Faculty

	Rick Austin studied percussion under John V. Mazza of the John Phillip Souza Band. Rick was privileged at the age of 13 to march in the 1969 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California and perform the half-time show at the Army/Navy game that same year. Rick has 3O years experience playing all styles of music. He has played and recorded with Amgems Recording artist Barry Richman, with Derrick St. Holmes of Ted Nugent fame and countless others. Rick has taught for the Gwinnett School of Music since 1996.
	Kelly Bowlin has a Bachelors of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the University of Georgia where he studied with John Sutherland. Kelly has performed in master classes with Christopher Parkening and Jose Thomas. He has owned and operated The Gwinnett School of Music since 1984.
	Chris Case is a pianist/composer with a broad range of influence and experience. He studied jazz and theory at Georgia State University and has remained an active presence as an artist and performer. Chris stresses total musicianship and believes that theory and composition are essential at every stage of musical development. Whether dealing with beginning fundamentals or advanced improvisation techniques, Chris is a patient and positive instructor. He aims at helping his students realize their full musical potential and have fun getting there. Check Chris out at http://www.myspace.com/samadha
	Fanchon Charnigo Ms. Charnigo holds a MME in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and a B.M. in Piano Pedagogy from converse College. She has over 8 years of private and group teaching experience, and is currently teaching music theory at Clayton Sate University. Fanchon's energetic and creative teaching emphasizes musicality alongside technique and is effective for all ages and levels.
	Maria Clark has a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance for Georgia State University, a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School Of Music and a Vocal and Performance degree from Florida State University. She has studied privately with Sharon Stephenson Esther Hinds and Barbara Ford. Ms Clark has participated in Master Classes with Richard Miller, Martin Katz and Betty Allen. She has performed with the Atlanta Opera, the Dekalb Symphony, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, the HB Playwright Theatre and many more. Ms Clark has received numerous awards including: the Winner of the American Traditions Competition. Finalist in the D'Angelo Voice Competition, and Finalist in the Mobile Opera Competition.
	John Daniel has a Master of Church Music in Violin/Music Theory from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Music Theory from Georgia State University. John was Choir Director at the First Baptist Church in Gate City, Virginia where he served as the Associate Pastor for Worship. In addition to the violin, John also is accomplished at piano, viola, guitar, bass and banjo. John is currently an Instrumental Music Instructor in the Dekalb County School System.
	Dominic DeSantis has been a part of the Atlanta music scene for over 20 years. Dominic fronted the popular progressive rock band Awaken and performed as an acoustic soloist at the Center Stage Theatre, Rupert's, the Bluebird Cafe and more. Dominic currently plays with the popular duo Alias Smith and Jones. Dominic is the Director of the Gwinnett School of Rock and has taught guitar privately for over 26 years. Check out the guitarsuperhero at: www.guitarsuperhero.com
	Samantha Fair holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia with a concentration in piano and minors in both voice and French horn. Always keenly interested in learning instruments, Samantha is proficient on sixteen instruments and is blessed with perfect pitch. . Samantha has eight years of combined teaching experience in classroom, band and studio
	Wes Freeman has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition from Ashbury College. He graduated with honors in the Guitar Musicianship program from the Atlanta Institute of Music. In addition to session work, Wes performed with the Asbury College Jazz Ensemble and is a current member of the Alpha United Community Baptist Church Band. Wes has taught privately since 1998.

