Dr. Scott Augustine
Saxophone
Scott.Augustine@LoneStar.edu

Scott Augustine is a Houston-based classical saxophone artist and educator. In 2022, Augustine completed a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with Professor Debra Richtmeyer. Augustine was recently awarded first place in the panamerican Clari-Sax Yucatán Henri Selmer Competition held in Mérida, Mexico.

Augustine has appeared in masterclasses with esteemed musicians, such as Arno Bornkamp, Frederick Hemke, Joseph Lulloff, Taimur Sullivan, the Masato Kumoi Quartet, Quatuor Morphing, and the Canadian Brass. While in college, Augustine received multiple awards in chamber music performance, earning the silver medal alongside the Khroma Quartet at the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, winning the American Prize in Chamber Music Performance for 2019-2020 with Khroma, and winning first place with the Versa Quartet in the 2020 North American Saxophone Alliance's Quartet Competition. Augustine has also been invited to give quartet recitals at the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium in 2017 as well as the Midwest Clinic in 2018 and has given masterclasses at Youngstown State University and Hiram College.

Other achievements by Augustine include holding the post of teaching assistant for Debra Richtmeyer and the UIUC saxophone studio in 2019-20, being awarded the undergraduate Presser Scholar award in 2017, and winning the Stephen F. Austin State University Concerto Competition in a quartet performing Bolcom's Concerto Grosso in 2015 and as a soloist performing Tomasi's Concerto for Alto Saxophone with the SFA Orchestra of the Piney Woods in 2017.

Augustine has helped lead commissions in the Vex Duo for works by talented composers of new music such as Yaz Lancaster, Anthony R. Green, and Emily Koh. Recently, Augustine joined the adjunct faculty at Lone Star College's Montgomery and North Harris campuses.

Seth Bagwell
Percussion
Seth.Bagwell@LoneStar.edu

Jaimie Blackman
Guitar Calass/ Jazz Guitar & American Music
Jaimie.Blackman@LoneStar.edu

Music is the language of the soul. It harmonizes every aspect of a life and the lives it touches are never the same.

The aesthetic components in music—rhythm, melody, harmony, tone color, texture, form, and dynamics —ignite and nourish the qualities inherent in all human experience.

Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep, quality, mood, mental alternes and memory.

By giving your full attention to the musical experience through achieve listening, numerous benefits from psychological to physical, to spiritual can be realized.

It is my joy to help my students live a happier and richer life by unlocking the power of music.

Jesús Bravo
Voice
Jesus.BravoCabrera@lonestar.edu

A graduate of the University of North Texas and the University of Houston, Jesús Bravo's voice has been described by the Houston Press as a “crystal Italianate tenor that's crisp and clean,” with “clarity to cut through the orchestra and always sound fresh.”

Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Jesús' passion for music ignited at a young age, thanks to his parents' introduction to classical music. At just 10 years old, he began competing in singing festivals in his hometown. His formal musical training started with “El Sistema” in Venezuela, which deepened his curiosity for the arts.

In 2017, Jesús made his operatic debut as the First Man in Armor in The Magic Flute. He later performed as Daniel Buchanan in the UNT production of Kurt Weill's Street Scene. During his time at the University of Houston, he took on notable roles including Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Mr. Erlanson in A Little Night Music, Fracasso in La Finta Semplice, and Jeník in The Bartered Bride. He also had the honor of performing with the UNT A Cappella Choir and the UNT Baroque Orchestra.

In the Houston area, Mr. Bravo is a sought-after performer, regularly collaborating with professional choral ensembles such as the Houston Symphony Chorus, Houston Mercury Singers, Harmonia Stellarum, and Bach Society Houston, both as a chorus member and tenor soloist.

During the summer of 2023, Bravo starred as Nemorino in L'elisir D'amore and Orphée in Orphée Aux Enfers with the prestigious Opera in the Ozarks Program. He also appeared as a featured artist in a segment presented by NBC. Additionally, Bravo performed with the International Lyric Academy in Italy, participating in the Mozart Marathon Event.

Beyond classical music, Jesús is a singer-songwriter and R&B enthusiast and serves as a Worship Director at Christ the King Methodist Church in Huntsville, Texas, where he leads worship and directs the choir.Jesus is thrilled to join Lone Star College-Montgomery and looks forward to contributing to the growth of artists who will inspire society through music.

