A defining feature of Gifted Music School is its world-class faculty. Our caring, dedicated, and highly qualified instructors create a culture of excellence, achievement, and inspiration that has characterized Gifted Music School since its founding in 2009. The teaching artists at Gifted Music School are experts in their fields who strive to nurture and challenge each student at their appropriate level.
Our faculty have produced students who have gone on to study at every top music conservatory in the United States, including Juilliard, Curtis, Colburn, New England, Peabody, Cleveland, Bard, Indiana, and San Francisco. Other academically oriented students have been accepted on scholarship to every local university and top academic programs like Stanford, Harvard, Rice, Columbia, and Yale. Students of our faculty have placed at local and national competitions, have been heard on NPR's From the Top, and are frequently awarded national and regional level honors.
Eugene Watanabe, Artistic Director & Co-Founder
Dr. Vera Oussetskaia Watanabe, Co-Founder
Dr. LeeAnn Morgan, Director of Chamber Music Studies
Katherine Baird, Preparatory Chamber Music Coordinator
Dr. Sarah Houghton, Choir Director
Mira Larson, Dalcroze Eurythmics
Ariel Haubner, Yoga for Musicians
Dr. Koji Attwood
Kimberly Marsden
McKenzie Clawson
Brecklyn Ferrin
Jeanne Lancaster
Dr. Lisa Matsuda
Kristina Turner
Conner Gray Covington, Conductor
Eugene Watanabe, Conductor
Shenae Anderson
Dr. Tia Harvey, Bucket Drumming
Dr. Vera Oussetskaia Watanabe, Piano Area Co-Chair
Dr. Whitney Pizza, Piano Area Co-Chair
Joanna Oshida, Supplemental Piano Coordinator
Dr. Koji Attwood
Yelena Bates
Dr. Alie Yorgason
Rachel H. Taft, GRIT Program Director
Yelena Bates
Julie Beistline
Jeanne Lancaster
Eugene Watanabe, String Area Chair
Stacy Smith, Suzuki Program Director
Katherine Baird, Suzuki Program Coordinator
Kristina Turner, Suzuki Program Coordinator
Dr. Kate Jones, Suzuki Teacher Trainer-in-Residence
Violin
Shenae Anderson
Thomas Baron *
McKenzie Clawson
Brecklyn Ferrin
Tina Johnson
Deborah Moench ‡
Rebecca Moench *
David Price
Stacy Smith
Rachel H. Taft
Melissa Thatcher *
Monica Thiriot
Kristina Turner
Brynn Vance
Eugene Watanabe
Viola
Dr. LeeAnn Morgan
Erin Nolan
Kristina Turner
Alan de Vertich *
Double Bass
Hillary Fuller
Dr. Kate Jones
David Yavornitzky *
Dr. Michael Chikinda, Theory Area Chair
Dr. Matthew Durrant
Micah Fleming
Kimberly Marsden
Sebastian Neugebauer
Dr. April Clayton, Woodwind Area Chair
Flute
Dr. April Clayton
Nancy Toone
Oboe
Susan Swidnicki
Clarinet
Erin Svoboda
Bassoon
Dr. Jennifer Rhodes
* denotes adjunct faculty
‡ denotes emeritus faculty current and founding board member
