Meet the Faculty
Maria Anderson - Piano
BA Church Music from Moody Bible Institute, Major in Piano Pedagogy Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. Maria began teaching private and group piano lessons at SCAA in 2006. She enjoys teaching all ages and styles, particularly classical and worship music using chord sheets or lead sheets where playing by ear can be helpful.
Lily Anderson- Dance
Patty Austin- Choir
BME West Virginia Wesleyan College, MME Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Level I Orff-Schulwerk, University of Kentucky. Patty began teaching at SCAA in 2008 as director of the Blue Ridge Choristers and the Top of Virginia Youth Chorale. In 2022, she began directing the Crescendo Chorus. She co-founded and accompanied the WV All-State Children’s Choir, and has guest directed the All Virginia Elementary Chorus. Patty has many accomplishments, some of which include teaching pk-college, performing at the White House, and directing the All VA Elementary Chorus.
Deborah Balcom- Piano, Voice, Theatre
Susan Barkus, Theatre & Art
Lindsay Browning- Dance
BFA Radford University. Lindsay is an inspired educator with over 15 years experience in the field of dance and over 6 years experience as a professor of dance, instructing undergraduate courses in modern, jazz, improvisation, composition and yoga. She continues to draw inspiration from her many years in the hustle and beauty of a professional performing arts career and is glad to share her infinite love of movement and creation with Shenandoah’s passionate conservatory students.
Nick Carratura- Piano, Voice
Alyssa Crump- Dance
BFA Dance & Choreography VCU, MA Arts Management George Mason University Certification Elemental Body Alignment System Level 1. Alyssa has taught at SCAA since 2011. Teaching ages 3-adult, Alyssa has taught ballet, modern/contemporary dance, lyrical, jazz, and tap at SCAA. Alyssa also works in the SCAA Main Office as Administrative Assistant and Summer Programs Coordinator.
Melissa Chavez- Voice
BA Music (Voice) Pennsylvania State University, MM Voice Performance and Pedagogy Pennsylvania State University, DMA Shenandoah University.
Karen Colley- Piano
BM Shenandoah Conservatory, MM West Virginia University
Charles DeAzagra- Fencing
Keith Filppu- Guitar, Music Theory & Composition
MM Guitar Performance Shenandoah University, BM Guitar Performance Writing and Rhetoric minor James Madison University. Keith is a published composer/arranger with 21 years of teaching experience across all ages and skill levels. He began teaching Guitar at SCAA in 2009 and added Composition and Guitar Ensemble in 2024. He teaches a wide range of styles and has taught many successful students who went on to pursue music careers of their own.
Amil Giunti- Dance
Madison Gray- Dance
Abby Johnson- Art Start, Dance
Abigail Johnson graduated with a degree in kinesiological sciences from the university of Maryland with a citation of dance. She then gained her Montessori certification from the Institute for advanced Montessori studies at the Barrie School in Silver Spring, Maryland Abby is entering her 29th year of teaching ballet and 18th year at SCAA. Was the summer coordinator for SCAA for many years. Abby is also the creator and lead instructor for SCAA’s Art Start Program. When not working with her amazing students she loves spending time with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.
Rose Lauck- Piano
Taylor Losey- Trumpet
BM Trumpet Performance from Western Michigan University, MM Trumpet Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory. Taylor started teaching Trumpet lessons at SCAA in Fall of 2023. She also teaches beginning/intermediate French Horn lessons.
Sarah McCown- Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone
DMA Woodwind Doubling Shenandoah Conservatory, MM Woodwind Specialist Michigan State University, BM Performance Tennessee Technological University. Sarah started teaching woodwinds (flute, clarinet, and saxophone) at SCAA in 2022.
Christine McNamara- Dance
BS Dance Shenandoah College and Conservatory. Chris started teaching dance at SCAA in 2022.
Sarah Morris- Piano
MM Piano Performance, MM Piano Pedagogy from TCU, Graduate Certificate in Performing Arts Health and Fitness from SU, currently last semester of DMA Piano Performance at Shenandoah Conservatory. Sarah started teaching piano at SCAA in 2023. She has a special interest in performing arts health and strength training for musicians. Sarah is also a CSCS (certified strength and conditioning specialist), adjunct strength & conditioning professor at SU, and is a nationally competitive weightlifter.
Brodie Meyers- Percussion
BM Music Production & Recording Technology (Classical Percussion) with Music Composition Minor Shenandoah University (expected 2027). Brodie began teaching classical percussion, drums, and drum-set at SCAA in 2024. He specializes in all things percussion including marching percussion and uncommon percussion instruments such as steel pan. Brodie also teaches Drumline at Chambersburg Area Senior High School during marching season.