Dr. Lisa M. Burrell
Violin, Viola
Lisa.M.Burrell@LoneStar.edu

Dr. Lisa Burrell is on the music faculty of Lone Star College in Houston, Texas. She is a violinist, violist, string clinician, and a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner®. She is on the summer faculty of the Wyoming Seminary Summer Music Festival and the Five Seasons Chamber Music Festival. In addition to teaching privately and performing, she is a regular clinician in the Houston public schools, college and university music programs, and teacher in-services, emphasizing pedagogy that promotes healthy playing through movement-based learning.

She has given over 200 clinics nationally and internationally, including presentations at the American String Teachers Association Conference (2010, 2011), Texas Music Educators Association (2011, 2019), The Midwest Clinic (2010), ISSE Chicago Feldenkrais Training (2016), ISSE San Francisco Feldenkrais Training (2017), Symposium on Feldenkrais in the Performing Arts (2016) in London, UK, the International Arts in Society Conference (2017) in Paris, France, and the ISME World Music Education Conference (2018) in Baku, Azerbaijan, where she received of one of 10 World Conference Awards.

Dr. Burrell is a graduate of the University of Virginia (BA), Northern Illinois University (MM), and the University of Houston (DMA). She completed a four-year, 800-hour Feldenkrais training in 2013 through Institute for the Study of Somatic Education. As a practitioner, she sees professional musician clients and offers workshops to prevent and overcome injuries/difficulties associated with neurological issues, repetitive strain, and performance anxiety.

As an active writer and blogger, Dr. Burrell is interested in sharing her teaching experience and research with the wider community of educators, musicians, and practitioners working with musicians and injury. She has recently published in the Journal for the Feldenkrais Guild of North America (2015), and will be featured in a new book The Feldenkrais Method in Creative Practice: Dance, Theatre, and Music to be released through Oxford University Press (pending), London 2019. Her blog can be found at lisaburrellviolin.wordpress.com.

Jennifer Dennison Daniels
Clarinet
Jennifer.Dennison@LoneStar.edu

Clarinetist Jennifer Dennison is celebrating her seventh year with Lone Star College. 
She has also served as Principal Clarinet and Executive Director of the The Houston Heights Orchestra since 2011. A native Houstonian, she is well-integrated into the rich culture of the Houston Arts scene, regularly performing with many local music and arts organizations including HHO, ECHO (The Energy Corridor of Houston Orchestra), and Scirocco Winds, a woodwind quintet specializing in educational programming in public schools.  

Though she has spent the bulk of her career in her hometown, she did manage to break away briefly from the Lone Star State, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio in 2005.  She then earned her Master of Music degree at the University of Houston's Moores School of Music in 2009, where she premiered the Ruberg Clarinet Concerto on Dudley Concert Hall's stage, and in 2013, completed coursework for her Doctor of Musical Arts degree. While at the Moores School, Ms. Dennison had the opportunity to perform with AURA, The Moores School's contemporary music performing ensemble, contemporary music being both a passion and a specialty of hers. In 2008, she won third prize in the Ruth Burr Competition for local musicians. She is quite at ease as a soloist, performing as such with The Houston Heights Orchestra frequently, and has performed recitals on many different stages. Also, an active teacher and clinician, Ms. Dennison has a flourishing private studio and has been woodwind faculty at Lone Star College-Montgomery in Conroe, TX since 2013.

Eric Estrada Valadez
Composition
eric.estradavaladez@lonestar.edu

The music of Eric Estrada Valadez has been performed in Korea, México, Canada, USA, and Germany, and has received numerous awards, like the Arturo Márquez Composition Award (2019), the International Composers Competition New Symphony Vienna (2020), the National Composition Competition for Percussion Quartet SAFA (2019), and MUSIQA's Emergent Composer's Competition (2022). He has been the recipient of grants from the Young Creators Program of the Fine Arts Institute of México (2021), and the Institute of Fine Arts-Conacyt (2022). In his works, Eric blends different music genres, such as rock, jazz, and Latino music, with contemporary composition, and explores the relationship between language, cultural identity, and music. Commissions have come from organizations and individuals like MUSIQA, México's National Endowment for the Arts, Cynthia Woods Mitchel Center for the Arts, the Public Arts University of Houston System, Aura Contemporary Ensemble, Texas New Music Festival, and KISA International Music Composition Program. He holds a bachelor and master's degrees in the field of composition by the National Autonomous University of México (UNAM) and is currently pursuing a fully funded Doctoral Degree in composition at the University of Houston Moores School of Music with Rob Smith.

