Notable Beginnings

Kim Fanning   Violin, Viola, Cello (Suzuki and Traditional) and Owner/Director
Kim has been teaching private lessons since she was 16 (that’s nearly 16 years now!).  Kim, a native of Missouri, received her bachelor’s degree in music from Truman State University (Kirksville, MO) in 2001 and her masters of music from the University of Louisville in 2003.  Since finishing up school, Kim has done six Suzuki teacher training courses and is certified by the Suzuki Association of the Americas to teach Suzuki violin, cello and early childhood education.  Kim currently teaches anywhere from 50-60 students per week in both Louisville and Southern Indiana.  Kim also teaches music appreciation at Jefferson Community and Technical College.  In addition to teaching, Kim and her husband James are enjoying the new addition to their family, a son born on March 11!  Send Kim an email. 

Cathy Disher   Piano, Voice
Cathy has been teaching private piano and voice lessons for over 10 years. Cathy holds a Bachelor degree in Music and Music Therapy from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor degree from Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham, Alabama. She is presently a graduate student at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, pursuing a Master’s degree. Cathy sings in her church choir and serves as music worship leader for the Pendergraff Womens’ Ministry. Cathy’s love for music as teaching has taken her to various countries around the world. She has traveled to Western Europe on two All-American singing tours and has visited Nicarauga and Poland where she taught music to children as part of a mission trip. Send Cathy an email.

Ruthanne Fulton   Piano, Voice, Flute (not accepting new students right now)
Ruthanne Fulton came to Louisville from Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2005 to pursue her Master’s degree at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has been active as a musician at the Seminary as a piano soloist, accompanist, flutist, choral singer and soloist. This past year she performed as the alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah, and with the Seminary Orchestra as piano soloist and winner of the annual Concerto Competition. Ruthanne received her Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, graduating summa cum laude in 2002, with majors in both piano and flute performance. While at BGSU, she performed as a piano soloist with the Bowling Green Philharmonia, as piccolo soloist with the Symphonic Band, and was also named Outstanding Senior Bandswoman. Ruthanne has also served as an adjudicator for the Wisconsin School Music Association at local and state festivals.  Ruthanne will be beginning a choral conducting master’s degree at UofL  the fall of 2010, and is therefore not accepting new students right now.  Send Ruthanne an email.

Mike Orangias   Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar
Mike Orangias graduated with honors from the University of Louisville in 2003 with a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance. (Mike is one of the few – if any – guitar teachers in the area who has such a solid background!) During his time as a music major, he served as first chair and leader of the guitar ensemble, where they performed music from a wide variety of eras and genres. He has also been inducted as a member of the National Honor Society. Mike is active in Louisville as a performer and recording musician. He is one of the most highly sought-after guitar teachers in the Louisville Metro area, and his philosophy includes an emphasis on classical guitar, rock, blues and beginning jazz styles. When he isn’t teaching, Mike attends U of L as a pre-med student and is preparing for his upcoming entrance to medical school. Send Mike an email.

Colin Dorman   Horn
Colin Dorman moved to Louisville from Birmingham, AL in 2004 to get his Masters of Music from Bruce Heim at the University of Louisville.  During his time at U of L, he performed with the University Orchestra, the University Horn Ensemble, and also a woodwind quintet.  Since graduating in 2006, Colin has continued to both perform in the Louisville/Kentuckiana area in everything from solo recitals to chamber music, weddings, wind ensemble, and orchestras.  He also has taught sectionals for several aread schools, in addition to private teaching.    In Alabama, Colin received his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Alabama, studying with Charles “Skip” Snead.  Colin has been teaching since 2001.  Send Colin an email.

Jennifer Kopps   Clarinet and Saxophone
Originally from Iowa, Jenni graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, IA in 1998 with a Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance. As a student, Jenni served as principal clarinetist in all major ensembles, was the winner of the Drake University concerto competition in 1994, and a semi-finalist in the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition in 1995. In the 5 years after graduation, Jenni taught private clarinet and saxophone lessons full-time, and also performed regionally in the Arcadia Wind Quintet, a not-for-profit educational wind ensemble. She has taken private instruction from such renowned clarinetists as Mitchell Lurie, Robert Spring, Julie DeRoche, and Elsa Verdehr, Clarence Padilla and Joseph Messenger. Currently an active performer in several local concert bands, Jenni also recently attended the week-long Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop. Jenni moved to Louisville after graduating from Washington University in St. Louis with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2008, and works full-time at Frazier Rehab as a physical therapist.  Send Jenni an email.

