Co-Owner Kristin Agee - Drum Set, Percussion, Piano
Kristin Agee is a drummer, percussionist, composer and music educator. She grew up in a musical family, and started performing with her parents folk rock cover band "The Agees" at the age of 12. Since then, Kristin has studied and performed many styles of music on a wide variety of percussion instruments, and enjoys sharing her experiences and knowledge with her students. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Music degrees from Ohio University, where she studied percussion performance. Her years of teaching experience include instruction on percussion and piano in private lessons, master classes, summer camps, early childhood music instruction and marching band drum line and pit instruction. She held the position of Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Ohio University during the 2012 school year.
Kristin stays very active as a free-lance artist, and has performed in a wide range of musical settings, including:
Regional Orchestras:
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony, Huntington Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Ohio Valley Symphony, Seven Hills Sinfonietta, and Butler Philharmonic.
Musical Theater:
Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park, The Incline Theater, and The Know Theater.
Original and Cover bands:
Us, Today, featuring Kristin on vibraphone, keyboard and other percussive and electronic sounds, has released 4 albums to date, including 2018's critically acclaimed album COMPUTANT. Us, Today has been featured several times in our local Citybeat Magazine and on WVXU's Local Exposure, as well as national publications including NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Tom Tom Magazine, Bandcamp New & Notable and internationally in PROG Magazine. Us, Today has toured extensively through the midwest, including performances at Midpoint Music Festival, Secret Stages Music Festival and SXSW, and has shared the stage with artists such as Sylvan Esso, Kishi Bashi, Deer Hoof and Ghost-Note. in 2015 the group won a Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Indie Rock Band.
Marjorie Lee and the Lovers features Kristin on drum set, hand percussion and backing vocals. The group has released two albums to date, has performed around the state of Ohio and Northern Kentucky, and can be heard frequently on WYSO's Excursions. Their first full length album "The Lovers" was released in 2017, and second album "Ohio" was released in 2018.
Kristin can also be heard on albums by Puppies (Indie Rock), You Bred Raptors (Experimental Rock), Terry Lynn Weaver (Country), and Jimmelegs (Indie Rock). In 2017, Kristin’s percussion playing made it’s way onto Jesse James Decker’s hit single Girl on the Coast which hit #1 on the iTunes country charts and #5 on the Bilboard Country Albums Chart.
Kristin endorses Vic Firth sicks and mallets, and is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team.
For information about lessons with Kristin, and to view Kristin's teaching policies and schedule, please visit www.kristinagee.com
Testimonials:
"Richard loves his bell songs. He said "Leave it to (Kristin) to make bells fun! I didn't know that it was possible and yet I can't wait to start practicing." He has been practicing a lot and there are times I have to stop him because he is practicing after we put his sister to bed! - Melissa Jouett
"Ryan LOVES your lessons! He comes home all excited about the drums, and he raves about the CDs and music you share with him. As a mother, I am tickled to see my child learning to read and play music. Thank You!" --Amy Davis
Kristin stays very active as a free-lance artist, and has performed in a wide range of musical settings, including:
Regional Orchestras:
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony, Huntington Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Ohio Valley Symphony, Seven Hills Sinfonietta, and Butler Philharmonic.
Musical Theater:
Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park, The Incline Theater, and The Know Theater.
Original and Cover bands:
Us, Today, featuring Kristin on vibraphone, keyboard and other percussive and electronic sounds, has released 4 albums to date, including 2018's critically acclaimed album COMPUTANT. Us, Today has been featured several times in our local Citybeat Magazine and on WVXU's Local Exposure, as well as national publications including NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Tom Tom Magazine, Bandcamp New & Notable and internationally in PROG Magazine. Us, Today has toured extensively through the midwest, including performances at Midpoint Music Festival, Secret Stages Music Festival and SXSW, and has shared the stage with artists such as Sylvan Esso, Kishi Bashi, Deer Hoof and Ghost-Note. in 2015 the group won a Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Indie Rock Band.
