Music Faculty

Faculty

Dina Barone

Adjunct Instructor, Voice and Choral Ensembles

Directory entry  About Dina Barone

Professor Barone, Contralto, is a professional musician, performer & educator who has vast experience in Concert, Opera and Music Theatre. She has a Bachelor of Music in voice performance, a Bachelor of Music Literature both from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music in Opera – Voice from the Hartt School of Music, extensive post-graduate studies in New York City as a private student and associate teacher of internationally renowned, master teacher, David Jones. 

As a faculty member of the Grammy Award Winning Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, FL, for five years, many of her students were accepted into music and theatre programs at various colleges and universities & many received talent scholarships & won competitions such as The Grady Rayam Prize in Vocal Performance. 

Her professional students have performed at such venues as the prestigious internationally acclaimed Metropolitan Opera in New York City, The Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C, on Broadway and with regional opera and theatre companies throughout the United States. 

Highlights from her professional singing career include performances at Carnegie Hall in New York, NY, Lincoln Center, New York, NY, The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France, The Caramoor International Music Festival in Katonah, NY & Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, NY as well as tours throughout North America, South America and Europe. Opera roles include Carmen & Mercedes in Bizet’s Carmen, Rosina in Rossini’s, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Cherubino & Marcellina in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Bradamante, in Handel’s Alcina, Third Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflȍte, Suzuki in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Maddalena in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff & Prince Orlofsky in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. Music Theatre & Operetta roles include Pitty Sing in The Mikado, Casilda in The Gondoliers, Iolanthe in Iolanthe, Maria von Trappe in The Sound of Music, Julie Jordon in Carousel, Laurie & Ado Anni in Oklahoma, Marion in The Music Man, Grace in Annie, Ms. Potts in Beauty and the Beast and Earth Mother and Iowa Housewife in Menopause the Musical. Concert/Oratorio solo performances include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mahler’s Second Symphony, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Harmoniemesse, Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity, Mozart’s Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria. & various Bach Cantatas. 

Locally, she has performed Third Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Sally in Barber’s A Hand of Bridge as part of The Cummer Family Foundation Chamber Series, Marcellina in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” with First Coast Oper, Dr Faulk, a gender bender role in “Die Fledermaus” with the University of North Florida’s Opera Theater & “Contralto Classics” a recital of music written for the rare Contralto voice at Jacksonville University & University of North Florida. 

Professor Barone is a member of Actors Equity Association, American Guild of Musical Artists, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Vocal Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. 

Kimberly Beasley

Professor of Music, Voice and Musical Theatre

• • Directory entry About Kimberly Beasley
  • Professor Beasley teaches in the Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance programs at JU. Her voice students can be seen performing in Broadway tours, on cruise ships, as members of young artist programs, in television and film, as well as with equity theaters across the country. An award-winning director, her productions are a highlight of her activities at JU. 
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Morgan Maxwell Blackman

Adjunct Instructor, Music Therapy

Professor Blackman is a medical music therapist who specializes in critical care, medically complex patients, and individuals with ASD. Morgan’s passion in music therapy is founded in helping individuals feel seen and known. She is in the process of obtaining her Master’s Degree in Music Therapy from Duquesne University. Morgan actively advocates in and outside of her hospital system, supporting music therapy on a community level. She is the cohost of MTPT Pod, a podcast created to support the gap from student to professional. She works in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, and Outpatient Behavioral Health areas. Her current position allows her to engage in program development, direct patient care, and peer supervision. Through her work as a Board Certified Music Therapist, she honors her passion for pediatric patients and their families. 

Aaron Brask

Adjunct Instructor, Horn

Directory entry  About Aaron Brask

Mr. Brask is a member of the Jacksonville Symphony and the Glimmerglass Festival. He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy and Boston University. A former member of the Florida Orchestra, he also toured Germany twice with Pepe Romero and the American Sinfonietta. Mr. Brask teaches at Jacksonville University and Florida State College at Jacksonville. Four CD releases in a wide variety of musical styles as well as other info can be found at Last Horn.com

Michelle Brock-Kemp

Adjunct Instructor, Voice

Directory entry  About Michelle Brock-Kemp

Michelle Brock Kemp holds a Bachelor’s degree in Voice and Clarinet from the Florida State University School of Music, Graduate Work from Florida State University in Voice, and a MM in voice from Florida International University. Her voice teachers include, Dr. Carole Clifford, Roy Delp from Florida State University and Dr. Craig Maddox from Stetson University. Michelle particularly enjoys featuring new works by living composers. 

