Faculty
Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts instructors are a diverse group of skilled, dedicated individuals who are experienced musician-teachers in the Boulder-Denver area, and who share a strong belief in the pure, necessary joy of making music.
Members of our talented faculty often perform individually or in groups for hire (weddings, parties, receptions, concerts, & other special occasions). For referral information, call our office at 303-665-0599. We also have faculty CDs available for listening and purchase.
Woodwinds
Flute/piccolo – Jennifer Pauley, Ysmael Reyes, Olga Shylayeva, Emma Shubin, Dave Camp
Oboe – Tenly Williams
Clarinet – Mary Jungerman, Dave Camp
Saxophone – Mary Jungerman, Dave Camp
Bassoon – Brian Jack, Kaori Uno
Brass
Trumpet – Margaret Romero
French Horn – Devon Park
Trombone/Baritone – Danielle Chollet, Dan Castillo
Tuba – Dan Castillo
Strings
Violin – Alexandra Eddy, Kat Fritz, Ruth Galloway, Nancy McNeill, Sarah Murray, Annie Savage
Viola – Nancy McNeill, Ruth Galloway, Kat Fritz
Cello – Marcelo Sanches, Anne Brennand
Bass (upright and electric) – Byron Dudrey
Piano/Harp
Harp – Carolyn Kuban
Piano – Christine Armstrong, Katie Couch, Nayantara Desai, Barbara Grout, Ksenia Ilinykh, Scott Martin, Faye Nepon, Deborah Schmit-Lobis, Amanda Setlik, Olga Shylayeva, Alejandro Sierra
Guitar
Guitar – James Cline, Michael Quam, Rick Pruitt
Voice
Voice – Faye Nepon, Alejandro Sierra, Rachel Fetler
Banjo, Folk Guitar, Mandolin, Fiddle
Jeff Scroggins–Banjo
Folk Guitar, Dobro, Mandolin –Kit Simon
Fiddle – Annie Savage
Ukulele – Michael Quam
Suzuki Instruction
Cello – Anne Brennand
Flute – Emma Shubin
Guitar – Rick Pruitt
Piano – Christine Armstrong, Barbara Grout, Amanda Setlik
Violin – Nancy McNeill, Sarah Murray, Kat Fritz
Jazz Improvisation
Winds/brass – Dave Camp
Piano – Nayantara Desai, Scott Martin Percussion – Danny Schade
Wellness/Music Therapy
Adaptive Music – Carolyn Kuban
Music Therapy – Amanda Bryant, Carolyn Kuban, Maria Gonsalves-Schimpf, Bonnie Draina
Theory/ Composition
Alexandra Eddy, Nayantara Desai, Deborah Schmit-Lobis
Early Music
Viola da Gamba – Ann Marie Morgan
More details about each faculty member can be found on the following tabs.
Education: BME, MME University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 1967; Retired Director of Jazz Studies & Director of Bands at Fairview High School in Boulder; retired Instrumental Music Coordinator for Boulder Valley Schools; Colorado Jazz Workshop faculty.
Other: Noted judge and clinician, 1991 Jazz Educator of the Year; CMEA Hall of Fame;freelance musician. www.mrcjazz.com
Jennifer Dunn
Education: BS University of Alabama, MME University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 1999
Other Experience: BVSD teacher, CMEA member.
Danielle Chollet
Education: BM/BME SUNY-Crane School of Music; MM University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 1992
Other Experience: performs with Boulder Philharmonic, Denver Center Attractions, & Colorado Ballet; school band program assistant
Devon Park
Education: BM University of Nebraska; MM Northwestern University
Teaching since: 1986; University of Northern Colorado, Rocky Ridge Music Camp, Boulder Public Schools, Colorado Christian University, Colorado State University, University of Colorado at Boulder, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Other Experience: Associate principal horn of Boulder Philharmonic, principal horn of the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, principal horn of the Greeley Philharmonic, third horn in the Central City Opera Orchestra
Margaret Romero
Education: BM University of Wisconsin-Madison
; MM (DMA in-progress) University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 2003
Other Experience: University of Colorado at Boulder experience: former trumpet studio teaching assistant. and member of Flatirons Brass Quintet; currently graduate assistant/coordinator at Entrepreneurship Center for Music. Member of Wyoming Symphony and freelance musician.
faculty list coming soon…
Sarah Goodroad (Ukulele Social Club)
Education: Cello performance studies University of Northern Colorado. Chamber coach for UNC-Strings Project Program. Received Colorado Statement of Eligibility to teach K-12 music.
Teaching since: 1997. Founder of Boulder Ukelele Group. Area freelance musician.
Michael Quam (guitar-acoustic/electric, ukulele, recording engineer)
Education: BM/MM Florida State University. Certificate of Computers in Music.
Teaching since: 1994.
Other Experience: Teachers include Bruce Holzman, Stephen Robinson, and Rex Willis. Solo and chamber musician. Records numerous local performing groups.
