Newberg

Anna Danese began taking piano lessons from her church organist at the age of 4, in Edmonds, WA, and has played piano ever since – it is the chief joy of her life. She was part of the worship team/ministry in every church she has ever attended since 1969, and majored in Piano Performance at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA, earning a BA in 1984. She then moved to Boston and took private piano from instructors at Boston Conservatory of Music, as well as accompanying as many places as possible in the Boston Area from 1984-1990. She also studied Piano Technology for a year in Boston, in order to be able to tune and service pianos. She then moved back to California in 1990, continuing to take piano at UCLA (and tuning the pianos there!). After having children in 1994-1997, she started her own home studio with 20 students as well as playing every possible job with youth choirs, musical theater, worship and classical jobs – anything and everything!

She moved to Newberg, OR with her family in 2005 and took jobs playing piano at her children’s school (Veritas School) and various local churches, as well as accompanying where needed and playing chamber music with local professional musicians. Since 2015 she has been focused on steadily building her home studio up to 35 students, as well as continuing with church worship and accompanying jobs wherever needed.

Eugene

Ellen McQuilkin is a pianist and teacher based in Eugene, Oregon who is passionate about music, teaching, and the learning process. Ellen’s formal study of classical piano began with Aurora de la Paz Arias Luna at the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Toluca, México. She continued her studies with Dr. Robert Bowman (California State University, Chico) and Dr. Dean Kramer (University of Oregon). She performs locally at OMTA events, and in 2006 she and pianist Margaret Little-hales premiered Legacies, a four-hand piano work by her husband, composer Terry McQuilkin, at the OMTA State Conference. In 2019 she performed at the Orfeo Music Festival in Vipiteno/Sterzing, Italy. She continues to be an active member of OMTA, serving at the state level as an adjudicator and member of the repertoire and syllabus committees, and on the OMTA Eugene District board.

Portland

Lilin Chen holds a doctorate in piano pedagogy from Indiana University, as well as master’s degrees in piano performance from IU and piano accompanying from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s degree in piano from National Taiwan Normal University. She has taught in universities and pre-college music programs in the United States and Taiwan. She was also a member of the Ars Nova Piano Trio, which toured Taiwan and the United States. In Indiana, she served as vice-president of the local branch of NFMC (National Federation of Music Clubs). Since moving to Portland in 2011, Lilin has her own piano studio, has taught at Reed College, has judged competitions and auditions, and is currently treasure of Trillium Music Club, a branch of OFMC (Oregon Federal of Music Clubs). She enjoys performing as a soloist and as a collaborative pianist with a variety of musicians.

Portland

Nicholas Fontana was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2011. As a young student, Nicholas studied with Dr. Srebrenka Igrec, pupil of Gilbert Kalish and author of Theory Builder, and as a college student at Louisiana State University with Gregory Sioles and with Gina Bachauer medalist Michael Gurt.

In 2010 Nicholas sustained severe repetitive motion injuries and studied ergonomics with local pianist, composer, and teacher Lisa Marsh, Director of the Coordinate Movement Program at Portland State University. After a successful recovery, Nicholas went on to study with Cliburn medalist and local legend Mark Westcott.

Nicholas has performed solo programs through House Concerts PDX, Classical Revolution, and The Old Church, and numerous joint programs. His collaborative roles include work with the Oregon Symphony, Friends of Chamber Music, and Portland Symphonic Choir. Nicholas has worked extensively in a collaborative role with singers, university choirs, and in chamber works.

Drawing on 17 years of teaching experience and more than 20 years of intensive study, Nicholas Fontana has had extensive training in various ergonomic disciplines—Alexander Technique, Bodymapping, the Taubman Technique—and in many standard teaching methods—Kodály Method, Suzuki, Hoffman, among others.

Believing that one is never finished learning, he continues to hone his own ability and pursue a deep understanding of what makes music making possible. An active performer, Nicholas still practices daily in continued love and commitment to his craft so that his teaching draws on fresh experience.

Mr. Fontana is an active member of Oregon Music Teachers Association and National Federation of Music Clubs. He currently teaches and runs a large home studio. Nicholas has a passion for guiding others on their own musical journey and has had the privilege of guiding students to place in local festivals, pass high-level proficiency exams, and win scholarship competitions.

Mr. Fontana believes that the primary goal in teaching is to first facilitate a positive, healthy relationship with the student and to help the student build a positive, healthy relationship with the piano, with themselves, ultimately with their surrounding world and, in the process, make beautiful music.es here

Portland

Born and raised in Oregon, the pianist Sandra Hyslop has woven a strong fabric from the fibers of her multi-faceted immersion in music. In many corners of the professional music world she has distinguished herself through her academic studies and professional experiences. As an acclaimed performer, writer, editor, and teacher, she has reached music-loving listeners and readers far and wide. As a studio and classroom teacher and coach, she has inspired fellow performers and students with her probing instruction and musical insights.

