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home about faculty programs of study courses music videos	Dr. Nick Ross: Associate Professor of Music and chair, Department of Music Mrs. Anna Billias: Accompanist and Adjunct Instructor of Piano Ms. Lynn Buck: Adjunct Instructor of Flute Dr. Jessica Burkey: Adjunct Instructor of Voice Mr. Frank Coffey: Adjunct Instructor of Saxophone Dr. Jonathan Green: Professor of Music and Dean of the College Mr. Jeffrey Ingber: Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Ms. Marcia Jones Thom: Instructor of Voice Dr. Rebecca McCord: Professor of Music Mr. Kevin Paul: Adjunct Instructor of Horn Mr. Walter Pennock: Adjunct Instructor of Trombone Mr. Scott Perry: Adjunct Instructor of Oboe Mrs. Jana Ross: Adjunct Instructor of Violin Catherine Creasy: Adjunct Instructor of Horn Dr. Rafael Scarfullery: Adjunct Instructor of Guitar Mrs. Virginia Schweninger: Adjunct Instructor of Harp Mr. Peter Worford: Adjunct Instructor of Cello Mrs. Anna BilliasAccompanist and Adjunct Instructor of Piano abillias@sbc.edu Pianist Anna Grazhdanova Billias moved from Ukraine to the United States in February, 2006, and has quickly established herself as a much sought-after accompanist. Anna was trained as a concert pianist at the Prokofiev State Academy of Music in Donetsk, Ukraine (originally the Prokofiev Conservatory of Music), where she studied under Alexander Vitovsky, Yelena Trofymenko and Valeriy Semykin, and graduated with a master's degree in both performance and instruction for piano. Prior to attending the Conservatory, Anna was accepted and enrolled in the advanced program for piano performance at the Donetsk Specialized School, and prior to the Specialized School, she spent seven years in the Donetsk Music School. During her school tenure, Anna performed with the school's symphony orchestra, where she was a featured soloist and frequent accompanist. Anna was invited to perform in Paris, France, for the International Music Forum in the fall of 1997, where she played both contemporary and classical pieces from Russian and European composers, and was a prize winner in the Prokofiev International Piano Competition in 1995 where she competed against pianists from across Europe. Additionally, Anna was a frequent performer of solo and chamber music recitals in both Ukraine and Russia. Anna is currently an accompanist at Sweet Briar College, at the Dance Theater of Lynchburg, at the Christian Science Church of Lynchburg, and is the principal accompanist for the Cantate Choir of Lynchburg College. Since her arrival in Virginia in February, 2006, Anna has performed in concert at Hampden Sydney College, Sweet Briar College, Lynchburg College, in several local churches as a guest performer and vocalist, and continues as a private instructor of piano. Top Ms. Lynn BuckAdjunct Instructor of Flute lbuck@sbc.edu Flutist Lynn Buck, a native of upstate New York, studied with John Oberbrunner, principal flutists the Syracuse Symphony. She attended Syracuse University, the SUNY Fredonia School of Music and received an M.E.A. from Bennington College in Vermont. Ms. Buck also was a member of the Salisbury (N.C.) Symphony prior to her move to Virginia. She is married to Jonathan Green. Top Dr. Jessica BurkeyAdjunct Instructor of Voice burkey@lynchburg.edu Jessica Burkey, a native of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, is currently completing a doctor of arts degree in music and vocal performance from Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana. There she served as graduate assistant in opera and voice departments, as well as the Opera Outreach coordinator. Her operatic roles include Dorabella in Mozart's Cosi fan Tutti, Tisbe in Rossini's La Cenerentola, Second Lady in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, and Kate Pinkerton in Puccini's Madame Butterfly. Jessica is a frequent soloist with local and regional orchestras in Indiana; highlight performances include Mahler's Lieder eines farenden Gesellen with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra, and Bach's Magnificat with the Warsaw Indiana Symphony Orchestra. Her recent academic accomplishments include, presenting her research on Bellini and Bel Canto, as well as vocal music related to war at the 2005 and 2007 Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, and the 2006 New Educators Symposium at Indiana University, as well as the CMS International Conference in Bangkok, Thailand this July. While in Thailand, she was honored to perform for the Costa Rican consulate and the minister of the prime minister to Thailand. Jessica was founder and president of the Ball State Chapter of the Student National