Faculty

Michael Dunn leads an active life as a performer and educator. His students have won competitions on both national and international stages and hold jobs in various professional ensembles and educational institutions in the United States and abroad. Michael Dunn is Associate Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the University of Colorado Boulder. He has held master classes at leading international universities.

Dr. Ryan Gardner is the Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of Colorado Boulder. Originally from Santa Monica, California, Dr. Gardner received his Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music with highest distinction, his Master of Music from Rice University - Shepherd School of Music, and his Doctor of Musical Arts from the Manhattan School of Music.

William Stanley is Associate Professor of Trombone at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music. Dr. Stanley performs in a wide variety of musical settings, including as a member of the Boulder Brass, the Colorado Brass Quintet, Colorado Ballet Orchestra (principal), Opera Colorado and as substitute/extra with the Colorado Symphony.

Michael Thornton enjoys a distinguished and varied career as an orchestral performer, chamber musician, soloist, and pedagogue. Thornton has performed on six continents with acclaimed ensembles and has presented master classes at prestigious musical institutions, including The Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, Rice University, the Royal Northern College of Music (UK) and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (AU).

Professor of Percussion and Jazz, Douglas Walter is the only marimba/vibraphone artist to win First Prize in the Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York City. His debut recital in Carnegie Recital Hall received a positive review in the New York Times. He has performed over 350 solo recitals and concerti in 40 states, Canada, Brazil and eight countries in Europe, in addition to conventions of the Percussive Arts Society, International Association of Jazz Educators and MENC.

Justin Bartels has been on Faculty at the University of Colorado since 2012 and is Principal Trumpet with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 2008. Over the past six years, his students have gone on to high-level graduate programs at several schools.

Versatile percussionist Carl Dixon is at home with music spanning multiple genres, continents and instruments. He can be found performing in concert halls, jazz clubs, dance parties, festival stages, and street parades. Dixon plays with the Brazilian music band Ginga. He is the Principal Percussionist of the Fort Collins Symphony and the Cheyenne Symphony, percussionist with Opera Colorado, and has performed with the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Ballet, Central City Opera, Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and Greeley Philharmonic Orchestras.

Jeffrey Nytch enjoys a diverse career as an award-winning composer, educator, performer, administrator and thought leader in arts entrepreneurship. In addition to more than 30 years as a professional musician, he has also run a small business, co-founded a nonprofit service organization in Houston, performed a wide range of repertoire as a vocalist and served six seasons as managing director of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, one of the nation’s premiere new music ensembles. He has been at CU Boulder since 2009.

James Brody’s oboe playing has been praised by the New York Times for its “wonderfully euphonious spirit.” While a member of the Camerata Woodwind Quintet, he performed concerts in Carnegie Recital Hall and in the Far East. Brody’s major teachers include John Mack, Jerry Sirucek, and William Baker. He also studied the Baroque oboe with Grant Moore and James Caldwell and chamber music with Marcel Moyse.

Matthew Tomatz has worked as a psychotherapist on the staff of Counseling and Psychiatric Services at the University of Colorado Boulder since 2008.

Composer/pianist Carter Pann has written for—and worked alongside—musicians from around the world, including performances by the London Symphony and City of Birmingham Symphony, the Tchaikovsky Symphony in Moscow, radio symphonies around Europe, the Seattle Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestra, youth orchestras of New York and Chicago, and many wind ensembles. Awards include a Charles Ives Fellowship, a Masterprize seat in London and five ASCAP awards. His numerous albums encompass solo, vocal, chamber, orchestral and wind music and have received two Grammy® nominations to date. Pann was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 2016.

Mike Barnett balances an active career as a composer, drummer, recording artist, record producer, author and educator. He currently teaches Songwriting, various courses in Rock and American Popular music, and Instrumentation at CU. His eclectic creative output and non-traditional background distinguish him among his peers.

