SPC Music Department
  SPC Home Music Home
Faculty and Staff

Dr. Jonathan Steele; Dean of Humanities & Fine Arts
Mr. Luis Alejandro Arenas; Electric Bass: Rock, Jazz, Blues
Dr. John Bannon; Band, Orchestra
Mr. Bill Barbanera; Saxophone
Ms. Laura Bateman; Voice
Mr. Joe Braccio; Guitar, Steel Drums
Mr. Aric Brian; Trumpet

Mr. Paul Dixon; Organ
Mr. Jeffrey Donovick; Theory, Piano

Mr. Damon Dougherty; Sound Engineering
Ms. Christiane Fraser; Fundamentals & Intro to Music
Dr. Dolores Gadevsky; Piano
Mr. Oleg Geyer; Violin, Viola
Ms. Lynette Gill; Piano
Dr. Cory Hall; Piano, Humanities
Mr. Patrick Hernly; Music of the World, Fundamentals of Music
Dr. Berthe Honein; Piano
Mr. David Irwin; Clarinet
Mr. David Lawhead; Voice
Mr. Eddy Lugo; Guitar

Ms. Anna Kate Mackle; Harp
Dr. David Manson; Low Brass, Jazz, Music Technology
Mr. Mark Matthews; Music Technology
Dr. Marilyn Michael; Voice, Opera
Mr. Mark Neuenschwander; Bass
Mr. Chip Neville; Music & Computers, Fundamentals of Music
Dr. Ruth Northcutt; History, Introduction to Music
Mr. David Pate; Saxophone
Ms. Barbara Prescott; Flute

Ms. Susan Robinson; Piano
Mr. Mark Sforzini; Basson
Mr. John Shaw; Percussion
Mr. Barry Stevens; Accompanist
Ms. Linda Switzer; Voice
Dr. Vernon Taranto, Jr; Chorus, Theory, Composition
Mr. Conrad Thomas, Pop Music Ensembles, Rhythm & Blues
Ms. Sasha Tuck; Voice
Ms. Zsuzsanna Varosy; Cello
Ms. Carolyn Wahl; French Horn

Ms. Mary Wilson; Voice
Ms. Katie Young; Oboe


Dr. Jonathan Steele

Dr. Jonathan Steele is the Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts at St. Petersburg College. He holds a Ph.D. in the College Teaching of Music from The University of Florida, a M.M. in Music Theory from The University of South Florida and a BA from Clearwater Christian College. He has been the Program Director of the department since 1993. In addition to serving as the administrator for the College’s music program, he served as the Director of the SPC College Band from 1991 to 2006 and Director of Clearwater Community Band from 1995 to 2000.

Office: CR 154C, Clearwater Campus
Phone: (727)791-5987
E-Mail:
steele.jonathan@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Arenas

Alejandro Arenas was born in Medellin, Colombia where he started his musical career playing Flamenco and Classical guitar. He picked up the bass while attending the Colegio Andino/Deutsche Schule in Bogota where he performed in the Salsa and Andean Music ensembles, as well as the school's orchestra. During his high school years he worked with bands with styles ranging from Salsa to Blues to Rock to Heavy Metal. After high school he moved to Gainesville where he worked as a freelance musician while being exposed to Reggae, Jazz and Funk. He received a B.M. in Jazz Performance from the University of South Florida. During his studies at USF he toured Italy and France with the Jazz Ensemble 1 and the Jazztet, performing at different Jazz festivals including Umbria and Juan Les Pines. He has performed alongside internationally recognized jazz musicians Conrad Herwig, Randy Brecker, Tim Armacost and Wycliffe Gordon. Alejandro currently works as a freelance musician in the Tampa Bay area performing with Kym Purling, Joanna Rose, Jack Wilkins, Michael Royal, Hot Sun Quartet, Buster Cooper, The Mars Trio, The Freetime Trio, Denise Moore and Then Some, The Don Juceam Orchestra, Stan Hunter, Tahuantinsuyo, Modern Guitar Quintet, O Som Do Jazz and many more.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 204, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360
Email:  arenas.alejandro@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Dr. John Bannon

Dr. John Bannon conducts the band and orchestra and teaches conducting at St. Petersburg College, is the Principal Timpanist of The Florida Orchestra, teaches percussion at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts, and is, during summers, the Percussion Instructor at the Kinhaven Music School in Vermont. Dr. Bannon received his early musical training in the public schools in Anchorage, Alaska and in St. Petersburg, where he graduated from Northeast High School. He earned degrees in Percussion Performance from the University of South Florida (BA) and the University of Michigan (MM), and in Instrumental Conducting (DMA) from the University of Miami. He lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, a professional flutist, and their two children.

view Instructor page»