Association of Teachers of Singing in 2006-7007. She is the 2005-2006 recipient of the Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Musical Fraternity Graduate Mezzo-soprano Presidential Performance Scholarship, 2006 second place winner in the advanced division at the Indiana State NATS competition, and a 2007 BSU Graduate Vocal Competition winner. She is also involved as an active adjudicator for both choral and solo events. Jessica began her teaching career as an instructor of voice at Indiana Wesleyan University in Indiana, and is excited to join the superb music faculty at Lynchburg College this year. Top Mr. Frank CoffeyAdjunct Instructor of Saxophone fcoffey@sbc.edu Frank Coffey received a Bachelor of Music degree from Richmond Professional Institute and a Master of Music Education degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Coffey served four years in the United States Navy as Flute Instructor at the U. S. Navy School of Music at Little Creek, Virginia. While serving there, he performed with the Faculty Concert Band and Woodwind Quintet. Mr. Coffey retired from the Appomattox County Public School system after directing the instrumental band programs in grades 5-12 for 30 years. He has also served as an adjunct music instructor at Longwood College, Lynchburg College and Sweet Briar College. He currently teaches Saxophone at Sweet Briar and Flute, Clarinet and Saxophone at Lynchburg Music Center. He is an active member of the National Flute Association and a retired member of the Music Educator’s National Conference. Mr. Coffey performs regularly with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and various other instrumental groups in the area. He also performs with his jazz group "Frank Coffey and Company". He is a published photographer with a special interest in Wildflowers. Top Dr. Jonathan GreenProfessor of Music and Dean of the College jgreen@sbc.edu Jonathan D. Green is Dean of the College and Professor of Music at Sweet Briar College, where he received the 1999 Award for Excellence in Teaching. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Fredonia School of Music, studying voice with David Evans; a Master's degree from the University of Massachusetts where he was an Ornest Fellow, studying voice with Jon Humphrey and Dorothy Ornest, and composition with Robert Stern and Salvatore Macchia. Dr. Green received the Doctorate of Musical Arts in conducting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he was a University Excellence Fellow, studying conducting with William Carroll, Richard Cox, and Robert Gutter; and composition with Eddie Bass. As a composer, Dr. Green has received awards from ASCAP, the North Carolina Arts Council, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. His works include numerous songs, choral works, three piano concertos, and seven symphonies. Selected works have been published by C. Alan Publications, Bernel Editions, Ltd., and Treble Clef Press. Dr. Green is the author of six music-reference books: A Conductor's Guide to Choral-Orchestral Works: The Twentieth Century, parts I and II, A Bio-Bibliography of Carl Ruggles, A Conductor's Guide to the Choral-Orchestral Works of J. S. Bach, A Conductor's Guide to the Choral-Orchestral Works of the Classical Period, Part I: Mozart and Haydn, and A Conductor's Guide to Nineteenth-Century Choral- Orchestral Works. He is a member of ASCAP, the College Music Society Conductors Guild (board member), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Top Mr. Jeffrey IngberVisiting Assistant Professor of Music jingber@sbc.edu Jeffrey Ingber attended Brooklyn College, Queens College and Princeton University. He pursues interests in musical composition and music theory, including both Western and non - Western music. In addition to collecting books and vintage watches, he would very much like to achieve the level of Chess Expert, after which he looks forward to the prospect of pouring himself a quantity of very expensive single malt scotch, and glancing long and knowingly at his chess computer. Top Ms. Marcia Jones ThomInstructor of Voice mjones@sbc.edu Soprano, Marcia Jones Thom, has performed leading and supporting roles with Des Moines Metro Opera, Tennessee Opera Theatre, Kansas City Civic Opera, The Ashlawn-Highland Opera Festival in Virginia, Chattanooga Opera, Nashville Opera Association, Kentucky Opera and Opera Memphis. She has appeared with the Middle Tennessee Symphony, the Nashville Symphony and the Memphis Symphony and sang with Amy Grant in 1996 for the opening of the Nashville Arena. In the spring of 2006, she sang the role of “Nedda” in Opera on the James' inaugural production of Pagliacci. In 