands on a Hard Body, Kinky Boots, Les Misérables, and ONCE; and on National Tours in: A Chorus Line, The Color Purple, Flashdance, Kinky Boots, and Wicked. In addition, former students have been seen all over the country in countless regional productions. In his private studio, he has worked with everyone from a Tony award-winning singing actress to a speaking actor in a one-person play portraying dozens of uniquely voiced characters across the full spectrum of gender, age, and origin. His high school students have been admitted to prestigious programs such as Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory, Carnegie Mellon, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and more.

Czarnota originated the role of Mr. Webb in the world premiere of Ned Rorem’s operatic setting of the iconic Thornton Wilder play Our Town. Other notable roles include Stanley Kowalski in Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, Schaunard in La Bohème, and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, as well as roles in The Merry Widow, Susanna, Savitri, and Un Ballo in Maschera with companies such as Wichita Grand Opera, Cleveland Opera, Cleveland Opera Theater, Opera Circle Cleveland, The Janiec Opera Company, and the Indiana University Opera Theater. While attending Indiana University, he was chosen by baritone Håkan Hagegård to perform the role of Anton Chekov in Dominick Argento’s A Few Words About Chekov in music written for the world renowned singer. He has also appeared as baritone soloist in the Fauré Requiem, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, the Mozart Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah in appearances with the Traverse Symphony and the BlueWater Chamber Orchestras. Regional music theatre roles include the title role in Sweeney Todd, Marcus Lycus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Freddy in My Fair Lady, the Father in Children of Eden, and, most recently Emile de Beque in South Pacific, a production with the Akron Symphony Orchestra at EJ Thomas Hall. He also served for two seasons as the official national anthem singer of the Cleveland Browns, performing at all home games.

Czarnota is a Level III Certified Teacher of Somatic VoiceWork™ – The LoVetri Method and particularly interested in working with singing actors to cultivate an understanding of and relationship to their instrument that will enable them to perform successfully across the widest breadth of musical styles desired and with access to the full extent of dramatic choices healthily possible.

Mark DeMio received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He performs frequently with the Cleveland Orchestra including tours and recordings on both bassoon and contrabassoon. He also performs with Kent State University’s Black Squirrel Winds, Akron Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, Trinity Cathedral Chamber Orchestra and Trinity Chamber Players, Blue Water Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Blossom Festival Band and the Blossom Festival Orchestra. As a native of Cleveland, Ohio, Mark DeMio had studied extensively with the fine bassoonists of the Cleveland Orchestra; Principal George Goslee, Assistant Principal Ronald Phillips, Second Bassoonist Phillip Austin and Contrabassoonist Stanley Maret.

Mr. DeMio balances a busy performance and teaching freelance lifestyle. He is on the faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music (secondary bassoon), Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University, is Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the H.A. Glauser School of Music of Kent State University, as well as being faculty in the preparatory department of the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Music Settlement and Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School.

The fine art of reed making is a specialty of Mr. DeMio’s, which he began learning in the earliest years of his study with the Cleveland Orchestra bassoonists, and subsequently with other great bassoon players.

Heather Dennen is the Program Coordinator – Dance for the Community Arts School. Dennen grew up in New York City where she began her dance training at the age of 2. Training extensively in multiple dance genres, Dennen competed nationally, winning multiple awards, top honors and titles. After graduation, Dennen worked with Ohio Dance Theater performing in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Firebird, The Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Dennen then went on to do a national and international tour of Sesame Street Live, Super Grover Ready For Action! as the first cast role of Zoe. Dennen has been teaching various dance genres and choreographing for ten years. Her students have found success on the collegiate and professional level. Dennen has choreographed multiple musicals, figure skating programs and gymnastic floor routines at the national level in addition to her dance credits and choreography. Dennen is certified at the highest levels through Dance Masters of America and the Cecchetti Council of America.

Adrian Eisenhower is a painter, educator, father and husband. Outside of the arts, he still has a few climbing goals in Yosemite and would like to have a more consistent serve in tennis. He generally loves to explore new places and to find adventure near and far. Adrian holds an MFA from SCAD and a BFA from Manhattanville College. He is also an Adjunct Faculty member with Baldwin Wallace University.

Beth Elardo has taught flute at the BW Community Arts School for the past 26 years. She has over thirty years of experience teaching the flute to students of all ages, and enjoys teaching at all levels including adults. Beth Elardo also teaches Flute Ensemble in the Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School in the summer months. Her students perform in a recital at the end of the Flute Ensemble Experience. She has been Section Leader for BW’s summer Band Camp. Students are taught flute emphasizing a full resonant tone and attention to skill building in technique, rhythm, and musicianship.

Ms. Elardo received her Bachelor of Music Education from Baldwin-Wallace College and furthered her studies in the Graduate Music Education and Music Therapy Program at Cleveland State University. Her teachers included Maurice Sharp (former principal flutist of the Cleveland Orchestra for over 50 years), William Hebert (former piccolo with the Cleveland Orchestra), and Deidre McGuire (former principal flutist of the Cleveland Opera and Ballet). Ms. Elardo is a frequent solo and chamber music performer at several local churches. She currently teaches music in the Cleveland Municipal School District.

Christopher has a BA in Music from Baldwin-Wallace College and AA in Humanities and Music from County College of Morris in NJ. He performs frequently on Cleveland Classical Guitar Society recitals and around the greater Cleveland area as soloist and as member of the clarinet/guitar duo Sunday in the Park. He is a member of the Cleveland Guitar Orchestra and the Guitar Foundation of America. He studied under the accomplished guitarist and composer Dr. Loris Chobanian and frequently participates in continuing education workshops at area universities.  When he is not teaching or performing, Chris can be found running marathons and cooking up healthy recipes.

Anthony Fuoco teaches Keyboard Musicianship, Pedagogy of Music, Jazz Piano Skills, Jazz Combos, Piano Literature, and piano lessons. His interests are improvisation and classical piano repertoire. As a jazz pianist, he frequently performs throughout the Cleveland area with groups such as Pulse Quartet, Wedmedyk/Fuoco duo, and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and he has collaborated with well-known artists such as Joe Lovano, Judi Silvano, Jamey Haddad and John Daversa. His performance with Joe Lovano at the Bop Stop was featured on the NPR program “Jazz Night in America.” He also performs piano duo repertoire with his wife, Christine Fuoco. He received a master of music from the University of Illinois and bachelor of music from State University of New York, Potsdam.

