Music Faculty

 Area directors and coordinators

PROF. KIMBERLY BEASLEY, CHAIR AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF VOICE
Dr. Julian Bryson, director of choral activities
Prof. Chris creswell, director of bands
DR. JIANJUN HE, COMPOSITION
Dr. Jay ivey, director of vocal studies
DR. SHANNON LOCKWOOD, STRING COORDINATOR

PROF. JASON PERRY, MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

prof. john ricci, director of jazz studies
dr. Marguerite richardson, director of orchestral activities

PROF. TED SHISTLE, DIRECTOR OF BANDS

PROF. TONY STEVE, PERCUSSION COORDINATOR 
dr. scott watkins, piano coordinator

Faculty

Dina Barone

Adjunct Instructor, Voice and Choral Ensembles

  • Directory entry  About Dina Barone
  • Adjunct Professor, Dina Barone, Contralto is a professional musician, performer & educator who has vast experience in Concert, Opera and Music Theatre. She has a Bachelor of Music in voice performance, a Bachelor of Music Literature both from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music in Opera – Voice from the Hartt School of Music, extensive post-graduate studies in New York City as a private student and associate teacher of internationally renowned, master teacher, David Jones.  Her professional students have performed at such venues as the prestigious internationally acclaimed Metropolitan Opera in New York City, The Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C, on Broadway and with regional opera and theatre companies throughout the United States.  Professor Barone is a member of Actors Equity Association, American Guild of Musical Artists, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Vocal Association and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

kim beasley Kimberly Beasley

Associate Professor of Voice

    • Directory entry About Kimberly Beasley
    • Professor Beasley teaches in the Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance programs at JU. Her voice students can be seen performing in Broadway tours, on cruise ships, as members of young artist programs, in television and film, as well as with equity theaters across the country. An award-winning director, her productions are a highlight of her activities at JU. 
    •  

Aaron Brask

Adjunct Instructor, Horn

  • Directory entry  About Aaron Brask
  • Mr. Brask is a member of the Jacksonville Symphony and the Glimmerglass Festival. He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy and Boston University. A former member of the Florida Orchestra, he also toured Germany twice with Pepe Romero and the American Sinfonietta. Mr. Brask teaches at Jacksonville University and Florida State College at Jacksonville. Four CD releases in a wide variety of musical styles as well as other info can be found at Last Horn.com

Michelle Brock-Kemp

Adjunct Instructor, Voice

  • Directory entry  About Michelle Brock-Kemp
  • Michelle Brock Kemp holds a Bachelor’s degree in Voice and Clarinet from the Florida State University School of Music, Graduate Work from Florida State University in Voice, and a MM in voice from Florida International University. Her voice teachers include, Dr. Carole Clifford, Roy Delp from Florida State University and Dr. Craig Maddox from Stetson University. Michelle particularly enjoys featuring new works by living composers. 

Julian brysonJulian Bryson

Director of Choral Activities

 About Julian Bryson

Dr. Bryson leads vocal ensembles at JU including the University Singers, Choral Union, and Infinitus — JU’s student-led, new music, choral collective comprised of singers, instrumentalists, and composers. His conducting experience spans grades 4-12, church music programs, operas, and musical theatre, and he earned a 2nd place finish in the Dale Warland Award for Collegiate Choral Conducting. He holds a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Kentucky, writing his dissertation on choral collectives. As a composer he has earned awards and commissions from ACDA, the American Prize, Yale Glee Club, Florida All-State Choirs, and San Jacinto College, among others.

David Champagne

Adjunct Instructor, Jazz Trumpet

        About David Champagne

David Champagne has been on the professional music scene in Jacksonville since the mid 1990’s. He holds bachelor and masters degrees in jazz studies from the University of North Florida with additional graduate studies at Florida State University. He placed 2nd in the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition, and has won numerous Downbeat Magazine Soloist Awards. He has performed as a featured soloist at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Montreux Jazz Festival, The Jazz Corner, and many other venues. He is an active clinician in the North Florida area, and is the Adjunct Professor of Jazz Trumpet for the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts & Humanities at Jacksonville University. David serves as Associate Pastor at Sunrise Community Church in Atlantic Beach, FL and is a Curry Mouthpiece Artist. 

Stephen Chapman

Collaborative Artist

Chi-Yin Chen

Collaborative Artist

chris creswellChris Creswell

Artist-In-Residence of Music

  • Directory entry  About Chris Creswell
  • Professor Creswell is an accomplished trombonist, composer, visual designer and educator. He teaches in the BME and Music Technology programs and manages the JU Athletic Band, Ripcurrent. He also writes marching band drill design, custom arrangements, and original compositions for high school and college bands. He has been distributed by 8press and Marching Show Concepts. 

