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Members of Studio NelsenThe following is a list of members of the Nelsen Studio and their degree programs. Feel free to contact these students, by email, for information about the studio.
Ericka Tyner, DM - Associate Instructor Laura Goodenkauf, MM - Brass Graduate Assistant
Aaron Kibbler is a member of the Jacobs School of Music class of 2011, studying horn performance with Jeff Nelsen and trying to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. He started his horn playing in 3rd grade at Huckleberry Hill Elementary School in Brookfield Connecticut on a single F horn purchased by his Mom at a flea market for $12.50, though he has long since moved on to a much more reliable instrument. Aaron went to high school at Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills Illinois and played in the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. While in high school, Aaron was a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra from 2005-2007. His most memorable experiences with the CYSO were touring Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. While at IU, Aaron has performed with the Philharmonic orchestra, the Symphony orchestra, and the Wind Ensemble.
Ashley Cumming is looking forward to beginning her Doctorate of Music as part of Studio Nelsen. A native of Cambridge, Ontario, Ashley earned her Masters in Performance with Kurt Kellan at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia and her Bachelor of Music in Performance with Nina Brickman in Waterloo, Ontario. Ashley has performed in workshops such as the Banff Festival Summer Music, Windfest Chamber Music Workshop and in 2008 studied and performed in Austria at the International Sommerakademie, Austrian Masterclasses and privately as part of the Johann Strauss Foundation scholarship. Upcoming engagements include a 2010 performance of Mozart 3 with the Sooke Philharmonic in British Columbia. In her free time, Ashley enjoys great friends, cooking, dance, golf and running.
Brad Shaw is from Carmel, Indiana and is majoring in Music Education at Indiana University. He attended Carmel High School where he participated in the Marching Band, Concert Band, and Symphony Orchestra. While at Carmel, Brad won the BOA Grand National Championship with the Marching Band in 2005. He also had the privilege of traveling to St. Petersburg, Russia with the Symphony Orchestra in 2006 to play in the International Music Festival. While in high school, Brad also participated in the Indianapolis Youth Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Charlie Conrad. In the summer of 2008, Brad was on the Carmel High School Marching Band staff as a music technician where he helped lead the band to the best music caption award at the 2008 Grand National Cahmpionships. In the summer of 2009 Brad plans to march with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. Outside of music, Brad enjoys camping and hanging out with his friends.
Eric Gilfus has performed with many professional ensembles including the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the American Horn Quartet and has performed with professional Central Florida wind ensemble Southern Winds. Eric has also been invited to perform with such diverse groups such as colleges, churches, basketball teams, theater companies and PGA events. He is a proponent of new music, and has been asked to debut the horn solo "Estudio" by composer Omar Surillo. In addition Eric has been working to incorporate horn into other styles of music not typical to the horn such as Folk rock and Jazz. Eric also enjoys performing in outreach programs at hospitals, hospices, libraries and schools, and has had experience working as a clinician, coach, and as a theory teacher at the Eastern U.S. Music Camp in upstate New York as well as local high schools. Currently pursuing a Masters of Music Performance at Indiana University in Bloomington, Eric is a scholarship student of Jeff Nelsen who is a Yamaha Performing Artist and member of the Canadian Brass. Eric has also studied with professional hornists such as Aaron Brask, Richard Chenowith, Ben Lieser, Kevin Reid, and David Johnson.Prior to entering Indiana University, Eric was accepted to and attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida, as well as the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, both well known for their exceptional music programs. As an alumnus and lifelong member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Eric Gilfus proudly calls himself a Sinfonian.
Ericka Tyner is a third year doctoral student and the Associate Instructor of Horn for the Jacobs School of Music. Before coming to Indiana, Ericka was Adjunct Instructor of Horn and Music Theory at the Petrie School of Music at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A Converse alumna, she also holds a Master of Music degree in Horn Performance from the University of Alabama and is a member of the Rho chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda. A former member of the Papageno Woodwind Quintet and a winner of the 2004 Southeast Horn Workshop Horn Quartet Competition, Ericka still enjoys chamber music collaborations and currently appears with the IU Associate Instructor Brass Quintet. Other musical experiences include summers in residence at the Performing Arts Institute, a European tour with the Converse College Woodwind Quintet, a solo appearance with the Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra and participation in the Brevard Music Festival. While in South Carolina she performed with the Spartanburg Philharmonic and Hendersonville Symphony Orchestras. Away from the horn, Ericka enjoys watching movies, cooking, knitting funky scarves, and learning about wine.
Everett Burns is from Richardson, Texas, and he is studying horn performance with Jeff Nelsen. He graduated from J.J. Pearce High School, where he played principal horn in the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. He received the Sarah Betz Scholar Award for Musical and Academic Excellence, which gave him the opportunity to be the featured soloist with his high school at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Everett was also a member of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra program, where he has played in both the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Wind Symphony. He was a member of the Texas All State Symphony Orchestra in 2007. At Indiana, Everett has been a member of the Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Brass Choir, and the freshman horn ensemble. Outside of music, Everett has worked as a math tutor, as a bookseller at Barnes and Noble, and as a host at an Italian restaurant in Richardson, TX. He enjoys reading, playing video games, Frisbee, and watching TV and movies. He is also an Eagle Scout.