George Gecik has been teaching guitar for over 50 years. He holds a BA Music from Kent State and has nearly completed his Masters in Music from Youngstown State. George studied classical guitar with Sophocles Pappas, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Aaron Shearer and participated in Narciso Yepes Master Classes in Paris, France. He has been on the faculty at Youngstown State University Dana School of Music, Cleveland State University, Cuyahoga Community College and is currently teaching at Willoughby School of Fine Arts and Lakeland Community College, in addition to the BW Community Arts School. George loves to teach people of all ages and see them learn. The styles he teaches include Classical, Jazz, Fingerpicking, Flatpicking, Blues. When he is not making or teaching music, George likes to race sailboats for fun.

Tracy R. Grady, soprano, is an alumna of the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory. She went on to earn her Master of Music at Ohio University in vocal performance and pedagogy. She has performed with many area groups such as the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, the former Cleveland Opera and the Euclid Symphony. Grady frequently performs on campus in solo faculty performances as well as collaborative opportunities with colleagues and students. She has premiered students’ new compositions and enjoys singing with the men’s chorus. She is also the secondary voice coordinator for the Conservatory and is secretary-treasurer for the Ohio chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Mary Ann Grof-Neiman received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from the Bowling Green State University. Ms. Grof-Neiman has served as principal clarinetist with the Sounds of Sousa Band and as clarinetist for the Blossom Festival Band, the Cleveland Winds, Lakeland Civic Band, Lakeside Symphony Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony and Erie Philharmonic. She currently performs with the Chagrin Falls Studio Orchestra, the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, Lakewood Home Town Band, and Medina Community Band, where she serves as band librarian. She maintains private studios at Baldwin Wallace University Community Arts School as well as her home in Medina. She has served the Ohio Music Education Association as a Woodwind Adjudicator for over 30 years and is a member of AFM Local 4. She resides in Medina with her husband Marcus and their cat Dmitri.

Rachel Harrington has been teaching since 2000. She has experience teaching students of all ages and she specializes in beginning to intermediate piano students. Rachel graduated from Baldwin Wallace with a Bachelor of Music in Performance and also has pursued additional training in early childhood music education. Prior to teaching at BW, she taught at Talent Unlimited Music Studio and Richland Academy for the Arts and Sciences, as well as collaborating with groups at Ashland University. She has experience accompanying a variety of groups, ranging from private students to opera workshops and theatre groups. Rachel keeps busy with six children at home.

With over two decades of  experience in theatre education as well as 30 years of professional acting experience, Heidi is currently a member of the Acting Faculty at Baldwin Wallace University. Heidi has taught performance classes at Illinois State, Illinois Wesleyan, and Palm Beach Atlantic Universities. Additionally, her theatre educator experience includes creating and facilitating K-12 programs as Director of Education for the (now defunct) Florida Stage and working with the Center for Creative Education and Pathways to Independence (a school for special needs students) in Florida. A professional actor and proud member of Actors’ Equity, Ms. Harris holds an MFA in Classical Acting from the Academy for Classical Acting at George Washington University and a BA in Theatre from Florida State. She has completed and performed in programs at the British American Drama Academy (Oxford), Oxford University (UK) The Globe Theatre (London), and the Moscow Arts Theatre School (Russia), and has appeared locally at the Beck Center for the Performing Arts. Her past acting credits include sharing the stage with Tony Award winner Frances Sternhagen and extensive TV/film voiceover work – including the animated film “The Ark,” which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival.

Lauren Hodgson is a Dalcroze Eurhythmics educator, pianist, and faculty member at the Baldwin Wallace University Community Arts School since 2017. She finds joy in teaching children and adults of all ages and has a special interest in finding innovative avenues for high quality, experience-based music education in any learning environment.

Lauren is a candidate for the Master of Arts in Music Education at Case Western Reserve University, where she serves as a research assistant. Her research interests lie in the area of musical embodiment and exploring musical and educational values that influence cognitive, social and motor development. Lauren completed her undergraduate studies in piano at Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music and her Dalcroze Certificate and License at the Dalcroze School of the Rockies.

Lauren is on the summer faculty at the BW Conservatory Summer Institute where she teaches pre-college students, and the Dalcroze School of the Rockies Dalcroze Academy, where she inspires future Dalcroze educators. She serves as vice-chair on the Dalcroze Society of America Board of Trustees. She resides in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband and their dog.

Liz Huff does concert work, theater, improv, and collaborative arts projects throughout the Midwest and locations as far-flung as Estonia, Northern Ireland, and Finland. Music and comedy have led Liz to performing in many diverse venues including Severance Hall, internationally renowned jazz venue Nighttown, and the Del Close Marathon at the Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC.

As an educator she teaches improv at Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School, leads storytelling/communication workshops, and coaches voice, in addition to having taught Distance Learning classes at the Cleveland Institute of Music for 10+ years.

An advocate for new work in theater and music, Liz has premiered works by numerous composers, including Ryan Charles Ramer. A graduate of CIM, she studied improv at The Annoyance Theater in Chicago. She is a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammys).

Susan Huszai has been teaching for more than 30 years. She welcomes students of all ages and levels of experience.

David Jelen has taught percussion in the BW Community Arts School for over 20 years. David’s students develop good fundamental skills while maintaining their enjoyment of making music. He teaches all ages and skill levels.

David holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Baldwin Wallace University and a Master of Computer Information Systems degree from Cleveland State University. David is the Percussion Assistant for the Mayfield High School Pride of Mayfield Marching Band in Mayfield Hts., OH and is the Brush High School Soundsation Show Choir Band Director. Previously, David was the Percussion Assistant with the Valley Forge High School Marching Band in Parma, OH and the Firelands High School Marching Band in Oberlin, OH.

As a freelance musician, he has played percussion for a number of musicals at Blank Canvas Theater, Near West Theater and Cassidy Theater. He has also performed with a number of groups including the Parma Symphony Orchestra, Cuyahoga Community College Civic Band, Lakeland Civic Chorus, Lakeland Civic Band and Lakeland Civic Orchestra. He was also a church choir director for 23 years. He has composed and arranged music that has been performed by musicians of all ages.

Dianna Joiner joined the faculty at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory and Community Arts School in 2018 after serving on the violin faculty at the Aurora School of Music in Aurora, OH. As a Suzuki-trained teacher she enjoys teaching students of all ages and continues to give master classes across Ohio and surrounding regions. One of her main influences is her former teacher and mentor, Brian Lewis, an esteemed pedagogue and Suzuki pioneer. Dianna is a member of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Canton Symphony, the Akron Symphony, and performs with ensembles such as Classical Revolution Cleveland and M.U.S.i.C (Stars in the Classics). Dianna holds several music degrees, including at Bachelor of Music from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Music from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Professional Studies Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music. During her spare time she enjoys traveling, yoga, and exploring new restaurants.

A recipient of the BW Exemplary Teacher Award in 2017, Sungeun Kim is associate professor of piano at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music.