Emily Mullen- Violin/Viola
BM Music Education (Viola/Violin) with a History Minor, Civil War Era Studies Certificate, and Performance Certificate Shenandoah University (expected 2026), AAS General Studies Central Virginia Community College. Emily has taught violin/viola at SCAA since 2025. Emily also works in the SCAA Main Office with Alyssa as the Intern for Arts Administration and Community Outreach. She currently serves as the President of the Collegiate Virginia Music Educators Association and is very active in the Shenandoah Conservatory community.
Akiko Neufer- Piano
BM Performance Shenandoah University, BM Pedagogy Shenandoah University, Registered teacher of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA).
Susanna O'Herron- Piano
BA Piano Performance (expected 2026) Shenandoah University, Susanna started teaching at SCAA in 2025. Her specialities are piano at any level and music theory.
Golder O'Neill- Electric Bass
BA Berklee College of Music, MME Shenandoah University
Ruth Raymond- Violin
BA Principia College, Suzuki training Greater Washington Suzuki Institute and East Carolina Suzuki Institute
Mary Robare- Dance
BA WVU Regents summa cum laude. Mary is a LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts graduate and has professional training in ballet, jazz, modern, and tap in NYC, including School of the American Ballet. Mary has taught Ballet, Lyrical, Musical Theatre Dance, and directed the Dance Ensemble at SCAA since 1993. She has also served as Adjunct Auxiliary Associate Professor at Shenandoah University since 1990. For 10 years, Mary worked on Broadway and National Tours as a performer and assistant choreographer. She has choreographed and directed dance productions and musicals for local middle/high schools and regional theatre, including Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, and has won numerous awards for her work. She is also an independent researcher, lecturer, and published author on the topic of historical quilts and schoolgirl samplers.
John Romano- Clarinet
BM Performance Shenandoah Conservatory, The United States Air Force Band Washington DC, United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis Air Force Band California
Alán Saucedo- Cello, Youth Orchestra
BM Cello Performance ESMD (Monterrey, Mexico), MM Cello Performance Shenandoah University, DMA Cello Performance Shenandoah University, Advance Performance Studies Conservatorio de Musica "Victoria dels Angels" (Barcelona, Spain).
Robyn Schroth- Dance
BA Mary Washington College (University of Mary Washington), MA Education and Human Development George Washington University. Robyn began teaching at Shenandoah University in 1977 and helped establish the dance major. She served as Dance Department Chair for 11 years. Robyn has choreographed over 100 musical theatre productions for SU Musical Theatre Department and Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre and. For 15 years, she choreographed the Shenandoah Apple Blossom’s Royal Command performances featuring the John Handley High School Chorus. She also serves as director for the Blue Ridge Junior Cotillion. At SCAA, Robyn currently teaches ballet and is Dance Program Coordinator.
Sandra Snodgrass- Piano, Voice
BA Music Education (Voice) with minor in Piano from Eastern Mennonite College. Sandra has taught piano and voice at SCAA from 1992-1996, 2002-2007, and 2012-present.
Nicole Stroh- Piano
BA Psychology (Social Sciences) William Paterson University of New Jersey, Advanced Professional Certificate of Music from Berklee College of Music, currently working towards a masters degree in Music Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Nicole began teaching piano lessons and music enrichment courses at SCAA in 2024. Her teaching specialities are taking play and a music therapy approach as she works towards her license.
Sarah Thompson- Trombone, Baritone, Tuba, Euphonium
BA in Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, MM Performance University of Delaware, DMA Trombone Performance SU. Sarah has 10 years of private teaching experience along with 4 years of marching band brass. Sarah began teaching low brass at SCAA in 2022. Associations include: International Trombone Association, the Mid Atlantic Trombone Alliance, The International Women in Brass, the Jazz Education Network, and Maestra.
Ewa Tryczynska- Violin
BM State Music College Kracow; MA Literature Jaggiellonian University; Suzuki Training Suzuki Institutes of Washington DC, Ontario, Canada, Siofok, Hungary, Greater Washington Suzuki Institute, Kingston Suzuki Institute.
Karlyn Vina- Percussion
DMA University of Miami, MM Boston Conservatory, BME University of Maryland. Karlyn began teaching at SCAA in 2021 as a percussion teacher: orchestral percussion, marimba, xylophone, timpani.
Claudia Vivanco- Guitar, Ukulele
BM Guitar Pedagogy Shenandoah University
Meet the Staff
Dr. Jennifer Green-Flint, Executive Director
Carolyn Thompson, Associate Director
