Member Since: 14/08/2007
Band Members: Canadian pianist, Dr. Maria Mika Guénette began her studies at the age of eight and made her debut, at the age of fourteen, with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. Since then, she actively participated in numerous solo and collaborative performances in Canada, USA, Japan and Austria including appearances on CBC radio, Japanese National (NHK) radio and more recently on WDAV radio in North Carolina. She is also a member of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and Tyler Classical Consort.Maria’s skills have afforded her the opportunity to study around the world. She was awarded a Doctor of Music degree specializing in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music with a minor in Baroque Performance Practice at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. During this time, she developed a special interest in exploring harpsichord repertoire, and as a result, she attained a Masters degree in Harpsichord Performance. Her mentors were Dr. Jean Barr of Eastman and Dr. William Porter of Eastman and Yale University. Maria possesses a Baccalaureate of Music in Piano Performance with a minor in violin, at the University of Ottawa under the tutelage of Jean-Paul Sevilla and Andrew Tunis. While there, she was a winner of the University of Ottawa’s Concerto Competition, as well as several academic and merit scholarships, including the Joseph-Marie Quirion Faculty of Arts Scholarship. In November 2007, Maria returned to the University of Ottawa to perform a solo piano recital for their Alumni Concert Series. Her Masters degree in Piano Performance was made possible with an all-inclusive grant by the Japanese Government (Monbusho) to pursue her studies at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku). Her specialization in Gabriel Fauré’s music took her to Paris, France to conduct research. Maria’s interest and skills in violin and orchestral music provided her the opportunity to participate in string quartets and orchestras, including being a guest member of the first violin section of the Kagoshima Symphony Orchestra in Japan.Dr. Guénette joined Tyler Junior College as full-time piano instructor in 2006. She was previously on faculty at Winston-Salem State University, Greensboro College and the North Carolina School of the Arts.
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Robert Crutchfield, is percussion instructor at UT Tyler and Trinity Valley Community College. He endorses Pro-Mark Mallets and is also an Artist/Clinician for Kori Percussion/Custom Music Company. At age six, he began piano lessons and, at eleven, started percussion in the school band program. Robert attended the North Carolina School of the Arts where he received his Bachelor of Music, studying with Massie Johnson in percussion and focusing on jazz vibes with Jon Metzger. While there, he was awarded the Nancy B. Reynolds scholarship in music. In 2004, Robert graduated with a Master of Music degree at the North Carolina School of the Arts where he studied with John R. Beck. There, he was awarded an assistantship in percussion, assisting Mr. Beck with the percussion ensemble and other percussion duties. Robert served as the principal timpanist with the Salisbury Symphony and principal percussionist for the Piedmont Wind Symphony, performing with guest artists such as Ronnie Milsap, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schuur, Fredrick Fennell and several others. Robert also performed regularly with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Greensboro Symphony, and the Charlotte Symphony. Currently, he plays in the percussion section with the Longview Symphony and the Shreveport Symphony. Robert taught percussion as an adjunct faculty member at East Texas Baptist University, Winston-Salem State University, Catawba College and Lenoir Rhyne College.
Record Label: Unsigned