Richard Brooks

Adjunct Instructor, Property Law

Richard Brooks, Esq., is a member of the Florida Bar in October 2014 and went on to establish St. Augustine Law Group, PA in 2015. Since founding the firm, Richard has adeptly represented hundreds of clients, including various business entities and creative professionals, offering invaluable advice on general business issues and specializing in intellectual property matters related to trademarks and copyrights. Richard has been teaching at Jacksonville University since the spring semester of 2020 and has greatly enjoyed the opportunity to teach and mentor students as they take meaningful steps forward toward their career goals

Julian Bryson

Director of Choral Activities

 About Julian Bryson

Dr. Bryson leads vocal ensembles at JU including the University Singers, Choral Union, and Infinitus — JU’s student-led, new music, choral collective comprised of singers, instrumentalists, and composers. His conducting experience spans grades 4-12, church music programs, operas, and musical theatre, and he earned a 2nd place finish in the Dale Warland Award for Collegiate Choral Conducting. He holds a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Kentucky, writing his dissertation on choral collectives. As a composer he has earned awards and commissions from ACDA, the American Prize, Yale Glee Club, Florida All-State Choirs, and San Jacinto College, among others.

Stephen Chapman

Collaborative Artist

Chi-Yin Chen

Collaborative Artist

Chris Creswell

Music Education, Athletic Band Director

• Directory entry  About Chris Creswell
• Professor Creswell is an accomplished trombonist, composer, visual designer and educator. He teaches in the BME and Music Technology programs and manages the JU Athletic Band, Ripcurrent. He also writes marching band drill design, custom arrangements, and original compositions for high school and college bands. He has been distributed by 8press and Marching Show Concepts. 

Stephen Fennell

Collaborative Artist

• Directory entry  About Stephen Fennell

Christopher Graham

Adjunct Instructor, Trombone/Euphonium

Christopher Graham has been on faculty at Jacksonville University since 2021, serving as low brass instructor and chamber music coach. He holds the position of principal trombone of the Jacksonville Symphony, as well as the Coastal Symphony of Georgia. Previously he held positions in the Erie Philharmonic, Akron Symphony, and Canton Symphony. He has performed with The Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and more. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Chris received his Bachelor of Music from McGill University, where he studied with James Box, principal trombone of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Chris earned a Master of Music degree and an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Richard Stout, second trombone of The Cleveland Orchestra.

See Chris Graham's Jacksonville Symphony web page.

Patrick Graham

Adjunct Instructor, Clarinet

Patrick Graham has been a member of Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra since 2017, following his tenure in the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been heard on Canada’s national CBC Radio as well as Chicago’s WFMT Radio and Jacksonville’s WJCT Radio. As a recitalist and chamber musician, Patrick has appeared in both the United States and Canada. He has also been heard with the Naples Philharmonic, The Florida Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, and Canada’s National Arts Center Orchestra. In 2012, Patrick was selected as the winner of the International Clarinet Association’s Orchestra Audition Competition.  A native of Ottawa, Canada, Patrick completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Ottawa with Kimball Sykes, Principal Clarinet of the National Arts Center Orchestra. He earned his Master of Music degree at Northwestern University in Chicago under the guidance of Steve Cohen and Lawrie Bloom. For two summers, Patrick was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center where he was awarded the Gino B. Cioffi Prize for Outstanding Woodwind Performance.  Patrick has given several guest masterclasses and has been on faculty at Rollins College and Eastern Florida State College. He is a Buffet Crampon USA Artist.

