Dr. Scott Augustine
Saxophone
Scott.Augustine@LoneStar.edu

Scott Augustine is a Houston-based classical saxophone artist and educator. In 2022, Augustine completed a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with Professor Debra Richtmeyer. Augustine was recently awarded first place in the panamerican Clari-Sax Yucatán Henri Selmer Competition held in Mérida, Mexico.

Augustine has appeared in masterclasses with esteemed musicians, such as Arno Bornkamp, Frederick Hemke, Joseph Lulloff, Taimur Sullivan, the Masato Kumoi Quartet, Quatuor Morphing, and the Canadian Brass. While in college, Augustine received multiple awards in chamber music performance, earning the silver medal alongside the Khroma Quartet at the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, winning the American Prize in Chamber Music Performance for 2019-2020 with Khroma, and winning first place with the Versa Quartet in the 2020 North American Saxophone Alliance’s Quartet Competition. Augustine has also been invited to give quartet recitals at the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium in 2017 as well as the Midwest Clinic in 2018 and has given masterclasses at Youngstown State University and Hiram College.

Other achievements by Augustine include holding the post of teaching assistant for Debra Richtmeyer and the UIUC saxophone studio in 2019-20, being awarded the undergraduate Presser Scholar award in 2017, and winning the Stephen F. Austin State University Concerto Competition in a quartet performing Bolcom’s Concerto Grosso in 2015 and as a soloist performing Tomasi’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone with the SFA Orchestra of the Piney Woods in 2017.

Augustine has helped lead commissions in the Vex Duo for works by talented composers of new music such as Yaz Lancaster, Anthony R. Green, and Emily Koh. Recently, Augustine joined the adjunct faculty at Lone Star College’s Montgomery and North Harris campuses.

Seth Bagwell
Percussion
Seth.Bagwell@LoneStar.edu

Jaimie Blackman
American Music
Jaimie.Blackman@LoneStar.edu

Music is the language of the soul. It harmonizes every aspect of a life and the lives it touches are never the same.

The aesthetic components in music—rhythm, melody, harmony, tone color, texture, form, and dynamics —ignite and nourish the qualities inherent in all human experience.

Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep, quality, mood, mental alternes and memory.

By giving your full attention to the musical experience through achieve listening, numerous benefits from psychological to physical, to spiritual can be realized.

It is my joy to help my students live a happier and richer life by unlocking the power of music.

Jesús Bravo
Voice
Jesus.BravoCabrera@lonestar.edu

A graduate of the University of North Texas and the University of Houston, Jesús Bravo's voice has been described by the Houston Press as a “crystal Italianate tenor that’s crisp and clean,” with “clarity to cut through the orchestra and always sound fresh.”

Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Jesús’ passion for music ignited at a young age, thanks to his parents’ introduction to classical music. At just 10 years old, he began competing in singing festivals in his hometown. His formal musical training started with “El Sistema” in Venezuela, which deepened his curiosity for the arts.

In 2017, Jesús made his operatic debut as the First Man in Armor in The Magic Flute. He later performed as Daniel Buchanan in the UNT production of Kurt Weill's Street Scene. During his time at the University of Houston, he took on notable roles including Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Mr. Erlanson in A Little Night Music, Fracasso in La Finta Semplice, and Jeník in The Bartered Bride. He also had the honor of performing with the UNT A Cappella Choir and the UNT Baroque Orchestra.

In the Houston area, Mr. Bravo is a sought-after performer, regularly collaborating with professional choral ensembles such as the Houston Symphony Chorus, Houston Mercury Singers, Harmonia Stellarum, and Bach Society Houston, both as a chorus member and tenor soloist.

During the summer of 2023, Bravo starred as Nemorino in L’elisir D’amore and Orphée in Orphée Aux Enfers with the prestigious Opera in the Ozarks Program. He also appeared as a featured artist in a segment presented by NBC. Additionally, Bravo performed with the International Lyric Academy in Italy, participating in the Mozart Marathon Event.

Beyond classical music, Jesús is a singer-songwriter and R&B enthusiast and serves as a Worship Director at Christ the King Methodist Church in Huntsville, Texas, where he leads worship and directs the choir.Jesus is thrilled to join Lone Star College-Montgomery and looks forward to contributing to the growth of artists who will inspire society through music.