Marjorie Lee and the Lovers features Kristin on drum set, hand percussion and backing vocals. The group has released two albums to date, has performed around the state of Ohio and Northern Kentucky, and can be heard frequently on WYSO's Excursions. Their first full length album "The Lovers" was released in 2017, and second album "Ohio" was released in 2018.
Kristin can also be heard on albums by Puppies (Indie Rock), You Bred Raptors (Experimental Rock), Terry Lynn Weaver (Country), and Jimmelegs (Indie Rock). In 2017, Kristin’s percussion playing made it’s way onto Jesse James Decker’s hit single Girl on the Coast which hit #1 on the iTunes country charts and #5 on the Bilboard Country Albums Chart.
Kristin endorses Vic Firth sicks and mallets, and is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team.
For information about lessons with Kristin, and to view Kristin's teaching policies and schedule, please visit www.kristinagee.com
Testimonials:
"Richard loves his bell songs. He said "Leave it to (Kristin) to make bells fun! I didn't know that it was possible and yet I can't wait to start practicing." He has been practicing a lot and there are times I have to stop him because he is practicing after we put his sister to bed! - Melissa Jouett
"Ryan LOVES your lessons! He comes home all excited about the drums, and he raves about the CDs and music you share with him. As a mother, I am tickled to see my child learning to read and play music. Thank You!" --Amy Davis
Co-Owner Jeremy Singer - Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Beginner Piano
Jeremy Singer has been performing music in the Cincinnati area since age 16, and studying music nearly all of his life. There actually are home movies of infant Jeremy groovin' to The Beatles in the middle of the living room carpet.
At age 8, Jeremy began piano lessons with some reluctance. His father explained to him that if he first learned the fundamentals of music on piano he would be better prepared to play any instrument. At age 12, Jeremy discovered the guitar. He first learned folk and blues styles. These were closely followed by the classic rock of the 60's and 70's.
Jeremy began high school at Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts where he studied classical guitar and music theory. He played guitar with the school's jazz band, music theater band, and for a number of other productions before graduating in 1993. At age 16, Jeremy joined an original rock band with some older friends and began playing in local and regional clubs and bars. This would be the first of many such groups which resulted in a smattering of self releases and many fond memories.
After spending two years at University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music, Jeremy decided to turn his focus on learning the recording arts. In 1998, he attended The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, OH. After completing the course, Jeremy was given a position as a paid intern at the school and was allowed to study and teach for an additional four months. He left Chillicothe with a renewed appreciation for music as well as a strong understanding of how records past and present are made.
Jeremy has been writing and recording his own music for the past fifteen years and has learned to play bass, banjo, lap steel, dulcimer, ukulele, and mandolin along the way. But the guitar has remained his true love. In Spring of 2006 he began giving private lessons to a friend and quickly realized that teaching offered yet another fulfilling way to enjoy music. Since then Jeremy has been sharing his knowledge with contagious enthusiasm. He has taught beginner to intermediate levels from age 6 to age 60. Jeremy is committed to exciting his students about music and inspiring them to play. He does this by teaching the fundamentals through each individual's favorite style of music.
Testimonials:
"We have nothing but good things to say...Both my husband and I feel you truly have a gift- both with your guitar and your abilities with children. We are blown away by Jacob's progress, and truly appreciate your skills and patience. He absolutely loves that you give him popular songs to work on- and he feels like a star after each lesson. We feel very lucky to have found you as his guitar teacher." --Jennifer Boldman
"Jeremy Singer is a really cool guy. What I like about taking lessons with him is that he helps me learn my guitar better and he has really fun ways to do that. He challenges me to play harder songs and helps me learn something if I don't understand it. He picks out the kind of music that I like and also gives me examples of music that I haven't heard before. I like his laid back style of teaching." --Kevin Geohagen
At age 8, Jeremy began piano lessons with some reluctance. His father explained to him that if he first learned the fundamentals of music on piano he would be better prepared to play any instrument. At age 12, Jeremy discovered the guitar. He first learned folk and blues styles. These were closely followed by the classic rock of the 60's and 70's.
