JAZZ EDUCATION
Robert Waggoner
Robert Waggoner has been involved in the music education field since 1964, at all levels, including elementary through university. Fomerly, the Director of bands at Parkway West H.S. and the Monday Night Jazz Club at Meramec-St. Louis Community College, Mr. Waggoner is currently the director of Genesis Jazz Project Big Band. He also teaches Jazz Education for Webster University and the Jazz Lab Ensemble at the Community Music School.
A professional bassist, Robert has performed in jazz trios to symphonic orchestras, including playing at Six Flags/St. Louis where he also served as conductor of the Palace Show for 4 years. He has also been involved as a staff member of the Jim Widner Jazz Camps and the SLUH Middle School Jazz Camps. Through out the Midwest, Robert maintains a busy schedule as a clinician, adjudicator and conductor in the Jazz Education area.
He has received the following awards: St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Certificate of Merit(1990-91), St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Hall of Fame(1995-96), NBA Outstanding Jazz Educator Award(2003), and the MOIAJE Jess Cole Award(2004) for Outstanding Contributions to Jazz Education.
Mr. Waggoner attended the University of North Texas, graduated from St. Louis Institute of Music and continued with graduate work at Sothern Illinios University at Edwardsville.
He is also the President/Owner of St. Ann Music LLC, a business that he operates with his wife, Ann.
PIANO & VOICE
Richard Carr (piano)
Richard is a composer of contemporary instrumental solo piano and keyboard work. Richard has a B.M. from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. His graduate studies were done at University of North Texas and University of the Pacific, receiving a M.A. from Pacific.Richard has been performing concerts and special events professionally since 1996 throughout the United States. He has released eleven solo albums and one collaborative album in the Contemporary Instrumental genre. Richard teaches piano, theory and composition in addition to serving as Artist in Residence and Co-Director of the conservatory.
Karlyn Alderson (voice & piano)
Karlyn studied music at University of Missouri(KC) and Brigham Young University. With experience in performing groups and as a composer/arranger of original works, Karlyn is a successful piano and vocal instructor. She continues her students development through her choirs and audition workshops to prepare them to study on a collegiate level.
Jessica Harker (piano)
Jessica studied at Webster University and received a Bachelors degree in both Music and Business Administration. She has studied piano for over 10 years and has been teaching for over 5 years. Jessica's current students range from ages 4 to 70, and she utilizes her classical training to give her students a strong, well-rounded musical experience. Her passion for teaching is evident through her student's successes.
Laura J Medendorp (voice & piano)
Laura Medendorp is an avid recitalist of classic and contemporary soprano vocal literature. She has also appeared in operatic roles and as a guest soloist with many acclaimed symphonies and chamber ensembles including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Laura received her BA from the University of Wisconsin and has studied with Chris Armistead, Erie Mills, Lee Dougherty Ross and Thomas Wikman. Ms. Medendorp loves sharing the joy of music with her students and contributing to Midwest Music Conservatory's philosophy of family friendly musical instruction.
Diane Pfleger (piano & organ)
Diane Pfleger studied piano and organ at Central Methodist College and with the head of the UMSL piano department, Evelyn Mitchell. She has been teaching for over 30 years in St. Charles County where she resides. Diane has performed for Taste of St. Charles, weddings, funerals. nursing homes and private parties. She is a member and officer of several local music associations including Piano Teachers Roundtable (Past President 1995-1997, Historian, Teasurer, Recording Secretary), National Federation of Music Clubs ( currently President of the Chopin Club, Festival Chairman), National Guild of Piano Teachers (currently Chairman for St. Charles Center), St. Louis Area Music Teachers Association (currently Auditor) and Mid-America Music Teachers Assciation. Diane also judges in the local competitions. Diane enjoys teaching students of all ages.
Hilary Scott Gennaro (piano, violin, & voice)
Hilary Scott Gennaro tours nationally and internationally as a singer-songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and violinist. She is an award winning songwriter, and has worked with some legendary names in Nashville. As a recording artist, she has released ten albums and several singles receiving radio airplay. Hilary earned her BA in English with a minor in music/vocal performance from Whitman College, and she studied Operatic Vocal Performance at the Civica Scuola Conservatory in Milan, Italy. She also has extensive training and experience teaching students of all ages, with specialized training in teaching children from birth to 7 years of age. In addition to piano, vocal, early Suzuki violin, and guitar-singer/songwriter lessons, she has created the curriculum for Music Explorers. Music Explorers provides a group class environment for 3-6 year olds in which they are introduced to the instrument families, rhythm, notation, the language of music, music appreciation, music of other cultures, and music history in a manner geared toward the young learner. Activities include singing, dancing, keyboard work, private lesson labs, focused listening, call and response, memorization, games, and much more. Hilary Scott Gennaro holds 3-4 recitals per year for her students and Music Explorers also get a chance to perform. Hilary will also be involved in MMC's summer camp programs.
