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Our Faculty

Brass

Mr. Jay Hanselman, French Horn

Jay serves as Adjunct Professor of Horn at Mercer University School of Music in Macon, Ga.  Jay received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University in 1981. He received his Master of Music in Performance at Georgia State University in 2004.  While attending school there he was the winner of the Thomas M. Brumby Concerto/Aria Competition and the 2004 Honors Recital Competition. After graduation, he opened Jay's Horn Studio, comprised of private students from all around the Atlanta area. Jay conducts horn and brass clinics at schools all around the state of Georgia. He is currently Principal Horn with the Columbus Ballet, Gwinnett Ballet Theater Company, John's Creek Symphony, LaGrange Symphony, Capital City Opera, Atlanta Lyric Opera, and the New Atlanta Philharmonic.  He also performs with the Columbus Symphony, Gainesville Symphony, Carroll Symphony, and the Ludwig Orchestra.  He has performed for Edwin McCain with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.  Jay has recorded with the Rock Band "Cartel", with R &B Grammy Award Winner Jennifer Holliday, and performed live with Barry Manilow.

Mr. Adam Frey, Euphonium/Trombone/Tuba

Adam Frey has quickly established himself as one of the top brass soloists in the world by bringing his sharp intellect, mature musicianship, and charismatic stage presence to audiences all over the world. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Adam began his musical studies at the University of Georgia in 1993 under Dr. David Randolph and earned a Bachelor of Music magna cum laude with High Honors in euphonium and tuba performance. Adam later completed a Master of Music with Distinction and a Professional Performance Diploma with Distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England in 1999.

Adam's students have earned high chair placements in District Honor Bands, All-State Band, UGA January Festival Honor Bands, and have received scholarships and fellowships to numerous universities and colleges across the United States and the United Kingdom. His students range from beginning low brass to university music majors to Masters of Music degree candidates to adult amateur players.

Traveling extensively as a soloist in the past few years, with concert appearances in Europe, America, and Austral-Asia, Adam's performances are varied and diverse, appearing with orchestras, wind bands, brass bands, and as a solo recitalist. Some orchestral ensembles have included the Boston Pops, Atlanta, Greensboro, Cheju (South Korea), and Vaasa (Finland) Symphony Orchestras. Brass band concerts have mainly been concentrated in Europe, performing with groups such as the National Youth

Brass Band of Switzerland and Soli Brass (Holland). Wind band solo appearances have included the Guardians Band (Finland), Bavarian State Police Band (Germany), the Hong Kong Young Musicians Wind Orchestra (China), and numerous American community and university ensembles. He also appears at concert series and music festivals regularly, including the Brevard Music Center, the Macau (China) Wind Festival, and the Cheju (South Korea) Summer Band Festival to name a few.

His first solo recording, entitled Listen to THIS!!, received worldwide acclaim for both its numerous world premieres and impressive performances. In May 2003, Adam released a second solo recording entitled Collected Dreams - a wonderful collection of traditional Scottish, Irish, and classical melodies that combines the lush sound of the euphonium with dreamy synthesizer accompaniments in a new age vein.

His websites, www.euphonium.com and www.adamfrey.net, contain information on the euphonium, sound files from live concerts, future performance schedules, photos from his world travels, and a list of his recordings and publications for purchase.

Mr. Michael Faire, Euphonium/Trombone/Tuba

 

Michael Faire is currently pursuing a music degree at Reinhardt University. He currently serves as the Principal Bass Trombone of the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra and is heavily involved with the organization, serving as part of their artistic staff. He also serves as the Artistic Advisor to the Music Director, Dr. Grant Gilman. 

 

Michael is an active freelancer in North Georgia, usually under the flag of the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra. He's played with the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra, the Alpharetta Chamber Orchestra, the Alpharetta City Band, the Forsyth Philharmonic, the Atlanta Festival Academy Orchestra, as well as the ensembles at Reinhardt University. He's also been called for the Georgia Philharmonic, the Atlanta Swing Orchestra, the Alpharetta Jazz Band, and other local groups.

 

Also a composer, Michael made semi finals with the flagship Louisville Orchestra Creator Corps program, and has premiered chamber works at Reinhardt University. His first symphony will be recorded by the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra in the 2022-2023 season.