Jianjun He

Professor of Music, Composition and Theory

• Directory entry  About Jianjun He
• Dr. He teaches composition and theory courses at JU. His more than 80 compositions, written for a variety of media, have
  been featured at numerous new music-related festivals and conferences, including nine performances at the Society of Composers, Inc. and College Music Society national conferences. The yearly New Music concert at JU highlights the student composers from Dr. He’s studio. 

Kayo Ishimaru

Adjunct Instructor, Harp

Jay Ivey

Assistant Professor of Music, Voice and Musical Theatre

• Directory entry  About Jay Ivey
• Dr. Ivey, baritone, teaches in the Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance programs at JU. His students are accomplished performers and pedagogues. He’s won vocal competitions like the Metropolitan National Council auditions and received the Nancy Wustman Memorial accompanying award and the Joseph Schlanger memorial opera award from the University of Illinois. 

Kevin Karabell

Adjunct Instructor, Trumpet

Kevin Karabell, a Venezuelan-American trumpeter, is the Principal Trumpet of the Jacksonville Symphony. He is an adjunct professor of trumpet at Jacksonville University and University of North Florida. Kevin Karabell is a Yamaha performing artist. 

Mr. Karabell has also performed as principal trumpet of the Florida Grand Opera, Palm Beach Symphony and the New York City Ballet. In 2017, Mr. Karabell was selected to tour with the Orchestra of Americas to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. During this tour he recorded Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major with Grammy award winning pianist Gabriela Montero, which can be heard on Spotify.

Mr. Karabell earned his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance at Lynn Conservatory of Music as a student of Marc Reese and his Master of Music at the University of Miami, studying with Craig Morris. Mr. Karabell also earned a Professional Studies Diploma in Trumpet at the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Michael Miller and Michael Sachs where he was awarded the Dr. Calvin E. Weber Award for Excellence in Trumpet. Some of his early mentors were Susan Enger, Jose Sibaja, and Brian Neal. He has also attended Spoleto Festival USA, Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Chautauqua Summer Music Festival and was also the faculty brass assistant at the Sewannee Summer Music Festival.

See Kevin Karabell's Jacksonville Symphony web page.

Shannon Lockwood

Associate Professor of Music, Theory and Cello

• Directory entry  About Shannon Lockwood
• Dr. Lockwood is a cellist with a vibrant studio. Her broad spectrum of professional experiences include performing with orchestras such as the Colorado and Jacksonville Symphonies and she is also a member of the resident Kinne Trio. She teaches music history and theory and her students regularly conduct research projects for presentations at national symposiums. 

Todd Lockwood

Adjunct Instructor, Bass

Directory entry  About Todd Lockwood

Todd Lockwood has been a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra since 2009. In addition to the symphony Mr. Lockwood remains active as a music educator teaching bass at Jacksonville University, the First Coast Community Music School, and the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra. Prior to living in Florida Mr. Lockwood was principal double bassist of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. While in Tennessee he served as instructor of double bass at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. He has also held positions with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and performed with the Atlanta and Indianapolis Symphonies. Mr. Lockwood began studying the bass in the Colorado public school system at age nine. He later studied privately with Robin Olschner. He earned a Bachelor of Music, with highest honors, under Paul Erhard at the University of Colorado, and completed a Master of Music and a Performer Diploma, under Bruce Bransby at Indiana University. Mr. Lockwood spends his summers in Santa Cruz, California performing with the Cabrillo Contemporary Music Festival, under the direction of Marin Alsop.

See Todd Lockwood's Jacksonville Symphony web page.

Brian Luckett

Adjunct Instructor, Classical and Flamenco Guitar

About Brian Luckett

Classical guitarist Brian Luckett has performed in solo and chamber music recitals throughout the United States. Past performances have paired him with guitarist Eliot Fisk, flutist Nicole Chamberlain in duoATL, I Cantori vocal ensemble, the Georgia Southern University Symphony and baritone Allen Henderson. Brian has been featured in many programs on both NPR and Minnesota Public Radio and WABE in Atlanta. He has premiered several new works for the guitar including a concerto and several large chamber works.

