Blair Faculty: Precollege

These faculty members teach only students in the precollege program.
Many of the collegiate faculty also teach precollege students.

AMY ALLEY Adjunct Artist Teacher of Kindermusik; Adjunct Lecturer in Teacher Education
B.S. (Univ. of TN Martin) M.M.E. (Peabody) E-mail

Piano Student of Allison Nelson. Faculty Member: Jones Paideia Magnet, since 1994. Metro Nashville Teacher of the Year 2000. Outstanding Elementary Music Program - Nashville Entertainment Association 1995. Writer - Kindermusik University Fundamentals Course 2000. Member, Kindermusik Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, American Orff Schulwerk Association, National Association for the Education of Young Children, Sigma Alpha Iota. Member of Faculty: Tarkio College, 1985-88. Blair School since 2001.

KIRSTEN CASSEL Adjunct Artist Teacher of Cello
B.M. ( University of South Carolina) M.M. (Eastman School) E-mail

Student of Alan Harris, Robert Jesselson, Grace Mihi Bahng, Anne Williams. Master Classes with Richard Aaron, Norman Fischer, Lynn Harrell, Paul Katz. Summer Festivals incude AIMS in Graz, Aspen, Spoleto U.S.A. Blair School since 2005.

ELIZABETH ECKERT Adjunct Artist Teacher of Piano
B.M. (Indiana University) E-mail

Student of Jeremy Denk, Evelyne Brancart, Anna Balakerskaia. Winner: ALEX award for the Performing Arts (National Alliance for Excellence, Inc.), Indiana University Piano Concerto Competition. Finalist: National Symphony Orchestra Young Soloists' Competition. Soloist: Indiana University Symphony Orchestra, Levine Chamber Orchestra (Washington, D.C.). Performances throughout East Coast and Midwest including Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall (debut presented by NAE), Kennedy Center Concert Hall (NSO Competition Finals), Smithsonian Institute, Musical Arts Center (Indiana). Teaching posts include Indiana University Young Pianists' Program, 2001-2004. Blair School since 2004.

CONSTANCE ELY GUERIN Adjunct Artist Teacher of Chorus; Director, Young Singers of Blair
B.S. (Vanderbilt) E-mail

Classical voice study with Sally Ahner, Tracy Prentice, and Debbie Turner. President, Nashville Symphony Chorus 2005-2007; Section Leader, Nashville Symphony Chorus 2001-2003; Member, Nashville Symphony Chorus since 1999; Director, Upper Elementary Choir, First Presbyterian Church (Nashville), 1998-2007; Student Director and Section Leader, Vanderbilt University Concert Choir, 1997/98; Co-director, Children's Choir, Cathedral of the Incarnation (Nashville), 1995/96; Director and Accompanist, Youth Choir, St. John the Evangelist (Colorado), Vanderbilt Symphonic Choir and Chamber Choir, 1995-98; Vanderbilt University Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, 1994-98; Blair Collegium, 1995/96. Blair School since 2000.

CHIHEE HWANG Adjunct Artist Teacher of Piano
B.M.(Hanyang University), M.M.(University of Tennessee) E-mail

Student of David Brunell and Eun-Mo Chung (Piano); Fay Adams and Patricia Z. Carter (Piano Pedagogy). Solo and chamber recitals in Korea, Northern Marianas Island, and United States. Certified Orff Schulwerk level 1 teacher and certified Suzuki piano teacher. Graduate Teaching Assistant at The University of Tennessee, 2002-2004. Piano instructor at the Bearden Elementary School and the Rainbow Academy, Tennessee, 2004/2005. Blair school since 2005.

SARA NEWMAN JOHNSON Adjunct Artist Teacher of Suzuki Violin
B.S. (North Carolina); M.F.A. (Iowa)

Additional studies: Queens College (North Carolina). Suzuki studies with Hiroko Driver. Violist, Charlotte (North Carolina) Symphony Orchestra, 1978-79; Lyric Arts String Quartet, 1980-86; Trevecca College Community Orchestra, 1987-95; Centennial String Quartet since 1986. Member of Suzuki faculty: Wingate College (South Carolina); The Artworks, Community School of the Arts, and Winthrop College (North Carolina), 1980-84; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools (North Carolina), 1984-86; Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County Public Schools since 1986. President, Tennessee chapter, American String Teachers Association, 1994-96. Member, Tennessee Music Educators Association, Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association. Outstanding Teacher Award, Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts, 1991. Tennessee Teacher of the Year, American String Teachers Association, 1999. Biographical citation in Who's Who in Among America's Teachers. Blair School since 1997.

