Faculty
The Frostburg State University music faculty is known for its excellence in teaching, performance, and composition. Department members are active as recitalists, researchers, adjudicators, clinicians, as well as members in and directors of professional choral and instrumental ensembles.
Education
Theory/History/Composition
Winds & Percussion
- Dr. Donald Albrecht, Trumpet and FSU Brass Ensemble
- Dr. Mark Gallagher, Clarinet and FSU Clarinet Ensemble
- Dr. Mackenzie LaMont, Percussion and FSU Percussion Ensemble
- Abby Lannan, Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba
- Anna Lorenzen, French horn
- Dr. Brent Weber, Flute and FSU Flute Ensemble
- Dr. Brent Weber, Saxophone, Bassoon and FSU Saxophone Ensemble
Strings & Piano
- Dr. Jay DeWire, Piano and FSU Piano Ensemble
- Dr. Felipe Garibaldi de Almeida Silva, Guitar and FSU Guitar Ensemble
- Dr. Karen Lau, Cello
- Peter Lewis, Bass and FSU String Ensemble
- Dr. Joseph Yungen, Collaborative Pianist
- Dr. Qian Zhong, Violin and Viola
- Susan Zoller, Class Piano
Voice, Musical Theatre Voice & Jazz Voice
Jazz
- Dr. Donald Albrecht, Trumpet
- Dr. Felipe Garibaldi de Amleida Silva, Guitar
- Tom Harrison, Keyboard and FSU Jazz Combo
- Abby Lannan, Trombone
- Peter Lewis, Bass
- Dr. Brent Weber, Saxophone and FSU Jazz Orchestra
Bands
Choirs
Opera Theatre
Jazz Bands
- FSU Jazz Orchestra - Dr. Brent Weber, director
- FSU Jazz Combo - Tom Harrison, director
Dr. Donald Albrecht
Lecturer
Office: 209 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4117
Email: dlalbrecht@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. University of Illinois
M.M. Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College
Graduate Coursework University of North Texas
B.M. Berklee College of Music
Teaching Interests
Trumpet, Jazz Trumpet
- Additional Information
Bio
Dr. Donny Albrecht enjoys an active career balancing his love of teaching and performing as a freelance trumpet player in the Washington, DC, area. Dr. Albrecht is the Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Frostburg State University. He has held teaching positions at several musical institutions over his 14-year teaching career from coast to coast. Dr. Albrecht's students have had many careers as professional musicians.
Dr. Albrecht has had the privilege of freelancing all over the US, from coast to coast, performing with groups at the Kennedy Center, Boston Symphony Hall, Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Mondavi Center, Krannert Center, Beantown Performance Center, Murchison Performing Arts Center, JEN Conferences, NTC Conferences, ITG Conferences, Red clay Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Bean Town Jazz Festival, Notre Dame Latin Jazz Festival, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Louis Armstrong Museum, and others. Dr. Albrecht has performed at jazz clubs like Blue Note Nappa, Mr. Henry's, Ryles Jazz Club, Scullers Jazz Club, Wally's Café, The Beehive, Scat Jazz Lounge, Jazz UpFront, The Canopy Club, and others.
Dr. Albrecht is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, he studied with Charlie Lewis and Lin Biviano. Upon leaving Berklee, Dr. Albrecht moved to study with Jay Saunders at the University of North Texas. Dr. Albrecht continued his musical studies in New York City, attending the Aaron Copland School of Music under the tutelage of Michael Philip Mossman with additional studies with Tony Kadleck and Nick Marchione. Upon graduating with his Master's in Music from Aaron Copland School of Music, he would earn his Doctoral Music degree at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign under Tito Carrillo, Ronald Romm, and Charles Daval. Dr. Albrecht would also start to study with Bobby Shew at this time.
Dr. Albrecht's dissertation entitled: Lead Trumpet Style: A stylistic Analysis of Modern Lead Trumpet Playing through the Examination of Five Prominent Lead Trumpet Players features the stylistic analysis and interviews of Wayne Bergeron, Tanya Darby, Jon Faddis, Tony Kadleck, and Bobby Shew.