Brian earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville’s School of Music where he was awarded the institution’s first guitar performance degree. He then received a full scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music with Segovia student and renowned guitar pedagogue, Clare Callahan. Brian earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, where he studied with acclaimed guitarist and composer Jeffrey Van. He has recorded for Clear Note Publications and his solo CD, Serenades of the Unicorn was released in January 2009. In recent years, Brian has developed a passionate interest in Flamenco music and has been studying Flamenco guitar technique and performance.

Brian is the former director of classical guitar studies at Emory University and former faculty member of Agnes Scott College, both in Atlanta, Georgia. Brian is also the former director of the classical guitar program at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. In 2018, Brian and his wife Kelly relocated to Jacksonville, Florida where Brian joined the Music Department of Jacksonville University as adjunct professor of Classical and Flamenco guitar. He also maintains a private Classical and Flamenco guitar studio.

Jeff McLaughlin

Adjunct Instructor, Jazz Guitar

Professor McLaughlin creates musical soundscapes filled with passion, depth, and a progressive spirit. His playing and composition are both steeped in tradition and focused on new directions in creative music. He has appeared around the world including the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Banff Jazz Workshop, the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, the Brooklyn Americana Festival, the NAMM Bass Bash, the Indianapolis Jazz Festival, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. He has performed as a sideman and with his own projects in famed venues such as NYC's Apollo Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 55 Bar, Blue Note, Minton's Playhouse, Bar Next Door, City Winery, and LA's Blue Whale.  Jeff has performed with artists such as Ari Hoenig, Drew Gress, Jill Sobule, Tom Kennedy, Rudy Royston, Tina Fabrique, Ralph Alessi, Queen Esther, Jon Cowherd, Shane Endsley, Jonathan Finlayson, Jason Palmer, Michael Attias, Jerome Sabbaugh, Steve Houghton, Rachel Caswell, Chris Coleman, Brent Wallarab, and David Baker.

Brian Magnus

Adjunct Instructor, Chamber Strings

A Texas native, Brian Magnus earned both his Master's and Bachelor’s degrees in Cello Performance at Southern Methodist University under the tutelage of Christopher Adkins. Before joining the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in 2016, Brian performed with the symphony orchestras of Austin, Waco, Las Colinas, Shreveport and Dallas. Brian is a passionate music teacher who has taught cello privately since 2005. He is married to bassoonist Stephanie K Magnus; together they enjoy running and camping along with their two dogs.  
 

Stephanie K. Magnus

Adjunct Instructor, Bassoon

• Directory entry  About Stephanie Magnus

Stephanie K Magnus is a bassoonist and teacher who has performed and taught throughout the nation. In addition a Bachelor’s degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts (2008) under Dennis Michel and a Master’s degree from Southern Methodist University (2011) under Wilfred Roberts, she earned a Master’s in Musicology and Literature (2012) from SMU. As a teacher, Stephanie has been recognized as “an educator that has made a positive influence” and several of her students have gone on to become professional musicians. In her free time she enjoys camping with her husband and two dogs and is a competitive marathoner.

Elyse Matthews

Adjunct Instructor, Voice

About Elyse Matthews

Soprano Elyse Matthews holds a Master of Music Degree in Classical Voice Performance from New York University's Steinhardt School and a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance from the University of North Florida. Some of her favorite past roles include the Countess in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Kathie in Romberg's The Student Prince, Gretel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, and Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte at the historic Estates Theatre in Prague. She has also been heard as a soloist in Mozart's Vesperae solennes de confessore, Orff's Carmina Burana, and Handel's Messiah. As a music educator, Elyse has had the opportunity to participate in operas for youth outreach and has shared music with children's organizations both locally and abroad. She teaches voice as an Adjunct Professor at Jacksonville University and is currently based in Northeast Florida. 

Jack Miller

Adjunct Instructor, Music Technology

Jack Miller, is a drummer, producer, audio engineer, music educator, and author.  Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, he found his passion and career in grade school through helping others with music; notably organizing and playing in benefit concerts for Leukemia raising thousands of dollars. 

