Music Lessons

 

 

Mr. Brandt holds a B.M. from Michigan State University and an M.M. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His teachers include Charles Owens, Salvatore Rabbio, Robert Pangborn, Douglas Roose, and Tom Schneller. Jim was a charter member of the Drum Corps Midwest Judges Guild and served as the caption chairman of the Great Lakes Judges Association. Currently, he holds active memberships in the Percussive Arts Society, ASCAP, and The Jazz Education Network. Jim is active as a composer, arranger, instructor, performer, clinician and adjudicator for high school and university marching bands, drum and bugle corps, symphonic bands and orchestras, jazz ensembles, chamber ensembles, vocal groups, and praise bands. 

Currently, he is performing with The Piedmont Wind Symphony, as well as touring as the percussionist with Daphne Nichols. Jim has performed and recorded with many varied artists including The TWA Jazz Ensemble, Karen Carpenter, Hubert Laws, Eumir Deodato, Don Ellis, Grover Washington, Jr. and Lionel Hampton as well as fronting his own ensembles. Equally at home in all genres of music, Brandt has performed with the Rochester, Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing Symphonies. 

He has also toured with numerous off-Broadway production companies. Jim has appeared as guest soloist with The Ferndale High School Symphonic Band and The Michigan State University Wind Ensemble. Former students of Mr. Brandt are currently playing on Broadway, in major US symphony orchestras, in Nashville, Los Angeles and New York clubs and recording studios as well as DCI drum and bugle corps percussion sections. 

 

 

B.S.,M.M., East Carolina University
 

Bio to come...

 

 

Linda Brown performs extensively as a solo and chamber music artist throughout the eastern United States. Her numerous performances include the North Carolina Composers Symposium, a United States premier performance at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., two New York city performances at St. Bartholomew Church, the World’s Fair, the National Convocation of The Fellowship of United Methodists, the American Harp Society’s Annual Conference and the National Flute Convention.

A graduate of East Carolina University and former flute instructor at St. Andrew Presbyterian College, Mrs. Brown has performed as soloists and principal flutist in numerous symphonies in the Carolinas. She has done extensive work in symphonic, church, and theater settings and has performed for colleges, universities, and community concerts as well as presented residencies.

Mrs. Brown is past president and a charter member of Piedmont Artists, Inc. and has performed twelve concerts on the Piedmont Artists Concert Series. She has performed with such renowned artists as soprano, Sung Sook Lee, tenor, Anthony Dean Griffey, organist/composer Diane Bish, and with Vincent Persichetti at the Seminar in Contemporary Music. Her performances have been broadcast on WFDD, WUNC, and WDAV.

 

Mrs. Byerly holds a B.A. in Piano Performance from Piedmont Bible College and has maintained a private piano studio since 1993. In addition she has served in music ministry for over ten years holding positions at Twin City Baptist in Winston-Salem NC and Faith Baptist in Thomasville, NC. 

Mrs. Byerly is also an active performer as a soloist and as part of a flute piano duet, A2, with Judy Jordan appearing at Moby’s Coffee House, the Soap Lady, Winston-Salem Friends Meeting, Community Arts Café, and First Presbyterian as part of the Piedmont Artist Series concert. As well as her love of music, 

Mrs. Byerly also has a great love of animals – Greyhounds in particular – and has volunteered with the Greyhound Rescue since 1998. 

B.M., Wheaton College Conservtory of Music
Suzuki Certification 1-4
Starling-DeLay Symposium at Julliard

 

Rebekah Carlson is a Suzuki violin and viola teacher and freelance violinist. She has played with several professional music ensembles, including the North Carolina Opera, the Carolina Ballet, and the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, the Durham Choral Society, and the NC Master Chorale. 

Rebekah holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (IL) and is a passionate music educator with extensive training in Suzuki pedagogy. She has taught at the NC Suzuki State-wide Play-in and has been a frequent clinician at several regional workshops. 

Rebekah is the founder and director of the Chapel Hill String Ensemble, which has performed both regionally and internationally, with recent tours to Austria, Germany, and Italy. While in Chapel Hill, she had a studio of 50 students, and her pupils were active in several area orchestras, including the Piedmont Youth Orchestra and the Mallarmé Youth Chamber Orchestra. 

Rebekah and her family relocated to High Point in June 2012 with her husband, Matthew, an English professor at High Point University, and her baby girl, Ingrid Elizabeth.

