Faculty & Staff
OUR MUSIC TEACHERS
All teachers have completed certification in the understanding of dealing with
minors, through the "WVU Protect Our Children" training program.
PIANO
- Dr. Eftihia Arkoudis (Artist)
- Dr. Hooi Yin Boey (Artist)
- Mary Morisson, NCTM (Artist)
- Catherine Baker (Artist)
- Brittany Blair (Artist)
- Dr. Yiwen Zhang (Senior)
- Dr. Amy Simpson* (Senior)
- McKenna Lee (Senior)
- Kimmy Lin** (Associate)
- Myer Tessalee** (Associate)
* NCTM designates "Nationally Certified Teacher of Music"
** designates a newly hired instructor through the program
VIOLA
- Catherine Baker (Artist)
- Sara Beattie (Senior)
CELLO
- Mary Morrison, NCTM (Artist)
- Sara Beattie (Senior)
DOUBLE BASS
- Zachary Fanok (Associate) - bluegrass
WINDS
- Dr. Eftihia Arkoudis (Artist)
- Chloe Upshaw (Associate) (virtual)
- Jeanne Frieben (Artist)
- Keeheon Nam (Artist)
SAXOPHONE
- Nicky Keefover (Associate)
BASSOON
- Dana Brink **(Associate)
- Dominic Brancazio** (Associate)
** designates a newly hired instructor through the program
BRASS
TRUMPET
- McKenna Lee (Senior)
- Andrew Simonette**(Associate)
HARP
-
Prof. Christine Mazza (WVU Faculty/Artist)
- Brittany Blair (Artist)
VOICE
- Laura Knoop Very (WVU)
- Dr. Samuel Spears (Senior)
- Gayle Oberacker**(Associate)
** designates a newly hired instructor through the program
WVU FACULTY
- Dr. Erin Ellis, Cello
- Emily Lambert, MT-BC , Music Therapy
- Dr. Andrew Kohn, Double bass
- Christine Mazza, Harp
- Nina Assimakopoulos, Flute
- Dr. Jeff Siegfried, Saxophone
- Laura Knoop Very, Voice
MUSIC THERAPY
SUZUKI CELLO PROGRAM
- Dr. Erin Ellis, Cello
THEORY & RCM EXAMS
- Dana Brink (written theory)
IMPROVISATION
- Tyler Evans (Associate)
SONGWRITING
- Peter Crescimanno ** (Associate)
JAZZ COMBO
- Nicky Keefover
SMALL/LARGE ENSEMBLES
- Peter Lewis, Director of Morgantown Community Orchestra
- TBD, Director of Children's Choir
- Olivia Nixon, Director of Brass Band
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- Gabrielle Merandi, Meditation & Breathwork with Gabrielle!
- Dr. William Koehler, Tai Chi Thursdays with William
GROUP CLASSES
- Dr. David Bess, Digital Photography, More
- Dr. Hooi Yin Bin, Piano for Fun for Adults (Level 2-4)), More
- Kimmy Lin, Piano for Fun for Adults (Level 1), More
- Prof. Christine Mazza, Harp On It!, More
-
Brittany Blair, Piano for Tiny Musicians, More
- Christine Gossett, Early Childhood Music, More
- Myer Tessalee, Early Childhood Music (Summer), More
LEVELS
WVU Music Faculty
Includes full-time music faculty of the WVU School of Music. A patron should expect to work with distinguished faculty who provide prospective students the opportunity to fully develop their musical abilities. Community members and young talent dedicated to advancing their skills are welcome. Committed high-school students who wish to master their craft further and are considering pursuing an undergraduate degree in music performance or music education, are encouraged to join our program at this level for their pre-college training.
Artist Teachers
Includes part-time faculty of the School of Music, and our most outstanding and successful community music program teachers. At this level, a patron should expect to work with professional musicians and experienced teachers who often hold a doctoral degree in their specialty and have established careers on a national and international level. Teachers in this category have been working through our program for a few years and have become an artist teacher by demonstrating continuous growth in their field, student retention rates and studio growth, student distinctions in competitions and masterclasses, student participation in program-sponsored activities, as well as skills of leadership, entrepreneurship, recruitment, and volunteerism.
Senior Teachers
At this level, a patron should expect to work with professional musicians and experienced teachers of the community music program, who have advanced professional training and a record of accomplishments in their field of specialty. They often hold a master's or doctoral degree or are working towards the completion of a doctoral degree. Teachers in this category have been working through our program for at least a year. They have become a senior teacher by demonstrating continuous growth in their field, student retention rates and studio growth, student distinctions in competitions and masterclasses, student participation in program-sponsored activities, as well as skills of leadership, entrepreneurship, recruitment, and volunteerism.
Associate Teachers
At this level, a patron should expect to work with our ‘newly-hired’ outstanding performers and teachers, who often have significant experience in their specialty and hold a master’s or a doctoral degree (see senior and artist levels for details). Teachers in this category are also passionate and talented music students working towards their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. A number of the emerging professionals in this category hold a graduate assistantship through the WVU School of Music, training to become the leaders and teachers of the next generation.