Dr. Lisa M. Burrell
Violin, Viola
Lisa.M.Burrell@LoneStar.edu

Dr. Lisa Burrell is on the music faculty of Lone Star College in Houston, Texas. She is a violinist, violist, string clinician, and a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner®. She is on the summer faculty of the Wyoming Seminary Summer Music Festival and the Five Seasons Chamber Music Festival. In addition to teaching privately and performing, she is a regular clinician in the Houston public schools, college and university music programs, and teacher in-services, emphasizing pedagogy that promotes healthy playing through movement-based learning.

She has given over 200 clinics nationally and internationally, including presentations at the American String Teachers Association Conference (2010, 2011), Texas Music Educators Association (2011, 2019), The Midwest Clinic (2010), ISSE Chicago Feldenkrais Training (2016), ISSE San Francisco Feldenkrais Training (2017), Symposium on Feldenkrais in the Performing Arts (2016) in London, UK, the International Arts in Society Conference (2017) in Paris, France, and the ISME World Music Education Conference (2018) in Baku, Azerbaijan, where she received of one of 10 World Conference Awards.

Dr. Burrell is a graduate of the University of Virginia (BA), Northern Illinois University (MM), and the University of Houston (DMA). She completed a four-year, 800-hour Feldenkrais training in 2013 through Institute for the Study of Somatic Education. As a practitioner, she sees professional musician clients and offers workshops to prevent and overcome injuries/difficulties associated with neurological issues, repetitive strain, and performance anxiety.

As an active writer and blogger, Dr. Burrell is interested in sharing her teaching experience and research with the wider community of educators, musicians, and practitioners working with musicians and injury. She has recently published in the Journal for the Feldenkrais Guild of North America (2015), and will be featured in a new book The Feldenkrais Method in Creative Practice: Dance, Theatre, and Music to be released through Oxford University Press (pending), London 2019. Her blog can be found at lisaburrellviolin.wordpress.com.

Jennifer Dennison Daniels
Clarinet
Jennifer.Dennison@LoneStar.edu

Clarinetist Jennifer Dennison is celebrating her seventh year with Lone Star College. 
She has also served as Principal Clarinet and Executive Director of the The Houston Heights Orchestra since 2011. A native Houstonian, she is well-integrated into the rich culture of the Houston Arts scene, regularly performing with many local music and arts organizations including HHO, ECHO (The Energy Corridor of Houston Orchestra), and Scirocco Winds, a woodwind quintet specializing in educational programming in public schools.  

Though she has spent the bulk of her career in her hometown, she did manage to break away briefly from the Lone Star State, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio in 2005.  She then earned her Master of Music degree at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music in 2009, where she premiered the Ruberg Clarinet Concerto on Dudley Concert Hall’s stage, and in 2013, completed coursework for her Doctor of Musical Arts degree. While at the Moores School, Ms. Dennison had the opportunity to perform with AURA, The Moores School’s contemporary music performing ensemble, contemporary music being both a passion and a specialty of hers. In 2008, she won third prize in the Ruth Burr Competition for local musicians. She is quite at ease as a soloist, performing as such with The Houston Heights Orchestra frequently, and has performed recitals on many different stages. Also, an active teacher and clinician, Ms. Dennison has a flourishing private studio and has been woodwind faculty at Lone Star College-Montgomery in Conroe, TX since 2013.

Eric Estrada Valadez
Composition
eric.estradavaladez@lonestar.edu

The music of Eric Estrada Valadez has been performed in Korea, México, Canada, USA, and Germany, and has received numerous awards, like the Arturo Márquez Composition Award (2019), the International Composers Competition New Symphony Vienna (2020), the National Composition Competition for Percussion Quartet SAFA (2019), and MUSIQA's Emergent Composer's Competition (2022). He has been the recipient of grants from the Young Creators Program of the Fine Arts Institute of México (2021), and the Institute of Fine Arts-Conacyt (2022). In his works, Eric blends different music genres, such as rock, jazz, and Latino music, with contemporary composition, and explores the relationship between language, cultural identity, and music. Commissions have come from organizations and individuals like MUSIQA, México’s National Endowment for the Arts, Cynthia Woods Mitchel Center for the Arts, the Public Arts University of Houston System, Aura Contemporary Ensemble, Texas New Music Festival, and KISA International Music Composition Program. He holds a bachelor and master’s degrees in the field of composition by the National Autonomous University of México (UNAM) and is currently pursuing a fully funded Doctoral Degree in composition at the University of Houston Moores School of Music with Rob Smith.

