Parent Handbook 2007-2008 -- Gray School of Music

2009	August	Fall semester begins August 17.
September	LABOR DAY, Sept 7 - school closed.
October	Oct 24 - Fall Trophy Costume Festival.
November	Nov. 7 - State Theory Test. Nov. 24 -28- school closed for Thanksgiving Holiday.
December	Dec. 12 - 18 - Holiday Recitals. Dec. 21 - Jan 3 - school closed for Winter Holidays.
2010	January	Jan. 4 - First day of classes.
February	Feb 6 - State Theory Test.
March	SPRING BREAK, March 15-21 school closed
April	Summer Signup. Fall 2010-2011 registration begins. Dallas North Music Guild - date TBA.
May	May 8 - Recital Ribbon Festival. May 15-22 - Spring Recitals School term lessons end Saturday May 22.

Piano Faculty

Photo of piano teacher Vicki Gray with piano student. Vicki Gray owns and directs the Gray School of Music. She founded the Gray School of music and has taught piano for 40 years. She has a Masters of Music from Southern Methodist University and has done doctoral studies in piano at the University of North Texas. Mrs. Gray is a distinguished and accomplished composer. Compositions have included five children’s fairy tale operettas; MUSIC FOR MINORS, a method for preschool music; and articles in professional journals and newsletters. Mrs. Gray is an expert on musical technology and motivational techniques. Her students have been winners in competitions at Baylor University, Dallas Piano Solo Competition, Dallas Symphonic, DMTA Jazz Festival, at the state level in the Texas Music Teachers Association Solo Performance Competition, and McKinney Young Artist Competition. Mrs. Gray has been awarded a Permanent Professional Certificate by the National Music Teachers Association and has been listed in Who’s Who of American Women. She is the mother of three children, all of whom attended music conservatories and obtained doctorate degrees in piano performance. Jenni has a Bachelor of Piano Performance from Eastman School of Music, Master of Music from the University of Texas, and Doctorate from the University of Houston. Julie has a Bachelors and Masters of Piano Performance at Eastman School of Music and a doctorate from the University of Texas. Justin earned a Bachelor in Piano Performance from the Juilliard School, a Masters of Music in Piano Performance from Southern Methodist University, and a doctorate of Piano Performance at the University of North Texas. Mrs. Gray enjoys gardening, cooking, and playing with her six grandchildren. Her husband, Haskell, is owner of a consulting and representation firm for advanced computer networking.

Photo of piano teacher Reuben Allred with piano student. Reuben (Ben) Allred was born in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he began the study of piano at age 11. He began teaching private piano lessons at the age of 18 under the supervision of Keith Snell, and has since been teaching students from beginner through advanced. Studying with Gregory Allen, he received both a Bachelors and Masters degree in performance from the University of Texas at Austin where he held scholarship and a Teaching Assistantship. In this capacity, Reuben studied group piano pedagogy under Martha Hilley, and private piano pedagogy with Sophia Gilmson. During this time Reuben was invited to participate in numerous master classes with teachers such as Leon Fleischer, John Perry, Paul Badura-Skoda, and Nelita True. From 2004-2007, he was the principal pianist for the UT Austin New Music Ensemble directed by Dr. Dan Welcher, where Reuben worked closely with contemporary composers such as George Crumb, James MacMillan, Melinda Wagner, and Christopher Theofanidis to premeire or perform new chamber works. Currently a new doctoral student on scholarship at the University of North Texas, Reuben was a winner in the 2008 UNT concerto competition which included a performance with the UNT symphony orchestra. He also participated in a NOVA concert for the residency of Augusta Read Thomas in November of 2007, as well as performed Makrokosmos Book I by George Crumb on a solo recital. Reuben Allred is a student of Dr. Pamela Mia Paul. His other interests include jazz, composition, reading, watching movies, and playing pool.

Photo of piano teacher Xiao-Bo Chen with piano student. Xiao-Bo Chen is the recipient of the Performer’s Certificate and holds an Artist Diploma in Piano Performance from Texas Christian University and a Masters of Piano Performance from UNT. She has taught for five years at Gray School of Music She has experience in teaching all age levels, from young children through adults. Ms. Chen won the concerto competition at North Texas this year as well as second place in the TMTA State Competition. She has recently performed in Carnegie Hall in New York City as a winner of the Steinway Competition. She enjoys traveling with her husband Eric who is a world reknowned saxophonist and professor of saxophone at UNT.