2007, Ms. Jones Thom sang the Mezzo Soprano role in Verdi's Requiem with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, and a Bach concert at St. John's Episcopal Church. In 2008 she sang the role of Miss Todd in Menotti's “Old Maid and the Thief” at Sweet Briar College. This past year, Ms. Jones Thom appeared with the Roanoke Symphony and Chorus in Handel's Messiah and sang Mozart's Coronation Mass with the combined choirs of Sweet Briar and Hampden-Sydney College with members of the Richmond Symphony. Ms. Jones Thom was honored to sing the National Anthem at the 2009 National Inter-Collegiate Horse Show Championships and has sung the Anthem at numerous “Race for the Cure” events sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Equally at home on the musical theatre stage, Ms. Jones Thom is an Equity actress and has performed with Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Theatre Memphis and Circuit Playhouse in Memphis. In 1991, Ms. Jones Thom made her Alice Tulley Hall debut in New York City as a winner of the Liederkranz Competition and in 1998 was named the Vocal Recipient of the Tennessee Performing Arts Commission Grant Awards. In April of 2002, The Nashville Scene named Ms. Jones Thom the Outstanding Opera Singer in Nashville. Ms. Jones Thom is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and has a private voice studio of over 20 students. Students of her studio have been accepted at the Eastman School of Music, Florida State University, Indiana University School of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston Conservatory, Northwestern University, University of Miami School of Music, The Tisch School at New York University, University of Southern California School of Music, Carnegie Mellon, University of North Carolina - Greensboro and North Carolina School of the Arts. Locally, Ms. Jones-Thom has produced and directed Home for the Holidays a seasonal favorite at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lynchburg and Candlelight and Christmas a fund raiser for the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. Both concerts feature local soloists as well as music organizations from the community. Ms. Jones Thom has also worked as a Teaching Artist with the Humanities Outreach Program of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, taught a music education course in conjunction with Vanderbilt University at the Susan Gray School and at Project Reflect in Nashville, and toured extensively with Opera Iowa as a performer and teaching artist. She has adjudicated competitions for the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Guild and the Belmont University School of Music. Ms. Jones Thom is currently an Instructor of Voice at Sweet Briar College, where she also teaches Opera Workshop and directs a collaborative performance in the spring. In the spring of 2009, students of Opera Workshop performed Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance. Master Classes include the University of Memphis, the Southern Division of American Choral Director's Association, and the Governor's School for the Performing Arts for the State of Tennessee. Ms. Jones Thom serves on the Performing Arts Committee at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lynchburg, Board of Directors for the Lynchburg Symphony, and the Board of Directors for the Lynchburg YWCA. An avid fundraiser, Ms. Jones Thom has volunteered for the United Way of Central Virginia and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Known for her motivational speaking, Ms. Jones-Thom continues to be engaged by organizations throughout Southwest Virginia and North Carolina. In May of 2002, Ms. Jones Thom released her first recording entitled “I Will Rise - Hymns of Hope” under the auspices of Shiny Penny Productions. At the 2009 Commencement Exercises of Sweet Briar College, Ms. Jones Thom was awarded the prestigious Connie Burwell White award for Excellence in Teaching by the Student Government Association. Top Dr. Rebecca McCordProfessor of Music and Chair, Department of Music (434) 381-6115 mccord@sbc.edu Rebecca McCord is a multi-faceted pianist, having performed as solo recitalist, chamber musician, duo pianist, and soloist with orchestra in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Making her debut at the age of nine, Dr. McCord has made guest artist appearances with over thirty orchestras including Dallas, Oklahoma City, Wichita, Houston, Eastman Philharmonic, Rome Festival and Tanglewood under such prestigious conductors as Erich Leinsdorf, Sir John Barbirolli, David Effron, Guy Fraser Harrison and Max Rudolf. As a young pianist, she was prizewinner in over twenty