Philip Andrews
Percussion
Philip holds a Master's in Percussion from the College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor's in Percussion from the Hartt School of Music. He offers lessons in everything from drum set to concert percussion, including timpani, mallet percussion, and battery percussion. When he is not teaching, Philip maintains an active performance schedule playing percussion and drums for various local orchestras and musical theater productions, as well as steel drums for the Jimmy Buffett tribute show, Changes in Latitudes. Philip is the founder, manager, and main performer for his own steel drum group, Steel Accent Steelband.
Stephan Arsenault
Double Bass | Electric Bass
Stephan earned a bachelor's degree in music at Berklee College of Music, bachelor's degree in computer science at Fitchburg State University, and master's degree in computer science at Boston University. He has played bass with the Artie Barsamian Big Band and Swingtet, Winiker Swing Orchestra, Symphony Pro Musica, Central Mass Jazz Orchestra, Leominster Colonial Band, Ashby Band, and the Ramblin Floyds. Currently, Stephan is a member of the Hal McIntyre Orchestra, the Itchy Feet Jazz Nonet, and the Fitchburg State Community Orchestra. He plays bass in pit orchestras for musical theater productions and is Music Director for the Ashby First Parish Church.
Jane Fiske
Piano
Jane Fiske, Professor of Humanities (Music) at Fitchburg State and former Humanities Department Chair and Interim Dean of the Division of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in music education from Boston University and Master’s and Bachelor degrees in piano performance from New England Conservatory of Music. She studied with Maria Clodes Jaguaribe, Gabriel Chodos, and Maria Bono, and performed as recitalist throughout New England and as principal soloist with Indian Hill Symphony Orchestra, Salem Philharmonic Orchestra, Marlboro Symphony Orchestra, and Thayer Symphony Orchestra as winner of the Concerto Competition. Her CDs feature music by Scarlatti, Clara and Robert Schumann, Brahms, Villa-Lobos, Messiaen, Chopin and Debussy. She received the Vincent J. Mara Award for Excellence in Teaching at Fitchburg State.
Alex Fowler
Cello
Alex Fowler holds a B.A. in Cello Performance from Virginia Tech and an M.M. and G.D. from New England Conservatory. Alex has taught cello and coached ensembles at Virginia Tech Project, Jefferson Center in Virginia, Roanoke Symphony Summer Music Institute, Palaver Strings Music Center of Maine, NEC Preparatory School and Boston Bridge Charter School. He has performed with Boston Chamber Symphony, Phoenix Orchestra, Palaver Strings and Fermata Chamber Music Series. For his performances on BSO’s What I Hear series, Alex was awarded NEC’s 2019 John Cage Award for Performance in New Music.
Kristin Halliday
Voice
Kristin Halliday, soprano, has been teaching voice for 17 years. Recipients of Helen Hayes and Wammies nominations, Cappies Awards including Best Vocalist, and 1st Place in the NAACP Act-SO and Golden Voices of America Competitions, her students have performed on and off BROADWAY, at the Kennedy Center, Ford's Theatre, Arena Stage, and Carnegie Hall. Recognized by Maestro William Yannuzzi for her "exceptionally moving interpretation of almost all kinds of music." Kristin has been a featured soloist in Germany and Iceland, and won the Rosa Ponselle and Gretchen Hood Vocal Competitions.
David Hines
Bass Guitar | Piano | Guitar | Ukulele
David Hines studied music composition at Berklee College, piano and music theory at The Manhattan School of Music. He studied bass and composition with jazz legend, Stanley Clarke. He performed at Acton Jazz Cafe, Scullers, Johnny D's, Ryles, Spirit of Boston Cruises, and in house band at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. Currently, he performs in David Hines Band and David Hines Trio, and tours nationally with The Peacheaters Band. He recorded and performed with Steve Hunt, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Michaud, Utar Artun, David Fiuczynski, Frank Tiberi, Miles Donahue, Fred Hirsch, Pete McCann, Joel Taylor, Steve Kirby, Bill Vint, Prasanna, and Pamela Hines. He recorded, composed, and co-produced internationally successful solo fusion project albums, Nebula, InnerDuality, and Kaleidoscope. Three of his bass students received the Luis Armstrong Award from The Juilliard College in New York.
