West Chester, Ohio         513-829-2345

Faculty

Patsy Rabinowitz - Piano, MYC
Patsy Rabinowitz is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music with a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati of the College Conservatory of Music where she was a recipient of a Van Cliburn Scholarship. She studied with David Bar-Illan and Bela Siki and has taught privately for 30 plus years. She has appeared as soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and was named Ohio Music Teacher of the Year for 2005-2006 by the Ohio Music Teachers Association. She has served as the president of the Ohio Music Teachers Association, Southwest District, and has served on the executive board of the Ohio Music Teachers Association.

Wen-Mi Chen - Piano, Clarinet
Wen-Mi Chen is currently a Clarinet Doctoral Candidate and Music Theory Ph.D. student at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), University of Cincinnati. She received her B.M. and M.M. degrees in Clarinet Performance and Music Theory Pedagogy from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University, and graduated with the highest grade point average in her class. Ms. Chen has won several national competitions, and has performed with the Houston Symphony Orchestra and Landon Symphonette in Bethesda, Maryland. In addition, she works closely with CCM Dance Department and Cincinnati Ballet Company. Ms. Chen has taught Undergraduate Music Theory and Musicianship classes at Peabody and CCM. Besides playing clarinet and piano, she serves as a member of program committee and paper reader in CCM Music Theory & Musicology Society and participates in several professional affiliations, including International Clarinet Association, Society for Music Theory, and Dana Foundation.

Rick Humphreys - Piano
Rick Humphreys received his Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Ohio University in Athens, OH in 1974. He has had the opportunity to both teach and direct individuals and groups of all ages. His piano students have ranged from 3 to 60+ years old. His vocal coaching has encompassed children, youth, and adults. He spent 3 years as the American musical trainer for the India Children's Choir. Rick has taught preschool music education classes as well as general elementary music classes. Rick's approach to music education is one of facilitating enjoyment and early success, combing the interests and desires of the student with proven technical, rudimentary, and theory skills. Though teaching music is a serious passion with Rick, he encourages and fosters a relaxed, fun approach with his students.

Ingrid Keller - Piano
Ms. Keller a native of Boston, Massachusetts, began her musical studies at age three and has taught piano for nearly ten years. She received her Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude, from Northwestern University. While there, she was nominated by the faculty as one of their most outstanding pianists to participate in the 2002 Thaivu-Isaac Competition, which she won. Ms. Keller earned a Master of Music degree and a Performer Diploma at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, under the tutelage of Menahem Pressler. She has received numerous prizes and honors including first place in the MTNA East Central Division in 2004. In January of 2009, she was the resident coach/accompanist for Indianapolis Opera's Young Artist Program and was a 2009 Piano Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. Ms. Keller is currently an active recitalist and is a doctoral candidate at Indiana University.

Joanna Klett - Piano, MYC, Cello
Joanna Klett, originally from Strawberry Point, IA, began studying piano at the age of six. Initially she pursued a degree in Piano Performance at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI before transferring to Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI where she received a Bachelors in Music Performance. After moving to Oxford, OH, she completed her Masters in Cello Performance at Miami University. Throughout her high school and college careers, Joanna has enjoyed serving as both a vocal and instrumental accompanist in addition to teaching private students.

Susan Little - Piano, Flute
Susan has a Bachelor of Music from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a concentration in piano, flute, and voice. She received her Masters in Education, with honors, from the College of Mt. St. Joseph, with a concentration in teacher effectiveness. During her 30 years in public school music, Susan was responsible for introducing and developing programs in vocal & instrumental music and Broadway musicals. She also hosted OMEA Solo & Ensemble Contests, co-hosted National OMEA-MENC Conventions, was the chair of National MENC performance groups, and developed the private instruction programs at many high schools. While Susan was teaching at Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati for 18 years, she performed with her choirs and bands in London, England; Paris, France; Granada, Spain; Merida, Capital of the Yucatan Pen, Mexico; Quebec City & Montreal, Canada; and throughout the continental United States.

Natalie McAllister - Piano
Natalie McAllister, a native of the Republic of Georgia/former Soviet Union, started her music education at the age of five, taking lessons in piano, theory, music history, and solfege. As a youth, she played recitals and concertos with symphonies around the country. In 1980 she graduated from the Tbilisi Conservatory with a Masters of Music degree in Piano Performance. From 1980-1996 she worked as a piano teacher and accompanist with the Philharmonic Society of Georgia. At the same time, she was a postgraduate student in the Faculty of Aesthetics at the Tbilisi Conservatory. In 1997 she immigrated to the United States. She continues to work as a teacher, pianist, and accompanist for the Western Hills Christian Church.

