Instructors & Instruments
Contact an instructor directly to get started! Private lesson fees are paid directly to the instructor. Lessons are weekly 30-minute, 45-minute, or 60 minutes each. Lesson tuition is generally $60-100 per month for 30-minute lessons, prorated for longer lessons.
- John Packard - Program Director, Brass
- teaches trumpet and band. He is a music professor at MVNU where he directs the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and chairs the music department. He earned his Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado and is active as a performer, clinician, and adjudicator.
- teaches trumpet and band. He is a music professor at MVNU where he directs the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and chairs the music department. He earned his Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado and is active as a performer, clinician, and adjudicator.
- Heather Faulkner, Program Coordinator
- Heather Faulkner studied music at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and at the Carl Maria von Weber Hochschule für Musik in Dresden, Germany. She's played trumpet with orchestras, concert bands, big bands, pit orchestras, and brass bands but started her instrumental journey on the clarinet. Heather has taught elementary music and high school German in the Southwest Licking Local School District and is currently the Assistant Band Director at Highland Local Schools.
- Heather Faulkner studied music at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and at the Carl Maria von Weber Hochschule für Musik in Dresden, Germany. She's played trumpet with orchestras, concert bands, big bands, pit orchestras, and brass bands but started her instrumental journey on the clarinet. Heather has taught elementary music and high school German in the Southwest Licking Local School District and is currently the Assistant Band Director at Highland Local Schools.
- Rebecca Abbott - Musikgarten, Group Piano Class
- Dr. Rebecca Abbott teaches group piano. Other current activities include accompanying the Knox Youth Choirs, serving as music director for Kenyon College's cabaret, and teaching hymnology through the Sacred Music Institute of America.
- Dr. Rebecca Abbott teaches group piano. Other current activities include accompanying the Knox Youth Choirs, serving as music director for Kenyon College's cabaret, and teaching hymnology through the Sacred Music Institute of America.
- Sabina Anderson - Voice
- o Sabina Anderson directs the MVNU Treble Singers Women's Chorus. She graduated from MVNU with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. After completing her Bachelor’s degree, she spent time in Indonesia teaching music and drama at Mountainview International Christian School. She then went on to complete her Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology at The Ohio State University.
- o Sabina Anderson directs the MVNU Treble Singers Women's Chorus. She graduated from MVNU with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. After completing her Bachelor’s degree, she spent time in Indonesia teaching music and drama at Mountainview International Christian School. She then went on to complete her Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology at The Ohio State University.
- Elizabeth Barrett - Voice, Knox Youth Choir
- o Elizabeth Barrett received a Master of Music Degree in vocal pedagogy and sacred music from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. After finishing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in voice performance and music and business at Otterbein College, she studied voice in Kosice, Slovakia, and Vienna, Austria. Ms. Barrett has performed as a guest vocalist in the State Opera House in Slovakia and for the 2003 NATO Environmental Conference in Budapest, Hungary. In 2008, she performed as soprano soloist with the Central Florida Bach Festival under the direction of Gabriel Statom. Elizabeth Barrett is a faculty member at Mount Vernon Nazarene University where she teaches voice, stage production, directs the Goliards Chamber Ensemble, and serves as coordinator of the Worship Arts program.
- o Elizabeth Barrett received a Master of Music Degree in vocal pedagogy and sacred music from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. After finishing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in voice performance and music and business at Otterbein College, she studied voice in Kosice, Slovakia, and Vienna, Austria. Ms. Barrett has performed as a guest vocalist in the State Opera House in Slovakia and for the 2003 NATO Environmental Conference in Budapest, Hungary. In 2008, she performed as soprano soloist with the Central Florida Bach Festival under the direction of Gabriel Statom. Elizabeth Barrett is a faculty member at Mount Vernon Nazarene University where she teaches voice, stage production, directs the Goliards Chamber Ensemble, and serves as coordinator of the Worship Arts program.
- JoAnn Koh-Baker - Piano
- Dr. JoAnn Koh-Baker teaches piano, piano literature and pedagogy, music theory and history at MVNU. She offers and prepares students for the Royal Conservatory of Music certificate program with a comprehensive curriculum covering technique, repertoire, musicianship, and theory. Dr. Koh-Baker holds her doctorate and master’s degrees from Boston University and Ohio University, as well as performer diplomas from the Trinity College of Music and the London Royal Schools of Music.
- Dr. JoAnn Koh-Baker teaches piano, piano literature and pedagogy, music theory and history at MVNU. She offers and prepares students for the Royal Conservatory of Music certificate program with a comprehensive curriculum covering technique, repertoire, musicianship, and theory. Dr. Koh-Baker holds her doctorate and master’s degrees from Boston University and Ohio University, as well as performer diplomas from the Trinity College of Music and the London Royal Schools of Music.
- Adrienne Lape - Clarinet, Saxophone
- Dr. Adrienne Lape teaches clarinet and saxophone at MVNU. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts from The Ohio State University and is an active musician and private music lesson instructor in central Ohio.
- Dr. Adrienne Lape teaches clarinet and saxophone at MVNU. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts from The Ohio State University and is an active musician and private music lesson instructor in central Ohio.
- Juan Carlos Ortega - Strings
- Dr. Juan Carlos Ortega teaches strings at MVNU. His students have held principal chairs with the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras and have won competitions including the Women in Music Mary Lane Memorial Violin Competition and The Ohio State University's Concerto Competition. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Ohio State University.
- Dr. Juan Carlos Ortega teaches strings at MVNU. His students have held principal chairs with the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras and have won competitions including the Women in Music Mary Lane Memorial Violin Competition and The Ohio State University's Concerto Competition. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Ohio State University.
- Jenny Packard - Flute
- Jenny Packard teaches flute and piccolo and directs the Flute Choir at MVNU. She also teaches flute at Kenyon College and directs the Knox County Community Flute Choir. Jenny’s high school students have participated in honor bands including OSU Honor Band and All-State Band, as well as various competitions and youth orchestras. She holds a Master of Music degree from The Ohio State University.
- Jenny Packard teaches flute and piccolo and directs the Flute Choir at MVNU. She also teaches flute at Kenyon College and directs the Knox County Community Flute Choir. Jenny’s high school students have participated in honor bands including OSU Honor Band and All-State Band, as well as various competitions and youth orchestras. She holds a Master of Music degree from The Ohio State University.
- Jeremy Smith - Brass
- Jeremy Smith has 15 years of experience in teaching all brass instruments. He received an MM degree in Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, and currently teaches low brass at MVNU, Kenyon College, and Ohio Wesleyan University. In addition, Jeremy serves as a Graduate Associate for the jazz studies and trombone programs at Ohio State University. Outside of teaching, he can be heard playing with many local music groups including the Knox Community Jazz Orchestra.
- Jeremy Smith has 15 years of experience in teaching all brass instruments. He received an MM degree in Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, and currently teaches low brass at MVNU, Kenyon College, and Ohio Wesleyan University. In addition, Jeremy serves as a Graduate Associate for the jazz studies and trombone programs at Ohio State University. Outside of teaching, he can be heard playing with many local music groups including the Knox Community Jazz Orchestra.
- Carrie Vail - Voice
- Carrie Vail teaches in the private voice studio at MVNU. She also has many years of experience helping lead worship in church (both voice and piano). She has a BA in Music Education from Northwest Nazarene University and her MA in Music Education from University of Nebraska-Kearney.