Office: HS 105, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360
E-Mail:
bannon.john@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Mr. Bill Barbanera has been the saxophone instructor at St. Petersburg College since 1982. He is also the clarinet and saxophone instructor at Manatee Community College. In addition to teaching, he is the director of one of Florida’s oldest professional symphonic bands, the Sarasota Concert Band. Mr. Barbanera earned the degrees Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Performance of Multiple Winds from Florida State University. He also performs in various professional ensembles; among them are the Florida West Coast Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, and Gloria Musicale. Solo and chamber music appearances include the Sarasota Pops Orchestra as well as conventions of the World Saxophone Congress, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, the North American Saxophone Alliance, the Florida Flute Association, and numerous other organizations.

view Instructor page» (not available)

Office: EI 204, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4210 or (941)748-7642
Email:  barbanera.william@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Laura Bateman

Laura Bateman, soprano, recently moved to the Tampa area having spent the last four years in Colorado, where she was working on graduate degrees in voice performance. Laura is happy to be teaching both here at St. Petersburg College and Clearwater Christian College while she finishes up her Doctor of Arts degree. Laura holds a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Northern Colorado and a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music. After completing her doctorate, Laura hopes to continue her career in teaching as well as performing.

view Instructor page»

Office: HS117, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360
Email:  bateman.laura@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Mr. Joe Braccio, guitarist and steel drummer, teaches at Bringe Music, Seminole Music, Express Music, Gibbs High School (PCCA), St. Petersburg College, John Hopkins Middle School and Perkins Elementary School of the Arts. His background includes courses at Cresciani Guitar School in Rome, Italy and private study with Adam Holzman, Frank Mullins, Sandy Devito, Mike Sullivan, Eckerd College and San Felice.

Joe Braccio has over 25 years experience with various styles of music including Rock, Classical, world music, Top 40, Jazz, R&B, Blues, Latin and chamber music. He has taught over 3,000 private students, many of whom have won awards and competitions in both the classical, jazz and rock idioms as well as being signed by major music labels including: Virgin Records, Atlantic Records, Sony and MCA.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 206, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4211 or (727)421-1956
E-Mail:
braccio.joe@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Aric Brian

Mr. Aric Brian is the trumpet instructor at St. Petersburg College, and has taught at numerous high schools in Wisconsin and Florida, and at the University of South Florida, as well as having served as Co-director of the UW-Eau Claire Jazz Ensemble IV, and co-founder and director of the Clearwater Jazz Camp. In addition, Mr. Brian has also been a guest clinician at various Middle and High Schools; presenting master classes to trumpet students, critiquing ensembles, and rehearsing various performance groups. He received his masters in Music Performance for Trumpet from the University of South Florida in 2005, and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2002. Mr. Brian’s performance experience includes appearances with The Florida Orchestra, The Patrick Williams Big Band, the Minnesota Pops Orchestra, The Jazz Surge, Dan McMillion's Jazz Orchestra, and many others. He has also performed with popular artists including Burt Bacharach, the Supremes, Doc Severinsen, Patti Austin, Chris Botti, Patrice Rushen, and Jon Secada.

view Instructor page»

Office: HS 109, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360 or (813)987-2648
E-Mail:
brian.aric@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Paul Dixon

Mr. Paul Dixon - Instructor in organ, earned the degrees Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from The Florida State University under the tutelage of Dr. Michael Corzine and Dr. Ramona Beard, including private study with J. Wm. Saunders of Jacksonville University. Mr. Dixon is the Organist/Choirmaster for St. Paul's Catholic Church, St. Petersburg, and has served as Organist and Music Director for several other churches in the Tampa Bay area as well. In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Dixon also produces the annual Organ Concert Series held during Session II. He is an officer on the Board of the American Guild of Organists, St. Petersburg chapter, and is married to Susan Dixon.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 208, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)345-6241
E-Mail:
dixon.paul@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Jeffrey Donovick

Jeff Donovick is a contemporary improvisational keyboardist specializing in commercial music. He has performed in venues ranging from intimate jazz settings to premier dance and rock clubs and outdoor rock festivals including shows in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Zephyrhills and Tampa. During the halcyon days of glam metal, he toured the Southeastern United States as a multi-keyboardist, winning Jam Magazine’s “Best Rock Keyboardist” award for work with Emerald City. While earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music at the University of South Florida, Donovick received the Alexander Rudajev Award for excellence in composition, produced art music in association with the dance and experimental/interactive video departments using computers and live electronic sound processing, alternately working as a freelance performer, accompanist, composer, copyist, producer, coach and music director in studios and theaters around the Tampa Bay area.

