Staff Bios

JULIE BAUGHMAN has been playing the piano for 36 years. She graduated from Clarion University with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications with a minor in Music Marketing. During her undergraduate study, she served as accompanist for the Clarion University Concert choir for 3 years. Julie accompanied many musicals for Knox Community Theater and the Salem Community Theater. She co-directed and accompanied musicals for Keystone High School in Knox, PA and Warren Are High School. She and her husband founded the Grace United Methodist Players in 2000, directing and producing 3 musicals. Julie has taught private piano lessons in Warren for 12 years and plays for school concerts, weddings and funerals. She also sings with the contemporary Christian group Messengers of Peace. She has served as assistant organist and piano accompanist for Grace United Methodist church since 1997. Julie currently teaches three and four year olds at Creative Preschool in Warren.

DR. ANNE CULBERTSON is in her 22nd year at Friends School of Baltimore. Highly influenced in her teaching by the philosophy of Zoltan Kodaly, she received a Ford Foundation fellowship for an academic year at the Kodaly Musical Training Institute and visited schools in Hungary to see his ideas in action. She has taught music at the Peabody Conservatory, Children's Chorus of Maryland, Gettysburg College, University of Richmond, Indiana University, and the Hartt School of Music and presented workshops for other teacher-musicians at the local, state, and national levels. Twice a Paul Christiansen choral scholar at Chautauqua Institution, Anne holds a B. Mus. degree from Ohio Wesleyan, an M. Mus. in conducting from Hartt School of Music, and a D. Mus. Ed. with minors in music history and conducting from Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington. While a student at IU she worked as an announcer/producer for public radio station WFIU (103.7 FM) and now occasionally serves as a panelist for Baltimore public radio station WBJC's program Face the Music. Anne is an active member and eight-year veteran of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society (Tom Hall, Music Director). She also sings in the BCAS Chamber Chorus and serves as the soprano section leader at Towson Presbyterian Church Choir in Baltimore. An avid animal lover, she has recently undergone training in order to
become a humane educator.

BRYAN ECKENRODE graducated cum laude from SUNY at Stony Brook and holds a Master of Music degree from SUNY at Buffalo. Mr. Eckenrode is currently principal cellist with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra and the Southern Tier Symphony. He performs and records with the International Baroque Soloists, a chamber group that is quickly gaining world recognition for its superb musicianship and authentic performance practice. He also performs with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, the Erie Chamber Orchestra, the Erie Opera Theater Orchestra, and has been principal cellist with the British Columbia Mozart Festival Orchestra, Canada. He is a member of the Lexington String Quartet, Camerata, and Voci d'Amore - soprano, cello, and keyboard. He is the conductor and music director of the Warren Civic Orchestra in Pennsylvania, the Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony, the Buffalo City Strings, and the newly formed Third Coast Chamber Orchestra. He is also the conductor of the Vivace String Camp Orchestra at Houghton College and the Artpark String Camp in Lewiston, New York.

He can be heard on many CDs including Ani DeFranco, Sixpence None the Richer, Them Jazzbeards, John and Mary, Allison Piptione, the Jazzabels, not only as a cellist but also as a bagpiper and flutist. Mr. Eckenrode performed adn recorded a series of film scores for silent movies issued by Turner Broadcasting, now available on commercial DVD.

He has been artist faculty at the NASO-ASTA String Conference, SUNY Fredonia and artist-in-residence at the Okanagan Summer School of the Arts in British Columbia, as well as, conductor of the Summer School Orchestra. He is currently on the faculty Canisius College, Buffalo, Niagara University, and the director of the string department at Villa Maria College, Buffalo. Mr. Eckenrode is quickly gaining a fine reputation as a soloist both in the United States and Canada, and made his Lincoln Center debut in October of 2003, returning in 2006. His teachers have included; Arie Lipsky, John Hsu, Einer Holm, Samuel Mcgill, and Patricia Sublette. Mr. Eckenrode is married to internationally acclaimed soprano, Cristen Gregory.

JAMES EMBREY: Percussion Instructor with strong background in jazz, rock and roll and electronic music. Jim is the sole percussionist in the Warren Civic Orchestra and treasurer of the orchestra. He brings a strong background to the instruction of rudiments for the beginning and intermediate percussion student.