 

Eduard Gavril
Class Piano
Eduard.Gavril@LoneStar.edu

Eduard Alexandru Gavril is a Romanian pianist, improviser, composer, and educator. He proves to be a versatile musician, by approaching classical repertoire, jazz, and electronic music with constant enthusiasm, both as a performer and as a composer. Eduard is also an active soloist and collaborative artist, with a significant number of events that he was featured in.

Eduard began studying piano at the age of five at the Vocational Art School in his hometown of Tirgu-Mures in Romania. He continued his studies at the “Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca from where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance in 2015. After graduating, Eduard moved to the United States, earning his master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from Sam Houston State University, Texas in 2018. He earned a second master’s degree in Piano Performance from University of California, Irvine in 2020 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at University of Houston.

The son of professional musicians, Eduard made his solo debut at the age of twelve performing with the Tirgu-Mures National Orchestra. Eduard’s affinity for piano concertos resulted in him winning all the concerto competitions from the schools he attended: First Prize in the SHSU Concerto Competition in 2016, First Prize in the UCI Concerto Competition in 2019, and both Grand Prize and Audience Prize at University of Houston Concerto Competition in 2020. As a result, Eduard appeared as a soloist with orchestras in subsequent performances, including a concert in the prestigious Barclay Theater in Irvine, California. He is also the winner of top prizes at important competitions in Romania and the United States. In 2016 he earned second prize in the SHSU Art Song Competition. As part of his ClassMates Piano Duo, the group was awarded top prizes at the prestigious United States International Duo Piano Competition in Colorado Springs in 2017 and 2018. Since a very early age, Eduard developed a strong interest for improvisation, performing for numerous events and festivals including the Transylvania International Music and Art Festival, Transylvania International Film Festival, RestArt Jazz Festival, Electric Castle Festival to name a few.

As an educator, Eduard has been sharing his knowledge and experience with students of all ages, backgrounds, and levels. He developed a unique teaching philosophy by combining elements from his own educational background, with mainstream methods and elements from the Taubman and Alexander traditions. Besides his professional involvement with various music academies in Texas and California, he also held an adjunct faculty position at Sam Houston State University until 2018 and is currently an adjunct professor at Lone Star College Montgomery in Texas.

In addition to his musical activities, Eduard is also passionate about photography, videography, animations, traveling, and exploring nature.

Ærin Gray
Composition, Theory
Aerin.C.Gray@lonestar.edu

Ærin Gray is an active composer, arranger, percussionist, vocalist, and and music educator in the greater Houston area. He regularly composes and produces programs for pageantry arts (marching band, winter percussion, winter color guard) programs all over the country. Ærin holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in music composition and theory from Sam Houston State University. He studied under Drs. Kyle Kindred and Brian Herrington. He was the recipient of the Fisher Tull Student Composition award in 2019 for his percussion trio Shakr Hmn.

Ærin has recorded drum set, percussion, and vocals for several rock and country records. Mostly recently, Ærin recorded Make it Through with the band Zero Detail from Houston. Other recording credits include Let ‘Er Buck by Jack Nelson and The Joe Burlison’s Uptown Jazz Christmas album from 2017.

Ærin is a fierce advocate for equity and equality, especially in the classroom. He is a member of the Safe Zone team and a facilitator for Safe Zone training at Lone Star - Montgomery

Dr. Jackson Guillen
Creekside Civic Orchestra
Jackson.Guillen@lonestar.edu

Honduran violinist and violist Jackson Guillen has performed in venues in USA, Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, and Chile, and has toured across Latin-America with the Orchestra of the Americas. He has served as Principal Second Violin of the Gulf Coast Symphony, Lubbock Symphony, and the Symphony of Southeast Texas, and as guest concertmaster of the Shreveport Symphony. An avid chamber musician, Jackson completed a two-year Fellowship with Da Camera of Houston and was recently selected to be a part of the Future of Music Faculty Fellowship with the Cleveland Institute of Music. He also performs regularly with Mercury Chamber Orchestra, Musiqa Houston and the Terra Nostra Ensemble. Dr. Guillen also plays an important role in the organization of the Encuentro de Cuerdas, a string-focused festival in Honduras. Jackson was also a member of the first generation of the OA’s Global Leaders participating in missions in Honduras, El Salvador, and Chicago. Dr. Guillen has also been in the faculty of the International Music Festival in Medellin, Colombia, The International Music Festival in Naolinco, Mexico, and as regular guest artist of the Victoria-Bach Festival. Jackson currently serves as Director of the CODA Music Program and Conductor of the Debut String Orchestra of the Houston Youth Symphony. Additionally, Dr. Guillen has a position as professor of violin, viola, and conducts the Creekside Civic Chamber Orchestra.