Kim has given numerous concerts in the U.S., Canada, Russia, Spain, Korea and Italy. A first-prize winner of the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, she has appeared as a soloist with the Russian Federal Orchestra in the Moscow Conservatory’s Bolshoi Hall, Banff Festival Orchestra, International Chamber Ensemble of Rome, and Gijon Symphony Orchestra. She has been invited to perform as guest artist at the Texas Conservatory Piano Festival for Young Artists, Virginia Rising Star Concert Series, Palm Springs Concert Series and the 24th Concert Stage at St. Ivo in Rome. Many of her performances have been broadcast over WKAR (Mich.) and WCLV (Ohio).

Kim’s early training led her to Yewon Middle School for Arts and Seoul Arts High School, where she studied with Myong-Hye Bang. Upon graduation, she was awarded a merit scholarship to Yon-Sei University, where she received a Bachelor of Music degree studying with Kyung-Sook Lee. In 1994, she came to the U.S. to study with Julian Martin at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she earned her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. While there, she received the Frances M. Wentz Turner Prize and a graduate assistantship in accompanying. She frequently performed in master classes for Leon Fleisher and studied with artist-teachers Dominique Weber and Blanca Uribe at the New Millennium Piano Festival in Spain, and with Marc Durand at the Banff Keyboard Festival in Canada.

As an active adjudicator and clinician, Kim has judged numerous competitions for the Music Teachers National Association in Ohio and Missouri, and for the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Department. She has served as the state competitions chair for the Ohio Music Teachers Association, and continues to serve as vice president of student activities for Northeast Ohio Music Teachers Association. She has given master classes at institutions including Sook Myung Women’s University, the Cleveland International Piano Competition Young Artists Institute, Summer Sonata at Cleveland Institute of Music, and KeysFest at Gilmore Keyboard Festival. During the summer, she teaches piano at the Conservatory Summer Institute at Baldwin Wallace University.

Gayle Klaber holds her degrees in cello performance from The University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Mrs. Klaber is a faculty member of the Baldwin Wallace University Community Arts School and an active performing musician. She has performed with Cleveland Pops, and Blossom Festival Orchestra.

Clarence Keith is a dancer-choreographer born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He began his passion for dance at the age of 5 attempting to emulate the stylings of Michael Jackson. At the age of 19, after years of street dancing, Clarence began his studio hip-hop training out of various studios in the greater Cleveland area. Shortly after he began to teach. He has since expanded his training from Cleveland to LA, and plans to do much more!

His plan is to spread this art form throughout the city, and inspire young folks to follow their artistic passions. He wants to show young people the importance of balance in art. That is fun, respect, professionalism, and dedication.

Joel McDaniel specializes in teaching beginning and intermediate singers and musical theatre. Mr. McDaniel incorporates ear training, as well as varied genres of music into lessons to teach musical concepts and proper vocal techniques. He currently teaches Music at Laurel School in Shaker Heights, OH. Outside of his teaching, he remains an active performer and director/music director around North Eastern Ohio. Mr. McDaniel received his Bachelor of Music Education from Baldwin Wallace University.

Julie Melik-Stepanov has taught piano very successfully for over 40+ years. Her students repeatedly win top honors at state and regional competitions including MTNA, American Music Club, J. Earl Lee, Genevieve Truran and others. Her piano students attend Julliard and Eastman Schools of Music and other very prestigious universities’. Mrs. Melik-Stepanov teaches music for all levels including all works of concert pianists’ repertoire.

Mrs. Melik-Stepanov performs frequently as a recitalist, soloist with orchestra and in collaboration with other artists.

Prior to teaching and playing in America, she was serving on the faculty of the Special School of Music for the gifted young musicians in Moscow and Baku and also was a Professor of Music and Director of Keyboard Activities at the National College of Ballet and Dance.

Mrs. Melik-Stepanov holds a Master’s Degree and an Artist’s Diploma in Piano Performance from Azerbaijan National Conservatory of Music.

Dr. Karren Melik-Stepanov was serving on the faculty of Augustana University for 27 years where he taught Applied Cello, Chamber Music, and String Pedagogy Class. His cello students have been prizewinners at many competitions. Prior to coming to America, Dr. Melik-Stepanov served as a Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at the Azerbaijan National Conservatory of Music. Many of his former students are now pursuing very successful musical careers in the USA, Europe, Russia, Baltic, and Caucasians Countries.

Dr. Melik-Stepanov teaches music for all levels including all works of concert cellists’ repertoire. He has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, and clinician throughout America, Europe, and Russia. He also performs all major works written for his instrument.

Dr. Melik-Stepanov earned his Master’s Degree and an Artist’s Diploma in Cello Performance from the Azerbaijan National Conservatory of Music and his Doctorate Degree in Cello Performance and Chamber Music from the Armenian Conservatory of Music. He counts one of the most renowned world cellists, Mstislav Rostropovich, as his principal cello teacher. In addition to his solo and teaching careers, Dr. Melik-Stepanov was serving as a principal cellist for several major orchestras.

Sharon Metivier has been teaching voice in Northeast Ohio since 2007. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services with a vocal music minor from Baldwin Wallace University and has studied Somatic Voicework ™ The LoVetri Method Levels I, II and III. Sharon has studied with Benjamin Czarnota (Philadelphia School of the Arts, Baldwin Wallace), David Gooding (Strongsville, Ohio), Charles Smith (Baldwin Wallace) and piano with Dr. George Cherry (Baldwin Wallace).

Sharon primarily teaches contemporary musical theatre for middle school, high school and college students. Sharon’s students have gone on to study vocal music performance, music education, music ministry and musical theater at colleges across the country including Baldwin Wallace University, University of Cincinnati (Musical Theater), Lipscomb University, Capital University, College of Wooster, Ohio State University, Bowling Green, Mount Union and many others. Her students have performed in the Miss Ohio Pageant, the Count Basie Center for the Arts (New Jersey) and regularly perform in school productions, community theater, bands and ensembles.

Darryl Mika, has been teaching percussion for over 40 years. He has worked with students of all ages and teaches all styles of percussion. He is a member of a number of local ensembles, including the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chagrin Valley Studio Orchestra and the Strongsville Community Band. Mr. Mika is also an active pit musician and freelance percussionist around Greater Cleveland. While in the military, Mr. Mika was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps “Commandant’s Own” Drum and Bugle Corps and taught at the U.S.M.C. Drum and Bugle Corps School. Mr. Mika received his Bachelor of Music Education from Baldwin Wallace University. He is also the percussion advisor for the Baldwin Wallace Marching Yellow Jackets.

Ethan Miller is redefining the modern image of saxophone and its role within contemporary classical music by combining his talents as a soloist, recitalist, and orchestral saxophonist across the classical, jazz, and popular music genres. His performances have received international acclaim for their expressive timbre, attention to stylistic detail, and adeptness across all members of the saxophone family, making him an in-demand artist for premiere performances of contemporary works.