 

Jeremy Garcia
Guitar
Jeremy.Garcia@lonestar.edu

Jeremy García is a distinguished classical and flamenco guitarist, award-winning composer, arranger, recording artist, and educator. He currently serves as Affiliate Artist of Guitar at the University of Houston's Moores School of Music and Professor of Guitar at Lone Star College-Kingwood and Lone Star College-Montgomery.

García maintains a vibrant career as a concert artist, performing classical and flamenco repertoire as well as collaborating in orchestral and chamber music settings. Notable performances include Suite Española with the Houston Grand Opera (2021) and a featured appearance with the Helena Symphony in Montana (2017). Most recently, he appeared as a guest artist with Apollo’s Fire, The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra (2024–2025), performing on tour in Chicago, Cleveland, and Puerto Rico.

Dedicated to introducing new audiences to classical music influenced by flamenco, García received a 2024 grant from the Houston Arts Alliance to create new works inspired by the music of Federico García Lorca and Manuel de Falla.

His latest album, Nuevo Día (Frameworks Records, 2023), features original compositions alongside flamenco-infused arrangements of Spanish masters Tárrega and Albéniz. His composition Zalamera won first prize in the Séptimo Concurso de Composición para Guitarra Fidelio (2023) in Madrid, Spain.

In 2009, García co-founded Solero Flamenco, Houston’s premier professional flamenco performance company, with vocalist Irma La Paloma. The duo has performed for Queen Sofía of Spain (2023) and toured extensively between 2021 and 2023, presenting original productions in six U.S. cities as part of Candlelight Concerts by Fever.

García also serves as Associate Artistic Director of the Houston Classical Guitar Festival and Competition and is a frequent clinician and ensemble director for the Guitar Initiative’s Summer Guitar Conservatory.

Eduard Gavril
Class Piano
Eduard.Gavril@LoneStar.edu

Eduard Alexandru Gavril is a Romanian pianist, improviser, composer, and educator. He proves to be a versatile musician, by approaching classical repertoire, jazz, and electronic music with constant enthusiasm, both as a performer and as a composer. Eduard is also an active soloist and collaborative artist, with a significant number of events that he was featured in.

Eduard began studying piano at the age of five at the Vocational Art School in his hometown of Tirgu-Mures in Romania. He continued his studies at the “Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca from where he obtained his bachelor's degree in Piano Performance in 2015. After graduating, Eduard moved to the United States, earning his master's degree in Collaborative Piano from Sam Houston State University, Texas in 2018. He earned a second master's degree in Piano Performance from University of California, Irvine in 2020 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at University of Houston.

The son of professional musicians, Eduard made his solo debut at the age of twelve performing with the Tirgu-Mures National Orchestra. Eduard's affinity for piano concertos resulted in him winning all the concerto competitions from the schools he attended: First Prize in the SHSU Concerto Competition in 2016, First Prize in the UCI Concerto Competition in 2019, and both Grand Prize and Audience Prize at University of Houston Concerto Competition in 2020. As a result, Eduard appeared as a soloist with orchestras in subsequent performances, including a concert in the prestigious Barclay Theater in Irvine, California. He is also the winner of top prizes at important competitions in Romania and the United States. In 2016 he earned second prize in the SHSU Art Song Competition. As part of his ClassMates Piano Duo, the group was awarded top prizes at the prestigious United States International Duo Piano Competition in Colorado Springs in 2017 and 2018. Since a very early age, Eduard developed a strong interest for improvisation, performing for numerous events and festivals including the Transylvania International Music and Art Festival, Transylvania International Film Festival, RestArt Jazz Festival, Electric Castle Festival to name a few.

As an educator, Eduard has been sharing his knowledge and experience with students of all ages, backgrounds, and levels. He developed a unique teaching philosophy by combining elements from his own educational background, with mainstream methods and elements from the Taubman and Alexander traditions. Besides his professional involvement with various music academies in Texas and California, he also held an adjunct faculty position at Sam Houston State University until 2018 and is currently an adjunct professor at Lone Star College Montgomery in Texas.

In addition to his musical activities, Eduard is also passionate about photography, videography, animations, traveling, and exploring nature.

