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Andrew Campbell
Andrew Campbell has established himself as one of the most versatile collaborative pianists in the United States with a performing career as a chamber musician, opera coach, orchestral pianist, and choral pianist that has taken him to six continents, including concerts in South Africa, Bogotá, Mexico City, Rome, Luxembourg, Melbourne, the UK and over 40 states. His partnership with violinist Katherine McLin in the McLin/Campbell Duo has led to performances on numerous recital series throughout the United States and Europe. He has directed summer music programs in Germany, Luxembourg and North Carolina, and currently serves as Faculty Artist for Rocky Ridge Music in Colorado. His many recordings include Cantando, a recording with bassoonist Albie Micklich for which he was praised for his “uncanny musical intelligence.”
He has performed at many noted international conferences including the National Flute Association, MTNA, the International Viola Congress, and the International Double Reed Society. In summer 2024 he was principal pianist for the Oregon Bach Festival orchestra and featured in Eric Whitacre’s The Sacred Veil under the baton of the composer. In summer 2025, he toured throughout Italy with the Ad Astra choral group, including a featured performance on the organ in St. Peter’s Basilica.
As a vocal coach, he has served on the music staffs of the Washington National Opera and the San Diego Opera, collaborating with distinguished conductors including André Previn and Heinz Fricke, and worked closely with the composer Carlisle Floyd on several productions of his operas. Andrew Campbell studied with the renowned collaborative artist Martin Katz at the University of Michigan and is currently Professor of Music, Director of Collaborative Piano, and Co-Associate Director of Music Graduate Studies at Arizona State University.
Claudia Anderson
M.M., University of Massachusetts;
B.M. University of Michigan
CLAUDIA ANDERSON is known for her originality and brilliance as a solo and chamber music performer across the U.S. She is a founding member of the innovative flute duo ZAWA! (with Jill Felber), the summer flute intensive Passion Flute: Foundations for Creative Performing, and is principal flute with the Waterloo Cedar Falls (IA) Symphony.
Currently flute faculty and Wind Area Head of Rocky Ridge’s College Intensive program, earlier in her tenure at RR she was Program Director for the Junior Program and had a major part in reshaping the faculty and program content during her five years in that position. She has worked closely with SoYoung in these areas at the College Intensive level since joining that faculty. She has taught at the Universities of Iowa and Northern Iowa, Ithaca College and the University of California at Santa Barbara. In May 2025 she retired from over 30 years on the music faculty at Grinnell College.
Claudia’s recent solo project, Glass Ceilings, commissioned several high-profile women composers and flutists to write pieces for flute(s) solo and electronic media, with its originating theme of gender inequality expanded to embrace the effects of Covid-19 and racial tensions of 2020. Anderson’s own work Glass Ceilings won the NFA’s Newly Published Music Competition in 2023. She has recorded for Centaur Records, CRI, Zawa!music, and cdbaby. Claudia’s duo ZAWA! is the longest-standing professional flute duo of our time. From their first commission by Jennifer Higdon onwards, they expanded the literature, power, and expressive range of two flutes together over more than two decades. running the edgE by Jennifer Higdon (commissioned in 1996) laid the foundation for ZAWA!’s commitment to expand this repertoire and to reflect a wealth of contemporary styles. Jennifer’s original dedication in the score of running the edgE, “to Jill and Claudia, always running the edge,” proved prophetic over the next 25 years. ZAWA!’s commissions, arrangements, and programs with repertoire ever pushing boundaries have led to ZAWA! Reimagined in 2025, a new program of works for two flutes and electronic soundtracks. It includes enticing scores from composers both known and emerging, and electronic versions of pieces from earlier repertoire. Follow their latest touring news at zawaflutes2.com
David Shea
David Shea currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Clarinet at Texas Tech University, and is also principal clarinet in the Abilene Philharmonic and Lubbock Symphony Orchestras. He has earned degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory (BM), the University of Illinois (MM) and Indiana University (DM). His teachers have been Howard Klug, Lawrence McDonald, Eli Eban, James Campbell and Ronald Phillips. Shea has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Brazil and Chile. As a member of Trio Montecino, he recently toured in Belgium, Germany, and the United States to promote the release of their second CD, Nuevo Sonido: Latin- American Trios, which is available on the Eroica Classical Recordings label. Shea has performed at the International Clarinet Association Clarinetfests in Chicago, Columbus, Salt Lake City, Atlanta and Kansas City, as well as the OU Clarinet Symposium, University of Montevallo Clarinet Symposium and most recently, at Klarinetstage, Belgium.