Mr. Miller is a member of Duende – saxophone and guitar duo, and can be heard on their recording, “Travel Notebook” (Centaur Records). Additionally, he has appeared on recordings for Ludwig Music and is in demand as a commercial recording artist. Miller has been featured in a variety of publications with international distribution including “Saxophone Today.” As a Conn-Selmer/Selmer Paris Performing Artist, he frequently appears as a guest artist and masterclass clinician throughout Western New York and the Midwest. Mr. Miller serves on the faculties of Kent State University’s Hugh A. Glauser School of Music and Regional Campuses and the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music. He has earned a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music and Master of Music from Kent State University. Mr. Miller plays Selmer saxophones.

For more information please visit www.ethanemiller.com.

Lisa Miragliotta-Van Scyoc

Lisa Miragliotta-Van Scyoc is choral conductor and music educator graduate of The Cleveland Institute of Music with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Bowling Green State University. Lisa currently conducts Canterra Musica, top treble choir with the Oberlin Choristers.  Lisa is on the Music Education faculty at Baldwin Wallace University as a Student Teacher Supervisor.  Prior to that, she was an Adjunct Faculty member of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and also served as Field Experience Coordinator.  Lisa retired from teaching music in the Lakewood City Schools and also was the Director of Music at Christ United Methodist Church in Cleveland for 24 years. Lisa taught Music for Elementary Education Majors at Baldwin Wallace University from 1996-2002 and also enjoyed singing professionally with the Robert Page/Cleveland Singers.  Lisa is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Ohio Music Educators Association, and the Cleveland Kodaly and Orff Chapters. She enjoys private vocal coaching and is passionate about choral singing.

Katelin Morrow earned her Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Baldwin Wallace University and has completed teacher training in Cello Book 1 & 2 of the Suzuki Method. Her Suzuki teacher trainers include Beth Goldstein-McKee and Tanya Carey. She enjoys exploring creative styles of cello playing and collaborating with musicians of all styles and backgrounds. Her experiences include workshops with Mike Block and Eugene Friesen as well as recording for various artists.

Leanna began dancing since age 3, and began her ballet training at age 11 at Robert Thomas Dancenter in Ames, IA, under the instruction of Robert Thomas and Miyoko Kato Thomas, former Joffrey Ballet dancers. She was a member of the Iowa Youth Ballet for seven years and performed in Iowa State Center’s production of The Nutcracker Ballet for ten years, and in addition, she led rehearsals for certain roles for three years. Throughout her early years of training, Leanna had the privilege of taking master classes at the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago for seven summers from company member Derrick Agnoletti and former members Kim Sagami, Willy Shives, and Suzanne Lopez, among others.

In 2017, Leanna graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Dance and a certificate in Arts Entrepreneurship. During her time there, she performed in numerous concerts in both faculty- and student-choreographed work, and in 2016, her choreographic work was selected to be performed in the Dance Department’s Undergraduate Concert.

After two years in full-time youth ministry, Leanna is dancing with North Pointe Ballet for their 2019-2020 season here in Cleveland. Leanna has ten years of lead and assistant teaching and choreography experience at Robert Thomas Dancenter, Inspiring Dance, University of Iowa Youth Ballet, and Charlee’s Elite School of Dance, primarily in ballet and pointe technique to students of all ages. She is excited to be sharing in her love for ballet with her students here at BW CAS.

Read more on Leanna’s teaching philosophy and artistic inspirations here: https://mycreativecompass.org/Community/Cleveland-Artist-Spotlights/Leanna-Mullen

Sean Murphy serves as assistant professor of Arts Management & Entrepreneurship and draws on a diverse background of entrepreneurial ventures, education and musical performance. He specializes in for-profit studies within the music industry. He is the founder of Murphy Music Press, a music publishing company which represents the catalogs of some of the finest emerging composers for winds including: David Biedenbender, Andrew Boss, Viet Cuong, Paul Dooley, Tyler S. Grant, Joel Love, Cait Nishimura, Jess Tuner and Peter Van Zandt Lane among others. Murphy also founded Music Studio Teacher, an educational blog resource for private lesson teachers. Additionally, he is both a performing artist and educational consultant for Conn-Selmer.

Murphy is also an active saxophonist whose performances have been described as “truly beautiful” by celebrated artist Jamie Bernstein. He is currently a saxophonist on call with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. While attending the University North Texas he performed and recorded with the internationally acclaimed North Texas Wind Symphony under the direction of Eugene Migliaro Corporon. These numerous recording projects included the celebrated “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band Series” and the famed “Composer Collections.” As a soloist, Murphy has commissioned new music for saxophone by leading composers including David Maslanka, David Biedenbender, Eric Moe, Kit Turnbull and Stephen Barr. His debut album, “Rediscovering Bauzin,” is currently planned for release in 2019.

His articles on entrepreneurship, saxophone pedagogy, and performance have been published in distinguished music magazines and journals throughout the world including: The Instrumentalist, The Saxophone Journal, School Band and Orchestra Magazine, Jazz Ed Magazine, Teaching Music, Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain Magazine, Canadian Music Educator, Viento (Spain), Clasax (Australia) and Les Cahiers Du Saxophone (France).

Murphy holds his Doctor of Musical Arts, and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Texas, and Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, during which time he studied music entrepreneurship with Fabiana Claure and saxophone with Eric Nestler and Jason Kush.

Kathy Musat has been teaching trumpet and low brass for 50 years to students of all ages. She is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University (Bachelor of Music Education) and the College of Mt. St. Joseph on the Ohio in Cincinnati (Master of Science in Education). She taught music in the Parma City Schools for over 30 years and retired in 2004. She performs regularly with the Parma Symphony Orchestra, the Hermit Club Orchestra, the St. Charles Brass Quintet, and the Baldwin Wallace Alumni Jazz Orchestra. Her teaching philosophy is technically based but inclusive of history and literature appropriate to the student and a little fun added on the side. When not teaching, she dabbles in photography and caring for her grandchildren. She has been married 40 years to musician John G. Musat and has three wonderful children and four grandchildren.

Justine Myers teaches oboe and reed making lessons to students ranging from elementary school to retirement. She has been teaching at CMS since 2011 and is lecturer in oboe pedagogy at Baldwin Wallace (BW). Justine is a member of CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and Battle Creek Symphony. She has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, New World Symphony, Cleveland Opera Theater, and the Youngstown and Wheeling Symphonies. She received a Bachelor of Music from BW and a Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her teachers were Frank Rosenwein and Jeffrey Rathbun, the principal and assistant principal oboists of the Cleveland Orchestra. Justine is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at Oberlin Conservatory as a student of Robert Walters, Solo English horn of the Cleveland Orchestra.

