Category Archives: Teachers

Faculty & Staff, Teachers

MiPAC Teachers • Abagael Martin, Voice, Music Librarian

In addition to conducting the Repertoire Choir and  vocal ensembles, Ms. Martin will serve as MiPAC’s Music Librarian, Publicist, Office Staff, and Assistant to the Directors in Assisting Music-y Stuff.

 

Abagael V. Martin holds a BM in Vocal Music Performance from Adrian College, where she studied with Professor Elizabeth Major and Dr. Kristin Eder.

In addition to being active in Adrian College Opera Workshop, City of Adrian Opera Uptown program, musical theatre, and theatre, she was a section leader and served as Adrian College choir librarian for a number of ensembles including the Adrian College SATB Choir, Adrian College Women’s Choir, Adrian College Jazz Choir, and the Lenawee Community Chorus. She will be pursuing her Masters in Music Performance this fall.

Teachers

MiPAC Teachers • Lara Mitofsky Neuss

Ms. Neuss will be MiPAC’s teacher of all things CLARINET. She also specializes in NEW MUSIC for the instrument, allowing her to bring an exciting diversity to all our music campers this summer.

Clarinetist Lara Mitofsky Neuss continually shows her passion for varied genres of music through her clarinet playing.

Lara is a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Colorado State University studying with recital clarinetist Wesley Ferreira and she holds a Bachelor of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory. She is on the clarinet faculties of Michigan Performing Arts Camp and Junior Lift Clarinet Academy and maintains a clarinet studio of all ages in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Recently Lara performed a complete 21st Century Clarinet Recital, consisting of music written in the past ten years for clarinet, bass clarinet, and electronics.

Other performances range from playing principal clarinet in the Colorado State University Orchestra and Wind Symphony, a series of world premieres in collaboration with composer Kyle Hovatter, and a showcase by her wind trio of the music of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, complete with choreography and electronics.

Aside from clarinet, Lara enjoys studying Mindfulness and meditation techniques and is certified in Reiki.

Teachers

MiPAC Teachers • Eric Strasshofer

Mr Strasshofer will be MiPAC’s main tuba teacher this summer.

Eric Strasshofer, from Highland Heights, Ohio, earned his Bachelors in Music Education at Adrian College. His primary instrument is the tuba.

Mr. Strasshofer spent his time at Adrian working in all kinds of ensembles, ranging from concert band, jazz band, marching band, orchestra, choir, and more. He student-taught at Lane Technical Prepatory High School in Chicago, Illinois.

STRASSHOFER_Eric_tuxEric’s most memorable musical experiences include backing up Andrea Bocelli; playing solo tuba in Italy; and playing principal tubist in the Michigan Intercollegiate Honors Band.

Teachers

MiPAC Teachers • Amanda Roth

ROTH_AmandaMs. Roth will be MiPAC’s Violin and Electric Violin (WHOOHOO!) instructor, and will cover our Viola needs as well. She will help manage the Electric String Orchestra, the Yamaha SV Silent Electric String Program, and perhaps even be convinced to ROCK OUT in a Rock Band or two.

Amanda Roth started playing the violin when she was four years old. She just received her Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (Violin Concentration) from the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, and in the fall will attend the Longy School of Music to pursue a Master of Music in Violin Performance.

Besides her mastery of traditional classical violin repertoire, Amanda also enjoys the worlds of jazz, funk, country, and rock-n-roll, playing on her six-string fretted electric violin made by Wood Violins.

ROTH_Amanda-countryShe has shared the stage with Rachel Barton Pine, various members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and ex-Trans-Siberian Orchestra violinist, Mark Wood.

Besides performing, Amanda is passionate about giving back to the community. With the help of Rick Henry and Isaac Young, she started OWLchestra, a community string orchestra at Temple University. The ensemble is open to all Temple students, as well as members of the Philadelphia community.

ROTH_Amanda-troopsWhile still being a full time student, Amanda works as a violin and viola teacher, intern for the Philadelphia String Project, and can be found playing for weddings, functions, and pit orchestras throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE.