competitions, including the Naumburg, Bloch Young Artist, Masters Young Artist, Naftzger Young Artist, MTNA, and NFMC. She is a founding member of Trillium, The Commonwealth Trio, Tanglewood Trio, Lyric Quartet and the McNutt-Bohon Piano Duo. She has performed with the Fry Street Quartet, the James Quartet, and the Garth Newel Quartet. Among the works that she has premiered are Koschka Suite, Jonathan D. Green; La maîtresse des marteaux, Jonathan D. Green; Toccata, James Legg; and Florilegium, Book II, Verne Reynolds. Dr. McCord received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Oklahoma City University, where she studied piano with Ernestine Holmes Scott, voice with Florence Birdwell, and chamber music with Stephen Stalker and Kenji Kobyashi. She was named a Presidential Scholar and was the recipient of a full scholarship to OCU. During her undergraduate years, she also studied piano with Adele Marcus at the Juilliard School of Music in New York and with Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She earned the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Piano Performance and Literature, as well as the prestigious Performer's Certificate, from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. At Eastman, she studied piano with Barry Snyder and Cecile Staub Genhart, accompanying with Robert Spillman and Samuel Sanders, chamber music with Abram Loft and John Celentano, and voice with Jan deGaetani. During her doctoral studies, Dr. McCord was a Graduate Assistant in Studio Piano and Choral Conducting Assistant to Donald Neuen. Her performance of Brahms' Ziguenerleider with the Eastman Chorale is on the Pantheon label. She was named a Leopold Schepp Scholar and Outstanding Graduate Student at the Eastman School of Music. Since 1985, Dr. McCord has been on the music faculty of Sweet Briar College. She has served as Director of the Gager Community Concert Series, the Chamber Music Series, and the Institute for Piano Performance & Pedagogy. Dr. McCord served as departmental chair for many years. In 1998, Dr. McCord was recipient of Sweet Briar's Faculty Fellowship and the first-ever post-doctorate fellowship at the Eastman School of Music. Dr. McCord has broad and varied musical interests, which are reflected in her course offerings. Among the courses she has taught are Studio Piano, Rudiments of Music, Piano Pedagogy, Jazz Piano, Introduction to MIDI, Elementary & Advanced Theory, Forms & Analysis, Honors Seminar in Jazz Studies, Interdisciplinary Seminar in Shakespeare & Music, Interdisciplinary Seminar in Women & Music and Introduction to Film Music. Dr. McCord regularly serves as clinician, master class teacher, and adjudicator for MTNA organizations throughout the U.S. She is currently President of the Central Virginia Music Teachers Association. Top Mr. Kevin PaulAdjunct Instructor of Horn paul.k@lynchburg.edu Kevin Paul earned his B.M. degree in education from Radford University in 1993 where he conducted several university ensembles and performed as a trumpeter in most, including a nominated undergraduate honors recital. Mr. Paul earned his first M.M. degree in conducting performance from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1996 where he served as director of the University Band and Pep Band, graduate teaching assistant for the Wind Ensemble, and interim graduate teaching assistant for the Choral Arts Society. He also served as principal trumpet of the VCU Symphony and Opera Orchestras. Mr. Paul served the Richmond Community as a member of several brass quintets, principal trumpet of the Richmond Philharmonic, assistant principal trumpet of the Richmond Symphonic Winds, and trumpeter with the Petersburg Symphony. He founded the Richmond Brass Consort, Richmond's only large brass and percussion ensemble and was its conductor/music director until 2000. Since 1989, Kevin Paul has been teaching music students at all levels, from elementary to graduate school, both publicly and privately. He was the trumpet instructor for the RU Community Arts School and the VCU Community School for the Performing Arts. Mr. Paul also served as a middle school band director in the Virginia Public Schools. He has conducted several high school and middle school bands and has adjudicated many festivals, competitions, and entrance auditions. He has composed works for concert band and brass ensemble, and has arranged many works for brass quintet and brass ensemble. Mr. Paul was the Conductors Guild's Executive Director from 2000 - 2006. He is currently adjunct music faculty at Lynchburg College where he serves as trumpet instructor and brass ensemble director. Top Mr. Walter PennockAdjunct Instructor of Trombone (434) 