Liliya Nijehovsky is an accomplished classically trained pianist with a Masters Degree in Piano Teaching, Piano Performance and Accompanying from Prokofiev Conservatory, Donetsk, Ukraine. She is a certified Suzuki piano teacher from Ohio Capital University. She teaches piano to students of all ages and all levels. She has taught at The Moscow Music Military College, the Preparatory and Continuing Education Department of the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is an Associate Artist with Opera Cleveland, and has been an accompanist with the Cleveland Ballet. Her performances include The Big Hall of Moscow Conservatory, House of Composers, House of Arts Representatives, The Fairmount Center for The Performing Arts, and has accompanied various soloists, both vocal and instrumental, in multiple concerts. Ms. Nijehovsky’s teaching methods are tailored to suit each particular student, beginner or advanced. Her goals as a teacher are to have her students love playing the piano, to make sure that they are enjoying the time they spend making music, to motivate them to develop their musical talents, and to achieve their personal musical goals.

Marta Perez-Stable, private piano teacher and Dalcroze eurhythmics instructor, enjoys working with both children and adults, from beginner through early advanced levels. Perez-Stable emphasizes the physical side of playing in order to establish a good technique from the very beginning, equating playing an instrument to learning to dance or to play a sport. She believes great musicianship is impossible without knowing how to control one’s body. Perez-Stable follows traditional methods of teaching piano involving classical music. Reflecting her Dalcroze training, she also incorporates improvisation skills into lessons in order to prepare students for future composition and collaborative opportunities. As a performer, Perez-Stable regularly sings with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus as well as accompanying student productions and choral concerts. She received her Dalcroze training and a Master of Music in piano performance from Ithaca College and a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin Wallace.

Richard Pokrywka, a native of North Olmsted, has earned a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from Baldwin Wallace University (‘97) and Master of Music from the University of Georgia (‘99), and is currently a doctoral candidate in trumpet at The Ohio State University. He began private studio teaching as a student of James Darling at BW, and since, has enjoyed assisting students of all levels in achieving their individual musical goals. Performance credits include the Macon (GA), Athens (GA), Ashland, Mansfield, Wooster and Canton Symphonies, Cleveland Piano Competition finals orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, The Ohio State University Faculty Chamber Orchestra and Faculty Brass Quintet, Baldwin-Wallace FOCUS Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band, the 1999 Brass Quintet Competition of the Americas, and Playhouse Square’s production of Finian’s Rainbow. Rich resides in Sheffield Lake with his wife Mary and sons Richie and Joey.

Bryan Reichert has experience teaching students of varying ages and playing abilities. He is fluent in styles including classical, jazz and popular genres. Reichert’s teaching philosophy is: with dedication, all students have the ability to play the guitar. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree from Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with 2015 Grammy winner Jason Vieaux. Reichert is an enthusiastic private lessons teacher in Baldwin Wallace University’s Community Arts School, where he has taught for over 4 years. He also works with the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society as Director of Operations. CCGS is a nonprofit music organization with a mission to “Teach, Inspire, Connect” through its programming, including an Education Program which focuses on providing top-level guitar instruction to inner city students in Cleveland, and the International Series, which presents the greatest guitarists from around the world to the Cleveland area through a yearlong concert series.

Bryan Reichert recently graduated from Cleveland Institute of Music with a Master’s Degree, Guitar Performance, studying with Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux. Reichert is an enthusiastic private lessons teacher who currently holds an adjunct faculty position in Baldwin Wallace University’s Community Arts School.

His personal website is www.bryanreichertmusic.com.

Corrie Anne Riberdy teaches violin to all ages from beginners to advanced players. She believes in the adage that students are rarely too young and never too old to start violin. A graduate of the Suzuki method herself, she incorporates that philosophy into all her lessons. In addition to the traditional violin repertoire, she utilizes fiddling, improvisation, and modern music in her teaching. Mrs. Riberdy began teaching at Baldwin Wallace in 2005 and became director of the Suzuki program in 2010. She performs regularly with the Ashland Symphony, sometimes as concertmaster. She received her Master of Music in Violin Performance from Mannes College of Music in New York City and her Bachelor of Music from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory. She studied with Carol Sykes at the International Music Festival for her Suzuki certifications. When not at the Conservatory, she is home with her husband Jason and two young sons. She especially enjoys reading, both for herself and out loud to her children.

Jason Riberdy has been teaching private French horn lessons for over 15 years. Open to students of all ages and skill, he specializes in teaching the fundamental mechanics needed to establish a solid foundation for playing the horn. Jason is currently a member of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra and spent two years playing with the Firelands Symphony Orchestra. He received his Bachelor of Music in Performance from Baldwin Wallace University in 2000 and spent 5 years at Indiana University doing post graduate work with the acclaimed horn player Myron Bloom.

Marge Ricksecker (guitar private lesson teacher) has been teaching guitar at Baldwin Wallace since 1980.   Ms. Ricksecker teachers all styles of guitar, including: Classical, Acoustic, Electric and Bass.   She specializes in teaching adults and advanced students.  She is the director of the Contemporary Choir and Ensemble at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Bay Village and is an active performer throughout Ohio. Ms. Ricksecker received her Master of Arts in Education from Baldwin Wallace University, as well as, her Bachelor of Music in Music Performance and Bachelor of Education from Baldwin Wallace University. Her current interests include:  travel, skiing, biking, gardening and reading.

Karyn Rodems is a 2010 graduate of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio with a Master of Arts in Art Education and a Multi-Age Visual Arts Teaching License. She also received her Bachelors in Art History and Art Studio from Case Western Reserve University in 2007. Karyn’s career goal as an art educator is to create and sustain an enriching and well-rounded curriculum in the visual arts. Her medium of choice is painting and drawing, while now delving more into the of the art of photography.

In her recent experience at Medina High School, Karyn crafted and implemented a complete Digital Art and Photography curriculum. Her students went on to earn awards and recognition in Ohio’s Governor’s Art Exhibition in 2019 and Scholastics Art Competition in 2020.  She has also participated in other various art competitions while teaching elementary and middle school art from 2010-2018.

Throughout Karyn’s career she have been recognized for improving student’s artistic performance and developing innovative programs. What she brings to her teaching includes organizational and classroom management skills, the ability to keep students active and interested, and a strong desire to provide the highest quality of art education possible. Her teaching combines encouragement of exploration with providing students the conceptual and technical tools they will need to produce, understand, and improve their work. Karyn believes that the most valuable lesson that any student can learn is to pursue their own goals, defining and refining ideas while developing the material skills and craft necessary to execute them independently.

