Music Faculty

Our faculty are expert teacher-scholars in the fields of performance, music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, composition, music journalism, and ensemble direction. They are active as practitioners, researchers, and freelance artists engaging in innovative and socially conscious work. The studio faculty are drawn from some of the top ensembles of the nation's capital such as the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, and "The President's Own" US Marine Band. Through close mentorship with AU professors, students are immersed in a vibrant and inclusive world of music.

Program Director

Ann Kang Program Director for Music CAS | Performing Arts

Dr. Ann T. Kang is Director of the Music Program. She teaches piano, chamber music, music theory and musicianship. She has been called a pianist of “admirable polish and sensitivity” by the Baltimore

  akang@american.edu

  (202) 885-3859

Please see faculty grouped by area, or further below for all faculty alphabetically:

 

All Faculty

Last name starts with A

Daniel Abraham Professor and Department Chair, Performing Arts CAS | Performing Arts

Choral/orchestral conductor and musicologist; specialist in 17th- and 18th-century music. As a conductor and scholar, Abraham has often sought out works previously unknown to present-day audiences and

  dabraham@american.edu

  (202) 885-3427

Benjamin Albright Adjunct Professorial Lect

Originally from Niagara Falls, New York, Benjamin recently moved to the DC metro area after winning a trumpet position with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Dr. Albright completed his

  benalbright.trumpet@american.edu

Last name starts with B

Todd Baldwin Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Todd Baldwin served with The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” from 1984-2016 and was most recently the Element Leader for The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band. Previous positions include Trombone Section Lead

  tbaldwin@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Jonathan Baumgarten Musician in Residence CAS | Performing Arts

Jonathan Baumgarten is a flute instructor in the applied music program. He holds a MM from Juilliard where he was a scholarship student of Samuel Baron. He studied with Thomas Nyfenger on a National E

  jonathan.baumgarten@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Joshua Bayer Musician in Residence CAS | Performing Arts

Jazz guitarist, bassist, composer, and director Joshua Bayer has performed at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Detroit Opera House, Blues Alley, The Harlem Renaissance Festival, The Wor

  jbayer@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Fernando Benadon Professor CAS - Performing Arts

I am a composer/theorist originally from Buenos Aires. I have released two albums, written a score for an indie feature film shown at Cannes, and been praised by The New York Times for my music’s “ear

  fernando@american.edu

  (202) 885-3452

William Brent Associate Professor CAS | Performing Arts

William Brent is a computer musician and Associate Professor of Audio Technology at American University in Washington DC. In collaboration with internationally recognized composers and performers, he

  brent@american.edu

  (202) 885-1488

Matthew Brown Professorial Lecturer CAS | Performing Arts

Orchestra/Symphonic Band/Songwriters' Hub Matthew Brown has worked with musicians of all ages and levels ranging from elementary school string ensembles to professional orchestras. He currently is the

  mbrown@american.edu

  (202) 885-3433

Last name starts with C

Scott Cameron Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

A native of Ashton, Maryland, Mr. Cameron is a member of The United States Army Field Band, stationed at Ft. Meade Maryland, and has performed in all 50 states. As a freelance tubist, Mr. Cameron has

  cameron@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Casey Cook Chorus Director-in-Residence CAS | Performing Arts

Dr. Casey Cook is a dynamic choral musician and educator, moving fluently between the fields of conducting, composition, and vocal performance. He is increasingly sought after as an adjudicator, clini

  caseyc@american.edu

  (202) 885-3425

Last name starts with D

Paul DeNola Adjunct Instructor

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Paul DeNola joined the National Symphony Orchestra's bass section in July of 2006. Before moving to Washington, D.C., Paul spent three seasons as a member of th

  denola@american.edu

Susan Derry Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Susan Derry’s Broadway credits include Wonderful Town and 14 productions with City Center's Encores! series. She started her career as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera in Hamburg, Germany; her wi

  derry@american.edu

Eric Dircksen Adjunct Professorial Lecturer CAS | Performing Arts

Eric Dircksen is a bassoon instructor in the applied music program. Eric Dircksen studied saxophone and bassoon at Indiana University in Bloomington and at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He

  dircksen@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Last name starts with F

Larry Ferguson Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Larry Ferguson is the drum set teacher in the applied music program. Mr Ferguson is a native of Kentucky and in addition to drum set, has a very diverse background in the areas of percussion including

  lferguso@american.edu

Last name starts with G

Noah Getz Musician in Residence CAS | Performing Arts

Dr. Noah Getz is a saxophone instructor in the applied music program. He made his Carnegie Hall debut as the recipient of the National Alliance for Excellence Grand Prize and has presented solo recita

  getz@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Last name starts with H

Shawn Hagen Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Shawn Hagen is a hornist in The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own”. When not in uniform, Hagen performs with the National Chamber Winds and has been a frequent substitute with The Kennedy Cente

  hagen@american.edu

Jennifer Hamady Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Jennifer Hamady is the author of The Art of Singing series, as well as a voice teacher, performance coach, and a board-certified therapist specializing in technical and emotional issues that interfere

  jhamady@american.edu

Sean Heely Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Multi-Genre violinist/fiddler Seán Heely is one of the most creatively versatile and captivating young artists of his generation. He is a US National Scottish Fiddle Champion as well as an award-winni

  heely@american.edu

Barbara Hollinshead Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Barbara Hollinshead is a voice instructor in the applied music program. A mezzo-soprano, she has studied in NY, Washington and with Max van Egmond in the Netherlands. Career highlights include singing

  bhollins@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Last name starts with J