 

Michael has also been involved with recording projects with the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra and with the artist Sigh Wave on the 2021 album imagination required. He can also be heard on the podcast, Sounds of Encouragement, interviewed by Melissa Slocum. Michael also works with Dr. Grant Gilman on his podcast, American Muse Podcast.

Piano/Organ

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.

Mr. Wilson Tong

Wilson Tong graduated with a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from Georgia State University in 2013. He played violin in the Georgia State University Orchestra under maestro Michael Palmer. He began his music journey with violin and piano at age nine. He learned the Electone piano in the Yamaha program for four years and continued piano training with numerous teachers. He has been playing in the Cobb Symphony for six years and graduated from Kennesaw State University with Bachelor of Music degrees in both education and performance. Every year, Tong participated in the KSU concerto competition and actively performed in chamber groups, band, and worship team in different events. His current violin teacher is Dr. Christos Galileas, a violinist from Greece and Professor of Violin at Georgia State University. His other teacher, Helen Kim, is an active soloist and chamber player in Atlanta. Dr. Edward Eanes, concertmaster of Cobb Symphony, is his previous teacher. Tong also took master classes with Joseph Lin, David Perry, Peter Zazofsky, and the Miami strings quartet. He performed violin with Jeffrey Butzer’s band MidWives in the Atlanta area in 2007.

Tong gives back his musical talent to the next generation by serving as a public school music teacher and a private music teacher. He teaches orchestra in Fulton county elementary schools through Music Matters After School. He learned conducting at the Quartz Mountain Festival in 2011, the Conductor Institute of South Carolina in 2010 and the International Academy of Advanced Conducting after Ilia Musin with Leonid Korchmar and Dr. Oleg Proskurnya in 2011. He sang in middle school, high school chorus, Baptist church chorus and joined the VariAsians Atlanta acapella group in 2009, recording CDs and performing for Chinese New Year and Christmas. He has appeared in Atlanta area karaoke competitions and will be a judge for the Georgia Tech Chinese singing competition.

He loves teaching and believes music can unify people. Music gives soul to children, wings to their mind, and flight to their imagination. He is patient and understand students’ different needs and goals. His teaching is fun.

Strings

Mr. Wilson Tong, Violin/Viola/Cello

Wilson Tong graduated with a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from Georgia State University in 2013. He played violin in the Georgia State University Orchestra under maestro Michael Palmer. He began his music journey with violin and piano at age nine. He learned the Electone piano in the Yamaha program for four years and continued piano training with numerous teachers. He has been playing in the Cobb Symphony for six years and graduated from Kennesaw State University with Bachelor of Music degrees in both education and performance. Every year, Tong participated in the KSU concerto competition and actively performed in chamber groups, band, and worship team in different events. His current violin teacher is Dr. Christos Galileas, a violinist from Greece and Professor of Violin at Georgia State University. His other teacher, Helen Kim, is an active soloist and chamber player in Atlanta. Dr. Edward Eanes, concertmaster of Cobb Symphony, is his previous teacher. Tong also took master classes with Joseph Lin, David Perry, Peter Zazofsky, and the Miami strings quartet. He performed violin with Jeffrey Butzer’s band MidWives in the Atlanta area in 2007.

Tong gives back his musical talent to the next generation by serving as a public school music teacher and a private music teacher. He teaches orchestra in Fulton county elementary schools through Music Matters After School. He learned conducting at the Quartz Mountain Festival in 2011, the Conductor Institute of South Carolina in 2010 and the International Academy of Advanced Conducting after Ilia Musin with Leonid Korchmar and Dr. Oleg Proskurnya in 2011. He sang in middle school, high school chorus, Baptist church chorus and joined the VariAsians Atlanta acapella group in 2009, recording CDs and performing for Chinese New Year and Christmas. He has appeared in Atlanta area karaoke competitions and will be a judge for the Georgia Tech Chinese singing competition.

He loves teaching and believes music can unify people. Music gives soul to children, wings to their mind, and flight to their imagination. He is patient and understand students’ different needs and goals. His teaching is fun.

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.  

Scott Plato, guitar

Scott Plato received his Bachelor's degree in classical guitar performance from Georgia State University under the instruction of John Sutherland, a protege of Andres Segovia. In 1995 Scott founded the guitar department at Gainesville College in Gainesville Georgia and was the Head of Guitar Studies there until 2000. 