	Ron Hannett attended Muskegon Community College, Muskegon, MI and Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI where he majored in music. Ron served as the Asst. Band Director at the Tri-Valley Academy, as Instructional Assistant at the Wesley School and as the Assistant Band Director at the Muskegon Heights Public School. Ron has also served as the Minister of Music at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church.
	Patty Schaffer-Joiner holds a Bachelors of Music-Vocal Performance from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee and a Masters of Music-Vocal Performance from Georgia State University. Patty's performance experience covers numerous genres from opera and musical theater to gospel, and R and B. Some of her leading roles include Mother Abbess in 'The Sound of Music', Adele in 'Die Fledermaus', Stella in Les Contes de Hoffman, and most recently LPN in Bluebeard's Waiting Room, which she premiered at the National Opera Association Convention in Los Angeles, California. She is currently involved with The New Opera Company based out of Atlanta.
	Keeye Kim has a Masters in Piano Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music and a Bachelors in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati. Keeye was the 2nd place winner in the Gordon Scholarship award at the University of Cincinnati in 1995 and 3rd place in 1997. She also was a participant in the Horowitz Piano competition in Kiev in 1995.
	Jeanne Leamer studied music at Moody Bible College in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Leamer was a private student of published musician Wendall Babcock. She has performed in various settings as a soloist and accompanist in both secular and sacred settings. Ms Leamer has taught private piano lessons for over 15 years.
	Rick Lawrence is currently a Classical Guitar Performance major at Kennesaw State University where he is studying under Mary Akerman. His secondary major is Jazz Guitar. In addition to his studies at Kennesaw State Rick has also performed in Master Classes with Christopher Parkening, Oscar Ghiglia, Roland Dyens and Adam Holzman to name a few. Rick has played guitar and banjo in local bluegrass folk bands for seven years and won the Mars acoustic guitar competition in 2001.
	Carol McCurdy majored in Music Education at Miami Dade College and Florida International University. She has taught at the Junior High and High School level and has taught privately for over 17 years. She specializes in voice, violin and general music.
	George Powell is a 1980 graduate of the prestigious University of Miami School of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music in Performance on saxophone. He also plays flute (C concert and Irish keyless), piano, bass (electric and upright), and guitar. George has been a professional musician for thirty-five years, and has performed with numerous groups ranging from jazz trios to rock quintets to nine-piece horn bands. He also holds a law degree from Georgia State University, and has experience with legal matters in the music industry such as contracting, copyright, and trademark. You can also check out George at http://www.myspace.com/georgepowelljr

	Laura Nadine Reynolds is an award winning violinist with 25 years of stage experience. At age nine, Laura began private violin lessons with Stefanie Graef Rollins at the Gwinnett School of Music. She furthered her studies with Norman E. Bernal, Dr. Alexander Ross, Brad Stewart, Juana Alzaga and David Arenz. Laura has performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra,, the Rome Symphony Orchestra, the Parkview Orchestra the Gwinnett Honor Orchestra and more.
	Melissa Gordon Rhine has accumulated studio, songwriting and performance experience for over 25 years. She began playing piano and singing at the age of 2! Trained classically, she has fronted and managed the local jazz ensemble, New Territory, for the past 20 years. She has appeared as "Miss Harmony" in the "town" of Crossroads at Stone Mountain Park as well as performed in the WXIA special "A Southern Christmas" hosted by Vicki Locke and Steve McCoy. She currently is offering classes in Beginning Voice and Piano. Check out Melissa at: http://www.myspace.com/newterritory
	Wes Sheppard graduated from Young Harris College in 2002 with an Associates of Fine Arts in Music studying under Richard Knepp. While there, he received the Lynn Fowler Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Music. Wes studied with John Sutherland at Georgia State University and the University of Georgia where he graduated Cum Laude from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and earned a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance. Wes has performed in a number of Competitions such as the Stotsenberg Competition and GMTA Auditions, and Master Classes with Italian guitar virtuoso Mateo Mela, Jason Vieaux, one of Brazil’s most prominent guitarists and Daniel Wolff to name a few. Wes has also been involved in furthering the guitar pedagogy in working with David Hoge and John Sutherland on some of their method books with FJH publishing.
	Jody Worrell has been playing guitar for forty years, and teaching for thirty. A veteran of countless studio sessions comprising practically every style, he brings a great deal of real world experience to the table to help bring the subject matter into a clear focus for the student. Whether it's blues, jazz, country, or rock, Jody has a way of keeping the styles clearly defined while pointing up the fundamental knowledge that's ultimately common to them all. You can also check Jody out at http://www.myspace.com/jodyworrell