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.

Jaimie Blackman
Guitar,  American Music
Jaimie.Blackman@LoneStar.edu

Jaimie Blackman is a music faculty member at Lone Star College-Montgomery, where he teaches Guitar and American Music. He is the recipient of a Lone Star College Innovation Fund award, supporting his interactive music and wellness workshops. Professor Blackman regularly partners with the Academy for Lifelong Learning, presenting his Music & Wellness programs across the Lone Star College network.

Jaimie remains active as both an educator and performer. As a jazz guitarist, he performs with a Houston-based big band at venues throughout the greater Houston area. He currently serves as Board President of ARC, an arts-based nonprofit organization co-founded by his grandparents in 1955. Mr. Blackman earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Hunter College, CUNY, and his Master of Science in Music Education from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, CUNY.

As a speaker, writer, and clinician for NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) and other organizations, Jaimie is no stranger to taking center stage.

Robert Boren
Voice
Robert.Boren@LoneStar.edu

R. Virgil Boren is Adjunct Professor of Voice at Lone Star College–Montgomery, where he teaches applied voice and German diction to music majors and non-majors. Boren previously served as Director of Choral Music and Professor of Voice at Tyler Junior College, where he led the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and the vocal jazz ensemble Harmony. Under his direction, the Concert Choir grew into one of the largest junior college choral programs in Texas. His programming included major choral-orchestral works and new music, among them Haydn's The Creation with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Fauré's Requiem, Rutter's Gloria and Magnificat, and the world premiere of Frank Kimlicko's Canzoni d'Amore. He also served as Chorusmaster for the East Texas Symphony Orchestra.

Boren maintains an active private voice studio, coaching high school singers through the All-State audition process, with multiple students advancing to the State level. Students from his studio have gone on to study voice at institutions including the University of North Texas, Baylor University, SUNY-Purchase, Texas Woman's University, and Texas Christian University. Boren's conducting and teaching philosophy — rooted in healthy tone production, ensemble listening, and expressive text delivery in the Shaw tradition — is informed directly by his own life as a singer and church musician; he currently leads music ministry at Faith Methodist Church in Richmond, Texas.

Boren holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Emphasis, both from Stephen F. Austin State University, and an Associate of Music from Trinity Valley Community College. He is an active clinician and adjudicator across Texas, serving in TMEA Region honor choirs and the TSSEC UIL Competition.

He lives in Katy with his wife and their three sons.

Jesús Bravo
Music Appreciation
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.

Dr. HaeJu Choi
Class Piano
HaeJu.Choi@LoneStar.edu

Dr. HaeJu Choi is a native of Seoul. South Korea. As an active competition pianist, she works for MTNA, ASTA, American Protégé competitions. She served as a faculty and a collaborative pianist for Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, Saarburg international music festival in Germany, Vianden international music festival in Luxembourg.

She taught at McNeese State University for 7 years before coming to Lone Star College.

Fang Daniels
Cello
Fang.Daniels@LoneStar.edu

Fang Daniels has been a member of the cello faculty at Lone Star College since 2022. A professional cellist and dedicated educator, she brings nearly two decades of performing and teaching experience to her students.

Prior to establishing her career in the United States, Daniels served as Assistant Principal Cellist of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. She later served as Principal Cellist of the Scottsdale Philharmonic and has performed with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Daniels earned her Master of Music in Cello Performance from Arizona State University, where she studied with Tom Landschoot, and her bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance from Nanjing University of the Arts. She also studied at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts as a scholarship recipient under Ray Wang.

Daniels holds an ABRSM teaching diploma and has completed extensive Suzuki teacher training in both cello and piano. She has mentored students pursuing collegiate music studies, with students continuing in Cello Performance at the University of Houston and Music Education at Sam Houston State University.

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.

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.

Peter Jagdeo
Montgomery Chamber Orchestra
Peter.Jagdeo@LoneStar.edu

PETER C. JAGDEO has served as Head Orchestra Director at Tomball Memorial High School since 2017. Under his direction, the program has earned straight UIL "Superior" ratings, a Houston Symphony High School Residency, a 2024 TMEA Honor Orchestra Finalist designation, and repeated national honors (2019-2025) from the Foundation for Music Education's National Orchestra Honors Project. In March 2024, he led the TMHS Orchestra and Choir in their Carnegie Hall debut, performing the co-commissioned work Four Future Memories by Stephanie Ann Boyd.