Jacob Stergos (piano, bass)
Information to be added
Chris Swan (piano)
Luppy (real name "Chris Swan") has been in the music game since the age of 12. Residing in St. Louis as a singer, rapper, piano player, trumpet player and writer brought along may opportunities. This all progressed into numerous bands and projects before he started the LP Outsiders in college (where he studied piano performance). LP Outsiders toured the country and put out 4 albums over 8 years of being together. This band brought along many opportunities including signing a publishing deal with Windswept Pacific, landing a song on the Three To Tango soundtrack, appearing on the Disney Channel Show "2 Hour Tour" with 98 Degrees, and opening for The Roots, Culture Club, Joan Jett, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Cherry Poppin' Daddy's, and touring with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Luppy also got the chance to play at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, played trumpet on a b-side on Natalie Imbruglia's multi-platinum selling single to "Torn," and has written with Robbie Nevil ("Ce La Vie"). After the band called it quits, Luppy entered the world of piano entertaining, as well as pursuing his own jazz/soul/hiphop band The Sky West Trio who has played all over the St. Louis area and performed with Cameo and Morris Day and The Time. Luppy has performed all over the world, becoming a crowd favorite in bars all over the caribbean including Aruba, Barbados, Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Kitts. He now continues to make a living playing music, while also pursuing his hip-hop career. Life is hard. Music helps.
Beth Curtiss (voice)
Beth received a BA in music from Bryn Mawr College and an MM in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is currently pursuing teacher certification in K-12 vocal music at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Beth is an accomplished choral musician, with 14+ years of experience in a wide variety of ensembles. In addition, she has spent the past five years serving as a teacher or assistant teacher to students aged 5 and up in subjects as diverse as vocal music, theater, computers, and K-8 academics. Currently, Beth sings soprano in the UMSL University Singers and in her church choir, and is also an ensemble assistant at the
St. Louis Children's Choirs.
DRUMS & PERCUSSION
Justin Guldalian
Justin studied music at Drake University earning degrees in music performance and music business. While there he performed as principal percussionist for the wind symphony, the symphony orchestra, and the marching band.
Since then, Justin has performed and recorded with several bands, including Of Time And Tide, Organ Of Corti, and The Matt Kovis Group. He also performs weekly with the St. Louis Family Church and St. John Ellisville worship bands.
Justin has been teaching at the Midwest Music Conservatory since its opening in 2008, and continues to be passionate about sharing his musical knowledge and skill base with any willing listener.
GUITAR & BASS
James E. Wells
James studied music at Greenville College and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. With over 20 years of playing experience and over 10 years of teaching experience, he is able to instill a strong, comprehensive knowledge of the instrument in his students. He has had students from age 6 to 67. In addition, James is a songwriter and performer here in the St. Louis area.
Jordan Gonzalez
Jordan Gonzalez came from a musical family. His parents impressed upon him a love for music at a very early age. He has been playing guitar for eight years and has enjoyed every second of it. Jordan recently graduated Suma Cum Laude from Webster University with a degree in Business Administration along with a minor in music. He has participated in jazz combos as well as the Lafayette High School Jazz Band during his years of attending the school.Now, Jordan is a worship leader at Wildwood Christian Church. He was the lead guitarist and a vocalist in the youth band for several years and currently is the same for the Praise Band. He has been teaching guitar for the past few years and considers each lesson that he teaches as an opportunity to become a better musician and teacher.Steve Factor (Bass & Upright)
Steve Factor has over fifteen years of professional experience as a working musician. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts as a Jazz Performance Major with an emphasis in Bass from Webster University. He is an active member of BMI, and he has had his original compositions used and aired in a syndicated television series on MTV. Steve performs with, and is a founding member of one of St. Louis' premier cover bands, "The Wyld Stallyns". He is well versed in Jazz, Big Band, Latin Jazz, Pop, Rock, Country, Funk, Motown, R&B, and Dance Music.
