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Faculty & Staff

Department of Music

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Faculty

ACU’s Department of Music, led by a team of passionate and talented professors, offers several distinct degree options tailored to meet your personal and professional goals.

Samuel Cook

Samuel Cook is ACU’s Artist in Residence and has performed operatic and solo vocal repertoire throughout the United States and Europe.  He attended the Johns Hopkins University Peabody Conservatory of Music and Indiana University and pursued advanced training with Carlo Bergonzi and Renata Tebaldi in Busseto, Italy. Among Cook’s operatic roles are the Duke (Rigoletto), Nemorino (L’Elisior d’Amore), Narciso (Il Turoc in Italia), Count Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Sivilia), Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Alfredo (La traviata) and Don José (Carmen). Along with his operatic roles, Cook has performed internationally as a sensitive song and lieder recitalist whose programs encompass an intriguing and varied repertoire from Bach’s oratorios and passions to Liszt’s romantic Sonetti di Petrarca to a rich and heart rendering solo recital of Negro spirituals.

Jeff Goolsby Department of Music

Dr. Jeff Goolsby

Jeffery Goolsby is Director of Choral Studies at Abilene Christian University, where he conducts the A Cappella Chorus, University Chorale, and Chamber Singers. He teaches courses in choral conducting and choral methods and supervises the choral music education program. Prior to joining the ACU faculty, he taught for ten years in successful high school choral music programs in the Dallas and Houston areas. He is in demand as a clinician, consultant, and adjudicator throughout the state and has served in numerous regional and state capacities with TMEA, ACDA, and UIL. He holds the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Abilene Christian University, where he was named a University Scholar; the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University; and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from Texas Tech University. Professional affiliations include TMEA, TCDA, ACDA, NCCO, TMAA, and Pi Kappa Lambda. 

 

Dr. Dan Harbaugh

Dr. Daniel Harbaugh serves as the Associate Director of Bands for Abilene Christian University. He directs the Concert Band, leads the Big Purple Marching Band, teaches courses within the Instrumental Music Education curriculum, and supervises all Instrumental Music Education Clinical Teachers. Dr. Harbaugh received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Oklahoma. He holds additional Master’s degrees in Instrumental Conducting and Percussion Performance from Truman State University (MO) and Educational Administration from Lindenwood University (MO), as well as a Bachelor of Science in Instrumental Music Education degree from Northwest Missouri State University. His primary areas of research include wind ensemble literature and pedagogy, conducting technique and pedagogy, and the development of high-quality music education in rural communities. In addition to serving on staff at the University of Oklahoma and Truman State University, Dr. Harbaugh taught in Missouri Public Schools for 13 years. His ensembles consistently received the highest ratings and accolades. He has served as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the Midwest. Dr. Harbaugh is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Tau Beta Sigma, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Dr. Rick Piersall

Rick is a co-founder of the South Dakota Vocal Arts Festival and has directed operas at Stephen F. Austin State University, Houston Baptist University, and the University of South Dakota. He has appeared in leading roles with the Utah Lyric Opera, Center for Contemporary Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Longleaf Opera, El Paso Opera, Opera at Lehigh, Opera Fort Collins, Opera Iowa, Opera North, Amarillo Opera and the Abilene Opera Association. Among his roles are Mozart’s Figaro, Reverend Olin Blitch in Susannah, the title character in The Boor by Argento, Don Fernando in Beethoven’s Fidelio, and Tony in the musical The Most Happy Fella.

Dr. Matt Roberson

Dr. Matt Roberson is Associate Professor of Musicology, Chair of the Music Department, and Cornerstone Director. In addition to this course, he teaches Music History for music majors and Cornerstone, ACU’s freshman seminar. Dr. Roberson has been the editor of the Journal of Faith and the Academy and has written three books since 2007.

Dr. Mike Rogers

Mike Rogers is Assistant Professor of music and serves as the music theory/ear training coordinator as well as the Director of Jazz Studies for the school of music. Rogers holds a PhD in music theory from the University of North Texas, a master’s degree in Music Education/Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas Christian University. Rogers has performed with the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Pete Peterson and the Collection Jazz Orchestra, the Harvey Anderson Big Band among others. Before teaching music theory, Rogers was a Texas UIL Sweepstakes band director, having taught schools throughout central Texas. An active member of the Society for Music Theory and the Texas Society for Music Theory, he has presented papers at various regional music theory conferences across the United States. Dr. Rogers’s research interests include jazz tonality, jazz pedagogy, music theory pedagogy and ear training pedagogy. He serves as chief arranger, editor, and music director for the Acappella “Praise and Harmony” series.

