Wendy Blackwood – Piano
Ms. Blackwood received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education with a piano proficiency and her Master of Music in Piano Performance from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.  Her teachers include Gigi Stavros Darr, Alice Gingery, Susan Kindall, and David Lehman.  In addition, she has performed in master classes under Edward Gates, Milton Stern, Terwilliger and Cooperstock, and Weekley and Arganbright.
                                    
Ms. Blackwood began playing piano at an early age and was playing for her church by age nine.  She accompanied her church and school choirs and was sought out as an accompanist for solo and ensemble recitals and concerts through graduate school.  She began teaching piano in high school and is currently a member of the Music Teachers National Association.  Along with piano, Ms. Blackwood plays the clarinet and has participated in community bands and orchestras in Illinois, South Carolina, and Ohio both as performer and conductor.  She and her husband, Nathan, reside in Athens.

 

Elizabeth Braun – ACMS Director, Orchestra Director, Clarinet
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Michigan, Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Wisconsin, and will complete her PhD in Music Education at The Ohio State University in 2007. Prior to coming to Athens, Mrs. Braun taught both band and orchestra in the public schools of Michigan, Virginia, and Wisconsin for 10 years and taught at James Madison University.  Additionally, she served as an Administrative Intern and Coordinator of Administrative Interns for the Boston Symphony Orchestra—Tanglewood. Elizabeth has been a guest clinician/lecturer and guest conductor in Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Louisiana and has presented research at several conferences as well as published in Contributions to Music Education and The Fingerboard.

 

Carole Cordray-Syracuse – Piano
Carole holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees from Kent State University where her principal teachers were Margaret Baxtresser, Tung Kwong-Kwong, and Ruth Laredo.  As an accomplished accompanist, she has performed throughout the Mid-West. Mrs. Syracuse is a nationally certified MTNA piano teacher and is a member of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs.

 

Ivy Crockron – Voice
Ivy Crockron is an affiliate faculty member with the Athens Community Music School. She holds Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Music Education and Performance from Ohio University and will complete her master's degree in 2006.  Crockron is a lifelong vocalist, singing in her home and in the church since she was a child, and she has been teaching privately and group singing in the Athens area for 10 years, in addition to singing roles in numerous operas and musical theater productions.  She also serves as vocal director for Banners of Praise, the praise and worship team for Grace Christian Center.

Katherine Fisher – Piano
Katherine Fisher is an affiliate faculty member of the Athens Community Music School at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.  Her responsibilities include teaching private piano lessons and leading group classes for adult pianists, as well as coordinating the Piano Preparatory Program for children who are beginners at the instrument.  A native of Ohio, Katherine obtained her degrees from the University of Oklahoma (Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy) and the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance).  Her former teachers include Jeongwon Ham, Jane Magrath, Barbara Fast, Karin R. Edwards, and Nancy Bachus. Katherine performs actively as an accompanist at Ohio University.  She also collaborates frequently with pianist and husband Christopher Fisher as part of the Fisher Piano Duo.  Additionally, Katherine adjudicates piano festivals and competitions throughout the Midwestern United States.  She is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association.

 

Laura Geier – Violin
Laura Geier, violinist, is a native of Logan, Utah. She holds a Master’s Degree in Music Performance and Pedagogy from Ohio University where she studied under Prof. Marjorie Bagley and a BA in Music from Rice University. She has performed with the Brevard Festival Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra in Colorado, River City Symphony, Huntington Symphony and Ohio Valley Symphony where she served as Assistant Concertmaster last season. She is currently a member of the first violin section in the West Virginia Symphony. This past summer Laura participated in Mark O’Conner’s Fiddle Camp 2007 and received training at the American Suzuki Institute. She is currently teaching with an emphasis in Suzuki but is open to giving fiddle instruction as well.