Photo of piano teacher Grace Choi with Piano student. Grace Choi has a Masters of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Southern Methodist University as well as a Master of Music in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. She received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea. She was awarded a Meadows Artistic Scholarship Award from SMU and the Kanable Scholarship and the John and Linda Lyon Van Voorhis Fellowship at the Eastman School of Music. Since her debut performance at the age of 13 with the University of Texas at Arlington orchestra, she has performed throughout Asia and the US. Ms. Choi has also performed in masterclasses for Joaquin Achucarro, Yaroslav Pugach, and Andre Marchand.

Ms. Choi has taught piano since 2001 as private and group instructor in Seoul, Korea, Rochester, New York, Interlochen, Michigan, and Dallas, Texas. She is also an experienced early childhood teacher, having taught at the Meadows Community Education in Dallas and the Eastman Community Music School in Rochester, New York. An advocate for the arts, she is currently working as a Public Relations Intern with Dallas Chamber Music.

During the summer of 2009, Ms. Choi will receive Orff Level Two Certification, teach at the National Piano Institute for Young Artists at SMU, and serve on the Committee for Pedagogy Students at the National Conference on Piano Pedagogy. She will be teaching piano, group piano classes, and early childhood classes at the Gray School of Music starting Fall 2009.

For more information, please visit: choigrace.com

Photo of Musikgarten teacher and piano teacher Dr. Juliette Flanagin with students. Dr. Juliette Gray Flanagin graduated Cum Laude from the Hockaday School and earned Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees in Applied Piano from the Eastman School of Music and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from theUniversity of Texas at Austin. Her teachers include Nancy Garrett, Fernando Laires, Anton Nel, Dr. Donna O’Steen Edwards, and Tong-il Han. She has performed in master classes with Malcolm Bilson, Rebecca Penneys, and Peter Tackas. She first began playing the piano at age 4 and performed her debut solo recital at age 15. An active performer, she has played numerous solo, chamber, and collaborative recitals throughout the United States, was a guest recital soloist at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas and was featured as a guest recitalist at the Mu Phi Epsilon Library Series and the Salon concerts in Dallas and at the Central Arts Series at Central Presbyterian Church in Waxahachie, Texas. She has served as staff vocal accompanist at Dallas Baptist University. She also accompanied for the Dallas based choral ensemble Sacred Song and has performed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Italy and the Dallas area with the ensemble. In addition to solo and ensemble work, Dr. Flanagin also freelances as a vocal and instrumental collaborative artist and is an active adjudicator for area piano festivals.

Dr. Flanagin has been teaching private, partner, and group lessons for almost 20 years, maintaining a private studio in Dallas,Texas, Austin, Texas, and Rochester, New York. She studied piano pedagogy with Tony Caramia at the Eastman School of Music and Martha Hilley and Sophia Gilmson at the University of Texas at Austin. Her pupils range from age 4 to adult and she has had winners in the Dallas Jazz Festival and TMTA Composition Competition. She taught group piano class at the University of Texas at Austin, served as an assistant teacher at the UT High School Piano Camp, and maintained a studio at the Gray School of Music. An award winning teacher, she received the Texas Excellence in Teaching Award for Teaching Assistants for her instruction of class piano at the University of Texas at Austin. Active in a variety of organizations, Dr. Flanagin was one of the founding members of the Hockaday orchestra, served as President of the Mu Phi Epsilon Fraternity at the Eastman School of Music, represented the Eastman Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon at their national convention and served as the President of the MTNA chapter at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Flanagin also led a group presentation on the format of studio performance class at the MTNA National Convention in Minneapolis. Dr. Flanagin began teaching early childhood music in 2003 where she joined the staff of Park Cities Baptist Church to lead the Musikgarten sacred curriculum for two-year olds. Currently, Dr. Flanagin maintains a private piano studio and is an active adjudicator and performer in the Dallas area. She joins the Gray School of Music in 2009 as a Musikgarten teacher. She lives in the Dallas area with her husband, Lewis, and three children, Brendan, Jeremy and Sarah.

Photo of piano teacher Ana Maria Gomez Ferstl with piano student. Ana Maria Gomez Ferstl is a Master of Music in Piano Performance candidate at Southern Methodist University where she is the recipient of a full Meadows Artistic Scholarship and a teaching assistantship. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Miami in 2007. Originally from the Dominican Republic, she studied at the National Conservatory of Music where she won top prizes at the local piano competitions with performances of Latin American music.