Jamie Leff grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, being privileged to live less than an hour from the Chicago Symphony! She played principal horn in Buffalo Grove High School’s Symphonic Band and Symphony Orchestra. She also participated in Marching and Pep Band, Jazz Band, District 214 Honors Band and Orchestra, auditioned into IMEA district VII Band and Orchestra, and received the Director’s Award in Band. Outside of school, she was a part of Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra and played in her MYA quintet, “The Brass is Half Full.” She also had the incredible experience of playing in a masterclass for Dale Clevenger and playing under Gustavo Dudamel’s direction in the Chicago Youth Music Initiative. She adores playing and listening to chamber music, playing basketball, meeting new people, working (at Ravinia!), and loves the CSO! Jamie is in the class of 2013 at The Jacobs School of Music and is studying horn performance with Jeff Nelsen.
Jenny Smoak is in her third year of studying Horn Performance with Jeff Nelsen at Indiana University. While at IU, Jenny has participated in Indiana University’s Concert Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Festival Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Horn Choir, Brass Choir, and various chamber ensembles. A native of Raleigh, NC, Jenny performed for 4 years with the nationally award-winning Triangle Youth Brass Band, playing the British-style Eb Tenor Horn. She attended the NC’s Governor’s School for Music, and UNCG Summer Music Camp for 6 years before coming to Indiana. Since arriving in Bloomington, she has participated in Jeff Nelsen’s Fearless Audition Training Camp, the Raphael Mendez Brass Institute, and the International Horn Society Symposium over the summers. Outside of playing the horn, Jenny has been named a “Founders Scholar” by Indiana University (2009) and is also an avid participant and leader in Cancer Awareness community events throughout Bloomington. Jenny is known for her spunky and energetic personality and enjoys spreading the joy of music and life with everyone she meets! This Fall, she will be studying abroad in Vienna, Austria with Wolfgang Vladar of the Vienna Philharmonic. Upon arriving back to IU in the Spring of 2010, Jenny plans to study Natural Horn with Richard Seraphinoff and reunite with her Studio Nelsen-ers!!
Jessica Richers is in her fourth year as a horn performance major at Indiana University, studying with Jeff Nelsen. She attended high school in northern Virginia, where she studied horn with William Zsembery of the President’s Own. She made her solo debut in May of 2005 performing Strauss’s First Horn Concerto as the winner of the Young Artist Competition sponsored by the Youth Orchestras of Prince William. She has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York as well as with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Away from the horn, Jessica is a youth minister and a tea lover. She is blessed to be the daughter of an incredible mother and father, and the sister of three amazing younger brothers. Jessica enjoys math, Latin, Ultimate Frisbee, camping, backpacking, mission work, and the Holy Mass. Praised be Jesus Christ now and forever!
Kelsey Westvelt is from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He began playing the horn at age twelve and studied privately with Mary Fearon in Edmonton. He won the Northern Alberta Concerto Competition (2007) and first runner-up for all brass in the National Music Festival of Canada (2007). In 2007 Kelsey performed as soloist with the Edmonton Youth Orchestra, performing both Paul Dukas' "Villanelle" and Camille Saint- Saëns' "Morceau de Concert". In the summer of 2008, he participated in the wind master class program at the Banff Centre for the Arts, studying with Eric Ruske and Froydis Ree Wekre. Kelsey is in his third year in Studio Nelsen. He has performed with IU Jacobs School of Music Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, University Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Festival Orchestra as well as his IU woodwind quintet and horn quartet. In addition to playing the horn, Kelsey enjoys reading and talking about spirituality and philosophy, watching television and movies, taking voice lessons, and hanging out with his fellow IU Hoosier Hornists.
Laura Goodenkauf of Lincoln, Nebraska is pursuing a Master of Music with Jeff Nelsen. Laura earned her Bachelor of Music in horn from the University of Kansas. While at Kansas she played in the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and various chamber groups. Laura has also played principal horn with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra, and the Idyllwild Arts Festival Wind Ensemble. Laura has also studied with the Atlantic Brass Quintet at Boston College and Sonoma State University. In addition to her orchestral and chamber music studies, Laura also was the winner of the Kansas Music Teacher’s Association Solo Competition in 2007. At Indiana University, Laura plays in the orchestral program, band program, and the brass choir. When not playing the horn, Laura enjoys riding horses, running, and coffee.
Lauren Migalski, 19, is a native of Southern New Jersey. This year she will be a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree. She discovered her love for the French Horn in tenth grade, whilst at Southern Regional High School. Lauren has been a proud participant of Bravo Brass, located in Philadelphia, under the instruction of Paul Bryan and Barry McCommon. After graduating from IU, Lauren plans to attend Officers Candidate School. Hopefully a serving in a military band will follow. Outside of her busy music life, she enjoys spending time in the sun, sitting on the beach, watching lots of movies, walking and taking LOTS of pictures. Lauren is an intense animal lover that talks incessantly about her puppies, Remi and Bailey, and her mouse, Pilot.
