Meet the members of the 2007-2008 UNL Clarinet Studio
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Meet the members of the 2007-2008 UNL Clarinet Studio
(Listed in alphabetical order)
Elizabeth Aleksander is adjunct professor of clarinet at Midland Lutheran College and a Doctoral student in the studio of Dr. Diane Barger. Prior to her tenure at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she received her Master's of Music in clarinet performance from Northern Arizona University in 2005, studying under Dr. Michael Sullivan. While there Elizabeth served as a clarinet and band graduate assistant, teaching undergraduate clarinet students when Dr. Sullivan was unavailable and also maintaining a private studio. She was a Concerto Competition finalist and received Honorable Mention awards in the MTNA contest; The Clarinet Quartet, of which she was a member, received a travel grant to perform on a visiting artists recital at the University of New Mexico. In addition, Elizabeth volunteered at Coconino High School and with the Painted Sky Music Festival and was an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota, which awarded her the Ruby Sword of Honor.
Elizabeth received her Bachelor's of Music in clarinet performance summa cum laude from Ohio University in 2003, studying under Dr. Rebecca Rischin. At OU Elizabeth was active in Clarinet Choir, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, and Sigma Alpha Iota, as well as several honor socities, including Pi Kappa Lambda. She presented three recitals and appeared as a soloist with the Clarinet Choir. Elizabeth also taught through the Athens Community Music School and was involved with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan.
Elizabeth has developed web sites for various groups, including the NAU and OU clarinet studios and Sigma Alpha Iota chapters. Please visit her personal web sites: http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~ea260599 and http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~ea260599/cpr.html
Joy Bartels is a sophomore pursuing a music minor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Since Joy was born in Michigan on July 11, 1988, Joy has moved eighteen times and has lived in Michigan, Arizona, Texas, Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Nebraska. Throughout her high school years Joy has attended Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana, Saint James High School in Montgomery, Alabama, and Papillion-La-Vista South High School in Papillion, Nebraska. Joy has participated in Marching Band, Concert Band, and Concert Choir in High School and was the principle chair in Concert Band and Concert Choir all four years. She also helped tutor 7th grade band throughout her high school career.
Joy Bartels graduated with a 3.71 in the top third of her high school graduating class. She took the time to participate in the Shreveport youth Symphony and Orchestra throughout high school and participated in All-State in Band and made straight ones at District for Concert Choir. Joy Bartels was also in the chorus for La Boehme with the Shreveport Opera during her tenth grade year.
Celeste Case-Ruchala is a freshman Bachelor of Music major from Lincoln, Nebraska. She was a member of the Lincoln Youth Symphony for three years, and was a Senior Soloist for the group in 2007. She was Principal clarinetist for two years at the Nebraska All-State Orchestra, and also for the Winter Winds Honor Band in 2007. She has played in the Pinewood Bowl Musical productions in the pit orchestra of "Cats" and "Beauty and the Beast". Last year she was drum major at Lincoln Southeast High School, and was a soloist for their Varsity Wind Ensemble in 2006 at the NMEA convention. In 2006, Celeste won the Nebraska Young Artist Music Award. She was also the second place winner in the John Shildneck Young Artist competition in 2005.
Brenna Firestone is a senior music education major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a graduate of Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee, KS. During her high school years, Brenna participated in marching band, playing clarinet for her first two years and tuba for the remaining two. She was the tuba section leader her last year in high school. She was in her school's top band for four years, orchestra for two years (playing harp and clarinet), and pit orchestra for one year (on harp and clarinet). Brenna was in district band for three years and attended state band for two years. She was also involved in district solos and ensembles for two years and state solos and ensembles.
Brenna is now involved in the UNL Cornhusker Marching Band (playing saxophone), UNL Symphonic Band, and the UNL Wind Ensemble.
Karen Estep is a first year graduate student at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is working towards her Master of Music in clarinet performance. Mrs. Estep received her Bachelors of Music Performance degree from Augusta State University in May 2007, where she studied with Roman Fukshansky and Taylor Massey. She played in the Augusta State Orchestra and Wind Ensemble for five years. Mrs. Estep was also invited to participate in the Georgia Music Educator's Association All-College Band four times.
Michelle Ferguson is a sophomore pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. She is currently a member of the University’s Symphonic and Marching Bands.
Born on August 5, 1987 in Sedalia, Missouri where she was raised, Michelle graduated in the top ten percent of her class at Smith-Cotton High School. While at Smith-Cotton Michelle was active in the school’s instrumental music department, participating in the wind ensemble and symphony orchestra, holding the principal chairs in each all four years. She also participated in the marching band in which she was the clarinet section leader her sophomore year and drum major her junior and senior years. She was a member of the Missouri West Central District Band all four years and a member of the Missouri All State Band her senior year. Over the course of her high school career she was also selected to attend the Missouri Fine Arts Academy in 2005 and received the John Phillip Sousa Band Award in 2006.