 

Greg Straughn Music

Dr. Greg Straughn

Dr. Greg Straughn has taught music history and theory courses at Abilene Christian University since 2000. He holds a masters and doctorate in Musicology from the University of North Texas. In his professional career, he has performed as a cellist with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra and the Denton and Dallas Bach Societies. His scholarly work has centered on nineteenth-century opera, specifically Wagner’s Parsifal and the ensemble structures in the works of Jules Massenet. Since 2009, he has held a variety of administrative roles at ACU, including Honors Dean, Associate Provost for General Education, Interim Provost, and, currently, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Allen Teel Music

Dr. Allen Teel

Dr. Allen Teel joined the Abilene Christian University music faculty in 1985 and currently serves as professor of percussion and world music. An active performer, he serves as principal timpanist with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra where he performed as co-soloist with Robert Van Sice on the world premiere of Martin Bresnick’s Grace: Concerto for Two Marimbas and Orchestra. He has performed and presented clinics at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention. Teel teaches applied percussion lessons for majors and non-majors, directs the ACU Percussion Ensemble and Steeldrum Band, teaches percussion methods courses, and works with percussionists in the marching band, wind ensemble, and concert band. He also teaches courses in world music and serves as the director of the instrumental division. Dr. Teel is a graduate of West Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, and the University of Georgia.

Kristin Ward

Kristin Ward

Kristin Ward joined the music faculty of Abilene Christian University in 2006, where she serves as instructor of clarinet and saxophone, and teaches courses in the areas of music theory, music education, jazz voice, and Cornerstone. She also serves as adjunct instructor of clarinet at Hardin Simmons University. Kristin previously taught at Hope College and Alma College in Michigan as well as Eastern Oregon University. She holds a master’s degree in clarinet performance from Michigan State University, and has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Abilene Christian University.

As a clarinetist, she performed with the ACU Wind Ensemble as a soloist in David Maslanka’s Clarinet Concerto at the Texas Music Educators Association convention in February of 2017. She is also the clarinetist of the Key City Winds Woodwind Quintet, which is the ensemble-in residence here at Heavenly Rest. This quintet has performed in several venues in the Big Country as well as the TMEA convention in February of 2018.

Dr. Steven Ward

Dr. Steven Ward is Professor of Music and Director of Orchestra and Bands at Abilene Christian University, the Music Director/Conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Abilene, and teaches courses in conducting. Prior to his appointment at ACU, he was the Music Director/Conductor of the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra in Kalamazoo, MI, Director of Bands at Hope College in Holland, MI, and Music Director/Conductor of the Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra in La Grande, OR where he also served as Instructor of Music at Eastern Oregon University. He has served as conductor for the orchestra and faculty ensembles at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts in since 2006.

Adjunct Professors

David Amlung

Trumpet, Asst. Director of Bands

David Amlung

David Amlung joined the music faculty at Abilene Christian University in 2015, and currently serves as Assistant Director of Bands and Instructor of Trumpet. He previously held faculty positions at Middle Tennessee State University and Indiana State University and was an Associate Instructor of Trumpet at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music for two years. Amlung is a dedicated teacher and has maintained extensive private studios in the Oklahoma City (OK), Cincinnati (OH), Bloomington (IN), and Nashville (TN) areas.
Amlung regularly performs with orchestras throughout the U.S. and has performed with the Oklahoma City and Columbus (IN) Philharmonic Orchestras, the Huntsville (AL), Richmond (IN), Danville (IL), Jackson (TN), Columbus (IN), Hamilton-Fairfield (OH) Symphony Orchestras, as well as the IU Festival Orchestra and Bloomington Camerata Orchestra. He has played under the baton of esteemed conductors David Robertson, Giancarlo Guerrero, Mario Venzago, Joel Levine, Otto-Werner Mueller, Gregory Vajda, David Hayes, Joseph Colaneri, Paul Nadler, and David Effron.
An active chamber musician and recitalist, Amlung has appeared in solo and chamber situations throughout the U.S. Performance venues have included Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall (New York City), Symphony Space (New York City), Civic Center Music Hall (Oklahoma City), Von Braun Center (Huntsville, AL) and also the Capital University Conservatory of Music, Texas Christian University, the University of Denver, Georgia State University, Austin Peay State University, the University of Memphis, Bard College, Murray State University, Belmont University, Wichita State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Indiana State University, Indiana University, Mannes College the New School for Music, and the University of Oklahoma.
He has competed numerous times in the National Trumpet Competition in both the Solo and Ensemble divisions. He was an Honorable Mention Finalist in the Undergraduate Division of the 2003 competition and was a member of the 2nd and 3rd place award winning University of Oklahoma Trumpet Ensemble at the 2003 and 2004 competitions, respectively. He was also a Semi-Finalist in the Solo Divisions in 2002, 2004, and 2007.

