School of Fine Arts - St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church - Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77042

Faculty

Mandy Kung (Director, Piano Instructor, Group Piano Class)
Mandy began playing the piano at the age of 4, and has always enjoyed sharing her love of music with children and adults alike. She is the founder and current director of St. Andrew’s SOFA and feels blessed to be a part of the St. Andrew’s church family. She received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, and a Masters of Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Houston under the instruction of Nancy Weems and Betty Shaw. Mandy is a much sought after chamber musician, accompanist, and pedagogue in the Houston area. Prior to starting the program at St. Andrew’s, she taught for many years at West University Methodist and the Preparatory and Continuing Studies Program at the University of Houston. For the past two summers, Mandy has served as the co-director and instructor of a prestigious high school piano institute at the Texas Music Festival, where the most promising young musicians across the nation get an opportunity to experience life as a music major. Mandy teaches part-time at Houston’s High School for Performing and Visual Arts, and is grateful to have the 6th period web-mastering class design the SOFA website! Professional affiliations include membership in Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society, and Forum Music Teacher's Association, the local chapter of the Music Teacher's National Association.

Stephanie Chan (Piano Instructor, Theory and Ear-Training Instructor)
Stephanie Chan began studying piano at the age of 6. She has studied under John Weems of Sugar Land, Texas, and is currently working on her Bachelors of Musc at the University of Houston's Moores School of Music, where she is pursuing a degree in piano performance under Nancy Weems. Stephanie has won numerous competitions, ranging from the local level to the international. In 2006, she was one of seven national finalists in the MTNA Senior Piano Competition, and in May 2007 she appeared on the national radio show From The Top, which showcases young musicians from across the country. Stephanie has performed with the HSPVA Symphony, Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra, Clear Lake Symphony, and Symphony North of Houston as winner of their young artists competitions. She has worked with such renowned pianists as Olga Kern, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Nelita True, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and Peter Frankl and was featured on Houston's local radio station KUHF. In addition to performing, Stephanie enjoys teaching piano and theory at St. Andrew's.

Tracy Gelbaugh (Guitar Instructor)

Tracy Taylor Gelbaugh has been playing the guitar since she was about ten years old. Tracy developed a relationship with her guitar by playing hits by Peter, Paul and Mary, The Mamas and The Pappas, and The Everly Bros. Later, Tracy studied music theory and classical guitar at Memorial Music and has studied under several outstanding instructors throughout most of her life. Four years ago, Tracy started teaching private lessons. She is known for her witty original lyrics, spontaneous concerts in the middle of science class, and adherence to her belief that all kids can learn. In addition to a Master's of Education, Mrs. Gelbaugh has 11 years of teaching experience in HISD. Tracy is a member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, is married to the love of her life, and has two handsome sons.

Maxine Kuo (Adjunct Violin Instructor)
Maxine, violinist, hails as "one of Texas’ finest talents" (Plano News). Grand Prize Winner of the 2004 Kingsville International Competition, she most recently appeared with the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, presenting a “sweeping and poignant” (Corpus Caller Times) performance of Prokofiev’s Second Concerto. Ms. Kuo leads an active solo career, appearing in recitals and with ensembles such as the Plano Chamber Orchestra, Texas Music Festival Orchestra and the Southern Methodist University Meadows Symphony. Also a committed chamber musician, Maxine is currently a member of the Sybarite Quintet, a group in residence year-round at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. As a four-time full scholarship recipient at the Aspen Music Festival and School, she has held the concertmaster position of both their Sinfonia and Academy of Conducting Orchestras. Maxine received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School where she studied with Cho-Liang Lin and Naoko Tanaka. She currently serves as teaching assistant to Ms. Tanaka, at both the Juilliard School and the Aspen Music Festival and School. Previous teachers include Fredell Lack and Michele Auclair. Her strongest musical influences these days are the band Radiohead and Waylon Jennings. In her spare time, she loves to watch football and cook.

Doris Sing
Doris was born and grew up in Houston and has been a member of St Andrew’s, where she has sung in the choir and been a frequent soloist for 30 years. She and her husband have two grown daughters. She enjoys gardening, walking, and playing with her four young grandchildren. Doris has a Bachelor of Science in Special Education, a Bachelor of Music, and a Masters of Music in Music Literature. She has extensive training in Early Childhood Music and has taught Kindermusik, Music Together, and Musikgarten curriculums for the past 15 years. From 1993 to 2003 she was a Director of Arts a la Carte, which she co-founded with Judy Meier Farley. Together they taught music from Prenatal to age 8 and supervised art and drama classes for young children. She loves teaching at SOFA because it gives her a chance to combine her love of children with her love of serving God through St Andrew’s ministries.