Throughout his career, he has performed, toured, recorded or produced rock, rap, reggae, blues, punk, pop, dance, gospel, R&B and jazz music. At St. Petersburg College he teaches Music Theory, Fundamentals of Music, Introduction to Music, (including a special edition of the course bringing students to hear four Florida Orchestra performances), Popular Piano Techniques, and Jazz Piano. All of his courses have an online component, with selected courses delivered entirely online to students around the world.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 103, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4788
E-Mail:
donovick.jeff@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Christiane Fraser

Christiane Vinet Fraser has served on the Music Faculty of St. Petersburg College since 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Boston University, and a Master of Music Degree from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, both in Flute Performance. She has performed in the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Nevada Opera Theater, the Nevada Symphony Orchestra and other professional musical groups. In 2001, she performed in the orchestra on tour with tenor, Andrea Bocelli to Phoenix, Denver and Las Vegas. In 1997, she founded The Black Tie Ensembles which contracts professional live music. Prior to relocating to Florida, she served as adjunct faculty for the Community College of Southern Nevada, and for 10 years as flute instructor for the Nevada School of the Arts.

Ms. Fraser’s instructors have included Principal Flutists from the major orchestras of New Orleans, Boston, Dallas, Waterloo-Cedar Falls (IA) and Las Vegas.

At SPC, Ms. Fraser teaches Fundamentals of Music, Introduction to Music and Beginning Class Piano.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 105, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4205 or (727)341-4360
E-Mail: fraser.christiane@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Dr. Dolores Gadevsky

Dr. Dolores Gadevsky has served as piano faculty at Chautauqua Institution, the Eastman School of Music, Los Angeles Conservatory, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Csehy Summer School of Music, and the University of Central Arkansas, where she was also a member of the faculty trio. She retired in 2005 from Houghton College, where she was Associate Professor in Piano. While residing in Vienna for eight years she coached at the Weiner Kammeroper, was a free-lance accompanist, and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg was accompanist for Rita Streich, Carlos Alexander, and Enrico Mainardi. In recent years she has been invited to conduct numerous piano master classes, most recently at Taylor University and at Eastern College. She also utilizes every opportunity to participate in chamber music. She is currently serving as Adjunct Professor at St. Petersburg College, Gibbs campus.

Dr. Gadevsky received a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music and was the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to the Musikhochschule at Freiburg im Breisgau. At the Music Academy in Vienna she studied with Bruno Seidlhofer, where she received the Performer’s Diploma, and in Paris studied briefly with Nadia Boulanger. Her solo and chamber music recitals include numerous performances in Europe, South America, and the United States, including appearances at Brahms Saal in Vienna, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and La Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango in Bogotá. She has appeared on Austrian National Radio, Colombian National Television, and in California she gave a series of live weekly radio programs devoted to solo piano literature. She was a piano soloist with the Orquesta Fiilarmonica de Bogotá and with the Kern Philharmonic Orchestra, and played the world premiere of the John Cowell Piano Concerto with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 203, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4737 or (727)460-2219
E-Mail: gadevsky.dolores@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Mr. Oleg Geyer  holds a Bachelor and Master of Music Degree in Violin Performance from Rostov State Conservatory, Russia. Violinist with The Florida Orchestra; Taught violin at Kiev State Conservatory; was Concertmaster of The Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra in Kiev.
Education: Kiev Conservatory
Concertmaster - Ukrainian National Symphony and Pops Orchestra; Concertmaster - Danzig Chamber Orchestra; Florida Symphony Orchestra; member of Allegro String Quartet.

view Instructor page» (not available)

Office: EI 204, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360 or (727)217-4474
E-Mail: geyer.oleg@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Mrs. Luba Geyer is one of St. Petersburg College’s violin instructors; she received a Masters of Music Education from the Rostov Conservatory in Russia in 1977. As well as being a private music instructor she has also taught at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Tampa, the Art School in Boca Raton, the Moscow Musical Theatre and the M.I. Glinka Music Arts School in Russia, and the Music Academy for Children in Brooklyn, New York.

view Instructor page» (not available)

Office: EI 204, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360 or (727)217-4474
E-Mail: geyer.luba@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Ms. Lynette Gill - Ms. Lynette Gill, native Kansan, has served on the music faculty at St. Petersburg College since 1996, and has been teaching piano for over 25 years. She has completed post graduate work at the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri in Kansas City, where she studied piano with Richard Cass. Mrs. Gill holds a MM in Piano Performance, with emphasis in Piano Pedagogy, from Wichita State University. She earned her BM degree in Piano Performance, magna cum laude, from WSU. She is a graduate of Grace University, Omaha, Nebraska. Mrs. Gill served on the faculty at Calvary Bible College, Kansas City, Missouri, for ten years and, in addition to teaching piano, organ and music theory, she frequently performed as soloist and accompanist in recitals at the college and in the Kansas City area. Since moving to Florida in 1985, she has continued to perform as piano soloist, accompanist, and church organist. In 1992, she was a member of the Veteran’s Administration National Medical Group Orchestra for its concert tour to Russia, which included performances in Moscow and at St. Petersburg's Glinka Capella. Mrs. Gill is Principal Keyboardist for the Tampa Bay Symphony and is also a member of the Pinellas Park Civic Orchestra. She is staff accompanist/organist at Faith Covenant Church, St. Petersburg, and she maintains an active private piano teaching studio.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 106, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4209 or (727)527-1472
E-Mail:
gill.lynette@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Cory Hall

Dr. Cory Hall earned a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music in Musicology from the University of Kansas where he was the recipient of the prestigious Graduate Honors Fellowship. Prior to his studies at KU, he taught piano for three years at the Musikschule Wilhelmshohe near Kassel, Germany. He also earned a Master of Music in Piano from the Eastman School of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Piano from California State University, Sacramento.