Jack moved to Jacksonville, FL to continue his education with drumming legend Danny Gottlieb at the University of North Florida where he received his Bachelors and Masters in Jazz Performance.  While attending UNF, he studied directly under, Charlotte Mabrey, Andrea Venet, Dave Steinmeyer, and Lynne Arriale while also having the opportunity to play with many guest artists including Branford Marsalis, Bill Waltrous, Miguel Zenon, Pasquale Grasso, Bob Mintzer, Dennis Mackrel, Ignacio Berroa, Wycliffe Gordon, and Jack Peterson. 

Jack has had the privilege of working with many great musicians such as, Dr. Bill Prince, Linda Cole, Doug Carn, Kevin Bales, Dave Steinmeyer, Phil Morrison, Delbert Felix, Doug Wamble, Nicole Zuraitis Gary Starling, Lyn Avenue, Sam Herb, The Equinox Jazz Orchestra, and Lisa McClendon.  In addition to his accolades as a drummer, he has worked with many artists as an audio engineer, mixer, and producer including Ulysses Owens Jr., Richard Niles, Courtney Bryan, Danny Gottlieb, Lynne Arriale, The John Lumpkin Jazz Discovery Series, JW Pepper Publishing, The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Chic-fil-A Headquarters, The University of North Florida, and The Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. 

Jack is currently an award winning producer, manager, audio engineer and board member for Bold City Music Productions, LLC, and an adjunct instructor at Jacksonville University.  Jack is a member of the TNR Products family.

Matt Monroe

Adjunct Instructor, Horn

Matt Monroe is Adjunct Professor of Horn for the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts & Humanities at Jacksonville University. He was previously Adjunct Instructor of Horn at Oregon State University and in residence with the Arrieu Wind Quintet. The quintet performed around Oregon and traveled overseas, touring throughout China.

Professor Monroe performs with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia and the St. Augustine Music Festival. He has held the position of Second Horn with the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra since 1999, and has performed with The Moody Blues, Pink Martini, Johnny Mathis, Dave Brubeck, and Yo-Yo Ma, and has performed locally with shows such as Wicked, the Rocktopia tour, and The Little Mermaid. He recorded with the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra on their Grammy Award winning première of Krzysztof Penderecki's Credo. His other orchestra credits include the Jacksonville Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic, Illinois Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Eugene Symphony, and the Oregon Symphony. Professor Monroe is a Denis Wick artist.

Matt’s students have performed in the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Midwest Young Artists, and all-district and all-state ensembles in several states. In Chicago, he taught at the Merit School of Music where he conducted the region’s only large youth horn ensemble. His pre-college age students perform a concert each spring at the yearly “Young Hornists of Jacksonville in Recital”. 

As a student, Matt spent summers at Tanglewood and the Summit Brass Seminar, and learned from brass pedagogues such as Barry Tuckwell, Philip Farkas, Sam Pilafian, and Roger Voisin. He attended international festivals in Austria, France, and Canada. His teachers include William Barnewitz, Thomas Bacon, Ellen Campbell, William Stalnaker, and Gail Willilams.

Education

Certificate in Performance, Northwestern University
Master of Music, University of Oregon
Bachelor of Music, Arizona State University
 

Eric Olson

Adjunct Instructor, Oboe

Directory entry  About Eric Olson

Mr. Olson has been the principal oboist for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra since 1986. In 2002, Eric performed as guest principal oboist for five weeks with the Baltimore Symphony, including a two-week tour of Japan. He has also performed with the Chicago Symphony.

Eric has been frequently featured as a soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra having performed most of the major concertos. Most recently he performed the Mozart’s Symphonie Concertante for four winds and Orchestra. Since 2007, Eric is principal oboist at the Peninsula Music Festival in Wisconsin. Prior to that, he served as principal oboist and faculty member at the Eastern Music Festival for six summers. Olson has also performed at the Marlboro Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, Colorado Music Festival and Aspen Music Festival.

Mr. Olson holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University.

Staci Pendry

Adjunct Instructor, Music Education

Jason Perry

Instructor, Music Technology

Professor Perry teaches Music Technology in the audio production studio and is the executive producer for Dolphinium Records, the student run record label. Students write, record and mix original music compositions in our state-of-the- art hybrid recording studio. Students also record live performances in Terry Concert Hall and other School of Performing Arts spaces. Besides his love of recording music, he is also an accomplished video producer, videographer and editor and brings that production experience to the Media Arts. 