Ms. Gomez Ferstl has participated in the summer piano programs at Chautauqua Institution, Florida State University and the Dominican Republic. She has performed in the master classes and lessons of Roberto Bravo, Rebecca Penneys, William Heiles, Joel Schoenhals, Alessio Bax, Adam Aleksander and Arthur Greene.

She is currently studying with Dr. Carol Leone.

Photo of piano teacher Dr. Justin Gray with piano student. Dr. Justin Gray is a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York City where he obtained a Bachelor of Piano Performance and was a student of Gyorgy Sandor, a former pupil of Bela Bartok. He completed a Masters in Piano Performance at SMU where he was granted a full artistic scholarship. Dr. Gray has been a teaching fellow at University of North Texas where he completed a Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance in the summer, 2007. Dr. Gray has has been coached by such esteemed artists as Ian Hobson, Claude Frank, Anton Nel, Jerome Lowenthal, and Jeffrey Swan. He has studied extensively with Tong-il Han, Stephen Nielson, and Dr. Donna Edwards. Dr. Gray was the Kawai Grand Prize winnder in 2005 Palos Verdes Music Festival Competition in Los Angeles, and won the 1994 Kingsville International Competition, the 1995 Music Teacher’s Association Competition for Solo Piano, and 1996 Grace Welsh Prize for Piano,2004 Mid-Texas Symphony Competition, and 2004 Los Angeles Liszt Competition. An active teacher and performer, Dr. Gray has given frequent community performances in greater Dallas and New York City areas.

Photo of piano teacher Bethanie Henderson Hansen with piano student. Bethanie Henderson Hansen has been teaching piano lessons for nearly 10 years and has taught at the Gray School since 2004. A native of Rockport, Texas, Hansen began studying piano in 1988. From 2000 to 2002, Bethanie attended Texas A&M University in Kingsville, Texas where she studied with Dr. Jan Bogdan Drath. Ms. Hansen received her Bachelors of Music in piano performance from Southern Methodist University in 2005 where she studied with Mr. Alfred Mouledous.

Photo of piano teacher Dr. Heejung Kang with piano student. Dr. Heejung Kang was born in Seoul, Korea, and studied at the Seoul Music and Art High School for musically gifted teenagers. She hqas taught at the Gray School since 2002. She graduated with highest honors from the College of Music, Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul and later at the same university, she earned her Master’s Degree in Piano, receiving the Ewha Graduate Research Fellowship Scholarship. She earned a Doctorate in Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of North Texas, after completing her doctoral dissertation on Rachmaninoff. She is now an Adjunct Professor of Piano Studies at U.N.T. She has made a recording of the “Rediscovered Lieder and Piano Pieces by Kletzki, Oppel, and Schenker,” sponsored by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Jewish Federation, and College of Music at UNT. She has studied Schenkerian Analysis with Dr. Timothy Jackson as well as privately with Carl Schachter, distinguished professor at University of New York City. Ms. Kang is also an experienced piano teacher of both children and adults. Dr. Kang and her husband, Timothy, a professor of musicology at UNT, are expecting their first child in August, 2007.

Photo of piano teacher Dr. Rinna Saun with piano student. Dr. Rinna Saun is a nationally certified teacher of piano. She earned the doctorate in piano performance from the University of North Texas studying with Dr. Pamela Paul. While at UNT, she was a teaching fellow in class piano and accompanying. She received her bachelors degree from the University of Maryland with Dr. Nelita True, and her masters degree from the Mannes College of Music in NY with Richard Goode. Her performances have been heard in halls from New York to Oregon. She is the recipient of first prize from the New-York Korea Times Competition and the American Music Scholarship Association Competition. Her playing has been featured on NPR and she was a guest performer at the Gracie Mansion in New York. Dr. Saun has training in the Dorothy Taubman technique as well as the technique Abby Whiteside describes in her book, the Indispensables of Piano Playing. From 2006-8, performances include Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D minor K. 466, and the J.S. Bach Keyboard Concerto in D minor, with freelance chamber musicians from the Dallas area.

Photo of piano teacher Paula Schear with piano student. Paula Schear has been teaching piano since 1987 and has been teaching at the Gray School of Music since 1994. After obtaining her Bachelors of Piano Performance from Fresno State in California, Mrs. Schear earned a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy and Performance degree from Southern Methodist University. A few of her performing achievements include overall winner of the Fresno Women’s Symphony League Concerto Competition and recipient of the Meadows School of Arts Artistic Scholarship. Schear has attended and performed in master classes in California, Texas, and Austria. An undergraduate degree in Music Education has allowed her to incorporate her conducting and vocal experiences into the teaching of piano. Mrs. Schear has attended many seminars and conventions to enrich her teaching expertise. She is listed in Who’s Who in American Women. Her husband, Nobel, is Youth and Children’s Minister at Royal Haven Baptist Church. Paula and Nobel enjoy spending time with their son, Isaac Wesley.

