Music Alumni
To learn about the activities of some of our alums, visit our alumni links page.
(Alums, keep us updated on your activities!)
Music Faculty & Staff
Kathryn Ahearn
Adjunct Instructor of Voice
After twenty years of extensive performing with the Boston Opera Company, Wolftrap Opera, Carnegie Hall and many other companies, I now really love giving back to my students. Performing on stage is such a wonderful way of expressing not only your talent but your inner soul. It is my goal to have each student experience the joy and the freedom of that wonderfully unique experience. Several of my former students are now performing on Broadway and in major opera companies. Their successes are my joy. Family, traveling and tennis are also high on my list.
M.M., Boston Conservatory of Music
Grace Bauson
Adjunct Instructor of Harp
M.Mus., University of Toronto; D.A., Ball State University
Damien Bollino
Adjunct Instructor of Horn
When not playing, teaching, or studying music, Damien (on the left) can most often be found somewhere reading whilst probably eating ridiculous amounts of popcorn, a favorite for anyone who may need to get on his good side! He has the distinct pleasure of being married to a musician, Annamarie (process of elimination: the one on the right), who also happens to be a horn player (yes, it’s possible) and who (besides influencing music education in the state) keeps him on his toes playing-wise! Together they enjoy traveling, supporting everything musical, graciously being allowed to live in a house they pay for by the two mischievous yet lovable cats they are attempting to raise, and food, lots of good foods! Not necessarily preparing, just eating!
M.M. Duquesne University
Gary Carper
Adjunct Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium
Gary Carper (Tuba, Euphonium) still gets a thrill from teaching, even after 40+ years, but live performance is his dominant motivation. At UMW: The Faculty Brass Quintet, Faculty Jazz Sextet and the new Brass Ensemble are his primary focus. As a free-lance Musician since 1976, Gary has performed in 39 states with a wide variety of ensembles on Tuba, Bass Trombone, Tenor Trombone and Euphonium. A partial list of current ensembles include The Piedmont Symphony Orchestra (Principle Tuba), The Mid Atlantic Wind Symphony (Principle Tuba), The Gangplank Ragtime Band, The Edelweiss Band and his own ensemble: The Washburg Brass Quintet.
Matthew Case
Adjunct Instructor of Percussion
Katherine Colburn
ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR OF CELLO
M.M., George Mason University
Jordan Davidson
Adjunct Instructor of Voice
M.M., D.M.A., James Madison University
A native of Northern New York, Dr. Jordan Davidson pursues opportunities in opera, operetta, musical theater, concert, and recital. Jordan has held teaching positions at the University of Virginia and James Madison University and is currently the Choral Director at Brooke Point High School in Stafford, VA. Jordan is also the conductor and artistic director of the Rappahannock Choral Society. With interest in both classical and popular styles of singing, Dr. Davidson believes that today’s music industry demands a well-rounded, stylistically flexible voice. Students will leave Dr. Davidson’s studio with the confidence to sing in a variety of vocal styles and to advocate on behalf of their musical identity. Notable performances include the title role in Bernstein’s Candide and On The Town, Albert in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring, Lysander in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Rachmaninoff’s The Bells, Handel’s Messiah, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
Maxxx Dennis
office manager
Maxxxis a Fredericksburg native. He is an oboist, performing regularly in the region. If the weather is warm enough, he can be found tubing down the Rappahannock river.
Brittany Frompovich
Adjunct instructor of Contrabass
Brittany Frompovich is a highly regarded teacher, clinician, and musician. She has shared the stage with musicians such as Robert Harsen, Ron Holloway, Jason Everett, Michael Dimin, and Edo Castro. When Ms. Frompovich is not working, she is usually found practicing or writing music, blogging, working on videos, creating jewelry out of used instrument strings, building bass guitars, kayaking, biking, hiking, gardening, cooking vegetarian meals or practicing photography. More at www.ladybassmusic.com
Doug Gately
Senior Lecturer of Music
Doug Gately (Instrumental music, Jazz studies) specializes in woodwinds and jazz piano. A MaryWash alumnus, he was for many years member of the United States Air Force jazz ensemble Airmen of Note, and has performed with such artists as varied Dizzy Gillespie, Sammy Nestico, Aretha Franklin, Crystal Gayle, Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, and Michael Feinstein. He maintains an active performance career with solo appearances, chamber groups, and club and orchestra gigs. Prof. Gately directs the UMW jazz ensemble and concert band. See www.douggately.com
M.A., George Mason University
Cathy Hoskins
accompanist
Cathy accompanies the choral ensembles, the group voice workshop and vocal/instrumental students, as well as working with UMW Theatre and Dance. In addition, she has accompanied and directed musical productions around the community. In her “spare” time, Cathy is the music teacher at Tree of Life Christian Preparatory School in Fredericksburg for grades K-8, as well as a private vocal coach and piano teacher. She observes, “Music is such a powerful tool that can connect people from all walks of life. I have built numerous friendships and connections over the years because of music and it is my goal to be not only an accompanist, but a friend.”
