WAYNE BENNETT, trumpet faculty member and Associate Master Teacher at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received his Master of Music in performance from UNCG, his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Georgia, and is currently pursuing his Doctoral Degree in performance from UNCG.  He has taught at the Academy since 2004, joining our faculty with eight years of teaching experience.  He received the 2005 MANC Faculty Merit and Service Award.  Wayne taught Music Theory at UNCG from 2003 to 2007 as well as undergraduate trumpet majors at UNCG from 2005 to 2007.  In addition, he has taught marching bands, led brass sectionals, and given clinics in middle schools and high schools throughout Georgia and North Carolina.  Wayne was a semi-finalist at the National Trumpet Competition in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 225 or email:  waynebennett@musicacademync.org.

HEIDI BIRKNER, oboe and English horn faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received her Bachelor of Music degree in Oboe Performance from UNCG.  Heidi performs in and around the Triad area, and has taught at MANC since 1994.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 201 or email:  hbirkner@musicacademync.org.

BEN BLOZAN, piano faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received his Master of Music in Accompanying and Opera Coaching from Temple University, his Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Illinois, his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from Warren Wilson College, and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Collaborative Piano from UNCG.  In addition to his degree work, Benjamin furthered his education in workshops at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria; Academie International d'Ete de Nice; and the Academie de Villecroze.  Benjamin is an experienced coach, accompanist, and performer.  As opera coach and accompanist he has worked with the Young Artist Program at the Nashville Opera, Lake George Opera, Delaware Valley Opera Company, Westminster Choir College, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Illinois State University.  Benjamin's honors include the A.J. Fletcher Merit Scholarship and Helen Kirkpatrick Award for Excellence in Music and First Place in the Asheville Symphony Young Artist Competition.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 205 or email:  bblozan@musicacademync.org.

KEN BROWN, guitar faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, began studying classical guitar at the age of eleven and has studied in master classes and privately with many of the top classical guitarists of today.  In addition to classical guitar, Ken has performed in a wide array of musical genres including both Jazz, and Rock, and in settings ranging from film scores, to musical theater.  In 2009 Ken has appeared as a guest artist at Arizona Musikfest, and with Nascar's Kyle Petty at the Reckless Kelley Celebrity Softball Jam, an event organized to help fund programs for exceptional children in Austin, TX.  His compositions range in scope from classical to electronic, three of which were recently featured in a modern dance premier in New York City.  Ken holds degrees in both music and psychology, and works in depth with students with autism, ADHD, Downs syndrome, and cerebral palsy.  He is currently in the process of revising three guitar method books and interactive DVD’s, one of which is written specifically for exceptional children.  In addition to guitar, Ken plays sitar, mandolin, pedal steel, and bass.  He is an avid visual artist whose artwork was featured on the cover of Soundboard in the spring of 2009.  Ken can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 229 or email:  kbrown@musicacademync.org.

KELLIE BURGESS, Dean of Faculty and Master Teacher, has taught at The Music Academy of North Carolina since 1994.  During this time she has been trained in Musikgarten, Kindermusik, Orff, and Suzuki cello.  She received her Master and Bachelor of Music degrees in Cello Performance at UNCG where she was the recipient of the Henry Weil Fellowship.  Kellie performs with the BESK Quartet, Charlotte Philharmonic, and is principal cellist of the Greensboro Philharmonia.  She is a recipient of a 1997 Teaching Excellence Award and 2002 Merit and Service Award.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 106 or email:  kburgess@musicacademync.org.