Photo of piano teacher Branda Tan with piano student. Ms. Branda Tan began taking piano lessons at the age of six and violin lessons at the age of eleven. She was taught at the Royal School of Music prior to enrolling in college. She studied at The Malaysian Institute of Arts with a major in piano and a minor in violin. She won the Music Department Achievement Award in 2002 and graduated with distinction. In December, 2004, she graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Music in Music History and Music Literature. While studying at the University of North Texas, she was a pupil of Mr. Adam Wodnicki. Ms. Tan completed her Master of Music degree at UNT in May, 2008, where she was a teaching assistant. Since 2007, Ms. Tan has been a piano and violin instructor to all ages at the Master’s Touch School of Music in Grapevine, Texas. She currently accompanies many voice and solo instruments. Branda is an energetic individual as well as a warm and nurturing teacher. Ms. Tan is a master teacher who enjoys teaching many styles of music to her students.

Photo of piano teacher Margareta Wesolowska with piano student. Margareta Wesolowska earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Summa cum Laude, from Oklahoma City University, and a Masters of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Southern Methodist University where she studied with Alfred Mouledous and where she was the recipient of the Meadow’s Artistic Scholarship Award. She is a member of Phi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Ms. Wesolowska has taught piano since 1989 and has experience in teaching children and adults. She joined the Gray School of Music faculty in 2001. She has also taught private and group piano lessons at the SMU Piano Preparatory Department for two years as well as in Oklahoma City and Sweden.

Photo of piano teacher Xiaomin Yi with piano student. Xiaomin Yi Born in China, Ms. Xiaomin Yi started piano at the age of 7 and entered Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China at the age of 11. She graduated with top honors and received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She earned a Masters of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Texas Christian University. She also earned a Masters of Music Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, and an Artist Certificate in Piano Performance from Southern Methodist University where she studied with the well-known pianist Joaquin Achucarro.

In addition to her scholastic achievements, Ms. Yi has a rich and diversified teaching experience. She started to teach private piano lessons at the age of 13. She taught private lessons to students of all ages from 4 to adults, and all levels from beginners to advanced. She also taught Group Piano classes of all levels from beginner to collage level students, as well as including musicianship, theory, and performance master class. Many of Ms.Yi’s students performed in various festivals and auditions with good comments from judges and won prizes in contests and competitions.

As a soloist, Ms. Yi has performed extensively not only in the United States, but also in China. She performed the Brahms 1st Piano Concerto with the China National Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra and with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. She also performed solo recitals and chamber recitals in many cities in the U.S and China. Ms. Yi has been the winner of international and national piano competitions. Such as the First Prize in the 1996 National Piano Concerto Competition and in the 1998 Piano Competition of Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China, and the second prize in the 1997 WAKI International Piano Competition in Japan, and the sixth prize in the 1995 Stravinsky International Piano Competition in U.S. She has also been awarded the first prizes by BMG Music Awards and Chengxan Fu Awards.

With such a background, Ms. Yi offers a unique approach to teaching the piano, using both her creative and analytical training to design effective, balanced, individualized programs to help students to achieve their musical goals.

Ms. Yi is a member of CMTA, the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA), and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Ms. Yi enjoys watching movie, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends.

Photo of piano teacher Eri Yoshimura with piano student. Eri Yoshimura was born in Osaka, Japan. Ms. Yoshimura earned a music education degree from Shinshu University before moving to Denton, Texas in 1998. There, she obtained a second bachelor’s and a master’s degree in piano performance from the University of North Texas. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in piano performance under Dr. Pamela Mia Paul with a related field in Music and Medicine under Dr. Kris Chesky.

Eri Yoshimura’s scholarly research has focused on understanding and preventing piano-related medical problems. Her first major research effort involved extensive upper-extremity evaluations of 35 college-level piano majors. A scientific paper titled: “Risk Factors for Piano-related Pain among College Students” has been published in the Medical Problems of Performing Artists journal in September 2006. Her research interest is ongoing and focused on reducing piano-related pain among pianists and the possible application of a smaller keyboard for small-handed pianists. She has presented her work in conferences at Aspen (PAMA), Chicago (MTNA), and Serbia (EPTA).

