2021 Faculty

Fresno, California

Dr. Cari Earnhart serves as the Director of Choral Activities at California State University, Fresno. In demand as a conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Earnhart has worked with choirs in the US and abroad, holding positions in Florence, Istanbul and Dubai. She has conducted honor choirs and served as clinician for choral festivals across the US and Canada. She frequently presents workshops on Arabic Choral music, conducting techniques and vocal health for singers and conductors. An accomplished vocalist, Earnhart has performed professionally in the US, Europe and the Middle East. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Oklahoma State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting with related field studies in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of North Texas. She is delighted to be returning for her fourth year as faculty at OSAI!

Milan, Michigan

Active as a conductor-teacher, clinician, and presenter, Alex Sutton recently completed an appointment as director of choirs at Wayne State University, where he guided all aspects of its choral program and taught graduate and undergraduate choral conducting and literature. He previously served as associate director of choirs at the University of West Georgia and taught K–12 music in Michigan public schools. Choruses prepared by Alex have appeared with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the batons of Leonard Slatkin, André Raphel, and Richard Kaufman, and he recently led Detroit’s historic Fort Street Chorale and Orchestra in performances of Handel’s Messiah. Alex studied conducting and music education at the University of Michigan and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and his teachers include Jerry Blackstone, Paul Rardin, and Earl Rivers. He is THRILLED to reunite with OSAI for a fourth (non-consecutive) summer of music and memories!

Kansas City, Missouri

Mari Cook Medley Faculty Chair

DeeAnna Hiett was a charter member of the Jamison Project under the direction of Judith Jamison and later became a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has performed with Ballet Hysell, the Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Theater, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Quixotic, as well as special guest artist at many venues including the Kansas City Ballet. She performed at The Career Transitions for Dancers 22nd Anniversary Jubilee in New York City, and is a recipient of The Generative Performing Artists Award from the Kansas City Charlotte Street Foundation. Her work “Without a Word” was performed at The John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center at the American College Dance Association’s National Festival. She is the co-artistic director of the Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company and is currently an associate professor and chair of dance at The University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Bryan is a teacher, filmmaker, and photographer who currently serves as Chair and Associate Professor of Film at Oklahoma City University. His professional experience includes working for Panavision-Chicago and as a freelance producer, writer, editor, and cameraman based out of Atlanta where he won a Southeast Region Emmy Award. His film interests include American independent cinema and personal documentary, and his writing is included in "Devised and Directed by Mike Leigh," a collection of essays on the British director’s work that Bryan co-edited with Marc DiPaolo.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Violinist Dr. Mikylah Myers’ performances have been called “energetic and virtuosic” by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and “captivating” by Boulder, Colorado’s Daily Camera. Myers is Assistant Dean of Student Artistic Achievement and Professor of Violin at West Virginia University. She has performed internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. She was formerly concertmaster of the San Juan Symphony and was a 19-year member of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, Oregon. Myers received her doctoral and master’s degrees in violin performance from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where she studied with Fredell Lack, and her bachelor of music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she studied violin with Roland and Almita Vamos. She was also a four-year-member and co-captain of the Oberlin College varsity women’s soccer team. She can be heard on Delos and Parma Records.

music.wvu.edu/faculty/mikylah-myers

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Dr. Shaohong “Betty” Yuan has served as string faculty at Oklahoma City University since the fall of 2019.

As a scholar, Yuan has held several open lecture-recitals and masterclasses nationally and internationally. These include a Summer 2018 lecture-recital series on her doctoral research and performance analysis document at the Renmin University of China and Beijing Normal University; an open master class under the invitation of the Beijing Normal University Strings Association in early 2019; and an academic lecture on traditional Chinese music at the University of Oklahoma.

As an active performer, Yuan is a member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic since 2012. Before that, she played in the Central Opera Theatre Symphony Orchestra, the Chinese Opera Theatre Symphony Orchestra, the Chinese Film Orchestra, and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra in venues such as Beijing’s Bird's Nest stadium, the National Grand Theatre, the Beijing Concert Hall, and the National Assembly Hall.

Tallahassee, Florida

Praised for his versatility, Gregory Sauer performs in many different musical arenas. He has appeared in recital at the Old First Concert Series in San Francisco, the Brightmusic Concert Series in Oklahoma City, at universities such as Vanderbilt, and Rice University. Mr. Sauer has performed concertos with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony, the Quad City Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Columbus (GA) Symphony, the Tallahassee Symphony, and the Missoula Symphony, among others.

As a member of the Carpe Diem String Quartet, Greg played concerts in Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall, Siena, Italy, and in the group's first China tour. Other chamber music appearances have been at the Austin Chamber Music Center, the Victoria Bach Festival, the Texas Music Festival, and the Colorado Music Festival.

In 2006, Greg was appointed to the faculty at Florida State University. Prior to that he taught eleven years at the University of Oklahoma, and was named Presidential Professor.