381-6351 wpennock@sbc.edu Walter has a B.S. Music Education from West Chester State. He has teaching experience of over 20 years in public and private schools in N.J. Pa. and Virginia in classroom, vocal and instrumental as well as private instruction. He has also served as a trombone instructor at Lynchburg College, and performed professionally as a vocalist, trombonist, choir director and conductor. He founded the Blue Ridge Brass and perform regularly with groups such as the Lynchburg Symphony, Mill Mountain Theater, and have adjudicated many times, including the last seven years for the Governor's School for the Performing Arts. Top Mr. Scott PerryAdjunct Instructor of Oboe (434) 381-6351 sperry@sbc.edu California-born Scott Perry holds degrees from Indiana University and the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music and is currently a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University. An active freelance musician, he has performed with orchestras throughout the West and the Midwest, including the Seattle Symphony, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Scott has performed on three continents for audiences which have included heads of state, royalty, and even the Pope. Scott is currently the Principal Oboe of the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra, the oboist of the Albemarle Ensemble, and is a member of the music faculty at the University of Virginia. Top Dr. Nick RossAssociate Professor of Music (434) 381-6121 nross@sbc.edu "British/Irish pianist Nicholas Ross is Associate Professor of Music at Sweet Briar College where he teaches applied piano, music theory and music history. He performs extensively in Europe and the United States, both as soloist and chamber musician. As the pianist of the James Piano Quartet, he performs with Jana Ross, violin, Joe Nigro, viola, and Wesley Baldwin, cello. The JPQ are touring artists on the roster of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and they perform throughout Virginia. The 2008-2009 season included performances in Roanoke, Abbingdon, Virginia Beach, and Lynchburg. They are Artists-in-Residence at the burgeoning Wintergreen Summer Music Festival, where Ross also performs with the Wintergreen Chamber Players and as soloist. The JPQ were also Artists-in-Residence at Sweet Briar College from 2007-2009. The JPQ are currently making their debut recording of chamber music by Arthur Honegger. They are also involved in commissioning and performing new works. Compositions have been written for them by Jonathan Green, Joelle Wallach, and Kent Holliday. They also perform works by Nathan Currier and Michael White. Ross is also active as a solo pianist and recording artist. His first solo CD American Impressions: Music from the Whalehead Club, recorded on an historic 1907 Steinway, was released on the Soundside label in 2003. His latest and first internationally released recording, John Powell: Early Piano Music, (Centaur Records, 2007), was described as "both surprising and highly enjoyable" by critic Dave Lewis (AllMusic.com) and Ross's performance was praised as "dedicated, clean and forthright, no small feat as some of the music is written at a treacherously difficult level". William Keindler of Music Web International wrote of the recording: "Nicholas Ross's playing and advocacy [of John Powell] are both to be applauded. He handles the entire range of emotional and technical expertise required by these works almost effortlessly." The American Record Guide selected the recording for its list "Best of 2007" and the disc has been played frequently on classical NPR stations around the country. A recording of the piano music of Virginia Tech composer Kent Holliday with Randolph College's Dr. Emily Chua has recently been completed, under Dr. Holliday's guidance. This recording includes Milongalgusto, written and dedicated to Ross in 2006, and it is due to be released in the summer of 2009 by Centaur Records. In 2006 Nick performed a series of recitals with Turkish baritone Sinan Vural in Virginia and Holland, and they will continue their collaboration in 2009-2010 with concerts and a recording of the complete songs of Arthur Honegger. Outstanding Dutch soprano Claudia Patacca will also collaborate on this project, and the resulting recording will also be released by Centaur Records. Ross earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from Rice University in Houston, Texas, and also holds degrees in piano performance from the Twente Conservatoire (UM) in Holland and Trinity College of Music in London (DipTCL), as well as a Masters degree in Applied Mathematics from Twente University. His primary piano professors were Benno