Stephen Fennell

Collaborative Artist

Scott Giddens

Adjunct Instructor, Jazz Piano

  • Directory entry  About Scott Giddens
  • Scott Giddens began playing the organ at the age of five as he mimicked what he heard his Grandfather playing on the Hammond. Before his feet could reach the pedals he was also playing the piano, delving into classical music, boogie-woogie, and improvisation. During his teenage years he attended the award winning Douglas Anderson School of the Arts while also studying classical piano with Mary Lou Krosnick and composition with Dr. William Schirmer of Jacksonville University. During his college years Scott was afforded the opportunity to play with some of the greatest musicians of our time including the Brecker Brothers, Joe Lovano, Russell Malone, Slide Hampton, Arturo Sandoval, and Nicholas Payton. Since earning his undergraduate degree Scott has been heard backing such jazz luminaries as Harry "Sweets" Edison, Ira Sullivan, Bunky Green, Vincent Herring, Andreas Oberg, Nathan Page, John Pizzarelli, Linda Hopkins and Diane Schuur. He has played in venues all over the United States as well as Russia, Australia, Amsterdam, and France. He has been featured in many festivals including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Mobile Jazz Festival, Savannah Jazz Festival, Cocoa Beach Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival, in The Hague, Netherlands.

Christopher Graham

Adjunct Instructor, Trombone/Euphonium

See Chris Graham's Jacksonville Symphony web page.

Patrick Graham

Adjunct Instructor, Clarinet

Patrick Graham has been a member of Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra since 2017, following his tenure in the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been heard on Canada’s national CBC Radio as well as Chicago’s WFMT Radio and Jacksonville’s WJCT Radio. As a recitalist and chamber musician, Patrick has appeared in both the United States and Canada. He has also been heard with the Naples Philharmonic, The Florida Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, and Canada’s National Arts Center Orchestra. In 2012, Patrick was selected as the winner of the International Clarinet Association’s Orchestra Audition Competition.  A native of Ottawa, Canada, Patrick completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Ottawa with Kimball Sykes, Principal Clarinet of the National Arts Center Orchestra. He earned his Master of Music degree at Northwestern University in Chicago under the guidance of Steve Cohen and Lawrie Bloom. For two summers, Patrick was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center where he was awarded the Gino B. Cioffi Prize for Outstanding Woodwind Performance.  Patrick has given several guest masterclasses and has been on faculty at Rollins College and Eastern Florida State College. He is a Buffet Crampon USA Artist.

Jianjun HeJianjun He

Professor of Music Composition & Theory

  • Directory entry  About Jianjun He
  • Dr. He teaches composition and theory courses at JU. His more than 80 compositions, written for a variety of media, have
    been featured at numerous new music-related festivals and conferences, including nine performances at the Society of Composers, Inc. and College Music Society national conferences. The yearly New Music concert at JU highlights the student composers from Dr. He’s studio. 

Kayo Ishimaru

Adjunct Instructor, Harp

Jay iveyJay Ivey

Assistant Professor of Voice/Music Theatre

  • Directory entry  About Jay Ivey
  • Dr. Ivey, baritone, teaches in the Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance programs at JU. His students are accomplished performers and pedagogues. He’s won vocal competitions like the Metropolitan National Council auditions and received the Nancy Wustman Memorial accompanying award and the Joseph Schlanger memorial opera award from the University of Illinois. 

 

Kevin KarabellKevin Karabell

Adjunct Instructor, trumpet

Kevin Karabell, a Venezuelan-American trumpeter, is the Principal Trumpet of the Jacksonville Symphony. He is an adjunct professor of trumpet at Jacksonville University and University of North Florida. Kevin Karabell is a Yamaha performing artist. 

Mr. Karabell has also performed as principal trumpet of the Florida Grand Opera, Palm Beach Symphony and the New York City Ballet. In 2017, Mr. Karabell was selected to tour with the Orchestra of Americas to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. During this tour he recorded Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major with Grammy award winning pianist Gabriela Montero, which can be heard on Spotify.

Mr. Karabell earned his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance at Lynn Conservatory of Music as a student of Marc Reese and his Master of Music at the University of Miami, studying with Craig Morris. Mr. Karabell also earned a Professional Studies Diploma in Trumpet at the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Michael Miller and Michael Sachs where he was awarded the Dr. Calvin E. Weber Award for Excellence in Trumpet. Some of his early mentors were Susan Enger, Jose Sibaja, and Brian Neal. He has also attended Spoleto Festival USA, Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Chautauqua Summer Music Festival and was also the faculty brass assistant at the Sewannee Summer Music Festival.