KATHERINE BECKER MANSOURI Adjunct Artist Teacher of Suzuki Violin
B.M. (West Virginia University); M.M. (Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville) E-mail

Student of Donald Portnoy and John Kendall. Member of St. Louis Philharmonic, 1981-1983; Memphis Symphony, 1983-1984; Tupelo (Mississippi) Symphony, 1985-1986; Little Rock (Arkansas) Symphony, 1985-1986; Jackson (Tennessee) Symphony, 1988. Western Kentucky University Orchestra, 1990-1991. Full-time facclty member in the Suzuki String Program at the University of Memphis, 1983-1989. Private Studio in Glasgow, Kentucky, 1989-1991. President of the Glasgow Musicale, 1990-1991. On the faculty of numerous Suzuki Institutes and Workshops including: American Suzuki Institute (Wisconsin), 1984, 1985; University of memphis Suzuki Institute, 1984-1991, 1996, 1997, Feb. 2002; Suzuki String Workshop, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1995, 1997. Children's choir director at St. Lutheran Church, 1995 to present. Member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and Chorister's Guild. Blair School of Music since 1996.

SALLY MCFADDEN Adjunct Senior Artist Teacher of Orchestra, Conductor of Nashville Youth Repertory Orchestra
B.M.E. (Mount Union); M.Ed. (Trevecca Nazarene)

Additional studies: Cleveland State University. Student of Robert Cowden and Peter Synnestvedt. Cellist, Parma (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra, 1975-84. Cellist, Trevecca Symphony Orchestra, since 1990. Article published in Music Educators Journal, 1990. Beginning Strings and Orchestra teacher, Metro Nashville Public Schools, since 1987. Metro Nashville Teacher of the Year, 1993. Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts Outstanding Teacher Award, 1994. Member: Music Educators National Conference, Tennessee Music Education Association, Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, American String Teachers Association, Tennessee String Teachers Association, Metro Nashville Education Association. Tennessee Mid-State Orchestra Chair. 1996, 2001. Middle Tennessee All-State Orchestra Chair, 1999, 2000, 2002. Tennessee All-State Orchestra Chair, 1998. Adjudicator and clinician. Blair since 1995.

ELLEN MENKING Adjunct Artist Teacher of Oboe
B.Mus. (Vanderbilt); M.M. (Indiana)

Student of Marc Lifschey, Bobby Taylor, and Linda Strommen. Master class performances with Richard Woodhams, James Caldwell, and Elaine Douvas. Evansville Philharmonic English horn/3rd Oboe 1992-94; Nashville Symphony English horn/3rd Oboe 1993-95; Nashville Symphony 2nd Oboe/Assistant Principal 1995-present; Middle Tennessee Philharmonic Principal Oboe and concerto soloist 1993-99; Western Kentucky University adjunct faculty and member of Western Arts Woodwind Quintet 1997-2001; Blair School since 1997.

DAVID MITCHELL Adjunct Artist Teacher of Clarinet
B.M. (De Paul) E-mail

Student of Larry Combs, John Bruce Yeh, Julie R. DeRoche, Bruce Dinkins and Cassandra Lee. Master classes with Alan Balter, James Gillespie, Stanley Hasty, Charles Neidich, and Alfred Prinz. Performances with Charleston Symphony Orchestra, 1996-97; Nashville Symphony, 1996-97; Associate member, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, 1997. Blair School since 1997.

CAROL REINER NIES Adjunct Senior Artist Teacher of Conducting; Director of the Nashville Youth Orchestra Program
B.M. (Miami); M.M. (Yale); Graduate Professional Studies Diploma (Mannes); D.M.A. (Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music) E-mail

Student of Gerhard Samuel, Michael Charry, Harold Farberman. Additional studies with Otto-Werner Mueller, Daniel Lewis, Murry Sidlin. Associate Conductor, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra since 1999; Assistant Conductor, CCO, 1998-1999; Cover Conductor, CCO, 1995-1998; Conductor, Opera-To-Go since 1998; Conducting Assistant, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, 1994-95; Cover Conductor, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, 1995-97; Assistant Conductor, Opera Theater of Lucca (Italy), 1997, 1998; International Conductors Workshop (Czech Republic), 1998,1999; Assistant Conductor, Philharmonia, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, 1992-93; Conductor, Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra, 1986-92; Conductor, Antioch College Orchestra, 1995-97; Conductor, Branford College Chamber Orchestra, Yale, 1983-86. Blair School since 1996.

JAMA REAGAN Adjunct Artist Teacher of Piano
B.M. (North Carolina School for the Arts); Teaching Diploma (Guildhall School of Music); Performance Diploma (Royal College of Music) E-mail

Student of Robert McDonald, Anne Epperson, Marian Hahn, Benjamin Kaplan, and Eric Larsen. Solo recitals in eastern and southern United States and in England. Member: Fox-Towse Duo, 1989; Clarion Duo, 1991-94. Radio and television appearances, 1988, 1990. Member of faculty: Winston-Salem (North Carolina) Community Music School, 1986; Haddonfield School of Creative and Performing Arts (New Jersey), 1992-97. Private studio, 1987-97. Blair School since 1997.

DANIEL REINKER Adjunct Associate Professor of Viola
B.M. (University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music); M.M. (Yale University School of Music) E-mail

Principal Viola, The Nashville Symphony. Faculty member and Assistant Principal Viola, Eastern Music Festival. Former Associate Principal Viola, San Antonio Symphony; Principal Viola, Ohio Chamber Orchestra; Faculty, University of Texas at San Antonio. Soloist with Nashville and San Antonio Symphonies. Professional Studies, Cleveland Institute of Music. Student of Robert Vernon, Raphael Hillyer and Peter Kamnitzer. Blair School since 2002.