During high school Michelle was also second chair cello in the string orchestra, principal chair French horn in concert band, and played mellophone in the pep band. Michelle also volunteered to tutor 6th grade band students in learning to play their instruments at the Sedalia Middle School her senior year. Some of her hobbies are learning new instruments and singing in the praise band at her church in Sedalia, Missouri.
Lisa Keown was born in September of 1985 to parents Larry and Marcia and has three siblings: Julia, Sara, and Scott. She is currently a junior music education major at the University of Nebraska. Lisa began playing clarinet in the fifth grade at Engleman Elementary School under Terry Speed. She continued with clarinet throughout middle school and high school and was involved in several vocal and instrumental ensembles such as Wind Ensemble (clarinet), Jazz Band (piano, trombone), Marching Band (clarinet, baritone, drum major), All-State Band (clarinet), A Cappella Choir, and 14 Karat Gold Show Choir.
She was accepted into the Hixson-Lied Fine & Performing Arts School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln beginning in fall of 2004 and performs with the Wind and Symphonic Band ensembles. She plans to graduate in 2008 and go on to teach high school instrumental music.
Alejandro Lozada was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela in 1976. He started his musical studies at the age of 11 in the Conservatory of Music “Jose Luis Paz” in his native city, and a year later he was introduced to the clarinet by his first professor Felix Mozo. At the age of seventeen Alejandro moved to Caracas (capital of Venezuela) to pursue clarinet studies at the highest level in the country. He studied clarinet with Mark Friedman and Victor Salamanques in the Conservatory of Music “Simon Bolivar” in Caracas for two years. While living in Caracas, Alejandro was appointed principal clarinet of the “Jose Maria Vargas” Youth Symphony Orchestra and became a member of the “Caracas Martial Concert band” and the “Moises Moleiro Concert Band”.
In 1996 Alejandro was offered a full scholarship to pursue a Bachelor in Music Performance degree at the New World School of the Arts (an extension of the University of Florida) in Miami, Florida. After graduating with Honors (3.95 GPA) in 2001, he was awarded a music scholarship from the Michigan State University School of Music to pursue a Master in Music Performance at the institution. While in Michigan State, he was awarded the Stephan and Josephine Ludewig Scholarship, which in granted in honor of Dr. Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr’s parents and offered by her annually to the most successful student within the clarinet studio at Michigan State University. Also while living in Michigan, Alejandro was the winner of the Annual Competition hosted by Mu Phi Epsilon Detroit Alumni Chapter, MI. Most recently, Alejandro was selected among 19 clarinetists as one of the six Semi-Finalists of the International Clarinet Association Orchestra Audition Competition held at ClarinetFest 2004 in Washington DC, USA. He was given the Honorable Mention as an Alternate Choice in the Final Round of this prestigious clarinet competition.
Currently, he is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate (ABD) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and completing his doctoral document on the solo clarinet music of Roberto Sierra. Alejandro’s clarinet teachers in the USA have included Diane Barger, Richard Hancock, Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, Ted Oien, Charles Neidech, Collin Lawson, and Peter Jerkins.
Jamie Meyer is a junior Music Education major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She graduated with distinction from Norfolk Senior High in May of 2005. During Jamie's high school career she participated in concert band (bass clarinet), jazz band (alto and soprano saxophone), marching band (clarinet), percussion ensemble (marimba), clarinet choir (bass and contra-bass clarinet), varsity concert choir, and vocal triple trio (soprano). She has performed with many of these ensembles in district music contest, performing several solos for the contest, as well.
Some of the honors Jamie has received include: NMEA All-State Band, UNL Winter Winds Festival for Winds and Percussion, Wayne State Honor Band, and University of Nebraska-Kearney Honor Band. She was also awarded Norfolk Lion's club band student of the year two times, and was named band student of the month several times.
At UNL, Jamie has played with the Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Concert Choir. After completion of her Bachelors degree, Jamie hopes to find a position teaching high school or elementary school band.
Kristi Michael is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln (UNL). She serves as co-principal in the University Philharmonia and plays the E-flat clarinet in the Wind Ensemble. Ms. Michael holds a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Music Education from Florida State University where she studied with Deborah Bish and Frank Kowalsky. Ms. Michael is active in the Graduate Musicians Organization at UNL, and during her program at Florida State University she was President of Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI). She is the recipient of the SAI Sword of Honor, Undergraduate Scholarship, and Irvin Cooper Award for Excellence in Music Education. An avid supporter of music in the local community, Ms. Michael is currently a returning guest conductor with the Lincoln Community Concert Band. Ms. Michael recently performed as the E-flat clarinetist of the National Wind Ensemble under the direction of H. Robert Reynolds at Carnegie Hall, as a member of the Eric Whitacre Wind Festival at the Sydney Opera House, and as the E-flat clarinetist at this summer’s International Youth Wind Orchestra in Killarney, Ireland.