Pierweijer, John Bingham, and John Perry. While a student, Nick performed numerous concerti with both professional and amateur orchestras, including the premiere of a piano concerto by the Belgian composer, Andre Waignein, which was recorded and broadcast by the Dutch radio station NCRV. Nicholas was the winner of numerous prizes and awards at Trinity, both as soloist and accompanist, which included the John Longmire Award and the John Ireland Accompanist's Prize. While in London he gave recitals in, among other places, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Southwark Cathedral, and Steinway Hall. He also appeared in Graham Johnson's The Young Songmaker's Almanac at St. John Smith's Square. In 1995 he was awarded the English Speaking Union/ John Meyer Scholarship, which enabled him to study with John Perry at the Aspen Music Festival. During his time at Rice, he gained a fine reputation as a performer of new music, giving Houston premieres of works by Arthur Gottshalk, Steve Mackey, and Philip Martin. From 2000 to 2002 Ross lived in Denver. In the Denver Friends of Chamber Music series, he gave the American premiere of Philip Martin's Soundings and performed The Wager at the Eldorado Saloon with composer Jon Deak. He also performed in Denver?s Modern Music Festival and Boulder Public Library Series. Nicholas was featured as onstage pianist in the Tony Award-winning Denver Center Theater Company's production of Much Ado About Nothing, as well as performing as symphonic pianist with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra on numerous occasions. He also collaborated regularly with many Colorado Symphony members including Yumi Hwang Williams, concertmaster, Peter Cooper, principal oboe, and Bil Jackson, principal clarinet. Additionally, Nick was a member of Extasis, a Denver-based tango quartet. He was also featured on the Denver Theatre Company's video The Arts Matter, which was intended to prevent proposed cuts to the Arts in Colorado. Since moving to Virginia, Nick has performed solo recitals in Corrales, New Mexico; Mary Baldwin College, Virginia; Houston, Texas; Virginia Tech; Sweet Briar College in Virginia; for the Thursday Morning Music Club in Roanoke, Virginia; and in Dewsbury, England. In recent years, he has performed concertos with the Blue Ridge Chamber Orchestra and the New River Valley Orchestra. His concerto repertoire includes concertos by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Rachmaninov. He has also performed extensively in Ireland, in Limerick (UL concert Hall and the Jean Monet theatre), Dublin (the John Field Room) and Listowel (St. John's Hall), and he has been featured on Lyric FM, the Republic of Ireland's classical radio station. Nick has also recently collaborated with pianist Gustavo Romero in Saint-Saën's Carnival of the Animals and in recital with bass Branch Fields. Apart from his performing interests, Dr. Ross is also involved in scholarly research focusing on a range of topics. In particular he is interested in the use of proportional structures in the music of Claude Debussy. He has uncovered the original use of Fibonacci series and golden section in the construction of Debussy's Images (expanding upon and modifying the earlier work of famed Debussy scholar, Roy Howat), and is currently extending his research to examine Debussy's songs. His CD notes for his John Powell recording were widely praised in reviews, and he continues to write and research program notes for his upcoming recordings. For more information and samples from his recordings please visit: www.nickrosspianist.com and www.jamespianoquartet.com. Top Mrs. Jana RossAdjunct Instructor of Violin jross@sbc.edu Jana Vander Schaaf Ross is a much sought after soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player in Central and Southwest Virginia. As the violinist of the James Piano Quartet, she performs with Wesley Baldwin, cello, Joe Nigro, viola, and Nick Ross, piano. The JPQ are touring artists on the roster of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and they perform throughout Virginia. This season includes performances in Roanoke, Abbingdon, Virginia Beach, and Lynchburg. The JPQ are Artists-in-Residence at Sweet Briar College, where they give three annual concerts - free and open to the public-- thanks to the generous support of the college. They are also Artists-in-Residence at the burgeoning Wintergreen Summer Music Festival. This academic year they will make their debut recording of chamber music by Artur Honegger, and next year they will perform and record Brahms' series of three epochal piano quartets. They are also involved in commissioning and performing new works. This