SUSAN GOBBEL holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Art Education from Edinboro University of PA. Her graduate classes were taken at Edinboro University of PA, University of Mass. Dartmouth, and at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN., specializing in Jewelry, with a concentration in Drawing, and Painting. She also holds a Drafting and Design Certificate from American Technical Institute in Pitts. PA. She was part of the “Art Smart” training here in the Warren County School District with Dr.Rosemary Omniewski, and continued studying with Dr.Omniewski,   Judith Thomas, and Susan Katz, the authors of the book “The Word in Play: Language Music and Movement in the Classroom,” at the Summer Music School at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. The last two summers she worked with Dr. Omniewski, Dr. Judith Witmer of Penn State, and IU8 on “Building Bridges through Art Smart” another Federal Grant, as a Creativity Mentor. She has presented at numerous State and National Art Education Conferences, and has been a Co-Operating Teacher for Edinboro University student teachers. Her High School years were spent in Acappella and Madrigal choirs, and musical theatre, singing, acting, dancing and painting scenery, as well as an Independent Study in Jewelry. Susan currently teaches Art at Warren Area High School and the Learning Enrichment Center and is a working artist. Her Jewelry, Drawings, and Photography can be found at the Allegheny Artistry Co-op in Youngsville and The Brownstone Gallery in Titusville.

BETSY GRIFFIN is the administrator for Warren County Summer Music School, as well as the lead project staff member for the intern program.  In addition, she has been the computer scheduler for Music School for the past ten years.  She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a B.S. in Computer Science from Edinboro University, as well as a Masters in Education from Gannon University.   She is currently teaching fourth grade at Warren Area Elementary School.

KEVIN HUNT has been involved in theatre and music for over ten years. He has participated in many aspects of theatre participating in shows for the Warren County School District, Warren Players, and Clarion University, as well as, participating in the Kennedy Center's Amature College Theatre Festival. Most recently Kevin has assistant directed Warren Players, Flight of the Lawnchair Man, as well as assistant directed this years All County Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie. On stage Kevin has recently performed in Player's production of The Sound of Music as Captain von Trapp. Musically Kevin has participated in several choirs and show choirs for the Warren County School District and Clarion University. He has an undergraduate degree in Elementary education with a concentration on music and theatre. Kevin is currently pursuing his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership.

DANIEL IMIG holds a BS in Communications and Fine Arts and studied guitar under Joseph Breznekar. He has also studied at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago with Eric Lugosch. He currently writes commercials for radio and television.

JENNIFER KOEBLEY has been involved in theater and dance since age 6. She has participated in all aspects of theater in over 30 productions at WAHS, Warren Players, the Library Theatre, Clarion University, and the Warren County School District.  Jennifer, along with her parents, directed Warren County's Youth Connection for 11 years.  She has choreographed many musicals and show choirs and was guest choreographer for the Chautauqua County Show Choir Festival in Jamestown NY as well as three show choir festivals held in Warren involving over 150 students.  Jennifer most recently choreographed and directed last year's all-county musical, "Beauty and the Beast”.  She has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Music and emphasis on Voice.  She is a substitute teacher in the Warren County School District and has recently completed her Masters Degree in Reading with a Reading Specialist Certification.

SARAH KORCHAK earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Mansfield University and a Master of Music Education from Ithaca College with a major in piano and concentration in vocal and choral music. She pursued additional study in string pedagogy at Ohio State University and has earned Level I Certification in Orff-Schulwerk. Sarah is part of the music ministry at St. Anthony's Church in Sheffield. Through WCSMS, she developed an interest in Celtic Harp. She plans to further her education and attend training classes this summer in World Music Drumming. She teaches chorus and orchestra at Beaty-Warren Middle School and directs the Madrigal Choir at Sheffield Area Middle/High School.

ANN MEAD is the Director of the Warren County Summer Music School. She holds a B.S. in Music Education from Duquesne University and a Master of Music from the State University of New York Fredonia. Ann has taught both in the public and parochial schools in Warren, PA. She has laid the foundation and is a mentor for a music program at the Fundacion Camamento Christiano Esperanza in Quito, Ecuador. Ann is a Music Adjunct for Jamestown Community College, currently maintains a Flute Studio in Warren, PA and is a Trustee of the Struthers Library Theatre.

