| Dr. Amity Bryson Music Department Chair Amity.Bryson@Avila.edu 816.501.3651 |
Dr. Amity Bryson, Music Department Chair, teaches various music courses including applied voice, and directs both Avila Singers and University Singers. Dr. Bryson completed her doctoral work at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Conservatory of Music and holds both a BS Ed in music education and a MM in voice performance from the University of Missouri-Columbia, she is also an alumnae of Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. In addition to previous faculty appointments at William Woods University and Westminster College, Dr. Bryson has taught in the public school systems at both the elementary and secondary levels.
Dr. Bryson is active in local, state, and national professional music organizations. As a member of the board of the Kansas City Metro chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing for the last two years, Dr. Bryson was recently appointed president of the chapter for a two-year term. She also serves on the state board of Missouri Choral Directors Association as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Women’s Choirs. |
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| R. Andrew Lee Artist-in-Residence, Piano Andy.Lee@Avila.edu 816.501.2419 |
R. Andrew Lee, Artist-in-Residence, is an avid performer of contemporary music. In addition to his DMA, he is also completing a masters in music theory as part of his pursuit to become a more well-rounded musician and teacher. He has already completed a masters in piano performance at UMKC under the direction of Prof. John McIntyre, and a bachelors degree in piano performance at Truman State University under the direction of Dr. David McKamie. Recent performances have included pieces such as William Duckworth’s Time Curve Preludes and Tom Johnson’s An Hour for Piano, which have been lauded both by those intimately familiar with the works and newcomers to the genre. His lecture-recitals have also been well received at area universities, helping to encourage younger students to explore recent trends in composition. His current research concerns the effect that minimalist and post-minimalist works have on the perception of time. | |
| Jedd Schneider Adjunct Faculty, Voice Jedd.Schneider@Avila.edu 816.501.3674 |
Tenor Jedd C. Schneider is currently pursuing graduate studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where he is a student of Vinson Cole. He maintains a private voice studio and is a fixture on the local opera scene. After making his professional début with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in the world première of Kirke Mechem’s John Brown, Mr. Schneider sang the rôle of Normanno in the Mobile (AL) Opera production of Lucia di Lammermoor in October, 2008. Relishing any opportunity to promote contemporary chamber opera, he was glad to recently perform Jorge Sosa’s Tonatzin and Ryan Oldham’s The Emperor’s Madness for enthusiastic audiences. Mr. Schneider will present a recital of new works for tenor and electronics, including two commissions, with the Kansas City Electronic Music Alliance this fall. A burgeoning musicologist, some of Mr. Schneider’s research interests include: identifying trends in the compositions of organists/innovators, notably Buxtehude, Messiaen, Poul Ruders, and Hugh Banton; the Totalist operas of Michael Gordon; and the role of progressive rock artists, notably Captain Beefheart and members of the Rock In Opposition collective, as progenitors of the Totalist idiom. A stalwart advocate of new music, Mr. Schneider serves on the board of the newEar contemporary chamber ensemble. | |
| Joshua Lawlor Adjunct Faculty, Voice Joshua.Lawlor@Avila.edu |
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| Suzanne Hendrix Adjunct Faculty, Voice Suzanne.Hendrix@Avila.edu |
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| Joe English Adjunct Faculty, Guitar Joe.English@Avila.edu |