Division 6: Philosophy, Humanities, Art, Music & Drama

Main Office: TECH 123
Front Desk: 281.290.5273

BRIAN HERRINGTON, Director of Symphony Orchestra and Associate Professor of Music, Music Department Chair

PAULO GOMES, Director of Vocal Division and Choral Activities

ZACHARY BRUTON, Voice

D.M.A. in Vocal Performance, Louisiana State University, 2010
M.M. in Vocal Performance, Rice University Shepherd School of Music, 1999
B.M. in Vocal Performance, Rice University Shepherd School of Music, 1997

SPENCER CHAPMAN, Trombone

Spencer Chapman is an active Houston based freelance trombonist and low brass educator. He has performed as a substitute musician with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of New York, the Houston Latin Philharmonic, the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.  

Mr. Chapman joined the faculty at Lone Star College-CyFair in Fall of 2022, and maintains a robust private pre-college teaching studio. In demand as an educator, he presents masterclasses year-round at many of the premiere band programs in the greater Houston area. Former students & participants of these classes have gone on to enjoy success in avenues such as substantial performance-based university scholarships, the Texas All-State process, and the Texas UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest. ? 

Spencer Chapman is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, where he received his Masters in Classical Trombone under the tutelage of Colin Williams, Associate Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic. Mr. Chapman received his undergraduate training from Boston University, studying under Don Lucas & Gabriel Rice. Mr. Chapman also spent a semester abroad at the Royal College of Music in London, England, studying under Byron Fulcher & Amos Miller, Co-Principal Trombones of the London Philharmonia Orchestra.  

Spencer Chapman is a proud member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 65-699 and the Houston Theatre Musicians Association. 

FANG DANIELS, Cello
fang.daniels@lonestar.edu

Fang Daniels is a professional cellist with nearly twenty years of experience as a recitalist, orchestral musician, and chamber musician. She was the assistant principal cellist of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. She has performed in North America, Europe and Asia. Ms. Fang also served as principal cello of the Scottsdale Philharmonic in 2014-2015 and as a section cellist in numerous orchestras in New Jersey and Philadelphia. She has appeared in numerous festivals and fashion shows, including the Red Rocks Music Festival, High Peaks Festival, and the John Galliano Showing Dior Resort in Shanghai in 2010. Ms. Fang holds a Master's degree of Music in cello performance from Arizona State University, where she was a student of Tom Landschoot, and a B.A. in cello performance from Nanjing University of The Arts. As a visiting student and got a scholarship, she also studied at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with Ray Wang.  ? 

A dedicated and committed educator, Ms. Fang holds a teaching diploma from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) in the UK and is a certified Suzuki teacher in all units of both cello and piano in the US.

NICHOLAS ENGLE, Brass
Nicholas.Engle@lonestar.edu

KELLI ESTES, Voice

M.M., Moores School of Music
B.A., California State University

M.M. in Music Education, The University of South Dakota, 1990
B.M. in Music Education, The University of South Dakota, 1985

Cyndi Gernhart earned a Master of Music Education degree from the University of South Dakota with an emphasis in woodwinds. She taught primarily instrumental music (marching, concert and jazz band) at various levels as well as lessons throughout the upper Midwest for over 15 years. She led the NSAI-Kansas City songwriter’s group, worked in a music studio, made songwriter trips to Nashville, and was fortunate to do a lot of different things in between. Since moving to Texas in 2014 she began teaching at Lone Star College-CyFair where she currently teaches MUSI 1306-Appreciating Music.

GARRETT HUDSON, Flute
Garrett.Hudson@lonestar.edu

TYLER KATSARELIS, Guitar

M.M. Music Theory, New England Conservatory of Music, 2019
B.M. Theory and Composition, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2016

Ty Katsarelis is a composer, theorist, and guitarist from Katy.  His chamber opera, worry, was commissioned in 2019 by Due Donne Productions for premiere in Boston. His guitar duet, Poseidon and Amphitrite, was featured at the 2019 Palaio Faliro Guitar Festival in Athens, Greece and was performed by renowned guitar duo Alexandra Christomidou and Yannis Petridis. He has also written music for ALEA III, Primavera Guitar Orchestra, and the ULL Chamber Singers. As a music theorist his interests include contour theory, statistical analysis, and sonic proportions. His recent work in the music theory field adapts contour theory and statistical analysis in order to make music analysis more accessible to non-musicians. As a guitarist Ty has most recently performed in the 2018 Guitar Extravaganza on Naxos Island and in Henrique Eisenman’s Brazilian Ensemble. He also actively plays as a pit guitarist for musical productions in the Houston area.