The Creekside Civic Orchestra is a joint partnership between the music departments at LSC-Montgomery and LSC-Tomball. It is open to all LSC students and musicians in the community. It meets on Mondays from 6:30-9:05pm at the LSC-Creekside Center. Please contact Lisa.R.Morales@lonestar.edu if you are interested in participating in this ensemble.

Larysa Horichenko-Balema
Cello
Larysa.Horichenko-Balema@lonestar.edu

Larysa Horichenko-Balema is a Ukrainian professional cellist who graduated from Lviv National Music Academy named by M. Lysenko in 2003 and has MD in Art. In 2006 she graduated from Khmelnytskyi Pedagogical Institute and received a master’s degree in Pedagogy. During that period, she took part in many competitions and festivals and performed as a soloist with orchestras. 

Her professional career in Ukraine has included work with many Ukrainian composers and she was the first interpreter of some music. The most well-known composers with whom she was connected are Yuri Laniuk (the cello professor), Myroslav Skoryk, Arvo Pärt, and Toto Cutugno. During her orchestra career, she worked with European well-known conductors such as Mykola Balema, Volodymyr Sirenko, Michael Scherbakov, Woytec Mrozek, Saulus Sondeckis, Roman Rewakowicz, and others.

In Ukraine, till 2017 Lara worked as a professor of cello class, taught music theory and reading of orchestra scores, and chamber ensembles; was on a jury team of some youth competitions; and published some science articles. Since 2018 she has performed in Europe, Turkey, and Middle Eastern countries with different chamber ensembles, groups, bands and show orchestras. 

Lara moved to the USA in October 2022 because of the war in Ukraine to start a new life and help her family and people as much as she can. She continues performing and teaching.

Garrett Hudson
Flute
Garrett.M.Hudson@gmail.com

Recognized by the Winnipeg Free Press for “shaking up the classical music world”, Garrett Hudson is known for his charismatic stage presence and highly personal voice on the flute. He is a founding member of WindSync. His roots lie in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he emerged at the age of 16 in a solo debut with the Winnipeg Symphony. 

Before embarking upon a dynamic career as an international soloist, instructor, orchestral and chamber musician, Hudson held positions in North America's leading professional training orchestras including the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie in Montreal, Quebec, and he participated in the world-class Young Artists Program through Ottawa's National Arts Center. 

Hudson completed a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia, studying under Scottish flutist Lorna McGhee and earned his Master of Music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music under the tutelage of renowned flute pedagogue Leone Buyse. 

A sensitive communicator both on stage and off, Hudson has coached woodwind students at the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Texas. He lives in Houston, Texas, where he maintains a teaching studio at the beginner through professional levels and currently serves on the faculty of Lone Star College. He is often found behind the wheel of the minivan while WindSync is on tour and is a coffee and wine enthusiast.

Kelly Kaduce
Voice
Kelly.KaduceGregory@LoneStar.edu

Kelly Kaduce is an American soprano, born in Winnebago, Minnesota, United States of America. A graduate of St. Olaf College and Boston University (where she studied under Penelope Bitzas), Kaduce won the 1999 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Since her debut in 2000, she has appeared in national and international opera houses (e.g., New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis).

Kaduce sang the title role of Anna Karenina in the world premiere of the David Carlson opera in 2007 (Florida Grand Opera and Opera Theater of St. Louis), directed by Colin Graham. She also starred in the world premiere production of Ian Gordon's The Grapes of Wrath (Minnesota Opera), Bright Sheng's Madame Mao (Santa Fe Opera debut in 2003), and the American premieres of Tan Dun's Tea: A Mirror of Soul (Santa Fe Opera) and Michael Berkeley's Jane Eyre (Opera Theater of St. Louis). She created the role of Caroline Gaines in Richard Danielpour's Margaret Garner in Detroit. Kaduce has also appeared as Mimi in Baz Luhrmann's Broadway La Boheme in Los Angeles. She opened the Santa Fe Opera 2010 season as Madama Butterfly.

