Instrumentalmusic FACULTY
amanda gates
DEPARTMENT CHAIR
Amanda Gates, amanda.gates@gsarts.net
Performer, teacher, and versatile musician, Amanda Gates is a member of the first violin section of both the acclaimed Virginia Symphony and Chautauqua Symphony orchestras, positions she has held since 2000. A native of Reston, Virginia, she graduated summa cum laude from Catholic University in 1996, where she studied with Robert Gerle.
She has appeared as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Catholic University Orchestra, and the Chautauqua Symphony Chamber Players. She has also performed as soloist in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Vaughn Williams’ The Lark Ascending, and John Adams’ Violin Concerto, and many other solos on electric violin, all with the Virginia Symphony.
She is proficient on guitar, mandolin, viola, cello, hammered dulcimer, and well versed in many styles of music. She has composed, arranged and performed music for the portland-based band emberghost, off-Broadway Royal Family Production's Anne of Green Gables, Parts 1 &2, and collaborated with local favorites Sunny & Gabe as well as Chad Hugo on collaborative projects.
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
Director of Jazz Studies, joe.bussey@gsarts.net
For 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, Tysean Sorrey 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.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT FACULTY
JAZZ ENSEMBLE/IMPROV
Joe Bussey
Eldon Sully
VIOLIN
Olivia Cottrell
Kirsty Barnett Green
Allegra Tortolano Havens
Elizabeth Coulter Vonderheide
Brendon Elliott
Jonathan Richards
VIOLA
Anastasia Migliozzi
Eva Stern
CELLO
Leslie Frittelli
Dionne Wright-Smith
BASS
Christopher White
Will McPeters
FLUTE
Joanne White
OBOE/ENGLISH HORN
George Corbett
CLARINET
Cathy Ogram
BASSOON/SAXOPHONE
James Nesbit
TROMBONE/BASS TROMBONE/TUBA
Rodney Martell
TRUMPET
Roy Muth
GUITAR
Eldon Sully
PIANO
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Rebecca Willett
Jeanette Winsor
Bart Kuebler
PERCUSSION
Dennis Northerner
David Walker
THEORY / AURAL SKILLS / KEYBOARD SKILLS
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Jason Gregory
Michael Kaiser
Roy Muth
Rebecca Willett
Dionne Wright-Smith
Jonathan Richards
COMPOSITION
Michael Kaiser
ORCHESTRATION
Dr. Stephen Coxe
CONDUCTING
Dr. Paul Kim
LITERATURE
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Michael Kaiser
Rebecca Willett
AUDIO ENGINEERING
Roy Muth
ARRANGING
Roy Muth
PILATES & FRANKLIN METHOD FOR INSTRUMENTALISTS
Eva Stern
CHAMBER MUSIC
Dr. Stephen Coxe
George Corbett
Brendon Elliott
Amanda Gates
Kirsty Barnett Green
Allegra Tortolano Havens
Anastasia Migliozzi
Jonathan Richards
Joanne White
Rebecca Willett
Dionne Wright-Smith