EUNAE LEE, Piano

Ms. Lee started her piano at 6 years old in Seoul, Korea. She went to Seoul Music and Art school and later got her Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance at Seoul National University.

She came to the US to study and got her Master’s in Piano Accompanying and her Specialist degree in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. While she was in Michigan, she studied with Martin Katz, the world-renowned collaborative pianist and teacher. Ms. Lee was also a recipient of Eugene Bossart Scholarship at the University of Michigan.

She had an opportunity to study as an intern at the Opera Company of Philadelphia during the last year of her graduate study and was soon hired there as a Rehearsal Pianist after graduation. For the next ten years, she worked at the Opera Company of Philadelphia, while serving as a faculty member at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music.

Her Summer season experiences include: Music director at Belvoir Terrace in Lenox, Massachusetts; Faculty at Hartwick College Summer Music Festival in Oneonta, New York; and Pianist at Spoleto Festival in Spoleto, Italy.Ms. Lee has also performed numerous recitals as a collaborative pianist in Asia and North America.Ms. Lee is currently working as a Staff Pianist at Lone Star College.

SO YOON LEE, Piano

D.M.A. in Piano Performance, University of Texas in Austin, 2006
Performance Certificate in Piano, Eastman School of Music, 2003
M.M. in Piano Performance and Literature, Eastman School of Music, 2002
B.M. with highest honors in Piano Performance from Seoul National University, 2001

So Yoon Lee, pianist, first prize winner of the 22nd Kingsville International Competition enjoys a remarkable and multifaceted career that has taken her throughout the United States, Canada and Asia. In addition to garnering many awards from her alma mater, she was the second prize winner of the 26th Frinna Awerbuch International Piano Competition in New York City (2002); prize winner of the Washington International Competition in Washington, DC (2005); and second prize winner at the 2007 Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition in New York City. She has studied with Barry Snyder, Anton Nel, Krystian Zimerman, Ursula Oppens, Paul Badura-Skoda, Jean Barr, and Ann Shein. For many years she has maintained a busy schedule as performer and collaborator in solo recitals, chamber music performances, and ensemble performances. Her recital appearances have included numerous performances at the Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Bechstein Auditorium, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and numerous other major world venues. Eager to pursue dual careers in teaching and performing she was appointed to the faculty of the University of Texas Pan American and Texas Southern University. She is currently a piano faculty at Lone Star College-CyFair, where she received a Faculty Excellence Award in 2010.

ROBERT MCCULLAGH, Percussion

Robert McCullagh has performed extensively as a solo, chamber, and orchestral percussionist in the U.S. and Europe. He is currently a tenured percussionist with the Houston Ballet Orchestra. Other orchestral engagements include performances with the Houston Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Ft. Worth Symphony, and Houston Grand Opera. Robert is also a fellow of the National Repertory Orchestra, Texas Music Festival and has performed with the Breckenridge Music Festival. Robert also maintains a private studio in the greater Houston area.

HUAY MING NG, Piano

D.M.A. in Composition, Rice University Shepherd School of Music, 2005
M.M. in Composition, University of Houston Moores School of Music, 2000
B.M. summa cum laude in Piano Performance and Composition, Univ. of Houston, 1998

Composer and pianist Huay Ming Ng, born in Singapore, received her doctoral degree as a Brown scholar from Rice University and master’s degree (Summa cum Laude) from the University of Houston.

As a pianist, Huay Ming Ng has been coached by renowned artists like Abbey Simon, Ruth Tomforhde and John Sharpley. Among many of her performances are those with the Symphony North of Houston, the Woodlands Symphony, AURA New Music Ensemble in Houston, the Ypsilanti Chorus in Michigan, the Oregon Chamber Orchestra and the UMC organ/piano duo in Singapore.

Her works have been awarded numerous national and international composition honors. These included the coveted Grand Prix du Composition by the American Academy in Fontainebleau, France (2001), second prize from the Ernest Bloc Music Festival (2000), the Louisa Stude Sarofim prize from the University of Houston (1999), and the Leota Stillwell Composition Competition Superior Award from the Texas Music Teachers’ Association (1997).

Huay Ming Ng is also highly active as a teacher. She had taught the Preparatory Program through Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and the collaborative piano program at West University, United Methodist Church. Currently, she is a piano faculty at Lone Star College-Cyfair and also maintains a private music studio in Cypress, Northwest Houston.

D.M.A in Jazz Conducting, University of Houston? ? 