Shannon Schneider - Piano, Oboe
Shannon has studied piano from age five and oboe from age eleven. She continued her studies and received her Bachelor of Music Performance from Ohio University in 2002. Shannon has studied oboe with Donna Conaty, Ohio University, Mark Ostoich, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Martin Schuring, Arizona State University. She began teaching both oboe and piano prior to attending college and throughout her college years. She combines music theory, appreciation and technique in her teaching to provide a well-rounded experience. Shannon loves to see students learn and to pass on the gift of music which she received from her mentors.

Jenna Schwenk - Piano, MYC, Music Pups Director
A graduate of Miami University in Oxford, OH Jenna Schwenk has studied piano since age five. Jenna is certified as a Music for Young Children instructor and a Music Pups instructor. She has won numerous competitions, and has attended summer camps and workshops. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and serves as the Event Chair of the OMTA Masquerade Musicale. She teaches private and group piano lessons.

Denise Whittington - Piano
Denise Whittington is currently working on a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Organ Performance at the University of Cincinnati-Conservatory of Music. Denise has a variety of teaching experience including private piano teaching for twenty years, general music for ten years and work with special needs students from birth to age 15. She has also held church positions and directed choirs from age 5 to 85 for the last twenty years.

She holds a Master of Church Music from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and a Bachelor of Piano Performance and Bachelor in Music Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Denise's piano teachers include Raymond Herbert, Maurice Hinson and Elizabeth Pridonoff and her organ teachers include Boyd Jones, James Rightmyer and Roberta Gary.

Rae Jean Auterman - MYC, Voice, Piano
Rae Jean Auterson, a native of Indiana, has spent over 30 years in the music industry including performing, musical theatre, music education and private teaching. Rae Jean graduated Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and continued her education at Ball State University with graduate classes. She was honored with the best vocalist award in 2004 and was named to the National Scholars Honor Society in 2008. She also received Who's Who Among American Teachers award in 2007. Rae Jean has traveled the world and nation, singing and dancing on cruise ships, cabaret shows, tour groups and theatre. She has worked four summers at Stage Door Manor in New York, musical directing Bye Bye Birdie, Cabaret, Once on this Island, and Celebration, among others. A Composer, Lyricist and Poet, Rae Jean brings her knowledge of music to the many students who desire to learn and experience all the wonderful things that the arts have to offer.

Mary McGrath - Voice
Mary McGrath, originally from Council Bluffs, IA comes from a diverse musical background. While attending the University of Iowa, she received her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance and peformed as Venus in the opera Dido and Aeneas, as well as in the Pirates of Penzance and Amahl and the Night Visitors. Also during that time, Mary co-founded the jazz performance group, 'Alone and Together,' which performed at venues in the local music scene of Iowa City. She studied traditional Irish folk music at the University College Cork in Cork, Ireland in Spring of 2007. She was the lead singer of the Cincinnati based band Kid Jupiter from October 2008 through April 2009. Mary also facilitated music therapy groups for St. Joseph Orphanage from February 2008 through February 2010. Currently, Mary sings in the traditional Latin mass of Immaculate Conception Church in Omaha, Nebraska whenever visiting her hometown. She is the graduation ceremony vocalist for Brown Mackie College in Northern Kentucky, and she provides vocals for various private events in the surrounding areas.

Mary Ann Powers - Voice
Soprano Mary Ann Powers is a performer of a diverse variety of repertoire from a Modern Music Chamber recital to a Bach Chamber Music recital at the historic King's Chapel in Boston, MA. She has premiered works by Matthew McConnell, Derek Jacoby, and Stanly Hoffman at the Lily Pad, Jordan Hall and the Boston Center for the Arts, and has also sung with Schola Nocturna, which is a group that specializes in Early Music. Some of Ms. Powers' operatic repertoire includes Lucy from The Telephone, La Musica from L'Orfeo, Josephine from Story of an Hour (premiere). Her most influential vocal training has been from Constance Rock, William Cotten, Patricia Pease and Christina Wartenberg. She has been coached by Sylvia McClain, Matthew Larson, Michael Strauss, Terry Decima, and Patricia Weimann, and worked under the stage direction of Gary Durham, Marc Astafan, Bob Winters, and Roger Stephens. Ms. Powers holds a MM in Vocal Performance and a MM in Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory of Music, and a BM in Vocal Performance from Ohio University in Athens, OH.

Bethany Smith - Voice
Bethany Smith is originally from Syracuse, NY and graduated with a B.A. in Voice Performance from Manhattanville College. She performed with the American Singer's Opera Project in New York as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel and Mary Warren in The Crucible. Smith sang the roles of Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Katisha in The Mikado, as well as roles in various musical theatre productions. She holds a MM in Music History from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, and has recently finished coursework toward a Ph.D. in Musicology at CCM with a focus on American popular music. She studied voice with Esther Jane Hardenbergh, Karen Lykes, and Nancy Stokes-Milnes, and worked with coaches Eugene Cline, Marijo Newman, and Eugene Sabo. Smith has been teaching since 1996 in a variety of vocal styles from classical and opera to Broadway and pop.