Shea was a finalist in the Boosey and Hawkes North American Clarinet Competition and was a concerto competition winner at the Oberlin Conservatory and the Colorado Springs Summer Music Festival. In addition to his solo and chamber music performances, Shea has performed as an orchestral musician with the Indianapolis Symphony, Fort Wayne Symphony, Columbus Philharmonic, Champaign-Urbana Symphony and the Sinfonia de Camera. He has also been involved in numerous CD recording projects for Crystal, Naxos, Delos, Opus One, Indiana University Recordings and Hal Leonard Productions where he worked with such artists as Eugene Rousseau and the Indiana Clarinet Trio. As a teacher, Shea has given master classes throughout the US and South America. He has been invited twice to teach as a sabbatical replacement at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He has also participated in a Big 12 Fellowship grant with Dan Silver at CU-Boulder, where innovative teaching pedagogies were discussed and demonstrated during week-long residencies at both campuses. In 2005, Shea was awarded the Texas Tech University President’s Excellence in Teaching Award, and most recently, was inducted into the Texas Tech University Teaching Academy. David Shea is a Buffet-Crampon USA Performing Artist and is the Texas State Chair for the International Clarinet Association.
Evan Jay Williams
Evan Jay Williams’s musical experiences span working with Pulitzer Prize-winning composers, conducting community bands at fireworks concerts, and a great deal in-between. He has enjoyed working with musicians of all ages, including playing in ensembles open to both amateurs and professionals, teaching composition to middle-school students, and music history to college students. He first became interested in arts service while interning with Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion (NY) and the Monadnock Music Festival (NH) as an undergraduate. He later worked for the Tioga County Council on The Arts (NY); Pittsburgh Symphony and Opera; and the Peabody Conservatory.
As a composer, Evan has been recognized by The American Prizes for both his wind ensemble and orchestral music, and Carnegie Mellon University with its annual award for achievement in composition. His music has been performed across the U.S., in Italy and Spain, and even sent to The Moon as part of the Moon Ark Project. As a writer on music, he has presented his research at the International Conference on Music and Minimalism.
Evan was born and raised in upstate New York, where his first musical instruction came through his school band program. He earned undergraduate degrees in music from the Finger Lakes Community College and Franklin Pierce University, and graduate degrees in composition from Carnegie Mellon and Johns Hopkins Universities. His major teachers were Du Yun, Michael Hersch, Leonardo Balada, and Nancy Galbraith. He was also fortunate to study privately and at several festivals, including Rocky Ridge back in 2012.
Grant Larson
An active recitalist and proponent of new music, saxophonist Grant Larson has premiered works for saxophone by Paul, Hanson, Philip Wharton, Chiayu Hsu, Steven Makala, and John Drumheller at regional and national conventions. He is the soprano saxophonist with the Colorado-based Chautauqua Saxophone Quartet and has performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Fargo/Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. Grant currently serves as the Saxophone Practicing Artist at Denver School of the Arts, is the wind ensemble conductor for the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestras, and serves on the faculty at Rocky Ridge Music Center.
Equally comfortable in both classical and jazz settings, Grant has performed on stage with notable artists such as Maria Schneider, Kurt Elling, Mulgrew Miller, Art Lande, Brad Goode, Johannes Weidenmueller, Peter Erskin, Ray Charles, Ignacio Berroa, and “Slammin” Sammy K. He recently produced a collaborative album (Ascent) of original jazz compositions with fellow musicians Greg Tanner Harris, Matt Fuller, Braun Khan, and Dave Hammond. He also has released two jazz albums of original compositions under the Dazzle Recordings label (Denver, CO). Grant holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado at Boulder; a Master of Music from the University of Colorado; and a Bachelor of Music from Concordia College. Previously, he served on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Concordia College, and the Boulder Arts Academy.
Larry Silber
Larry brings over 20 years’ experience in nonprofit leadership to Rocky Ridge Music Center. Known for building strong relationships for nonprofits with individuals, foundations, and corporations, he has a lifelong appreciation of performing arts and education. He was a Jet in a summer camp production of West Side Story.
Larry served on several community boards, including SteppingStone Theater for Youth Development and has also guided leadership at Ashland Productions, Minnesota Zoo, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, and Children’s HeartLink.
Cycling is a passion and Larry has enjoyed many breath-taking rides in Colorado, including climbing Independence Pass (12,095’).