Jeremy began high school at Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts where he studied classical guitar and music theory. He played guitar with the school's jazz band, music theater band, and for a number of other productions before graduating in 1993. At age 16, Jeremy joined an original rock band with some older friends and began playing in local and regional clubs and bars. This would be the first of many such groups which resulted in a smattering of self releases and many fond memories.
After spending two years at University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music, Jeremy decided to turn his focus on learning the recording arts. In 1998, he attended The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, OH. After completing the course, Jeremy was given a position as a paid intern at the school and was allowed to study and teach for an additional four months. He left Chillicothe with a renewed appreciation for music as well as a strong understanding of how records past and present are made.
Jeremy has been writing and recording his own music for the past fifteen years and has learned to play bass, banjo, lap steel, dulcimer, ukulele, and mandolin along the way. But the guitar has remained his true love. In Spring of 2006 he began giving private lessons to a friend and quickly realized that teaching offered yet another fulfilling way to enjoy music. Since then Jeremy has been sharing his knowledge with contagious enthusiasm. He has taught beginner to intermediate levels from age 6 to age 60. Jeremy is committed to exciting his students about music and inspiring them to play. He does this by teaching the fundamentals through each individual's favorite style of music.
Testimonials:
"We have nothing but good things to say...Both my husband and I feel you truly have a gift- both with your guitar and your abilities with children. We are blown away by Jacob's progress, and truly appreciate your skills and patience. He absolutely loves that you give him popular songs to work on- and he feels like a star after each lesson. We feel very lucky to have found you as his guitar teacher." --Jennifer Boldman
"Jeremy Singer is a really cool guy. What I like about taking lessons with him is that he helps me learn my guitar better and he has really fun ways to do that. He challenges me to play harder songs and helps me learn something if I don't understand it. He picks out the kind of music that I like and also gives me examples of music that I haven't heard before. I like his laid back style of teaching." --Kevin Geohagen
Annie McAllister - Voice, Piano
Annie McAllister is a Doctorate of Musical Arts Candidate in Voice at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) where she is in her final stages of working on her dissertation. As a Graduate Assistant at CCM, Annie taught Freshman Musical Theatre students and CCM non-major voice lessons, as well as a General Music Studies group voice class. Annie is also a 2017 Masters of Music graduate in Voice and a 2015 Bachelors of Music graduate in Voice from CCM, where she studied with Professor Tom Baresel. Annie is currently an Adjunct Professor of Music at CCM, since Fall of 2019.
As a proactive, communicative, and compassionate singer from Buffalo, New York, Annie has resided, taught, and performed in Cincinnati since 2011. She is an advocate for differentiated music training and passionately believes that singing should be an integral part of every person’s life. Annie teaches students of all ages, covering many genres such as musical theatre, opera, jazz, and pop. Every lesson will be structured around each student’s personal needs and goals; covering vocal technique, performance practices, musicianship, artistic expression, foreign language diction, and a healthy development of one’s vocal identity. Annie is kindhearted, with an awareness and understanding of different life experiences shaping a student’s development. Annie provides a welcoming and encouraging space for learning and growth.
Besides Annie’s years of teaching experience, Annie is an active performer. As an Operatic Soprano, she has recently performed the roles of the Bride in Igor Stravinsky’s Les Noces, Anne Sexton in Conrad Susa’s challenging opera Transformations, the Blue-Jay in Leos Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, the title role in Handel’s Alcina, and La Princesse in Maurice Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges. Annie is an avid recitalist performing art songs ranging from early baroque to new music premieres. Her husband, composer and drummer Matt McAllister, frequently writes new compositions for Annie to premiere in recital. Annie is an alumni of the Artist in Residence Recital Series at the Twin Towers Retirement Community in College Hill, where she performed monthly recitals for the Residents as part of an inter-generational exchange from 2015- 2019. At Twin Towers, Annie developed relationships with the Residents, encouraging music in their lives and promoting a youthful livestyle. Outside of opera and art song, Annie dearly loves Jazz and Musical Theatre.
