INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FACULTY
JOANNE WHITE, CHAIR
Joanne White has been a flutist in the Virginia Symphony since 1996. She has enjoyed the rich and diverse life of a symphony musician in Hampton Roads, not only performing with the Virginia Symphony but also with the Virginia Opera and the Virginia Arts Festival. She has participated in many Virginia Symphony recording projects featuring acclaimed artists such as Gil Shaham and Béla Fleck.
A personal highlight for her was the opportunity to perform the Vivaldi Concerto in C for Two Flutes on a Virginia Symphony Holiday Pops series with her daughter Evelyn, who is a GSA alumna in the IM department.
Teaching plays a central role in Joanne’s life. She works with flutists of all ages and abilities, from beginner to advanced high school and college, as well as lifelong learners. Since 2015 she has been an applied lecturer in flute at The College of William & Mary where she also launched and directs the Flute Ensemble. At The Governor’s School for the Arts she teaches flute, coaches chamber music ensembles, and leads woodwind studio class. Since 2022 she has served as the Director of Instrumental Music Camps at The Governor’s School for the Arts, a program she created. She also maintains a robust private studio.
A native of Massachusetts, Joanne began her career in New England most notably as principal flute of the Vermont Symphony. She has performed with many orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, Albany Symphony, Williamsburg Symphony and Opera in Williamsburg. She has played for many Broadway in Norfolk productions including Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, and Sunset Boulevard.
Joanne began playing flute in sixth grade through her public school system and private study with Joanna Heim. She completed her musical training at Boston University and McGill University in Montreal, earning her Bachelors and Masters degrees, respectively. Her teachers include Timothy Hutchins and Doriot Dwyer.
Joanne is an active leader in the musical community and an advocate for her fellow musicians. Joanne served as Coordinator of The Hampton Roads Flute Faire for six years. She currently serves as President of the American Federation of Musicians Local 125.
Dr. Stephen Coxe, Artistic Director
Stephen Coxe, stephen.coxe@gsarts.net received degrees from Swarthmore College and Yale University, where his principal teachers in music composition were Martin Bresnick, Jacob Druckman, Ezra Laderman, and Gerald Levinson. He has received several awards, among them an Aaron Copland Award, ASCAP Award, Belgian-American Educational Foundation Fellowship, Composers Guild Award, Friends and Enemies of New Music Prize, and Meet the Composer grants. Currently he resides in Norfolk, Virginia, where teaches music theory and composition at Old Dominion University, and serves as Artistic Director at The Governor's School for the Arts. In the summer months he is a resident composer and faculty member at the Yellow Barn Music School and Festival in Vermont. Stephen has also taught at Yale, Peabody, Mannes (extension), and Loyola College in Maryland. He is Artistic Co-Director, with Nansi Carroll, of the Jubilus Festival.
Joe bussey
For more than 20 years Joe Bussey has been an active part of the northeast jazz scene as a sought after bass player and teacher. He graduated with honors from Rutgers, Mason Gross School of the Arts in 2001 with a degree in Jazz Performance, studying with Mike Richmond. Joe began gigging immediately as his sound on the bass, compelling rhythmic feel and respect for the jazz tradition made him a sought after sideman. Before graduation from Rutgers, he was picked up by the Tommy Dorsey Band led by trombone legend Buddy Morrow. Soon after Joe became a familiar figure in the late night Manhattan jam session scene playing as a sideman in house bands under leaders Julius Tolintino, Jeb Patton, Wayne Escofory and Randy Napoleon. With 20 years of gigging experience in New York, Joe has been fortunate to have a long list of sideman credits with some of the finest jazz musicians anywhere, including Ralph Bowen, Bruce Williams, Ron Affif, Saul Rubin, Lezlie Harrison, Champian Fulton, Lauren Henderson, Brian Newman, Sachal Vasandani and many others. Joe taught ensembles at the New School, working with Andrew Cyrille and Joanne Brackeen and taught at the Jazz House Kids jazz education program in Montclair, NJ.
Justin Kauflin
Justin Kauflin is a "jazz pianist who favors a clarity of touch and ideas...his writing is balanced tempering post-bop intricacies with the assurances of the gospel church" -New York Times. After losing his sight age 11, Kauflin gravitated towards playing jazz piano, despite having a background in classical violin and piano. He received top honors at jazz festivals across the U.S. and was performing jazz professionally by age 14, most notably with the Jae Sinnett Trio. In 2008, he graduated summa cum laude from William Paterson University, NJ where he was taken under the tutelage of the legendary trumpeter, Clark Terry (winner of the 2010 Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in Jazz) and performed in his ensemble. He continued to garner numerous awards such as the VSA International Young Soloist Award, selected as a semifinalist in the 2012 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition, and voted "Jazz Artist of the Year" in VEER Magazine. Kauflin is featured in, as well as composed the film score for, the Oscar short-listed documentary, "Keep On Keepin' On." Justin Kauflin was signed for management by impresario and music icon, Quincy Jones and is a Yamaha Artist.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT FACULTY
GSA OPERA ORCHESTRA
Dr. Stephen Coxe
GSA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Dr. Stephen Coxe
GSA JAZZ ENSEMBLE/JAZZ COMBOS
Joe Bussey
Justin Kauflin
GSA BIG BAND
Doug Miller
Jason Arce
VIOLIN
Vahn Armstrong
Kirsty Barnett Green
Allegra Tortolano Havens
Elizabeth Coulter Vonderheide
Jonathan Richards
VIOLA
Anastasia Migliozzi
CELLO
Leslie Frittelli
BASS
Christopher White
Will McPeters
FLUTE
Joanne White
OBOE/ENGLISH HORN
George Corbett
CLARINET
Margaret Abrecht
BASSOON
Dr. Christy Havens
SAXOPHONE
Jason Arce
James Nesbit
HORN
Helen Wargelin
TROMBONE AND TUBA
David Kidd
Rodney Martell
TRUMPET
Roy Muth
GUITAR
Eldon Sully
CLASSICAL GUITAR
Thomas Clippinger
PIANO
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Rebecca Willett
Jeanette Winsor
Olena Morozova
HARP
Alexis Colner
PERCUSSION
Michael Laubach
THEORY / AURAL SKILLS / KEYBOARD SKILLS
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Jason Gregory
Roy Muth
Jonathan Richards
Chris White
COMPOSITION
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Jason Gregory
MUSIC LITERATURE/HISTORY
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Allegra Havens
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Roy Muth
PILATES FOR INSTRUMENTALISTS
Everlea Bryant
CHAMBER MUSIC
Margaret Albrecht
Vahn Armstrong
Alexis Colner
George Corbett
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Allegra Tortolano Havens
Jonathan Richards
Joanne White