HARP
Ruth Lawson
Information to be added
VIOLIN & VIOLA
Susan Gottschall
Susan is an accomplished violin and viola performer. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Missouri. Her involvement and affiliations have included many
musical groups and organizations from string quartets to symphonic orchestras. Susan’s musical influences are broad as she continues to play in classical duo and trio settings as well as Bluegrass, Jazz, Folk and Rock genres. Susan has worked as a string educator for over 20 years in her private studio as well as at the Midwest Music
Conservatory. She is also as accomplished string arranger in a wide variety of musical genres. Susan’s musical awards include election into the Who’s Who in Music and as alumnae of the Missouri Honors Chamber Ensemble Seminars.
Judy Moss
Mrs. Judy Ann Moss received her Bachelor of Music Education degree and Master of Music Education degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She is currently the Membership Chair for the Missouri American String Teachers Association. She studied the Suzuki Education Method with John Kendall during her undergraduate years. He brought the Suzuki Method to the United States in 1969. She has experience teaching Suzuki violin, viola, cello, string bass, guitar and piano. The Suzuki Philosophy is part of the “Judy Moss Method” of teaching music.
Mrs. Moss’s primary instrument is the violin; however she has also received extensive instruction on viola, cello, and string bass. She has performed in Carnegie Hall (July, 1971), Royal Albert Hall (July, 1971), London, England, and the White House in Washington D.C. (July, 1971) during the Nixon administration. A highlight of her musical career was witnessing the signing of the 26th Amendment on July 5, 1971 as then President Richard M. Nixon gave 18 year olds the right to vote in all elections. Mrs. Moss has performed with the SIUE Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Webster University Symphony Orchestra.
Mrs. Moss is currently pursuing a Philosophy of Education degree from Capella University. She began her doctoral studies in July, 2009 while teaching middle school orchestra in the Rockwood School District. Mrs. Moss is also a St. Louis Symphony Volunteer. She works with the Instrument Playground where she demonstrates instruments to elementary school children in St. Louis; assists with the Friday morning Coffee Concerts serving donuts to audience members before the concert, and she assists with auditions for the St. Louis Youth Symphony.
WOODWIND
Maggie McCallie
Maggie McCallie is an accomplished flutist from the St. Louis, MO area. She received her Bachelor's degree in music from Principia Colege in Elsah, IL (2005) as a student of Dr. Marie Jureit Beamish, and studied with Dr. Mary Posses at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she received her Master's degree in flute performance (2007).
As a performer, Maggie has played Cecil Chaminade's Concertino with the Principia School Concert Band, and Howard Hanson's Serenade with the Principia College Orchestra. Maggie was a member of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra (2001-2004) and the Compton Heights Concert Band (2008-2011). She received 2nd place in the Southern Illinois Young Artist's Competition (2003), and 3rd place in the Sigma Alpha Iota Young Artist's Cometition (2004). Masterclass teachers include Jim Walker, Mark Sparks, Michel Debost, Amy Porter, Walfrid Kujala, Robert Langevin, Bernard Goldberg, Leone Buyse, Jacob Berg, Bonita Boyd, Judith Mendenhall, Trevor Wye, and Takeaki Miyamae. Other teachers include Wendy Hymes and Jacob Berg.
Recent performances include musicals with Principia School, Shooting Stars' Production, Visitation Academy, and Variety Children's Theatre. Musicals include Good News, Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Music Man, Oliver, Crazy for You, Jane Eyre, and The Wizard of Oz. From 2008 to 2011, Maggie was a member of the Compton Heights Concert Band. In July of 2010, Maggie gave a solo performance at Principia College's Summer Session, and for the Principia College community in September of the same year. As a performing artist, Maggie has performed in small ensembles for weddings, church services, and other services. She is currently on the substitute list for both the St. Louis Philharmonic and the St. Louis Civic orchestra.
Maggie's teaching experience began in 8th grade when she taught beginning students to play the flute. Throughout high school, Maggie continued to work along side the band directors to teaching the 4th and 5th grade flute players, and gave private lessons.Maggie's current teaching activities include band director at Christ, Prince of Peace School, private flute instructor/flute coach at The Principia School, private flute, clarinet, and saxophone instructor at Midwest Music Conservatory, and Suzuki Flute instructor at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Her students have received highest ratings at the ABC Solo and Ensemble Festival, District and State Solo and and Ensemble Festivals for Missouri and Illinois at both the high school and middle school levels.
Maggie's Suzuki Flute training began in January of 2011 with Kelly Williamson in Lima, Peru. Book 2 training was with Rebecca Paluzzi in Johnson City, TN (June 2011). In June of 2012, Maggie participated in a master teacher class with Mr. Toshio Takahashi (creator of the Suzuki method for flute).
Our Instructors
Pianos - Organs - Keyboards - Guitars - School of Music