Tanya Rogers is a native of Parma, Ohio. She attended Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music for her Bachelor of Music Education. Tanya Rogers is a violinist and has studied violin performance and chamber music with Julian Ross. In addition to teaching orchestra for the Strongsville City Schools, Tanya teaches private violin and viola lessons.

Carol Ross’s career as artist teacher and performer of violin and viola has spanned three decades. Her leadership positions in professional orchestras and extensive performing experience as recitalist and chamber musician have richly informed her teaching. She is proud of her many students who have continued studies and gone on to become successful artists and teachers in their own right as well as those who continue their lifelong love of music while pursuing other paths.

Ms. Ross joined the faculty of the Baldwin Wallace Community Arts School and founded its Suzuki Program in 1997 after serving in teaching positions at Florida State University, Westminster Choir College and the Hartt School of Music Community Division. Having established the thriving Rutgers University Community Music School Suzuki Program in New Brunswick, New Jersey she has been invited guest clinician for numerous Suzuki workshops.

Ms. Ross has performed in the Cleveland Opera Orchestra, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Princeton Chamber Symphony and the Tallahassee Symphony. A top prize winner in the Memphis Beethoven Club Competition, she shares a broad range of recital repertoire with her audiences. She appeared frequently in performances of chamber works at the Yellow Barn Music Festival and Rutgers Summerfest, and has given live performances on WNYC, New York City Public Radio. Since her student days in Memphis, she has actively performed works by living composers, most recently premiering violin/viola duos by husband, Julian Ross.

Ms. Ross studied Suzuki pedagogy with Allen Lieb, traditional pedagogy with Sally O’Reilly and Pam Ryan and was a teaching assistant to Teri and David Einfeldt. She earned her BM in Violin Performance at the University of Memphis and MM in Viola Performance at the Hartt School of Music. Her major teachers include Eric Rosenblith, Hiroko Yajima and Jeff Irvine.

Dr. Julian Ross is professor of violin, chair of the string department and violinist of BW’s resident ensembles, The Elysian Trio and Lyceum².

An uncommonly versatile artist, Ross has appeared as soloist with orchestras and wind ensembles in a broad spectrum of repertoire, ranging from standard Baroque and Romantic concerti to world premieres of new works that he has commissioned.

His professional orchestral posts have included concertmaster of the Tallahassee Symphony and the New Hampshire Symphony. As chamber musician, he has toured in the U.S. and abroad as founding member of the Arcadia Trio and with the Boston Musical Arts Consortium, the Music from Yellow Barn Tours and the Memphis Piano Quartet. Ross participated in the Yellow Barn Festival for 11 years and was on the summer faculties of Brevard, Aria International Summer Academy, Tennessee Governor’s School and the Blue Mountain Festival.

Ross has been honored to perform many works under their composers’ supervision, including music by Don Freund, Stefan Freund, William Bolcom, John Cage, Chen Yi, John Harbison, Krzysztof Penderecki and Charles Wuorinen. His own original compositions have been received warmly by audiences and are being performed with increasing frequency.

Before coming to BW, Ross served on the faculties of Memphis State University and Florida State University. A devoted teacher, he recently composed a set of etudes addressing tenacious violinistic problems and is currently developing a melodically reinforced approach to scale studies. His students have won competitions, earned leadership positions in professional orchestras, established themselves on teaching faculties and continued studies at major music schools.

In fall 2018, Ross began leading the Baldwin Wallace Community Art School’s string orchestra. He will be guiding talented high school musicians to perform in small and large ensembles without a conductor.

A past president of the Tennessee String Teachers’ Association, Ross currently serves on the board of the Ohio String Teachers’ Association. While earning his degrees, his major teachers included Arnold Steinhardt, Sylvia Rosenberg, Eric Rosenblith and Jens Ellermann. His all-important formative teachers included Fryderyk Sadowski, Gladys Lang, Isadore Grossman and Wanda Theriac.

Dr. Barton Samuel Rotberg has performed as a violinist in the U.S., Canada, France, Spain, Costa Rica and Mexico and has been a prizewinner in the Boston International Chamber Music Competition and the Liberty Freemont Young Artists Competition in Illinois. Currently assistant concertmaster of the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra in Ohio, he has served as concertmaster for the Opera Project Columbus Chamber Orchestra, the Opera Per Tutti Chamber Orchestra of Cleveland and for three seasons in the Southwest Symphony Orchestra in Illinois. He has also been a member of the Illinois Philharmonic, Ann Arbor and Flint Symphony orchestras. An avid chamber musician, Dr. Rotberg was a founding member of the Davanti Trio, in residence with the Flint Symphony Orchestra. Endowed by an original founder of General Motors, the Davanti trio gave concerts in the U.S. and abroad. As an artist in residence at Mercyhurst University, he was featured on WQLN Public Radio as violinist of the D’Angelo Trio.

Rotberg has been teaching for more than 20 years. His students have frequently been awarded competition prizes, music scholarships to universities and concertmaster positions in festival and all-state orchestras. During his time as a doctoral student at Michigan State University, he taught undergraduate and graduate students as an assistant to Professor Dmitri Berlinsky. He has since been a violin instructor at Mott Community College and assistant professor of music at Mercyhurst University’s D’Angelo Department of Music. He is on faculty at International Festival for Strings and More at Western Reserve Academy and the Conservatory Summer Institute at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music. Rotberg has given guest recitals and master classes at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy, the Conservatoire de Limonest in France, University of New Mexico and Jamestown Community College in New York. He has been an adjudicator for the Music Teacher’s National Association competition and the Lakeland Civic Orchestra concerto competition.

Samuel Rotberg’s primary teachers have included Marc Zinger, Dmitri Berlinsky, Shirley Givens and Herbert Greenberg. Secondary teachers include Joseph Fuchs, Berl Senofsky and Earl Carlyss.

Paige St. John graduated from The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH) in May 2019, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA) in Dance and a Minor in Developmental Psychology, having spent four years extensively focusing on performance, dance education, and composition. Prior to her collegiate dance career, Paige trained in a variety of styles – including ballet, tap, pointe, jazz, modern, contemporary, hip-hop, and musical theatre – at various studios in the Cleveland area.

She now works as a Universal Dance Association (UDA, a Varsity Spirit Brand) Instructor, teaching, choreographing, and assisting dance teams of all levels and judging for regional and national competitive events throughout the season. Her work has taken her across the nation and even overseas, as she spent the spring of 2018 living, teaching, choreographing, training instructors, and designing dance curriculum in Guangzhou, China.

Aside from teaching, Paige choreographs for a variety of dance studios and competitive dance teams in the Midwest and beyond, specializing in contemporary, pom, jazz, and hip hop.