Eri Yoshimura has performed solo recitals and four-hands recitals in USA (including Hawaii), Japan, Mexico, Italy, and Hungary (Franz Liszt International Festival). In addition to performance, she teaches a wellness course at UNT, Occupational Health, as a teaching fellow.

Guitar Faculty

Photo of guitar teacher Caleb H. Best with guitar student. Caleb H. Best has studied guitar from the age of twelve. He was awarded a Presidential Scholarship to study classical guitar at Kilgore College under the direction of Jason Gautney. In addition to private teaching, Caleb has participated in solo and group performances throughout East and Central Texas. He has performed in Master classes with Jorge Morel, Adam Del Monte, and Ernesto Garcia de Leon. Caleb holds both a Bachelors Degree in classical guitar performance and a Masters Degree in guitar performance from Southern Methodist University where he studied with Robert Guthrie. Caleb is a fan of the Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers. He enjoys playing guitar for both work and pleasure.

Photo of guitar teacher Vanessa Corder with guitar student. Vanessa Corder began playing guitar when she was xis years old. She began her professional training on guitar at Collin County Community College where she studied with Sabine Madriguera. Vanessa is currently finishing her Bachelors of Music degree st Southern Methodist University under the direction of Dr. Robert Guthrie where she is the recipient of the C.S.Constance Scholarship among other financial awards. Vanessa plans to continue her education with a masters depgree at SMU. She currently teaches privately as well as at Gray School of Music, and frequently performs for events such as dinner parties, weddings, and business luncheons. In July of 2006, she wonscond place in the Eastfield College Guitar Festival and Competition. Along with her love of music and teaching, Vanessa enjoys spending time with her husband and family, knitting, scrapbooking, and traveling.

Photo of guitar teacher Dianne Guthrie with guitar student. Dianne Guthrie has taught guitar for the past 26 years. She received degrees from the University of Texas and the University of Memphis. Her advanced training and certification are in the Suzuki School of Music. Mrs. Guthrie has performed in master classes with Giovanni DeChiaro, Robert Guthrie, Marcelo Kayath, the Michael Newman/Laura Oltman duo, Carlo Pezzimenti, and David Tannenbaum. She studied with John Stover (University of Memphis), Tom Johnson (U.N.T.), and Robert Guthrie (S.M.U.). Mrs. Guthrie has given solo and ensemble performances in churches, schools, and universities. For 5 years, she was a member of “Rosewood,” an all-woman guitar ensemble. She co-authored the book Guitar Hymns Glorifying Him, and has led worship with guitar in many church services. Mrs. Guthrie is also an award-winning artist and metal smith. Mrs. Guthrie’s son is an Information Technology Consultant and her daughter is a Physical Therapist in Dallas. Her husband, Robert Guthrie, is a well-known guitarist and head of the guitar program at S.M.U.

Guitar Faculty (continued)

Photo of guitar teacher Eddie Healy with guitar student. Eddie Healy began his study of the classical guitar with Dr. Enric Madriguera. He went on to study with Tom Johnson at the University of North Texas, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in classical guitar performance there. He then completed a Master of Music degree with Robert Guthrie at Southern Methodist University. He was awarded a scholarship from the Dallas Federation of Music Clubs, and was the recipient of the Alice Jones-Berding scholarship in 1995.

Eddie currently teaches at The University of Texas at Dallas, Eastfield College, the Spring Creek and Central Park campuses of the Collin County Community College District and the Gray School of Music. He also performs regularly as soloist, accompanist and ensemble member in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

His original compositions are performed by both professional and student groups in the area. Some of them were utilized as competition pieces by the Collin College One O’Clock Guitar Ensemble when they received First Prize in the Large College Ensemble category at the University of Texas at Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Competition in 2007. The guitar trio in which he plays received second place in the University/Professional category at the same competition using his pieces. He is currently pursuing his PhD at the University of Texas at Dallas with his first guitar instructor, Dr. Madriguera, serving as his advisor.

Photo of guitar teacher King Kun Ng with guitar student. King Kun Ng has 11 years teaching experience,and he has taught from elementary school level to university level. He has also performed over in Malaysia, China, and the United States. He was invited to perform in Malaysia Twin Tower for Younger Work of Art program in 1999, during his 2^nd semester of college. In the same year, he was also invited by the Kuala Lumpur Orchestral Association to perform for their concert. In 2000, King won his first prize in the first Selangor State & KL guitar competition in Malaysia. After obtaining his diploma, he went to XiAn China to further his study. In 2002, he won the special prize in the instrument group of 1^st Western China Instrument, Vocal, and Dancing Competition. In 2004, he received a full scholarship from SMU for his study in Artist Certificate program and Master’s degree. During this time period, he has also taught guitar classes in SMU. He is one of the members of a church worship team. King has specially noted “without the support of my lovely wife, Khing Shyuan Ng, I would not make it this far and I thank God for all of this.” They have added a new family member, Timothy, in December 2006.