John Drumheller is Instructor of Music Technology and Composition at the University of Colorado College of Music. He received a BME from Montana State University and an MM and DMA from the University of Colorado Boulder. Drumheller has teaching experience in the areas of composition, electronic music and music theory. His performance experience includes classical, jazz, and commercial music. Drumheller’s compositions have won several awards including the 1994 Quinto Maganini Award. His piece Five Landscapes was selected from over 100 compositions from around the country and was premiered by the Norwalk (CT) Symphony Orchestra.

Jeffrey Nytch enjoys a diverse career as an award-winning composer, educator, performer, administrator and thought leader in arts entrepreneurship. In addition to more than 30 years as a professional musician, he has also run a small business, co-founded a nonprofit service organization in Houston, performed a wide range of repertoire as a vocalist and served six seasons as managing director of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, one of the nation’s premiere new music ensembles. He has been at CU Boulder since 2009.

Michael Theodore is on the faculty of the University of Colorado Boulder, where he teaches music composition and technology, and interactive media. Theodore was born in 1968 and raised in New York City. Theodore's technology-­informed work with sound, visual media or both has been presented across the United States, and in Mexico, Trinidad y Tobago, Greece, Spain, Germany, Sweden, France, Australia, Japan, and China.

Betsey Biggs earned degrees in English Literature and Music from Colorado College and Mills College, respectively, and a PhD in Music Composition from Princeton University. She has also held fellowships at Brown University and Harvard University. She has taught at Princeton, Brown and The Rhode Island School of Design.

Annika Socolofsky is a US composer and avant folk vocalist. She is Assistant Professor of Composition at the University of Colorado Boulder, and has taught at Carnegie Mellon University and Concordia University Ann Arbor. She holds a PhD in Composition from Princeton University. Her music erupts from the power and nuance of the human voice and is communicated through mediums ranging from orchestral and operatic works to unaccompanied folk ballads.

Gary Lewis is the Director of Orchestras and Professor of Music in the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he conducts the University Symphony Orchestra and oversees the entire orchestra program. He is also Music Director and Conductor of the Midland-Odessa (TX) Symphony Orchestra.

Matthew Dockendorf is Associate Director of Bands and Instructor of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder where he conducts the Symphonic Band, directs the “Golden Buffalo” Marching Band, and teaches courses in music education and conducting.

Gregory Gentry’s collegiate choirs have performed for conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, National Collegiate Choral Organization, Music Educators National Conference, Society for American Music and College Music Society. Gentry made his Phoenix Symphony conducting debut in 2009 to sold-out audiences with Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms.

Donald J. McKinney is Director of Bands and Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. He conducts the CU Wind Symphony, guides the graduate wind-conducting program, and oversees the university’s comprehensive band program. The CU Wind Symphony has collaborated with numerous artists & composers and most recently performed for the CBDNA Southwestern Division Conference on the CU Boulder campus.

Dr. Joel Schut is Director of the Philharmonia Orchestra and Instructor of Music Education at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he teaches courses in conducting, string pedagogy, music education and orchestral performance.

Branden Steinmetz is Assistant Director of Bands and Instructor of Music at the University of Colorado where he conducts the Concert Band, assists with the “Golden Buffalo” Marching Band, directs the “Buff” Basketball Band, directs the Summer Music Academy, and teaches courses in music education.

Elizabeth Swanson is Associate Director of Choral Studies and Assistant Professor of Music in the College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she conducts the University Choir and teaches undergraduate courses in conducting.

Michael is currently Principal Timpanist of the Central City Opera, Fort Collins Symphony, Principal Percussionist of the Boulder Philharmonic and Assistant Principal Percussion of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.

John Gunther is a composer and multi-instrumentalist playing Saxophones, Clarinet, and Flute. With a restless musical spirit, he enjoys exploring all forms of jazz from traditional to avant-garde as well as classical music, world music and experimental electronic music. John is a Professor in Jazz Studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder where he directs the Thompson Jazz Studies Program.