Cory is a specialist in the music of Bach, and is especially interested in interpreting Bach’s works on the piano. He is currently writing a book entitled "Tempo and Duration in the Music of J. S. Bach," which introduces a new theory of proportional time durations and attempts to reconstruct Bach’s standard operating procedures in regards to temporal architecture in virtually all of Bach’s extant compositions. Cory is also a successful performer, having gained such accolades as "Cory Hall played two works of towering artistic content and difficulty with a power and a finish that were startling" (The Sacramento Bee). He is the first pianist to record Alban Berg’s Jugendlieder in entirety (two-CD set with soprano Wendy Zaro and bass-baritone John Stephens) and has judged piano competitions for the M.T.N.A. and the Florida Orchestra. At SPC, Cory Hall teaches Western Humanities, Introduction to Music, and Piano.

view Instructor page»

Office: HS 124, Gibbs Campus
Phone: 727-341-4380
Email: 
hall.cory@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Hernly

Patrick Hernly is a drummer/percussionist whose unique personal style has been shaped by his work with artists from around the globe. His performances include many prestigious venues in the U.S. and abroad, including Lincoln Center, Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), and the Hollywood Bowl. Patrick was featured at the Nokia New Years 2006 celebration in Mumbai, India, with Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, as well as a soloist on Rahman's 2007 "3rd Dimension" tour. He has toured Latin America with La Orquesta Sinfonica de Guayaquil and the Lima Ballet, and has performed with Latin pop sensation Anais and Grammy Award winner Fonseca (2006). He is also the drummer for Manigua, a world music/Latin jazz ensemble, and Tampa-based band The Hip Abduction. Patrick has also shared the stage with such stars as mridangam maestro Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Latin greats Jon Santos and Horacio Hernandez, and percussion gurus Glen Velez and Bob Becker.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 102, Gibbs Campus
Phone: 727-341-4360
Email: 
hernly.patrick@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Berthe Honein

Berthe Honein received her Master’s in Musicology and Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of the Holy Spirit-Kaslik (USEK). Professor Honein is multi-lingual and speaks Arabic and French as well as English. Her professional experience includes professor of music languages at USEK, Vice President of the administrative committee of the forum of music institutes of most countries in the Middle East and north of Africa including Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunis, and Sudan etc. She also served as a professor of psychology and philosophy of music education at the Ecole Normale in Lebanon. For the last seven years, Honein enjoyed a position as the Director of studies and the Academic secretary of the faculty of music at USEK-Lebanon. Honein published a book and CD entitled “Rehna Mechoir”, Lebanese songs for children and two CDs of Lebanese songs for children entitled "Dum Dum Tack" and "Jnaynit Aghani”. In 1995 she published a manual entitled “Do-Mi-SOL” for teaching music.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 203, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4737 or (727)254-1797
E-Mail: honein.berthe@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Mr. David Irwin - Master of Music, Yale School of Music; Clarinet instructor and Instrumental Director at Eckerd College. Performed with The Opera Tampa Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony, Orchestra of Santa Fe, Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, The U.S. Army Band, The AIMS Orchestra (Graz, Austria), and the Arlington Opera Orchestra. Recorded with the McCormick Duo and SHIM.

Conducting: Phillips Academy Andover Orchestra, Maryville/Alcoa College-Community Orchestra, Tallahassee Youth Orchestra, West Hills Honor Orchestra, Eckerd College/Community Orchestra and Band, New Horizons at Eckerd College Band.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 204, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4210 or (727)345-3169
E-Mail: irwin.david@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Mr. David Lawhead - Bachelor of Music Education, Cedarville College; Master of Music in Choral Conducting, University of South Florida. St. Petersburg High School Choral Director.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 106, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4209 or (727)343-1448
E-Mail:
lawhead.david@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Eddy Lugo

Mr. Eddy Lugo – One of two guitar instructors at St. Petersburg College, Mr. Lugo received his Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in 1996, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Florida Southern College. He has performed for Pepe Romero Master Classes on several occasions, the most significant of which was the 1994 International Master Class, hosted by Dr. Mark Switzer at Florida Southern. His performance experience includes accompaniment for the Flamenco troupe of the Ballet Folklorio of Ybor, and student recitals at the Manhattan School of Music, Florida Southern College, and at the University of South Florida. Mr. Lugo has also received commissions to compose and perform several original works including Fanfare for Oboe and Guitar duet, Hay Musica en el Ambiente for voice and guitar, among others.

