Separk Music Instructors |
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| Ashley has many teaching techniques depending
on age and level. She finds it very important to be a versatile
teacher to keep the student interested and focused. The primary
goal of her teaching is to make the study of piano engaging,
fun, and fulfilling for the student. Ashley studied piano performance
and collaborative piano at the North Carolina School of the Arts
for four years. Ashley is also a church pianist and a proud military
wife. |
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| Billie Feather is an accomplished guitarist,
bassist and instructor. A 2006 graduate of the North Carolina
School of the Arts, Billie holds a Bachelor of Music, with
a concentration in Classical guitar performance. Since 2004,
Billie has been a part of Separk Music's studio staff, offering
instruction in guitar, bass, banjo, and mandolin. In addition
to her multi-instrumental talents, Billie also rides the unicycle. |
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| Payton Harkins, beginning a relationship with
the guitar at age 15, came to NCSA as a junior in high school
under the instruction of Gerald Klickstein. He is currently a
junior in the college division at NCSA. A student of
the classical music world, Payton studies and teaches the classical
guitar, but these are not the limits of his musical realm. Payton
also studies and teaches steel string and electric guitar. He
takes pride in the link between the technical and emotional aspects
of teaching and understanding music and includes these values
in his teaching. |
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| Andrew Motten received his Bachelor's of Music
degree at the North Carolina School of the Arts in 2006. He is
expected to complete his Master's degree in 2009. In addition
to teaching at Separk Music, Andrew has taught at the NCSA Community
Music School, Triple Threat Studio, and Forsyth Country Day Community
Music School. He has been an instructor at Separk Music since
the fall of 2007. In addition to his musical interests, Andrew
has also studied classical Greek. |
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| Joseph Ittoop recently received his Bachelor
of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of North
Carolina School of the Arts where he studied with Glenn Siebert
and Marion Pratnicki. He is well-versed in subjects such
as opera history, repertoire, and healthy vocal technique. Joseph
has performed with the Piedmont Opera, the Winston-Salem Symphony,
and the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute including the role of Ecclitico
in Haydn's Il Mondo Della Luna. |
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| Lissie Okopny is currently the principal flutist
of the Asheville Symphony in Asheville, NC and is a member of
the Western Piedmont Symphony in Hickory, NC. She received her
Bachelor of Music in 2006 from Indiana University and her Masters
from The Juilliard School in 2008. Lissie was a member of the
National Repertory Orchestra in 2007 and made her professional
solo debut with the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony in 2004, performing
the Ibert Flute Concerto. In April of 2008, Lissie appeared as
the guest artist for a master class at the Long Island Conservatory
in Albertson, New York and has maintained her private flute studio
since 2001. |
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| Peter Shanahan has been teaching at Separk
Music since 2002. He received his Bachelor's degree in flute
performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts in 2004,
and completed his Master's at Indiana University in 2006. He
can be seen on local stages as a freelance musician with the
Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Salisbury and Western Piedmont Symphonies.
When he feels like a vacation at the beach, he has been known
to play with the Southwest Florida Symphony and Charleston Symphony.
Peter is currently a performing artist in the Open Dream Ensemble,
a professional multi-disciplinary children's theatre company.
This group performs and conducts teaching residencies throughout
North Carolina and the Southeast. |
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| Kevin Erixson is a post-graduate student at
the North Carolina School of the Arts. He completed his Bachelor's
of Music in clarinet performance at UNCG, and obtained his Master's
degree in Clarinet performance at Florida State University. In
addition to his private studio, Kevin was formerly an instructor
at the Music Academy of North Carolina and Moore Music, and was
the director of Athletic Bands at High Point University. Kevin's
performance experience includes the Fibonacci Chamber Orchestra,
Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and the Tallahassee Symphony. |
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| Christopher Underwood started playing trumpet
at age 10. His talent and dedication have allowed him to play
with the Roanoke Symphony, and tour the Eastern United States
as principal trumpet of the Radford University Wind Ensemble
and Concert Band. He is a founding member of Highlander Brass
Quintet and has received numerous honors and awards during his
training, including the Arts Society Music Scholarship. He currently
plays with Greene City Brass. Christopher received his Bachelors
degree in Music Business from Radford University and is currently
pursuing a Masters in Trumpet Performance from University of
North Carolina School of the Arts. |
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| Keith Grush is currently the band director
at North Davidson Middle School in Welcome, NC. In his first
year at NDMS, they received their first Superior rating in over
15 years at the NC Concert Band Festival. He received a Bachelor's
degree in music education from UNCG in 1997 and a Master's
degree in horn performance from the University of Georgia in
1999. After moving back to North Carolina, he has performed with
the Salisbury Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, Greater Spartanburg
Philharmonic, Hickory Choral Society, and the Charlotte Philharmonic.