Davis McKinney - Trumpet, French Horn, Piano
Davis McKinney has been playing trumpet for 18 years and piano for nearly as long. A graduate of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH, he completed his Masters Degree in trumpet performance there while studying with Charles Saenz. He also accompanied many students for various juries, recitals, and other performances.

A native of the Cleveland, OH area, Davis first attended school at Miami University in Oxford, OH, studying with James Olcott and Dr. Robert Thomas while working on his Bachelors Degree in Music Education. While in school he had the privilege to perform with various orchestras in the area, specifically the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, the Middletown Symphony Orchestra, and the Lebanon Symphony Orchestra. After student teaching and graduation, he taught private lessons in the Dayton, OH area before moving to Bowling Green to further his education.

Michael Winland - French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, Saxophone
Michael Winland grew up as part of a musical family in Parkersburg, WV. Upon receiving his B.A cum laude from Marshall University in Huntington, WV in 2001, while serving as a graduate assistant in Cleveland, Michael studied horn performance with Allen DeMattia, Associate Principal Horn of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra. He has taught choir, band, orchestra and general music for the Diocese of Columbus, Columbus Public Schools, and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. In 2008, Michael received his Master of Education degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. Michael has always been an active performer, performing in ensembles ranging from brass quintets to symphony orchestras as both a performer and conductor. He currently sings in the well-respected adult choir of Christ Church Glendale and completed a choral residency at England's Wells Cathedral several summers ago. Michael passes on his enthusiasm and performing expertise by sharing his experience through private and group lessons in voice, horn, trumpet and trombone.

Jeff Brown - Guitar, Bass Guitar
Jeff obtained a Bachelor of Music from the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati (UC). His degree concentrated in classical repertoire and in performance under the stewardship of Professor Clare Callahan. Before his training at UC, he studied privately with a variety of teachers. From those influences he absorbed a number of styles including blues, rock, progressive, bluegrass, country and classical. Jeff has been a performer for over ten years, performing solo and in rock n roll bands throughout the city of Cincinnati. In addition to private instruction, he would often organize concerts for his students in which to perform. Through his instruction, Jeff's students learn to appreciate the value of the performance as the ultimate goal of learning how to play. He welcomes anyone who is willing to learn.

Chad Fagerland - Guitar
Chad's love for guitar began as a middle school student in the dorm rooms of the Ivory Coast Academy in West Africa. His development process ranged from the basement to the stage. With 25 years of experience, Chad has taught guitar in homes and academies across the Tri-State. In 2000, he recorded a live album entitled "Life of Fire." He has played in bands and led worship in a variety of venues from coffee shops, auditoriums, gymnasiums to churches. His passion is to develop students in their appreciation for music and talent for playing guitar.

Ian Ross - Guitar
Ian Ross is an Ohio based guitarist who plays rock, blues, funk, jazz, pop, classical, and bluegrass. He is also an accomplished vocalist and composer/arranger. He currently has songs registered at BMI and has written music for radio, T.V. and film. Ian has opened up for such national acts as Johnny Winter, Ted Nugent, Deep Purple, Earth Wind and Fire, Henry Townsend, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. His original rock project, The Lucky 13 Band has won numerous awards and accolades, including Best Rock Band at the Cleveland Music Festival in 2002. Ian was personally invited to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group went on to record their first EP with Grammy-award winning producer/engineer Jim Gaines. Ian is a graduate of the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where he studied jazz guitar performance with professor James Smith. His jazz organ trio has played such music festivals as the Big Bend Jazz & Blues Fest & Midpoint Music Festival. He has studied privately with jazz legend Pat Martino, Peter Bernstein, Dan Faehnle & Wilbert Longmire, and virtuoso country guitarist Scotty Anderson.

Ian Smith - Guitar
Ian specializes in acoustic guitar instruction for both children and adults, and has a passion for helping children discover and develop their music ability. A Northern Kentucky native, Ian has been making music and working with children for over ten years. Ian served as a special education teacher for three years before moving on to his current focus of music and fitness/activity based after-school and summer programming for elementary students. He has worked with several grant-funded programs including Fitness Rocks and Let it Shine, and has led classes in African drumming for children and the elderly. Ian also regularly performs at various venues in the Cincinnati area as singer, guitarist and percussionist for his band, Red Meets Green. Ian graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts in Radio and Television in 2001, and has completed several graduate courses in Special Education.

Peter Pizzuto - Drums
Peter Pizzuto grew up in Seattle, WA where his love for music began. He was drawn to the drums and now has 15 years of experience. Peter nationally toured and performed at a variety of professional venues ranging from music clubs to large festivals as the original drummer of the band Acceptance. During his time with Acceptance, he recorded several albums in the studio. Since then, Peter has continued to play regularly for adults and students at churches throughout the country.