In addition to these works, Mr. Lugo co-arranged and composed continuous, incidental music for the Playwrights Horizon Theater School and NYU Tisch School of the Arts Drama Department’s presentation of Yerma. He was a consultant for the stylistic authenticity of the dance and music used throughout the production, and was the play’s sole musician.


view Instructor page» (not available)


Office: EI 204, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4210 or (813)817-6780
E-Mail:
lugo.edward@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Ms. Anna Kate Mackle - Bachelor of Music, Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music; Master of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music; Principal Harpist of the Florida Orchestra; Performed as Principal Harpist for Sarasota Opera Company; Broadway production tour of "State Fair;" The Ohio Light Opera Orchestra, Paul Taylor Dance Company, San Francisco Ballet, Lake Erie Ballet, New World Symphony, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Charleston Symphony, The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra; the Erie Philharmonic, the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and the Canton Symphony Orchestra. Instructor at Eastern Music Festival, Interlochen Arts Camp, Baldwin-Wallace College Preparatory department.

view Instructor page» (not available)

Office: HS 108, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360
Email: Mackle.Annakate@spcollege.edu

Top 

   
David Manson

Dr. David Manson is active as a teacher, composer and performer. His degrees includes a doctorate in music from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. David formerly taught at Indiana State University and currently teaches Music Technology, Jazz Band, Low Brass and online Eastern Humanities courses at St. Petersburg College. His musical background includes orchestral positions with the Florida West Coast Symphony and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He also toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and has backed entertainers including Burt Bacharach, Henri Mancini, Johnny Mathis, Bernadette Peters, Lou Rawls, Tommy Tune and various Broadway shows and operas. He was a recipient of the 1999 & 2004 Individual Artist Fellowships in composition from the Florida Arts Council, as well as Meet the Composer grants. He has performed his works (and others) at BONK, Subtropics, SCI, SEAMUS, and Sound Arts Workshops new music festivals. He was a Fulbright recipient in Turkey during the summer of 2001.

David is active in community arts organizations and has served as an executive board member of the Pinellas County Arts Council (1995-2003), Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Composers' Forum (1995-2003) and Director of the EMIT series of experimental music. He has received a total of six "Best of the Bay" awards from the Weekly Planet for community service and for musical groups that he has led. He is trombonist/composer with Bogus Pomp, modern jazz group Fluid Motion with jazz legend Sam Rivers and Brazilian jazz group O Som Do Jazz. Recent performances include the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, Pensacola Jazz Fest, Zappanale Festival in Bad Doberan, Germany and headliners with the Florida Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic. His solo CD "Beast" was released by isospin labs label in 2004.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 202, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4363
E-Mail:
manson.david@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Mark Matthews

Mark Matthews is a Music Technology and Commercial Music Composition specialist who teaches Studio Music Applications, Applied Music Composition, Beginning Guitar, and Fundamentals of Music.  His educational background includes a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a Master of Music degree from North Texas State University in Denton.  He is a twenty-five year veteran of the Los Angeles music business as a composer, arranger, guitarist, engineer, and studio owner.  He brings many years of professional experience to St. Petersburg College.

Mr. Matthews has a deep understanding of computers and the music technology used to create sound in today’s marketplace.  Having studied electronic music with famed pioneer, Merrill Ellis, he became part of the first wave of operators of the New England Digital Synclavier II beginning at North Texas State University and continuing in Los Angeles.  He is well versed in Digidesign Pro Tools, Apple Logic Pro 8, and many of the various plug-ins and soft-synths integrated into each system.  He also has long established experience in multi-track analog recording, studio performance/composition techniques, signal-flow & processing, and various microphone applications & methods.

During his career Mark has worked with a large group of talented performers to produce a wide-range of award winning music, and can be heard in over thirty countries worldwide.  Al Green, Michael McDonald, Dolly Parton, Johnny Mandel, Harvey Mason (Herbie Hancock), Peter Erskine (Weather Report), Sheryl Crow, Bruce Fowler (Zappa), Kenny Rogers, Bill Champlin (Chicago), Jonathan Winters, Little Richard, Mike Post, Donna DeLory (Madonna), Queen Latifah, Timothy B. Schmidt (Eagles), Jennifer Warnes, Chris Hillman (The Byrds), and Quincy Jones are a few of the people he has either written and arranged for, or recorded.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 102, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4364
E-mail: matthews.mark@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Dr. marilyn Michael

Dr. Marilyn Michael has served as full-time coordinator of vocal studies, opera workshop, and Honors Western Humanities II since 1994. Dr. Michael's career was launched when she was guest alto soloist under the conductor Helmuth Rilling at the Bachakadamie Summer Festival in Stuttgart, Germany. Later that season she sang four German Lieder recitals at Toynbee Hall in London, England, which aired on BBC. Subsequent seasons produced engagements ranging from Bach to Mahler including Bach St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion, Honniger's King David, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Handel's Messiah and Dixit Dominus, and Das Lied von der Erde at the Mahler Sommerfest in Kassel, Germany. Other highlights of her career include Mahler's Symphony no. 2 under the direction of Julius Rudel and NPR broadcast performance and tour of Mozart Requiem with the London Bach Choir, Sir David Willcocks, conducting.