In Fall 2018, Paige choreographed Legally Blonde: The Musical in The Ohio State University Department of Theatre – a large-scale production and her musical theatre choreographic debut. Her work was surely extended and grown upon as she studied at The Ohio State University and worked with countless faculty and students (both undergraduate and graduate) in the department. In her four years, she has had the pleasure of performing in a number of concerts, with some of her favorite experiences being Dance Demark (Summer 2017) and her work with Crystal Michelle Perkins (Faculty Concert 2017) and Susan Van Pelt Petry (50th Anniversary Concert 2018) in Repertory.

From solos to large groups, Paige finds joy in learning from the students that she works with throughout the season.

Xiao Lei Salovara has been teaching harp for more than 25 years. She has previously taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music prep harp department for over 15 years. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s in harp performance as well as an Artist Performance Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Ms Salovara has performed in the Cleveland Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, Cleveland Opera, and Cleveland Ballet. She was also a guest performer on The Tonight Show.

Sara Schimelpfenig has been teaching classical violin for more than 20 years and enjoys working with students and adults of all ages and levels. She believes that violin lessons are often life lessons in disguise, as perseverance, concentration, time-management, and follow-through are real life survival skills. She also strives to balance the seriousness of learning with the necessity of fun. On a recent evaluation a student wrote, “Sara was so much fun to work with. She brought excitement to each lesson.” Her students consistently receive superior ratings at solo & ensemble events, lead their school orchestras, and have successfully auditioned for the Contemporary Youth Orchestra. Ms. Schimelpfenig has taught at Cleveland State University and the Beck Center, and has performed with many area orchestras and productions at Playhouse Square. Her Master of Music is from Cleveland State University and her Bachelor of Music in violin is from Bowling Green State University.

Laura Simna holds a Master of Music in Violin Performance from The Ohio State University, a Master of Arts in String Pedagogy from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Case Western Reserve University with studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She received her Suzuki training from Ronda Cole, Martha Shackford, Tom Wermuth, and Kimberly Meier-Sims. Laura has also taken extensive Dalcroze Eurhythmics training at the Cleveland Institute of Music and at Carnegie Mellon University. She is the concertmaster of the Lakeland Civic Orchestra and performs with many ensembles in a wide range of styles, including classical, rock, jazz, and bluegrass. Her students of all ages have received numerous scholarships, awards, and top rankings in musical competitions and events. Former students have gone on to degree studies in music performance, therapy, and education.

Laura is the Assistant Director of the Baldwin Wallace Suzuki Center, and also serves as an Education Consultant for the Cleveland Orchestra, teaching and lecturing in their Education Outreach programs and workshops. She has written and implemented successful music-based curricula for schools and education programs, including music and movement, music and literacy, and music and math courses.

Sandra Simon teaches applied lessons to music theater majors and non-majors. She is also certified in Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method, Levels I, II and III.

With a “voice like the sun” (Boston Globe), soprano Simon is at home performing opera, oratorio and on the musical theater stage. “A calcium light soprano of strength and sensibility…enchanted and breathtaking” (Fanfare Magazine).

Simon has performed in the United States and abroad with many fine orchestras and ensembles, including Tafelmusik of Toronto, Handel and Haydn Society of Boston, The Memphis Symphony, Apollo’s Fire, Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Red An Orchestra, The Cleveland Pops, The King’s Noyse, Baroque harp virtuoso Andrew Lawrence King, wooden flute master Chris Norman and members of the Baltimore Consort.

On the opera stage, she has appeared in starring roles with Opera Atelier Toronto, Cleveland Opera, The Singapore Arts Festival, The Ojai Arts Festival, American Bach Project and Ex Machina Antique Music Theater, and Chautauqua Opera. Representative roles include Serpina in Pergolesi’s “La Serva Pedrona,” La Statue in Rameau’s “Pygmalion,” Belinda in Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas,” Euridice and La Musica in Monteverdi’s “L’orfeo,” Fiordiligi in Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte” and Phyllis in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Iolanthe.”

As soloist in concert, Simon’s repertoire includes “St. John Passion,” “Magnificat,” “Coffee Cantata” and “Wedding Cantata” by Bach; “Messiah,” “Belshazzar” and “Israel in Egypt” by Handel; “Vespers of 1610” by Monteverdi; “Jephte” by Carissimi; “Bachianas Brasileiras” by Villa Lobos; “Folk Songs” by Berio; and a wide range of songs from the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras.

As an interpreter of new works, she is a frequent guest of the Cleveland Composers Guild, premiered the vocalize “Winter Dream” by Margaret Brouwer at Steinway Hall in New York City, and is featured in Ms. Brouwer’s widely praised recordings “Light” and “Shattered.” Along with members of The Cleveland Orchestra, she is a member of Panoramicos, the chamber ensemble in residence at Case Western Reserve University which has been described as “eclectic in the best sense of the word…a top American pick” (Gramophone Magazine).

A longstanding member of Actor’s Equity, Simon has appeared in dozens of professional regional theater productions. Among her favorite roles are Hope Harcourt in “Anything Goes,” Marion Paroo in “The Music Man,” Johanna in “Sweeney Todd,” Lily in “The Secret Garden,” Rosa Bud in “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” Cinderella in “Into the Woods,” Lizzy in “Goblin Market,” Cathy in “The Last Five Years,” Violet in “Side Show” and Fosca in “Passion.”

Simon has also recorded for the Naxos American Classics, Avie International, Koch International Classics, New World Records, Eclectra and NPR labels.

Dr. Jonathan Sokol has been recognized with an invitation to the Millay Colony For the Arts (2013); as a programmed composer on the Bowling Green State University New Music Festival (2012); as a finalist in the 2013 MATA Festival competition (2012); with an invitation to the SANDWICH artist residency program in Kyoto, Japan (2012); with an Honorable Mention in the 32nd annual American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation Rudolf Nissim Prize (2012); and as a recipient of an ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Award (2010) and an ASCAPlus Award (2010-12). He won the second annual MAYO Composition Contest (2010) and the Indiana University Kuttner String Quartet composition competition (2007); received a Susan and Ford Schumann Scholarship for the Aspen Music Festival and School (2007); and was the winner of the 8th annual NEC/BMOP ConNECtion competition (2005).

His music has been performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Bloomington and Kokomo Symphony Orchestras and the Indiana University New Music Ensemble and was read by members of the Cleveland Orchestra. He has received international performances in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and Brazil and commissions from Holographic, Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Zzyzx Saxophone Quartet and the Baldwin Wallace University Men’s Chorus among others.

Sokol received his doctorate in music composition at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he was a doctoral fellow and associate instructor. He holds a master’s degree in composition from New England Conservatory and graduated with honors and distinction in performance. He completed a bachelor’s at Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers were Claude Baker, Loris Chobanian, Michael Gandolfi, P.Q. Phan and Sven-David Sandström. Additionally, he has studied with Sydney Hodkinson at the Aspen Music Festival and School.