Photo of guitar teacher Daniel Rodriguez with guitar student. Daniel Rodriguez taught himself to play the guitar and the bass at a very young age. He began his musical path by listening to musicians at his church, and attempting to reproduce the finger patterns and sounds he heard. With constant exposure to his brothers’ heavy metal guitar music, Mr. Rodriguez developed his natural musical ability and became an accomplished guitarist. He earned a Bachelor and a Masters of Music in Classical Guitar Performance at Southern Methodist University while studying with Robert Guthrie. Since graduating, Daniel has been teaching and performing in the Dallas area. He plays for many weddings, philanthropic events as well as rock concerts in Deep Ellum. He is currently composing music for his first solo rock CD as well as a solo classical guitar CD, which will be released soon. Mr. Rodriguez performs at Hillcrest Church in the worship band. Mr. Rodriguez enjoys volunteering in his community, weightlifting, watching movies, and visiting with his family.

Voice Faculty

Photo of voice teacher Katie Hall with voice student. Katie Hall is originally from Alabama where she obtained a Bachelors of Music with a major in vocal performance from Birmingham Southern College. She has a Master of Music in vocal performance from Southern Methodist University where she was awarded a Meadows Artistic Scholarship.

She has particitated in numerous operas and concerts: Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte, Britten’s Turn of the Screw, Bach B Minor Mass, Concert of Arias. She is a member of the music honorary society, Pi Kappa Lambda. Ms. Hall was winner of the Whittington Concerto/Aria Competition in 2004 and also 2005.

Katie Hall has taught at Highland Part Middle School, Highland Park High School, and Lake Highlands High School as a private voice teacher. She began teaching at the Gray School of Music as a voice instructor in 2007. Ms. Hall is an enthusiastic, warm teacher whose instruction is enjoyed by all ages.

Ms. Hall also enjoys cooking and photography in her leisure time.

Photo of voice teacher Ilana Delaney Lemke with voice student. Ilana Delaney Lemke holds a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts where she studied with Virginia DuPuy. She earned a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania where she studied with Louisa Jonason.

Ms. Lemke has performed many lead roles in operas including Cherubino in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Tessa in THE GONDOLIERS, Dorabella in COSI FAN TUTTE, and Page in SLEEPING BEAUTY. She has also performed as a soloist in many oratorios, including the Durufle REQUIEM, Mozart Solemn Vespers, and Caldara STABAT MATER, among others.

Ms. Lemke has been teaching private voice lessons for 7 years and enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities, but has a special fondness for working with the youngest singers. She has enjoyed performing some musical theater roles and has recently joined Helios chamber group. Ms. Lemke enjoys working with children, classical singing, literature, health and fitness, and following style and fashion trends.

Photo of voice teacher Stephanie McCranie with voice student. Stephanie McCranie has a Masters of Music in Voice from Southern Methodist University. She received a Bachelor Of Music Education from Stetson University. Stephnie has taught voice to 7-9th grade for the Richardson Independent School District, directed the Children’s Choir at Northaven Methodist Church,and been a production assistant for the Emerging Artist Program for the Dallas Opera. This past year Ms. McCranie has been a musical teater instructor for grades 1-5 for an after school program, Junior Players. She loves to teach singers of all ages but is especially interested in young students.

Photo of voice teacher Tiffany Roberts at work. Tiffany Roberts graduated from the nationally recognized Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts in Dallas. She received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice from The University of Tulsa, and an Artist Certificate & Master of Music Degree in Voice from Southern Methodist University. Ms. Roberts has just completed her third year as the administrative assistant and first year as one of the voice teachers for the Gray School of Music. She has been a private voice teacher for the Amarillo Opera Summer Opera Camp and held an assistantship during her studies at Southern Methodist University.

As a performer, Ms. Roberts is equally at home performing Opera, Orchestral Concerts or Recitals. She has appeared with numerous groups including Saltnote Stageworks, International Lyric Academy of Rome, New York Opera Studio, Houston Ebony Opera, Amarillo Opera, Portland Opera Works, Turtle Creek Chorale, Ft. Worth Symphony, Meadows Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of New Spain, and Orpheus Chamber Singers.