Last name starts with K

Ann Kang Program Director for Music CAS | Performing Arts

Dr. Ann T. Kang is Director of the Music Program. She teaches piano, chamber music, music theory and musicianship. She has been called a pianist of “admirable polish and sensitivity” by the Baltimore

  akang@american.edu

  (202) 885-3859

Osman Kivrak Musician in Residence CAS | Performing Arts

Osman Kivrak, violist, was a winner of the National Scholarship Competition in Turkey, the Baltimore Chamber Music Awards, the Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Awards, the Culver (Califor

  okivrak@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Alicia Kopfstein Adjunct Professorial Lecturer CAS | Performing Arts

Alicia Kopfstein, Ph.D., is an enthusiastic postmodernist who has taught musicianship, guitar, music history, and general education courses at American since 1998, and musicianship for the Washington

  akp@american.edu

Last name starts with M

Nobue Matsuoka Associate Librarian LIB |University Library Operations

Nobue, a native of Japan, moved from New Orleans in 2006 to become the Music/Performing Arts librarian at American University. As the head of the music library in Katzen, Nobue is responsible for the

  nobue@american.edu

  (202) 885-3465

Marc Medwin Assistant Professor CAS | Performing Arts

Marc Medwin received his undergraduate degree in English literature from Ithaca College in New York. He went on to earn a MA and PhD in musicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,

  medwin@american.edu

  (202) 885-3446

JP Merz Professorial Lecturer CAS | Performing Arts

JP Merz is a composer, sound artist, and educator. His work, both instrumental and electronic, interrogates the materiality of sound through experimental uses of technology—from networked algorithms t

  merz@american.edu

Last name starts with O

Jon Ozment Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Jon has been working in and around the DC area for twenty years as a performer, producer, composer, and arranger. He has produced and arranged recordings by local jazz artists Imani, Maryann Redmond,

  ozment@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Last name starts with R

Katherine Riddle Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Katherine is an award winning interpreter of musical theater and crossover repertoire, Katherine Riddle is making her mark with her “crystal clear soprano” and “strong acting chops”. Performing in the

  kriddle@american.edu

Last name starts with S

Kendra Salois Assistant Professor CAS | Performing Arts

Kendra Salois received the Ph.D. in Music from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2013. Prior to joining the Department of Performing Arts at AU, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the

  salois@american.edu

  (202) 885-3431

Alex Salser Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Alex Salser is a guitarist, songwriter, and educator based in the DC area with a background in bluegrass, jazz, blues, R&B and soul music. He has toured extensively, performing in the last year at 9:3

  salser@american.edu

Rolando Sanz Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Rolando Sanz is a visionary performing arts executive who works at the crossroads of the industry, bridging arts administration, production, education, and performance. With over two decades of experi

  sanz@american.edu

Jerzy Sapieyevski Prof Emeritus

A composer/pianist and innovator, Sapieyevski brings a new approach to piano performance blending popular and classical styles. His commissions and performances include the Kennedy Center, Library of

Sterling Scroggins Adjunct Associate Professor CAS | Performing Arts

Sterling Scroggins, voice instructor, baritone, has performed, directed, and taught in the Washington, D.C. area since the mid-1980s. His favorite roles include Papageno (The Magic Flute) Mephistophel

  sterling.scroggins@american.edu

  (202) 885-6300

Sylstea Sledge Adjunct In Residence CAS | Performing Arts

Choral director, arranger and composer and specialist in American Gospel Music Tradition. Vocal music instructor in public schools of Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County Public School System.<

  ssledge@american.edu

  (202) 885-3320

Kelly Smith Jones Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Kelly Smith Jones has performed in a wide variety of musical styles. She has performed with Wolf Trap Opera Company, New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, Washington Concert Opera, Summer Opera Theat

  ksjones@american.edu

Nancy Snider Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer CAS | Performing Arts

Cellist and educator Nancy Jo Snider performs regularly in a variety of chamber and period instrument ensembles in venues ranging from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Jazz at Linco

  nsnider@american.edu

  (202) 885-3872

Chaz Sonoda Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

A Southern California native, Chaz Sonoda began his clarinet studies at the age of 9. He has performed with the National Repertory Orchestra, Quartz Mountain Music Festival Orchestra, Alexandria Symph

  sonoda@american.edu

Last name starts with V

Matthew Van Hoose Musician-in-Residence CAS | Performing Arts

Hailed by the Baltimore Sun for his “spirited and polished playing,” Matthew Van Hoose has established himself as one of the most sought-after pianists in the Baltimore-Washington area. Dr. Van Hoose

  vanhoose@american.edu

Last name starts with W

Ethan Watermeier Adjunct Instructor CAS | Performing Arts

Ethan Watermeier is Musician-In-Residence and the Coordinator of Vocal Studies at American University. Professor Watermeier is an interdisciplinary teaching artist, voice and speech educator and pract

  watermei@american.edu

Bill Wielgus Adjunct Professorial Lecturer CAS | Performing Arts

Oboe professor William Wielgus was a member of the oboe section of the National Symphony Orchestra from 1990 to 2017 upon appointment by Mstislav Rostropovich. Prior to his appointment with the NSO he

  wwielgus@american.edu