Personal Email: denny.albrecht@gmail.com
Dr. Chun-Ting Chao
Lecturer
Office: 205 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4119
Email: cchao@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. The Catholic University of America
M.M. Tunghai University
B.F.A. Taipei National University of the Arts
Teaching Interests
Voice, Musical Theatre Voice, Opera Theatre
- Additional Information
Bio
Dr. Chun-Ting Chao, originally from Taiwan, performs as a lyric soprano and a dramatic actress. She has obtained a Doctorate of Musical Arts from The Catholic University of America, a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Institute, a Masters of Fine Arts from Tunghai University, and a Bachelors of the Fine Arts from the Taipei National University of the Arts. Dr. Chao has taught privately and with a music studio.
Dr. Chao has performed as a classical singer and chamber musician in the U.S., Europe, and Taiwan. Dr. Chao has been cast in the roles of Ortlinde in Wagner’s Die Walküre by National Symphony Orchestra in Taiwan, L'ecureuil in Ravel's L'enfant et les Sortilèges by the Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra, Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, Lauretta in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, and Cio Cio San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly by Catholic University of American, Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette by Bel Cantanti, Pousette in Massenet's Manon by Peabody. and Micaëla, Frasquita, and Flora in highlights of various operas with Tunghai University Orchestra. She has also sung the solos in Magnificat by Pergolesi, and Organ Solo Mass K. 259 by Mozart, and she has been invited to perform with the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, the Opera Studio in Taiwan, and the Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra. In 2007, she was named Young Artist of the Year by the Mondial Chinese Vocalist Concourse.
Dr. Chao believes by making music education fun, she can keep students motivated to improve their skills. She encourages her students to learn new techniques or repertoire every lesson so they can move closer to their goals. She helps her students at their own pace to achieve their goals and enjoy music.
Dr. James (Jay) DeWire
Associate Professor
Office: 105 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4115
Email: jadewire@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. University of Maryland- College Park
M.M. New England Conservatory of Music
M.A. and B.A. University of Virginia
Teaching Interests
Piano, Pedagogy, Music History
- Additional Information
Bio
Jay DeWire, piano, has performed across the United States as a soloist, collaborator, and member of the West Shore Trio, including concerts in Chautauqua, Los Angeles, New Mexico, Michigan, Troy University, St. Mary's College, the South Carolina School for the Arts, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Goucher College, the Duke Ellington School for the Arts, and An die Musik LIVE! in Baltimore. Highlights include two performances as a soloist with the Prince George's Philharmonic; a performance at the North American Saxophone Alliance in Lubbock, Texas with Dr. Brent Weber and Dr. Mark Gallagher; and frequent appearances at the Chamber Music Society of Lexington in Lexington, Virginia, including the inaugural concert of that series, performing Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time. He teaches piano and history at Frostburg State University.
Dr. DeWire began playing piano at the age of four and gave his first solo recital at age 12. He received a B.A. with High Distinction and a Master of Arts in piano performance from the University of Virginia; a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory; and a D.M.A. from the University of Maryland School of Music (College Park). He has studied with such distinguished pianists as Joanne Haroutounian, Mimi Tung, Gabriel Chodos, Bradford Gowen, Steve Drury, John Moriarty, Larissa Dedova, and Brian Ganz, and has performed in master classes for Claude Frank, Andre Watts, Ruth Laredo, and Tigran Alikhanov.
Personal Email: jaydewire@gmail.com
Website: West Shore Piano Trio
Dr. Mark Gallagher
Associate Professor
Office: 104 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4381
Email: mgallagher@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.M. Eastman School of Music
B.M. Oberlin Conservatory of Music
Teaching Interests
Clarinet, Music Theory, Alexander Technique
- Additional Information
Bio
Clarinetist Mark Gallagher is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he received a B.M. degree and studied with Lawrence McDonald. He also holds a M.M. degree from the Eastman School of Music having studied with D. Stanley Hasty and D.M.A degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studied with Dr. Linda Bartley. Other major teachers included Robert Marcellus and Alfred Zezter, both of the Cleveland Orchestra. Dr. Gallagher has performed with the Contemporary Music Forum of Washington, Washington Opera, United States Navy Band, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Bronx Symphony, New York City Ballet Orchestra, and the Skylight Opera Theatre Orchestra.
He made his New York recital debut performing with violinist Sylvia Rosenberg at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall and is also a winner of the Artist International Competition in New York City being award a solo recital in Weill Hall. An active chamber musician and co-founder of I Venti Semplice, Dr. Gallagher has performed throughout the United States, Europe and China, with recent concert tours of the Netherlands, which included a live national radio broadcast from the Concertgebouw, and performances in Beijing and Changsha, China. He has also had solo and chamber appearances in Germany and the Czech Republic. Other performances include appearances in Washington, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Ann Arbor, Wisconsin Public Radio, as well as a concert tour of Sweden. Dr. Gallagher has recorded with the Albany Records label and can be heard on the Eastman “American Music” Series.