Rasa Kalesnykaite, Violin Instructor
Lithuanian violinist Rasa Kalesnykaite holds degrees from the Lithuanian Academy of Music (Bachelor and Master of Music) and the University of Houston (Master of Music) where she studied with prof. Emanuel Borok. She has extensively performed throughout Europe as a solo, chamber music recitalist and as a member of the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra (Vilnius, Lithuania), acting as concertmaster occasionally. She is also a prize winner of the National V. Motiekaitis Violin Competition in Vilnius. Since her arrival in Houston, Ms. Kalesnykaite has served as Concertmaster of the Symphony of Southeast Texas as well as a contracted player for the Houston Symphony which she frequently continues to play with to this day. She also was selected as guest artist to participate in arts-in education performance program for the Young Audiences of Houston. Currently, she is a member of the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet Orchestras. During her summers, Ms. Kalesnykaite holds the Assistant Principal position at the Britt Festivals in Southern Oregon.

Joanna Cheung (Violin Instructor)
Born and raised in Houston, TX, Joanna started piano lessons with her mother at the age of 3. At the age of 5, she began learning violin and continued in earnest, graduating from the High School of Performing and Visual Arts in 1999 and the University of Houston in 2003, whereshe received her Bachelor of Music in violin performance under the instruction of Fredell Lack. After completing a two-year Bible truth church service training in California, Joanna returned to Houston where she mentored college age students through small-group Bible studies. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in architecture at the University of Houston and enjoys teaching music lessons part-time.

Joshua Sheiman (Electric and Acoustic Guitar Instructor)
Josh Sheiman’s musical journey began overseas in Holland. While being exposed to various cultures at the American School of the Hague, Josh also developed an interest in guitar and began lessons at age 12. When returning to Houston, Josh attended Episcopal High School where he would win numerous awards including “Excellence in the Study of Music” and “Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.” While starting as a rock/blues based guitarist, interest in Jazz would lead him to performing in the Summer Jazz Workshop where he won the “Duke Ellington Award.” Josh received a BA in music (Jazz Guitar) from the University of Miami. During his studies there, he participated in downbeat award winning ensembles as well as performing in original and cover acts all across Miami. His performances and recordings with local groups helped shape him as an eclectic guitar player. In addition to teaching at various studios around Houston, Josh keeps an active performing schedule around town including the Hobby Center and Stages Repertory Theatre, as well as playing with local singer songwriters, jazz bands, and cover bands. When not doing music Josh enjoys spending time with his good friends, and following and watching local Houston sport teams.

Casey Gambill (Voice Instructor)
Casey Gambill is the assistant choir director at Goodson Middle School in the Cypress Fairbanks I.S.D. Prior to her current position, she was in Spring Independent School District at Bailey Middle School. Casey is a graduate of the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), Houston, Texas, where she was a student of Patricia Bonner, Carole Nelson and Rob Seible. While at HSPVA, one of her most meaningful musical experiences included singing in the first American Choral Directors Association, National High School Honor Choir, under the direction of Jing Ling Tam. Casey spent her freshman year of college at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where she was a student of Joseph Flummerfelt, Anne Ackley Grey and Dr. James Jordan. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Houston, Moores School of Music in May 2003, where she was a student of Dr. Charles Hausmann, Dr. Timothy Jones and Dr. Betsy Cook Weber. In addition to her school work, Casey is a frequent soloist and 13 year choir member at Covenant Church under the direction of Fran Avera. She has also been a member and soloist of the Houston Chamber choir, and currently, Cantare Houston, both are professional choirs in Houston, Texas. Her professional affiliations include Texas Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association and Sigma Alpha Iota.

Brittany Conkel (Piano Instructor)
Brittany Conkel has been playing the piano since the age of 5, and loves sharing her love of music, particularly classical music, with others. Born into a musical family, Brittany has been submersed in piano music since birth, and has had the privilege of working with many talented pianists, including: Abbey Simon, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and Anton Nel. In addition, she has competed in numerous competitions, and was a state finalist in the Texas Music Teachers Association Solo Performance Contest 6 years in a row. She was also the featured pianist on NBC’s “The Why Guy” in 2006. Brittany is currently getting her Bachelor’s of Music in Piano Performance with Nancy Weems at the University of Houston.

School of Fine Arts Board of Directors
Martha Bergin
Lindsey Fifer
Larry Gelbaugh
Sara Hilkemann
Doris Sing
Mike McGlothlin