Peter began playing violin at age eight, eventually studying under Andrzej Grabiec at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. His performance background spans the 2008 Latin Grammy Awards orchestra and concerts with artists like Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Natalie Grant.

Driven by a lifelong love for video game scores, Peter began composing while at UH and later earned a Master’s in Music Technology from Southern Utah University. In 2022, he released his debut solo album, Full Sail, as his thesis project.

An active composer, Peter has written underscores for Houston-area theatre productions, including a live-synchronized score for Tomball ISD at the 2024 TASA/TASB state conference. He has also presented clinics at the TMEA and TODA conventions.

Furthering his service to Texas music education, Peter was recently appointed to the UIL Prescribed Music List Orchestra Committee, a panel of seven experienced educators responsible for establishing performance standards and selecting official contest literature statewide.

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.

 

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

Terry McKinney
Percussion
Terry.McKinney@LoneStar.edu

Terry McKinney teaches percussion at Lone Star College – Montgomery and is currently in his 18th season as the Principal Percussionist with the Baton Rouge Symphony which he joined in 2007. He has performed with various other organizations including the San Antonio Symphony, Midland Symphony, Abilene Symphony, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Gateways Festival Orchestra, and frequently with the Houston Symphony as a regular substitute musician. He has also performed with ROCO, the Greenbriar Consortium, the Magnolia City Brass Band, Ars Lyrica, Musiqa, and the Foundation for Modern Music. He is also a part of ABOP (Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists) and is a mentor for one of its protégés.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Terry received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993, and received his Masters in Music degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2000. His teachers include George Frock, Brian West, and Tony Edwards. After moving to Houston in 2008, Terry studied with Brian Del Signore and Matthew Strauss, both of the Houston Symphony.

Terry continues to perform regularly throughout Houston in various settings and has played in touring Broadway shows such as Mean Girls, Wicked, Tina, and Ain’t Too Proud. He has presented masterclasses at Lamar University, Louisiana State University, and Texas Christian University, and maintains a private studio in the area.

John Nelson
Voice
John.Nelson@LoneStar.edu

Irish-American baritone John Allen Nelson is known for his “deliciously hearty sound” with “uniformity from top to bottom” paired with his clean musicality. His “full body approach” to acting always makes him an audience favorite. The Boston Musical Intelligencer has praised his “deliciously hearty sound,” noting that “his bold, rounded singing elicits the same earthly satisfaction as a great glass of Cabernet…He’s a natural choice for this role [Dandini] and others of its type.”

Mr. Nelson’s signature roles include the title role in Don Giovanni, Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Marcello (La Bohème), Escamillo (Carmen), Giorgio Germont (La Traviata), Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Dr. Malatesta (Don Pasquale), a recent performance of which received critical acclaim from the Houston Press: “Nelson mesmerized...[he] was a commanding Malatesta, with his rich, effortless baritone firing on all cylinders.”

Mr. Nelson has been featured with Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, New York City Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, and Utah Opera, among many other companies. He appears frequently with Opera in the Heights, Opera Santa Barbara, the Spoleto Festival, and Odyssey Opera, where he made his debut as King Edward III in Donizetti’s L'assedio di Calais, and was slated to return for Merrie England, which was canceled due to the pandemic.

Mr. Nelson has become in demand for his jump-in performances, most recently appearing with West Bay Opera as the title role in Don Giovanni. He also jumped in as Marcello at Utah Opera for their season-opening production of La Bohème, as well as at Opera Ithaca as Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro.

A strong advocate for new works, Mr. Nelson has originated roles in numerous world premieres, including Giordano in Stonewall with New York City Opera, Fighter Jet Pilot in Grounded with Washington National Opera, and the title role in Hobson’s Choice with Moores Opera Center. He has also taken part in several workshops, such as Joseph Summer’s Hamlet at Boston Lyric Opera and both Manchurian Candidate and Silent Night at Minnesota Opera.