Madison Casey
Mario Jiménez
Master of Music in Piano Performance, Academic Certificate in Business Entrepreneurship; University of Idaho
Licentiate in Advertising Design, Universidad Véritas
Mario is a Costa Rican concert pianist and creative professional whose career spans performance, music education, and brand communications. His relationship with music began at age five, sitting alone at his grandmother’s electric organ in Costa Rica and exploring sound by ear long before he ever took a formal lesson. That early curiosity has shaped everything since.
As a performer, Mario has competed in international piano competitions across the United States, earning 13 awards and appearing on the stages of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Fox Theatre in Spokane. His repertoire spans Baroque through Contemporary, and he has performed in Costa Rica, the United States, Cuba, and Mexico.
Mario has spent over a decade teaching piano to students of all ages, from young beginners through adult learners, in private studios, community music schools, and university classrooms across Costa Rica and the United States. At the University of Idaho and Georgia State University he served as a Graduate Assistant instructor for group and private piano, and he has presented on music education and learning differences at the MTNA National Conference and the Idaho Music Teachers Association Conference.
Alongside his work as a performer and educator, Mario founded MJDC Studio, a creative and marketing agency serving clients in music, hospitality, and the arts. He co-founded El Cuarto, an LGBTQ+ cultural space in San José, Costa Rica, dedicated to supporting local artists and fostering community through live performance and visual art.
Mario is proud to bring his experience in live production, media management, and music education to Rocky Ridge Music Center, an organization whose commitment to community and artistic growth reflects values he has carried throughout his career.
Romina Lely Soto-Solari
Si-Yan Darren Li
B.M., The Juilliard School
Cellist Si-Yan Darren Li made his professional debut at the age of 9 and has since gone on to an international career as a recitalist, chamber musician, and teacher. He has appeared in solo and chamber music performances at prestigious concert venues, including Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, 92nd Street Y, Kennedy Center as well as Verbier Festival, Ravinia Festival and Sun Valley Music Festival. An active chamber musician, he has collaborated with such esteemed artists as Emanuel Ax, Leon Fleisher, Miriam Fried, Lang Lang, Thomas Quasthoff and members of the Emerson, Takács, Juilliard, Cleveland, Orion, Casals, and Ébène quartets. As a dedicated pedagogue, his students have won top prizes in major international competitions, including Banff, Bordeaux, Melbourne and Wigmore Hall international string quartet competitions. Nationally, his student ensembles have won Fischoff, Coltman and Glass City chamber music competitions.
Li holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School and a Master of Music and Artist Diploma from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. He is a prizewinner in numerous prestigious competitions, including the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow and the YCA International Auditions in New York. Li joined the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2017 and currently serves as Associate Dean of Ensembles and Chamber Music Program Director. He plays a 1773 cello by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, generously on loan from the private collection of Mr. and Mrs. Rin Kei Mei.
SoYoung Lee
SoYoung Lee, Executive/Music Director at Rocky Ridge Music Center, received her Doctorate in Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has held director positions at Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory Adult Education & Preparatory Department, Millikin University Preparatory Division, and the Boulder Arts Academy & Boulder Ballet. A strong believer in the concept of artist as entrepreneur, she cofounded two organizations: Colorado-based AirTurn, a company dedicated to empowering musicians through technology; and Notes at 9,000 at Winter Park, a multi-genre music competition that launches emerging musicians by providing concert opportunities, funding, and mentoring. She is passionate about building community through the arts, and serves currently as a trustee on the board of Boulder County Arts Alliance and as a member of the Estes Arts Presents Task Force.
An award-winning pianist and a Regents scholar, SoYoung is a recipient of the Ernő Dohnányi Piano Prize and the Gwendolyn Koldofsky Accompanying Fellowship at University of Southern California. She recently released a CD, In This World, with flutist Claudia Anderson. Equally at home as a teacher, she served on the music faculty at Millikin University and State University of New York, Fredonia, and was a visiting Piano Pedagogy faculty at the University of Colorado, Boulder. SoYoung enjoys her multi-faceted career as a performing artist, administrator, teacher, producer, and arts advocate.
