Brass

Mr. Jay Hanselman, French Horn

Jay served as Adjunct Professor of Horn at Georgia State from 2005 - 2012 and at Mercer University School of Music in Macon, Ga. from 2009 - 2022. Jay received a Bachelor of Music Ed degree from Florida State University in 1981. He received his Master of Music Performance at Georgia State University in 2004.  While attending Georgia State he won the Thomas M. Brumby Concerto/Aria Competition and the Honors Recital Competition. Since graduation, he opened Jay's Horn Studio comprised of private students from all around the Atlanta area and Macon, Ga. Jay conducts horn and brass clinics at schools all around the state of Georgia. He is currently Principal Horn with the Gwinnett Ballet Theater Orchestra and Johns Creek Symphony.  He has also performed with the Columbus Symphony, Carroll Symphony, The Macon Pops Orchestra and the Savannah Philharmonic.  Jay has recorded with Indy Rock Band "Cartel", R&B Grammy Winner Jennifer Holliday, and performed live with Barry Manilow, Gloria Estefan, Josh Groban, Evanescence, Sarah MacLachlan, Sarah Brightman, Il Volo, Il Divo, The Indigo Girls, Edwin Mccain, and Jo Dee Messina.

Mr. Caleb Harris, Euphonium/Trombone/Tuba

Caleb Harris is a low brass instrumentalist, clinician, and private instructor based in the Atlanta Metro Area. He earned his Master’s in Music Performance from Columbus State University under the tutelage of Dr. Alex Avila. In 2020, Mr. Harris earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music and Minor in Entrepreneurship from Valdosta State University under the instruction of Drs. Danny Rowland and Charlie Goodman.

Caleb currently teaches low brass students privately throughout Gwinnett and Fulton counties, coaches low brass sectionals at local schools, and performs in many professional ensembles. He plays euphonium in the Georgia Brass Band, Sequence Quartet, and Sugarloaf Polka Band. Occasionally, he also freelances with local ensembles on euphonium, tenor trombone, bass trombone, and tuba. Formerly, Mr. Harris was the principal euphonium of the Tara Winds.

At competitions, Mr. Harris has won the following honors: 2nd Place in the 2023 North American Brass Band Association Slow Melody solo competition, 2nd Place in the Artist Euphonium Competition at the 2022 South Eastern Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference, 3rd Place in the 2021 Artist Euphonium Competition at the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, and 3rd Place in the 2017 Young Artist Euphonium Competition at the South Eastern Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference.

Mr. Patrick O'Brien, Euphonium/Trombone

Patrick O’Brien is a professional trombonist and music educator based in the North Metro-Atlanta area. Mr. O’Brien has performed in multiple professional ensembles including the Tallahassee Symphony, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, and the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra. Patrick also has experience playing in a wide variety of ensembles including his brass quintet The Rhine City Brass based in Cincinnati, Ohio, big band, party bands including Steel Toe Stiletto, Oxford Soul, Fly Fidelity, and Jordan Kahn Music Company, brass choir, and other chamber ensembles.  

As an educator, O’Brien has worked with a number of schools and marching ensembles in Georgia including Riverwatch Middle School, Buford Middle School, Walton High School, Lassiter High School, Cambridge High School, and Hightower Trail Middle School. Mr. O’Brien has been teaching private lessons for five years and has helped many students to find success in auditioning for All-State, the Governor’s Honors Program, college admission, district honor band, or simply advancing in their school with a higher ensemble placement.

During the summer months of his college career, Mr. O’Brien marched as a member of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps for three seasons, 2014-2016. After his first summer, he was voted as the New Member of the year. Additionally, following his final season, Patrick was voted as the top visual performer in the drum corps.

Patrick O’Brien earned his Master’s Degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he played in the conservatory’s top ensembles. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Florida State University.

Piano

Ms. Yelena Ayzenberg

Yelena Ayzenberg graduated from Rimsky-Korsakova College of Music, Mogilev, Belarus and received the Diploma o Nepolnom Visshem Obrazovanii. She also received a Specialist Diploma in Culture and Education from Kult-Prosvet College of Music, Mogilev, Belarus. Ms. Ayzenberg has over 20 years of teaching and performance experience.

Ms. Alicia Taylor

Alicia Taylor studied music at Green River Community College and Methodist University, and has been teaching piano to students of all ages for over 20 years.  She has also been employed as a church musician for over 40 years, serving churches in Louisiana, Alabama, Washington, New York, North Carolina, and metro Atlanta.  Since moving to Atlanta in 1995, she has served as a staff singer at St. Matthew's Lutheran, Haygood United Methodist, and Covenant Presbyterian.  She was employed as Director of Music at Norcross Presbyterian from 1999 to 2004, and most recently as Director of Worship and Arts at Johns Creek Presbyterian from 2006 to 2016.  She resides in the Peachtree Corners area and is the mother of four children.  Professional memberships include Presbyterian Association of Musicians, American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, YouthCUE, American Choral Directors Association, and Choristers Guild.

Strings

Larisa Morgulis, violin

Larisa Morgulis is a violinist, with over 30 years of performing and teaching experience.  Mrs. Morgulis is trained in the classical traditions of the Russian school of violin.  She graduated from the Odessa Conservatory, (Ukraine), and has a PhD in music and performance.   Mrs. Morgulis played at the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theatre, as well as Symphony orchestras in the Ukraine, Russia, and in the last 25 years, in the United States, including orchestras in Boston, and Atlanta.    

Mrs. Morgulis’ students consistently win competition to the Atlanta Youth Symphony orchestra, Metropolitan Youth, Emory Youth and All State Symphony Orchestra.   She enjoys working with students of all levels.   In her free time, Mrs. Morgulis likes to travel, and spend time with her family.  

Woodwinds

Ms. Diane Hargreaves, Clarinet

Diane Hargreaves received her BM and MM degrees in clarinet performance from the Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music.  She is currently principal clarinet with the Georgia Philharmonic, Rome Symphony and Gwinnett Symphony Orchestras, and also freelances in the area.

Throughout her career she has thoroughly enjoyed playing in woodwind quintets and various chamber ensembles.  The past few years, she has also coached some student chamber groups, including a clarinet quintet, Quintet ENVY, that performed at GMEA in 2023 and the Music For All National Festival in 2024.

She has been teaching private students for over 30 years.  Many of her students have earned placement in select ensembles, such as All-State Band, Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra.  She has had numerous students win major scholarships to college, and a couple of her students have even gone on to professional careers in music, teaching at the college level or playing in the United States Marine Band.

Ms. Judith Klein, Flute

 Judith recently returned to the Atlanta area after completing her graduate studies in flute performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She has performed with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, the Bloomington Camerata Orchestra, and various other theater and chamber ensembles. As a graduate assistant during her master's degree, she directed the Western Carolina University Flute Ensemble. She spent the 2007-2008 school year in England as one of only five international students selected for Trevor Wye's unique flute studio. Her teachers have included Kate Lukas, Eldred Spell, Trevor Wye, Angela Jones-Reus, Christina Smith, and Jeanne Carere.