Adrienne Banks

Cello, String Quartet

Adrienne Banks

Originally from Chicago, Adrienne Banks began studying cello at the age of 9. She graduated with honors from Illinois State University, where she earned a B.M. in music performance and music therapy, studying cello under Dr. Adriana La Rosa Ransom. She was a member of the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest before moving to Texas in 2016. Adrienne has traveled around the United States and Europe to perform, including orchestral tours throughout France and Germany and as a cellist with the International Chamber Music Institute in Bulgaria. She has had the pleasure of playing for hundreds of live events, including SXSW musical festival and concert tours for major artists. She has also recorded for various artists’ albums and done live and commercial work for Amazon Prime. Adrienne has a passion for collaborating with theatre artists, having performed for numerous theatrical productions, including as the company cellist for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Adrienne has been a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) since 2014 and has worked with a wide variety of individuals and groups to bring healing through music. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, having served in multiple leadership positions and earning the Regional Alumnae Leadership Award for excellence in music and community service. She currently performs as a core cellist with Sienna String Quartet based in Austin, TX, as a substitute cellist with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, and teaches cello for Abilene ISD while maintaining a private studio.

Alex Carpenter

Flute

Alex Carpenter

Alex Carpenter, a native of Abilene, Texas, has been teaching music since 2011. She received her Bachelor of Music in flute performance and music theory/composition from Hardin-Simmons University in 2014 and her Master of Music in the same concentrations from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2019. She has taken lessons and participated in masterclasses with flutists such as Demarre McGill, Mark Sparks, Richard Sherman, and Jonathan Keeble. She has won honors in multiple solo/chamber competitions and has premiered numerous new works. While in Illinois she founded the Southern Illinois Junior Flute Choir, giving local middle and high school students the opportunity to perform flute-specific repertoire with their peers and occasional performances alongside the Southern Illinois Flute Choir, made up of amateur community members and college students. She currently is adjunct of instructor of flute at Abilene Christian University, as well as Hardin Simmons University and McMurry University.

Jeff Cottrell

Low Brass

Jeff Cottrell

Dr. Jeffrey Cottrell, adjunct professor of low brass, is an active performer, teacher and award-winning composer. At Hardin Simmons University, he serves as the associate dean of the School of Music, and teaches trombone, euphonium, and tuba, as well as composition, computer music, and the HSU Jazz Ensemble.
Dr. Cottrell performs on tuba with the Key City Brass Quintet and trombone with the “oldies” rock band Johnny D and the Doo-Wops. He also plays trombone for the local dance band Fanfare, lead trombone for the West Texas Jazz Orchestra, and trombone and euphonium with the San Angelo based combo Jazz Concho. He has performed with the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra, the Irving Symphony, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Dallas Tuba Quartet, Cap Rock Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, Martha and the Vandellas, Dash Riprock and the Dragons, the Hi Roller Band, and numerous other ensembles on trombone, euphonium, and tuba. He has been featured as a soloist with several ensembles over the years such as the San Angelo Symphony, the Mansfield Wind Symphony, the Summit High School Jazz Band, and the Hardin-Simmons Concert Band. Dr. Cottrell can be heard on recordings with the North Texas Wind Symphony for the Klavier Wind Project and the GIA Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. He has also recorded with the blues artist Keith Taylor, and for other groups such as Brave Combo, Six Flags Over Texas, and The ET’s, He is greatly in demand as a teacher and clinician across Texas, and has placed many students in the Texas All-State Band and Orchestra in addition to the Dallas Youth Orchestra and the Ft. Worth Youth Orchestra.
Jeff’s first love is composing and arranging. He has numerous published works that have been performed around the world in various venues. His compositions include works for choir, orchestra, concert band, jazz band, brass quintet, trombone ensemble, and tuba-euphonium ensemble. In 2006 he was honored with The International Tuba-Euphonium Association’s Harvey Phillips Award for Composition Excellence for euphonium featured in jazz/rock/fusion, and in 2013 his tuba-euphonium composition Tuba Loca was recorded for the CD release of Spainphonic by the internationally known Spanish euphonium artist Juan Jose Munera. He was also honored as the Texas Music Teachers Association Commissioned Composer for 2015.