Stan Piper

Adjunct Instructor, Jazz Bass

Directory entry  About Stan Piper

Mr. Piper began developing his skill as a bassist in middle school, taking lessons from his teacher Nick Schneider. In 1999, he moved to Florida, and pursued his education in Jacksonville. As a major in jazz performance, he earned his Bachelors in Music from the University of North Florida, studying under Bunky Green, Kevin Bales, and Ricky Ravelo. Continuing the focus on jazz, Stan then earned his Masters in Music at Florida State University, studying under Rodney Jordan, Leon Anderson, and Marcus Roberts.

Danielle Porter

Interim Program Director, Music Therapy

Danielle Porter is a Board Certified Music Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Music Therapy and a Certificate in Gerontology from Florida State University. She received specialized training in Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) and obtained the distinction of NMT Fellow. Danielle implemented the first music therapy program at Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville, FL in 2015. Danielle’s passion for education and advocacy has led her to present at regional and national conferences including the American Congress of Rehabilitative Medicine and the American Music Therapy Association.

John Ricci

Director of Jazz Studies

• Directory entry  About John Ricci
• Prof. Ricci teaches in the Jazz and Commercial music program, directing students in Jazz Band and Jazz Combos. He has performed as a tenor saxophone soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony Pops Orchestra, the Four Tops, The Temptations, in music festivals worldwide. Prof. Ricci’s CD Holding Time received high critical acclaim, and is a debut release of some of his own very inspired compositions and arrangements. 

Marguerite Richardson

Professor of Music

• Directory entry  About Marguerite Richardson
• Dr. Richardson is Professor of Music at Jacksonville University and directs the Jacksonville University Orchestra and Camerata. She teaches the violin and viola studios and works with the Honors String Quartet. A member of the resident Kinne Trio, she performs frequently in the northeast Florida area as well as serving as the conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville. She is active in the leadership of the College Orchestra Directors Association and performs with the Jacksonville Symphony. 

Les Roettges

Adjunct Instructor, Flute

Directory entry  About Les Roettges

Les Roettges is the Principal Flutist of both the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra during the regular season, and the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Eastern Music Festival during the summer season. He also serves as the Chamber Music Program Coordinator for the Eastern Music festival and is featured regularly on their chamber music and orchestra series concerts. In 2012, Les began the position of second flute in the newly formed “All-Star Orchestra” under the direction of internationally acclaimed conductor Gerard Schwarz. This is a new orchestra project comprised of select musicians from orchestras throughout the United States. The All Star Orchestra records and films shows for broadcast on PBS stations nationwide. The first season began airing in the fall of 2013 and has won three EMMY awards. The second season began airing in the fall of 2015. Mr. Roettges has been the Principal Flutist for the Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico City, Guest Principal Flutist with The Florida Orchestra, and flutist with Solisti New York. He is a regular participant in the chamber music societies and festivals of San Marco and Saint Augustine, and is the Adjunct Professor of Flute at the Jacksonville University. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory, a Master of Music from the Juilliard School of Music, and professional studies in Paris. His teachers include Maurice Sharp, Paula Robison, Julius Baker, Alain Marion, and Robert Stallman.

See Les Roettges' Jacksonville Symphony web page.

Greg Shearer

Adjunct Instructor, Music Technology

Guitarist/composer/producer Greg Shearer honed his playing, writing and production chops in the studios of Chicago where he worked for such clients as Union 76, Cap’n Crunch cereal, Ford Trucks, and many others. Greg has recently produced music for companies such as Charter, BMW, Humana, Kellogg's, AT&T, Dannon Yogurt, Dell, Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, Conoco, the Showtime Channel, TruValue, Aetna Insurance, Snickers Candy, and others. He has also contributed to the musical scores of more than 100 TV shows including NBC Dateline, Intelligence, Revenge, Body of Proof, The Lies We Tell, 10 Things I Hate About You, Raising Hope, Veronica Mars, Showtime’s Sleeper Cell, and CBS’s Sunday Movie Vampire Bats. His music is also heard worldwide on an almost daily basis through Harpo Productions and on many A&E shows!