“To sing is an expression of your being, a being which is becoming.” -Maria Callas
As a proactive, communicative, and compassionate singer from Buffalo, New York, Annie has resided, taught, and performed in Cincinnati since 2011. She is an advocate for differentiated music training and passionately believes that singing should be an integral part of every person’s life. Annie teaches students of all ages, covering many genres such as musical theatre, opera, jazz, and pop. Every lesson will be structured around each student’s personal needs and goals; covering vocal technique, performance practices, musicianship, artistic expression, foreign language diction, and a healthy development of one’s vocal identity. Annie is kindhearted, with an awareness and understanding of different life experiences shaping a student’s development. Annie provides a welcoming and encouraging space for learning and growth.
Besides Annie’s years of teaching experience, Annie is an active performer. As an Operatic Soprano, she has recently performed the roles of the Bride in Igor Stravinsky’s Les Noces, Anne Sexton in Conrad Susa’s challenging opera Transformations, the Blue-Jay in Leos Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, the title role in Handel’s Alcina, and La Princesse in Maurice Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges. Annie is an avid recitalist performing art songs ranging from early baroque to new music premieres. Her husband, composer and drummer Matt McAllister, frequently writes new compositions for Annie to premiere in recital. Annie is an alumni of the Artist in Residence Recital Series at the Twin Towers Retirement Community in College Hill, where she performed monthly recitals for the Residents as part of an inter-generational exchange from 2015- 2019. At Twin Towers, Annie developed relationships with the Residents, encouraging music in their lives and promoting a youthful livestyle. Outside of opera and art song, Annie dearly loves Jazz and Musical Theatre.
“To sing is an expression of your being, a being which is becoming.” -Maria Callas
Angie Coyle - Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Piano, Jazz Theory & Improvisation
Angie Coyle is a freelance professional saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, composer/arranger, and private instructor in the Cincinnati area. She is originally from Eau Claire, WI where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. She received her Master of Music degree in jazz studies from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2018. She performs frequently around the Cincinnati area with various groups. She leads her own jazz group, the Angie Coyle Quintet, which performs her original compositions. She recently recorded an album with this group that will be releasing November 16th this year! She performs with other jazz groups as well and also does a fair amount of work with pit orchestras.
Angie teaches saxophone, flute, clarinet, and beginner piano, as well as jazz/improvisation on woodwinds, brass, and piano.
Angie teaches saxophone, flute, clarinet, and beginner piano, as well as jazz/improvisation on woodwinds, brass, and piano.
Taylor Baye Brown McNally - Voice, Beginner Piano, Recorder
Taylor is a proud graduate of Xavier University, where she received a degree in Music Education and a second degree in Music Performance. During her time there, she sang soprano in the Xavier University Concert Choir, the Edgecliff Vocal Ensemble, the Xavier University Women’s Chorus, and the A CaBellas (an all female a cappella group). She has traveled with choruses to numerous U.S. cities, Italy, Spain, and Austria. She was also selected as the winner of the 2011 Cincinnati’s Got Talent competition as the vocalist in a harp and voice duo. She enjoys singing a wide variety of music from classical to jazz and still participates in community choruses in the Cincinnati area throughout the year.
Taylor’s true passion lies in teaching music. She believes all children can be life-long lovers and learners of music. She is a level 1 certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher and currently teaches general music to grades 1 through 6 in the Deer Park Community City School District. Taylor also co-teaches a Fine Arts Summer Camp in Bethel, Ohio for elementary students and directs a small choir at The Church of the Advent in Walnut Hills, Cincinnati.
