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)
- Dr. Yiwen Zhang (Senior)
- Brianna Eddy** (Associate)
- Islei M Correa Hammer**(Associate)
- Dr. Amy Simpson ** (Associate)
- McKenna Lee ** (Associate)
* NCTM designates "Nationally Certified Teacher of Music"
** designates a newly hired instructor through the program
GUITAR
GUITAR
- Judith Hudnall (Senior)
STRINGS
VIOLIN
- Catherine Baker (Artist)
- Sara Beattie (Senior)
- Shaun Hancher (Associate)
VIOLA
- Dr. Gabrielle Padilla
- Catherine Baker (Artist)
- Sara Beattie (Senior)
CELLO
- Mary Morrison, NCTM (Artist)
- Sara Beattie (Senior)
DOUBLE BASS
- Zachary Fanok (Associate) - bluegrass
WOODWINDS
- Dr. Eftihia Arkoudis (Artist)
- Dr. Alyssa Schwartz (Senior)
- Sammy Holloman (Associate)
- Chloe Upshaw (Associate)
- Jeanne Frieben (Artist)
SAXOPHONE
- Patrick Smith (Associate)
BASSOON
- Dana Brink ** (Associate)
** designates a newly hired instructor through the program
BRASS
TRUMPET
- Jonah Henthorne (Associate)
- McKenna Lee ** (Associate)
- Joe Boulos ** (Associate)
HARP
-
Prof. Christine Mazza (WVU Faculty/Artist)
VOICE
- Laura Knoop Very (WVU)
- Janis-Rozena Peri (Artist)
- Dr. Samuel Spears (Senior)
- Blythe Walker** (Associate)
- Gayle Oberacker**(Associate)
** designates a newly hired instructor through the program
WVU FACULTY
- Emily Lambert, MT-BC , Music Therapy
- Dr. Andrew Kohn, Double bass
- Dr. Gabrielle Padilla, Viola
- Christine Mazza, Harp
-
Dr. Matthew Heap, Composition
-
Nina Assimakopoulos, Flute
- Dr. Jared Sims, Director of Jazz Studies
-
Dr. Jeff Siegfried, Saxophone
- Dr. Hope Koehler, Voice
- Laura Knoop Very, Voice
MUSIC THERAPY
THEORY & RCM EXAMS
- Dr. Yiwen Zhang (aural theory)
- Dana Brink (written theory)
IMPROVISATION
- Ryan Kerwin (Associate)
SONGWRITING
- Peter Crescimanno ** (Associate)
JAZZ INSTRUCTION
- Jonah Henthorne (Percussion)
- Ryan Kerwin (Trumpet, Improvisation)
-
Patrick Smith (Saxophone)
SMALL/LARGE ENSEMBLES
- Dr. Alyssa Schwartz, Director of Morgantown Community Orchestra
- Shaun Hancher, Assistant Director of Morgantown Community Orchestra
- Gayle Oberacker, Director of Minisingers/Children's Choir
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 (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3), More
- Prof. Christine Mazza, Harp On It!, More
-
Brianna Eddy, Piano for Tiny Musicians, More
- Christine Gossett**, Early Childhood Music, 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.