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.

As a lyric soprano, Dr. Bryson continues to perform on both the recital and opera stage. Recent recitals include a program of art songs by women composers, featuring In a Persian Garden by Liza Lehmann. Opera roles have included Zerlina, Juliette, and Ännchen, but most memorable was her portrayal of Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel.

R. Andrew Lee, Artist-in-Residence, is coordinator of the piano department and teaches courses in music theory and appreciation in addition to applied lessons. An avid performer of contemporary music, Mr. Lee has given performances and lecture-recitals across the country, helping to encourage younger students to explore recent trends in composition. He will also be releasing his first commercial CD this fall for the Irritable Hedgehog label with a recording of Tom Johnson's An Hour for Piano.

Mr. Lee will finish his DMA studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory in piano performance this December, and has already completed a MM in piano performance at UMKC as a student of Prof. John McIntyre, and a BM in piano performance at Truman State University as a student of Dr. David McKamie. His current research concerns the effect that minimalist and post-minimalist works have on the perception of time, which was most recently presented at the 2nd International Conference for Minimalist Music.

Kari Johnson is a doctoral student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she studies with John McIntyre. She holds bachelors degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from the University of Central Missouri, a mster's degree in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University, and a master's degree in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Ms. Johnson has won or placed in competitions throughout the Midwest, including the MTNA Steinway Young Artist Competitions in Missouri and Illinois and the Venetia Hall Concerto Competition. She is an active performer of new music and chamber music.

Ms. Johnson's recent performances include collaborative concerts at the University of Central Missouri and Pittsburg State University, UMKC's "Carter and Messiaen at 100" festival, the CMS Great Plains Chapter 2009 Regional Conference, and SEAMUS 2010. In the coming year she will perform at EMM and the Electro Acoustic Juke Joint, as well as the Thailand International Composition Festival. As a teacher Ms. Johnson has been on the faculty of the Conservatory of Central Illinois, and currently teaches at the UMKC Community and Dance Academy and Avila University. She has received several awards for her teaching, including the 2009 Muriel McBrien Kauffmann Graduate Assistant Award at UMKC. Her former teachers include Dr. Mia Hynes, Dr. Robert Satterlee, Dr. Cynthia Benson, Dr. Timothy Ehlen, Dr. Reid Alexander, and Dr. Diane Petrella.

Praised for his “resonant and carefully handled baritone,” Joshua Lawlor is enjoying his expanding career as a performer. His most recent operatic appearance was Silvio in Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci. Recent concert work included joining the Bach Aria Soloists for an exceptional chamber performance of Bach’s Wachet auf cantata, with only four voices taking on all chorus and solo parts. Joshua completed his Masters in Voice Performance at KU and holds a music performance degree from William Jewell College. He also spent a term studying music history and singing choral music at Oxford University.

Mr. Lawlor now teaches voice at Avila University and Kansas City School of Music. His students can be found performing at a number of local companies including Kansas City Metro Opera, Barn Players, Theater in the Park, Coterie Theater, and various university, high school, and community theaters. Many students of Mr. Lawlor sing choral music and have performed at Carnegie Hall and numerous venues throughout Europe. In addition to singing and teaching, Joshua serves as piano accompanist to the choirs of West Platte High School and Rockhurst High School.

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.

Joe English
Adjunct Faculty, Guitar
Joe.English@Avila.edu