Xan McKenna
Robert Fant
MM, CCM
Diploma, NEC
DMA, University of Wisconsin
Dr. Robert Fant is a versatile pedagogue, performer, and composer who brings a world perspective to his work. He brings a passion for classical music and a dedication to excellence through his successful career as a performer and educator. He has taught and performed across the world as a principal horn in Orchestras, Opera, Film Studios, TV, Radio, and more. His passion is to help students achieve their goals and dreams. He is currently the Visiting Professor of Horn at the Tennessee Tech School of Music, horn faculty of Rocky Ridge Music Center, member of the Cumberland Quintet, principal horn of the Bryan Symphony, North State Symphony, Jackson Symphony, XO artist, and XO education clinician. Previous positions include Assistant Professor of Horn at University of Memphis, Assistant Professor of Horn at SWOSU, Professor of Horn at MWSU in Texas, and scholar, teaching, guest, or assistant positions at the University of North Texas, Trinity College London (guest), Royal Northern College of Music (ABRSM Scholar), University of Wisconsin, and the College Conservatory of Music. He is a frequent judge at IHS and other competitions.
Dr. Fant’s former students can be found in nearly all areas of music. In addition to honing their studies in the studio his students can be found regularly in festivals, workshops, and attending high level programs around the world. Recent student accomplishments include winning MTNA Young Artist Award, IHS competitions, Charleston International, Harmony International, and the first horn group to ever place at the IWBC competition. In addition to several educators in schools and private studios, students have appointments at the collegiate level. Many others have gone on to orchestral positions, service band positions, and various creative freelance endeavors in recording and producing. Robert strives to always inspire students to reach for their goals and enjoy their lives in music. He has regularly maintained a studio of private students during his performance career and these students have excelled at All State and in earning scholarships for further study. Robert is often involved in outreach and charity organizations. He has worked extensively with organizations in India, South America, China, Eastern Russia, and throughout the United States. This work involved bring music and aid to underrepresented communities and abused peoples of the world.
Robert’s performance in the USA, Asia, South America, and Europe has led to positions in orchestras, recordings, and solo work. Previously he has held the position of principal horn with the London Mozart Chamber Orchestra, ACO, Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Guiyang Symphony, London Oratorio Society Orchestra, and section positions with the Philharmonie der Nationes (Berlin), Auckland Philharmonia, Verbier Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of India. This work has been in conjunction with playing as guest or extra with orchestras such as The Halle, BBC Philharmonic, National Center for the Performing Arts (Beijing), Taiwan National Symphony, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Thuringer Symponiker, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Staatstheater Hannover, Boston Pops, San Antonio Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Dallas Wind Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Portland Symphony, LSO (London), Royal Ballet (UK), Opera North (UK), BBC Wales, RSNO (Scotland), BBC Symphony, Bavarian Orchestra (Germany), and an apprenticeship with the Vienna Philharmonic under Wolfgang Tombock. These experiences have led to collaborations with great conductors, soloists, artists, and an admiration of how music can change the world.
During this orchestral work Robert has maintained a regular schedule as a recitalist, soloist, and chamber musician. As a former finalist (and the only hornist to that point) for the Gold Medal Competition, Robert has been fortunate to perform as a soloist / recitalist with increased frequency. He is also a past finalist of the Haverhill International Soloist Competition, Carnegie Hall ACJW Fellowship,
WAMSO, and ASTRAL competition. Recent recital engagements include the Steinway Artist series, Wigmore Hall series, North State Symphony, and the Aspen Recital series. He has premiered and/or commissioned many works by young composers from various backgrounds in multiple countries. He can be found on recordings with Dallas Winds, Atlantic Records, Deutsche Grammophone, NAXOS, BBC Radio, BBC TV, REAL TV, Medici Records, University of Michigan Records, Reference Recordings, Klavier Records, and NPR Radio. He has been a part of winning a GRAMMY, Lesser Foundation Award, and a Royal Philharmonic Society award. He is also the only horn on the SONY Film “The Tattooist” and was multi tracked to create the score. Additional film work includes Netflix and Apple film. He has performed as a soloist and premiered many works. Highlights include solo performances with Denton Orchestra, National Orchestra, North England Institute Orchestra, and chamber premieres at Wigmore and with Eric Ewazen in the USA. He has performed with Amy Grant, Roberta Flack, Andre Bocelli, Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Cody Fry, and others to broaden the exposure of the horn in less traditional genres of music.
Robert’s BM is from the University of Michigan, MM from CCM, Diploma from NEC, and DMA from University of Wisconsin. While he has had the privilege to study and seek out many mentors and pedagogues in his past, his primary teachers are Froydis Ree Wekre, Randy Gardner, Michael Hatfield, Jerome Ashby, Kendall Betts, Myron Bloom, Chris Leuba, and Louis Stout.