James Cline
“Music inspires emotions and intellect and I enjoy sharing that inspiration with my students!”
Education: BM Utah State University; MM/DMA University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 1989; Regis University, Front Range Community College
Other Experience: Solo & chamber music musician; performs with Mountain Music Duo; masterclasses with Christopher Parkening, John Williams, Sergio Assad. www.jamesclinemusic.com
Jeremy Dittus
Education: BM Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory; MM Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; DMA University of Colorado at Boulder. Dalcroze License and Certificate from Longy School of Music; Diplome Superieur from the Jaques Dalcroze Institute & Conservatory of Music in Geneva, Switzerland
Teaching since: 2004, piano, theory, & eurhythmics.
Other Experience: In demand as presenter of Dalcroze workshops across the country. Also an active piano recitalist across the US, Switzerland, and Italy.
Shari Griswold
Education: BM University of Michigan
Teaching since: 1989
Other Experience: Registered Music Together instructor; Orff certification with Lynn Kleiner of Music Rhapsody
Marci Kalish
Education: BM University of Colorado at Boulder (vocal performance).
Teaching since: 2006
Other Experience: Registered Music Together teacher. Former touring member of Up With People.
Ann Marie Morgan
Education: Artist Diploma, Oberlin College Conservatory; BM Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.
Teaching since: 1983.
Other Experience: Interlochen Center for the Arts, University of Colorado at Boulder, Regis University (Collegium Musicum), Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, Peabody Institute. International soloist, chamber musician, recording artist. Guest artist with Philadelphia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Boulder Bach Festival. Numerous CD recordings.
Danny Schade
Education: BM (Percussion Performance); BME (Elementary Music) University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 2006; teaches wide variety of styles: snare drum, drum set, rock, jazz, Latin, marching, classical.
Other Experience: since 1997 – Plays drums for progressive-acoustic-rock band, ToneScape; Steamboat Symphony Orchestra, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Broomfield Civic Orchestra, Boulder’s Dinner Theatre, CU Opera and the Colorado Light Opera. www.dannyschade.com
Barb Grout
Education: BM University of Miami.
Teaching since: 1982.
Other Experience: Suzuki teacher-trained, BAMTA officer, MTNA. Board-certified music therapist, MusikGarten licensee, special training in music learning theory.
Scott Martin
Education: BA New England Conservatory;
MM University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 1992
Other Experience: Extensive performance experience, including studio work in New York (Carly Simon, Mariah Carey), jazz pianist (Washington DC, Boston, Paris, Denver’s El Chapultepec, Jazz Aspen), musical theater (Jersey Boys national tour). Currently leads “Sundays at Vic’s” jazz band. Teaching experience includes University of Colorado at Boulder (theory), DU High School, University of Colorado at Denver (midi/tech), and more.
Faye Nepon
Education: BS in Music, Excelsior College; other training at the Harand School of Musical Theater in Chicago, the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University, and San Francisco State University
Teaching since: 1983, including in Italy at the Accadema Musicale of Florence, Jazz Voice at the Niccolo Paganini Conservatory of Genoa, and the Bernstein School of Musical Theater of Bologna, the Community School of the Arts and Trinity Episcopal School in North Carolina.
Other Experience: specializes in jazz, ethnic song, and musical theater; performing since the 1970s; two CD recordings. Speaks Italian. www.fayenepon.com
Deborah Schmit-Lobis
Education: BM piano pedagogy & performance, University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 17 years teaching experience (beginning in the late ’70s; interrupted by touring)
Other experience: Teaches all styles. Very active freelancing, including national and international touring (artists include Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, James Galway, Paul Winter Consort) and major local groups (Colorado Symphony, Colorado Ballet Orchestra, Denver Center Theater, Garner Attractions, Mercury Ensemble, Colorado Chamber Players, Central City Ensemble). Several CD recordings; also a composer with radio play across the country. Involved with Central City Opera in their Music, Words, Opera school outreach program.
Amanda Setlik
“I love helping my students to feel joy and a sense of accomplishment through music. When I am able to do this, I feel that I have succeeded as a music teacher.”
Education: BM University of Cincinnati-Conservatory of Music; MM University of Colorado at Boulder; DMA (in-progress) University of Colorado at Boulder; additional study at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music; Suzuki teacher training
Teaching since: 1999
Other experience: Performance experience includes music festivals abroad, solo, ensemble, and collaborative
Olga Shylayeva
Education: MM Kiev State Conservatory
Teaching since: 1989; Boulder Arts Academy, Kiev Conservatory/Kiev Institute of Culture, Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Christchurch International School
Other Experience: Member, Boulder Philharmonic (piccolo), former principal flute Kiev Symphony.1999 Naxos chamber music CD recording. Speaks Russian and Ukrainian.