See Kevin Karabell's Jacksonville Symphony web page.

Ricky Kirkland

Adjunct Instructor, Drum Set

  • Directory entry  About Rick Kirkland
  • A consummate drum set artist, Ricky Kirkland has performed in varied settings around the world. Ricky’s professional career began playing with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and this led to a three-year stint as the featured drummer with The Ray Charles Orchestra. Kirkland has taught at jazz camps across the country and as a founding faculty member at the UNF Center for American Music.

shannon lockwoodShannon Lockwood

Assistant Professor of Music Theory/Cello

  • Directory entry  About Shannon Lockwood
  • Dr. Lockwood is a cellist with a vibrant studio. Her broad spectrum of professional experiences include performing with orchestras such as the Colorado and Jacksonville Symphonies and she is also a member of the resident Kinne Trio. She teaches music history and theory and her students regularly conduct research projects for presentations at national symposiums. 

Todd Lockwood

Adjunct Instructor, Bass

  • Directory entry  About Todd Lockwood
  • Todd Lockwood has been a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra since 2009. In addition to the symphony Mr. Lockwood remains active as a music educator teaching bass at Jacksonville University, the First Coast Community Music School, and the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra. Prior to living in Florida Mr. Lockwood was principal double bassist of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. While in Tennessee he served as instructor of double bass at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. He has also held positions with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and performed with the Atlanta and Indianapolis Symphonies. Mr. Lockwood began studying the bass in the Colorado public school system at age nine. He later studied privately with Robin Olschner. He earned a Bachelor of Music, with highest honors, under Paul Erhard at the University of Colorado, and completed a Master of Music and a Performer Diploma, under Bruce Bransby at Indiana University. Mr. Lockwood spends his summers in Santa Cruz, California performing with the Cabrillo Contemporary Music Festival, under the direction of Marin Alsop.

    See Todd Lockwood's Jacksonville Symphony web page.

Brian Luckett

Adjunct Instructor, Classical and Flamenco Guitar

  • About Brian Luckett

    Classical guitarist Brian Luckett has performed in solo and chamber music recitals throughout the United States. Past performances have paired him with guitarist Eliot Fisk, flutist Nicole Chamberlain in duoATL, I Cantori vocal ensemble, the Georgia Southern University Symphony and baritone Allen Henderson. Brian has been featured in many programs on both NPR and Minnesota Public Radio and WABE in Atlanta. He has premiered several new works for the guitar including a concerto and several large chamber works.

    Brian earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisville’s School of Music where he was awarded the institution’s first guitar performance degree. He then received a full scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music with Segovia student and renowned guitar pedagogue, Clare Callahan. Brian earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, where he studied with acclaimed guitarist and composer Jeffrey Van. He has recorded for Clear Note Publications and his solo CD, Serenades of the Unicorn was released in January 2009. In recent years, Brian has developed a passionate interest in Flamenco music and has been studying Flamenco guitar technique and performance.

    Brian is the former director of classical guitar studies at Emory University and former faculty member of Agnes Scott College, both in Atlanta, Georgia. Brian is also the former director of the classical guitar program at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. In 2018, Brian and his wife Kelly relocated to Jacksonville, Florida where Brian joined the Music Department of Jacksonville University as adjunct professor of Classical and Flamenco guitar. He also maintains a private Classical and Flamenco guitar studio.

Brian Magnus

Adjunct Instructor, Chamber Strings

A Texas native, Brian Magnus earned both his Master's and Bachelor’s degrees in Cello Performance at Southern Methodist University under the tutelage of Christopher Adkins. Before joining the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in 2016, Brian performed with the symphony orchestras of Austin, Waco, Las Colinas, Shreveport and Dallas. Brian is a passionate music teacher who has taught cello privately since 2005. He is married to bassoonist Stephanie K Magnus; together they enjoy running and camping along with their two dogs.  
 

Stephanie K. Magnus

Adjunct Instructor, Bassoon, Music Theory

  • Directory entry  About Stephanie Magnus
  • New to the Jacksonville area, Stephanie K Magnus is a bassoonist and teacher who has performed and taught throughout the nation. In addition a Bachelor’s degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts (2008) under Dennis Michel and a Master’s degree from Southern Methodist University (2011) under Wilfred Roberts, she earned a Master’s in Musicology and Literature (2012) from SMU. As a teacher, Stephanie has been recognized as “an educator that has made a positive influence” and several of her students have gone on to become professional musicians. In her free time she enjoys camping with her husband and two dogs and is a competitive marathoner.

Elyse Matthews

Adjunct Instructor, Voice

About Elyse Matthews

Soprano Elyse Matthews holds a Master of Music Degree in Classical Voice Performance from New York University's Steinhardt School and a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance from the University of North Florida. Some of her favorite past roles include the Countess in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Kathie in Romberg's The Student Prince, Gretel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, and Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte at the historic Estates Theatre in Prague. She has also been heard as a soloist in Mozart's Vesperae solennes de confessore, Orff's Carmina Burana, and Handel's Messiah. As a music educator, Elyse has had the opportunity to participate in operas for youth outreach and has shared music with children's organizations both locally and abroad. She teaches voice as an Adjunct Professor at Jacksonville University and is currently based in Northeast Florida.

Matthew Monroe, horn

Matt Monroe

Adjunct Instructor in Music, Horn

Matt Monroe is Adjunct Professor of Horn for the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts & Humanities at Jacksonville University. He was previously the Adjunct Instructor of Horn at Oregon State University where he was in residence with the Arrieu Wind Quintet. The quintet toured China, performing and teaching masterclasses in Kunming, Zhengzhou, Jinan, and others. While at OSU he presented horn masterclasses, coached the local youth orchestra, and led the university horn ensemble.  Professor Monroe has held the position of Second Horn with the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra since 1999. He performs with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, the St. Augustine Music Festival, the San Marco Chamber Music Society, and is a founding member of the Jacksonville Brass Quintet. He has performed with The Moody Blues, Pink Martini, Johnny Mathis, Dave Brubeck, Bernadette Peters, Garrison Keillor, and Yo-Yo Ma. He recorded with the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra on their Grammy Award winning première of Krzysztof Penderecki's Credo. He has performed locally with shows such as Wicked, the Rocktopia tour, Mannheim Steamroller, and The Little Mermaid. His other orchestra credits include the Jacksonville Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic, Illinois Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic, Elmhurst Symphony, Rockford Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Eugene Symphony, and the Oregon Symphony.   Matt’s students have performed in the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Midwest Young Artists, and all-district and all-state ensembles in several states. In Chicago, he taught at the Merit School of Music where he conducted the region’s only large youth horn ensemble, and in 2013 founded Horn Camp, a week-long summer seminar for young horn players. His junior high and high school students perform a solo and ensemble concert each spring at the yearly “Young Hornists of Jacksonville in Recital”.   As a student, Matt studied at Tanglewood and the Summit Brass Seminar, learning from legendary brass pedagogues such as Barry Tuckwell, Philip Farkas, Sam Pilafian, and Roger Voisin. He attended international orchestra and chamber music festivals in Austria, France, and Canada. His teachers include William Barnewitz, Thomas Bacon, Ellen Campbell, William Stalnaker, and Gail Willilams.

Education

  • Certificate in Performance, Northwestern University
  • Master of Music, University of Oregon
  • Bachelor of Music, Arizona State University

Eric Olson

Adjunct Instructor, Oboe

  • Directory entry  About Eric Olson
  • Mr. Olson has been the principal oboist for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra since 1986. In 2002, Eric performed as guest principal oboist for five weeks with the Baltimore Symphony, including a two-week tour of Japan. He has also performed with the Chicago Symphony.

    Eric has been frequently featured as a soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra having performed most of the major concertos. Most recently he performed the Mozart’s Symphonie Concertante for four winds and Orchestra. Since 2007, Eric is principal oboist at the Peninsula Music Festival in Wisconsin. Prior to that, he served as principal oboist and faculty member at the Eastern Music Festival for six summers. Olson has also performed at the Marlboro Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, Colorado Music Festival and Aspen Music Festival.

    Mr. Olson holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University.

Staci Pendry

Adjunct Instructor, Music Education

Jason Perry

Instructor, Music Technology

Professor Perry teaches Music Technology in the audio production studio and is the executive producer for Dolphinium Records, the student run record label. Students write, record and mix original music compositions in our state-of-the- art hybrid recording studio. Students also record live performances in Terry Concert Hall and other School of Performing Arts spaces. Besides his love of recording music, he is also an accomplished video producer, videographer and editor and brings that production experience to the Media Arts. 

