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

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.

Portland

Tim Nickel grew up in Chicago, attended the American Conservatory for early piano lessons, and heard all the great pianists of the day with season tickets to Sol Hurok’s Allied Arts Piano Series at Orchestra Hall. He studied piano and organ performance at Valparaiso University and received his MMus in piano from the University of Illinois, studying with Eugene List and Kenneth Drake.

He and his musician wife Nancy moved to Portland in 1975 to teach music at Concordia University, moving on to Marylhust University in 1985 for a 25-year stint. Tim taught piano, theory, counterpoint, form & analysis, and led the Piano Ensemble. The Nickels spent a year in London earning advanced degrees at the Guildhall School of Music. Tim studied solo literature with Jimmy Gibb, the head of the keyboard department and a juror of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition. He has been a long-time member of the OMTA, joining in 1978.

The LeRoi-Nickel Duo specializes in ensemble keyboard literature. They gave their London debut at the Purcell Room at the South Bank Centre in 1990 and have played twice at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York. They have released three piano duet CDs on the Arsis Label from E. C. Schirmer in Boston, including Music of Florent Schmitt, Family Classics featuring childhood-inspired music by Bizet, Ravel, and Fauré, andRomantic Connections, works by Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Herman Goetz.

Three CDs of organ duets are available on the Arsis and Palatine labels. They own and perform on an Andreas Stein-model fortepiano. They have also served as organists and choir directors at various Portland-area churches.

 When not at the piano, Tim enjoys hiking, swimming, chess, and woodworking projects.

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.

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.

Albany

I grew up in Fresno, CA and studied piano from the age of 6. My teacher was so wonderful and she taught me thoroughly, both technical playing skills and theory concepts. When I first started piano lessons I lived around the corner from her and would walk to my lessons. She said whenever she gave me new music I would run out of her house super excited and that made her really happy. In college I studied education with the eventual goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. During this time I also taught piano but I found it difficult to make the transition from being a learner to being a teacher. By the time my studies were completed I decided to pursue other goals but I stayed in the education field. I ran a tutoring center for a number of years and did substitute teaching on the side. After moving to Oregon in 2018 I decided to pursue teaching piano again but wanted to do it right this time. I spent a year researching piano pedagogy and various teaching strategies and in 2019 and I welcomed my first students, one of whom is still studying with me. This teaching experience has rekindled my love for teaching and my love for music and I hope to continue and grow in this profession.

Portland

Lingít artist Rory Merritt Stitt has been composing, performing, and arranging music professionally since the age of 17. He and his work have been seen at Joe’s Pub (the Public Theatre), the Cutting Room, the Bitter End, and the Living Room – all in New York City; the Kennedy Center in Washington DC; and the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles. He performs and composes regularly for Perseverance Theatre in his hometown of Juneau, AK where he has been a company member since 1998.

At Perseverance Theatre he has worked as music director, composer, sound designer, actor, and musician. He was the recipient of an Andrew W. Mellon Artistic Fellowship during the 2004-05 season.

Rory has worked on numerous world premieres including: “The Long Season” with playwright Chay Yew (Mark Taper Forum), composer Fabian Obispo and Peter Dubois (Associate Producer, The Public Theatre, NYC), and in 2007 he scored and music directed the premiere of “Yeast Nation” with Tony Award winning writers Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann (“Urinetown”) and director PJ Paparelli (Artistic Director, American Theatre Company, Chicago).

As a singer/songwriter, Rory has produced, arranged, and released three original albums and has toured nationally in support of each. He has been represented at the international music conference, MIDEM, in Cannes (2001) and performed at numerous sanctioned music showcases throughout the United States. CBC Canada recorded one of his live festival performances and broadcast it nationwide (2004).

Most recently Rory has been focusing on opera and musical theatre. He continues to write, arrange, and perform, regularly being commissioned by theatre and soloists around the country.

Rory studied Piano Performance at the Johannessen International School of Music with Hungarian pianist Bela Siki; The University of the Pacific in Stockton, California with Rex Cooper; and the University of Alaska with Neal O’Doan (University of Washington).