For her artistry as a performer in Ricky Ian Gordon’s Only Heaven, Lawson Taitte of the Dallas Morning News, raised Ms. Roberts for “having a soprano voice that stands out for its warmth and purity of tone.”

In her spare time Ms. Roberts hones her craft and enjoys exploring culture and the arts.

Drums/Percussion Faculty

Photo of percussion teacher Michael Plotkin with percussion student. Michael Plotkin Originally from upstate New York, Michael received his Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University in 2001. While there, he won the school’s annual concerto competition, performing Darius Milhaud’s Concerto pour Batterie et Petite Orchestre with the Vanderbilt Orchestra in 2001. In 2003, Michael received his Masters of Music degree in percussion from Southern Methodist University. An active freelancer and teacher in Dallas, TX, Michael performs with groups such as the East Texas and Los Colinas Symphonies, Dallas Wind Symphony, Lyric Stage, WaterTower Theatre, and Garland Summer Musicals. Internationally, Michael has performed with the Lyrique en Mer Opera Festival in France, and with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Since 2008, Michael has been the resident percussionist at the New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire. Locally, Michael can be seen performing with the quartet Swing Therapy, and the nearly 20 piece Fox-Trot orchestra The Singapore Slingers.

Photo of percussion teacher Andy Pruyn with percussion student. Andy Pruyn graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in Music Education with specialty in Percussions/Drums. He has a Standard Texas Educator Certificate for all levels of Music in grades K-12. He has taught in Mansfield Independent School District where he was a percussion instructor for grades 6-12. He was assistant band director/percussion specialist in Mesquite Independent School District. This past year Mr. Pruyn has been a percussion instructor for the Richardson Independent School District at J.J. Pearce High School as well as North Junior High School, and Parkhill Junior High School. He performs in several local bands and enjoys teaching drums to all ages.

Photo of percussion teacher Lamont Taylor with percussion student. Lamont Taylor is one of the most innovative musicians and music teachers in the DFW area. His distinct drum-instruction is designed to establish coordination and music proficiency most efficiently, while making learning fun and exciting. Lamont is distinguished in all musical styles, especially Rock'n Roll, Jazz, and Funk. He has hosted and adjudicated numerous drum competitions for a dozen years, and he has appeared as a guest clinician at countless music schools throughout America, Japan and Germany. Lamont has studied at the prestigious New School University of Jazz and Contemporary Music and is currently studying at Southern Methodist University. Lamont insists that composing, performing and teaching music are absolute passions, but he also enjoys traveling, cooking, reading and cycling.

Photo of percussion teacher Theresa Francesconi with percussion student. Theresa Francesconi is a pianist turned percussionist. She played both instruments all through middle school and high school and started pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Southern Methodist University. After her first semester she realized where her heart truly belongs and graduated from SMU in 2005 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with an emphasis in percussion. Since graduating, Theresa has worked with drumlines and taught private lessons for Midlothian ISD, Arlington ISD, and most recently and currently Garland ISD. She is now working on her Master of Music in Music Education at SMU, and would like to someday teach middle school band. Along with her passion for music, Theresa also enjoys mountain biking, camping, and knitting. She is on leave during the 2010 Spring semester.

Strings Faculty

Photo of strings teacher Dr. Chu-Yunn Lee with strings student. Dr. Chu-Yunn Lee has been teaching violin and viola privately since 1999. She obtained a Bachelors and Masters of Music in Vioin Performance at the University of North Texas. She received a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Violin Performance recently from UNT. At UNT she was a teaching fellow as well as member of Pi Kappa Lambda music honorary. She received the Liberace Scholorship and numerous other scholarships for merit. She won 3rd prize in the Chamber Music Internation Cometition in 2004 and was a winner in the UNT Concerto Competition in 1998. Dr. Lee has been an active soloist in the Dallas area as well as performng with Garland, Flower Mound, and Denton orchestras. Originally from Korea, Dr. Lee went to high school in Arlington, Texas, and has lived in the Dallas area for many years.

Musikgarten Faculty

Early Childhood Faculty

For more information, please visit: choigrace.com

LESSON TYPE	Piano Tuition	All Other Instruments Tuition
30-minute weekly lesson	*$147.00/month* (extra 15 min. theory lesson included)	*$133.00/month*
30-minute weekly lesson	*$684.50/semester* (2% discount)	*$614.50/semester* (2% discount)
45-minute weekly lesson	*$220.50/month* (extra 15 min. theory lesson included)	*$199.50/month*
45-minute weekly lesson	*$1026.50/semester* (2% discount)	*$928.50/semester* (2% discount)
Keyboard Kids	45-minute weekly lesson - $100/month
Musikgarten & Early Childhood	see Musikgarten & Early Childhood Schedule and Tuition.
Monthly tuition payments are prepaid for the month and due by the 10^th of each month.
All lessons for all instruments on Friday and Saturday will have a SPECIAL MONTHLY DISCOUNT TUITION: $128 (Sept. - May).
Summer Lessons are priced per lesson at current tuition rate.