Alejandro Sierra
Education: BA University of Campeche-Mexico; BMA (piano), School of Sacred Music, Guadalajara, Mexico; MM University of Colorado, Boulder
Teaching since: 1991
Other Experience: Performs with Denver Opera Company. Currently choir director at St. Martin de Porres Church. Former section leader/soloist with the State Choir of Jalisco (Mexico). Speaks Spanish and Italian.
Anne Brennand
“My hope and aim is that exploring the rich sonorities of the violoncello will improve life in the way that is most meaningful for each student.”
Education: BM California Institute of the Arts; MM University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 1992
Other Experience: Performs with Boulder Philharmonic, Greeley Philharmonic, Serenata String Quartet. Suzuki teacher-trained. Studied with Judith Glyde, Ronald Leonard, Raymond Davis, Ann Marie Morgan. Winner of Denes Koromzay Chamber Music Award.
James Cline
“Music inspires emotions and intellect and I enjoy sharing that inspiration with my students!”
Education: BM Utah State University; MM/DMA University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 1989; Regis University, Front Range Community College
Other Experience: Solo & chamber music musician; performs with Mountain Music Duo; masterclasses with Christopher Parkening, John Williams, Sergio Assad. www.jamesclinemusic.com
Byron Dudrey
Education: BM Kansas State University;
MM University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 1994
Other Experience: Classical/jazz/rock freelance musician
Alexandra Eddy
“For me, music is a fascinating art of emotion and thought: the link between heart and mind.”
Education: BA University of Colorado at Boulder; PhD Stanford University
Teaching since: 1974; including college level; University of Colorado at Boulder, Sweet Briar College
Other Experience: Performs with Opera Lafayette (Washington, D.C.), Mercury Ensemble. Freelancing: Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado MahlerFest, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, National Symphony, Mostly Mozart Festival, Smithsonian Chamber Symphony, National Gallery Orchestra, Alexandria Symphony.
Ruth Galloway
Education: BS University of Missouri-Kansas City; PhD Case Western Reserve
Teaching since: 1990; Suzuki teacher-trained
Other Experience: freelance musician; has performed with Boulder Philharmonic, Longmont Symphony, CU Lyric Theater, Colorado MahlerFest Orchestra, Boulder Sinfonia, Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra, Sonora
Carolyn Kuban
“Music is both healing and energizing. Finding just the right way to harness these two qualities to meet each person’s needs is my challenge and joy. Music therapy can be the adventure of a lifetime.”
Education: BM Eastman School of Music; MM Colorado State University (neurologic music therapy).
Therapist since: 1994
Teaching since: 1981
Other Experience: Music therapist with a focus on neurologic approach for autism, brain disorders, stokes, MS, CP and mental illness. Held positions at Weiland School for Severe Disability and in inclusion programs at Fairview High School and Jefferson County Open School. Currently with IMAGINE!, Frasier Meadows Manor, and Hospice of Boulder County.
Other teaching: University of Denver, University of Oklahoma; performance experience: Principal harpist, Oklahoma Symphony and Central City Opera; Asst. principal, Colorado Symphony & Colorado Music Festival; led harp programs in Chicago and Boulder public schools; director of The Whole Harpist, program about the use of brain and body movements and posture in music-making. www.wholeharpist.com
Nancy McNeill
“Many of my students go on to major in music and become performers, teachers and composers! I feel that learning should be fun, and if you want to take it to the top I am there to help you!”
Education: BM University of Colorado at Boulder; training at Aspen Music Festival
Teaching since: 1972; including public school
Other Experience: Suzuki training with Bill Starr; studied with Oswald Lehnert, Jessi Ceci, Denes Koramzay; member of Tiny Tots and Inside the Orchestra educational programming; member, Boulder Philharmonic and Musica Antiqua; leader of Bacchus Entertainment/music bookings
Sarah Murray
Education: BM Valparaiso University; MM University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 2001; Suzuki-certified through Book 8. Suzuki training with Edward Kreitman and William Starr. Also teaches traditional method.
Other Experience: Member of Orelia String Quartet.
Rick Pruitt
Education: BM University of Miami
Teaching since: 1985
Other Experience: Styles include popular, classical and flamenco. Accepts students aged 4+. Freelance musician; teachers include Rene Heredia, Charles Wolzien, and Juan Mercadal.
Michael Quam
Education: BM/MM Florida State University (Guitar Performance); Certificate of Computers in Music
Teaching since: 1994
Other: teachers include Bruce Holzman, Stephen Robinson, and Rex Willis; solo & chamber musician; recording engineer and sound designer www.quamaudio.com/guitar
Marcelo Sanches
Education: BM Oberlin Conservatory; MM/DMA University of Colorado at Boulder
Teaching since: 1996; Teachers include Judith Glyde and Andras Fejer
Other Experience: solo, chamber music and orchestral performer 2004 First Prize Winner, MTNA Chamber Music Nationals
Annie Savage
Edu