Clinicians
Dr. John Stanley Ross
Dr. John Stanley Ross is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Appalachian State University where he conducts the Appalachian Wind Ensemble, the Appalachian Concert Band, frequently guest conducts the Appalachian Symphonic Band, teaches courses in wind literature and band techniques, and guides all aspects of the ASU BANDS program. The Appalachian Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the Annual North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference in Winston-Salem in November, 2007. This performance featured the World Premiere of River Songs of the South by William Harbinson, and the North Carolina Premiere of Fildfire by Elaine Ross. From 2003-2006, Dr. Ross was Director of Bands and Orchestras and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota-Morris where he conducted the University Concert Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, and Chamber Winds and taught courses in conducting, woodwind techniques, fundamentals of music, introduction to music, and applied clarinet.
Benedict Goodfriend
Violinist Benedict Goodfriend has performed worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician. He has received critical acclaim for his performances in such halls as Jordan and Symphony Hall in Boston, The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Atlanta’s Spivey Hall, Cincinnati’s Arnoff Center, and many others. Since 1987, Mr. Goodfriend has been the violinist in the Kandinsky Trio, resident ensemble at Roanoke College in Virginia and one of only six piano trios to ever win the coveted Chamber Music America Residency Award in the Award’s 15-year history. With the Trio he has performed on major concert series in 200 citiedsacross the US as well as in Europe. The Trio regularly collaborates with many of the world’s leading artists including Dawn Upshaw, James VanDemark, and Ida Kavafian. Mr. Goodfriend lives in Roanoke with his wife, violinist Jane Wang.
Leslie Lockhart
Soprano, Leslie Lockhart is a native of Kingsport, Tennessee and is a graduate of Sullivan South High School. There, her love of music was nourished and encouraged through director Mr. Chris McGlothlin. Upon graduation, she enrolled at East Tennessee State University and began studying under Dr. Thomas Jenrette, Director of Choral Studies and Professor of Music. While studying at ETSU, Leslie was accepted into the Chorale and played roles in operas such as Belinda in Dido and Aeneas and Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. During her time at ETSU, she was a Semi-finalist in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition and the Concerto/Aria Competition Winner. After graduating from ETSU with a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance, she pursued a Master’s Degree in Education from Milligan College. Leslie is now the Music Specialist at Weaver Elementary in Bristol, Tennessee, where she is currently teaching.
Daniel Blair
Daniel presently attends East Tennessee State University pursuing his second degree in chemistry, already having a BA in Excercise Science planning to go into a “pre-med” program studying sports medicine in preparation for orthopedic surgery. He studied with Tim Barrett at the Academy of Strings in Johnson City; Mary Daniels of Asheville, NC; and Miro Hristov in Knoxville. Daniel was concertmaster of the Symphony of the Mountains Youth Orchestra for three years, played in the 2005 State Honors Youth Orchestra, Hart School of Music in Hartford, CT Summer Orchestra, and was a member of the Knoxville Youth Orchestra. He has won numerous first place awards and superior ratings from the Young Artist Competition of Excellence, Appalachian Music Teachers Association, Sonata/Sonatina Festival,and the Tennessee Music Teachers Association. He was a featured artist in the Violin Concerto for Four Violins by Vivaldi played with the Symphony of the Mountains in Kingsport and was a member of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and was a founding member of the Tri-cities’s Tenacity Piano Trio, Daniel continues to teach violin in the tri-cities area.
Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham
Dr. Schneeloch-Bingham is Associate Professor of Flute and Director of Graduate Studies at the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University. She received the Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University and has performed with the Western Piedmont Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, Kingsport Symphony, and North Carolina Symphony.
Dr. Amy Cherry
Dr. Amy Cherry is an instructor of music at Western Carolina University. She earned her bachelor’s degree at University of Illinois. She went on to receive his Master of Music degree and Doctoral degree in Trombone from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.