Kaduce's repertoire includes Donna Anna and Donna Elvira (Mozart's Don Giovanni), Violetta (Verdi's La Traviata), Mimi and Musetta (Puccini's La Boheme), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Wendy Torrance (The Shining), Juliette (Gounod's Romeo et Juliette), the title roles in Suor Angelica, Rusalka, Susannah, Jenufa, Thais, and Richard Strauss's Salome. Her concert repertoire includes Samuel Barber's Prayers of Kierkegaard, Alban Berg's Seven Early Songs, Richard Strauss's Vier letzte Lieder, and Benjamin Britten's War Requiem.

Kaduce is married to baritone Lee Gregory.

Dr. William Koehler
Trumpet, French Horn
William.Koehler@LoneStar.edu

Recently appointed Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Lone Star College Montgomery, Dr.  Will Koehler is an active performer, clinician, and writer currently based in Houston, Texas. Koehler holds studios at some of the best high school music programs in Texas, including The Woodlands, Seven Lakes, and Bridgeland. In 2022 Koehler led student ensembles to the live rounds of the National Trumpet Competition in Boulder Colorado; a first for any student ensemble in Houston. An advocate for new music, Koehler released his premier solo CD “Mocking Midnight” in 2018. The CD was funded by a grant from the Presser Foundation which was awarded to Koehler during his time at Indiana University. In the fall of 2018 Koehler graduated from Indiana University and the Jacobs School of Music with his Doctor of Music Degree.

Recent performance highlights include performing as founding member of Ionic Brass, a quintet focused on new music and educational outreach. Koehler has also been a new works artist at numerous ITG Conferences, most recently in 2023. Being a champion of new music, Koehler gave the world premier of Kindred Spirits for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble by Kimberly Osberg with the Pittsburg State University Wind Ensemble in 2022. Koehler’s teachers include Joey Tartell, Jeff Curnow, Alan Hood, and Dr. Todd Hastings.

Dr. Sergey Kuznetsov
Piano
Sergey.Kuznetsov@LoneStar.edu

 

Sergey Kuznetsov started his musical education at the age of 5 at the Music School affiliated to the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire and in 1998 was admitted to the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire to the class of an outstanding professor Mikail Voskresensky. In 2003 he was awarded his Diploma with High Distinction. In 2002 Sergey received the prestigious Lili Kraus Scholarship at TCU (Fort Worth, TX) and commenced his Artist Diploma studies with Professor Tamás Ungár. After winning a conspicuous scholarship, Sergei was widening his education under the guidance of Joaquín Achúcarro at Dallas Southern Methodist University. Sergei completed his doctoral degree at University of Southern California in Los Angeles under the guidance of a legendary pianist Daniel Pollack. Sergey also studied composition, music industry and electro acoustic media at USC. Sergey has performed extensively throughout the world, both as soloist and chamber musician. Notable events included winning international prizes at China International Piano Competition (Beijing, 2004), Hilton Head International Piano competition (USA, 2003), Caltanissetta International Competition (Italy, 1999), International Piano Competition in Houston, TX (2005). After winning the 3rd China International Piano competition, Sergey has become a frequent performer in China. He has performed as a soloist with Beijing Symphony, Shenzhen Symphony and Taipei Symphony orchestras. He was invited to make studio recording for a young artist program in the Radio & Television (CCTV) in Shenzhen. Sergey also worked as a Teaching Assistant while he was at University of Southern California and organized successful chamber music ensembles and projects at USC. In August 2008 his trio XYZ has toured France and collaborated with a number of famous French musicians.

During his studies in the United States, Sergey has always enjoyed teaching and advocating classical music amongst various groups of people. In 2003, he organized a series of educational projects in collaboration with Van Cliburn Foundation. With the mission was to bring classical music to children whose parents can't afford education, the project had become so popular in Texas that Sergey had to reach farther and?travel around the state with his lectures and concerts. In 2005-2007 Sergey worked as a Teaching Assistant in Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Several of his students have won national and international prizes that supported their way towards studies in music. Sergey's approach in piano pedagogy is to show his students how great and large the world of music actually is. His knowledge of piano repertoire is very impressive after taking a special advanced piano repertoire course at USC with Stewart Gordon. Sergey Kuznetsov is a founder of the?Bakitone International?project dedicated to classical music competitions, masterclasses, and festivals.