CANDICE BURROWS, Mezzo Soprano and a faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, has had an extensive singing career that has spanned over much of the world starting in 1982.  The beginnings of her vocal career featured singing jazz and musical theater in her undergraduate years but quickly turned to classical repertoire.  She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Oregon after a year of study abroad at the Guildhall School of music in London.  Upon returning to the States she was invited to study with Gwendolyn Koldofsky at the University of Southern California where she did her Masters of Music studies.  She was awarded the USC opera award and vocalist of the year.  She was also a finalist in LA for the Metropolitan Opera competition that same year.  During her formative years, she studied with Arleen Auger, Ellen Faull and Georgio Tozzi.  Her career blossomed after being a vocal fellow at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony where she first worked with Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, Marin Alsop and Andre Previn.  It was also at Tanglewood where she established a long-standing performance relationship with Leonard Bernstein.  She has sung with numerous opera companies around the U.S. and more notably, has had the honor of working with some of most prestigious symphonies in this country, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Pops, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Santa Fe Symphony.  After a sabbatical to raise her three children, Candice has returned to the music field with a desire to sing and teach.  She is currently working on her DMA degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and can be heard performing in Arizona, Oregon, and Mexico this year.  She will be featured in the world premier opera, “Picnic” by Libby Larsen in Greensboro (2009).  Her collaboration with jazz pianist Chris Robinson culminated in a recently released CD, “This is Chris Robinson” which received the best independent recording award in the U.S. September 2007.  Candi can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 209 or email:  cburrows@musicacademync.org.

ALLISON BURSEY, violin faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina since 2007, performs and teaches in many styles, including baroque and fiddle. Allison earned the degree of Master of Music in violin performance from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro in 2008 and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2006 from Appalachian State University with the degree of Bachelor of Music in violin performance. She is the founder and director of Greensboro Early Music, an ensemble devoted to showcasing historical performance on period instruments. Allison is also an active performer of both modern violin and baroque violin throughout the southeast, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia. She performs regularly with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, the Western Piedmont Symphony, the Symphony of the Mountains, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Opera Carolina, and Greensboro Early Music. Before coming to the Music Academy, she taught at Music & Arts, the UNC-G Community Music School, the UNC-G Summer Music Camp, and the Methodist University MusiCamp. Allison can be contacted at (336) 691-0672, ext. 223 or email:  abursey@musicacademync.org.

COLLEEN CHENAIL, violin faculty member and Master Teacher at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received her Master of Music in Violin Performance from UNCG, and her Bachelor of Music in Music Performance and Education from Ithaca College.  She currently performs with the Greensboro Symphony and has performed with the Raleigh, Winston-Salem, and Eastern Music Festival Faculty Symphony Orchestras.  Colleen teaches traditional and Suzuki violin, and also teaches at the Community School of Music in Winston-Salem.  Colleen has taught at MANC since 2001.  She was a recipient of the 2004 Mary Elizabeth King Brown Teaching Excellence Award.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 207 or email:  cchenail@musicacademync.org.

CAROL CUBBERLEY, violin faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, attended the University of Illinois and received her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Oberlin Conservatory.  She was the winner of both the Sewanee Summer Music Festival Concerto Competition and Chattanooga Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, and was the recipient of the McCrory Foundation Scholarship.  Carol joined The Music Academy in the summer of 2009 and teaches both traditional and Suzuki violin.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 221 or email:  ccubberley@musicacademync.org.

ANDREW DANCY, percussion faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, completed the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) in 2008.  At UNCG, Dr. Dancy taught undergraduate percussion lessons, percussion ensemble, steel band, and percussion techniques. He teaches percussion lessons annually at the UNCG Summer Music Camp.  Dancy performs frequently throughout North Carolina and has presented concerts at the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy, the International Double Reed Society Convention, the North Carolina Day of Percussion, Greensboro College, North Carolina A&T State University, and Guilford College.  Dr. Dancy is founder and director of Marimba Christmas, an annual holiday percussion event in Greensboro.  He has performed on numerous occasions as a soloist with the UNCG Percussion Ensemble and the Greensboro Concert Band and is currently timpanist with the NOVUS Chamber Orchestra.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 219 or email:  adancy@musicacademync.org.