Curricula	Development Through Music	Benefits to Child
Family Music For Babies Ages Birth – 18 mos 30-min classes	Bonds the child and parent/caregiver. Introduces playful musical activities. Bouncing and rocking songs. Wiggle and peek-a-boo games. Singing, dancing and moving. Teacher plays the role of coach. Parents learn ways to play musically with their babies in arms.	Nurtures a bond of love and security. Increases child’s curiosity about music. Develops child’s listening skills and sense of flow and beat through movement. Provides model for both parent/caregiver and child.
Family Music For Toddlers Ages 16 mos – 3 years 30-min classes	Once babies start walking, everything changes. Children explore and experiment with the world of sound more on their own. These “learners in constant motion” get to sing, chant, move, dance, listen and play simple instruments. Stimulates musical interaction between child and parent.	Channels toddler’s energy productively. Facilitates expression of feelings. Assists memory through repetition. Develops further musical aptitude and focused listening.
The Cycle of Seasons Ages 3-5 years 45-min classes	Musical celebration of the four seasons. Activities build on the child’s growing independence and competencies. Nurtures three year olds’ ability to use language. Capitalizes on the child’s delight in dramatic play within the musical context. Lessons include: songs, movement activities, exploration of instruments and imaginative stories for children to make their own.	Enhances moving, singing and talking skills. Develops listening, focused attention and self-expression skills. Taps into the child’s vivid imagination. Lays foundation for creative development via story-telling and play-dance response to poetry
Music Makers: At Home in the World Ages 4-7	Part 1 of our two-year sequential program gives your child a solid music making foundation. This year focuses on your child’s fascination with nature and love of instruments. Music Makers, Year One: Provides a developmentally sound approach to music literacy that builds symbolic thinking, concentration, memory and self-expression. Introduces orchestral instruments and ensemble play. Focuses on building a child’s aural (listening) foundation which leads to long-term success with music reading.	Singing, creative and structured movement. Training of the ear. Coordination of body and voice. Enhancement of self-discipline and social skills. First steps in reading music. Stories, songs and sounds from the world of nature: My Home, Woodlands, Marsh, and others. Introduction to 6 instrumental ensembles, with fine recordings and full color posters.
Music Makers: Around the World Ages 5-8	Part 2 of our two-year sequential program gives your child a solid music making foundation. This year focuses on your child’s fascination with all things new and different. Music Makers, Year 2: Explores the music of the British Isles, Germany, and our own Amerindian and African American Heritage. Features songs, dances, stories, rituals and customs of these cultures to help your child feel and understand others. Builds skills in listening, singing, playing instruments, as well as expressive movement and dance. Offers age-appropriate steps to develop music literacy - symbolic thinking, concentration, memory and self-expression. Develops ensemble and instrument playing to build on the music-making foundation from Year 1.	At the end of Year 2 your child will have a solid, comprehensive music foundation, an excellent preparation for the next step, whether it be instrumental lessons, singing in a choir, participating in an Orff ensemble, or joining a dance class.

Curricula	Description
Music Time Ages 4 mos. – 2 yrs. 45-min classes	Music Time is a unique program for infants and toddlers (age 4 months to 2 years) and their parents/caregivers. Music Time features musical activities such as singing, movement, and listening. Information and guidance on musical development in young children and home-based activities is also provided.
Music Times Two Ages 2-5 years 45-min classes	Music Times Two is designed for children (age 2-5 years) and their parents/caregivers. Children develop rhythmic and vocal skills as they engage in independent music making activities that include singing, movement, listening, and playing instruments.

Parent Handbook

Studio Calendar

Affiliated With:

HISTORY OF GRAY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Music Programs

LESSONS

PIANO

KEYBOARD KIDS

MUSIKGARTEN CLASSES

Early Childhood Classes

GUITAR, STRINGS, AND DRUM LESSONS

AGES 6 AND UP

VOICE LESSONS

AGES 13 AND UP

CHILDREN’S SINGING – AGES 5 AND UP

ADULT LESSONS

Summer Program

Policies