 

"When love is deep, much can be accomplished." - Dr. Suzuki 

B.A., Pfeiffer University
M.M. in Sacred Music, Southern Methodist University

 

A High Point native, Craig’s career as a professional singer in opera, oratorio, concert, and musical theater spans 32 years, sixteen of which were spent in New York City, and includes performances throughout the eastern seaboard, Texas, Iowa, Colorado, and Pennsylvania in such venues as Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Cami Hall and Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, Symphony Hall in Boston, and the old Fair Park Symphony Hall in Dallas. 

 

While in New York, he studied with numerous musical and dramatic coaches from the Metropolitan, New York City and La Scala Opera companies.  Among his voice teachers was the renowned Metropolitan Opera tenor, Franco Corelli.  He also was an apprentice with the prestigious Aspen Summer Festival and Des Moines Metro Opera Company, where he had the opportunity to study and perform with many notables from the world of opera.  Among the singers he has appeared on stage with during his career are Rene Fleming, Donnie Rae Albert, Juan Pons, Alfredo Kraus, Giuseppe Giacomini, Cynthia Munzer. Among his leading roles in opera have been Tamino in The Magic Flute, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Werther in Werther, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Don Alvaro in La Forza del Destino.

 

He has over 20 oratorios to his credit as tenor soloist singing oratorios ranging from Bach to Britten with Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem his most frequently performed works.   

In concert and recital he has been a frequent performer, and has performed a number of benefit recitals and organized collaborative concerts with other singers to raise money for churches and charities.   

 

Craig has worked as a private voice teacher for ten years and studied pedagogy with noted pedagogue the late Berton Coffin.  He has also served as a public school choral and general music instructor; as a Director of Music in churches in NC, GA and TX directing adult, youth, children’s and handbell choirs; and as a director of a community choral group.  Currently, Craig is the Adult Choir Director at Parkway United Church of Christ and a paid soloist/section leader at Centenary United Methodist Church, both in Winston-Salem.

 

Craig holds a Masters of Sacred Music Degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and a Bachelor of Arts in Church Music and Music Education from Pfeiffer University.

 

Craig tailors his teaching to fit the needs and wants of each student, but teaches what he believes to be the healthiest, most flexible technique, particularly for young developing singers that will keep their voices healthy, youthful and vibrant.  He stresses the basic fundamentals of proper breath coordination and support, posture, and a sense of freedom and release in singing.   His students gain both a wider vocal and dynamic range, and sing with greater freedom, flexibility and confidence.

Colleen Finan received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Pennsylvania State University with an emphasis in General and Instrumental Music playing clarinet in ensembles ranging from  the  Clarinet Choir to the Penn State Marching Blue Band. Since moving to North Carolina in 1997, Colleen has continued to perform throughout the area with community and professional ensembles. She has previously served as the Instrumental, Choral, and General Music Instructor at Perry Harrison Elementary School in Pittsboro, NC, General Music Instructor at Wallburg Elementary School in Davidson Co., NC as well as Music Camp Woodwind Instructor for Ledford High School.

B.M., Wesleyan College  
M.M., University of South Carolina   
M.M., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

 

Carolyn F. Hall, Mezzo Soprano, received her Bachelor of Music from Wesleyan College, Master of Music Education from the University of South Carolina and Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Ms. Hall sings with Bel Canto Company of Greensboro and has performed with the Charlotte Symphony, Charlotte Repertory Orchestra, Oratorio Singers and Oratorio Chamber Singers of Charlotte, Piedmont Chamber Singers, Columbia and Augusta Choral Societies. Her repertoire includes among other works, J.S. Bach “Magnificat”, Beethoven “Mass in C Major”, Bernstein “Chichester Psalms”, Handel “Messiah”, Mozart “Requiem”, Saint-Saens “Christmas Oratorio”, Vivaldi “Gloria” and Sibelius “The Tempest”. Ms. Hall appeared as Mrs. Ott in the 2004 UNCG production of Susannah by Carlisle Floyd and Kate Pinkerton in Columbia Lyric Opera’s production of Madame Butterfly.

Ms. Hall was a 2001 NATS Mid-Atlantic Region Finalist and has served as Assistant Director for Oratorio Singers of Charlotte and Augusta Choral Society.  In addition, Ms. Hall has also participated in productions at USC Opera Theatre Workshop, Augusta Opera, Opera Carolina,  Conductor’s Institute of South Carolina Opera Program and UNCG Opera Theatre. Ms. Hall has recently studied voice and coached with Levone Tobin-Scott at UNCG and has sung in masterclasses with Phyllis Curtin, Elizabeth Graham and Patrice Michaels-Bedi. At the University of South Carolina she was choral assistant to Dr. Arpad Darazs and to Dr. Welborn Young at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro School of Music.