Taylor’s true passion lies in teaching music. She believes all children can be life-long lovers and learners of music. She is a level 1 certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher and currently teaches general music to grades 1 through 6 in the Deer Park Community City School District. Taylor also co-teaches a Fine Arts Summer Camp in Bethel, Ohio for elementary students and directs a small choir at The Church of the Advent in Walnut Hills, Cincinnati.
Ilona Eke - Violin, Viola, and Piano
Currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio, violist Ilona Eke began studying viola in fourth grade.
Originally from Cleveland, she took lessons with Cleveland Orchestra member, Lembi
Veskimets, through middle and high school and has studied with other teachers such as Erica
Eckert, Jenny Snyder Kozoroz, Rictor Noren, Rebe Barnes, Denisse Rodriguez, Masao
Kawasaki, Daniel Sweaney, and Ken Matsuda. During her time in Cleveland, she participated in
the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Camarata, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, and the
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.
During the summers, Ilona has attended Interlochen Center for the Arts, Brevard Music Center,
Green Mountain Chamber Festival, and Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves
(Bordeaux, FR). An avid chamber musician, she studied chamber music with Rictor Noren, Lee
Fiser, and the Ariel String Quartet. Ilona received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music at
the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) under the direction of Dr. Catharine Lees. She is currently a doctoral candidate at CCM.
Originally from Cleveland, she took lessons with Cleveland Orchestra member, Lembi
Veskimets, through middle and high school and has studied with other teachers such as Erica
Eckert, Jenny Snyder Kozoroz, Rictor Noren, Rebe Barnes, Denisse Rodriguez, Masao
Kawasaki, Daniel Sweaney, and Ken Matsuda. During her time in Cleveland, she participated in
the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Camarata, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, and the
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.
During the summers, Ilona has attended Interlochen Center for the Arts, Brevard Music Center,
Green Mountain Chamber Festival, and Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves
(Bordeaux, FR). An avid chamber musician, she studied chamber music with Rictor Noren, Lee
Fiser, and the Ariel String Quartet. Ilona received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music at
the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) under the direction of Dr. Catharine Lees. She is currently a doctoral candidate at CCM.
Teri Abler-Deikfuss - Violin, Viola, and Piano
Teri Abler-Diekfuss, a native of Wisconsin, began her musical studies on the piano at age eight and soon began studying violin and viola thereafter. As a student at the Milwaukee High School of the Arts, she began teaching piano lessons at age 16. She did her undergraduate studies at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI
where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Bachelor of Music for which she designed her own degree curriculum focusing on viola performance and interdisciplinary characteristics of music. While in Wisconsin, she became Suzuki certified in both violin and viola from books 1 to 3 and taught for Appleton’s after school Suzuki club for several years. Teri is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina – Greensboro where she earned a M.M. in viola performance and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in music education. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in string pedagogy at The Ohio State University, where she will study with the nationally recognized pedagogue, Dr. Robert Gillespie. Teri is an active orchestral and chamber musician, but she finds teaching the most fulfilling. To her, music is extremely beneficial to people of all ages and walks of life.
where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Bachelor of Music for which she designed her own degree curriculum focusing on viola performance and interdisciplinary characteristics of music. While in Wisconsin, she became Suzuki certified in both violin and viola from books 1 to 3 and taught for Appleton’s after school Suzuki club for several years. Teri is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina – Greensboro where she earned a M.M. in viola performance and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in music education. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in string pedagogy at The Ohio State University, where she will study with the nationally recognized pedagogue, Dr. Robert Gillespie. Teri is an active orchestral and chamber musician, but she finds teaching the most fulfilling. To her, music is extremely beneficial to people of all ages and walks of life.
