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.
ELizabeth barnes
Director of Jazz Studies
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.
dean englert
Director of Big Band
Dean Englert, trombonist and band leader, has been a performer and teacher for nearly 40 years, A native of Dansville NY, Dean has studied at the Eastman School of Music and holds a Bachelor’s in Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. Dean, a former active duty Marine, taught at the Armed Forces School of Music as a big band and concert band director. He later taught at Old Dominion University where he was an adjunct professor of low brass as well as big band and pep band director. Dean most recently worked at Norfolk Academy as jazz band and chorus director, as well as music director for school musicals. Dean is an accomplished trombonist in the area. He has played with numerable visiting artists and touring Broadway shows, to mention a few: Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, Martin Short, Natalie Cole, Natalie Merchant, Martha Reeves and many others. He has played in the pit orchestra for Wicked, Lion King, Chicago, Book of Mormon, Beautiful, Motown, Kinky Boots and In The Heights. Dean is an original member of GAME, the Great American Music Ensemble, where they were the “house band” at the Kennedy Center for eight seasons.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT FACULTY
JAZZ ENSEMBLE/IMPROV
Eldon Sully
Dean Englert
VIOLIN
Olivia Cottrell
Kirsty Barnett Green
Allegra Tortolano Havens
Elizabeth Coulter Vonderheide
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
PERCUSSION
Ralph Copley (jazz drums)
Dennis Northerner
David Walker
THEORY / AURAL SKILLS / KEYBOARD SKILLS
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Dean Englert
Jason Gregory
Michael Kaiser
Roy Muth
Rebecca Willett
Dionne Wright-Smith
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 FOR INSTRUMENTALISTS
Eva Stern
CHAMBER MUSIC
Dr. Stephen Coxe
Olivia Cottrell
George Corbett
Amanda Gates
Kirsty Barnett Green
Allegra Tortolano Havens
Anastasia Migliozzi
Chris White
Joanne White
Rebecca Willett