In the U.S., Marilyn has sung as soloist on the Masterworks series with the Florida Orchestra, Maestro Jahja Ling, conducting, including Mozart Requiem, Beethoven Symphony no. 9, and Handel’s  Messiah. She had her debut at Carnegie Hall as alto soloist in the Messiah with the New England Chamber Ensemble. 

Education: B.M. and M.M. Vocal Performance/ University of Kansas; MS.Ed Post-Secondary and Adult Education/ Capella University; Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction/ University of Sarasota-Argosy University.  

Recordings include a CD with famed Dutch pianist, Robert Moeling, of Brahms Four Serious Songs, op. 121 and Ziguenerlieder (Erasmus label); and Jan Dismas Zelenka Missa Omnium Sanctorum, Wolfram Wehnert conducting (Thorofon Label); and J.S. Bach Cantata no. 105, Helmuth Rilling conducting, SüdDeutsche Rundfunk.  

Published works include The Arts of Tampa Bay: A Guide to Visual and Performing Arts (2007) with co-author Nancy Smith., Thomson Publishers; and A Guide to Women Song Composers in Applied Music Curriculum (2002) Dissertation.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 105, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4679
E-Mail:
michael.marilyn@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Mark Neuenschwander

Mr. Mark Neuenschwander - Active performer, featured soloist in recordings, including Rickie Zellon, Jack Wilkins, Chuck Own, Monk In the Sun, and Paulette Pepper; performed in more than 30 Broadway shows; performed with hundreds of international stars such as Yanni, Bob Hope, Roger Williams, Shirley Bassey, Cab Calloway, 5th Dimension, Herb Alpert, and others. Solo performer with Florida Orchestra; performed with Atlanta Ballet, Tampa Ballet, Tampa Bay Opera, Romberg Orchestra; Faculty at University of South Florida School of Music, Eckerd College, Pinellas County Center for the Arts.

view Instructor page» (not available)

Office: HS 109, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360 or (727)596-8755
E-Mail: neuenschwander.mark@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Chip Neville

Chip Neville is a new media artist working in music, animation, video, installation, and performance. His work emphasizes local environmental issues and covers other topics ranging from humor to politics. He has worked for over 25 years as a graphic designer and extensively as a digital illustrator with more than twenty internationally published award winning children’s books.

Musically Chip has written and performed music with the Tampa Bay Composer’s forum, performed as a guitarist and singer in musical ensembles, and toured with the Florida Orchestra. He has taught guitar lessons privately and through the USF Community Music Division.

As an artist he has exhibited work at film festivals and galleries across the country showing experimental video, photography, animation, and video installation combined with performance.

Chip is active in the arts community and volunteers teaching art to elementary students. He has most recently worked as a college instructor specializing in digital audio for St. Petersburg College.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 205, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727) 341-4787
E-Mail: neville.albert@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Dr. Ruth Northcutt is a native of Mobile, Alabama. She earned her bachelor's (B.M.) and master's (M.M.) degrees at the University of Alabama as a student of Amanda Penick before studying two years in Europe. As an ADK International Educational Grant recipient, she studied for one year at the Hochschule fur Musik und darstellende Kunst, "Mozarteum," in Salzburg, Austria. The following year, as recipient of the Rotary International Scholarship, she studied with David Wilde at the Hochschule fur Musik in Hannover, Germany. On returning to the United States, she completed her doctoral degree (D.M.A.) at the University of Alabama. She has been a member of the Humanities/Fine Arts faculty at St. Petersburg College since 1992, teaching Applied Piano, Beginning and Advanced Music Theory, Beginning Class Piano, and Western Humanities.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 205, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727) 341-4787
E-Mail: northcutt.ruth@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Mr. David Pate teaches saxophone and jazz studies at Eckerd College, the Pinellas County Center for the Arts and St. Petersburg College. He is active as a performer in the Tampa Bay area working with Belinda Womack, Liquid Bebop, SHIM and Bogus Pomp in addition to Broadway and show work.

view Instructor page» (not available)

Office: HS 109, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360 or (727)796-9378
E-Mail: pate.david@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Barbara Prescott

Ms. Barbara Prescott received her Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She also held the position of principal flute at the Civic Orchestra of Chicago while studying with Donald Peck, the principal flutist of the Chicago Symphony. Barbara currently teaches at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg College, University of Tampa, the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School and she has a teaching studio in the private sector as well. Some of Barbara's hobbies and loves include her two dogs at home, her students, and waking up at 5:00 AM to swim in icy waters with her masters group.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 208, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360 or (813)823-3942
E-Mail:
prescott.barbara@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Susan Robinson

Ms. Susan Robinson - Originally from Pennsylvania, Robinson has been employed as a conductor of orchestras, bands, and choirs in the states of Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Maine.  She has conducted instrumental and vocal ensembles throughout the United States and Europe, and has enjoyed much success as a music director in professional and educational theatres.  Robinson has earned a Ph. D. in fine arts/orchestral conducting from Texas Tech University, a M.M. in choral/orchestral conducting from Ball State University, and a B.A. in music performance from Susquehanna University.

