Grace Anderson: Cello, Piano, Music Theory,
Ear Training, and Chamber Music Coaching

Grace Anderson is a concert cellist and pianist whose performances have been described as "transforming" (Classical Voice of North Carolina), and characterized by "boundless energy and rapier definition" (New York Concert Review).  She has performed as soloist and chamber musician in major venues nationally and internationally, including the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and throughout Europe.  Her performance with the Tedesca Chamber Players, an all-strings ensemble that she established in New York City, was broadcast worldwide on BBC Television. 

A committed teacher, she has taught at the Juilliard Pre-College Division, coach chamber music performance in the Young Performers' Workshop in Winston Salem, and taught college-level music theory, ear training and keyboard skills at UNCG, for which she was nominated Best Graduate Teacher.  Today she lives in Winston Salem, where she directs the Triad Chamber Music Society and maintains an active teaching studio.  She teaches cello, piano and chamber music performance, as well as music theory and ear training. 

She received her Bachelor's with honors from Harvard University, Master's from The Juilliard School, and Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Kari Anderson: Dance

Kari Anderson grew up dancing at the Larkin School in Minnesota. She had additional training at The Minnesota Dance Theatre, Minnesota Jazz Dance Company, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and The Dance Theatre of Harlem. Her professional career began in Minnesota, where she danced in the “Follies” at the Carlton Celebrity Room, and was then cast in the original production of Kenneth Robin’s “Flesh Fixtures”. She performed numerous roles in regional theatre, including Gladys in “Pajama Game” and April in “Company”. Kari was a lead dancer at the Golden Nugget Opera House in Atlantic City, and dance captain for the “Follies on Broadway” at Shea’s Theatre in New York. She danced and choreographed the Belk Horizon Tours, which traveled throughout the south. Her movie credits include “From the Hip”, “Weekend at Bernie’s”, and “Alien Outlaw”, where she played the lead opposite Lash LaRue. Kari has choreographed over 100 productions for high schools, colleges, and regional theatre. Some of her favorites were “Pippin”, “Starmites”, “West Side Story”, and “Little Shop of Horrors”. Other interesting projects have been choreographing music videos, industrials, and commercials. Kari has worked with Jay Leno, Tommy Hilfiger, David Allen Grier, Tina Turner, and Gladys Knight. Most recently she has done the choreography for a contestant on PAX-TV’s America’s Most Talented Kids and in December of 2004, Kari choreographed and performed as a soloist at the Kennedy Center in composer Shelley Olson’s “A Hallel for Our Times. Kari is entering her 10th year as the head judge for a national dance competition that tours the country each year.

Aaron Craven: Cello, Bass, and Electric Bass

Born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Aaron graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in music education K-12 with an emphasis in string bass performance and a minor in piano performance. While at IUP, Aaron studied double bass with Jeff Mangone, principal bass of the Pittsburgh Ballet/Opera and Civic Light Opera. In the spring of 2005, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee with a master's degree in double bass / electric bass performance. His primary teacher was Harold (Rusty) Holloway, who has been a featured bass player with leading U.S. jazz artists including Woody Herman, Dizzy Gillespie, and Stan Getz. Aaron received numerous scholarships, including the IUP College of Fine Arts Academic Scholarship, the American Federation of Musicians Scholarship, and the Pennsylvania Knights of Columbus Scholarship.

For two years, Aaron was the assistant director of the Oak Ridge High School Orchestra program in Tennessee, a program with 170 string players and 17 string quartets. Aaron had full responsibility for the string quartet program, including coaching the groups, selecting music, and selecting groups to play for many civic and public occasions. He also taught fourth grade strings at two district elementary schools. Aaron has performed with the Symphony of the Mountains in Kingsport, Tennessee, and the Knoxville Opera. Prior to moving to Knoxville, Tennessee, Aaron was assistant principal bass of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Erinn Diaz: Lower School Drama Instructor

Erinn Diaz is the owner of First in Flight Entertainment in Pfafftown, NC.  She has performed in over 100 theatrical productions all over the United States and on cruise ships, and has performed locally with the Little Theatre of Winston-Salem, The NC Shakespeare Festival and The Community Theatre of Greensboro.  She has taught a variety of theatre classes and workshops throughout Florida and North Carolina, and is very excited to be teaching the Lower School Creative Dramatics class at Forsyth Country Day School!

 

Amberly Foulkrod: Voice, Piano, and Woodwinds

Amberly Foulkrod, soprano, is a native of DuBois, Pennsylvania. She is a 2006 Magna cum Laude graduate of Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY where she received a Bachelor of Music in Performance and studied with Deborah Montgomery-Cove. While at Ithaca College, her operatic performances included the roles of Fiordilgi in Cosi fan tutte and Anna Gomez in The Consul . Ms. Foulkrod interned in the Housing and Transportation Department for Glimmerglass Opera during their 2004, 2005, and 2006 seasons as well as performed in the chorus of the Glimmerglass productions of Le Portrait de Manon and The Pirates of Penzance. In the fall of 2006 she performed the role of Cousin in Greensboro Opera's production of Madama Butterfly . In the summer of 2007 Ms. Foulkrod attended the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria as part of their Opera Studio program. This year, she was a part of the UNCG Tour to Schools, performing the role of Stepmother in Carmenella .  In April 2008 Ms. Foulkrod performed with Capital Opera in Raleigh, North Carolina as Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte . Ms. Foulkrod is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina Greensboro where she received a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and studied with Dr. Robert Wells.

