Nashville Early Music Ensemble: 2009

Musicians who are or have been active in the NEME

Larry Brown has a B.A. from Lipscomb University, an M.A. from Abilene Christian University, M.A.R. from Harding Graduate School of Religion, and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska. He has experience in choral ensembles, early music, and musical theater. He is a tenor and plays percussion instruments in the NEME. For 19 years Larry directed the theater program at Lipscomb University. Currently, he teaches English and Bible at Lipscomb University with many of his classes online.

Kevin Campbell has a B.A. in Music Education from Lipscomb University. He has experience in choral ensembles, jazz and concert bands, early music, and an Elvis Band. He has served as a high school band director and private brass instructor, and he is also a member of a Blues Brothers Band. Kevin is a bass and plays sackbut in the NEME. He presently is a successful business man in Huntsville, Alabama.

Melissa Collins has a B.A. in Music Education from Lipscomb University and is also working toward an M.Ed. at Lipscomb University. Melissa has experience in choral ensembles, vocal jazz ensemble, early music, and jazz and concert bands. She has served as a high school band and choral director. She plays clarinet, piano and bass guitar. She is an alto and plays recorders and percussion in the NEME. Melissa is an elementary school music specialist and choir director at David Lipscomb Elementary School. For more information about Melissa, visit http://sa.dles.lipscomb.edu/filter...

Erika Geiger has a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Lipscomb University. Erika has experience in choral ensembles, vocal jazz ensemble, early music, and opera. She is a soprano and plays harp and percussion in the NEME.

Chris Glenn has a B.A. in Music Education from Lipscomb University and an M.Ed. From Tennessee State University. Chris has experience in choral ensembles and jazz and concert bands. He plays modern brass instruments, and he has served as a high school band director. He is a baritone and plays sackbut and percussion in the NEME. Presently he is teaching general music in the Metro Nashville Schools and is on the board of the Metro Nashville Education Association.

Mark Godwin has a B.A. in Guitar Performance from Samford University and has studied with several prominent guitarists. He has experience in many musical styles. As an accomplished commercial guitarist, Mark works as a sideman and session player. He often appears as a classical soloist and with his duo partner Robert Thompson. Mark plays guitar, lute and ud in the NEME. He is a certified Child Bloom guitar instructor, and he directs the guitar ensembles and teaches privately at Lipscomb and Belmont Universities. For more information about the Godwin-Thompson duo, visit http://www.godwinthompsonduo.com/.

Duff Harris was a vocal performance major at Lipscomb University and was active in the choral ensembles, jazz band and wind ensemble, and the Early Music Consort. He has taught elementary, middle and high school choirs and was formerly Director of Performing Ensembles at Ohio Valley University. He has served as Artist-in-Residence at Belvidere High School in Illinois, directing their Renaissance Consort. In addition to singing bass, Duff plays viola da gamba, recorders and early winds, and percussion with the NEME. He is presently a full-time father of three and a part-time entrepreneur.

Judy Mahone has a B.A. from Peabody College. She has experience as a recitalist, accompanist, director of summer music camps for Metro Nashville school children, chamber music harpsichordist, church organist, and children's choir director. She is an alto in the NEME. She presently teaches piano in her home studio, Lipscomb University, David Lipscomb Campus School Music Academy and Belmont Academy. For more information about Judy, visit http://music.lipscomb.edu/page...

Autumn Marshall has a B.S. from Lipscomb University, an M.S. from Texas A & M University, and a Ph.D. from Auburn University. Autumn plays the French Horn and has experience in choirs, bands, chamber music and early music. She is a soprano and plays cornetto and harp in the NEME. She is an Associate Professor of Nutrition and chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Science at Lipscomb University. For more information about Autumn, visit news.lipscomb.edu/filter.asp...

Erin Meadows has a B.A. in Music Education from Lipscomb University and an M.A. in Vocal Performance from Middle Tennessee State University. Erin has experience in choral, concert band, early music ensembles, and opera. She has served as a middle school music specialist and as a musical theater and choral director at the high school level. She has sung with the Nashville Opera, the Nashville Symphony Chorus and the Nashville Symphony Chamber Chorus. She has studio recording experience and has appeared on "Live in Studio C" on WPLN radio. Erin is currently a private voice teacher in her home studio and an adjunct teacher in the Music Department at Lipscomb University.

Jennifer Brock has a B.A. in German from Lipscomb University and has experience in orchestras, chamber music, and early music. She is a cellist and plays the bass viola da gamba in the NEME.

Jean Miller has a B.A. in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Pepperdine University and a M.M. in Vocal Performance from Illinois State University. She has experience in bands, choral ensembles, opera and early music. Jean's primary instrument is flute, and she directs the Nashville Notes, a concert band for home schooled students. Her community involvement includes singing in the Woodmont Family of God Choir, performing and directing musicals at the Antioch Church of Christ, and directing an annual play at the Teen Learning Center, a home school cooperative. Jean is a soprano in the NEME. She teaches voice and has coached Opera Workshop at Lipscomb University. For more information about Jean, visit http://music.lipscomb.edu/page...