Ærin Gray
Composition, Theory
Aerin.C.Gray@lonestar.edu

Ærin Gray is an active composer, arranger, percussionist, vocalist, and and music educator in the greater Houston area. He regularly composes and produces programs for pageantry arts (marching band, winter percussion, winter color guard) programs all over the country. Ærin holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in music composition and theory from Sam Houston State University. He studied under Drs. Kyle Kindred and Brian Herrington. He was the recipient of the Fisher Tull Student Composition award in 2019 for his percussion trio Shakr Hmn.

Ærin has recorded drum set, percussion, and vocals for several rock and country records. Mostly recently, Ærin recorded Make it Through with the band Zero Detail from Houston. Other recording credits include Let ‘Er Buck by Jack Nelson and The Joe Burlison's Uptown Jazz Christmas album from 2017.

Ærin is a fierce advocate for equity and equality, especially in the classroom. He is a member of the Safe Zone team and a facilitator for Safe Zone training at Lone Star - Montgomery

Mary Hines Lee
Voice
Mary.Lee@lonestar.edu

Mary Hines Lee is a singer, teacher, director, and composer. She has performed as a soloist for opera, oratorio, chamber music, and recitals. She and soprano Patti Spain were the Dueling Divas and were featured artists with the Texas Arts Alliance. Ms. Hines has been a featured guest on many arts and recital series.

As a former member of the performing ensemble for Houston Composers Alliance, Ms. Hines Lee had the opportunity to work firsthand with internationally renowned composers such as Pierre Jalbert, John Eaton, Carlisle Floyd, William Kraft, Mario Davidovich, and Reynaldo Ochoa. She has had the opportunity to perform the World Premiers for many works. She was named as the first American singer to appear at the Fondation Royaumont’s New Music Festival in France, and had the opportunity to work with up-and-coming international composers.

Ms. Hines Lee has a wealth of teaching experience and is committed to her students in both the studio and the classroom. She has been on the Music Faculty at Alvin Community College, College of the Mainland, San Jacinto College, Houston Community College and is currently on the faculty for Lonestar Colleges in Montgomery and Kingwood. Her students vary from singing professionally in Europe, performing Jazz and Musical Theater to becoming music teachers and music therapists.

Ms. Hines Lee has served on the Board of Directors for the Houston Composers Alliance and was a Founding Board Member for Bay Area Youth Singers, Houston. She is a former director of the “The Notables” chorus in the Clear Lake Area.

Ms. Hines Lee is a composer and has had several of her works performed in and around the Houston area. She has written music for voice, piano, harp, and flute. She is particularly interested in writing for small to medium ensembles, solos, and chamber music.

Donna Hinds Sawyer
Voice
Donna.F.Sawyers@lonestar.edu

Larysa Horichenko-Balema
Cello
Larysa.Horichenko-Balema@lonestar.edu

Larysa Horichenko-Balema is a Ukrainian professional cellist who graduated from Lviv National Music Academy named by M. Lysenko in 2003 and has MD in Art. In 2006 she graduated from Khmelnytskyi Pedagogical Institute and received a master's degree in Pedagogy. During that period, she took part in many competitions and festivals and performed as a soloist with orchestras. 

Her professional career in Ukraine has included work with many Ukrainian composers and she was the first interpreter of some music. The most well-known composers with whom she was connected are Yuri Laniuk (the cello professor), Myroslav Skoryk, Arvo Pärt, and Toto Cutugno. During her orchestra career, she worked with European well-known conductors such as Mykola Balema, Volodymyr Sirenko, Michael Scherbakov, Woytec Mrozek, Saulus Sondeckis, Roman Rewakowicz, and others.

In Ukraine, till 2017 Lara worked as a professor of cello class, taught music theory and reading of orchestra scores, and chamber ensembles; was on a jury team of some youth competitions; and published some science articles. Since 2018 she has performed in Europe, Turkey, and Middle Eastern countries with different chamber ensembles, groups, bands and show orchestras. 

Lara moved to the USA in October 2022 because of the war in Ukraine to start a new life and help her family and people as much as she can. She continues performing and teaching.

Garrett Hudson
Flute
Garrett.M.Hudson@gmail.com

Recognized by the Winnipeg Free Press for “shaking up the classical music world”, Garrett Hudson is known for his charismatic stage presence and highly personal voice on the flute. He is a founding member of WindSync. His roots lie in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he emerged at the age of 16 in a solo debut with the Winnipeg Symphony. 

Before embarking upon a dynamic career as an international soloist, instructor, orchestral and chamber musician, Hudson held positions in North America's leading professional training orchestras including the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and l'Orchestre de la Francophonie in Montreal, Quebec, and he participated in the world-class Young Artists Program through Ottawa's National Arts Center. 