MATTHEW DICAMILLO, vocal faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, has his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from UNCG and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Music from the SUNY Fredonia School of Music.  He has performed as soloist with Capital Opera Raleigh, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, the Schlern International Music Festival in Italy, and the Austrian American Mozart Academy in Austin, TX.  He currently sings with Bel Canto Company and the Kensington Consort.  In addition to teaching at the Music Academy, Matthew is on the voice faculty at Elon University and Szymanski Studios in Chapel Hill.  He can reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 230 or email:  dicamillo@musicacademync.org.

SHANA DICAMILLO, vocal faculty member and Director of Marketing and Development at The Music Academy of North Carolina, completed her Master of Public Affairs in Nonprofit Management degree at UNCG in May of 2010.  A two-year recipient of the Nonprofit Foundations Scholarship, Shana completed her summer internship at The Music Academy, and became the Director of Marketing in November of 2009.  Also an accomplished musician, Shana has been on the voice faculty at The Music Academy since 2005.  She received her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from UNCG, and her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia (summa cum laude).  Shana has performed locally with Greensboro Opera Company and Bel Canto Company.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 112 or email:  sdicamillo@musicacademync.org.

BRAD DICKERSON, guitar faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, is a graduate of Appalachian State University where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in guitar performance, cum laude.  Upon the recommendation of his teacher, Douglas James, Brad taught private lessons to students preparing for auditions at ASU in addition to students in his own private studio.  Brad regularly performs in Western NC.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 238 or email:  bdickerson@musicacademync.org.

ELIZABETH DOEBLER, vocal faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received her Masters of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her Masters of Music degree in music education from Ithaca College, and her Bachelor of Music in music education and vocal performance from Ithaca College.  As a music educator, Liz has experience teaching private voice, piano, and guitar as well as class voice instruction.  She is on faculty at the NC School of the Arts Community Music School and Salem College Community Music School.  In addition to her teaching career, she is the choral director for the Women’s Chorus of the Greensboro Symphony Guild and she performs with the Bel Canto Company as a member and soloist.  Liz was a Finalist at the 2007 UNCG Concerto Competition and the 2003 Ithaca College Concerto Competition.  She placed in both the 2007 NC NATS Competition and the Ithaca Opera Competition.  Liz joined the faculty at The Music Academy in 2008.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 208 or email:  ldoebler@musicacademync.org.

KEVIN DOLLAR, guitar faculty member, Master Teacher and Director of Recitals at The Music Academy of North Carolina.  On classical, steel string, electric or gypsy guitar, Kevin Dollar represents a multifaceted approach to the instrument. His performances vary from solo classical guitar and chamber ensemble, to early 20th century traditional music, to the gypsy jazz guitar style of pre-WWII France. Being a versatile musician has always been a top priority for this well-rounded performer and teacher. Kevin is currently the Director of the MANC Guitar Competition, an instructor at the Music Academy of NC (since 1995, now with master teacher status), and on the faculty of Elon University, where he serves as a guitar instructor as well. His performance credits include recitals given at Elon University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Shorter College, Greensboro College, for the Piedmont Artists Guild, the Music Academy of NC, the Millenium Center and for several major concert series in the Piedmont region, as well as the world premiere of several works for guitar by Mark Mazzatenta and for guitar and voice by Linda Lister. Kevin regularly performs with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and has shared the stage with the likes of Doc Watson, David Holt, Katherine Whalen, Jimbo Matthus and Clay Aiken. Kevin has also performed with the Greensboro Opera Company, the Triad Guitar Quartet, Duo Dolce, Bel Canto and the Hot Club of North Carolina, a group dedicated to the preservation of gypsy jazz. Kevin received his MM from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2001 and has several recordings to his credit including Alamance Christmas Cheer, “On Our Own” original film score (featured selection in the 2007 Charlotte Film Festival), “Long Ride Home” by Lyn Koonce, etc. where he can be heard playing many different styles on as many different types of guitars. The recently formed Carolina String Duo (with Carey Harwood) serves as an outlet for the wide variety of guitar music that both duo members are interested in. The duo performs on Guitar, Lute, Mandolin, Banjo and in a number of different styles including classical, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and traditional music. He has taught at the Academy since 1995.  He received the 1998 MANC Board Service Award, the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004 MANC Faculty Merit and Service Awards, a 2002 Teaching Excellence Award, and the 2003 Pamela A. Allen Achievement Award.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 105 or email:  kevindollar@musicacademync.org.