Any student that Mr. Grush has worked with has won auditions
for All-District or All-County Bands. |
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| Jon Carroll recently received his high
school diploma from the University of North Carolina School
of the Arts. He is continuing his studies at the University
for his Bachelor of Music degree with David Jolley. Jon
has performed with the UNCSA Philharmonia Orchestra as well
as the Wind Ensemble, and recently attended the Vianden International
Music Festival in Luxembourg. Jon also enjoys playing
soccer, mountain biking, and skiing. |
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| Trey Simpson received his degree in music
education from Western Carolina University in the Spring of 2007.
He is now pursuing a Masters of Music in Trombone Performance
at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Trey
was a middle school band director and general music teacher in
Catawba County from 2007-2009. Trey enjoys playing and listening
to trombone music as well as spending time with his wife. |
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| Keenan McKenzie is a saxophonist currently residing in Greensboro. In 2008, he was the lead tenor player for the TIAA-Cref All Star Collegiate Jazz Ensemble, and recently performed with Natalie Cole in the Roanoke Symphony, and Fantasia Barrino in the Greensboro performances of The Color Purple. A versatile musician, he frequently gigs with groups playing everything from folk to hip hop. His arrangements for jazz ensemble have been featured on two collegiate records. Keenan holds a B.M. in Jazz Studies from UNC Greensboro, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. |
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| Alex has recently received his Masters of
Music degree in percussion from the University of North Carolina
School of the Arts. He has performed with the Winston-Salem Symphony
and the Beta Omicron Beta Band. Alex also performed as a theater
musician in Oliver, She Loves Me, and Seussical at the Lamplight
Theater in Nacogdoches, Texas. In addition, Alex has conducted
the UNCSA high school percussion ensemble and offered private
and group instruction to percussion ensembles in both the Nacogdoches
and Timpson school districts. |
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| Percussionist Jared Steward has performed
in the percussion section with orchestras in North Carolina,
New England, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Missouri and Italy.
As a private teacher, he was on the Arts Cumberland faculty
of Tennessee Technological University's extended education
division. He has also taught extensively as a private teacher
in the Middle Tennessee and greater Boston areas. He has
studied percussion with Joseph Rasmussen, Nanae Mimura, John
Kasica and currently studies with John R. Beck at UNC School
of the Arts where he is a candidate for the Master of Music
degree. |
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| Since 1996, Michelle Clontz has continued
to effectively instruct beginner violinists at Separk Music.
A graduate of UNC Greensboro, Michelle holds both a Bachelor's
and a Master's degree in music education. She is the orchestra
director at Northwest Middle School and Hanes Middle School where
she has taught since 1994. Michelle is a wonderful instructor
for very young children, and has the ability to get on their
level and teach them the fundamentals of the violin in a fun,
child-friendly environment. Michelle is an animal-lover and fosters
cats and kittens for the Feral Cat Assistance Program. |
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| Leigh Wallenhaupt of Charlotte began her violin
studies at a young age with teachers Sarah Slechta and Jerrie
Lucktenburg. After sitting concert mistress in the Charlotte
Symphony Youth Orchestra and attending the North Carolina Governor's
School for Instrumental Performance in 2005, she was accepted
at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School
division to study with Kevin Lawrence. She is currently at the
UNC School of the Arts completing her Bachelor's of Music,
and has attended the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival in
Burlington, Vermont, and the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival in
Prague, Czech Republic in recent summers. She plans to
continue her studies at the graduate level in the fall of 2010. |
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| Laura Manko is currently the
viola instructor at Separk music and is a member of the Winston-Salem
Symphony. Laura has previously held positions with the Knoxville
Symphony Orchestra and the Joy of Music School (TN). Since her
solo premiere with the Pittsburgh Symphony in 2005, Laura has
won numerous solo competitions including the University of North
Carolina School of the Arts Concerto Competition, Music Teachers
National Association Young Artists Competition (NC), Celebration
of Excellence Award (TN), Southern Adventist University Concerto
Competition, and the Maryville College Concerto Competition.
In the spring of 2009, Laura will be obtaining a Bachelor's of
Music degree in viola performance from the North Carolina School
of the Arts. |
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| An established cellist in the
Triad area as well as her home in West Texas, Devree Lewis has
performed as soloist with professional orchestras as well as
guest playing in the Cleveland Orchestra and the Vienna Radio
Symphony sections. She enjoys outreach performances in the Pikardie
Trio as well as serving at her local church. A 2009 Bachelor
of Music candidate in cello performance at the North Carolina
School of the Arts, Devree plans to pursue a second degree in
arts counseling in the fall of 2009. |
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