Chicago, Illinois

Susan Saylor is an active soloist and chamber musician who has performed throughout North America and Europe. She is currently principal flutist of Camerata Chicago, Metropolis Symphony, Handel Week Festival Orchestra, and Kithara Trio, and is a founding member of the Mozart Project. She performs regularly with Broadway in Chicago, The Paramount Theater in Aurora, St. Charles Singers, Valparaiso Bach Institute, Chicago Chorale, Milwaukee Symphony, “Live from Studio One” WFMT radio broadcasts, and has played in the backup band for Ray Charles and Pacquito DʼRivera. She has recorded with the Milwaukee Symphony, Camerata Chicago, NuClassix Chamber Players, St. Charles Singers, GIA music publishing house, and for numerous radio and TV commercials. She has participated in both Tanglewood and Aspen Music Festivals and has played with the Boston and Philadelphia Orchestras. Teaching is a passion for Susan; she has a private studio of more than 35 students ranging from elementary school through adult learners and gives master classes and clinics throughout the Chicago-land area.

Corinth, Texas

With reviews such as “breathtaking…” (The Clarinet), “virtuosic tone and technique”(Tampa Bay Times), “exceptionally sensitive and introspective rendition” (The Clarinet), and “a most skillful artist” (Fanfare Magazine), Kimberly Cole Luevano continually establishes herself as a soloist and chamber musician known for poignant interpretations and inventive programming. Luevano’s recordings on the Fleur de Son label received critical acclaim and Grammy award consideration; other recordings are available on the Centaur, Albany, and GIA labels. Luevano is a founding member of the chamber groups, HAVEN and TrioPolis. She joined the University of North Texas faculty in 2011, taught at the Interlochen Arts Camp from 2003 to 2012, and was Pedagogy Chairperson for the International Clarinet Association from 2012-15. Former students occupy performing and teaching positions throughout the United States and Canada. Luevano is grateful to her mentors, Elsa Ludewig Verdehr and James Gillespie. She plays and endorses Selmer Paris clarinets and is a D’Addario Company Performing Artist.

Colleyville, Texas

Gerald “Gerry” Wood is currently Third Horn of the Dallas Opera Orchestra and Assistant Principal Horn of the Dallas Winds (Formerly the Dallas Wind Symphony) in addition to being a frequent utility player for the both the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphonies. Adjunct Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Texas Arlington, Gerry holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education (Stephen F. Austin State University), a Masters in Horn Performance (University of Southern Mississippi) and is currently ABD in a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Horn Performance (University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana). His playing experience runs the gamut of performance ensembles. You name it, he's probably played in it. He has marched with The Cavalier Drum and Bugle Corps, played in numerous regional orchestras and nationally renowned chamber ensembles, including the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and is a founding member of the internationally renowned Horn quartet The Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse. He is a very busy guy with regular engagements with the Dallas Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Dallas Wind Symphony, Plano Symphony Orchestra, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra and many more. Gerry hasn't had hair on his head since he was twenty or so and, don't worry, his kids don't find him funny either!

4hornsmen.com

Denton, Texas

Noel Wallace teaches trombone at Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas and Tarleton State University. Wallace holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Penn State, the University of North Texas, a performance certificate from the Rotterdam Conservatory NL, and a postdoc in retraining musicians with Focal Task Specific Dystonia from Musician’s Wellness North America. Wallace currently performs with the San Angelo Symphony, Tarnished Brass, Session Brass, and Coal Hill Quartet. Wallace’s Hebron students have consistently been members of Texas All-State and earn distinction at Texas UIL State Solo Contest. The Hebron Trombone Octet, was selected for a showcase concert at the 2019 International Trombone Festival. Students from Wallace’s studio have gone on to study music at: University of Central Arkansas, University of Texas, University of Michigan, Tarleton State University, Ouachita Baptist University, Vanderbilt University, Brigham Young University-Idaho, University of North Texas, and Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Tallahassee, Florida

John W. Parks IV, Professor of Percussion and 2018-19 Distinguished Teaching Professor at The Florida State University, holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University and Furman University. He is artist/clinician for Malletech, Avedis Zildjian Cymbals, Black Swamp Percussion, and Remo. Parks made his Carnegie Hall solo recital debut in Weill Recital Hall in May of 2007, and has performed with diverse organizations ranging from the Eastman Wind Ensemble on their 2000 tour of Japan and Taiwan and the Schlossfestspiele Orchestra of Heidelberg to the Kansas City, Alabama, Key West, and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Florida Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, and Eastern Music Festival Faculty Orchestra. John also leads the FSU Percussion Ensemble, winners of the 2007 and 2011 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competitions, and in 2013 was inducted into the Engineering Wing of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences as a voting member of the Grammy Awards.

johnparkspercussion.com