Susan Bailey Robinson is Conductor and Music Director of the Pinellas Youth Symphony, which maintains a full season of concerts, including performances with The Florida Orchestra. Robinson is conductor of the St. Petersburg High School Orchestra, and teaches music at St. Petersburg College and the Marcia P. Hoffman Institute for the Performing Arts in Clearwater.  Robinson has also been music director of  the Central Florida Philharmonic Orchestra and the Central Florida Master Choir.  Under Robinson these ensembles performed a brilliant array of masterwork literature.

Robinson is in demand as a guest conductor.  Recent engagements include the Filharmonica Muntenia in Targoviste Romania, West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic, State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Vidin Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria,  The Florida Orchestra, San Angelo Symphony (TX), Spokane Symphony (WA), Long Bay Symphony (SC), Dubuque Symphony Orchestra (IA), Fayetteville Symphony (NC).
 
In the academic environment, Dr. Robinson has over ten years of teaching experience at the college/university level.  She is currently an adjunct professor of piano and music theory at St. Petersburg College and has served two years as interim conductor of the University of Florida Orchestra.  During her tenure, she led the orchestra in performances that included Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, Glazounov’s Saxophone Concerto, Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8.  She also taught conducting.  In her other college positions, Dr. Robinson has served alternately as both Director of Instrumental and Director of Choral Activities.  Her courseload has included Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Show Choir, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, music appreciation, music history, music theory, ethnomusicology, humanities, class piano, class voice, and private lessons.

As a stage musical director, Robinson has conducted works such as Amahl and the Night Visitors, Man of La Mancha, West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Sound of Music, Little Shoppe of Horrors, South Pacific, and many others.  She feels strongly about education and is active as a clinician, working with young conductors, and vocal and instrumental ensembles throughout the United States.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 205,Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360 or (352)250-4403
Email: robinson.susan@spcollege.edu

Top

   
John Shaw

Mr. John Shaw - Bachelor of Music, Florida State University; Master of Music, Temple University. Principal Percussionist of the Florida Orchestra. He has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the New Orleans Symphony, the Naples Philharmonic and La Musica International Music Festival.

view Instructor page»

Office: HS 107, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4204 or (727)460-4384
Email: shaw.john@spcollege.edu

Top

   
 

Mr. Barry Stevens has been a Florida resident for 42 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organ from the University of South Florida. Barry was accompanist for the St. Petersburg Boychoir for several years, and has served as principal organist at many area churches. He currently serves as organist at Christ United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, and as staff accompanist for the choral department at SPC. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists, and is on the executive board of the St. Petersburg chapter.

Phone: (727)341-4360

Top

   
Linda Switzer

Ms. Linda Switzer - Bachelor and Master of Music in Voice Performance, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Instructor at Florida Arts School, Tampa. Performed with Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center opera performances of "Tosca," "Carmen," and the premier of Anton Coppola's "Sacco and Vanzetti." Performed in Treasure Coast Opera (Ft. Pierce) performances of Romberg's "Student Prince" and Giordano's "Andrea Chenier."

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 106, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4209
Email: switzer.linda@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Dr. Vernon Taranto

Dr. Vernon Taranto, Jr. is Director of Choral Activities at the St. Petersburg College. He joined the Humanities/Fine Arts faculty at SPC in the spring of 1994, and in 1997 assumed the position of Choral Director. In addition to directing the Concert Chorus, the SPC Madrigalians, and the Community Chorus, Dr. Taranto also teaches Music Theory and Applied Music Composition, including the Summer Film-Scoring Workshop offered in session III.

Prior to his move to Florida, he taught on the faculties of Louisiana State University (where he received his Doctoral Degree in 1983), and Nicholls State University. As a published composer, Dr. Taranto's music has been listed in the catalogs of Pro-Art Music, Augsburg Fortress, Latham Music Enterprises, and Lorenz.   His compositions are performed internationally, and include two premieres at Carnegie Hall, NYC.

