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. 

ELizabeth barnes

Director of Jazz Studies

elizabeth.barnes@gsarts.net

Liz Barnes, jazz pianist, has been teaching and performing for over 25 years. She holds a B.A. in Performance and has studied privately with several well-known jazz artists including John Toomey and Eddie Williams. She also studied extensively with acclaimed classical composer Adolphus Hailstork. As a jazz educator, Liz emphasizes all facets of musicianship including technique, theory, harmony, ear training, composition and is adept at teaching improvisation to all instrumentalists. While her piano style is firmly rooted in the blues, it reflects the whole jazz tradition from bebop to modernism. While now performing primarily as a jazz artist, Liz toured extensively as a blues artist and is accomplished in most genres including R&B, funk and pop.
Liz was the Director of Jazz Studies at The Governor’s School for many years before leaving the area in 2004 for Charlottesville and Phoenix. She returned to GSA in 2017 and continues to perform in the Tidewater and Charlottesville areas.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT FACULTY