Chris Schmidt  Brass
Chris Schmidt is just finished a Master of Music Performance in Wind Conducting and Tuba Performance at the University of Louisville. He studied with Dr. Fred Speck and Mr. John Jones. Prior to his arrival at U of L Mr. Schmidt attended Morehead State University in Morehead, KY where he held the position of Principal Tuba in the MSU Symphony Band for four years and earned two degrees, a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education. During his time at MSU Mr. Schmidt was a Chapter President of the  International Tuba Euphonium Association and a Section Leader in the  MSU Marching Band. He was also a seven time member of the MSU Dean’s List and a member of the KY Intercollegiate Marching and Concert Bands as well as the CBDNA Southern Division Intercollegiate Band. He studied tuba with euphonium virtuoso Dr. Earle Louder and tuba professor Dr. Stacy Baker.  After graduating from MSU, Mr. Schmidt taught instrumental music for eight years in three public school systems. He earned several awards throughout those years including three national concert band championships and two regional marching band contests. In each of those eight years his concert bands received Distinguished Ratings at the KMEA Concert Band Festival and his Marching Bands advanced to the KMEA Marching Band Semifinals in classes AAA, AAAA, and AAAAA.  In addition to his duties with the marching band at U of L Mr. Schmidt is also a freelance musician. He currently teaches as a low brass paraprofessional at several public schools. His private students have achieved position in the KMEA All State Band and Orchestra. In the marching band world he operates his own company Custom Drill Designs out of Louisville, KY where he has created marching band drill designs for several high school and college band programs. He also serves as an adjudicator for marching band contests, concert band, and solo and ensemble festivals in KY, TN, and IN. As a performer Mr. Schmidt is principal tuba with the Heartland Winds in Elizabethtown, KY and will be performing with the group in 2011 when the ensemble performs at Carnegie Hall in New York City.   Send Chris an email.

Maria Kindt  Violin and Viola
Maria began studying violin at age three and then switched to viola at the age of ten in Boone, North Carolina. She studied with Scott Rawls at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she won the 1999 NC ASTA competition.   Ms. Kindt continued her studies at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where she was a winner of the 2004 Concerto Competition.  She has performed in numerous festivals and masterclasses including names Manuel and Roberto Diaz, Guirana, Chauncey Patterson, Arnold Steinhart, and violist from the Kronos Quartet, Hank Dutt.  Ms. Kindt most recently studied under Kenichiro Matsuda and Marjorie Bagley in the masters’ program at Ohio University, where she received her masters degree in viola performance. She was a member of the Ohio University Graduate String Quartet, where she earned a full scholarship.  She has performed regularly with the Ohio Valley Symphony. She has been teaching privately  for ten years and also coached students in the public schools.  Send Maria an email.

Amy A.E. Noon  Beginning Band Instruments, Flute/Piccolo Specialist
Amy has been teaching instrumental music in public schools in Kentucky and Florida for the last ten years.  Amy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Music Education from The University of the Cumberlands and a Master’s in Secondary Education from The University of Southern Indiana.  While studying at Cumberland, she served as principle flutist for the wind ensemble, and the chamber ensemble and was also named Cumberland College instrumentalist of the year in 1995.  After graduation she traveled to Honduras, Central America and taught at El Buen Pastor (The Good Shepherd) Bilingual Episcopal School.  While in Central America, she studied Spanish as a second language in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras, which led her to teach at Escuela Internacional Sampedrana, the American Bilingual School in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.  Amy began an Orff instrumental program for the 600 student primary school and directed many all school performances utilizing Orff Instruments. Amy has many major professional and lifelong goals that she is continually pursuing.  She maintains a private studio, giving private lessons on the flute as well as other instruments and she is active in the YMCA of greater Louisville area.  Other personal and professional goals include performing with a symphony orchestra, advocating music in our public education system across the United States, and traveling the world so that she might understand other cultures and the overall global society. Send Amy an email.

Nick Blain Piano and Composition
Nick Blain is a native of Huntington, WV. He began violin studies at age 11, and from this initial exposure, quickly developed a desire to become a classical musician. At age 14, he began to teach himself piano and two years later, sought private instruction. He began composing at age 16, and he continues to utilize a firm foundation in free improvisation.  Nick entered Ohio University immediately out of high school, and received a Bachelor of Music degree in 2009. He studied composition with OU Distinguished Professor, Dr. Mark Phillips; piano with Dr. Sylvia Henry-Eckes and Professor André Gribou; viola with Professor Marjorie Bagley; and organ with Dr. Paul Barte. He was a member of the OU Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Steven Huang, where he was assistant principal viola. In March 2009, Nick won the School of Music’s concerto competition and performed the Franz Liszt piano concerto, Totentanz, with the OU Symphony.  Nick Blain currently studies composition with Dr. Steve Rouse at the University of Louisville School of Music. He expects to receive a Master of Music Composition in the spring of 2011. He has been giving private piano lessons for 6 years. Send Nick an email.

Amy Dobben MusikGarten
Amy will be opening her MusikGarten studio here in the fall.  Please visit her website at http://www.fortepianostudio.com for her bio and information on class times, prices and registration.  Classes at Notable Beginnings will be on Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings.

Grace Dell Aquila Pop/Rock Voice
Grace runs her studio independently, so inquiries about lessons can be directed to her through her website: http://www.anothercolour.com.

Dan Canon Guitar and other assorted varieties thereof
Dan is a lawyer by day and musician/teacher by night.  Dan runs his studio independently on the weekends, so any inquiries about lessons with him need to go directly to him.  Send Dan an email.