Hudson completed a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia, studying under Scottish flutist Lorna McGhee and earned his Master of Music degree from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music under the tutelage of renowned flute pedagogue Leone Buyse. 

A sensitive communicator both on stage and off, Hudson has coached woodwind students at the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Texas. He lives in Houston, Texas, where he maintains a teaching studio at the beginner through professional levels and currently serves on the faculty of Lone Star College. He is often found behind the wheel of the minivan while WindSync is on tour and is a coffee and wine enthusiast.

Dr. Peter Jagdeo
Creekside Civic Orchestra
Peter.Jagdeo@lonestar.edu

PETER C. JAGDEO is an educator based in the Houston area and has served as Head Orchestra Director at Tomball Memorial High School since 2017. Under his leadership, the orchestra program has consistently achieved recognition for musical excellence. The ensembles have earned “Superior” ratings in all regional UIL competitions, and in 2018, the Houston Symphony honored the program with a High School Residency. From 2019 to 2025, the Tomball Memorial Symphony and String Orchestras have consistently earned recognition from The Foundation for Music Education’s National Orchestra Honors Project. In the Commended Winner category, the Symphony Orchestra was recognized in 2019 and 2024, while the String Orchestra received honors in 2023. In the National Winner category, awarded to a handful of top-tier organizations in the country, both the Symphony and String Orchestras were named National Winners in 2021, and the String Orchestra was again honored in 2025. The Full Orchestra was also a Finalist in the TMEA Honor Orchestra competition in 2024. Additionally, in March 2024, Peter led the orchestra, alongside the TMHS Choir, in their debut performance at Carnegie Hall to a near-sellout audience where they performed a co-commissioned work Four Future Memories by up-and-coming New York composer, Stephanie Ann Boyd.

At the age of eight, Peter began studying the violin. With the support of his parents, he continued his musical pursuits throughout his formative years. During his senior year of high school, Peter made the decision to pursue a career in music and was accepted into the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, where he was placed in the studio of Andrzej Grabiec.

As a violinist, he has performed with artists such as Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, Casting Crowns, Amy Grant, and Cana’s Voice. He was also a member of the orchestra at the 2008 Latin Grammy Awards.

In April 2016, a revision of Peter’s arrangement of the Korean folk tune, Arirang, was debuted by the Energy Corridor of Houston Orchestra, a regional semi-pro ensemble. Additionally, other concert works by Mr. Jagdeo are available for purchase at J.W. Pepper.

Gaming has always been a big part of Peter’s life, and his early love for classic video game scores has driven his passion for music ever since. During his time at Moores, Peter developed a love and a knack for writing music, which he has cultivated and expanded over the years. Some of his biggest musical influences are composers such as John Williams, Christopher Tin, Jeremy Soule, Jack Wall, Tommy Tallerico, and Nobuo Uematsu. He released his first solo album, Full Sail, as his thesis project for his Master of Music in Music Technology degree from Southern Utah University in late 2022.

He has written the underscore for several theatre productions in the Houston area. Notably in 2024, he composed the underscore for Tomball ISD’s fine arts presentation at the Texas Association of School Administrators/School Boards conference, where the orchestra performed live to synchronized video and dialogue. Mr. Jagdeo has also presented clinics at the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Orchestra Directors Association conferences.

Peter resides in Houston with his wife, Shannon, who is also a violinist and orchestra director, and their two children. Besides teaching and composing, he enjoys reading science fiction novels, traveling, and, of course, PC gaming with his friends and family.

Dr. William Koehler
Trumpet, French Horn
William.Koehler@LoneStar.edu

Recently appointed Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Lone Star College Montgomery, Dr.  Will Koehler is an active performer, clinician, and writer currently based in Houston, Texas. Koehler holds studios at some of the best high school music programs in Texas, including The Woodlands, Seven Lakes, and Bridgeland. In 2022 Koehler led student ensembles to the live rounds of the National Trumpet Competition in Boulder Colorado; a first for any student ensemble in Houston. An advocate for new music, Koehler released his premier solo CD “Mocking Midnight” in 2018. The CD was funded by a grant from the Presser Foundation which was awarded to Koehler during his time at Indiana University. In the fall of 2018 Koehler graduated from Indiana University and the Jacobs School of Music with his Doctor of Music Degree.

Recent performance highlights include performing as founding member of Ionic Brass, a quintet focused on new music and educational outreach. Koehler has also been a new works artist at numerous ITG Conferences, most recently in 2023. Being a champion of new music, Koehler gave the world premier of Kindred Spirits for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble by Kimberly Osberg with the Pittsburg State University Wind Ensemble in 2022. Koehler's teachers include Joey Tartell, Jeff Curnow, Alan Hood, and Dr. Todd Hastings.

Dr. Sergey Kuznetsov
Piano
Sergey.Kuznetsov@LoneStar.edu

 

Sergey Kuznetsov started his musical education at the age of 5 at the Music School affiliated to the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire and in 1998 was admitted to the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire to the class of an outstanding professor Mikail Voskresensky. In 2003 he was awarded his Diploma with High Distinction. In 2002 Sergey received the prestigious Lili Kraus Scholarship at TCU (Fort Worth, TX) and commenced his Artist Diploma studies with Professor Tamás Ungár. After winning a conspicuous scholarship, Sergei was widening his education under the guidance of Joaquín Achúcarro at Dallas Southern Methodist University. Sergei completed his doctoral degree at University of Southern California in Los Angeles under the guidance of a legendary pianist Daniel Pollack. Sergey also studied composition, music industry and electro acoustic media at USC. Sergey has performed extensively throughout the world, both as soloist and chamber musician. Notable events included winning international prizes at China International Piano Competition (Beijing, 2004), Hilton Head International Piano competition (USA, 2003), Caltanissetta International Competition (Italy, 1999), International Piano Competition in Houston, TX (2005). After winning the 3rd China International Piano competition, Sergey has become a frequent performer in China. He has performed as a soloist with Beijing Symphony, Shenzhen Symphony and Taipei Symphony orchestras. He was invited to make studio recording for a young artist program in the Radio & Television (CCTV) in Shenzhen. Sergey also worked as a Teaching Assistant while he was at University of Southern California and organized successful chamber music ensembles and projects at USC. In August 2008 his trio XYZ has toured France and collaborated with a number of famous French musicians.

During his studies in the United States, Sergey has always enjoyed teaching and advocating classical music amongst various groups of people. In 2003, he organized a series of educational projects in collaboration with Van Cliburn Foundation. With the mission was to bring classical music to children whose parents can't afford education, the project had become so popular in Texas that Sergey had to reach farther and?travel around the state with his lectures and concerts. In 2005-2007 Sergey worked as a Teaching Assistant in Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Several of his students have won national and international prizes that supported their way towards studies in music. Sergey's approach in piano pedagogy is to show his students how great and large the world of music actually is. His knowledge of piano repertoire is very impressive after taking a special advanced piano repertoire course at USC with Stewart Gordon. Sergey Kuznetsov is a founder of the?Bakitone International?project dedicated to classical music competitions, masterclasses, and festivals.

Lance Laster
Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, American Music
Lance.Laster@LoneStar.edu

Born and raised in Houston, TX, Lance Laster is a trombonist and music educator with over a decade of teaching and performing experience.  Lance has a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Houston and a master's degree in Trombone Performance from Temple University.

Currently, Lance teaches American Music and Low brass at Lone Star College Montgomery and San Jacinto College Central. In addition to that, Lance maintains a large private studio of low brass students in the Houston area. 

Lance is also active in the Houston music scene.  Lance plays in the Texas Medical Center Orchestra, The Houston Brass Band and Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra. He has also performed at Jones Hall with the Houston Symphony, Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, PA, Lincoln Center in New York City, the Free Press Music Festival, and the South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in Austin, TX.

Heath Martin
Voice, Fundamentals of Music
Heath.Martin@LoneStar.edu

A native to the Spring/Woodlands area, Heath Martin joined the Lone Star College - Montgomery faculty in the spring of 2019. Over the course of his time here, he has taught Fundamentals of Music, Music Appreciation, Class Voice, and Private Voice Lessons. He recently joined the SHSU music faculty in the fall of 2021 and teaches English/Italian Diction, German Diction, Opera Workshop, and Private Voice Lessons.

A Bearkat alumnus, Heath studied voice with Christopher Michel and graduated with a B.M. in vocal performance. He received his M.M. in vocal performance from the University of Houston. There, he studied voice with Hector Vasquez and opera performance under the direction of Buck Ross. Since 2015, Mr. Martin has been performing professionally with young artist programs and opera companies throughout the United States. He had the privilege of attending the Aspen Summer Music Festival in 2018 as a young artist in the Aspen Opera program where he studied voice with renowned pedagogue Dr. Stephen King and performed under the direction of the late Ed Berkeley. From 2017-2018, Heath was a young artist with Opera Colorado in Denver, CO and performed many small roles in their opera productions. He has also been employed by Houston Grand Opera since 2012, performing in many of their operas as a chorister and soloist and collaborating with HGOco as a concert soloist and touring performer.

Heath shares his passion as a performer with that of being a music educator. He began teaching voice in 2012 at Tomball-Memorial High School and later, at Klein Oak High School in 2016. At the Aspen Music Festival, he also served as a teaching artist and taught several voice students in the affiliated music school.

Dr. Stephen Martin
Double Bass
Stephen.A.Martin@lonestar.edu

Dr. Dr. Paul McCarroll
Class Piano
Paul.McCarroll@lonestar.edu

Irish pianist, Paul McCarroll has been living and performing in the United States for over a decade. He holds a Bachelor's degree and Artist Certificate from the University of North Texas, a Master's degree from the Eastman School of Music, and a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Houston. His artistic and academic journey reflects both versatility and deep commitment to his craft.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Paul has performed extensively across the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, the Czech Republic, and Austria. He is a prizewinner of numerous national competitions in the UK and Ireland, including the prestigious Mabel Swainson Award, which led to his acclaimed debut at Dublin’s National Concert Hall.

Throughout his career, Paul has participated in masterclasses with some of the most esteemed pianists of our time, including Stephen Hough, Sergei Babayan, Jerome Lowenthal, Barry Douglas, and Malcolm Bilson. These experiences have significantly shaped his artistic voice and pedagogical approach.

Paul has a particular affinity for 19th and 20th-century Russian repertoire, especially the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff. In his freshman year at the University of North Texas, he won the school’s concerto competition performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, and in 2023, he performed the composer’s monumental Second Sonata at the inaugural concert at the University of Houston Rachmaninoff Festival.

A passionate and dedicated educator, Paul recently completed his doctorate with a minor in piano pedagogy, having spent several years honing his teaching philosophy and studio practice. His students have gone on to win prizes in MTNA and international youth competitions and have been accepted into respected college music programs across the US and Europe.

Dr. Karen Rees
Class Voice, Voice
Karen.Rees@LoneStar.edu
 

Dr. Karen Rees originally from Alberta, Canada, has performed with Edmonton Opera, Calgary Opera, the Red Deer Symphony, the Lethbridge Symphony, Chicago Symphony of The Shores, and the Victoria Symphony. Operatic credits include Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte), The Dew Fairy and Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), Edith (Pirates of Penzance); Cunegonde (Candide) and Miss Silverpeal (The Impresario).

Recently, Dr. Rees was the alto soloist with The Woodlands Chorale 2023 for Handel's Messiah. She holds a Doctor of Music degree in voice performance from Northwestern University (Illinois), a Graduate Diploma in Opera Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada), a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Calgary (Canada), and a Bachelor of Education degree with an emphasis on high school choral music education from the University of Lethbridge (Canada). Dr. Rees has been an Adjunct Lecturer and Voice Professor at Lonestar College-Montgomery since 2019. Previously, Dr. Rees has held the positions of Musical Theatre Lecturer and Voice Instructor at SHSU (Huntsville, TX), Voice Program Lead, and Children's Choral Program Director at Keyano College (Alberta).

As a voice professor, Dr. Rees offers students a safe, nurturing learning environment to explore authentic sound, build vocal technique and enhance performance skills. Dr. Rees encourages students to step outside of their vocal comfort zones by experiencing all genres of music. She is excited to engage students in a musical learning experience that builds foundational understanding and unity between the body, the brain and the singer's unique sense of creative expression.

John Vidovic
Classical Guitar
John.Vidovic@lonestar.edu

John Vidovic is a classical guitarist, composer, and teacher in The Woodlands area. He received 2 MM degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in composition and guitar performance. His studies have taken him to summer programs in Los Angeles, Paris, Oklahoma City, San Jose, Houston and New York city. He is currently an adjunct professor of Music at Lone Star College and runs JV Music Academy, LLC, a private teaching studio for guitar and piano. His greatest musical influences are L.V. Beethoven, J.S. Bach, Robert Schumann, and various folk styles from around the world. Aside from music, he enjoys cars, playing volleyball, golf, comedy and staying active outdoors.

