TEACHER'S PAGE

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Gale Brown

Gale has been a music lover all her life.  She began piano lessons at the age of 8, inspired by her mother and grandmother who both played the piano and sang.  Gale progressed through the Royal Conservatory of Music grades.  Gale went into high school with a strong desire to learn to play the flute and fulfilled this dream through her teenaged years.  Her love of music led her to learn the guitar and the recorder.  She continued to play these instruments throughout university where she received a B.A. in English and Psychology.  Gale also enjoyed working with children and received her diploma from Toronto Montessori Institute.  She continued to pursue music by teaching piano lessons and playing flute in the Mississauga Concert Band, at churches and other venues.  Gale saw a Celtic harp in a music store window and immediately fell in love with the instrument, bringing it home the same day.  She began harp lessons and has been playing the harp now for years.  Her husband, David made Gale a larger Celtic harp as a wedding present.  After teaching in Montessori schools for a number of years, Gale decided to train for and teach a keyboard based program called Music for Young Children.  Gale held classes for children ages 3 to 12 years in her home based studio for eleven years.  She found great joy in seeing her students move through the classes over the years.  At the same time, Gale’s love of the harp led her to partner with a flutist/singer to form a duo to play at weddings, receptions and other gatherings.  Gale also participated in the harp ensemble concerts.  With her family’s move to Colorado, Gale continued her musical adventures by playing harp and flute in church orchestras, at nursing homes, libraries, and festivals.  She continues to be an active member of the Colorado Celtic Harp Society and the Mile High Chapter of the American Harp Society.  Both groups have performed wonderful harp ensemble concerts.  Gale now also enjoys playing the pedal harp as well as the Celtic harp.  She is teaching piano once more and plays regularly with a flutist. Gale has been teaching at Harmony Road Music Academy since the fall of 2008 and enjoys sharing her love of music with the children.

Gale@hrhrma.com

Whitney Testa

Whitney fell in love with music as a small child and and has been playing the piano since age five. She began studying voice privately in high-school and went on to earn her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Lamont School of Music at the University of
Denver, graduating magna cum laude. Proficient in music theory and vocal pedagogy, Whitney has a passion for teaching ear training and theory to both her piano and voice students. She plays, sings and teaches a variety of styles including classical, musical theater, and pop and warns that her passion for music may be contagious.

 Whitney@hrhrma.com

Sam Cogburn

Sam Cogburn recently graduated from Colorado State University-Pueblo with a degree in guitar performance and music education.  His principal instructor during his undergraduate studies was Ben Cantu.  A graduate of Walsh High School, Sam received a scholarship from a local arts fund and was also awarded the renewable Caroline Cramer Voss Scholarship for four years of college.

At CSU-Pueblo, Sam was a member of a number of ensembles, including classical guitar ensemble, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, brass ensemble, and concert choir.  He is involved with several organizations such as the Denver Classical Guitar Society, the Colorado Springs Guitar Society, MENC, the American String Teachers Association, and the Guitar Foundation of America.  Sam has had masterclasses with Manuel Barrueco, Martha Masters, Ricardo Iznaola, Denis Azabagic, and Stephen Aron among others.  He has attended festivals such as the National Guitar Workshop, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Ben Verdery’s Hawaii Guitar Class.   

In addition to teaching, Sam is also an active concert artist.  In June 2009 he gave his professional debut for the Colorado Springs Guitar Society.  At the Bowdoin Music Festival he gave a performance of George Crumb’s “Night of the Four Moons”, with Maestro Crumb in attendance and his daughter Anna Crumb singing the soprano line.  In addition to these, he has given numerous other concerts in Pueblo, Canyon City, Walsh, Colorado Springs, Denver, and is a frequent member of the Pueblo Symphony.  In March of 2009, he won first prize in the senior guitar division for the American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition.  Sam will be pursuing a performance certificate from the lamont school of music in Denver beginning in the Fall of this year. 

Sam@hrhrma.com