SHARON MYERS

ELLEN PAQUETTE has been involved in various aspects of theatre for most of her life. Her abiding love for musical theater has led her to participate in both community and semi-professional theater as an actress, set designer, costumer and director. Ellen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art from Keene State College. She is a harpist and singer with Anam Cara, a Celtic trio with two recordings to their name. Ellen is currently Costume Director for Warren Players, one of the longest continuously operating amateur theaters in the U.S. She is also a Trustee of the Struthers Library Theater and Treasurer of the Friends of the Library Theater . Ellen resides in Warren, with her husband, Thomas Paquette, a professional landscape painter.

ROBERT PEARCE is a Pittsburgh area native who fell in love with Warren County and moved here in 1992.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Grove City College and a Master’s in Music Education from the State University of New York College at Fredonia.  He has been teaching in the Warren County School District for the last 17 years, the last 13 in his current position as choral director at Warren Area High School.  Mr. Pearce serves as the secretary and webmaster of District 2 of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.  Aside from numerous choral concerts and community performances, Mr. Pearce has participated in local productions of Mame, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Wiz, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Peter Pan, The Secret Garden, Oklahoma, Beauty & the Beast, and Flight of the Lawnchair Man.

DENISE PEARSON holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education with a concentration in flute from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her graduate study includes two seasons with the Saratoga-Potsdam Choral Institute, studying and singing under Brock McElheran and guest conductors, including Robert Shaw and Eugene Ormandy. Mrs. Pearson has enjoyed a variety of music teaching positions K-12 - instrumental, choral, musical theatre, general music - and is currently Choral Director at Eisenhower Middle/High School. She also serves as Director of Choirs at First Lutheran Church, Warren where she founded the handbell program.

SARAH PESCHA is a former student of summer music school which she attended for five years and was an intern for five years.  Sarah has played violin for 14 years, clarinet and piano for 13 years, and saxophone for 8 years and is currently in the process of learning the guitar.  In high school Sarah was active in orchestra, concert band, marching band (where she was drum major), A Cappella choir, Madrigal choir, and Youth Connection.  She also attended numerous district band and orchestra, region band, and state band festivals.  Sarah attended Franklin and Marshall College where she earned her BA in Sociology.  In college she studied under Brian Norcross, William Wright, and Doris Hall-Gulati, the principal clarinetist in the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra.  Sarah is currently attending Edinboro University in pursuit of her teaching certification and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education.

ANDREW POLLARD is a multi-instrumentalist and singer. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Edinboro University and did his graduate work in Vocal Performance at the University of Rhode Island. He has studied voice with Michael Kelly, Gary Glaze, and Jessica Van Ord. He studied harp with Joan Cao and flute with Ann Mead. Andrew plays in the Celtic music group Anam Cara. They have released two albums and are currently at work on an album of Winter and Christmas music. He also sings with the Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church choir. He presently teaches at the Warren County School
District Learning Center for Gifted Students.

RALPH RASMUSSON holds a B.S. and M.S. in Music Education with 39 years of instrumental instruction, grades 5-12 in New York State. He has been a Jazz band instructor for 36 years and twice named Guest conductor for NYSSMA sectional Festivals. He is Concert Band and Jazz Band Director at Jamestown Community College. He is a multi-instrumental performer in many venues such as Commercial, Dixieland, Jazz and Concert Band. He has added two new CDs and has a website at www.razzandfriends.com. Mr. Rasmusson was inducted into the Chautauqua County Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

SUE SPENCER is the Artistic Director for the Struthers Library Theatre, Warren, PA. Ms. Spencer oversees the programming for the Allegheny Regional Theatre Experience and Dance Theatre. Her experience includes directing and co-directing musicals, producing, performance and choreography with experience in costuming and set design. Sue has worked for the past two years at the Reg Lenna Civic Center's Drama Enrichment Progrram and also with The Chatauqua Regional Youth Ballet as an administrator and instructor. Ms. Spencer also developed for the CRYB a summer intensive program bringing in professional guest artists to work with area students. She also serves on the Advisory Board for C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates).