Jennifer Shoup, Owner
Jennifer Shoup graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from the University of Dayton, a
Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Certificate in Piano Pedagogy from Carnegie Mellon
University and began Doctoral studies at Arizona State University. Her principal teachers included Donald
Hageman, Eric Street, Enrique Graf and Caio Pagano. While a student, she worked with Emanuel Ax, Maria Joao
Pires and Earl Wild and was a recipient of the Cordell W. Hull International Fellowship sponsoring musical
studies in Vienna, Austria.
In addition to teaching, Jennifer maintains an active performance schedule. Noteworthy performances include
the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Piano Series (South Carolina) and soloist with the National Orchestras of Chile and
Costa Rica. In 2002, she was one of eight pianists and the only American invited to Belgais Center for the Arts
(Portugal) where she was featured on French National Radio and Portuguese television. She was a featured
performer for the Sigma Alpha Iota National Convention (Florida) in 2006 and performed as guest soloist with
The University of Dayton Orchestra in 2008. Recently, Jennifer performed at The Festival of The American
Matthay Association for Piano and on the Francis Marion University Artist Series with Richard Chenoweth, horn
and Andrea Chenoweth, soprano. She also presented a lecture-recital for The American Matthay Association
Festival held at the University of Kansas.
Jennifer has taught for the prestigious Carnegie Mellon Preparatory School and as adjunct faculty for the
University of Dayton and Cedarville University. She is an active member of The American Matthay Association,
National Federation of Music Clubs, Sigma Alpha Iota, and is past-President of the Dayton Music Club.
Sarah Bucher, Voice
Sarah graduated with a Masters degree in Performance from Wright State University in 2011. Her expressive,
lyric soprano voice has led to the roles of Lisa in La Sonnambula, Geraldine in A Hand of Bridge, and Lucy
Lockit in John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera. She has also earned the title roles in Suor Angelica and Arabella.
Ms. Bucher was the winner of the Wright State University Concerto-Aria Competition and was a finalist in the
university’s Honors Recital competition. She has been a featured soloist in the Wright State University Arts Gala,
with Musica! (Dayton) and the soprano soloist for the Sulphur Grove United Methodist Church annual production
of the Messiah for four seasons. Sarah has participated in the OperaWorks Advanced Artist summer program in
Los Angeles. Recently, Sarah created and directed Vocal-Improvisation Night at Wright State University. She
currently sings with the Dayton Opera Chorus and enjoys performing throughout the Midwest while maintaining
an active voice studio in the Dayton area.
Leslie Dragan, Violin & Viola
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, violist Leslie Dragan is a member of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.
She holds music degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music, achieving a
Masters Degree from the latter.
Primary teachers include Lynne Ramsey of the Cleveland Orchestra and John Graham, renowned chamber
musician and pedagogue. She has performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic
Orchestra, New World Symphony, Canton Symphony Orchestra, and the Akron Symphony Orchestra.
Additionally, she has played with the Aspen Music Festival Orchestras, National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto
USA Festival Orchestra, and the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra in Lucerne, Switzerland, conducted by
Pierre Boulez.
Heather Goertemiller, Piano
Heather Goertemiller received a Bachelor degree in Music Education from The University of Dayton where she
studied piano with Elizabeth Vandevander and Phillip Farris. While at UD, she taught private piano and was an
active accompanist. Heather also served as accompanist for the Columbus Children’s Choir from 2004 – 2005.
Additional teaching experiences have included serving as vocal coach at The University of Dayton’s Vocal
Performance Institute, teaching at The Dunbar Institute’s “Sprouts” Summer Arts Program, volunteering with the
Jamaica Field Service Program and teaching the Mini-Mozart Piano Program and World Drumming Course at
The Piano Prep School. Heather presented at the 2009 and 2011 Ohio Music Education Association
Professional Development Conferences where she shared various teaching experiences in rural Jamaica and
urban Dayton. She has also been published in leading music education journals. In addition to teaching piano,
Heather has taught for a local charter school for two years and will begin a new position at Dennis West
Elementary (Springboro Schools) in the fall.
Saul Meyerson–Knox, Classical Guitar
Saul Meyerson-Knox completed a Master of Music degree in classical guitar performance from the University of
Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music in the spring of 2011, where he studied with Clare Callahan. He is
currently adding a music history major to his Master’s degree, to be completed this spring. Saul earned his
Bachelor of Arts from Guilford College, in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he studied with Kami Rowan.
For the 2010-2011 academic year Saul was one of two graduate assistants for the CCM guitar department,
during which time he taught undergraduate guitar lessons, helped direct the CCM guitar ensemble, and taught a
beginner guitar class. In 2005 Saul spent a semester abroad in London where he studied with Carlos Bonell.
Saul has performed in master classes with Oscar Gighlia, William Kanengiser, and Sergio Assad, among others.
Saul has taught guitar to students of all ages and skill levels at home in Boston and in Cincinnati.
Kristen Kosey, Piano
Kristen Kosey earned her Bachelor degrees in Mathematics and Piano Performance from Valparaiso University,
where she studied with William Krueger and Bethyne Emory. She completed all but the thesis for a Masters in
Music Theory from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and earned a Certificate in Church
Music from the University of Dayton. Kristen has taught private piano for 20 years and has worked as a church
musician for almost 30 years. In addition to teaching piano, she currently serves as a Director of Liturgical
Music. Kristen often plays piano for Tecumseh High School choir events and OMEA contests. She is a
performing member of the Dayton Music Club and a member of both National Pastoral Musicians (NPM) and the
American Guild of Organists (AGO).
Kara Lardinois, Violin
Kara Lardinois graduated with a Masters of Music from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati (OH) and
a Bachelor of Arts in music from Minot State University. Her principal teachers were Kurt Sassmannshaus and
Dr. Jon Rumney. She has also worked with a number of teachers in a variety of masterclasses including William
Preucil, Stephen Rose, Elizabeth Adkins and the Ying Quartet and Colorado String Quartet.
Kara taught violin for the Starling Strings program at the Seven Hills School (Cincinnati) for five years and
served as the director of the program for three years. She combines her individualized teaching skills along with
the pedagogical principles she learned from Kurt Sassmannshaus, renowned violin pedagogue. Kara enjoys
teaching all ages and levels.
In addition to teaching, Kara also maintains an active performing schedule. She is currently beginning her fifth
season with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and also serves as a SPARK (School Partners with Artists
Reaching Kids) teaching artist. She performed with the Opera Theatre and Music Festival in Lucca, Italy for two
consecutive summers (2005-2006). At the 2005 festival her string quartet gave a special concert in the Chianti
region of Tuscany. Kara has also participated in the National Orchestral Institute in Maryland and Kent/Blossom
Music Summer Festivals.
Stephanie Lytle, Voice & Music Together
Soprano Stephanie Lytle earned a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Kent State University,
where she was Graduate Assistant in Voice and Opera. She received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music
Education in 1999 from the University of Dayton. Her teachers at Kent State included Dr. Jane Dressler (voice)
and John Sikora (opera), and she studied voice and opera at UD with John W. Wright. In July 2006, Ms. Lytle
performed Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire at the Kent/Blossom Festival. Other performances include the soprano
solos in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Kent State Orchestra and the role of Josephine in Gilbert and Sullivan’s
H.M.S. Pinafore with Opera Kent. She also performed opposite Metropolitan Opera baritone Vernon Hartman as
Amelia in scenes from Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera with Opera Kent.
Ms. Lytle has experience teaching singers with a wide range of ages and abilities. She has experience working
with college-level musical theatre majors and music minors and has also taught private lessons to students from
junior high through adulthood since 1999, helping many of her students gain entrance to college music and
musical theatre programs.
Lynn Mellum, Piano
Lynn earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Keyboard Pedagogy from Cedarville University where she studied
with Dr. John Mortensen and Connie Anderson. She was involved in the University choirs and piano ensemble
and served frequently as an accompanist. Lynn has taught privately for five years and continues to perform solo
and chamber music. She is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music with MTNA and a frequent adjudicator for
National Federation of Music Clubs.
Lynn is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Piano Performance at Wright State University.