Beth Frack: Piano

Beth, internationally known singer, music director/teacher of young children, and a composer of children's music, has written more than 150 children's songs, including four musicals, and has performed throughout the United States, Central America and Canada.  Beth has six recordings of original music for young children.  In 2000, she launched an annual summer music camp for children ages 3-8 called Camp Oonie Koonie Cha . Beth has also developed an innovative program called Music with Senior Friends for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Three years ago she started two after school music classes for children-- Prek-Kindgergarten: One, Two, Three, Sing! and another for First-Fourth graders:  Give Me The Beat . She is married to the Rev. Kevin C. Frack.  They have two grown children.  Beth currently serves as Artist-in-Residence at FCDS for Jr. PreK-Fourth Music and she is also the Musicare teacher for Today's Child Learning Center.  Combined with nine years of Suzuki piano lessons with her children, Beth uses her piano training from Salem College to teach lessons to children.

Jasmine Hayes: Violin and Viola

Jasmine is a native of Newport News, Virginia.  She is a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a major in Music Education.  Jasmine studied viola with Molly Sharp (principal viola, Richmond Symphony) and Dr. Steven Schmidt of the Richmond Symphony.  She also studied violin under Yoko Kato (formerly of the Richmond Symphony), Susanna Klein of the Richmond Symphony, and Regine Barrau.  She has performed with with VCU Symphony Orchestra, The Intercollegiate Orchestra, The Richmond Philharmonic, Petersburg Symphony, River City String Quartet, Windemere String Quartet, as well as various chamber groups in the Richmond area.  Jasmine has recently moved to the Winston Salem area , and plans pursue a Master's degree in viola performance at North Carolina School of the Arts, under the instruction of Sheila Browne. 

Barbara T.Horton: Piano

Barbara is a native of Albany, Georgia. She attended Brenau University and graduated from Armstrong Atlantic State University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. She taught elementary music in the Savannah, GA public schools and taught private piano lessons. After moving back to Albany, she dedicated her time exclusively to teaching private piano lessons. During this time Barbara directed several children’s choirs and hand bell choirs in her church. She was the accompanist for the church youth choir and toured extensively with them in the Southeastern US and England. 

Before moving to Winston-Salem in 2005, Barbara and her family spent 10 years in Macon, GA.  She continued teaching privately, judging piano competitions throughout GA and encouraging her own private students to participate in many recitals and competitions. Barbara also enjoys directing multi-piano groups, judging for Piano Guild Auditions and Federated Music Clubs Festival. She is a member of Winston-Salem Piano Teachers Association, Federated Music Clubs of America, American College of Musicians, and Mu Phi Epsilon Honorary Music Fraternity.

Guy Kelpin: Brass Instruments, Clarinet, Saxophone,
Electric Bass, Piano, Theory, and Composition

Born in Wisconsin, Guy began a diverse musical career studying trombone, piano, composition, and theory. He played in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony, All-State Bands, and Project Create Percussion Ensemble. Early experiences took him to Europe, Carnegie Hall, Interlochen Arts Camp, and the Rose Parade. Kelpin received his bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and Composition from Illinois Wesleyan University. During college, his summers were spent performing throughout the U.S. and Japan and at the Aspen Music Festival. Guy then earned two master’s degrees from UNC-School of the Arts: Film Music (2001) and Trombone Performance (2005). In the summer of 2004, he played in the Dublin Festival Orchestra (Ireland) and Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific (British Columbia). Kelpin began playing bass in Winston Salem, broadening his musical spectrum to include bluegrass, jazz, and hard rock. He plays regularly with jazz ensembles and theater companies, as well as classical ensembles throughout the Triad. Guy has been a member of the Piedmont Wind Symphony since 1999 serving as Principal Trombone, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, Electric and String Bass, and is currently the ensemble’s Operations Manager.

As an instructor, Mr. Kelpin has taught private lessons since 1995 and coaches wind, string, choral, and jazz groups. The summer of 2009, Guy stepped further into music education than he ever thought he would, working with 3-5 year olds! Kelpin has given demonstrations and performances at each Forsyth County school, working with the Little Symphony and Giannini Brass “Under the Big Top.” He is a music director at Burkhead United Methodist and plays keyboards with the beach band, Double Take. Outside of music, Guy’s interests include astronomy, the outdoors, home-improvement, history, and spending time with his fiancee, Abby.  