CAROL F. SMITH Senior Artist Teacher of Violin; Director of the Suzuki Program
M.A.T. (Washington University) E-mail

Additional studies, Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music and North Texas State University. Graduate study with John Kendall at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Further study with Shinichi Suzuki at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto (Japan). Guest Clinician at Suzuki workshops and institutes throughout the United States and in Canada, Europe, South America and Australia. Member, Board of Directors and (1985-1988) and Teacher Training Advisory Committee (1995-1999), Suzuki Association of the Americas. Faculty member: parkway School district (St. Louis, 1975-1978), Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville), 1979-1997. Blair School since 1997.

HAZEL SOMERVILLE Adjunct Artist Teacher of Chorus and Director of the Children's Chorus Program
E-mail

JULIA TANNER Adjunct Artist Teacher of Cello
B.M. Oberlin Conservatory of Music E-mail

Additional Studies: Chautauqua School of Music; National Federation of Music Clubs Scholarship Winner. Student of Nellis DeLay, Shirley Trepel, Chaim Zemach, George Neikrug, and Daniel Domb. Soloist with the College of Wooster Chamber Orchestra, the Belmont University Orchestra, and the Nashville Ballet. Teaching positions at Tenn. Tech University, David Lipscomb University, and Belmont University. Cellist with the New Orleans Philharmonic, the North Carolina Symphony, and frequent substitute with the New York City Ballet Orchestra and the American Symphony. Principal Cellist with the Canadian National Opera Co. Orchestra, the Federal Music Society, the N.Y. Lyric Opera, and the Bryan Symphony. A frequent performer on chamber music concerts throughout Middle Tennessee. Assistant Principal Cellist of the Nahville Symphony since 1978. Blair School since 2003. Julia Tanner's homepage

CELESTE HALBROOK TUTEN Artist Teacher of Suzuki Violin
B.M.E. (Peabody); M.Ed. (Memphis State)

Additional studies: Suzuki method with Louise Scott, John Kendall, and Margery Aber; American Suzuki Institute, Mid-Southeast Suzuki Institute. Student of Stephen Clapp, Christian Teal, and Zina Shiff; viola with David Becker; Nashville Symphony Orchestra, 1970-74; Memphis Symphony Orchestra, 1974-76; Jackson (Tennessee) Symphony Orchestra,1976-83. Member, Suzuki Association of the Americas, American String Teachers Association with National School Orchestra Association. Member of faculty: Metropolitan (Nashville) Public Schools, 1979-88; Celebration School of Music (Grace Church of the Nazarene, Nashville), 1987-95; Ithaka Montessori, 1988-90. Blair School since 1990.

SEAN Y. WANG Lecturer in Music History
B.M. (Curtis); M.M. (Juilliard); ABD (Stanford) E-mail

Additional studies, Columbia University, Manhattan School of Music. Dissertation: Reflections of Linear Time in the Music of Brahms. Other research interest: history of bow technique. Formal papers, regional and international conferences in the US. Member, American Musicological Society, College Music Society, American Brahms Society. Author, CD liner notes, Green House Music (Germany), Altus Music (Japan). Reviewer, San Francisco Classical Voice. Performances as violinist, Merkin Hall, Jordan Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center. Festivals attended as violinist, Schleswig-Holstein (Germany), Evian (France), Thy (Denmark), OK Mozart International (Oklahoma), San Luis Obispo Mozart (California). Violinist, Brightmusic Chamber Music Ensemble (Oklahoma), Trio Solari. Violinist-in-residence, Guild of Composers, Inc. in New York City, 1996-98; premiered numerous works by established composers. Radio broadcasts, Boston, Philadelphia, Denmark; television broadcast, Taiwan. First Prize, National Violin Competition of Taiwan, 1988. Performances as conductor, Stanford Symphony Orchestra, Stanford Savoyards, Stanford Summer Orchestra, Juilliard Lab Orchestra. Scholarship recipient, Bruno Walter Memorial Scholarship at Juilliard, Chi-Mei Culture Foundation in Taiwan. Violin student of Rafael Druian, Sylvia Rosenberg, Lynn Chang; conducting student of Otto-Werner Mueller; theory student of Jacques-Louis Monod. Blair School since 2007.

ANNE HALL WILLIAMS Senior Artist Teacher of Suzuki Cello and Violin
B.M. (Kentucky); M.A. (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) E-mail

Additional studies: Talent Education Institute (Matsumoto, Japan), American Suzuki Institute, Ithaca College Suzuki Institute. Student of Margery Aber, Tanya Carey, and Kay Slone. Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic, 1961-70; Clarion University (Pennsylvania) Community Orchestra, 1971-81; assistant principal cello, Jackson (Tennessee) Symphony, 1983-93. Director, Jackson (Tennessee) Suzuki Strings, 1983-86. Member of faculty: Clarion University of Pennsylvania, 1980-82; Memphis State University, 1983-86. Member, Phi Beta Kappa. Blair School since 1986.