A multi-instrumentalist and composer who performs on trumpet, bass and drums, Brad Goode is recognized as a unique stylist with a highly creative approach to improvisation.

Jeff Jenkins has released four CD’s in the last 15 years. The most recent on Capri Records entitled “Cique”, is an eclectic exciting blend of jazz and funk. He attended the University of North Texas, where he led his own groups.When not playing the piano, Jeff is busy mixing and producing in his recording studio Mile High Music. Currently he is living in Denver, where he is busy playing clubs and concerts, writing and producing, and being a dad to his son Ellington.

Paul McKee, newly appointed Associate Professor of Jazz Trombone and Arranging/Composition at the University of Colorado at Boulder, received a BME from the University of Northern Iowa and an MM in Composition from the University of Texas at Austin. In 1984 he joined Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd and appeared on several Grammy-nominated recordings.

Professor of Percussion and Jazz, Douglas Walter is the only marimba/vibraphone artist to win First Prize in the Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York City. His debut recital in Carnegie Recital Hall received a positive review in the New York Times. He has performed over 350 solo recitals and concerti in 40 states, Canada, Brazil and eight countries in Europe, in addition to conventions of the Percussive Arts Society, International Association of Jazz Educators and MENC.

Eduardo “Bijoux” Barbosa was born in Sao Paulo-Brazil where he studied music theory and electric bass with Prof. Nadir Dos Santos. In Brazil he played with pop bands and Jazz Fusion oriented bands. He then moved to Caracas- Venezuela in 1991 where he worked with many well known artists.He then moved to Denver-Colorado-USA in 1997 where besides staying busy with live performances, he is also one of the top studio musicians that can be heard on over 300 recordings.

Clare played her very first gigs with Tony Bennett, the Temptations and the Four Tops. In her 30-plus years as a professional musician, she has performed all different styles and genres of music.

Dave Corbus, instructor of jazz guitar, has over 30 years of professional experience in music. This experience includes playing on the New York City music scene for 12 years with artists such as Chico Hamilton and in trio settings with New York bass players Ira Coleman and Essiet Essiet, as well as in New York blues/funk/jazz band Business of Blues.

Victor Mestas was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and studied at the "J. A. Lamas" School of Music with Carmen Moleiro. He is an endorsement artist for YAMAHA keyboards in Venezuela (2001). His professional background includes more than 100 recording productions for national and international renowned artists. Mestas has performed as a pianist, keyboardist and arranger for renowned bands in Latin America and Venezuela, including Guaco and Trabuco Venezolano...

Hugh Ragin was raised in Houston, Texas, and began playing trumpet in his early teens, taking lessons in classical music, and was a member of the Houston All-City High School Orchestra. He received a degree in music education from the University of Houston and a degree in classical trumpet performance from Colorado State University.

Paul Romaine, Drum Set, felt drawn to music from the depth of his being throughout his childhood. He began playing drums professionally at age 14. In between gigs, he studied jazz composition at the Lamont School of Music and, in 1991 received a degree in recording engineering from the University of Colorado. He serves as a mentor musician/clinician in several Denver area school districts.

Walton received a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from the University of Colorado in 2003 and a Master of the Arts in Jazz Studies from New York University in 2007.

Wendel earned his M.A. in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy from CU Boulder and enjoyed success in the New York City music scene.

Pianist David Korevaar balances his active performing schedule with teaching at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he is the Peter and Helen Weil Professor of Piano. He is a 2016 honoree as Distinguished Research Lecturer at the University of Colorado.

Pianist Andrew Cooperstock performs widely as soloist and chamber musician and has appeared throughout six continents and in most of the fifty states, including performances at New York's Alice Tully, Merkin, and Carnegie halls, Broadway’s 54 Below, Greenwich Village’s (le) Poisson Rouge, Brooklyn’s BargeMusic, and at the United Nations.

Alejandro Cremaschi received his MM and DMA degrees from the University of Minnesota. He has been a presenter at national and international conferences including numerous Music Teachers National Association annual conferences.