  • Temple University’s Grammy Nominated Symphony Orchestra
  • College of New Jersey Orchestra
  • Associate principal second violin, Temple University Opera Orchestra for their production of La Finta Giardiniera.
  • Concertmaster, Guest artist, principal second violin, Waukesha Area Chamber Orchestra (Waukesha, WI)
  • Kimmel Center, Philadelphia 
  • Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, New York City
  • North American premiere of Georg Friedrich Haas’ Sieben Klangräume
  • World premiere, Michael Daugherty’s Reflections on the Mississippi with tuba soloist Carol Jantsch, Philadelphia Orchestra
  • Collaborated with dancer and choreographer Jenna Wurtzberger for the premiere of her multi-media dance performance, Umwelten (their technologies, your processes).
  • Participant:
    • New York Summer Music Festival
    • Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp
    • Aria International Summer Academy
    • Starling-DeLay Symposium on Violin Studies at Juilliard

TEACHERS.

  • Dr. Vladimir Dyo
  • Laura Bossert
  • Joan Cordas
  • Joe Deninzon
  • Zach Brock
Teachers

MiPAC Teachers • Elizabeth Kitson Arnold

Mrs. Arnold will serve as MiPAC’s Flute instructor for weeks 3 and 4.

Elizabeth Kitson-Arnold received her M.M from the Manhattan School of Music and her B.M from the University of North Texas.

She is principal flutist with the Catskill Symphony Orchestra, the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra and the Utica Symphony Orchestra.

TEACHING CREDENTIALS.
  • Ms. Kitson-Arnold is currently in her sixth year of  teaching band to students in grades 4-8 at several Catholic Schools with Connecticut Future Musicians.
  • Her students have won first chair positions with the CMEA Middle School All-Region Festival, and CT Future Musicians All-State Bands.
  • Ms. Kitson-Arnold is on the music faculty of Choate Rosemary Hall
  • She was a faculty member of the Manhattan School Summer Music Camp from 2005-2008.

PERFORMING CREDENTIALS.

She also has performed with the following groups:

  • Clinton Symphony (New York)
  • Ridgefield Symphony
  • Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra
  • Member of the Earl Banquer Woodwind Ensemble
  • Windscape, Manhattan School of Music’s woodwind quintet in residence
  • During the 2003, 2004 and 2007 seasons of the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Kitson-Arnold performed as principal flutist and she can be heard as a featured soloist on Villa-Lobos Concerto Grosso for Woodwind Quartet and Wind Orchestra on their recording Music of the Americas, #AWSO 117.  She can also be heard on the recordings Reflections, #AWSO 118, and Concertos from Three Continents, #AWSO 112.
  • She attended the Scotia Festival of Music in 2007 where she performed with the orchestra on a live CBC broadcast.
  • Attended the Lake Placid Institute Flute Seminar
  • 2nd Annual Juilliard International Master Class
  • Innsbrook Institute
  • Winner of the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition
  • Only flute finalist at the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Instrumental Competition
  • Semi-finalist at the William C. Byrd Young Artists Competition
  • Outstanding Soloist at the Texas Flute Society’s 23rd Annual Flute Festival
  • Performed in masterclasses for Pierre Boulez, Jeffery Khaner, Mark Sparks, and Timothy Day
  • Teachers include Michael Parloff, Mary Karen Clardy, Alberto Almarza

 

Teachers

MiPAC Teachers • Jason Arnold

Jason Arnold, Tuba, ConductorMr. Arnold will serve as MiPAC’s Tuba instructor for weeks 3 and 4. He will also conduct the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band; direct the Brass Ensembles; and quite possibly play electric bass in a Rock Band, Bass Trombone in a Jazz Combo, or the Miter Saw in a Home Improvement Seminar. Seriously! He’s THAT good at all those things!

Jason Arnold hails from Midland, Texas. He earned his Masters in Music Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.

Mr. Arnold has taught in schools in Texas, New York and Connecticut. He is currently Band Director at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, CT and Director of the Pep Band at Fairfield University. He is also on faculty at Sacred Heart University.

Jason has a broad range of musical experience ranging from performing in Carnegie Hall to an appearance on ABC’s All My Children.