Since she first discovered the joy of working with singers and playing their vocal repertoire as a young pianist, Ms. Hyslop has coached and concertized with singers and other instrumentalists throughout the United States and abroad. Her assured stage demeanor and performances have received warm approval from audiences and critics in Los Angeles, Saint Louis, Minneapolis, Portland, and other large cities, as well as enthusiastic music lovers in smaller towns, such as Bloomington (Indiana), Stockbridge (Massachusetts), Calhoun (Georgia), Santa Barbara (California), Minot (North Dakota), and Rosario, Orcas Island (Washington).

For her writing Ms. Hyslop has received awards and commissions. She has earned the prestigious Deems Taylor Award of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) for distinguished writing about music. She received an NEA grant to produce her original stage play Roland Hayes: The Tenor of His Time, and the Minneapolis-based ensemble VocalEssence commissioned and performed her stage work Roland Hayes, Force of Nature on several mid-West stages. Ms. Hyslop recently completed a full-length biography, soon to be published, of the great violinist and beloved teacher Josef Gingold. She holds in reverent memory her two principal teachers, the professors Leonard Hokanson (piano) and Dale Moore (voice), under whose guidance she earned a master's degree in piano performance from Indiana University, Bloomington.

Eugene

Paul Safar is a versatile composer/performer and private piano instructor living and working in Eugene, Oregon. Commissioning ensembles include the Delgani String Quartet. Paul’s piano compositions have been performed by concert artist George Lopez and his orchestral music by the Octava Chamber Orchestra. His music has been performed in cities from New York and Seattle to Havana and Fairbanks. He has been a presenter at the New Music Gathering and through the Oregon Music Teachers Association. Having a background in both classical and jazz/rock, one of Paul’s goals is to coherently combine these influences in his compositions. He also enjoys cross cultural musical collaborations such as with the Catalan hurdy gurdy virtuoso, Marc Egea. Paul received his Bachelors degree from The University of Cincinnati (CCM) under Joel Hoffman and did graduate study at the University of Oregon under Robert Kyr. Paul performs regularly in Eugene at community minded venues like Tsunami Books and The Jazz Station. When not musicking, he may be seen hiking, alpine skiing, traveling, enjoying a glass of pilsner or pinot or spending time with family and friends.

For more information visit www.paulsafar.com

Happy Valley

Harriet recently earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Washington and is now settling down in Happy Valley, OR. During her time in Seattle, she taught piano lessons and group classes at UW, while also nurturing pre-college students (age 6-18) in local piano studios. Between 2019 and 2022, 14 of her students accomplished a total of 16 Associate Board of The Royal Schools of Music grade exams with outstanding results amid the challenges posed by the pandemic and the shift to virtual lessons.

Harriet received a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music in piano performance from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a Master of Music in orchestral conducting from Northwestern University. Prior to her studies with Dr. Robin McCabe at University of Washington, Harriet was a full-time piano teacher, an active performer, and a conductor in her hometown, Macau. She held teaching positions at the Macau Conservatory and the Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Born in Macau, Harriet began her piano journey with composer and educator Liu Da at the age of 4. Her musical education continued under the guidance of Dr. Leung Hio Ming at the Macau Conservatory when she was 12. Since then, she has secured numerous awards in the Macau Youth Music Competition each year. Notably, she was awarded the esteemed “Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize” during the 20th Macau Youth Music Competition. This prestigious honor, bestowed by the government to support further musical studies, marked a significant milestone in her achievements.

In recognition of this award, Harriet performed the 1st movement of the Poulenc Piano Concerto and the 2nd and 3rd movements of the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Macau Orchestra in 2003 and 2005, respectively.

In her leisure, Harriet enjoys playing badminton, cooking, and hiking.

Happy Valley

Kristy Moore was born and raised in Brazil, where she lived until she was 15 years old. Under her parents’ direction, she started playing the piano at the age of 3 and began her formal training when she arrived in the United States. As the result of positive marks from competition judges, she decided to pursue a music degree at Portland State University, graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor of music degree in Piano Performance. While at Portland State she taught Applied Piano and served as the Chamber Choir accompanist under the direction of Dr. Bruce Browne. She has studied with Harold Gray, Mary Kogen, Carol Rich, and Jeff Payne, and has enjoyed mentorship under Dorothy Fahlman and Nellie Tholen.

In addition to her work as a solo pianist and accompanist, Kristy has directed numerous choral groups. Under her leadership, Westside Christian High School Choir garnered top awards at the state level. Kristy founded Voice for the Voiceless, a non profit youth choir which performed with the purpose of promoting awareness and prevention of child trafficking. Along with several performances in the Portland area, and travels took to Princeton, New Jersey, they were invited to perform at the Oregon State Capitol, where they presented their program of commissioned compositions. In total, the choir raised over $250,000 for this worthwhile cause.