year, compositions are being written for them by Jonathan Green, Joelle Wallach, and Kent Holliday, and they will also perform works by Nathan Currier and Michael White. In addition, Ross regularly performs violin and piano duo repertoire with husband and pianist, Nicholas Ross, in the US and abroad. Ross holds the position of principal second violin with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. She will perform Bach's Concerto in d-minor for two violins with Joo Young Oh and the RSO in December. This fall's production of La Traviata marks the fourth season Ross will serve as concertmaster of the Opera on the James in Lynchburg. She has also served as concertmaster and/or principal second violin with the Blue Ridge Chamber Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Southwest Virginia, Opera Roanoke, and the Oratorio Societies of Charlottesville and Salem, and the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra. In previous summers, Ross could be heard at the Aspen Music Festival, the National Orchestral Institute in Maryland, and the Tanglewood Music Center, where she served as concertmaster. She was appointed principal second violin and concertmaster in consecutive years with the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado, with whom she also appeared as soloist--performing Chausson's Poeme and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in e-minor. Ross began her violin studies at the age of three at the St. Louis Conservatory and School for the Arts. She entered the Oberlin Conservatory at age 17 with her primary teacher, Taras Gabora. After completing her Bachelor of Music, Ross earned her Master of Music degree from Rice University under the tutelage of renowned pedagogue Sergiu Luca. During her tenure at both schools she frequently served as concertmaster and principal second of the Oberlin Orchestras and the Shepherd School Symphonies. After completing her degree at Rice, Ross remained in Houston where she performed regularly with the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Ballet Orchestra, and the Houston Symphony under the baton of music director Christoph Eschenbach. She also was appointed associate concertmaster of Orchestra X, an innovative young orchestra whose mission was to bring classical music to new audiences by performing in unconventional venues. Ross also flew from Houston to perform as substitute violinist with the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans and the New World Symphony in Miami. During the 2000-2002 seasons Ross was a tenured member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in Denver. While in Colorado she was invited to perform Bach's E-Major Concerto with "Up Close and Musical", an outreach chamber orchestra comprised of CSO musicians. Other projects included coaching sectionals for the Denver Youth Symphony and leading area schools' orchestras for the day. She also appeared in the Denver Friends of Chamber Music concert series performing the highly entertaining Lucy and the Count by innovative composer Jon Deak. In addition, Ross was a founding member of the Summit String Quartet. Ross currently serves on the faculty of Sweet Briar College, Randolph College, Hollins University and the Wintergreen Performance Academy, as well as maintaining a large private studio at the Ross School of Music. She previously taught both violin and viola at Del Mar College and Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas. Ross resides in Lynchburg, Virginia with husband, Nick, and sons, Piers and Liam. Top Catherine Creasy Adjunct Instructor of Horn creasy.catherine@gmail.com Catherine Satchwell Creasy completed a Bachelors in Music Performance from James Madison University and a Masters in Music Performance from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. In addition to Lynchburg College, Catherine is the horn instructor at Sweet Briar College and Eastern Mennonite University. She performs with the Shenandoah Symphony, the Waynesboro Symphony, the Lynchburg Symphony, the Massanutten Brass Band, and the Chekada Chamber Winds. Passionate about young musicians, Catherine is also the Administrative Director of the Massanutten Youth Brass Band. Her principal teachers include Wallace Easter, Dr. Abigail Pack and Douglas Hill. Top Dr. Rafael ScarfulleryAdjunct Instructor of Guitar (434) 851-0674 rafael@rafaelscarfullery.com www.RafaelScarfullery.com Rafael Scarfullery is one of the most renowned classical guitarists from the Dominican Republic. Trained as a classical guitarist, composer, and conductor and organist, he has won several awards for his cultural projects, performances, and compositions. Rafael has taught