Stan Piper

Adjunct Instructor, Jazz Bass

  • Directory entry  About Stan Piper
  • Mr. Piper began developing his skill as a bassist in middle school, taking lessons from his teacher Nick Schneider. In 1999, he moved to Florida, and pursued his education in Jacksonville. As a major in jazz performance, he earned his Bachelors in Music from the University of North Florida, studying under Bunky Green, Kevin Bales, and Ricky Ravelo. Continuing the focus on jazz, Stan then earned his Masters in Music at Florida State University, studying under Rodney Jordan, Leon Anderson, and Marcus Roberts.

john ricciJohn Ricci

Artist-In-Residence, Jazz Studies

  • Directory entry  About John Ricci
  • Prof. Ricci teaches in the Jazz and Commercial music program, directing students in Jazz Band and Jazz Combos. He has performed as a tenor saxophone soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony Pops Orchestra, the Four Tops, The Temptations, in music festivals worldwide. Prof. Ricci’s CD Holding Time received high critical acclaim, and is a debut release of some of his own very inspired compositions and arrangements. 

marg richardsonMarguerite Richardson

Professor of Strings

  • Directory entry  About Marguerite Richardson
  • Dr. Richardson is Professor of Music at Jacksonville University and directs the Jacksonville University Orchestra. She teaches the violin and viola studios and works with the Honors String Quartet. A member of the resident Kinne Trio, she performs frequently in the northeast Florida area as well as serving as the conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville. She is active in the leadership of the College Orchestra Directors Association and performs with the Jacksonville Symphony. 

Les Roettges

Adjunct Instructor, Flute

  • Directory entry  About Les Roettges
  • Les Roettges is the Principal Flutist of both the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra during the regular season, and the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Eastern Music Festival during the summer season. He also serves as the Chamber Music Program Coordinator for the Eastern Music festival and is featured regularly on their chamber music and orchestra series concerts. In 2012, Les began the position of second flute in the newly formed “All-Star Orchestra” under the direction of internationally acclaimed conductor Gerard Schwarz. This is a new orchestra project comprised of select musicians from orchestras throughout the United States. The All Star Orchestra records and films shows for broadcast on PBS stations nationwide. The first season began airing in the fall of 2013 and has won three EMMY awards. The second season began airing in the fall of 2015. Mr. Roettges has been the Principal Flutist for the Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico City, Guest Principal Flutist with The Florida Orchestra, and flutist with Solisti New York. He is a regular participant in the chamber music societies and festivals of San Marco and Saint Augustine, and is the Adjunct Professor of Flute at the Jacksonville University. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory, a Master of Music from the Juilliard School of Music, and professional studies in Paris. His teachers include Maurice Sharp, Paula Robison, Julius Baker, Alain Marion, and Robert Stallman.

    See Les Roettges' Jacksonville Symphony web page.

Ted Shistle

Assistant Professor, Director of Bands

Prof. Shistle joins the music department having completed 22 years of public school teaching most recently as Director of Bands at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. He is active as a clinician, adjudicator, guest conductor, and conference presenter across the U.S. and maintains a busy schedule as a professional bassoonist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic, and the Coastal Symphony of Brunswick. His passion is training the next generation of teaching artists and equipping students with the skills and tools necessary to inspire and prepare future musicians and music consumers. 

Gary Starling

Adjunct Instructor, Guitar/Jazz Studies

Synonymous with jazz on the Florida First Coast, Artist in    Residence and professor of guitar at Jacksonville University, Gary Starling has inspired and broadened the horizons of hundreds of aspiring musicians and has performed with Bob Hope, Diahann Carroll, Rita Moreno, Skitch Henderson, the Jacksonville Symphony Pops Orchestra and others. He has appeared with jazz artists Eddie Harris, Nat Adderley, Joshua Breakstone, Carla White, Jim Snidero, Ben Tucker, Doug Carn, Clarence Palmer and numerous others. www.garystarling.com

tony steve georgeTony Steve

Artist-In-Residence, Contemporary & World Music

  • Directory entry  About Tony Steve
  • Professor Steve teaches percussion and composition at JU. His studio participates in all ensembles, including Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Athletic Band, Jazz Combos, and Big Band. He has performed with numerous symphony orchestras, is a regular extra with the Jacksonville Symphony, and toured with “A Chorus Line” in Europe and “Porgy and Bess” in Israel. He has also worked with notable artists, including Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis, The Who, The Electric Light Orchestra, and numerous National Broadway Tours. He has been the recipient of numerous ASCAP Writer Awards. 

scott watkinsScott Watkins

Professor of Piano

  • Directory entry  About Scott Watkins
  • Dr. Watkins has appeared as recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist with orchestras in more than thirty countries around the world. Dr. Watkins has given four solo recitals at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, and has performed at The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and at Chicago’s Cultural Center. He is a member of the resident Kinne Trio. 

Directory