Although Greg was voted one of the top ten up and coming composer/producers in the world in 2003 by readers of Post Magazine, one of his first loves remains playing guitar. Greg is equally at home on either side of the glass - he is an accomplished orchestral and vocal conductor as well as an engineering and production ace.

Greg is a Pro Tools certified audio engineer.

Ted Shistle

Assistant Professor, Director of Bands

Prof. Shistle joins the music department having completed 22 years of public school teaching most recently as Director of Bands at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. He is active as a clinician, adjudicator, guest conductor, and conference presenter across the U.S. and maintains a busy schedule as a professional bassoonist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic, and the Coastal Symphony of Brunswick. His passion is training the next generation of teaching artists and equipping students with the skills and tools necessary to inspire and prepare future musicians and music consumers. 

Gary Starling

Adjunct Instructor, Guitar and Jazz Studies

Synonymous with jazz on the Florida First Coast, Artist in    Residence and professor of guitar at Jacksonville University, Gary Starling has inspired and broadened the horizons of hundreds of aspiring musicians and has performed with Bob Hope, Diahann Carroll, Rita Moreno, Skitch Henderson, the Jacksonville Symphony Pops Orchestra and others. He has appeared with jazz artists Eddie Harris, Nat Adderley, Joshua Breakstone, Carla White, Jim Snidero, Ben Tucker, Doug Carn, Clarence Palmer and numerous others. www.garystarling.com

Tony Steve

Percussion Coordinator, Contemporary & World Music

• Directory entry  About Tony Steve
• Professor Steve teaches percussion and composition at JU. His studio participates in all ensembles, including Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Athletic Band, Jazz Combos, and Big Band. He has performed with numerous symphony orchestras, is a regular extra with the Jacksonville Symphony, and toured with “A Chorus Line” in Europe and “Porgy and Bess” in Israel. He has also worked with notable artists, including Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis, The Who, The Electric Light Orchestra, and numerous National Broadway Tours. He has been the recipient of numerous ASCAP Writer Awards. 

Scott Watkins

Professor of Music, Piano

• Directory entry  About Scott Watkins

• Pianist Scott Watkins has performed as recitalist, collaborator, and concerto soloist in Europe, North and South America, and China. Winner of the 1986 Artistic Ambassador Award sponsored by the U.S. State Department, Watkins embarked on a two-month concert tour of South America. The year prior he made his debut recital in Chicago, an all-Bach program broadcast on WFMT. 

  For nearly 40 years he has appeared on international concert stages and with instrumentalists and vocalists ranging from violinists Eugene Fodor, Lisa Ferrigno, and Hillary Hahn, to cellists Alexei Romanenko and Yehuda Hanani. He has also performed with tenor Stanford Olson and soprano Elizabeth Futral. He has been heard as soloist with The Brevard Symphony Orchestra and Christopher Confessore seven times in music by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Grieg, Hanson, Liszt, and Beethoven. His most recent solo recording, “American Piano Sonatas,” which features music by Howard Hanson, Carlisle Floyd, and William Schirmer, earned high praise from Fanfare Magazine and The Dallas Morning News. His 2015 recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall at which he gave the New York premiere of Hanson’s Piano Sonata was described by New York Concert Review as “a highly praiseworthy concert – a fulfilling musical evening. Watkins played with excellent attention to detail and respect for the score ... [and] with the fidelity of a music historian.” Described by the Eastman School of Music’s archivist as “the sole living champion of Hanson’s piano music,” Watkins is the editor of Hanson’s “Symphonic Rhapsody,” published in 2018 by Carl Fischer, and has performed Hanson’s music internationally, including the composer’s Piano Concerto. Scott Watkins is currently Professor of Piano at Jacksonville University where he teaches a class of award-winning students, lectures on piano literature and coaches chamber music. Watkins earned his Doctor of Music degree at Florida State University where he was a student of Edward Kilenyi. He has also studied with Bela Siki and Raymond Dudley.  

Directory