In addition to a busy performance schedule, Dr. Gallagher is an active teacher and clinician, lecturing on occupational health issues for musicians and the Alexander Technique. Currently he is an instructor of clarinet and music theory at Frostburg State University and has held pedagogical posts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Carroll College. During the summer, Dr. Gallagher has been the director of faculty at the Semplice Harbor School of Music and Chamber Music Festival on Washington Island, Wisconsin and director of the Savage Mountain Summer Arts Academy at Frostburg State University.
Dr. Felipe Garibaldi de Almeida Silva
Lecturer
Office: 207 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4132
Email: falmeida@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. Peabody Conservatory
B.M. & M.M. University of São Paulo
Teaching Interests
Guitar, Jazz Guitar
- Additional Information
Bio
Brazilian guitarist Felipe Garibaldi is an active performer, academic, and educator, having toured extensively through Brazil and the United States, presenting audiences with a varied and creative repertory, as well as mentoring students in their artistic pathways.
Felipe Garibaldi fosters innovation in the guitar repertory through premier performances and recordings, scholarly work, collaborations with composers, and through his own compositions. Some of his recent projects include the world premiere recording of Claudio Santoro’s works for guitar, as well as its premiere performance in the USA; an article featured on the Soundboard Magazine of the Guitar Foundation of America; a lecture at the annual GFA convention; and a number of radio broadcast premiere recordings of Brazilian guitar music for the São Paulo State Radio Station Cultura FM, in Brazil.
Felipe Garibaldi’s eclectic interests and skills have led him to thrive on the concert stage and in the recording studio, being awarded with the Premio Nascente by the University of São Paulo, performing the music of J. S. Bach, as well as working as a session musician and arranger on many recording projects for Sony Music.
Having worked with and being inspired by great masters of the classical guitar – such as Leo Brouwer, Julian Gray, Manuel Barrueco, Sérgio Assad, David Russell, Fábio Zanon, Eliot Fisk, Henrique Pinto, and Gilson Antunes – Felipe Garibaldi has been mentoring guitar students for over 20 years. Felipe Garibaldi is currently a lecturer of guitar at Frostburg State University, an affiliate artist in classical guitar at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an adjunct lecturer at the Peabody Conservatory, where he is also a doctoral candidate in Guitar Performance.
Tom Harrison
Lecturer
Office: 138 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4109
Email: teharrison@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
B.M. Frostburg State University
Teaching Interests
Jazz Piano, Jazz Combo
- Additional Information
Bio
Mr. Harrison has extensive performance experience in jazz and popular music as multi-instrumentalist. With jazz piano as the major focus, Tom has performed with Ray Brown, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, the Maryland Symphony, Ted Nash, John Fedchock, Eddie Gomez, Sean Jones, Jeff Coffin, Scott Wendholt, Allison Miller, Chuck Redd, Rosana Eckert, Curtis Johnson, Chris Vadala, James Moore, Gary Grainger, Paul Bollenback, and more.
Tom currently teaches jazz piano, jazz combo, and jazz theory and analysis at Frostburg State University. He is retired from the Allegany County school system as instructor of instrumental music.
Tom has presented jazz clinics/concerts through the Cultural Events Series at Frostburg State University, Allegany Community College, and the Cumberland Jazz Society. He is a co-founder and president of the Cumberland Jazz Society.
Mr. Harrison received his Music Education degree from Frostburg State University, studied classical and jazz piano at West Virginia University with James Miltenberger, music theory with former professor Asher Zlotnik of the Peabody Conservatory, and has done additional studies in music education and music technology at Duquesne University and Villanova University.
Dr. Mackenzie Jacob LaMont
Assistant Professor
Office: 103 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.7453
Email: mjlamont@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. and M.M. University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
B.M. University of Indianapolis
Teaching Interests
Percussion, Music Industry, Composition, Percussion Ensemble
- Additional Information
Bio
Mackenzie (Mack) Jacob LaMont (b. 1989) is an active composer, performer (percussion), music educator, music copyist and arranger, and owner/operator of a small music recording company. His recent music has been focused on the environment as well as political and philosophical issues, with the sound world inhabiting a space somewhere between minimalism and post-progressive rock (with dashes of randomness here and there). Mack has a DMA in music composition with a cognate in percussion from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music where he studied composition with Michael Fiday, Joel Hoffman, and Douglas Knehans, and percussion with James Culley and Allen Otte. He holds prior degrees in composition, percussion performance, and music technology/recording, and previously studied composition and percussion at the University of Indianapolis with John Berners and Paul Berns respectively. Visit Mack's website for more information.