Julie Neal is a Masters graduate teaching assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, studying with Dr. Diane Barger. Originally from Fair Grove, Missouri, Neal attended Florida State University and studied with Dr. Frank Kowalsky and Dr. Deborah Bish. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelors of Music in clarinet performance in May 2006. While at FSU, Neal was principal clarinet in the Philharmonia Orchestra, and could be seen playing bass clarinet or E-flat clarinet in the Symphonic Band and FSU Wind Orchestra. At UNL, she is principal of the Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble, the Opera Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra's inaugural season. Neal was also principal clarinet of the National Wind Ensemble in 2006, an honor by audition ensemble that performs at Carnegie hall each year. While at Florida State, she was also a member of Pi Kappa Lambda and was active in Sigma Alpha Iota. She served as treasurer of SAI for two years and received the Sword of Honor in April 2006. After finishing her MM at Nebraska, Neal plans to enter a DMA program, after which she aspires to teach at the collegiate level.
Renee Pflughaupt is a freshman music minor and journalism major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Alex Ramos was born August 5, 1987 in Niskayuna, New York to Jenaro and Karen Ramos. He grew up in a rural town and went to a small school where he became interested in music. In high school he participated in the Concert Band, Jazz Band, and the Chansonettes and Troubadors choral group. He also formed a swing band independent from the school that sparked his serious interest in music.
He participated in the NYSSMA solo festival for four years, the first three on bass clarinet and the fourth on B-flat clarinet. He also participated in the All-County band twice and the Area All-State Orchestra. In 2005 he played tenor saxophone in the orchestra pit for the spring production of Grease.
Currently, Alex is pursuing bachelor's degrees in Music and Religious Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is currently participating in Symphonic Band and a woodwind quartet, and played in a clarinet quintet for the 2006 Midwest ClariFest.
Yevgeniy Reznik was born in Kharkov, Ukraine in 1984, and started playing clarinet at the age of 11 at the Special Secondary School of Music under Prof. Altukhov. At the age of seventeen Yevgeniy was accepted with a scholarship to the Interlochen Arts Academy where he studied for two years with Nathan Williams. While at the academy, Yevgeniy was an active participant in orchestra and band.
In 2003 Yevgeniy was awarded an International music student scholarship and a Music Honors scholarship, and was accepted to study with Dr. Arthur Campbell at the Grand Valley State University, Michigan for his Bachelor in Music Performance degree. In 2005 Yevgeniy was named Alternate winner in the MTNA State Division competition. In that same year Yevgeniy played as a principal clarinetist at the Intercollegiate Honors Band. While at GVSU, Yevgeniy was a principal clarinetist of the top Wind Ensemble for two years and received a GVSU Symphony orchestra scholarship.
Currently, Yevgeniy is a first year Master of Music and Graduate Teaching assistant at the University of Nebraska Lincoln studying with Dr. Barger.
Gary Roth is a senior pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Business Emphasis at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He can be seen performing with the UNL Wind Ensemble, UNL Symphonic Band, Cornhusker Marching Band, and Big Red Express Pep Band.
Born on October 25, 1985 in Austin, Texas, Roth grew up in Huber Heights, Ohio, and Papillion, Nebraska, where he currently lives when not at the university. He graduated with high distinction from Papillion-LaVista High School in 2004 where he was active in instrumental ensembles. Roth was a member of the Papillion-LaVista Monarch Marching Band for three years, holding the position of clarinet section leader his junior and senior years. He participated in pep band for basketball games and in the Papillion-LaVista Symphonic Band in which he held principal chair his senior year. During his junior and senior years, Roth also performed in the pit orchestra for the drama department’s spring musicals "The Sound of Music" and "Anything Goes".
Roth was accepted into several honor bands during his last two years of high school. He was a two-year member of the NMEA All-State Honor Band, UNL Winter Festival for Winds and Percussion, Nebraska Wesleyan Honor Band, Hastings Honor Band, and UNO Honor Band, in which he held principal chair his senior year. In his senior year, he also performed in the UNK Honor Band and UNO Honors Orchestra, in which he also held principal chair. During four years of high school, Roth earned one gold medal and three silver medals at the Elkhorn Band Olympics for solos on clarinet and bass clarinet and Division I Superior ratings on clarinet solos at District Music Contest. He also received Division I Superior ratings for each ensemble including clarinet duets, clarinet trios, woodwind quintets, and clarinet choir.