 

John Horne – Guitar
A 1992 graduate of Duquesne University School of Music in Pittsburgh, guitarist John Horne now resides in Athens, Ohio performing regularly and running a bustling teaching practice. In addition to teaching classes for Athens Community Music School, John has led workshops for students at the National Guitar Workshop and Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp. John also presents guitar “informances” in area schools teaching students about the instrument’s rich history. For more information visit: www.johnhorneguitar.com .

 

Melanie Horne – Athens Children’s Chorus Director, KidSing! Instructor
Mrs. Horne is in her seventh year as director of the Athens Children’s Chorus and her 10th year teaching K-6 general music at East and West Elementary schools in Athens. In addition, Mrs. Horne has taught K-8 general music in schools in the Pittsburgh area, worked as a church organist and choir director, and served as accompanist and intern with Children’s Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh, as well as accompanist of Hocking County Children’s Chorus.  Mrs. Horne holds a B.S. in Music Education from Duquesne University and a Master of Music Education with Kodaly Emphasis from Capital University, where she was the recipient of the Gregory Von Stein Scholarship.  She holds a Level 3 Kodaly Certificate and Level 2 Orff Certification as well as memberships in the Organization of Kodaly Educators, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, American Choral Director’s Association, and Music Educators National Conference.

 

Angela Leising – Piano, Children's Chorus Accompanist
Ms. Leising teaches private and group piano and is active as a choral, instrumental, and vocal accompanist. She holds degrees in piano performance and pedagogy from Ohio University and University of Nebrasaka at Kearney. Past teachers include Gail Berenson, Valerie Cisler, Nathan Buckner and Sharon Lueking. She spends her  summers on the faculty of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. She has accompanied the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Choir for its performances in Germany, France, and Denmark. A member of Music Teachers National Association, Angela was awarded the MTNA StAR Award for excellence in teaching and academic achievement.

 

Marsha Reilly – Piano
Mrs. Reilly has been teaching for 30 years in Athens, OH. Nationally Certified by Music Teachers National Association, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Millikin University and a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University.  Additional study was with Gail Berenson at Ohio University.  In 2004, she was named Teacher of the Year from the Southeast District of Ohio Music Teachers Association. As an active member of that organization, she has served in various offices and is currently treasurer.   Through this organization as well as the West Virginia Music Teachers Association, Mrs. Reilly’s students have many opportunities for performance.  For many years her students have provided music for the Athens Middle School graduation.  She is also active in the National Guild of Piano Teachers, Federation of Music Clubs, and American Guild of Organists. She is a frequent adjudicator for Guild auditions and Junior Festival. In addition, she is currently in her 27th year as the Organist-Choir Master at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Athens.    She also operates “Kindermusik with Marsha Reilly” with classes at the Dairy Barn Cultural Activities center in Athens.

 

Janice Marilyn Remonko – Piano (On leave for 2007-2008)
Mrs. Remonko was Founder and Director of the Athens Community Music School for 26 years—she retired from that position in July 2005 although she continues as a piano instructor for ACMS. Marilyn has a Master of Music Education degree from West Virginia University and has taught piano for 42 years. She is a nationally certified member of MTNA.

Greg Sigman – Saxophone and Music Theory
Greg Sigman earned the Master of Music degree in saxophone performance at Ohio University in 1995 as a pupil of Allyn Reilly. He then did what many classical saxophonists who wish to eat regularly do- he got a day job. Greg serves as senior library associate for the Ohio University Music/Dance Library, the perfect position for someone with a love of music and of the printed page. Greg has taught saxophone for the Athens Community Music School since 1989. He remains active as a performer and may be seen locally as a member of the Athenian Saxophone Quartet, the No Name Big Band, and as a soloist. On the road, Greg has appeared around the state of Ohio as well as at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Northwestern University, Oberlin College, Kansas City (Kansas) Community College, the "Eyeclopes" art gallery in  Fredericksburg, VA, and the "Barbes" club in Brooklyn, NY.

School of Muisc
Robert Glidden Hall,
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio 45701