Abby Lannan
Lecturer
Office: 204 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.3181
Email: alannan@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
M.M. Carnegie Mellon University
B.M.E. Florida State University
Teaching Interests
Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba
- Additional Information
Bio
Abigail Lannan is an artist, performer, and educator based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Through her online persona GoofyEuph, Abigail seeks to bring positivity, kindness, and mental health awareness to a musical audience and hopes to inspire musicians young and old to find love and enjoyment in music at any level.
In addition to the River City Brass Band, Abigail plays euphonium with the Brass Roots and flugabone with the Dirty Burgh Brass Band. Abigail won the 2019 Carnegie Mellon University Concerto Competition and performed the Diamond Concerto with the CMU Wind Ensemble. She is a co-creator of the Media Makers Workshop, a program that teaches individuals how to record and edit audio and video.
Abigail holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Florida State University and a Master’s Degree in Euphonium Performance from Carnegie Mellon University.
Dr. Karen Lau
Senior Lecturer
Office: 206 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.7458
Email: klau@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. and M.M. Catholic University of America
B.M. Sichuan Conservatory of Music
Teaching Interests
Cello
- Additional Information
Bio
Karen Lau began her cello studies at the age of seven. A graduate of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Karen earned her Masters and Doctoral degrees in cello performance from the Catholic University of America. Her primary teachers included Michael Mermagen, Sara Male, and Shi-Dong Luo, with additional studies with Hai-Ye Ni and Amit Peled.
Karen attended the Vivace Music Festival on full scholarship from 2006-2008. From 2005-2009, Karen held the rank of assistant professor at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. She has performed and taught at a wide variety of venues throughout Asia and the United States such as the Xiamen University Chamber Music Festival, the Kennedy Center, NPR Studios, Fairmont Chamber Music Society, Music at Penn Alps, and the National Gallery of Art. She taught orchestra classes and general music at Washington County Public School in Maryland. She also has given cello workshops at Langley High School and Patrick Henry College. She joined the Black Dimond Philharmonic as principal cello since 2018.
Since 2013, Karen has been teaching strings-related courses at Frostburg State University, where she founded the Frostburg State University Summer Music Academy in 2016. In addition to her performing and teaching activities, Karen has been training in Alexander Technique since 2014, and is now an internationally certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. In 2023, she presented a lecture on Alexander Technique at the XIX World Saxophone Congress in Las Palms, Spain. She has also trained in Craniosacral Therapy.
Peter B. Lewis
Lecturer
Office: 208 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.7452
Email: pblewis@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
M.M. University of Massachusetts Amherst
B.M. Kent State University
Teaching Interests
Director of Bands, Instrumental Music Education, Jazz and Classical Bass (acoustic & electric), String Ensemble
- Additional Information
Bio
Peter B. Lewis is the Director of Bands at Frostburg State University and conducts the Marching Bobcats, Chamber Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble, as well as teaches coursework in conducting and music education. Previously, he served as the Assistant Director of Bands at the SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music. He holds dual bachelor's degrees in performance (percussion) and music education from Kent State University where he studied conducting with Wayne Gorder, and dual Masters of Music degrees in research in music education and wind conducting from UMass Amherst where he studied with Malcolm W. Rowell, Jr. He has additional study in conducting with Shanti Simon, Mark Davis Scatterday, Courtney Snyder, Craig Kirkhhoff, Michael Haithcock, Emily Thrienen, Col. Jason Fettig, and H. Robert Reynolds.
He is the founder of the chamber wind ensemble, Bay State Winds, and served as their artistic director and conductor from 2016 until 2022. As a champion of new music for winds and percussion he commissioned several new works for chamber winds including compositions by composers Robert Spittal (Winsome Variations - 2020) which premiered in Boston, and Jake Gunnar-Walsh (Tower of the Winds - 2018).