Kren Fernandes

Kren Fernandes is originally from Wichita Falls, TX. She studied piano with Frances Key from age 5 through 18 years old. Frances Key was avidly involved with the Texas Music Teachers Association which allowed Kren to participate in numerous festivals, guild auditions, recitals, and competitions. This led to her involvement with Abilene Christian University’s Summer Piano Fest throughout high school. As an undergraduate at ACU she studied with Dr. Pauline Bjorem and received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. Kren went on to graduate school at Hardin-Simmons University and studied with Dr. Mark Puckett and received a Master of Music in Piano Performance in 2019. Kren has performed in numerous master classes taught by Steven Spooner, Misha Dichter, Joel Fan, Sean Chen, Dr. Jerome Reed and more. Since graduating, Kren has enjoyed settling down in Abilene where she works as an Adjunct Professor at ACU teaching Class Piano, Cornerstone, and private lessons. Kren also teaches as an adjunct at Hardin Simmons University for Class Piano and private lessons. She teaches her own private piano studio, accompanies in the school district, and is the accompanist/theory tutor for the Children’s Chorus with Chorus Abilene. Additional performances include the ACU Homecoming musical and performing with the Civic Orchestra of Abilene. She loves each of these jobs and appreciates that music holds lifelong opportunities for learning, teaching, and working. Kren enjoys finding and fostering a sense of family and community among fellow musicians, colleagues, and students.

 

Amanda Guidi

Voice

Amanda Guidi, soprano, is a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas. She is currently a voice professor at Abilene Christian, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry Universities. Most recently, Ms. Guidi performed the role of Countess in UNT Opera’s Le Nozze di Figaro. In previous seasons with UNT Opera, she performed as Elaine O’Neil (Later the Same Evening), and as Agatha (Der Freischütz) in a scenes production. Amanda has participated as a young artist at the Red River Lyric Opera, performing Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro) in 2022, La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi) in 2018 and covering the titular role of Suor Angelica in 2018. At the Eastman School, Amanda performed in a staged debut of Jake Heggie’s Into the Fire, and as a chorus member of Massenet’s Cendrillon and Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. During her time at the Eastman School, she performed in many masterclasses, including one led by the renowned opera star Renee Fleming. On the concert stage, she has performed with numerous symphony orchestras, including the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra and the Rome Symphony Orchestra. Originally from the metro-Atlanta area, Ms. Guidi founded two Title-I general music programs teaching K-6 grades. Her passion for teaching has lasted through the years, and she currently holds a position as a Teaching Fellow for the University of North Texas, where she leads a lecture class and maintains a private voice studio.

As a voice teacher, Ms. Guidi’s personal pedagogy is rooted in the well-balanced voice. Having studied bel canto technique and the writing of the great masters, she works to train each area of the voice, creating strong and flexible singers with beautiful tone, while allowing each student to come into their own as a performer.

Yuan-Hung Lin

Piano

Yuan-Hung Lin was born in Taiwan. She has been learning piano since the age of four and shows her great talent on music. In 1999, she entered Music Talent Course for Junior in Taitung and won several prizes during the years of study. In 2005, the National Taitung University gave her a title of “Music Study teacher scholarship” during her college study. Apart from learning in the University, Yuan-Hung also took part in many competitions and music festivals in United State and Europe. In 2008 she took part in “International New Tang Dynasty Television Piano competition” and was elected to represent Taiwan for the competition which held in New York city. In 2015 and 2017, Yuan-Hung has been awarded the “Taiwan Study Abroad Scholarship” from Taiwan government for supporting her study in UK and USA. While she studied in Birmingham Conservatoire, she won the Peter Donohoe piano prize in December 2015. Not only as a soloist, Yuan-Hung also perform actively as an collaborative pianist. She has worked with many instrumentalists/ singers, and she also played in different opera houses.