Named a North Carolina Regional Artist in 1998, Ms. Hall pursued her orchestral conducting studies as a Fellow at the 2001 Conductors Institute of South Carolina and served as Conductor of Gaston String Orchestra in Gastonia, NC, before moving to High Point. Ms. Hall is an experienced choral music educator and currently is the Conductor/Artistic Director of the High Point Children’s and Youth Chorales and completed her certification to Level III in the Choral Music Experience program at Elon University in 2009.

She teaches private voice and voice class at Wesleyan Teaching Studios and also has experience at the college/university level. During the 2008-2009 academic year,  Ms. Hall served as Interim Director of the Chapel Choir and University Singers for High Point University.

Ms. Hall lives in High Point with husband Steve and sons, Erik, David, and Steven where she enjoys gardening, especially collecting named hybridized daylilies. Active in many choirs at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Ms. Hall sings alto in the Chancel Choir, plays handbells in the Chancel Bells and Handbell Quartet and is a frequent soloist. Her musical hobby is composing for solo voice, choral ensembles, chamber instrumental and handbell ensembles. Ms. Hall is a member of National Association of Teachers of Singing, American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Choristers Guild and Sigma Alpha Iota. Ms. Hall serves on the Musical Arts Guild Board of Directors for the School of Music at UNCG.

 

Kathleen Hopper, originally from Louisville, KY, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in Art History from Murray State University (Murray, KY), a Master of Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the Doctorate of Musical Arts with a cognate in Brass Literature and Pedagogy from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

 

She has performed with the Fibonacci Chamber Orchestra, Greensboro Philharmonia, Greensboro Concert Band, Paducah Symphony, Greensboro Choral Society, Bel Canto, Market Street Brass, Stratford Brass, Quaker Brass, Murray State University’s Campus Lights, and Elon University Department of Performing Arts. Ms. Hopper has performed in conjunction with many professional societies and conferences including, the Society of Composers, Inc., the Southeast Horn Workshop, the British Association of Wind Band Ensembles, the North American Saxophone Alliance, the International Double Reed Society, and the World Association of Wind Band Ensembles. Her professional affiliations include Sigma Alpha Iota, Pi Kappa Lambda, the International Horn Society, and the College Music Society.

 

Ms. Hopper is Horn Instructor at Elon University (Elon, NC) where she teaches applied horn and horn ensemble and teaches applied horn for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Summer Music Camp.

B.S., Winston Salem State University  
M.M., University of North Carolina at Greensboro    
D.M.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro  

 

Michael Jarrett received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1998. He also holds the Master of Music in Trombone Performance with graduate level certification also from UNCG, and the Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Winston-Salem State University. Teachers include Sandy Poindexter, Richard Liston, and Dr. Randy Kohlenberg. 

Dr. Jarrett has taught band at both the middle and high school level in Davidson County, and most recently served as Band Director at Wesleyan Christian Academy for the 2006-2007 academic year. In addition, he served on the faculty at John Wesley College and Pfeiffer University.

From February, 1996 until March of 2007, Dr. Jarrett, in cooperation with C.H. Duncan of Duncan Music Co., was founder and Director of Duncan Music Teaching Studios in Winston-Salem and owner since 2004. In this capacity, Dr. Jarrett oversaw a staff of 18 instructors offering private instrumental lessons to some 300 students per week. In addition to his administrative duties Dr. Jarrett maintained a large studio of private trombone students from throughout central NC. 

Dr. Jarrett’s middle and high school students have consistently secured seats in All-County, All-District, and All-Sate Honors Bands. Many students have also successfully competed in many regional orchestral and jazz ensembles. Dr. Jarrett’s students have gone on to pursue undergraduate and graduate music degrees in education and performance, with many winning auditions for scholarships and other financial prizes. Dr. Jarrett continues to serve as a trombone clinician for area schools presenting master classes and adjudicating auditions.

Dr Jarrett is an active freelance performer throughout the region having performed with most notable orchestras and musical theater organizations. He as also made numerous appearances with churches and community ensembles as well as colleges and universities. Performances include appearances at the International Trombone Festival and the Eastern Trombone Workshop. Currently, Dr. Jarrett is trombonist with the Stratford Brass Quintet, which he founded in 1996, and continues to perform in other area venues.

B.M., University of North Carolina at Greensboro  
M.M., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

 

 

Elizabeth received both the Bachelor and Master of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is currently on faculty at Lawndale Fine Arts and Music Academy in Greensboro teaching individual and group instruction on flute, piccolo, conducting and piano. 