ADAM DONOHUE, saxophone faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, has been performing and teaching professionally since the age of 15.  He attended Berklee College of Music in 1996 and earned a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Composition with additional studies in Music Education.  After graduating in 1999, Adam worked in the cruise line industry as a saxophonist and Musical Director until 2005.  He then attended Washington State University and earned a Masters of Arts in Music with a major in Jazz Studies and saxophone.  Adam has worked with great musicians such as Charo, John Handy, Jeff Coffin and Kevin Mahogany.  Adam’s compositions are published with Walrus Music Publishing.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 217 or email:  adonohue@musicacademync.org.

MITTIE DOUGLASS, vocal faculty member and Director of Student Relations at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received her Bachelor and Master degrees in vocal performance from Mississippi College.  She joined the faculty of The Music Academy in 2007.  Mittie was the recipient of the Mary Elizabeth King Brown Teaching Excellence Award for 2008-2009 and the Faculty & Staff Merit & Service Award for 2008-2009.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 102 or email:  assessments@musicacademync.org.

JUSTIN GORE, clarinet faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from UNCG and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Marshall University with an emphasis in Clarinet Performance.  He has performed with the UNCG Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Orchestra.  At Marshall University, Justin was a member of the Wind Symphony, University Orchestra, and Marching Band.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 214 or email:  jgore@musicacademync.org.

SAMEE GRIFFITH, piano faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received her Masters of Music degree in piano performance and collaborative piano from Bowling Green State University and her Bachelor of Music in piano performance from Wright State University, summa cum laude.  Samee joins the Music Academy with over ten years of teaching experience in both private and group piano instruction.  She teaches at Penn-Griffin School for the Arts in High Point and she is working towards Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at UNC-G.  Her honors include: First Place in the Undergraduate Division at the Marjorie Peatee Art Song Competition (2004), MTNA Star Award (2002), and Third Place at the OFMC Collegiate Solo Competition (2001).  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 216 or email:  sgriffith@musicacademync.org.

BUTCH LAVALLEY, banjo faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, specializes in bluegrass banjo and mandolin instruction for the beginner and intermediate student.  He has taught at MANC since 1999 and has enjoyed performing and teaching in the Greensboro area for many years.  He received his music theory training at UNC Chapel Hill.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 220 or email:  blevalley@musicacademync.org.

MARK MAZZATENTA, jazz guitar facuty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, is active in both the jazz and classical worlds as performer and composer.  He earned the Master of Music at Florida State University in 1987 and began teaching at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he heads the guitar program.  Mr. Mazzatenta performs with his twin brother Michael on piano and with his jazz group MAZZJAZZ.  He has played in workshops with Robin Eubanks, Byron Stripling, Fred Wesley, Teri Lyne Carrington, played with Mike Stern and performed concerts with Chris and Dan Brubeck.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 237 or email:  mmazzatenta@musicacademync.org.

HEATHER MEREDITH, flute faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from UNC-Greensboro.  Ms. Meredith is a Band Director and general music educator for the Chatham County Schools where she teaches grades 6-8.  Her students have auditioned and been accepted for All-District, All-County, and All-State Bands; and they have held principal positions in local youth orchestras.  Ms. Meredith is a member of CMENC and Sigma Alpha Iota.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 218 or email:  hmeredith@musicacademync.org.