During his tenure as a public high school music educator, his ensembles performed at Boston Symphony Hall (2014), Chicago Symphony Center (2014, 2018), and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (2015). His ensembles also had the privilege to work with composers/conductors John Mackey, Frank Ticheli, Brian Balmages, Robert Spittal, Anthony Maiello, Malcolm W. Rowell, Jr., and Lt. Col. Arnold Gabriel.
Peter has had the distinct privilege to share the stage with performers such as jazz piano legend Hank Jones, Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan, and Nexus Percussion Ensemble founding member Bob Becker. Many of his students have enjoyed successful careers in music including Sean Rosati, guitarist for pop music stars Ava Max and Doja Cat.
Anna Lorenzen
Lecturer
Office: 209 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4117
Email: alorenzen@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
Graduate Performance Diploma Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
M.M. Ball State University
B.M. Shenandoah Conservatory
Teaching Interests
French horn
- Additional Information
Bio
Originally from York, Pennsylvania, Anna Lorenzen now lives in Baltimore as a freelance horn player. Anna moved to Baltimore in 2021 to begin coursework at the Peabody Institute after completing a Master of Music degree in music performance from Ball State University where she held a Graduate Assistant position with the Beneficence Woodwind Quintet as an artist-in-residence. Previously, Anna completed a Bachelor of Music in music performance degree at the Shenandoah Conservatory. Anna now holds a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Institute.
Her highlights as a performer include being named as a first prize winner in the Charleston International Music Competition for a performance with the Beneficence Woodwind Quintet, participating in the International Horn Competition of America, and touring Argentina with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. Anna currently performs with the Cortina Brass Quintet in the greater Baltimore area and teaches French horn and trumpet. Anna has two cats, Diego and Percy, who love listening to her play horn.
Gary Phillips
Senior Lecturer
Image
Unavailable
Unavailable
Office: 202 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4109
Email: gjphillips@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
List of degrees needed*
Teaching Interests
Percussion, African Drumming, World Music, Musical Lyrics and Life
- Additional Information
Bio
Gary Phillips’ background covers a wide range of the percussion field. In the early years of his career, he focused on marching percussion, instructing and arranging for a top 10 DCI Drum Corps as well as several major university marching bands, including the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University. Additionally, he has performed extensively as a jazz and commercial percussionist in small jazz and rock ensembles as well as in big bands and numerous shows and reviews.
While an undergraduate student at West Virginia University studying with Professor Philip J. Faini, he was introduced to the percussion music of Africa, which became a major focus of his graduate research and performing interest.
He specializes in the xylophone music of West Africa and has made two research trips to the Republic of Guinea and Bamako, Mali, to study the balaphone music of the Malinke people. His teachers were Jali Djimo Kouyate of Washington, D.C.; Namankoumka Kouyate of Niagassola, Guinea.
Phillips has been teaching at FSU since 2009, and his courses have included: Music of Africa and Asia, and Music Lyrics and Life an interdisciplinary course in Music.
Dr. Scott Rieker
Lecturer
Office: 203 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4110
Email: serieker@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. University of Southern California
M.M. University of Nebraska - Lincoln
B.A. Saint Gregory the Great Seminary
Teaching Interests
Choirs, Voice, Choral Music Education
- Additional Information
Bio
Dr. Scott Rieker is Director of Choral Activities and Choral Music Education at Frostburg State University, conducting the Chamber Singers, University Chorale, Troubadours tenor/bass choir, teaching conducting, coursework in music education, and supervising student-teaching interns. There, the Chamber Singers were finalists for the 2021 Ernst Bacon American Prize for the Performance of American Music, and the University Chorale was a finalist for the American Prize in Choral Performance. Rieker’s doctorate in Choral Music is from the University of Southern California (USC). While there, he served as Treasurer of the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra, a non-profit providing free lessons and ensembles to underserved youth. Rieker taught music in the Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools for eight years at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. An active composer and arranger, with his works published with Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Rieker studied composition with Morten Laurdisen. Rieker’s multi-movement Ted Kooser Suite was a finalist for the 2021 American Prize in Composition. His joint research project with Dr. Irene Apanovitch-Leites (Black Hawk College), “COVID and the Choral Educator,” was published in The Choral Journal. Rieker is also the Director of Music at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Cumberland, Maryland, and Past-President of the Iowa Music Educators Association (IMEA).