He is currently adjunct faculty in Baldwin Wallace’s composition department, and he teaches composition and piano through the BW Community Arts School. He is also on faculty at the Brevard Music Center, and he has served as adjunct faculty in the music program at Defiance College.

Biography coming soon!

Ceste Stanly has a B.S. in Music Education from Bryan College & an M.A. in Music Education-Kodaly from James Madison University. Miss Stanly has taught music to students for 15 years. She teaches piano, voice, and flute to students from ages 7-75, including students with special needs. She loves seeking to discover the unique learning pathway for every individual student and tailoring lessons specifically to grow and enhance foundations that other teachers have already built. She has a number of students who compose their own original material and encourage others in that capacity as well. Currently she is the music director at Community of St. Peter in Cleveland. She has sung shape note music with the Potomac River Sacred Harp Singers. She previously played in the Three Rivers Dulcimer Society in Tri-cities, WA, sang with Choralis, The Washington Kantorei, Arundel Vocal Arts Society, and Fine Arts Chorale of Kansas City. She has sung at DAR Constitution Hall with the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters and played flute at the Capitol with the United States Navy Band. She helped develop the music curriculum and train the music teacher at St. Stephens Academy in Beaverton, OR. She has taught music in every setting imaginable from Christian schools to public schools to home-school co-ops to summer camps to adult church choirs and children’s church choirs.

Lauren Stenroos is a founding dancer with Cleveland Ballet under the artistic direction of Gladisa Guadalupe and Ballet Mistress Cynthia Graham. Previously, she has danced professionally with Lake Erie Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Dayton Ballet, and Ballet Montana. She has also appeared as a guest dancer at Williamsport Civic Ballet, James Sewell Ballet, Texture Contemporary Ballet, Lake Erie Ballet, and Mercyhurst University.

Lauren received her early training from the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet (Now called Ballet Excel Ohio) under Nan and Mia Klinger. While at CVYB she had the unique opportunity to perform in original ballets choreographed by Michael Vernon, Francis Patrelle, Tom Gold, James Sewell, and Bill Hastings. She also attended summer intensives on scholarship at Chautauqua Institution, Richmond Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Cleveland San Jose Ballet. She graduated with a B.A. degree in Dance with a Minor in Music Composition from Mercyhurst University.

At Cleveland Ballet, she has performed many soloist and principal roles such as Swanilda in Ramon Oller’s Coppelia, Hippolyta in Oller’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Queen of Hearts in Margo Sappington’s Alice, Soloist in Les Sylphides and as Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.

She has also enjoyed performing in works by George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Septime Webre, Stuart Sebastian, James Sewell, Jon Rodriguez, Amy Seiwert, Gina Patterson, Gina Walther, Lesley Bories-Scalise, Paul Vasterling, Gladisa Guadalupe, and Ramon Oller.

In addition to dancing, Lauren is a composer and has created many original works for dance. In addition to teaching ballet, she also is certified in Pilates and teaches mat and reformer classes. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, fitness, food, and the outdoors.

Erik Wagner graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toledo in 1994 before earning his Master of Music from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music in 1997. He has been teaching guitar for over 25 years and specifically enjoys teaching classical music. Mr. Wagner aims to give each student the tools so one day they can learn pieces on their own using the skills they learn from his instruction. Mr. Wagner enjoys coaching his son’s baseball team, taking his family to Key West, FL, working out, and of course teaching guitar.

Cynthia Watson teaches oboe and English Horn. She has been teaching for over 20 years and has experience teaching children through adult. In addition to teaching at the Baldwin Wallace Community School, she is on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music. Ms. Watson has been on the faculty of the University of Akron School of Music, and Ithaca College. Ms. Watson is the Principal Oboe of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, second oboe with the Canton Symphony Orchestra and prior to joining the Lake Placid Sinfonietta was a member of the Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in India and China. She has also served as principal oboe of the Albany Symphony, the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra, and as a member the Solaris Woodwind quintet and the IRIS Chamber Orchestra. From 1991-1994 she was a regular member of the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego. She has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Opera, the Rochester Philharmonic and the Virginia Opera Orchestra.

Ms. Watson received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Richard Killmer. She continued her studies at Yale with Ronald Roseman, earning a Master of Music Degree. Her playing has been described as “creating a lasting impression with exquisite singing tone” (Times Union, Albany, N.Y.), “an evening of superlative work” and “[a performance] with soulful brilliance” (Schenectady Gazette). She has recorded on Telarc with the Akron Symphony, on Albany Records with the Albany Symphony Orchestra and CBS Masterworks with Wynton Marsalis and the Eastman Wind Ensemble.

Julia Zanella is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace’s music education program, class of ‘14, where she studied under Laura Joss and Dr. Butch Marshall. She interned with the MusicPlay program for four years before entering the teaching field and has since taught K-5 general music in Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools as well as K-1 and 4-5 general music in North Ridgeville City Schools. She currently teaches over 400 students aged 4-8 at North Ridgeville’s Early Childhood Learning Community and Liberty School. She received her certification in early childhood music and general music through the Gordon Institute of Music Learning (GIML) professional development level courses, and is now serving as the President of GIML’s Ohio chapter. Julia has been teaching MusicPlay at Baldwin Wallace since the summer term of 2016, and wouldn’t rather spend the sixth day of her work week any other way.

Violinist and Teacher Sherri Zhang received her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the New England Conservatory and her Master’s Degree in Violin Performance/Violin Suzuki Pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute of Music. During her time at CIM, she took long-term Suzuki teacher training with Kimberly Meier- Sims.

Sherri’s primary teachers include Joseph Gatwood, Yuri Namkung, Paul Biss, and Stephen Rose (The Cleveland Orchestra). She has also played in many masterclasses for prominent artists such as Joseph Silverstein, Atar Arad, Elmar Oliveria, Peter Salaff, Tong-Wei Dong, Lucy Chapman, Paul Katz, Ian Swensen, the Emerson Quartet, the Cavani Quartet, the Ariel String Quartet, the Borromeo String Quartet, and Quatour Ebene. Sherri supplemented her violin training by attending several prestigious summer festivals such as the Meadowmount School of Music, Heifetz International Music Institute, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Orford Music Academy and the Fontainebleau Music Festival, Encore Chamber Music
Sherri has also played in the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Canton Symphony, Atlantic Symphony, NEC Philharmonic Orchestra, and the CIM Orchestra.

As a passionate violin teacher, Sherri has experience teaching students of all ages in a private, group, and chamber music setting. Her goal is to inspire students to love and appreciate music through violin playing and valuable life skills. She believes that every child has the ability to learn and should be given the opportunity to explore music.