Skye van Duuren - Brass, Composition, Music Theory, Beginner Piano
Skye van Duuren is a trumpeter, composer, educator, arranger, transcriber, and copyist. He currently studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with Alan Siebert, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trumpet performance. Mr. van Duuren also holds two Master of Music degrees from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Music degree, summa cum laude, from The University of Arizona.
His principal performance teachers include Alan Siebert, Philip Collins, Vince DiMartino, Catherine Leach, Edward Reid, Moises Paiewonsky, and Abigail Pack, with additional instruction from trumpeter Carl “Doc” Severinsen and many others. Mr. van Duuren also enjoys an active commission schedule as a composer and his repertoire includes over one hundred works for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instrument, keyboard, and electronic media. His teachers of composition include Andrew Sigler, Jorge Variego, Daniel Asia, Alejandro Rutty, and Mark Engebretson. His compositions have been performed in concert halls, universities, and sacred venues in Greece, China, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Arizona, and North Carolina. In 2014 he was honored with the National Marion Richter American Composition Award and first prize in the National Emil and Ruth Beyer Composition Contest. He is an active presenter and educator on subjects ranging from his own unique compositional innovations and theoretical writings to special performance topics.
His principal performance teachers include Alan Siebert, Philip Collins, Vince DiMartino, Catherine Leach, Edward Reid, Moises Paiewonsky, and Abigail Pack, with additional instruction from trumpeter Carl “Doc” Severinsen and many others. Mr. van Duuren also enjoys an active commission schedule as a composer and his repertoire includes over one hundred works for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instrument, keyboard, and electronic media. His teachers of composition include Andrew Sigler, Jorge Variego, Daniel Asia, Alejandro Rutty, and Mark Engebretson. His compositions have been performed in concert halls, universities, and sacred venues in Greece, China, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Arizona, and North Carolina. In 2014 he was honored with the National Marion Richter American Composition Award and first prize in the National Emil and Ruth Beyer Composition Contest. He is an active presenter and educator on subjects ranging from his own unique compositional innovations and theoretical writings to special performance topics.
Grace Lee - Piano (all levels)
Ms. Grace Eunhye Lee began her piano studies at the age of five and has taught piano since 2003. She received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at Sookmyung Women's University in South Korea and master's degree at the University of Cincinnati and graduated Performance Diploma at Souther Methodist University. Now, she is pursuing her doctoral degree at University of Cincinnati.
During her undergraduate studies, she won the Mozart Concerto Competition and also performed with the Sookmyung Symphony Orchestra. She was a semi finalist at the international DCS piano competition. In Korea, she owned a private studio and has taught students from 4 to 70 years of age. Ms.Lee was a teaching fellow at SMU through the Piano Preparatory Department and her students received many awards in various competitions. Ms. Lee's previous teaching experience also includes being piano instructor at Park Cities School of Music in Dallas, TX and at Belvoir Terrace, MA from 2016 to 2017. Ms. Lee currently teaches both private lessons and group lessons as a teaching assistant at CCM since 2015.
During her undergraduate studies, she won the Mozart Concerto Competition and also performed with the Sookmyung Symphony Orchestra. She was a semi finalist at the international DCS piano competition. In Korea, she owned a private studio and has taught students from 4 to 70 years of age. Ms.Lee was a teaching fellow at SMU through the Piano Preparatory Department and her students received many awards in various competitions. Ms. Lee's previous teaching experience also includes being piano instructor at Park Cities School of Music in Dallas, TX and at Belvoir Terrace, MA from 2016 to 2017. Ms. Lee currently teaches both private lessons and group lessons as a teaching assistant at CCM since 2015.
Vincent Alexander Hisle - Percussion, Brass and Beginner Piano
Vincent Alexander “Alex” Hisle is an award-winning Percussion Educator/Performer/Recording Artist from the OH/KY/IN tri-state area. Vincent attended Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts as a music education and performance major, earning his B.M. perf. in 2016. Alex's very first lessons teacher was Co-owner of AMW, Kristin Agee. Alex was also fortunate to study with very high caliber teachers such as Dick Jensen, David Fishlock and Patrick Schlecker in the area of Classical percussion (all members of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra). He studied drum set with Dan Dorff and Mike Meloy. Scott K. Lang was his primary Percussion Instructor at the NKU School of the Arts.