John Hunter

Bass

John Hunter

Coming from South Texas, John Hunter has performed with many of the regional orchestras and is an active teacher and freelancer in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Some of the orchestras he has performed with include Plano, Fort Worth, Arkansas, Shreveport, National Philharmonic and Dallas Chamber Symphonies.
John was a winner of the UT Arlington Concerto Competition, where he performed Giovanni Bottesini’s Concerto #2 in B minor for Double Bass and Orchestra. He has also attended festivals such as Brevard Music Center, PRISMA, Aruba Symphony Festival and National Music Festival and has performed with members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra alongside Pinchas Zukerman as part of their collaboration with Southern Methodist University.
John has studied with notable bassists such as Brian Perry, Jack Unzicker, Tyler Shepherd, Paul Unger and has performed in classes for Paul Ellison, Ed Barker, Craig Brown, Daniel Tosky, George Speed and many others.  He holds a bachelors in Music Education from UT Rio Grande Valley, Masters in Music from UT Arlington and a Performance Certificate from Southern Methodist University.

Bill Harden

Bassoon

Bill Harden

Bassoonist Bill Harden graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 1986 with a Bachelors in Music Education and continued his education at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music earning the Master of Music in Bassoon Performance degree in 1988.
Bill taught for 30 years in Odessa, Texas including two years as an Assistant Band Director at Odessa High School and eight years as the Band Director at Bowie Junior High School. The final twenty years, he was the Director of Bands at Odessa High School, and also served for one year as the Orchestra Director.
In addition to his duties at OHS, Mr. Harden also served as adjunct faculty at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin where he taught conducting and Secondary Music Education methods. In 2013, Mr. Harden received the Marcia McEntyre Zoffutto Hero Award for his dedication to the students in the Permian Basin. Named for the daughter of JR McEntyre, herself an award-winning Music Educator, the award is given to music educators in the Permian Basin who have devoted extensive time and energy into helping a music education program in west Texas.

He has been the Assistant Principal Bassoon in the West Texas Symphony for 29 years and served as Principal in the 1996-97 season.

Mr. Harden holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association and Phi Beta Mu, International Band Fraternity. He helped found YES West Texas and Big Country Y.E.S. (Young Educators Symposium), a series of professional development opportunities for young music educators and for the young at heart!

Susie Rockett

Oboe

Susie Rockett

Oboist Susetta Dunn Rockett currently sits in the Janeen Holms Gilliam Chair (second oboe/English horn) with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. She is also the Concert Series Coordinator at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, TX.
Ms. Rockett received her degrees in Music Education and Performance from Texas Tech University, and a Master’s in Oboe Performance with distinction from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Mass., where she studied with Wayne Rapier. Ms. Rockett has also studied English horn with David Matthews and Steven Lickman.
She is a frequent recitalist, clinician, and maintains an active teaching schedule, but most of all loves performing chamber music with her incredibly gifted colleagues – Key City Winds. Ms. Rockett lives in Abilene with her husband and two daughters who love the oboe!

Patrick Thomas

Horn

Patrick ThomasPatrick Thomas joined the Abilene Christian University faculty as Adjunct Professor of Horn in 2023. An active performer, he has played with the Abilene Philharmonic as 2nd horn since 2008. Patrick is also fortunate to be a regular performer with the Waco Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, and West Texas Symphony in Midland-Odessa. In addition to his classical horn training, he also enjoys playing piano, composing, and audio engineering.

A native Texan and son of two opera singers, Patrick grew up in the DFW metroplex and studied with Karen Houghton. After high school, he continued his education at the Eastman School of Music. Additionally, Patrick gained valuable experience as an attendee of numerous international and regional horn symposiums, as well the Aspen Music Festival, Monteux School and Music Festival, American Horn Quartet Seminar, and Summer Brass Institute. His most influential horn instructors include Mark Houghton, Eli Epstein, Julie Landsman, David Wakefield, Phil Munds, and Jeff Powers.

 

 

Dr. Bernard Scherr

Orchestration

Bernard Scherr’s catalog includes over 140 works for orchestra, orchestra and chorus, orchestra and soloist, solo voice, chorus, concert band, and various chamber ensembles. His orchestral works have been performed in California, Texas, and Europe, and he has received numerous commissions from professional and university ensembles. His chamber music has been performed across the US and abroad. His music and professional activities have been recognized in Boston, California, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Texas. He has presented research papers or presentations of his music in Portugal, Alabama, California, Oregon, Texas, and Washington State. He teaches music theory and composition courses at Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University, and McMurry University. He is the co-owner of B&D Music Services, LLC, providing streaming and recording services for art music events. He holds multiple certifications in Pro Tools and Dante. His website is: https://berniescherrcomposer.com. He earned a BA and MFA in music from UCLA, and a Ph.D. in music from the University of Oregon.