Dr. Brent Weber, Chair
Associate Professor
Office: 202B Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4116
Email: bmweber@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. and M.M. University of Georgia
B.A. Southern Oregon University
Teaching Interests
Saxophone, Jazz Orchestra, Jazz History and Theory, Music Theory
- Additional Information
Bio
Saxophonist Brent Weber has enjoyed a diverse musical journey as performer and educator. After earning degrees in saxophone performance from Southern Oregon University (BA) and University of Georgia (MM) Dr. Weber joined the faculty as Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in the capitol of China’s Sichuan province, Chengdu. After two incredible years teaching and freelancing in Southwest China, Dr. Weber returned to the U.S. to pursue his Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Georgia. From 2009-2012 he had the opportunity to study with teachers Kenneth Fischer, Eugene Rousseau, Joseph Wytko, and Connie Frigo. These experiences have uniquely shaped Dr. Weber into the artist and pedagogue he is today.
Experienced in multiple genres of music from classical to jazz, rock ‘n’ roll and beyond, Dr. Weber advocates versatility. His work with the contemporary jazz group Jake Mowrer Quartet, featured him performing and recording throughout Northern Georgia. As a concert saxophonist, he is active with the North American Saxophone Alliance performing in conferences in Minnesota, Louisiana, Florida, Oregon, and Georgia. In 2007 he presented the European premiere of Todd Barton’s Diastems II at the World Saxophone Congress XIV in Ljubljana, Slovenia. As winner of the UGA Concerto Competition in 2009, he performed Ingolf Dahl’s Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Ensemble. Most recently Dr. Weber was part of the 2012 Naxos release Street Song featuring the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. John Lynch.
Dr. Weber is currently Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Saxophone in the Department of Music at Frostburg State University in Western Maryland where in addition to maintaining the saxophone and bassoon studios he also coordinates the jazz studies program.
Personal Email: brent_weber@hotmail.com
Duo Vif: Saxophone/Clarinet Duo
Mr. Michael Welch
Lecturer
Office: 204 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.3181
Email: mwelch@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
B.M. & M.M. Eastern Kentucky University
Teaching Interests
Voice, Musical Theatre Voice, Vocal Jazz
- Additional Information
Bio
Originally from Frenchburg, Kentucky, Welch has been a musician since his early childhood. Early on, Welch demonstrated a passion for singing. Over the years, he has explored composing, conducting, and theater. He currently serves as Lecturer of Voice at Frostburg State University and as the Director of Choirs and Operations Director for Cadence Music and Arts Programs in Central Pennsylvania.
Upon reaching college, Welch discovered and cultivated a passion for conducting and composing choral music, as well as teaching voice. Before the Covid-19 crisis, Michael’s warm and vibrant tenor voice established him as an up-and-coming tenor soloist throughout the Bluegrass State.
Welch's tenacious conducting style continues to inspire singers around the region to engage in thrilling choral performances, most recently with Voices of Light, a community chamber choir based in Richmond, Kentucky. He has since relocated to his wife’s hometown of Jonestown, Pennsylvania.
As a tenor, Welch has performed in a variety of settings, ranging from Gabriel von Eisenstein in Eastern Kentucky University’s production of Die Fledermaus to Sky Masterson in Kentucky Classic Theatre’s run of Guys and Dolls, to oratorio solos such as Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saëns and Himmelskönig, sei Willkommen (BWV 182) by J.S. Bach. Welch has performed as a tenor chorister and soloist with various professional and community organizations, such as Kentucky Bach Choir, Silence Interrupted, and the Grantham Consort.
A versatile soloist, Welch has also performed in numerous art song recitals and enjoyed many opportunities as a Gospel soloist in various churches. He has performed in choirs under the direction of notable conductors and composers such as Jeffery Ames, Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, Jake Runestead, David Greenlee, and Scott Terrell.
In 2016, he premiered seven works for solo voice and chamber ensembles at Eastern Kentucky University. Welch completed his most recent commission in 2019, premiering “Seaside” (for SSA Choir) at Park Vista Community High School in Lake Worth, Florida. Welch served as the Director of Music Ministry at First Christian Church (DOC) of Georgetown, Kentucky, from 2017-2018.
Welch served as an Adjunct Instructor of Choral Music at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky, where he directed the Concert Choir and taught choral conducting. In 2019, Michael formed the Wellspring Chorus, a treble chorus for Central & Eastern Kentucky home school students.