Lance Laster
Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, American Music
Lance.Laster@LoneStar.edu

Born and raised in Houston, TX, Lance Laster is a trombonist and music educator with over a decade of teaching and performing experience.  Lance has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in Trombone Performance from Temple University.

Currently, Lance teaches American Music and Low brass at Lone Star College Montgomery and San Jacinto College Central. In addition to that, Lance maintains a large private studio of low brass students in the Houston area. 

Lance is also active in the Houston music scene.  Lance plays in the Texas Medical Center Orchestra, The Houston Brass Band and Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra. He has also performed at Jones Hall with the Houston Symphony, Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, PA, Lincoln Center in New York City, the Free Press Music Festival, and the South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in Austin, TX.

Heath Martin
Voice, Fundamentals of Music
Heath.Martin@LoneStar.edu

A native to the Spring/Woodlands area, Heath Martin joined the Lone Star College – Montgomery faculty in the spring of 2019. Over the course of his time here, he has taught Fundamentals of Music, Music Appreciation, Class Voice, and Private Voice Lessons. He recently joined the SHSU music faculty in the fall of 2021 and teaches English/Italian Diction, German Diction, Opera Workshop, and Private Voice Lessons.

A Bearkat alumnus, Heath studied voice with Christopher Michel and graduated with a B.M. in vocal performance. He received his M.M. in vocal performance from the University of Houston. There, he studied voice with Hector Vasquez and opera performance under the direction of Buck Ross. Since 2015, Mr. Martin has been performing professionally with young artist programs and opera companies throughout the United States. He had the privilege of attending the Aspen Summer Music Festival in 2018 as a young artist in the Aspen Opera program where he studied voice with renowned pedagogue Dr. Stephen King and performed under the direction of the late Ed Berkeley. From 2017-2018, Heath was a young artist with Opera Colorado in Denver, CO and performed many small roles in their opera productions. He has also been employed by Houston Grand Opera since 2012, performing in many of their operas as a chorister and soloist and collaborating with HGOco as a concert soloist and touring performer.

Heath shares his passion as a performer with that of being a music educator. He began teaching voice in 2012 at Tomball-Memorial High School and later, at Klein Oak High School in 2016. At the Aspen Music Festival, he also served as a teaching artist and taught several voice students in the affiliated music school.

Dr. Alejandro Montiel
Guitar
Alejandro.A.Montiel@LoneStar.edu

Since beginning his classical guitar studies in 1993, Dr. Alejandro Montiel has performed throughout the US and Italy. He holds graduate degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Texas where he studied with Julian Gray and Adam Holzman, respectively. Additionally, Alejandro has performed in numerous master classes with the world’s greatest players and pedagogues which include David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Elliot Fisk, Ricardo Cobo, Lukasz Kuropaczewski and many more. Acclaimed duo SoloDuo (Lorenzo Michelli & Matteo Mela) describe Alejandro’s playing as “beautiful” and Pepe Romero noted that Alejandro “understands music very well.” Dr. Montiel also received further musical instruction from worldrenowned musicians, including baritone John ShirleyQuirk, cellist Nina Kotova, and the acclaimed Miró Quartet.

In 2006 and 2007, Alejandro was a finalist in the Texas Guitar Competition & Festival. Also in 2006, his guitar quartet claimed first prize with "special merit" in the Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Festival and Competition. Besides serving on the faculty of the annual "Classical Minds" Guitar Festival in

Houston, Dr. Montiel leads a full-time guitar studio at Sam Houston State University. More recently he premiered "Drakesville Ballad,” a new work for violin and guitar by Texas-based composer Brian P. Herrington. Alejandro also performs as a founding member of the critically acclaimed Texas Guitar Quartet.

Dr. Karen Rees
Class Voice, Voice
Karen.Rees@LoneStar.edu
 

Dr. Karen Rees originally from Alberta, Canada, has performed with Edmonton Opera, Calgary Opera, the Red Deer Symphony, the Lethbridge Symphony, Chicago Symphony of The Shores, and the Victoria Symphony. Operatic credits include Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte), The Dew Fairy and Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), Edith (Pirates of Penzance); Cunegonde (Candide) and Miss Silverpeal (The Impresario).