AARON MOOD, piano faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received his Master of Music degree in piano performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and his Bachelor of the Arts degree in music from Allegheny College, where he graduated magna cum laude.  Currently, Aaron holds the position of Staff Accompanist at Winston-Salem State University, and teaches piano at the Music Academy of North Carolina.  Aaron is the recipient of the Edith Mead Osbourne Memorial Prize for distinguished pianism, as well as the Frederick Marantz Memorial Prize in recognition of marked talent with the piano, and has participated in master classes with Anna Maria Trenchi de Botazzi and Jon Nakamatsu.  Aaron is musically active both at his church and in the community as a freelance accompanist.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 215 or e-mail:  amood@musicacademync.org.

WOLFGANG PLANZ, electric bass guitar faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, specializes in electric bass instruction for jazz and rock students.  A native of Düsseldorf, Germany, Wolfgang brings to The Music Academy his extensive performance experience in the United States and Europe.  He studied at the Wolfwang School of the Arts in Essen, and with Michael Weiss in Cologne.  His experience as a performer includes jazz performances in central North Carolina, quartet and trio performances in Germany and Austria, and various studio recordings.  Videos of Wolfgang performing can be viewed by clicking on the following links: Wolfgang Planz Video 1 and Wolfgang Planz Video 2.  Wolfgang can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 231 or email:  wplanz@musicacademync.org.

WAYNE REICH, received the Masters of Music from Syracuse University, and the Bachelors of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts.  Mr. Reich has served as the concertmaster of the Syracuse University Symphony, the UNCG Symphony, and has served as the Associate Concertmaster in the Salisbury Symphony.  Wayne Reich is also a member of the Fibonacci Chamber Orchestra and has participated in several festivals, including the Chenango Summer Musicfest, where he served as the Senior Music Intern.  Mr. Reich is an adjunct faculty member at Guilford Technical Community College where he teaches sections of Music Appreciation.  He was a recipient of the Faculty & Staff Merit & Service Award for 2008-2009.  Wayne has taught at MANC since November, 2006.  He can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 224 or email:  wreich@musicacademync.org.

CAROL SOTER, piano faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, earned a Master of Music degree from Duquesne University and Bachelor of Arts degree from Mary Washington College. Carol has extensive training in Musikgarten and is certified by its founder, Lorna Heyge, to teach the entire curriculum. Carol teaches Music Makers:  At the Keyboard, an introductory method for groups of young beginners ages 7-9. The course is based on an aural approach to music literacy that provides a natural pathway to reading music. She also teaches Musikgarten Adults, a recreational group piano class for adults. Before joining the faculty at MANC, Carol taught piano at Lenoir-Rhyne Community Music School, and in her own private studio.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 222 or email:  csoter@musicacademync.org.

SUSANNAH STEELE, piano faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received her Master of Music from UNCG, her Bachelor of Music from Furman University, and is currently pursuing her Doctoral Degree in performance from UNCG.  In addition to teaching private piano lessons, she has completed certification to become a Musikgarten teacher of children ages birth-5.  A member of the faculty at Furman’s Summer Keyboard Institute as well as UNCG’s Summer Music Camp, Susannah also taught Class Piano and accompanied the Opera Theatre program at UNCG.  She has also completed a year as a teacher at Furman University.  As a performer, she has studied at the New Orleans Piano Institute and abroad at the Prague International Masterclasses.  She won the state MTNA Young Artist competitions in 2003 and 2007 and the 2007 GMTA Young Artist Competition.  Susannah performed with the UNCG orchestra after winning the 2008 Concerto Competition.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 202 or e-mail:  ssteele@musicacademync.org.