As a performer, Alex has played drums and percussion in a variety of ensembles spanning many genres including the following:
NKU's Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Percussion Ensemble, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo 3, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Brass Choir, Kentucky Intercollegiate Percussion Ensemble (2012) / Selected Soloist (2015) CGOTH Gospel Choir
The Henry Fillmore Percussion Ensemble (local professional percussion ensemble)
Star United (Star of Indiana alumni drum and bugle corps) 2014 1st place DCA national title
Lost In Holland (national indie act)
The Scut Farkus Affair (local ska/reggae/rock act)
Sagerman (local ska/punk rock act)
He is also an avid percussion educator and has been teaching percussion since the summer of 2009, having taught over 15 local Cincinnati area drum-lines and front ensembles. Hisle's teaching experience encompasses percussion ensemble, private drum lessons and the marching percussion idiom. Many of Alex's private students have made select bands, earned distinct ratings on solo and ensemble material, marched drum corps, have been finalists, or took first place in various high school level concerto contests.
As a performer, Alex has played drums and percussion in a variety of ensembles spanning many genres including the following:
NKU's Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Percussion Ensemble, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo 3, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Brass Choir, Kentucky Intercollegiate Percussion Ensemble (2012) / Selected Soloist (2015) CGOTH Gospel Choir
The Henry Fillmore Percussion Ensemble (local professional percussion ensemble)
Star United (Star of Indiana alumni drum and bugle corps) 2014 1st place DCA national title
Lost In Holland (national indie act)
The Scut Farkus Affair (local ska/reggae/rock act)
Sagerman (local ska/punk rock act)
He is also an avid percussion educator and has been teaching percussion since the summer of 2009, having taught over 15 local Cincinnati area drum-lines and front ensembles. Hisle's teaching experience encompasses percussion ensemble, private drum lessons and the marching percussion idiom. Many of Alex's private students have made select bands, earned distinct ratings on solo and ensemble material, marched drum corps, have been finalists, or took first place in various high school level concerto contests.
Ben Crowder - Guitar, Piano, Brass Instruments
Ben Crowder is a freelance multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger based in Cincinnati, Ohio. His straight-ahead jazz sextet, BC6, was formed in 2018 to explore the music of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, the Art Farmer / Benny Golson Jazztet, and other hard bop groups of the 1950s. The band has since served as a launching pad for Crowder’s original compositions and arrangements. His influences range from bebop visionaries like JJ Johnson and Curtis Fuller to the cool stylings of Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan, and extend even further forward to the music of groups like Fazer, The XX, MGMT, and Interpol. This wide pool of influences has allowed Ben to develop a unique voice as a composer, improvisor, and music instructor.
Ben is currently attending the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) to pursue a masters degree in jazz studies as a graduate teaching assistant. As Ben finishes his degree at CCM, he regularly performs with groups such as The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and The Original Farm League Big Band. In addition to doing one-off freelance work, he can be seen performing in Columbus and Cincinnati with many local acts, including Waves de Ache, The Bluewater Kings, The Big Badd, salsa band Al Son del Iya, neo-soul collective Kinflok, and indie rock band Doc Robinson.
Ben is currently attending the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) to pursue a masters degree in jazz studies as a graduate teaching assistant. As Ben finishes his degree at CCM, he regularly performs with groups such as The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, and The Original Farm League Big Band. In addition to doing one-off freelance work, he can be seen performing in Columbus and Cincinnati with many local acts, including Waves de Ache, The Bluewater Kings, The Big Badd, salsa band Al Son del Iya, neo-soul collective Kinflok, and indie rock band Doc Robinson.