M.M. in Jazz Conducting, University of Houston 

B. A. in Music, University of St. Thomas in Houston 

?Juan Perez is a Houston based guitarist who specializes as a performer and an educator. He has a command of a wide range of musical styles yet is most adept within the jazz idiom. He maintains an active performing schedule and performs in various musicals and co in the Houston area. He holds a bachelor's degree in music from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and a master's and doctoral degree in Jazz Conducting from the University of Houston. During his time at the University of Houston, Juan researched the amalgamation of blues and bebop in elements in Kenny Burrell’s music, articulations in big band music, and jazz microrhythms. Juan's time at the University of Houston also allowed him to perform with musicians of international caliber, such as the saxophonist Bill Evans and the trumpeter Joe Faddis. At?Juan’s studies have focused on a jazz setting, he is also adept in a classical understanding of music theory as his doctoral studies include a music theory minor, which focused on exploring the music of modern woman composers, Bach’s counterpoint style, and an analysis of 19th and 20th century Italian and German opera. Juan currently teaches ear training courses and guitar lessons at Lonestar College-Cyfair. 

DREW SLATTON, Voice

Advanced Degree in Vocal Performance, Opera Music Theatre International, 1997
B.M. in Vocal Performance, Louisiana State University, 1987

As a performer, Drew Slatton has thrilled audiences across the United States, Europe, and South Korea, appearing in more than 150 different productions with over 40 leading tenor roles in both opera and musical theatre. He has garnered much praise for his “focused vocal intensity and fine acting.” Specializing in the repertoire of Verdi, Puccini, and Verismo composers, he is known for his “distinctive steely timbre,” “thrilling high notes,” and “robust tenor voice.” Mr. Slatton is a familiar face to the LSC Cy-Fair stage, having performed the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera and Jean Valjean in last spring’s Les Miserables. Still an active performer, other recent performances include a reprise of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in Ft. Bend County, Turiddu/Canio in the double bill of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci, and several concert appearances. Mr. Slatton studied singing with the legendary basso Jerome Hines and acting with internationally renowned director Frank Corsaro. His experience and expertise have made him an invaluable teacher and trainer in the arts of singing and acting. Following his mentors, he tailors his teaching method to give his pupils the physical strength and artistic instincts to succeed in the vocal arts. Mr. Slatton’s honors include awards from Opera Music Theater International, the Center for Contemporary Opera, the Richard Tauber Competition, and Syracuse Opera (Artist of the Year).

AIDAN SMERUD, Voice
Aidan.Smerud@lonestar.edu

A recent graduate of the University of Houston’s prestigious Doctor of Musical Art’s program, Aidan remains an active performing artist in the local Houston area with sacred ensembles, universities, and professional musical theatre or opera companies.  He most recently performed at Opera in the Heights as Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Sparafucile in Rigoletto. Offstage, Aidan is a passionate educator who enjoys teaching courses at the University of Houston and Lonestar in musicology, while maintaining his growing voice studio. His favorite performing credits include Dr. Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore; Rucker Lattimore in Cold Sassy Tree; and Emile deBecque in South Pacific.

YUNG-WEI SUN, Voice

D.M.A in Voice Performance, The Ohio State University M.M. in Voice Performance, The Ohio State University

B.M in Voice Performance, National Taiwan University of Arts.

A native of Taipei, Taiwan,  Dr.  Yung-Wei Sun is  an  active  performer  of  both operatic  and concert repertoire both here in the United States and  in Asia. Her operatic repertoire includes major roles as  First  Lady  in  Mozart’s  Die  Zauberflöte, Aldofo  in  Handel’s  Faramondo,  and Alice  in Verdi’s  Falstaff, La Sagesse and La Haine in Lully's Armide, Tamera in Rubinstein’s The Demon, and Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. She has also sung as the soprano soloist in  Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, K.  Lee Scott’s Requiem, Handel’s  Messiah and Rutter’s Requiem.  

In addition to performing, during her doctoral work, Dr. Sun concentrated her research on Mandarin-Chinese art songs, and diction. She was invited to present a lecture named, “Comparison of Western Lyric Diction and Mandarin-Chinese Lyric Diction” at Peking University in Beijing, China. Dr. Sun has also expanded her expertise in preparing singers for an academic audition and her article, “How to Prepare Graduate School Auditions in the U.S.”, was published in The Journal of Association of Vocal Artists of Republic of China. She has been invited to do presentations and master class in Taiwan.

Dr.  Sun  holds  degrees  from  the  National  Taiwan  University  of  Arts,  National  Sun YatxSen University,  and The  Ohio  State  University  where  she  was  awarded  the  Irma  Copper  Vocal Scholarship  and  a  Graduate Research  Small  Grant. Before she moved to Houston, she was the faculty member at Muskingum University. She currently is on the voice faculty at Lone Star College- CyFair. 

SUSANNA WANG, General Music Courses