Scott currently performs in the Atlanta Guitar Trio, www.atlantaguitartrio.com.
Scott's book on guitar improvisation, "Creating Guitar Solos," is now being sold worldwide on www.lulu.com. Previous collaborations have included performances with members of the Atlanta Symphony and the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. 
Scott currently maintains a busy schedule as a performer and teacher in the Atlanta area and is Head of Guitar Studies at Gordon State College and Brenau University.

Scott is a voting member of the Grammy Recording Academy. Each year he is an active voter for the Grammy Awards.

Woodwinds

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.

Ms. Felisha Jones, Oboe/Bassoon/Flute

Felisha Jones is a native of Iowa. She studied at the University of Northern Iowa from 2008-2013. She then received a prestigious Collins Fellowship and a teaching assistantship on bassoon to attend UW-Madison where she finished her masters degree in Multiple Woodwind Performance in 2015.

While at UNI she won the Presser Scholar Award performing the first movement of the Mozart Oboe Concerto. She also subbed often on oboe in the Cedar Falls-Waterloo Symphony and the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band.

While in her undergrad she was selected as one of five to perform a flute solo on the Northern Iowa Wind Symphony Tour in Italy. In the summer of 2016 she was the flute advisor for the Iowa Ambassadors of Music European Tour, which she had participated in as the principal flute and piccolo player in 2008.

Felisha has enjoyed performing in numerous pit orchestras on all five woodwind instruments, along with numerous chamber groups. She has built up her own woodwind studio in the Athens, Lawrenceville and Johns Creek areas, and also makes and sells her oboe and bassoon reeds to numerous students in the area. She is in high demand to teach oboe, bassoon and flute masterclasses across east and central Georgia.

Mr. William Jones, Oboe

A native of Iowa, William Jones began his oboe studies at age ten. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, he has pursued graduate studies at the University of Georgia with Reid Messich. He has participated in the Brevard Music Festival, recently attending as the Studio Teaching Assistant, and he has performed with orchestras across the southeast. Since 2016, he has been a member of the Southern Winds Quintet, the graduate woodwind quintet at UGA. In the Southern Winds, he was a winner of the state level chamber music division of the MTNA competition, and has performed recitals across Georgia with this ensemble. Other major teachers include Eric Ohlsson and Tom Barry.

Mr. Eddie Jennings, Saxophone

Eddie Jennings earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Georgia and Master of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, IL). While at UGA he studied saxophone with Dr. Kenneth Fischer and performed in the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Jazz Band I, Redcoat Marching Band, Philip Glass Ensemble, and award-winning Revolution Saxophone Quartet.  While at VanderCook, he studied percussion with Kevin Lepper, concentrating on marimba and drum set and performed as a tenor saxophonist and percussionist in the Graduate Wind Ensemble.

Mr. Jennings performs as a percussionist with the Peachtree Symphonic Winds and as an "on call" saxophonist in the Atlanta area.  His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Georgia Music Educators Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Mr. Michael Faire

 

Michael Faire is currently pursuing a music degree at Reinhardt University. He currently serves as the Principal Bass Trombone of the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra and is heavily involved with the organization, serving as part of their artistic staff. He also serves as the Artistic Advisor to the Music Director, Dr. Grant Gilman. 

 

Michael is an active freelancer in North Georgia, usually under the flag of the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra. He's played with the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra, the Alpharetta Chamber Orchestra, the Alpharetta City Band, the Forsyth Philharmonic, the Atlanta Festival Academy Orchestra, as well as the ensembles at Reinhardt University. He's also been called for the Georgia Philharmonic, the Atlanta Swing Orchestra, the Alpharetta Jazz Band, and other local groups.

 

Also a composer, Michael made semi finals with the flagship Louisville Orchestra Creator Corps program, and has premiered chamber works at Reinhardt University. His first symphony will be recorded by the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra in the 2022-2023 season.

 

Michael has also been involved with recording projects with the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra and with the artist Sigh Wave on the 2021 album imagination required. He can also be heard on the podcast, Sounds of Encouragement, interviewed by Melissa Slocum. Michael also works with Dr. Grant Gilman on his podcast, American Muse Podcast.

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