Amanda Waites
Voice, American Music
Amanda.N.Waites@LoneStar.edu

Amanda N. Waites is a professional singer and voice teacher with over 25 years of experience in the musical arts. Her roots are Cajun, and her soul is southern, born and raised in south Louisiana. She is a faculty member at Sam Houston State University in the Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre, serves as voice faculty for Lone Star College-Montgomery Music Department and sings in local and regional venues along the Gulf Coast. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Loyola University and a Master of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Tulane University. 

Mrs. Waites is an accomplished performer in many styles including classical, musical theatre, jazz, rhythm and blues, and pop/rock. She is a founding member for the jazz vocal trio Swing Set. She is enthusiastic about the origins and roots of American speech, linguistics, singing traditions and their influence in vocal music. With this research, she has collaborated with such artists as blues pioneer Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and renowned New Orleans pianist Ronnie Kole. Mrs. Waites is a sought-after vocalist for recording studio projects. In 2015, Amanda was the featured vocalist on the debut gospel album titled “Journey Back” by composer/arranger Travis Tuer. Critic Justin Kreitzer of REVIEWYOU called her singing “soulful with powerful vocal delivery…like a 70s disco diva.” She has studied with/performed for distinguished musicians and entertainers in the music world including Bobby McFerrin, Seiji Ozawa, and Bob Hope. 

As a teacher, Amanda's students have enjoyed remarkable success in major music schools around the country, Off-Broadway productions, Broadway National Tours, Metropolitan Opera's National Council Auditions, The Voice and even as a finalist in American Idol. Her students win National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) auditions and receive high marks at annual All State auditions. She is an active member and has served on the board as a Vice President for the Greater Houston NATS chapter. Currently, Amanda is engaged with The Woodlands Methodist Church for Gospel Hour with Spiritwind Band.

Dr. Marshall Davies
Staff Accompanist
Marshall.N.Davies@LoneStar.edu

DMA in Performance and Literature (Piano), Eastman School of Music, 1996
M.M. in Performance and Literature (Piano), Eastman School of Music, 1992
B.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Brigham Young University, 1990

Pianist and vocal coach Dr. Marshall Davies is based in the Houston area, and currently serves as a staff accompanist at LSC-Montgomery, LSC-University Park, and Prairie View A&M University, and also serves as a regular pianist at the Houston Ballet Academy. In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Davies also serves as Music Director for Plymouth United Church, UCC, and as a pianist for Resurrection Lutheran Church.

Dr. Yu-Hsuan Yang
Piano
Yu-Hsuan.Yang@LoneStar.edu

Dr. Yu-Hsuan Yang is a native of Taiwan who has established herself as an accomplished musician and educator. After earning the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music from National Taiwan Normal University, she came to the United States and gained Patricia Joy Arden Scholarship Fund and completed her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance with Dr. Louis Nagel from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. She then continued to pursue her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and studied with Prof. Alexander Braginsky from the University of Minnesota, where she received both Mann Fellowship and Teaching Assistantship.

Throughout her career, Dr. Yang has achieved numerous accolades for her exceptional piano skills. She won several piano competitions and was invited to perform in concerts such as the Steinway Peace Piano Concert, the Schubert Club Concert Series, Vespers Concert Series, Musicians in Recital, and Guest Artist Recital at Kellogg Community College. She also performed in recitals with harpist Prof. Chen-Yu Huang, flutist Prof. Gözde Çakir Ramsey, and pianist Prof. Wendy Chu. Many of the students she worked with won top prizes in MTNA national competition, Kenwood Concerto Competition, Michigan Youth Artist Festival Competition, White Lake Solo Competition, and National Flute Association.

Before relocating to Texas, Dr. Yang worked as a staff collaborative pianist at Central Michigan University, where she accompanied CMU Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, student recitals and competitions. She also formed a piano duo with Taiwanese pianist Dr. Wendy Chu and had performed extensively in concerts each year. In addition to performing, she also taught in her piano studio, Yinghua Chinese Immersion Charter Public School in Minnesota, and the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan.

Dr. Yang is an active member of several music organizations, including MTNA, TMTA, and HMTA. Currently, she is a staff accompanist at Lone Star College-Montgomery, an adjunct professor at College of the Mainland, and a piano instructor at Institute of Chinese Culture. Besides, she maintains a private piano studio where she continues to inspire and educate students of all ages and skill levels.