Michael Huffman
Adjunct Instructor of Trumpet
M.M., State University of New York at Purchase
Brooks Kuykendall
Professor of music & department chair
Brooks Kuykendall (musicology) teaches FSEM, music history, and general education music courses, and serves as department chair. His favorite aspect of teaching is the opportunity to involve students in the long conversation about music, and to get them thinking beyond the lyrics to the music. As a musician he is an organist and a horn player, but is more likely to be sitting in the audience than on stage.
Brooks blogs about musical textual issues at www.settlingscoresblog.net. For more of his activities, see jamesbrookskuykendall.com
M.A., Ph.D. Cornell University
Bruce Middle
Adjunct Instructor of Guitar
Glenn Quader
Interim Director of the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra
Katherine Roach
Adjunct Instructor of Music Studies
Jarrett Rodriguez
Adjunct Instructor in Woodwinds and Music Entrepreneurship
Jarrett Rodriguez is co-principal bassoon for the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, consulting bassoonist for Jones Double Reeds, and co-owner of Cane Collab. He believes being a musician is more than just playing musical notes, it’s about connecting to people through music and taking on new and creative challenges. Working in the gig economy, music entrepreneurship is essential to Rodriguez. He embraces both musical creativity and gig economy business with music entrepreneurship. He creatively thrives in situations with new challenges and pushes forward with change. He designed his own unique interdisciplinary academic path in music entrepreneurship by studying bassoon performance, then continuing graduate school to study professional business writing and design thinking. Rodriguez strives to develop his students into freelance musicians and to foster innovation in the world of music (and beyond). He encourages his students to embrace new ideas and to discover their own musical path.
Chris Ryder
Associate Professor of Music & Director of Choral Activities
Chris Ryder was part of the music community in Fredericksburg even before his time as a student at Mary Washington College (’89). Currently, he directs the choral programs at UMW, and teaches class voice, conducting, and general education music courses. When he’s not on campus, he often working as a guest conductor and clinician in schools in Virginia and beyond, making music at Fredericksburg Baptist Church, where he serves as Minister of Music, or riding his bike around town.
M.A., George Mason University; D.M.A., Shenandoah University
Eddie Steenstra
Adjunct Instructor of Trombone
M.M., Ithaca College
Jane Tavernier
Adjunct instructor of voice & music studies
D.M.A., University of Maryland
John Vreeland
Adjunct Instructor of Organ
Originally from New Jersey, John Vreeland is Director of Music Ministries at historic St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, where he serves as principal organist, directs three choirs, a Jazz Ensemble and Chamber Ensemble. An accomplished Jazz pianist, bassist, arranger and composer as well, his arrangements and compositions are a regular feature of services at St. George’s. When he has time to relax, he cooks, bikes around Fredericksburg, memorizes organ music of Max Reger, or plays through the late piano works of Brahms.
M.Mus., University of Buffalo
Bill Wassum
Adjunct instructor of violin & Viola
Bill Wassum has over forty years of experience establishing and growing string programs in Texas, West Virginia, South Carolina and Virginia. One of three founders of the Orchestra Program in Spotsylvania County Schools, he teaches studio violin and viola and directs the String Ensemble. The most rewarding aspect of teaching for him has been seeing students he has mentored develop a love of string playing and go on to be accomplished performers and teachers. He is a Registered Suzuki Violin Teacher and has traveled overseas to Great Britain, Finland, and Australia to receive training in the Colourstrings Method for teaching violin and viola. Bill loves connecting with students; and especially enjoys that “Aha!” moment when a student finally masters a difficult passage or technique, or grasps a certain musical concept or phrasing. He also loves collecting musical quotes: “People have often said to me, ‘You’re so relaxed when you play.’ Relaxed my elbow. It’s practice.” – Benny Goodman.
https://www.wassumstrings.com/
M.A., Marshall University
Robert Wells
Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Keyboard Studies
Robert Wells (music theory) teaches theory and aural skills classes ranging from music fundamentals to advanced theory courses for music majors and minors. As a theorist who is also an active pianist and oboist, he enjoys encouraging students to connect the seemingly abstract world of music theory with tangible principles of performance, composition, teaching, and listening. Dr. Wells also enjoys exploring the colorful interconnections between music theory and mathematics.
M.M., M.A., Ph.D., Eastman School of Music