Over the past 24 years, Mrs. Mosher has taught both instrumental and choral music from beginner to advanced levels as well as performed as a soloist with various ensembles throughout the East Coast in sacred and secular music. She has served as Director of Music Ministries in High Point and Greensboro, Band Director in Lexington, and Elementary Music Teacher in Colfax. 

She and her husband Cliff reside in Greensboro and have 3 grown sons Clark, Matt, and Eric.

 

Bob Spencer’s career is an interesting and eclectic journey spanning over three decades in an amazing array of genres.  Bob has established himself as a highly sought after guitarist, but his performing talents also encompass the bass, mandolin, harmonica, keyboard as well as flute and sax.  Bob graduated with a degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and initially taught in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro County school system. From ’77 to ’93, Bob toured 47 states with performers such as Billy “Crash” Craddock, Helen Cornelius and Jim Ed Brown, Southern Crescent, Sundance, and Johnny Fisher.  During this period he appeared on “Hee Haw”, Showtime, and 23 performances at the Grand Ol’ Opry, ’87-88.

 

Bob also performs with The Vicki Skinner Band, Soul Biscuit, Windfall, Mood Swingz, Espresso Brazil, in addition to making numerous solo appearances.  Also possessing vocal talents, Bob served as Choir Director at Springfield Friends from ’93 to ’04 and currently teaches guitar classes there.

 

Bob achieved a No. 1 Country Music hit, “Peaches” in ’85 with band Southern Crescent.  He currently has an instrumental CD titled Carolina Dreaming which is available throughout NC.  Please visit www.themoodswingzband.com to learn more.

B.M., Oral Roberts University
M.M., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

 

 

Charlene Sullivan holds a Bachelor of Music from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Church Music, with an emphasis in piano pedagogy, from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has taught piano, maintaining a successful studio for over 25 years. 

Charlene is also an accomplished accompanist, having served as accompanist at Green Street Baptist Church, Guilford Baptist Church, and presently serves as music Director for Archdale Friends Meeting. 

In addition, she has been accompanist for the High Point Community Theatre, and is currently serving as the performance accompanist for the Trinity High School Chorus. A member of the High Point Piano Teachers Association, Charlene’s teachers have included Maurice Hinson and Don Hustad. She has a great relationship with her students, past and present, and enjoys teaching immensely! 

Steve Ware received his B.M. degree in Tuba Performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts where he studied with Robert Clark and David Mills.  Steve has performed with regional symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, brass ensembles, musical theater orchestras, as well as the Traveling Broadway Musical Series.  Steve is also an established freelance jazz bass player and can be seen and heard performing throughout the Triad.  Currently, Steve is the Tuba Instructor at Greensboro College and is performing with the Stratford Brass Quintet and the Sunset Fourtet.

 

 

With more than 40 years of playing and teaching experience, Mr. Woodell is well-versed in a variety of styles and genres. He began his professional playing career at the early age of 15 in his hometown of Chicago, where he played with the band Crosswind. While attending the Devry Institute of Technology to advance his knowledge of electronics for guitars and amplifiers, he continued to play in and around the Chicago area. After spending time in Nashville, at age 22 he moved to North Carolina, and for the next four years, he traveled the East Coast with Billy Dee Hanes and Branded Country, achieving a number-one single in Canada. 

Mr. Woodell has performed in bands opening for many national acts including Neil McCoy, Tracy Lawrence, Little Texas, Exile, The Tams, and The Vogues. He continued his studies in music and technology at Guilford Technical Community College. Between 1987 and 1995, he played with more than 20 different bands. 

From 1991-2000, Mr. Woodell served as guitar instructor and manager for Ivey Music in Thomasville. After meeting Billy Bazemoore, former lead singer for the Band of Oz, Mr. Woodell joined the Tymes Square Band playing beach music. Because of his solid guitar skills and ability to read charts, he continues to be called by national tours such as Percy Sledge and The Crystals. He maintains an active playing schedule along with a studio of successful students where his motto is “never stop learning and growing!” 

 

Caleb Zeigler is a classically trained guitarist who specializes in a blend of many popular genres. He studied Guitar Performance at Liberty University where he earned a Bachelor of Music in the spring of 2017. Caleb specializes in classical guitar, but also performs on acoustic and electric. One of Caleb's passions is working with students in a group setting where students can be both inspired and challenged by the unique dynamic found in making music together.  Find out more about Caleb by visiting his website at www.calebzeigler.com or click here to read more about his guitar lessons.