at Shenandoah University, the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, and the Conservatorio Nacional de Música of Santo Domingo. Besides being an adjunct instructor of guitar at Sweet Briar College, he is also the music director at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. Other classes he has taught in the Dominican Republic include harmony, music appreciation, music analysis and 18th century counterpoint. Rafael has organized six international guitar festivals in the Dominican Republic. Rafael has performed widely throughout his country, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Turkey, Venezuela, Canada, and the U.S.A, and has been guitar judge in guitar competitions. He has the honor of being the first Dominican guitarist who performed Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez. Rafael began his musical studies at the Music Academy Patria in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic and later attended the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Santo Domingo. University Degrees and Certifications Guitar performance Bachelor of Music: Brooklyn College of the CUNY Master of Music: Shenandoah University Doctorate of Musical Arts: Shenandoah University Orchestral Conducting Master of Music: Shenandoah University Church Music Doctor of Sacred Music: Graduate Theological Foundation Choirmaster Certificate: American Guild of Organists (AGO) Colleague Certificate: American Guild of Organists (AGO) Service Playing Certificate: American Guild of Organists (AGO) Church Music Certificate: Shenandoah University Rafael also studied for a year with Adam Holzman at the University of Texas at Austin and has taken masterclasses with Alirio Díaz and Leo Brouwer, among other renowned artists. He studied composition with Tania León and William Averitt, and conducting with Jan Wagner, Robert Shaffer, Jan Wnek, and Fernando Geraldes. Rafael has two CD's: Herta's Garden and Sweet Hour of Prayer. His awards (mostly from the Dominican Republic) include: Winner of the Hymn Competition at the First Parish Church of Arlington in Massachusetts (2007) Jaycee's 72: "Outstanding Youth of the Year" (2005) The president's National Youth's Award in the area of Cultural Development (2002) Ateneo de San Pedro de Macorís (2002) Winner of the Supreme Court Hymn competition of the Dominican Republic (Listen to hymn here) (2001) Top winner in the Bach-Handel Competition in Virginia (2001) Named Outstanding Citizen of San Pedro de Macorís by that city's council (2000) Nominations to El Casandra (2000, 1997) Casa de la Cultura Petromacorisana (2000, 1997, 1996) El Casandra: Best classical instrumental player of the year of the Dominican Republic, and first guitarist to win it (1998). This is like a Dominican version of the Grammy awards. El Guloya (1997) Top Mrs. Virginia SchweningerAdjunct Instructor of Harp virginiasharp@ntelos.net Virginia Schweninger received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Harp Performance from Stephens College, Columbia Missouri, where she attended on a full music scholarship from the Samuel B. Mosher Foundation. There she studied with acclaimed classical and jazz harpist, Mimi Allen, who was a protegé of the late Carlos Salzedo. Virginia went on to study harp with Dr. Carol McLaughlin in Los Angeles where she entered the emerging world of "pop harp." Developing a very successful career as a professional harpist, Virginia has performed for over thirty years in orchestras, ensembles, choirs and as a soloist. She was Principle Harpist with the Burbank Symphony, the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra and has performed with legendary entertainers Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis, Melissa Manchester, Carmen Dragon, Rudy Friml and Kenny Rogers. Virginia created the successful Los Angeles booking agency, Calliope Artists Management, where she represented classical, jazz and pop musicians. Since relocating to Central Virginia, she has established a busy harp studio utilizing her training in both the French and Salzedo schools of harp. Her experience with the Alexander Technique also contribute greatly to her development of a very healthy and joyful approach to teaching and performance. Top Mr. Peter WorfordAdjunct Instructor of Cello pworford@sbc.edu Peter Worford is currentlly an adjunct professor of cello at Sweet Briar College. He is also currently the principal cellist of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. He studies with Robert Newkirk the principal cellist of the Kennedy Center Orchestra and performs solo recitals on a bi-annual basis. Peter's full time job is as an engineer with Georgia-Pacific. Top