 

Erin Weber

Violin, Viola

Erin Weber

Erin E. Weberis Adjunct Professor of Violin and Viola at Abilene Christian University and recently finished a season with the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale as Principal Second Violin and Second Violin of the Permian Basin String Quartet. She earned her Master of Music degree from Texas Tech University as a teaching assistant under Professor Annie Chalex Boyle and her Bachelor of Music degree from Southwestern University, where she studied with Dr. Eri Lee Lam. While at Texas Tech University, Erin performed outreach concerts in West Texas communities as a member of the Texas Tech University String Quartet and served the Texas Tech University String Project as a violin instructor and graphic designer.
In 2009 Erin won the concerto competition at Southwestern University and was the featured soloist with the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra as the Amarillo Symphony Guild’s Young Artist competition winner in 2008. Erin has frequently accompanied chorales such as the Lubbock Chorale and Amarillo Master Chorale, and has performed chamber music concerts with Chamber Music Amarillo and as a guest artist of the Lake City Arts Chamber Music Series in Colorado. As an orchestral musician she has performed with multiple ensembles, including the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, the Amarillo Symphony, and the Austin Civic Orchestra. Her previous orchestral leadership roles include serving as Acting Concertmaster of Lubbock Symphony, Co-Concertmaster of the Texas Tech University Symphony Orchestra, and Co-Concertmaster and Principal Second of the Southwestern University Orchestra. Erin has also engaged in several national and international music festivals, including the Round Top Festival Institute, Lake City String Academy, Hot Springs Festival, Madeleine Island Chamber Music Camp, and the IES Vienna Summer Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. She has had the privilege of performing in masterclasses for such teachers as Thomas Rosenburg, Paul Cantor, Charlie Castleman, and Kevork Madirossian. Her pre-collegiate teachers include Beverly de la Bretonne, who reared her in the Amarillo College Suzuki Program from age 3, and Dr. Keith Redpath.
Nurturing students’ creativity and facilitating their musical expression through developing reliable technique are Erin’s principle motivations for teaching.

Staff

 

Laura Dickson
Administrative Assistant

Carole Houston
Financial Manager

 

Mark Sanders

Marc Sanders is a collaborative pianist from Albany, Texas. He currently serves as the Coordinator of Collaborative Piano at Abilene Christian University. Before his current appointment, Marc held positions as staff accompanist at both Hardin-Simmons & McMurry Universities, where he maintained a prolific performance schedule. Performance opportunities there included undergraduate, graduate, and faculty recitals, studio classes, musicals, and accompanying choral ensembles. It was during his time at HSU that he discovered his passion for collaboration.

He is also an active church musician, having held positions as pianist or organist for over twenty-five years. He has been the pianist at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene since 2006. He tours and performs with their high school choir every summer.

Other musical endeavors have included work with Civic Orchestra of Abilene, the Abilene Philharmonic, the Church of the Heavenly Rest recital series, TMEA, North Central Texas College, KCACTF, the Point Theatre, Abilene Community Theatre, the Paramount Theatre, and Red River Lyric Opera. One of the highlights of his career came in 2011, when he had the unique opportunity to perform Jefferson Todd Frazier’s “Buffalo Altar” alongside actor Barry Corbin as part of the Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas.

Marc Sanders is a collaborative pianist from Albany, Texas. He currently serves as the Coordinator of Collaborative Piano at Abilene Christian University. Before his current appointment, Marc held positions as staff accompanist at both Hardin-Simmons & McMurry Universities, where he maintained a prolific performance schedule. Performance opportunities there included undergraduate, graduate, and faculty recitals, studio classes, musicals, and accompanying choral ensembles. It was during his time at HSU that he discovered his passion for collaboration. He is also an active church musician, having held positions as pianist or organist for over twenty-five years. He has been the pianist at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene since 2006. He tours and performs with their high school choir every summer. Other musical endeavors have included work with Civic Orchestra of Abilene, the Abilene Philharmonic, the Church of the Heavenly Rest recital series, TMEA, North Central Texas College, KCACTF, the Point Theatre, Abilene Community Theatre, the Paramount Theatre, and Red River Lyric Opera. One of the highlights of his career came in 2011, when he had the unique opportunity to perform Jefferson Todd Frazier’s “Buffalo Altar” alongside actor Barry Corbin as part of the Langdon Review of the Arts in Texas.

When he’s not on the bench, Marc loves spending time with his family. His hobbies include collecting vinyl records, watching baseball, and finding new ways to connect with the community.