Recently, Dr. Rees was the alto soloist with The Woodlands Chorale 2023 for Handel’s Messiah. She holds a Doctor of Music degree in voice performance from Northwestern University (Illinois), a Graduate Diploma in Opera Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada), a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Calgary (Canada), and a Bachelor of Education degree with an emphasis on high school choral music education from the University of Lethbridge (Canada). Dr. Rees has been an Adjunct Lecturer and Voice Professor at Lonestar College-Montgomery since 2019. Previously, Dr. Rees has held the positions of Musical Theatre Lecturer and Voice Instructor at SHSU (Huntsville, TX), Voice Program Lead, and Children’s Choral Program Director at Keyano College (Alberta).

As a voice professor, Dr. Rees offers students a safe, nurturing learning environment to explore authentic sound, build vocal technique and enhance performance skills. Dr. Rees encourages students to step outside of their vocal comfort zones by experiencing all genres of music. She is excited to engage students in a musical learning experience that builds foundational understanding and unity between the body, the brain and the singer’s unique sense of creative expression.

Eric Ruyle
American Music
Eric.J.Ruyle@LoneStar.edu

Eric Ruyle earned a bachelor’s in jazz studies from McNeese State University, received a master’s degree from Youngstown State University in Woodwind Specialist, and did graduate work in Ethnomusicology at Kent State. He has performed in Mexico, Canada, Europe, and throughout the United States. A top call, Eric has worked with a wide variety of internationally known artists. His articles have been in such national journals as Instrumentalist and Flute Talk. While teaching for over twenty years, he has been with Lonestar College System for the past five years.

Priscilla Salisbury
Diction for Singers, Voice
Priscilla.Salisbury@LoneStar.edu

A native of Mexico, Priscilla Salisbury has been sweeping the nation with her shimmering voice and stage presence. She has performed the roles of Zerlina, Don Giovanni, Cupid, Orpheus in The Underworld, Carmela, The Saint of Bleecker Street, Zerbinetta, Ariadne auf Naxos, Constance, Dialogues des Carmelites. Opera premieres include, Mrs. O'Malley, It's a Wonderful Life (Houston Grand Opera), Francine, Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers, (Houston Grand Opera), Lucinda, Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena, (Opera in the Heights), Cinderella, Cinderella in Spain (Seattle Opera) and Kenzie, Earth to Kenzie (Seattle Opera). At the start of 2022, Ms. Salisbury performed the role of Casilda in The Gondoliers (Winter Opera St. Louis).

As a teenager, Salisbury's career flourished in a televised competition called Objetivo Fama in Puerto Rico. She received recognition for her solo work from the Mayor and Governor of Puerto Rico. Some of her television appearances include Despierta America and Noticias Univision. She has performed at the Latin Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony honoring Angélica María and Vikki Carr, amongst others. 

Salisbury holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from The Moores School of Music at The University of Houston and a minor in Italian Studies. She holds a master’s degree in Opera Performance from the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin. In addition, she received a Master's in Sacred Music from the University of St Thomas.

Her awards include winner of the Houston Masterworks Competition, winner of a couple NATS Classical Adult Division. She is the recipient of "The Encouragement Award" from The Seattle Opera Guild Competition and The Ugo di Portanova Scholarship, a summer study in Italy.

Aaron Vierkant
Voice
Aaron.M.Vierkant@lonestar.edu

Aaron Vierkant is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Lone Star College-Montgomery, where he teaches online courses in Appreciating Music and American Music. In addition to his duties at Lone Star College, Vierkant also serves as the Director of Choirs at Klein Forest High School, as well as an Adjunct Professor of Music at Blinn College and College of the Mainland, teaching courses in Appreciating Music, Music Literature, and History of Rock n’ Roll. Prior to joining the faculty at Klein Forest, Vierkant spent 4 years working at Magnolia West High School, where he served as the Assistant Choir Director & Fine Arts Department Chair.

Vierkant is a frequent choral clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor. In addition to his career as a conductor, Vierkant often sings with professional choirs around the Greater Houston area, and performs as a featured tenor soloist. His most recent singing positions have been with the Houston Men’s Choir, Texas Master Chorale, and performing as the tenor soloist in The Woodlands Chorale production of Handel’s Messiah.

Aaron Vierkant completed his Bachelor of Choral Music Education degree at Sam Houston State University, and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting degree at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he studied conducting with Dr. Elisa Fraser Wilson.