Welch earned his Bachelor of Music degree with dual emphasis in voice performance and theory/composition, as well as a Master of Music degree in choral conducting, both from Eastern Kentucky University. He has studied conducting with Richard Waters, Marlon Hurst, voice with Joyce H. Wolf, Sherri Phelps, and John Viscardi, composition with Thomas Couvillon and Adam Sovkoplas, as well as piano with Richard Crosby and Bernardo Scarambone. Welch has performed in master classes led by Joyce Wolf, Daniel Khoen, Sherri Phelps, Kurt Jennings, Phyllis Jenness, and Barry Lawrence.
Dr. Joseph Yungen
Staff Pianist
Office: 127A Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4245
Email: jsyungen@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. The Juilliard School
M.M. Eastman School of Music
B.A. Southern Oregon University
Teaching Interests
Piano, Collaborative Pianist
- Additional Information
Bio
JOSEPH YUNGEN is a musician who happens to play the piano. He has established an international reputation for his consistent excellence as soloist and collaborator in a wide variety of musical contexts and repertoire, including chamber music, art song, opera, new music, as well as choral and orchestral music. His performances and teaching appearances have been met with acclaim across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Known for his insatiable curiosity, Joseph is constantly expanding his musical knowledge, most recently by playing harpsichord and organ, studying piano technology, and exploring unconventional tunings and unequal temperaments. When it comes to piano tuning, he is particularly fond of Young's Temperament, which he has featured in many of his performances.
Joseph was the featured soloist in the Hans Abrahamsen Concerto for Piano and Orchestra at the Eastman School of Music. He also performed regularly with the New Juilliard Ensemble and AXIOM. Joseph has served as faculty at the Music Academy of the West, the New Jersey Young Artist Piano Competition, and Frostburg State University.
Winner of the “Audience Favorite” and “Best Performance of the Music of Szymanowski” awards in the Seattle International Piano Competition, Joseph received First Prize in the Schubert Club Piano Competition in Minneapolis, the Pianist’s First Prize in the Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition, and the Barr Award for Excellence in Accompanying at the Eastman School of Music.
Joseph studied with Jonathan Feldman at The Juilliard School, where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. He received Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance & Literature and in Accompanying & Chamber Music from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Jean Barr and Douglas Humpherys, and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance at Southern Oregon University under the instruction of Alexander Tutunov.
Dr. Qian Zhong
Lecturer
Office: 207 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4132
Email: qzhong@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
D.M.A. University of Maryland College Park
M.M. and Performance Diploma Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University
B.M. Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Teaching Interests
Violin, Viola
- Additional Information
Bio
Qian Zhong is a distinguished violinist with a diverse career spanning orchestral performance, solo and chamber music, and academia. Qian Zhong is currently a lecturer of upper strings at Frostburg State University, she also holds the position of First Violin with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Her past engagements include performing with the National Symphony Orchestra, a notable tenure with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra in China, and a regular member in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Her performances have been conducted by esteemed maestros such as Riccardo Muti, Alan Gilbert, Michael Tilson Thomas, and John Williams.
As a soloist and chamber musician, Qian has toured internationally, giving concerts in the US, China, France, Spain, Taiwan, Singapore, and various other countries. Her global performances reflect her versatility and commitment to expanding the reach of classical music.
Qian Zhong earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance from the University of Maryland, studying under David Salness. She also holds a Master of Music and Performance Diploma from the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, where she studied with the internationally renowned violin pedagogue Mauricio Fuks. Her undergraduate studies were completed at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, under the tutelage of Zuo Jun.
Her participation in prestigious music festivals includes the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, the David Kim Orchestra Institute at Cairn University, the Immanuel and Helen Oishan Texas Music Festival, and the China International Great Wall Music Festival.
Susan Zoller
Lecturer
Office: 205 Performing Arts Center
Phone: 301.687.4119
Email: szoller@frostburg.edu
Degrees:
B.S. Frostburg State University
Teaching Interests
Class Piano, Organ
- Additional Information
Bio
Susan Zoller is a flutist and pianist from Western Maryland. They have been involved in various community groups, including the Potomac Concert Band, the Queen City Flute Choir, the Cumberland Choral Society, and the Arion Band of Frostburg.
Susan studied under Dr. Jay DeWire at Frostburg State University, where they earned their Bachelor of Science in Music Performance and performed several solo and collaborative recitals.
In 2018 and 2023, Susan performed concerts in duo with Michael Lundien, pianist, at the Music at Penn Alps Summer Concert Series. They also frequently turn pages for other pianists at the same venue.
Susan is the Music Director and organist at Cresaptown United Methodist Church and teaches Class Piano at Frostburg State University’s Music Department.