Pamela Hines
Piano
Jazz pianist Pamela Hines received her Master's in Jazz from New England Conservatory. Her debut CD in 1998 earned her a guest spot on Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland in 2000. She has performed at clubs in New York, Boston and many other east coast venues. Three of her trio CDs have reached the top-20 national radio charts. Hines has been the host of Live Jazz New England, on 90.5-WICN, since October, 2012. She has worked with many jazz greats including Jerry Bergonzi, John Lockwood and Yoron Israel.
Roy Imperio
Piano
Born in the Philippines, Roy Imperio earned music degrees from the University of the Philippines and Andrews University and has taken master classes with Menahem Pressler at Indiana University. A dedicated piano teacher for more than three decades and a versatile pianist, he performs locally and internationally as a soloist, accompanist, collaborative pianist, and chamber musician. He has released two CDs: Music of Frederic Chopin: A Life of Passion and Holiday Music in New England with The Bulfinch Players. He is Director of Music at the Faith United Parish in Fitchburg and collaborative pianist at Boston Conservatory.
Elizabeth Jacoby
Violin
Elizabeth Jacoby earned a Master of Music from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Music from State University of New York at Fredonia. She performed in Western New York Chamber Orchestra, Rappahannock Pops Orchestra, Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, and Fredericksburg String Quartet. She has taught elementary and middle school orchestras in New Jersey and Virginia. Currently, she teaches music at the Alan McCulloch Strings Program in Leominster and at Messiah Lutheran Preschool, and she plays violin in the Fitchburg State Community Orchestra.
Matthew Kim
Saxophone | Clarinet | Flute
Matthew Kim earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) with a double major in Music Education and Classics. He earned a master's degree in saxophone performance at the Longy School of Music. He played saxophone in National Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall under the direction of H. Robert Reynolds, Worcester County Light Opera Company, Holy Cross Graduation Band, and Fantasy Big Band in Hopedale. He played flute at After Hours Arts Program in Lynn MA. A Massachusetts Department of Education certified music educator, he has taught master classes, beginning jazz improv, and individual lessons, and he has been a counselor and teacher for middle and high school students at UNH's Summer Youth Music School.
Joe LaRocca
Flute | Piccolo | Pan Flute | Recorder | Clarinet | Saxophone
Joe earned B.M. in saxophone performance from Columbia College in Chicago, M.M in multi-wind performance from Northern Illinois University, and Artist Diploma in flute performance from Longy School of Music. He played tenor sax, flute and clarinet in over 450 performances of the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. Joe is the artistic director of the Bosch Ensemble, a baroque ensemble, and the Excelsis (flute and soprano) Duo. He has performed flute/piccolo in the Du Bois Orchestra, Metropolitan Wind Symphony, The Cape Symphony, Belmont Festival Orchestra, and Boston Chamber Symphony.
photo @ susan wilson
susanwilsonphoto.com
Amy McGlothlin
Saxophone | Clarinet | Bagpipes
Amy holds degrees in saxophone performance from Marshall University, the Longy School of Music and Boston University where she studied with Ed Bingham and Ken Radnofsky. Amy is a multi instrumentalist, teaching saxophone, clarinet, and bagpipes in New England since 2003. Amy is the current Director of Bands at Fitchburg State University and a member of the Pharos Saxophone Quartet, Triage Woodwind Ensemble and Pipe Major of Clan MacPherson Pipes and Drums. Amy is a Rovner Products Ambassador.
Mackenzie Pamies
Voice
Mackenzie earned degrees in vocal performance (B.M. Kent State; M.M. from Western Michigan University), studying with Tim Culver and Rhea Olivaccé. She teaches a variety of music styles, including classical, musical theater, and popular music. Believing that a singer’s instrument not only encompasses their voice but their body and mind as well, she works on breathing, posture, ear training, and musicality. Performance credits include Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) and Mimi (La Boheme) with Western Michigan Opera and Ida (Die Fledermaus), Princess Ida (Princess Ida), and Gisela (Gisela in Her Bathtub) with Kent State Opera. She sang in the opera chorus for the Cleveland Opera Theater. She premiered the role of Annabel in Mondo Novo and covered the Countess (Le nozze di Figaro) for the Vienna Summer Music Program. Mackenzie sings as a soloist and cantor at churches in the greater Worcester area.