Tera Hamilton - Violin, Viola
Tera Hamilton graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a degree in Music Education. She also pursued graduate studies in violin performance and education at Kent State University. She has studied with Ronald Konieczka (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra), Si-Hon Ma (Kent State University) and Bernhard Goldschmidt (Cleveland Orchestra). Tera directed the orchestra program in Wooster, Ohio and later joined the faculty at Kent State University, Stark Campus, and taught Suzuki violin. She helped start a Suzuki Program at Southern Illinois University, while she was teaching at Unity Point School District and directing the Carbondale Community High School Orchestra. Currently, Tera maintains a private studio through Princeton High School in Cincinnati since 1982 and has taught many outstanding young people. Her students have been in Cincinnati Jr. Strings, Cincinnati Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Regional and State Orchestras. She has performed with the Canton Symphony Orchestra and is currently performing with the Middletown Symphony Orchestra, Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra, Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra and Lebanon Symphony Orchestra.

Minhwa Kim - Violin, Viola
Minhwa Kim received a Masters Degree in Violin performance and is soon to receive Doctor of Musical Arts from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She has extensive experience teaching Violin and Viola, chamber music, music history, and theory. As a performer, she is active as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. As a soloist, she has international experience which includes recitals in South Korea, Poland, China, and the United States. She performed the W.A.Mozart Violin Concerto No.5 with the University of Ewha Womans Orchestra in Korea and the E. Lalo Symphonie Espagnole with the Korean-American Symphony Orchestra. Minhwa teaches a wide variety of students ranging from young children to graduate level. She plays with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Kentucky symphony Orchestra and Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra. She was awarded the Starling Scholarship at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and was a Concerto Competition winner at the Ewha University in Seoul, Korea.

Adam Butalewicz - Clarinet, Saxophone
Adam Butalewicz, a native of Richmond VA, is a high-energy and passionately driven clarinetist. Currently working on his doctorate in clarinet performance at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, he maintains a busy schedule of performing and teaching both nationally and internationally. He is a winner of numerous concerto and chamber music competitions. A strong advocate of music education, he is continually searching for new ways to inspire and enlighten students to the joy of music. Adam holds a bachelors degree in clarinet performance from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Masters degree in clarinet performance from Ithaca College. His principle teachers include Ixi Chen, Michael Galvan, and Charles West; additional studies with Richie Hawley, Kenneth Grant, David Neithamer, and Sandra Rivers.

Hee Jin Yoon - Harp
Harpist Hee Jin Yoon graduated in 2006 with a Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music as a student of Gillian Benet Sella of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. She also received her Performance Diploma from Indiana University with Distinguished Professor, Susann McDonald, and a Bachelor's Degree from Seoul National University. She has won Honorable Mention in the 2007 Victor Salvi Awards, 2nd prize in the 1998 Kyung-won Music Competition, and 3rd prize in the Busan MBC Broadcast competition. She was among the 12 finalists of the American Harp Society Anne Adams Harp Competition in 1006. Yoon is a very active harpist as a solo, orchestra and chamber musician. As an orchestral soloist, she performed Debussy's Dance sacree et profane with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, Handel's Concerto Op. 4. No 6 with the Korean Symphony Orchestra, and Ravel's Introduction and Allegro, Lutoslawski's Double Concerto for Oboe, Harp with the CCM Concert-Chamber Orchestra. Yoon is the principle harpist of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra and she has played in many orchestras. Currently, she is pursuing her Doctoral Degree from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.

Terah Herman - Acting Classes
Terah Herman completed her Master's Degree in Theatre at the University of Kentucky where she received a full tuition fellowship. While at UK she worked as a teaching assistant for Vocal Production, Directing, and Theatre History. She has presented her research at several professional conferences including The Comparative Drama Conference in Los Angeles, California. She received her undergraduate degree in Theatre and Religion from Capital University where she was a Collegiate Fellowship winner. Terah has acted, directed and taught professionally in various theatres around the region. Her favorite leading roles have included Nina in The Seagull, Alice in Closer and Inez in No Exit.

Cindy Hoffmann - Music Pups
Cindy Hoffmann received her undergraduate degree in Music from Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. Her concentration was in vocal performance and Music Therapy. She studied under Walter Blazer, Chairman of the Vocal Department at Manhattan School of Music, NYC. She also studied Music and Performing Arts at Trent Park College in London, England and won the Bronze Medal in Recitation of Prose and Poetry from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Cindy earned her Masters in Clinical Social Work from Rutgers University, is a Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor and has enjoyed an almost-20 year career as a Music-Play Therapist as well as a Child and Family Psychotherapist. She is a firm believer in the power of music for people of all ages.