Amanda Waites
Voice, American Music
Amanda.N.Waites@LoneStar.edu

Amanda N. Waites is a professional singer and voice teacher with over 25 years of experience in the musical arts. Her roots are Cajun, and her soul is southern, born and raised in south Louisiana. She is a faculty member at Sam Houston State University in the Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre, serves as voice faculty for Lone Star College-Montgomery Music Department and sings in local and regional venues along the Gulf Coast. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Loyola University and a Master of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Tulane University. 

Mrs. Waites is an accomplished performer in many styles including classical, musical theatre, jazz, rhythm and blues, and pop/rock. She is a founding member for the jazz vocal trio Swing Set. She is enthusiastic about the origins and roots of American speech, linguistics, singing traditions and their influence in vocal music. With this research, she has collaborated with such artists as blues pioneer Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and renowned New Orleans pianist Ronnie Kole. Mrs. Waites is a sought-after vocalist for recording studio projects. In 2015, Amanda was the featured vocalist on the debut gospel album titled “Journey Back” by composer/arranger Travis Tuer. Critic Justin Kreitzer of REVIEWYOU called her singing “soulful with powerful vocal delivery…like a 70s disco diva.” She has studied with/performed for distinguished musicians and entertainers in the music world including Bobby McFerrin, Seiji Ozawa, and Bob Hope. 

As a teacher, Amanda’s students have enjoyed remarkable success in major music schools around the country, Off-Broadway productions, Broadway National Tours, Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions, The Voice and even as a finalist in American Idol. Her students win National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions and receive high marks at annual All State auditions. She is an active member and has served on the board as a Vice President for the Greater Houston NATS chapter. Currently, Amanda is engaged with The Woodlands Methodist Church for Gospel Hour with Spiritwind Band.

Dr. Marshall Davies
Staff Accompanist
Marshall.N.Davies@LoneStar.edu

DMA in Performance and Literature (Piano), Eastman School of Music, 1996
M.M. in Performance and Literature (Piano), Eastman School of Music, 1992
B.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Brigham Young University, 1990

Pianist and vocal coach Dr. Marshall Davies is based in the Houston area, and currently serves as a staff accompanist at LSC-Montgomery, LSC-University Park, and Prairie View A&M University, and also serves as a regular pianist at the Houston Ballet Academy. In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Davies also serves as Music Director for Plymouth United Church, UCC, and as a pianist for Resurrection Lutheran Church.

Dr. Yu-Hsuan Yang
Piano
Yu-Hsuan.Yang@LoneStar.edu

Dr. Yu-Hsuan Yang is a native of Taiwan who has established herself as an accomplished musician and educator. After earning the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music from National Taiwan Normal University, she came to the United States and gained Patricia Joy Arden Scholarship Fund and completed her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance with Dr. Louis Nagel from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. She then continued to pursue her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and studied with Prof. Alexander Braginsky from the University of Minnesota, where she received both Mann Fellowship and Teaching Assistantship.

Throughout her career, Dr. Yang has achieved numerous accolades for her exceptional piano skills. She won several piano competitions and was invited to perform in concerts such as the Steinway Peace Piano Concert, the Schubert Club Concert Series, Vespers Concert Series, Musicians in Recital, and Guest Artist Recital at Kellogg Community College. She also performed in recitals with harpist Prof. Chen-Yu Huang, flutist Prof. Gözde Çakir Ramsey, and pianist Prof. Wendy Chu. Many of the students she worked with won top prizes in MTNA national competition, Kenwood Concerto Competition, Michigan Youth Artist Festival Competition, White Lake Solo Competition, and National Flute Association.

Before relocating to Texas, Dr. Yang worked as a staff collaborative pianist at Central Michigan University, where she accompanied CMU Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, student recitals and competitions. She also formed a piano duo with Taiwanese pianist Dr. Wendy Chu and had performed extensively in concerts each year. In addition to performing, she also taught in her piano studio, Yinghua Chinese Immersion Charter Public School in Minnesota, and the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan.

Dr. Yang is an active member of several music organizations, including MTNA, TMTA, and HMTA. Currently, she is a staff accompanist at Lone Star College-Montgomery, an adjunct professor at College of the Mainland, and a piano instructor at Institute of Chinese Culture. Besides, she maintains a private piano studio where she continues to inspire and educate students of all ages and skill levels.