Kristy currently maintains a private studio in Happy Valley, OR, and performs with the Adent and Moore Piano Duo. She also busies herself by accompanying the choirs at Clackamas and Nelson High school and serves as an Interim Worship Leader at Lynchwood Church of God.

Eugene

At the age of five, Kumiko Vanderbush began learning piano from her mother in Japan who is a piano teacher. She benefited from listening to her mother teach piano at home in her private studio. Kumiko went on to study piano in high school and college.

Kumiko graduated from Musashino Music High School and Musashino University with a Bachelors of Arts in Tokyo, Japan. She enjoyed spending her free time playing piano with vocalist, clarinet, trumpet, and percussion players. She also joined a hiking and backpacking club that explored the Japan alps.

After moving to Eugene, Oregon she and her husband raised three daughters. Kumiko received her Oregon Teaching Certificate, and taught them in elementary school. She has enjoyed being involved in her community, creating her own songs, skits and taiko songs to teach the Japanese language.

Kumiko is excited about starting her own piano studio.

In her free time, she takes pleasure in cooking, gardening, taking excise classes, reading, and watching ballet dance performances.

Eugene

Lucy Clevenger was born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1961. Her musical education included 7 years of preparatory music school, followed by music college from 1977 to 1982, and then graduate studies at Kiev State Conservatory from 1983 to 1989. From then until 1992, when Lucy emigrated to the United States, she worked as a music editor at the Ukrainian State Radio Station.

In 1995 Lucy began teaching piano privately in San Diego and continued until 2005, when she moved to Eugene, Oregon.Lucy was not a part of a music teacher organization in California but maintained an active studio there.. In 2006 she became a member of OMTA, and since then her teaching skills and confidence as a teacher have increased substantially. Lucy gained valuable instruction from her colleagues, from masterclasses and numerous district presentations, the syllabus program, and State conferences.

Lucy achieved national certification in 2014, and in 2015 she became a syllabus adjudicator. Working as an adjudicator has enhanced my teaching perspective. Her current studio includes many very talented students who participate in various district and state events. They win competitions, receive scholarships, and successfully participate in the syllabus program. To keep up with them, she must practice Chopin etudes, Beethoven Sonatas, Rachmaninoff Preludes, Prokofieff Visions Fugitives, and many other works. With my teaching studio firmly established and thriving, Lucy would now like to dedicate a portion of her time to advancing my personal performance skills.

Eugene

Alexis Gibbons is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and has been teaching piano in Eugene, Oregon for over 13 years. She received a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from the University of Oregon (UO) in 2010. At the UO, she studied performance with Dr. Alexandre Dossin, accompaniment with Dr. David Riley and pedagogy with Dr. Claire Wachter. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Russian and Eastern European Studies.

As a member of Oregon Music Teachers Association, she has volunteered in many positions at both the district and state level. At the district level, she has served as a corresponding secretary, chaired district festivals, and continues to volunteer as the website chair. At the state level, she served as Publications Chair and editor of Music News. She is currently volunteering on the Conference Committee.

In 2021, Alexis completed the training and final panel to become an OMTA adjudicator. She now adjudicates for OMTA Syllabus exams and festivals.

Alexis is continually working on keeping her studio active and vibrant. Her students perform regularly and participate in OMTA events.

When not teaching, she spends time with her partner, Micah and daughter, Iris. She also enjoys trail running, mountain climbing, mountain biking, skiing, reading, cooking, and playing with her dog and cat.

Salem

Melissa Terrall is an award-winning Oregonian pianist. In 2023, she received a prestigious Fulbright grant to study abroad in Mexico City. In collaboration with Mexico’s Conservatorio Nacional de Música, Melissa researched Mexican classical piano repertoire, audited courses on Mexican music history and literature, and presented lectures and master classes. In the spirit of cultural exchange, she curated a program of piano works by composers from Mexico and the U.S., performing at such venues as the iconic Chapultepec Castle.

The youngest of six in a musical family, Melissa’s first piano teachers were her mom and sister, followed by long-time Oregon Music Teachers’ Association member Jan Mittelstaedt. She went on to study with Dr. Jill Timmons and Dr. Julia Lee at Portland State University. During her undergrad, Melissa studied abroad in Spain, an experience that piqued her interest in Iberian and Latin American classical music. Melissa completed her master’s in piano performance at the University of Kansas, studying with Dr. Scott McBride Smith. She was awarded a graduate teaching assistantship and also served as director of the KU Community Music School.

A passionate teacher, Melissa has held interim professorships at Linfield University and Clark College and maintained a private piano studio for many years. She recently relocated to Salem and is thrilled to contribute to the music scene in Oregon’s capital. She is currently accepting private piano students at her home studio and enjoys collaborating with South Salem High School Choirs and providing music for weekly services at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. You can stay updated on Melissa’s upcoming events by visiting www.melissaterrallpiano.com.