After graduating with his BA, Roth intends to undergo instrument repair training at a qualified institution.
Dave Sanderson is a junior clarinet major pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A native of Sioux Falls, SD, he graduated from Roosevelt High School, where he was an active member in both the band and orchestral departments.
Currently, Dave is a member of the UNL Wind Ensemble as a bass clarinetist, the Symphonic Band as clarinetist, the Marching Band as saxophonist, and the University Singers Choir as a bass. He has also been a past member in the Jazz Ensemble II (saxophone) and the Symphony Orchestra (cello).
Ivory Sebastion currently is in her second year as a graduate student at University Nebraska-Lincoln studying with Dr. Diane Barger. Sebastion is a graduate of Illinois State University, where she was a member of the Illinois State University Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and woodwind quintet. Her primary teachers were Dr. David Gresham, Dr. Peggy Dees, and Aris Chavez.
Kimberly Smith is currently a senior music education major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A Lincoln native, Kimberly graduated from Lincoln High School in 2004. While there she played clarinet in the orchestra, symphonic band, and marching band, and was a clarinet rank leader for two years. She also participated in various honor bands, including NMEA All-State, Hastings College, Wesleyan, and UNL Winter Winds. Kimberly also received the music department?s ?Patrick Gilmore Award? her senior year.
At UNL Kimberly has played in many ensembles, including the marching band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, orchestra, and a woodwind quintet. She is also a member of Mu Phi Epsilon.
Carolyn Stuwe is a junior pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree in music education. Born on April 16, 1987 in Del Rio, Texas, Carolyn is a proud member of a military family, and has lived in Texas, California, New York, North Dakota, Bellevue, Nebraska, and Langley AFB, Virginia, where she currently lives when not at school. She graduated with honors from Bellevue West High School in 2005 where she was active in instrumental and vocal ensembles. Carolyn was a member of the Bellevue West Marching Band for two years, holding the position of vice president and clarinet section leader her senior year. She was also selected to many honor bands throughout her high school years.
Currently, Carolyn is involved with handbells and children’s choir at St. Paul United Methodist church. She is also the clarinet section leader for the Cornhusker Marching Band and is also involved in many other UNL ensembles such as Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Big Red Express, and Women’s Chorale.
Jessica Vansteenburg is excited to be in her third year of doctoral study at UNL, where she has played in the Wind Ensemble, several chamber groups, and with the Symphony Orchestra as a graduate concerto competition winner. In the spring of 2005, Jessica completed her M.M. in clarinet performance at Ohio University, where she studied with Dr. Rebecca Rischin, and was a graduate teaching assistant in clarinet and Music Theory.
A native Iowan, Jessica is a 2003 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, IA, where she earned a B.A. in English and Music. At Luther, Jessica studied with Dr. Michael Chesher. Jessica has appeared as a soloist with the Luther College Concert Band's Midwest tour in 2002, and has been privileged to travel to Japan and Austria with Luther ensembles. Jessica has also performed with the Ohio Valley Symphony Orchestra and the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.
David Woods is a junior Music Education major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was born in Flagstaff, AZ and then moved to Manhattan, KS in the sixth grade. He was extremely active in the Manhattan High School Performing Arts Department where he participated in Wind Ensemble, MHS Full Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, and in the MHS Big Blue Marching Band in which he was Drum Major. David was selected to participate in the KMEA Central District Honor Band and the KMEA State Festival Orchestra. During David’s senior year he served as Principal of the Topeka Wind Ensemble. He also participated in the UNL Winter Winds and Percussion Festivals. During the past two years at UNL, David has been involved in the UNL Cornhusker Marching Band, UNL Wind Ensemble, UNL Symphonic Band and the UNL Symphony Orchestra. This past October, he was the winner of the NMTA Collegiate Woodwind Competition. David is glad to be at UNL and is looking forward to a challenging yet rewarding educational experience.
Pance Zaev is currently completing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he served as a graduate teaching assistant for five years (MM and DMA) and studied with Dr. Diane Barger. He graduated from UNL with his Masters degree in the spring of 2004 and is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at UNL. He is originally from Strumica, Macedonia where he began his music education. He started playing the piano from six years of age and decided to play the clarinet in sixth grade. He continued his clarinet studies with Manol Janev at the Music and Ballet High School Center Ilija Nikolovski Luj in the capital of Macedonia. From fall of 1995 to spring of 1996, Zaev was a student at Kiril I Metodij University in Skopje where he studied with Ivan Kocarov. Zaev transferred to the University of the Pacific, Conservatory of Music at Stockton, California where he studied clarinet with Dr. Patricia Shands. At UOP he completed his Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance. Throughout his undergraduate program, Zaev participated in a variety of chamber music groups, the UOP Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, clarinet choir, and numerous solo performances.