Dr. Dan Cherry
Dr. Daniel Cherry, Assistant Professor of Music at Western Carolina University, teaches the trombone and euphonium studio and conducts the Trombone Ensemble. Dr. Cherry joined the WCU faculty in August 2002. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone and Voice Performance from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he studied trombone with Joel Pugh and Scott Moore and voice with William Florescu. He went on to receive his Master of Music degree and Doctoral degree in Trombone from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Dr. Cherry is also a member of the busy and popular Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet, the faculty quintet in residence at WCU.
Dr. Alison Deadman
Dr. Deadman is professor of Music Histor and Alexander Technique at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City.
Jay Oberfeitinger
Mr. Oberfeitinger is active as both a performer and educator in the Northeast TN and Southwest VA region. He has been a percussionist for the Knoxville Symphony since 1995; the principal percussionist for the Symphony of the Mountains since 2000; a founding member and principal percussionist for the Knoxville Wind Symphony since 2006 and is the “first-call” percussionist for the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA. He is a founding member of the Tri-Cities Jazz Masters quintet. Jay recieved a bachelor’s degree in Orchestral Performance from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA where he studied with Gerald Unger and Stanley Leonard of the Pittsburgh Symphony, and has received a Master’s Degree in Education/Curriculum Design from the University of Phoenix.
Jeffrey Cook
Jeffrey Cook is Instructor of Music at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN where his duties include teaching Applied High Brass, Music History, Pep Band, and Music Appreciation. Jeffrey received both his Bachelors and Masters in Music Performance from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL where his principal teachers were Andrew Lewinter and Jerry Peel. Currently Jeffrey is a candidate for a Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Kentucky where he studies currently with David Elliott. Jeffrey has additionally studied with horn players Eli Epstein, Richard Deane, and Charles “Skip” Snead.
Dr. Terri Armfield
Dr. Armfield is the Assistant Professor of Oboe/Theory at Western Carolina University. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, a Master of Musical Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Doctoral degree in Oboe Performance with Theory Certification from the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Kellie Brown
Dr. Brown is an Associate professor of music at Milligan College. She earned a Master of Music degree at Appalachian State University, and holds a Doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration (music emphasis) from East Tennessee State University.
Nancy Bargerstock
Dr. Bargerstock studied violin with such prominent teachers as Ivan Galamian, Sally Thomas, Joseph Gingold, Felix Galimir, and Jascha Brodsky. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, a Soloist Diploma in Viola from the Orfeo Conservatory of Music in Athens, Greece and her D.M.A. in performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is currently the string coordinator and instructor of violin and viola at Appalachian State University. Bargerstock has 30 years of teaching experience in U.S. and European conservatories and has had students accepted at Juilliard, Eastman, Manhattan Schools, Indiana Univ. & London’s Royal Academy.
Matthew Wilkinson
Matthew Wilkinson is a member of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and Principal Cellist of the Symphony of the Mountains in Kingsport, as well as a Knoxville Symphony.
Teaches orchestra at Karns, with three hour-long orchestra classes every day. He’s also an assistant conductor for the Knoxville Youth Symphony.
Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Oregon /Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Tennessee.
Robert Jeter
ROBERT JETER earned his bachelor of music degree from East Tennessee State University in 2004. While attending ETSU, he studied the piano and trombone, performing both classical and jazz styles. His piano professor at ETSU was Dr. Lynn Rice-See. In the fall of 2003, Robert won the MTNA Steinway Young Artist Competition for the state of Tennessee and in the summer of 2004 received a scholarship from the Piano Technicians Guild Auxiliary which included playing a recital at their National Convention in Nashville. In 2004, Mr. Jeter played solo piano with the Milligan College Jazz Band opening for Ellis Marsalis at the Grove Park Inn’s All That Jazz Weekend in Ashville, NC under the leadership of trombonist Rick Simerly. In 2006, Robert earned his Master of Music degree as a graduate student at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City studying with Phillip Kawin. Since 2006, he has held a position as adjunct professor of music theory at East Tennessee State University, where he has also served as accompanist, coach, music arranger, and opera conductor.