HOPE THACKER, mezzo-soprano and faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, is a Mississippi native.  She holds a DMA in Vocal Performance from UNC Greensboro, as well as an MM in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting and a BMEd in Choral Music Education from The University of Southern Mississippi.  Dr. Thacker’s vocal awards include national semi-finalist in the 2004 NATSAA Competition and guest artist for the 2004 Southern Region NATS Convention.  Recent roles include Angela in Colaner’s He Cried Uncle (World Premiere), Augusta in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Zita in Gianni Schicci, Mercedes in Carmen, and the Witch in Into the Woods.  Oratorio performances include Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Alma by Schiffman (NC premiere), Vivaldi’s Gloria, and the Duruflé Requiem.  Dr. Thacker is currently serving as Artist in Residence at UNC Charlotte.  She can be reached at 691-0762, ext. 204 or email:  hthacker@musicacademync.org.

KAREN THOMAS, clarinet faculty member of The Music Academy of North Carolina, received her Master of Music (2005) and Bachelor of Arts in Music (1997) from UNCG.  She received her K–12 teacher certification from Greensboro College (2002).  Karen became a National Board Certified Teacher of Music in 2008.  She has also been an Elementary Music teacher in the NC public school system since 2000 and currently teaches at Kernersville Elementary.  She has been a clarinet instructor at The Music Academy since 2001.  Karen was the Director of The Music Academy’s Summer Music Camp in 2003, and has been the Camp Coordinator for the Summer Music Camp at YMCA Camp Weaver since 2006.  She is currently the Director of Camps at MANC.  Karen can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 227 or email:  campdirector@musicacademync.org.

ANGELA TONEY, a faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, a violist who teaches violin and viola, graduated from the University of NC at Greensboro with both a Bachelor's and Master's in Music Education.  She is currently teaching at Morehead Elementary, where she has been the violin (strings) teacher for eleven years.  Before beginning at Morehead, she taught both middle and high school orchestra in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.  She is also a member of many performing groups, including IMPACT (music ministry) and both the Danville and B.E.S.K. String Quartets.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 211 or email:  atoney@musicacademync.org.

JANICE WELLS, piano faculty member and Master Teacher at The Music Academy of North Carolina, earned her Master of Music degree in Piano from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano from Newberry College.  She has taught private and class piano for many years, and is available to teach Suzuki-style lessons for younger beginners.  She is also an active freelance accompanist in the Triad area.  Janice began teaching at MANC in 2002.  She was a recipient of the 2004 Mary Elizabeth King Brown Teaching Excellence Awards.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 234 or email:  jwells@musicacademync.org.

CHRISTY WISUTHSERIWONG, piano faculty member at The Music Academy of North Carolina, is a native of Raleigh, NC.  She received her Bachelor’s of Music in piano performance and pedagogy at Meredith College in Raleigh and studied collaborative piano with Benton Hess at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned her Master’s of Music in accompanying.  Currently, Christy is pursuing doctoral studies in music at UNCG and is studying collaborative piano under Andrew Harley and James Douglass.  She has been on faculty at MANC since July 2006.  Christy works in the Greensboro area as a freelance pianist playing for lessons, rehearsals, master classes, and recitals for students at UNCG, Greensboro College, and Guilford College.  She has served as an official accompanist for MANC’s Annual Cello Competition for the past three years.  She has worked frequently as an accompanist for the UNCG Opera Theatre Department, playing for the Opera Tour to the Schools and the North Carolina premiere of Mark Adamo’s Little Women among other shows.  Christy has been a chorus accompanist for several shows with the Greensboro Opera Company, has worked as an accompanist for their summer opera camp, and has played for musicals for both the UNCG Theatre department as well as the Community Theatre of Greensboro.  She has also participated abroad in the summer opera performance and language study program Oberlin in Italy.  In summer of 2007, Christy will be participating in the University of Miami Frost School of Music German lieder program for singers and pianists in Salzburg, Austria.  Christy was a recipient of the Mary Elizabeth King Brown Teaching Execllence Award for 2008-2009.  She can be reached at (336) 691-0672, ext. 203 or email:  cwisuthseriwong@musicacademync.org.