During his ten years with the choral department a variety of major works has been presented, including: 'Testament of Freedom' (with the SPC Concert Band) by Randall Thompson, John Rutter's 'Gloria' and his 'Requiem,' Handel's 'Messiah,' Mozart's 'Grand Mass in C Minor' (also performed in New Orleans in collaboration with the choruses of Eckerd College and Xavier University), 'Mass in Time of War' by Haydn, Howard Hanson's 'Song of Democracy,' and others. The community anticipates, annually, the SPC Concert Chorus' presentations: "America Remembers, a Veteran's Day Salute" and the Christmas season "Candlelight Concerts."


view Instructor page»

Office: EI 207, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4678
E-Mail:
taranto.vernon@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Conrad Thomas

Conrad (Butch) Thomas is a versatile saxophonist, flutist and composer.  His career has included performances with Sting (2-year world tour), Aretha Franklin, Living Colour, Thomas Dolby, Al Jarreau, James Taylor, Elton John and many others. He began with the tenor saxophone chair in the Jaco Pastorius band between 1983 and 1987 in which he recorded two albums (Punk Jazz & NYC Jam). In the years to follow, he has played with many jazz musicians (including Lester Bowie, Jack McDuff, Al Jarreau) and as a session player to great artists including Lennie Kravitz, Aretha Franklin, Vanessa Paradis an others . He has also appeared as sideman for Senegalese Singer Youssou N'dour, Al Green, Mary j Blige and others.

view Instructor page» (not available)

Office: EI 102, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727) 341-4360
E-Mail: thomas.butch@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Sasha Tuck

Sasha Tuck is a versatile vocalist, composer, arranger, and educator. She holds a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas, where she sang in the acclaimed Jazz Singers. She has performed at over 100 venues and festivals including The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Crested Butte Music Festival, Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, The Anatole Dallas, Double Tree Club Dallas, The Citrus County Jazz Society Festival, The Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field, and many more clubs, restaurants, hotels, and private parties.
Sasha's vocal stylings are heavily influenced by the finest vocalists to ever address the Great American Songbook including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Carmen McCrae, Betty Carter, Mark Murphy and Kurt Elling.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 102, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360
E-Mail:
tuck.sasha@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Varosy

Ms. Zsuzsanna Varosy - Bachelor of Music, Bela Bartok Conservatory; Bachelor of Music and Master of Music, Cello Performance, Manhattan School of Music; cellist, The Florida Orchestra.

Orchestral/performance experience: International Chamber Music Festival - Munich, Germany; Sessione Seuese Per La Musica - Siena, Italy; Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro, North Carolina; National Orchestral Association - New York.

Teaching experience: Kodaly Method - Budapest, Hungary; Bronx House Music School - New York; Settlement Music Schools - New York; Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro, North Carolina; University of Tampa; St. Petersburg College.

Summer activities: International Chamber Music Festival - Master classes and coaching by the Alban Berg String Quartet; Sessione Seuese Per La Musica - Solo and chamber music; Eastern Music Festival.

view Instructor page»

Office: EI 204, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4210 or (727)549-1040
E-Mail:
varosy.zsuzsanna@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Carolyn Wahl

Ms. Carolyn Wahl - Bachelor of Music Education, Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music; Third Horn, The Florida Orchestra since 1974; Instructor at Kinhaven Music School, Weston, VT, since 1983; private Horn instructor; Brass coach with the Pinellas Youth Symphony. Has performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and The American Wind Symphony.

view Instructor page» (not available)

Office: HS 109, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360 or (727)595-8870
E-Mail: wahl.carolyn@spcollege.edu

Top

   
Mary K. Wilson

Mary K. Wilson holds a BME from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MEd. with honors from National-Louis University. She studied in England at the Royal School of Church Music,  Her teachers include Edmund LeRoy, L. Wayne Batty, Nigel Wickens and Maria Argyros. Other graduate study was done at the University of South Florida and Northwestern State University. She was an Episcopal church musician and a voice teacher for forty years in Virginia, North Carolina and Missouri .  She taught high school vocal music and humanities and was an adjunct at Hillsborough Community College. Ms Wilson completed her certification in the McClosky Voice Institute in 2008 and was named a CMVT. (Certified McClosky Voice Technician) She continues teaching private students at her own studio in St. Petersburg, Florida and working with persons who have both singing and speaking voice disorders due to tension and abuse issues helping to rehabilitate their voices.

A soprano, Mary K. has performed as a soloist on National Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Radio with Sir David Willcocks conducting and in Germany with the St. Louis Chamber Chorus under Allen Larson. She has performed as a soloist with the Florida Orchestra, with conductors Jahja Ling, Susan Haig,and Robert Romanski . She also sang with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Robert Summer conducting. She and her husband, John, sing numerous concerts each year in the Tampa Bay area as well as other areas in the Southeastern US and have been honored for their contribution and support of the arts of Tampa Bay.
Mary K. is a member of NATS, ACDA, AGO, and the Association of Anglican Musicians. The Wilsons are proud parents of three sons who are all artists, and five grandchildren.

view Instructor page»

Office: HS 117, Gibbs Campus
Phone: (727)341-4360
E-Mail: wilson.mary@spcollege.edu

Top