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DAVID ABERNATHY
Percussion
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David is the founder and producer of Puddingstone.
He received his early music training as a percussionist
with the award winning Lenoir High School Band. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry at Elon College
and an M.D. degree at Bowman Gray School of
Medicine. When not
directing Puddingstone, David practices medicine in Lenoir, NC. (Return to top.) |
SHAY BARNES
Voice |
Shay graduated from Western Carolina University with a BA in Music Education and Master of Music from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She is the Choral Director at Granite Falls Middle School. (Return to top.) |
JONATHON BEAL
Brass
Harper Brass Quintet |
Jonathon is the band director at Gamewell
Middle School in Lenoir. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music
Education from Wake Forest University. Jonathon and his students have enjoyed success at State Festival, with five superior ratings. (Return to top.) |
JANET K. BLOOM
Executive Director |
Janet was named the first Executive Director of the
Harper School of Performing Arts in October 2005.
She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s
degrees from the University of Iowa and Drake
University in Music Education and Violin
Performance. Before relocating to North Carolina, Janet served as education
and symphony school director for the Cedar Rapids
Symphony Orchestra. An active orchestral and chamber music performer, Janet currently plays with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra as well as performs with numerous nationally recognized artists. Janet also is an adjunct faculty member at Appalachian State University. (Return to top.) |
JOHN CRAIG
Director Harper Concert Band |
John was the founder of the Hibriten High School Band
and Chorus and later taught instrumental music at
Morganton Junior High. In 1986 he
returned to Caldwell County and taught Band, Chorus
and Music Theory at West Caldwell High School until his
retirement in 2003. He received his musical education at Appalachian State
University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the North Carolina
School of the Arts.
(Return to top.) |
LILA DOWNS
Clarinet |
Lila is a student at Appalachian State University. She is an active member of the Appalachian State University Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. (Return to top.) |
KIM GANT
Piano and Voice
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Kim holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in voice performance and pedagogy from Appalachian State University. She has been a choral director at the Hickory Day school and a member of the Hickory Choral Society and has also maintained a private piano studio for 15 years. Kim will be teaching voice and beginning and intermediate piano. (Return to top.) |
JIM GREENE
Guitar |
Jim is a graduate of the St. Johns River Junior college
in Palatka, Florida. Jim is a highly versatile guitarist
teaching in the traditional, blues, country, slide and
rock styles. His combined talents in performance and
teaching have inspired guitar students of all ages. (Return to top.) |
SARAH HAYMORE
Flute |
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the North Carolina School of the
Arts. Sarah has held principal flute and piccolo positions in the NC School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and was principal piccolo for the North Carolina Ballet's performance of Tchaikovsky's The Nut Cracker. (Return to top.) |
PHILLIP KIRBY
Percussion |
Phil is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College. He is a frequent performer in a variety of styles including the Western Piedmont Symphony, The Allman Brothers Band and Lynard Skynard. He has toured with the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. Phil has taught all levels and styles of percussion and has worked as a instructor at many high schools and middle schools thorughout Western North Carolina. (Return to top.) |
RHONDA LORENCE
Suzuki Violin and Viola |
Rhonda is a graduate of the University of South Florida
with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance with an
emphasis on viola. She also has Suzuki teacher training
from Furman University. An active performer and composer,
Rhonda has recorded, engineered and produced
original music combining viola and synthesizers. (Return to top.) |
BRIAN MAHNKE
Saxophone |
Brian, a Catawba county native, studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts where he received a Bachelors of Music degree. Brian also studied at the graduate level at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Brian has performed in a variety of ensembles from the North Carolina School of the Arts and Eastman Wind Ensembles, the North Carolina School of the Arts Jazz Ensemble, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, and the Vintage Years Orchestra. He was a charter member of the saxophone quartet Los Saxophonistas and is a professional member of the North American Saxophone Alliance. (Return to top.) |
CHRIS NIGRELLI
Harper Jazz Ensemble |
Chris holds a doctorate in trombone performance from the University of Illinois at Urbane-Champaign. as well as degrees from the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University. His is an associate professor of music at Lenoir-Rhyne College, where he conducts the jazz ensemble, brass ensemble, and teaches applied low brass and music history. (Return to top.) |
ERIN PENLEY
Oboe |
Erin received her Bachelor's of Music Degree
from Appalachian State University. Her primary instrument
is oboe. She
has taught K-8 general music and middle school chorus
in the Caldwell County Schools for 8 years.
(Return to top.) |
TIM PHILLIPS
Brass
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Tim was educated at Western Carolina University, DePaul University in Chicago, Lenoir-Rhyne College and the NC School of the Arts. In addition to the Unifour Brass Ensemble, he is a guest performer with The Brass Company, a brass group that performs across the midwest. Tim is a member of the Unifour Brass Ensemble, in their 2nd and 3rd compact disc recordings. (Return to top.) |
RENEE RHODES
Harper School Coordinator |
Renee is currently enrolled at Appalachian State University pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. She has been employed with Caldwell County Schools for over five years and has a great passion for the families in our community. She desires to assist individuals in our community with discovering the many attributes the Harper School has to offer. (Return to top.) |
BOBBY STEADMAN
Guitar
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Bobby graduated from Brevard College with a BA in Music Performance and continued his graduate studies at Appalachian State University. He has been a performance student in master classes conducted by distinguished contemporary guitarists such as the Grammy winning LAGQ, Andrew York, and Scott Tennant, among others. (Return to top.) |
CINDY TATE
Piano
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Cindy is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and is a Board Certified Music Therapist. She has received teacher training in the Suzuki Piano method and is a registered Music Together teacher. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in Music Therapy at Appalachian State University for advanced training in the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music. (Return to top.) |
BARBARA TAYLOR
Organ |
Barbara earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, in Music (organ) from Presbyterian College, South Carolina and Master of Music degree in organ from the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. Barbara has extensive experience in church music and accompanying. Certified as a Kindermusik instructor, Barbara maintained a private studio where her students ranged in age from infant to adult. (Return to top.) |
AARON TEAGUE
Music Therapist |
Aaron is a Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC)
with over five years of music therapy experience. He
holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy
and a Master of Arts degree in Community Counseling
from Appalachian State University. Aaron has completed
graduate courses in music therapy and is currently
engaged in advanced training in the Bonny Method of
Guided Imagery and Music, an advanced form of
music therapy. Aaron also holds a certificate of graduate
study in Expressive Arts Therapy from Appalachian State University. Aaron is currently an adjunct lecturer in the music
therapy program at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. (Return to top.) |
REBECCA WADE
Cello |
Rebecca is completing a Masters degree in Celo Performance at Appalachian State Universty. She is presently a strings instructor at Crossnore Elementary School and is responsible for teaching beginning musical and technical skills to 4th and 5th grade students. She has a Bachelors degree in Music Education and is certified by the state of North carolina to teach in the public schools. She is also a member of the Hayes String Quartet at Appalachian State University. (Return to top.) |
MIKE WILLIS
Harp
Percussion |
Mike studied music at Brevard and at Appalachian State University. He has extensive experience playing professionally
with a variety of musical groups. He has
played percussion with the New York Quartet and with
the Jerry Lambert Trio in Charlotte, Raleigh and
Atlanta. (Return to top.) |
BILL WITCHERHarper Youth Wind Ensemble |
Bill received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Appalachian State University Mr. Witcher is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence/Young Adulthood Music Education. Mr. Witcher recently retired after 32 years as the band director at Hibriten High School in Lenoir, North Carolina. He is also a member of the Unifour Brass Ensemble. He serves on the LHS Board of Directors as Vice President. (Return to top.) |