Michael Lombardi, a native of Long Island, NY, began playing horn at the age of 9. Michael’s pursuit of a professional music career began in 2005 when he was named a member of the New York All-State ensembles, an honor he received again in 2006. In 2007, Michael was named to the MENC All-Eastern Honors Orchestra, playing second horn. During his high school years, he led a very busy performing schedule, playing with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York, Long Island Youth Orchestra, and Nassau Suffolk Performing Arts Wind Symphony as principal horn. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, which he will complete in the Spring of 2011.
Mira Bacon has played horn for six years and will be a freshman at IU this fall. She studied with members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and has participated in OMEA All-State Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra, and attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute for two summers. Aside from practicing, Mira enjoys playing soccer and planting flowers. Although born and raised a Buckeye fan, Mira is excited to become a Hoosier!
Peggy Moran holds the positions of 2nd horn in the Lafayette Symphony and 4th horn in the Richmond (Indiana) Symphony. She also plays as an extra horn with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Dayton Philharmonic, the Indianapolis Symphony, and the Louisville Orchestra. She has performed guest solo and chamber recitals at Franklin College and on the Young Artist Series at IUPUI. Peggy graduated from the University of Chicago in 1999 with a BA in Music, with a thesis paper in music theory. She completed an MM in 2001 and a Performer’s Diploma in 2002 at Indiana University. Her main teachers at IU were Michael Hatfield and Richard Seraphinoff, and while in Chicago she studied with Ethel Merker. Peggy has done additional studies with Doug Hill of the University of Wisconsin; Lucinda Lewis of the New Jersey Symphony; and Edwin Thayer, formerly of the National Symphony. She is the private French horn Instructor at Marian University, in Indianapolis, and teaches private students in the Indianapolis area. Since 2007, she has been a board member of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp. Peggy has been taking yoga classes for many years, and currently takes one or two vinyasa yoga classes a week.
Ryan O’Connell hails from Bethlehem, PA, where he got his start in music from an early age growing up in a musical household. He started playing the piano at the age of four and the Horn at the age of seven. At age ten, he started a career as a professional actor, touring with the national Broadway touring company for the show “Ragtime.” His music studies continued throughout his life, leading him to perform in many ensembles including holding the principal horn position for the Honor Band of America in 2006. He has also continued working in musical theater, both on stage and as a music director and accompanist. Ryan has also experienced success as a composer. His first published piece, “Variations on ‘Deck the Hall,’” was selected as an Editor’s Choice in its first year of publication by J. W. Pepper and remained a top seller on the website for the entire season. He has written many other songs in the pop genre and is currently working on a collaborative recording project. Recently, he was fortunate enough to be selected to play piano with a touring pop/rock band called "Stop on Green," as part of a summer missions project with Campus Crusade for Christ. Ryan will be a junior this year at IU. He is planning on graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Horn performance with a minor in conducting. Please visit his brand new website/blog at www.ryanomusic.com.
Zach Glavan began his studies on the horn in Grapevine, TX in 2000. From 2003-2007 he studied with Karen and Dennis Houghton, owners of 'Houghton Custom Horns.' From 2003-2004 Zach was a member of the Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth. He later joined the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra from 2004-2007 under the direction of Richard Giangiulio, Principal Trumpet of the Dallas Symphony (1969-1993). Zach was awarded the principal position from 2005-2007 and had the honor of touring China in 2007. He is working towards a BM in Horn Performance and is studying under Jeff Nelsen of the Canadian Brass. Some of his favorite orchestras include the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (under Simon Rattle). In his free time Zach likes playing soccer, golfing, and watching movies (only the good ones... Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Fight Club). Zach is a huge tea lover and thinks everyone else should be too.
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At the age of six Eric Gilfus began studying piano and within a year, he performed his first piano recital. He fell in love with the horn when he was 12, and continues a deep and happy relationship with this instrument today.
Jesse Clevenger started on the trumpet in the fourth grade. By the eighth grade he was certain that he would rather play that horn. After his first time participating in the Marrowstone Music Festival in Washington State (now an annual trip for him) he realized that Music Performance was the life at which he wished to try. During his years in high school, he played at school in any ensemble that he could: the chamber, wind, and symphony orchestras. Outside of school, he joined Midwest Young Artists Youth Symphony (where he also participated in chamber groups), and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra with which he was lucky enough to tour with in South America during the summer of 2009. Jesse is excited that music has taken the front seat in his schooling and always hopes to do a lot of playing. Some of his other interests have been swimming, hiking/mountain climbing, wrestling, and cooking (pizza and stir-fry mostly). He is a big movie buff and desires to speak multiple languages at some point. 