Alongside his operatic credits, Mr. Nelson is also a frequent concert artist, appearing as the bass soloist at Carnegie Hall in Mozart’s Coronation Mass, with the Duluth Symphony Orchestra in Dvorak’s Te Deum, with the Rhode Island Civic Orchestra and the Heartland Symphony in Handel’s Messiah, with the Masterworks Chorale in Boston in Vaughn Williams’ Five Mystical Songs and Fauré’s Requiem, and with Spoleto Festival in Handel’s Dixit Dominus, among others.

He completed additional training at Opera Colorado, where he appeared on the mainstage as Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Des Moines Metro Opera, where he covered the title role in Don Giovanni. A St. Paul, Minnesota native, Mr. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from St. John’s University, a Master of Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, and a certificate from the Boston University Opera Institute.

Angela Ortiz
Composition, Theory
Angela.Ortiz@LoneStar.edu

As a practice, Angela Ortiz focuses on the surreal, the absurd, and the strange. Recently having collaborated with ensembles such as the Orkest de Ereprijs for the commercial release of in their Young Composers Meeting 2026 Album, Angela has spent the past few years of her doctoral studies at Rice University exploring aspects of theatricality and humanness in music. She is deeply invested in the question of communication and performance and continues to pursue these ideas through interdisciplinary collaborations in the Houston area and abroad. 

As a composer, Angela is currently studying as a doctoral candidate and instructor at Rice University. In previous years she has received degrees such as a Master's of Music from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor's of Music from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts. Her mentors have included those such as Professor Michael Hersch and Dr. Robert Aldridge, with current studies including Dr. Anthony Brandt and Dr. Arthur Gottschalk. Previously Angela has attended programs such as the Aspen Music Festival and School as a composition fellow, as well as the Brevard Music Festival and European American Musical Alliance. Other awards have included the Gustav Klemm Award in Composition, given by the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and artistic residency with the HighSCORE Music Festival.

In addition to composition and education, she remains an active clarinet player. Most recently she has premiered several new works at venues such as Rice University's Duncan Recital Hall and Wortham Theatre, having also played alongside Gamelan of the New Moon.

Angela believes there is such profound beauty in the strange and ridiculous and is excited to continue the pursuit of this question of the odd or unusual.

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.

Dr. Yuiba Shin
Voice
Jee.Shin@LoneStar.edu

Dr. Yuiba Shin (legal name Jee Won Shin) is a coloratura soprano from Daegu, South Korea. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Keimyung University before moving to the United States, where she received her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from New York University, studying under Professor Arthur Woodley and Rosa Vento. She subsequently earned an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Performance from Queens College, CUNY, and an Artist Diploma from SUNY Purchase College, where she studied under Dr. Sherry Overholt. In 2025, she earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Louisiana State University under the guidance of Professor Sandra Moon.

Dr. Shin has experience as a voice instructor and has taught at Center Stage Performing Arts Academy. She is passionate about helping young singers develop healthy vocal technique, musicality, confidence, and artistic expression.

Her recent performance highlights include the title role of Pedro in The Christmas Gift, an American opera by composer James Sclater, presented by Opera Mississippi in 2025. Her additional operatic credits include La Fée in Cendrillon by Pauline Viardot, Aloès in L’Étoile, Adele in Die Fledermaus, La Fée in Cendrillon by Jules Massenet, Serpina in La serva padrona, Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica, Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte.

Her concert and oratorio repertoire includes Blonde in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Despina in Così fan tutte, Le Rossignol by Léo Delibes, and Der Hirt auf dem Felsen by Franz Schubert, as well as J. S. Bach’s Cantatas BWV 51, BWV 55, BWV 56, and BWV 4, Fauré’s Requiem, and Bach’s St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion.

Her doctoral dissertation, Selected Bird-Themed Chamber Works for Coloratura Soprano, Flute, and Piano, was completed at Louisiana State University in 2025. Her research examines selected bird-themed chamber repertoire for coloratura soprano, flute, and piano, with an emphasis on analytical and performance-practice considerations across multiple stylistic periods.

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
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.