Marcus Miller has a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Lipscomb University and a M.M. in Vocal Performance at Belmont University. Currently he is presently persuing a D.M.A in Vocal Performance at the University of Alabama. Marcus has experience in choral ensembles, vocal jazz, early music, musical theater and opera. He is a baritone and plays the psaltery in the NEME.

Gerald Moore has both a B.M. and an M.M.E. in Music Education from the University of North Texas and a D.M.E. from the University of Oklahoma in Music Theory. He plays modern woodwind instruments. Gerald has directed bands and choirs at various levels in Texas, and he recently retired from Lipscomb University after thirty-two years of teaching music theory and directing the Jazz Vocal Ensemble and the Early Music Consort. He is the director of the NEME. For more information about Gerald, visit http://music.lipscomb.edu/page...

Chip Murphy has a B.E. in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. He has experience in orchestras, bands, choral ensembles, and early music. Chip plays the trumpet, guitar, and recorders. He is a tenor and plays guitar and percussion in the NEME. Chip has his own on-site recording service for live concerts and recitals. He is a Taurus, likes long walks on the beach, and isn't afraid to cry.

Dee Reynolds has a B.S. in Music Education from Lipscomb University. She has experience in bands, choral ensembles, commercial music, early music, and music publishing. Dee has toured the Far East as a part of a country music trio. Dee plays modern woodwind instruments and guitar, and she is also an arranger. Dee sings alto and plays recorders and percussion in the NEME. She is currently the band director at Ezell Harding Christian School.

Joanna Sikes has a B.A. in Music Education from Lipscomb University and served as a leader in her choral ensemble during her college years. She also has a M.Ed. from Austin Peay State University. Joanna has experience as an elementary school music specialist, and as a private piano teacher. Joanna sings alto in the NEME. She presently teaches second grade at Hazelwood Elementary School in Clarksville, Tennessee. For more information about Joanna visit http://www.cmcss.net/Schools/...

Trevor Smith is a Suzuki Method violin instructor for children and has played bluegrass, country, orchestral, early music and other musical styles, also using Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer in a variety of performance and studio settings. Trevor has a B.S. from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a Doctorate in Chiropractic. He is also a nursing graduate and currently working as an emergency nurse. He plays violin and rebec in the NEME.

Landon Stubblefield has a B.A. in Music Composition from Lipscomb University. He has experience in jazz, blues, rock, chamber music, and early music. Landon's primary instrument is classical guitar. He plays treble viola da gamba, violin and percussion in the NEME. He is currently performing with his jazz trio and composing. For more information about Landon, visit http://www.composersforum.org/mem...

Adam Varbanoff is presently a pre-dentistry student at Middle Tennessee State University and pursuing a B.S. degree. Adam has experience in choral, band and early music ensembles. He plays piano and trumpet. He sings tenor in the NEME.

Darren Whorton has a B.S. from Lipscomb University. He has experience in choirs, small a cappella ensembles, early music, and chamber music. He plays guitar. Darren is a baritone and plays guitar and charango in the NEME. Both Darren and his wife Rachel are active in the Contemporary A Cappela Society. For more information about CASA, visit http://www.casa.org/index.php...

Rachel Whorton has a B.A. In Journalism and Theater from Lipscomb University. She has experience in choirs, musical theater, vocal jazz, blues, small a cappella ensembles, and solo and chamber music on piano. Rachel is an alto in the NEME. She recently served as the director of the theater and choir programs at Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, TN. She presently performs, along with her husband Darren, in the group Durant. For more information about Durant visit http://www.acappella.org/.

Maggie Bouldin has a B.A. in English and a minor in music from Lipscomb University. She has experience in choral, jazz vocal, and band ensembles as well as opera. She plays clarinet and sings alto in the NEME. Maggie is currently teaching at the Linden Corner School in Nashville.

Chris Chaffin has a B.A. in Music Education from Lipscomb University. He has experience in choral, jazz and concert bands, and early music ensemble. Chris is a clarinetist and has served as a school band director and private woodwind instructor. He also has art and theater experiences. Chris is a Program Manager and Six Sigma specialist at Dell, Inc. He is a tenor and plays recorders in the NEME. Chris is presently the Worship Minister for the Donelson Church of Christ.

Terri Franklin has a B.S. in Vocal Performance from Lipscomb University and an M.A. in Vocal Performance from Middle Tennessee State University. She has experience in choral and early music ensembles and has served as a high school choral director. Until recently she was a leading soprano with the Seattle Opera Company and frequently performed in operas and oratorios on the west coast. She recently released her solo CD "Someone to Watch Over Me." For more information on Terri, visit http://www.terririchter.com/

Hayley Cresswell has a B.A. in Spanish from Lipscomb University. She has experience in choirs, choral ensembles, opera, and early music. Hayley plays piano, and she is a soprano in the NEME.

Laren McCormack has a B.S. in Flute Performance, and Computer Science from Lipscomb University. Laren has experience in jazz and concert bands, early music, and chamber ensembles. She sings alto and plays recorders in the NEME.