Allyson Michal, Violin
Allyson Michal is a member of the Dayton Philharmonic Violin Section and grew up in Lebanon, OH. After
participating in the Starling Program at Cincinnati Conservatory during high school, she attended Indiana
University earning a Bachelor of Music degree. She received a Master of Music degree from Northwestern
University. Allyson was a member of the prestigious Civic Orchestra of Chicago for two years before winning a
position with the Dayton Philharmonic.
In addition to playing with the DPO, she teaches violin and piano lessons and plays piano for church services.
Emily Sammons, Piano
Emily graduated from Cedarville University where she received a Bachelor degree in Music Education. Her
principle piano teacher in Dayton was Donna Clements. During her time at Cedarville, she was involved in the
concert chorale, opera ensemble and served as president for the University’s chapter of The National
Association of Music Educators.
In addition to teaching piano at The Piano Prep School, Emily directs the middle school choir for Springfield City
Schools. She is a member of MENC.
Matthew Schroeder, Classical Guitar
Matthew Schroeder began guitar studies with Sarah Wilke and continued studies with Clare Callahan at the
University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music, where he will receive a Bachelor of Music degree in
classical guitar performance in the fall. While at CCM, Matthew has been the recipient of both the Oscar Ghiglia
award in Classical Guitar and the Segovia Scholarship in Classical Guitar, awarded annually to an outstanding
guitarist upon recommendation by the faculty. Matthew has performed in masterclasses with many of the top
guitarists in the world, including Oscar Gighlia, Marcin Dylla, William Kanengiser, Jason Vieaux, Carlos Perez,
and Stanley Yates. In addition to performing extensively in the tri-state area, Matthew has been teaching guitar
since 2007 in private and classroom settings.
Kelly Sheets, Piano & Cello
Kelly Sheets earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Science in Education & Allied
Professions from The University of Dayton. While at UD, Kelly’s primary instrument was cello and secondary
instruments included piano and baritone. She was actively involved in the University Orchestra, Pride of Dayton
Marching Band and Flyer Pep Band.
Kelly has taught private piano, violin and cello to beginning and intermediate students since 2000. She
previously taught general music at Corpus Christi, Dayton Catholic and Ascension parochial schools as well as
elementary music, beginning band and an adaptive music class for the Multiple Disabilities unit in Oak Hills Local
School District. Kelly taught elementary music for Northmont City Schools where she initiated and directed a
Children’s Musical Theater program. She was awarded “Educator of the Year” at Englewood Hills Elementary for
the 2010-2011 school year.
Christina Sidaras, Piano & Voice
Christina Sidaras holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Cedarville University. For her senior project, she
researched music therapy methods for Alzheimer’s patients and conducted fieldwork at a local assisted living
facility. Christina also studied Music Education with a Vocal Emphasis at Baptist Bible College in Missouri where
she accompanied numerous soloists, ensembles, and choirs, including the Springfield Baptist Community Choir
under the direction of Mr. David Giles. In addition to her academic endeavors, Christina has served as a church
pianist, vocal coach, and interim choir director. She is an advocate for the creation of new music through
teaching composition, collaborating with contemporary composers, and performing new works. Christina has
taught piano since 2005 to students of all ages and abilities and enjoys helping individuals become well-rounded
musicians.
Elizabeth Vandevander, Piano
Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Susquehanna University (PA) and a
Master of Arts degree from Goddard College where she engaged in a self-directed program which included
rebuilding a piano and writing and lecturing about the concepts of Tobias Matthay, a renowned British
pedagogue. Her mentor and field faculty for this program was Donald Hageman. As a member of the American
Matthay Association for Piano, Elizabeth served for seventeen years as Editor of the Matthay News and is
presently serving as Secretary. She is a frequent lecturer for the American Matthay Association Festivals and
presented a lecture convening the Matthay principles in relation to the intermediate student and the standard
piano literature in June, 2011.
Elizabeth has taught public school music in Baltimore County, Maryland and in the Dayton city schools. She
retired in May, 2011 from her adjunct faculty position at the University of Dayton where she taught Music
Methods courses, Recreational Music and Private Piano. She is an adjudicator for OMEA, NFMC and for the
Matthay Association and a member of the Dayton Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota and the Dayton Music
Club. Elizabeth has performed on artist series at the University of Dayton, Westminster Presbyterian Church,
Shiloh Church and First Church (Belfast, Maine).
Faculty Biographies