Maria Ramey
Flute / Flute Choir
Maria earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in music therapy from California State University Northridge and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She plays principal flute/piccolo in North Worcester County Symphony Orchestra, New England Film Orchestra, Firebird Pops Orchestra, and Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra. Maria performs for weddings, chamber music events, and in pit orchestras for musicals. She conducts and plays contrabass in flute choirs. A flute instructor for 25 years, Maria is a board-certified music therapist in private practice.
Alanna Rantala
Piano
Alanna holds degrees from UC Davis (B.A., Music) and New England Conservatory (M.M., Piano Performance, studied with Leonard Shure). She has performed in several US cities, London and Australia. Her work as a collaborative pianist work include accompanying choirs at Fitchburg State and St. Mary’s College in California. She enjoys composing, and her solo recordings can be heard on digital platforms. For Mode Records, she recorded Winter Music by John Cage.
Cynthia Bryndis Schilling
Piano, Violin, Viola
Cynthia earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from University of Massachusetts Amherst Commonwealth Honors College, where she received the Chancellor’s Talent Award and Eugenie M. May Piano Award for outstanding musicianship. She studied piano with Gilles Vonsattel, Elinor Freer, Roy Imperio, and Dr. Jane Fiske. She performed solo piano and chamber music at Bowdoin International Music Festival, Buffalo Center for 21st Century Music, and Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. She performed (piano/violin/viola) in UMass Symphony Orchestra, Five-College Baroque Ensemble, UMass Women’s Choir, UMass Percussion Ensemble, Symphony Pro Musica, and Fitchburg State Community Orchestra.
Hildur Schilling
Violin | Viola
Hildur Schilling received a full scholarship (Artistic Achievement Award) to study violin and viola performance at Meadow School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University, where she also majored in psychology. She earned a doctorate in cognitive psychology from UMass Amherst and is Professor of Psychological Science at Fitchburg State, where she conducts the Fitchburg State Community Orchestra. Hildur played violin/viola in Waco Symphony, East Texas Symphony, Wichita Falls Symphony, Thayer Symphony, Manchester Music Festival, and Killington Music Festival. Currently, she enjoys playing violin and viola in chamber music ensembles and in pit orchestras for musical theater productions.
Jodi Helenora Stevens
Electric Bass
Jodi earned a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music with concentrations in Education and Electric Bass performance. She has played electric bass in The Mix ‘Em Ups, 8 Misbehavin’ (an 8 piece jazz band), and pit orchestras for musical theater productions. She performed her bass composition Simpatico at the women’s musical festival Alive by Her Own Hand at Brandeis University. Some of her compositions have been used in a film, a radio play, and a compilation cd. Jodi has taught lessons for over 20 years.
Laurie Strubbe
Cello
Laurie Strubbe, B.A in Music from Eastern Kentucky University, M.M. in Music Education from University of Miami. Laurie is the Principal Cellist for Merrimack Valley Symphony and Fitchburg State Community Orchestra. She also plays cello for Kimberly Consort and Thayer Symphony Orchestra. She has performed in Puccini Festival Orchestra and ensembles for Cranberry Coast Concerts. Laurie has taught cello for over 25 years.
Eddy Troxler
Guitar
Eddy Troxler holds a bachelor's degree in professional music from Berklee College of Music and a master's degree in education from UMASS Boston. He performs classical, jazz, blues, country and rock guitar as a soloist and as a band musician. A composer and arranger, he has written a beginning guitar method. He has taught music at Mt. Wachusett Community College, Saint Williams Elementary School in Dorchester, Holy Rosary School in Gardner, and Mason Elementary School in New Hampshire.
Joseph Wright
Tuba | Trumpet | Trombone | Euphonium | French Horn
Joe holds degrees in music education from the University of New Hampshire and Boston University, where he studied tuba with Nicolas Orovich and J. Samuel Pilafian, respectively. He has been teaching music for over thirty years in Waterville, ME, Chelsea, MA, Boston University, and Andover, MA. Since 2001, Joe has maintained a studio of private brass students and has taught band in Andover schools. He has been an active member of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, serving regularly on either district or statewide concert committees since 2003.