Elisa Jenkins has a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Lipscomb University and has also worked toward her M.A. in Vocal Performance at the University of Alabama. She has experience in choral ensembles, solo recitals, opera, and early music. Elisa sings and plays percussion instruments in the NEME.

Gary Nichols holds a Bachelors degree in applied music from the University of Tennessee at Martin. His primary instrument is tuba, and he also plays a variety of other instruments. He has experience performing with orchestras, jazz & concert bands, early music, and choral ensembles. Gary is a tenor and also plays percussion in the NEME. He is presently working as an electrician in the construction industry.

Janet Epstein has a B.M.E. in flute performance from Indiana University and an M .M.E. from Peabody College. She has experience in bands, orchestras, chamber music, and early music. In the NEME she plays recorders. She teaches flute and recorder in her home studio, and she is an adjunct recorder teacher at Blair Music School at Vanderbilt University. Janet is also an active member of the Nashville Chapter of the American Recorder Society and the Nashville International Folk Dancers. For more information about the NIFD, visit http://www.nifddance.com/index.htm.

Rob Higginbotham received his B.A. in English with a minor in music from Lipscomb University, where he focused on poetry and guitar performance. He has been featured on National Public Radio, performed with the Nashville Symphony and has played in over 40 weddings. For more information about Rob, visit http://nashvilleweddingguitarist.com

Paul Prill has a B.A. and M.A. from Western Illinois University and a Ph.D. from Indiana University. He is Professor of Communication and Director of the Honors Program at Lipscomb University. He has performed with the Lipscomb Early Music Concert since 1989 and has appeared as Lord of the Hall at one of their Madrigal Dinners. Paul is a baritone and plays the harp, bowed psaltery, and hurdy gurdy in the NEME.

Sara Dudley is a recent home school graduate. She is a member of the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and was selected to participate in the Middle Tennessee State University Honors Orchestra. Sara is also a Suzuki string teacher and has also worked as a studio musician. She plays violin in the NEME.

David Vanderkooi, a player of the bass viola da gamba, became especially interested in early music when he retired in 1992 from his career as a cellist. He came to Nashville in 1967 as a founding member of the Blair String Quartet, and taught cello and chamber music at the Blair School of Music for 23 years. He received the BM, MM degrees and Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. Other professional experience has been serving as principal cellist of the Oklahoma City Symphony, teaching at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University, playing three New York solo recitals, and serving as Artist in Residence at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. David plays the bass viola da gamba in the NEME.

Jon Reynolds has a B.A. and an M.A. in Education from Lipscomb University. He has experience with choral ensembles, early music, Impression Music Group, and Half Past Six Music group. Jon currently serves as the Worship minister for the Una Church of Christ and teaches 7th grade Pre-algebra, Bible, and Computers at Ezell Harding Christian School in Nashville. He has composed and arranged worship music and has produced three a cappella music CD projects. He sings tenor in the NEME.

Mitzi Thompson-Matlock received a Diploma in Vocal Studies at Combs College of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She then moved to Great Britain where she received a BA in Performing Arts and a Diploma in Vocal Studies at the University of Sheffield. While in the UK, Mitzi sang with South Yorkshire Opera, Nottingham Festival Opera, Sheffield City Opera, City Comic Opera. Other work in the arts world has included fundraising, concert management, and, since returning to Nashville in 2007, the formation of Matlock Arts Project Development. Clients include Trevor Pinnock CBE, Belle Meade Baroque, Monica Huggett, Jeffrey Khaner and Hugh Sung. Mitzi sings alto in the NEME.

Gary Wilson has a bachelor's degree in music from Harding University, a M.M. in choral music from Baylor University, and a D.M.A. in choral conducting from the University of Nebraska. During his tenure as a high school choral director, he founded and directed the Arkansas Chamber Singers Youth Chorale, served as an adjudicator and clinician in choral festivals and competitions, and made presentations to the Arkansas Choral Directors Association. He has received special recognition from the American Choral Direcor's Association for his dissertation on the choral music of Edward MacDowell. He is presently the director of choral activities at Lipscomb University and sings tenor in the NEME.

Cynthia Wyatt attended the Juilliard School in New York and studied the concert harp with Marcel Grandjany. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Queens College in New York and a Master’s Degree from City University of New York. She has taught English at Queens College, Berklee College, Nashville State Community College and Volunteer State Community College, where she is currently a full-time Instructor of English. She taught harp at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has taught privately in her Nashville studio and at Lipscomb University over the last two decades. After years of playing the concert grand harp in concerts, recording projects and live performances, Cynthia discovered Celtic music and the possibilities of the Celtic-style harp and her heart was won over. Her CD, Celtic Harp Traditions, is available through Green Hill Music.

Gioseffo Zarlini was educated in Italy by the Franciscans and served as the maestro di cappella at St. Marks in Venice. He is also considered to be a leading Italian composer and theorist dealing with such matters as temperament, modes, counterpoint, and harmony. Gioseffo has been very influential in the world of early music. He lived in the 16th Century and is an honorary member of the NEME. For more information about Gioseffo, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gioseffo_Zarlino#Life.