Ibby Meads: Drama

Ibby has been in the entertainment business for more than 20 years, in roles ranging from actress to director, producer, theatre founder, teacher, and acting coach for both children and adults.  Ibby received her B.A. in Theatre from Vassar College and her M.A. from Wake Forest University. After college she moved to New York and began in the traditional manner, working day jobs, studying at several acting studios, and landing her first professional stage roles. She was featured eventually in a number of successful nationally aired TV commercials, which led, in turn, to a move to Los Angeles, where she became the co-founder of The American Renegade Theatre.  While working at the American Renegade Theatre, she shared the responsibility of managing two stages and a company of actors while continuing to pursue her own acting career on stage, TV and in several small films. Eventually Ibby moved back to her native Winston-Salem to raise her daughter Isabel. Ibby is excited to be teaching here at FCDS this year and is looking forward to working with such talent and enthusiasm!

Michelle Nicholson and Kimberly Wood: Dance

Michelle Jaynes Nicholson attended North Carolina School of the Arts along with Point Park School of Dance in Pittsburgh. She performed in several companies in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Among them are American Dance Ensemble, Ballet Petrov, Wake Forest University Dance Company, and Ruth Mitchell Ballet. Michelle owned and operated a successful studio in Miami, as well as directed the Sunsationals, a Pre-Professional dance company also located in Miami. She has also served as a national judge on a major dance competition circuit.

 

Wiley Porter: Banjo, Guitar, Electric Guitar, and Electric Bass

Wiley Porter is our newest member of the Community School of the Arts and is currently building a studio at FCDS for students interested in learning or refining their guitar skills!

Having been a professional musician for over 35 years, Wiley has performed with many of today's top entertainers and celebrities. While performing for our last five presidents, he has backed entertainers ranging from Barbra Streisand to Michael Jackson. Wiley’s educational background includes graduating from Berklee College of Music with an emphasis on Composition and Orchestration, with further studies at Catholic University and American University.  He has taught guitar and music at Prince George's College in Maryland and is currently teaching guitar and bass at Catawba College, Salisbury, NC, as well as maintaining a private teaching studio. He has been a member of The American Federation of Musicians, since 1975, and an Associate Member of the Piano Technicians Guild since 1998. 

His background includes many Broadway show performances (Cats, Chicago, Hairspray, Fiddler, Les Miserables, West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Big River, Starlite Express, Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Evita, Fame, Grease, and Legally Blond) as well as touring for 20 years with Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet Band.  He performed for 10 years at Opryland in Nashville, TN.

This fall he participated in a week-long recording session with the Baltimore Symphony for Decca Records. He  recorded the world premiere of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F and the Jazz Band version of Rhapsody in Blue.  This December his schedule includes a week of Broadway’s Grease The Musical in Charlotte, and the annual Presidential Christmas Show with President Obama in Washington, DC (to be televised on TNT). 

Wiley is very excited to have the opportunity to teach here at FCDS and he is very interested in helping to develop a rock and/or jazz band at Forsyth Country Day School.  His vast teaching and performing experience has prepared him to work with wide range of instrumentation and in various styles. Any student interested in forming an ensemble to perform (any style of music) please contact Anna Morris at 945-3151 ext. 360 for arrangements. Instruments necessary would include:  Guitar, Bass, Piano/Keyboards, Drums/Percussion, Trumpet, Sax, Trombone, and/or Vocals.

Jerry Solomon: Percussion

A native of Winston-Salem, Jerry received a bachelor's degree in percussion from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a master's degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has performed with the Winston-Salem Symphony and many other local groups but now does most of his playing at Reynolda Presbyterian Church, where he and his wife, Denise, are members. Along with playing the drums, Jerry has also been playing with computers since the days of the keypunch and the teletype. He spent several years maintaining a website, along with other duties, as a marketing manager for Tyco Electronics. Jerry and Denise's son, Jesse, graduated with the FCDS class of 2010 and is currently attending UNC-Asheville.

Jeremy Truhel: Voice

Jeremy grew up on the coast of Maine. He earned a Master of Music degree in Voice with cognate studies in choral conducting at Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance and Music Education from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. He has performed in Italy and with the Portland Opera Repertory Theatre. He has been a choral teacher at high schools in Ohio and North Carolina, sings with the Bel Canto Company, and is the Director of Music at Lee's Chapel United Methodist Church. He also teaches private voice lessons at Music Academy of North Carolina. Jeremy is engaged to Wendy Looker, Director of Choral Activities at Guilford College. They will be married in June, 2005.

Shihan Ginger Gallagher and Sensei Holly Vaughn: Martial Arts

Shihan Ginger Gallagher and Sensei Holly Vaughn have been practicing martial arts at Karate International for many years and both are owners of Karate International schools (Lewisville and Elkin).  Karate International has been in existence since 1957 and in NC since 1974. The Karate International Legacy of Building Leaders continues throughout the Triad and surrounding areas. Both Gallagher and Vaughn are committed to improving the lives of their students through karate, with requirements that go beyond the physical into good grades, discipline and leadership. For nearly 30 years, Shihan Gallagher has seen the martial arts from every angle, as a child, a student, a teacher, and an owner. It's this perspective that drives the quality of martial arts and life skills training offered by KI. Sensei Vaughn is expert with young children and helps them to achieve exceptional goals.