Jennifer Hayghe has performed in solo recitals and made orchestral appearances throughout the world, including the United States, Europe and Asia. Hayghe received her bachelors, masters degrees and doctorate degree in piano performance from The Juilliard School, where she was the last student of the legendary artist-teacher Adele Marcus. Hayghe won every award possible for a Juilliard pianist to receive, including the William Petschek Debut Award, resulting in her New York City recital debut at Alice Tully Hall.

Robert Hill comes to the College of Music after serving for more than 20 years as professor for historical keyboard instruments and performance practice at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in Germany. He studied harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt at the Amsterdam Conservatory, receiving his soloist diploma in 1974.

Korean pianist Suyeon Kim is an instructor in Collaborative Piano at the University of Colorado, Boulder, joining the faculty in 2013. Kim is an experienced and versatile collaborator, with significant instrumental and vocal accompanying experience.

Pianist Hsiao-Ling Lin joined the keyboard department faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder in the fall of 2011. Her active performing career has take her to Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Isabella Stewart Garden Museum and Jordan Hall in Boston, the Chicago Symphony Hall and Chicago Cultural Center, Sendai Cultural Center in Japan, and the Rachmaninoff Hall in Russia.

Pianist Margaret McDonald, a native of Minnesota, is an Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano at the University of Colorado Boulder. She joined the College of Music keyboard faculty in the fall of 2004. She helped to develop the College’s new graduate degree program in Collaborative Piano and directed the undergraduate collaborative curriculum.

As Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Nguyen co-directs the graduate programs in collaborative piano and coordinates accompanying services at the College of Music. She was formerly the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at the Eastman School of Music, where she also held part-time faculty appointments in the piano and chamber music departments.

Professor of Piano Daniel Sher served as Dean of the College of Music from 1993 to 2013. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Oberlin Conservatory, the master’s degree from the Juilliard School, and the EdD from the Teachers College of Columbia University.He is a past president of Pi Kappa Lambda, the national honor society for music, and currently serves on that group’s Board of Regents.

David A. Rickels, Associate Professor and Chair of Music Education, teaches music education classes that include introductory courses for future teachers, instrumental music methods, psychology, and research methods.

James Austin is Professor of Music Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. He currently teaches graduate courses, and directs master’s theses and doctoral dissertations.

Matthew Dockendorf is Associate Director of Bands and Instructor of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder where he conducts the Symphonic Band, directs the “Golden Buffalo” Marching Band, and teaches courses in music education and conducting.

Leila Heil is Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. She currently teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in choral music and music education, directs the CU Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and serves as coordinator of the Summer MME program. Prior to her arrival at the University of Colorado, she taught high school choral music in Kansas, Arizona and Colorado, and served on the music education faculties at The Ohio State University and Colorado State University.

Martina Miranda received graduate degrees from San Francisco State University (MA) and Arizona State University (DMA). She joined the College of Music faculty with over 16 years of teaching experience in elementary general music and chorus in California and Arizona. Prior university service includes positions at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, and Auburn University. Her areas of specialization include elementary general music pedagogy, early childhood music, Orff-Schülwerk methodology, and children’s folk song literature.

Dr. Joel Schut is Director of the Philharmonia Orchestra and Instructor of Music Education at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he teaches courses in conducting, string pedagogy, music education and orchestral performance.

Branden Steinmetz is Assistant Director of Bands and Instructor of Music at the University of Colorado where he conducts the Concert Band, assists with the “Golden Buffalo” Marching Band, directs the “Buff” Basketball Band, directs the Summer Music Academy, and teaches courses in music education.

Michelle Ewer is a 38-year semi-retired teacher from Jefferson County Schools. She continues to mentor new teachers in Jeffco as well as chair the Tr-M Music Honor Society for CMEA.

Austin C. Okigbo is an associate professor in the College of Music, and affiliate faculty in Ethnic Studies and Global Health. He received his PhD in Ethnomusicology and African Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a master's in Sacred Music and Music Education from Westminster Choir College where he studied with Robin Leaver, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Jordan and Frank Abrahams.

Carlo Caballero, Associate Professor of Music and Erma Mantey Faculty Fellow, received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his B.A., magna cum laude, at Pomona College. He teaches courses in the history of 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century music. His research has focused on music in France between 1870 and 1940, and he is particularly interested in aesthetics, dance history, hermeneutics, and historiography.

Jay Keister, Associate Professor, is an Ethnomusicologist and scholar of Japanese music. Keister received the MA and PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of California, Los Angeles. His research concerns individual agency in music, embodiment of music traditions, aesthetics of music and traditional social structures in contemporary musical practice.

Rebecca Maloy specializes in early Medieval music. Her primary interests include plainsong, liturgy and ritual, and the theory and analysis of early music.

Laurie J. Sampsel is Professor of Musicology and a Faculty Affiliate in the Center of the American West. She earned her doctorate in historical musicology with a focus on American music studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

Robert Shay is Professor of Musicology at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he previously served as Dean of the College of Music from 2014 to 2020.

Jeremy L. Smith, Associate Professor of Musicology, is a specialist on the English Renaissance with a secondary interest in Progressive Rock. He has published articles in Journal of American Musicological Society, Music & Letters, Computing in Musicology, Notes, Fontes Artis Musicae, New Dictionary of National Biography, MGG and New Grove and has presented scholarly papers at annual meetings of the American Musicological Society and the Medieval and Renaissance Music Society, among others.

Benjamin R. Teitelbaum is Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology and Affiliate Faculty in International Affairs.

Violist Erika Eckert is currently Associate Professor of Viola at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has also been a faculty member of the Brevard Music Center since 2011. Previously, Eckert served on the faculties of The Cleveland Institute of Music, Baldwin Wallace College, and the Chautauqua Institution in New York where she served as the coordinator of the chamber music program for the Music School Festival Orchestra for three summers.

Dr. Erhard has been the Double Bass Professor in the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music since 1986. In addition to double bass teaching, Dr. Erhard teaches “Improvisation for String Players,” drawing upon his experiences with Indian music and Jazz, and the “Orchestral Audition Class.”

First Prize winner of the 2008 Naumburg International Violoncello Competition, David Requiro has emerged as one of today’s finest American cellists.

A graduate of The Juilliard School and the New England Conservatory, Harumi Rhodes is the second violinist of the internationally renowned Takács Quartet. Rhodes has served as Head of Strings and Chamber Music at Syracuse University, as well as Assistant Violin Faculty at the Juilliard School. She joined the Violin Faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2015.

Claude Sim enjoys a varied career as a chamber musician, orchestral leader, soloist, and multi-genre performing artist. He studied violin performance at the Oberlin Conservatory (BM '99) with Greg Fulkerson, Almita Vamos, and viola with Roland Vamos. At age 21, he was appointed Associate Concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony under music director Marin Alsop.

In 2011, Spera was appointed to the faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he is director of the Ritter Family Classical Guitar Program. He is also on the faculty of the International Studies Institute at Palazzo Rucellai in Florence, Italy.

Violinist Charles Wetherbee brings to the CU College of Music a wealth of experience and expertise from his varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral concertmaster and teacher. He has performed throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. A devoted chamber musician, Charles is the first violinist of the Carpe Diem String Quartet, with whom he tours and performs regularly.

As first violinist of the Takács Quartet, Edward Dusinberre has won a Grammy and awards from Gramophone Magazine, the Japanese Recording Academy, Chamber Music America and the Royal Philharmonic Society.

András Fejér is the cellist of the internationally renowned Takács Quartet. The Takács Quartet has been in residence at the University of Colorado since 1983 and, in collaboration with other String Faculty, has developed a program geared toward students who relish the chance to develop their artistry with a special emphasis on chamber music, in a small tightly knit community where students will not be lost in the crowd.

Janet Harriman began her harp studies with her mother, Jean Harriman. She continued her harp studies with Alice Chalifoux while she attended the College of Wooster, the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Salzedo harp Colony. She is currently principal harpist with the Central City Opera Festival, a position she has held since 1993, and performs regularly with Opera Colorado.

Newly appointed violist of the Takács Quartet Richard O'Neill has distinguished himself as one of the great instrumentalists of his generation. An EMMY Award winner, two time GRAMMY nominee and Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, he has appeared as soloist with the world’s top orchestras.

Grammy award-winning violinist and educator Károly Schranz has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world while mentoring the next generation of classical music luminaries. Schranz co-founded the Takács Quartet in 1975 at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest.

American cellist Meta Weiss (pronounced MAY-ta) made her international debut at the age of seven in Utrecht, Holland, and has established herself as one of the leading artists of her generation. An acclaimed soloist and chamber musician, her performances have taken her to venues throughout the US and internationally, including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Boston Symphony Hall, The Kimmel Center, Royal Albert Hall, The Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre, and Teatro Britanico (Peru).

Keith Waters is Professor of Music Theory. His book, The Studio Recordings of the Miles Davis Quintet 1965-68, was published by Oxford University Press in 2011. He received a PhD in Music Theory from the Eastman School of Music, and a Masters degree in jazz piano from the New England Conservatory of Music. As a jazz pianist, he has performed with James Moody, Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Sheila Jordan, and Chris Connor, and has recorded and performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Russia.

Mark Arnett is a composer and jazz pianist. His choral and wind ensemble compositions have been performed by ensembles across the United States. As a jazz pianist, he has performed alongside many distinguished artists including Kim Nazarian, Tom Patituci, Ron Stein, Dave Friesan, Clark Bondy, Gavin Bondy, Gary Hobbs, Dave Kaptein and Dennis Plies.

Mike Barnett balances an active career as a composer, drummer, recording artist, record producer, author and educator. He currently teaches Songwriting, various courses in Rock and American Popular music, and Instrumentation at CU. His eclectic creative output and non-traditional background distinguish him among his peers.

Steven Bruns is an associate professor of music at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music. He also teaches courses in music theory and analysis. He holds a BME magna cum laude from Northern State College, SD and received his MM and PhD in music theory from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Philip Chang began his music theory studies at Florida State University and earned his doctorate in the field at the Eastman School of Music. His principal instrument is the harpsichord, and his instructors include Karyl Louwenaar and Arthur Haas. He has co-edited two issues of Intégral, the music theory journal published by Eastman graduate music theory students, and has also published articles in Indiana Theory Reviewand Pi Kappa Phi Forum.

Daphne Leong is Professor of Music Theory. Her research interests include rhythm, analysis and performance, and the music of 20th- and 21st-century composers, particularly Béla Bartók.

Yonatan Malin is Associate Professor in the College of Music and Program in Jewish Studies. His areas of research include the German Lied, music-text relations, theories of rhythm and meter, and liturgical music in Jewish traditions. His book Songs in Motion: Rhythm and Meter in the German Lied was published by Oxford University Press in 2010, and he has published articles Music Theory Spectrum, Music Analysis, and Expressive Intersections in Brahms.

Karin Buer has performed as a soloist with the Great Falls Symphony and the St. Olaf Orchestra. Karin Buer holds a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Northern Colorado. She also earned degrees in music theory (M.M.) and piano performance (M.M., B.M.) from the University of Colorado Boulder and St. Olaf College.

Nicholas Carthy, Opera Music Director, studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London with Mary Peppin and John York, and in 1981 won an Austrian government scholarship to study at the Mozarteum Salzburg with Hans Leygraf. After completing his studies he was offered a post as Kapellmeister at the Landestheater in Salzburg where he made his operatic debut conducting Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro.

Moteki is currently a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she teaches singing diction, vocal repertoire, and French song literature, and is a coach for Eklund Opera Program.

American soprano Jennifer Bird enjoys a busy and varied singing career in the U.S. and Europe, having built a reputation as a charismatic, intelligent and versatile performer of more than 50 roles in opera, operetta and musical theater, as well as much of the standard oratorio and concert literature. Jennifer has been a prizewinner in several international competitions, including First Prizes in the Sylvia Geszty Competition, Elisa Meyer Competition and the Robert Stolz Competition.

Matthew Chellis is considered one of America’s most versatile singing actors. He has appeared with opera companies, orchestras and theatre companies in North and South America and Europe. Chellis has sung over twenty principal roles with New York City Opera and sung with Washington National Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Atlanta Opera, Opera Bogata, and Calgary Opera to name a few.

Garland is widely recognized as a leader in recital work with dozens of performances around the country including Carnegie Hall with pianist Warren Jones and programs of modern American songs all over the Unites States and in Canada.

Mezzo soprano Abigail Nims has established herself as a musician of integrity and versatility, garnering praise for her performances of repertoire from the Baroque to contemporary premieres. Nims has received awards from distinguished foundations and institutions including the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Competition, Santa Fe Opera, the Carmel Bach Festival, Yale School of Music, and the American Bach Society/Bach Choir of Bethlehem Competition.

Jeremy Reger came to the voice department after holding the position of director of keyboard studies and collaborative arts at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. The international performer and educator says although the natural beauty of the region was a big draw, in the end it was the passion of the students and faculty at the College of Music that led him here.

John Seesholtz, dramatic baritone, holds vocal performance and pedagogy degrees from University of Michigan, University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of North Texas. His most recent operatic performances include "Florencia en el Amazonas," "Candide," "Così fan tutte" and "Gianni Schicchi."

Jennifer DeDominici has a versatile performing career spanning musical theatre, opera, concert work, and even film. Some of her favorite operatic roles include Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Carmen in Carmen, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Mrs. Jones in Street Scene, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, Siebel in Faust, and 3rd Secretary in Nixon in China.

Yoshiyuki Ishikawa is the Professor of Bassoon and the Chair of the Woodwind Area at the University of Colorado Boulder, College of Music. He has performed and presented solo recitals, masterclasses and workshops at prestigious conservatories, schools of music, and festivals in North America, Eastern and Southeast Asia, Europe and Oceania.

James Brody’s oboe playing has been praised by the New York Times for its “wonderfully euphonious spirit.” While a member of the Camerata Woodwind Quintet, he performed concerts in Carnegie Recital Hall and in the Far East. Brody’s major teachers include John Mack, Jerry Sirucek, and William Baker. He also studied the Baroque oboe with Grant Moore and James Caldwell and chamber music with Marcel Moyse.

Principal Oboist of the Colorado Symphony since 1993 and a Teaching Professor of Oboe at the University of Colorado, Peter Cooper has taught and performed as soloist with orchestras in Asia, Europe and the United States.

In great demand as a teacher, Jennings is a Professor of Flute at the University of Colorado Boulder, and on the summer faculties of Greenwood Music Camp and ARIA. She has also taught at Texas and Sarasota Music Festivals. She is the director of the Panoramic Flutist Seminar and the upcoming Once a Flutist Festival.

Tom Myer is an Associate Professor of Saxophone in the College of Music at the University of Colorado at Boulder where he served as the Director of Jazz Studies from 1988-95.

Clarinetist Daniel Silver is active as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer, clinician and teacher. He has served as principal clarinet of the Baltimore Opera Orchestra, the Washington Chamber Symphony (Kennedy Center) and the National Gallery Orchestra. A graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Michigan, his teachers have included Thomas Peterson, Robert Marcellus and Deborah Chodacki.

Maputo Mensah was born and raised in Accra, Ghana, in a family of professional musicians and dancers. While still a small child, he was dancing and drumming with his family, and before he reached his teens, he was teaching and performing these traditional Ghanaian arts professionally.