Allyson Partin
Horn
-Allyson is an active freelance French Horn teacher and performer in the Twin Cities. She plays in many diverse settings with local orchestras, bands and brass ensembles. She is especially excited to be a part of the Minnesota Horn Quartet, an exciting new chamber group.
-Allyson has an active teaching studio of students of all ages and playing abilities. She has over 10 years of teaching experience and has developed her teaching skills over that time. She now has a large studio with locations in Minneapolis, Plymouth and Inver Grove Heights.
-Allyson has a master’s degree from McGill University, and a Graduate Performance Diploma and Bachelor’s degree in horn performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her studies at McGill and Peabody, Allyson also studied with Denise Tryon, teacher at Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and Rene Pagen.
-Allyson has an active teaching studio of students of all ages and playing abilities. She has over 10 years of teaching experience and has developed her teaching skills over that time. She now has a large studio with locations in Minneapolis, Plymouth and Inver Grove Heights.
-Allyson has a master’s degree from McGill University, and a Graduate Performance Diploma and Bachelor’s degree in horn performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her studies at McGill and Peabody, Allyson also studied with Denise Tryon, teacher at Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and Rene Pagen.
Melyssa Rice
Voice
Melyssa Rice has taught singing using humor and empathy for over 20 years, to students of all ages, genres and experience levels. Her specialty is communicating high-level vocal technique -- how to produce relaxed, healthy, beautiful sound throughout the range, every time you sing. Melyssa uses plain English, anatomical explanations, and imagery to guide students as they build muscle memory, and she creates exercises and selects repertoire customized to each student's goals. Topic covered include: diaphragmatic breathing, support, eliminating laryngeal tension, resonance, vowel optimization, projection, placement, chiaroscuro, and high voice release. In addition to vocal technique, Melyssa also coaches German and Italian diction, judges singing competitions, coaches audition performances, and gives master classes. Past teaching positions include voice faculty at Seattle Central, South Seattle, Bellevue and Shoreline Community Colleges, and at the Music Center of the Northwest. Melyssa's students are performing on opera stages, as musical theater soloists, as paid choristers, and as lead singers in pop, alternative, jazz and heavy metal bands; some of them are voice teachers themselves; and 100% of her long-term classical high school students received college vocal music scholarships. As a singer, Melyssa has performed opera roles, opera/oratorio solos with orchestra, and classical music in six solo concerts and too many shared concerts to count! She has also been lead singer for two bands: a 16-piece swing band and a small folk/funk band. Currently, Melyssa is an active professional soloist for Thursday Musical.
Andrew Fox: bagpipes
Developing an interest in Scottish music at a young age, Andrew Fox began playing bagpipes as a middle school student in his hometown of Hastings, MN.
He plays with the Macalester College Pipe Band in St. Paul where he competes with the prize-winning grade 3 band on a regular basis. In 2012 the Macalester band won the grade 3 Champion Supreme title in the Midwest. A competitive soloist in the Midwest Pipe Band Association, he now plays in grade 2.
Andrew also has experience as a dance piper and has played for the Royal Scottish Country Dance Association - Twin Cities Chapter for the last five years, as well as for numerous Highland dancers.
He currently serves as the Pipe Major of the Macalester College Grade 5 Pipe Band.
He plays with the Macalester College Pipe Band in St. Paul where he competes with the prize-winning grade 3 band on a regular basis. In 2012 the Macalester band won the grade 3 Champion Supreme title in the Midwest. A competitive soloist in the Midwest Pipe Band Association, he now plays in grade 2.
Andrew also has experience as a dance piper and has played for the Royal Scottish Country Dance Association - Twin Cities Chapter for the last five years, as well as for numerous Highland dancers.
He currently serves as the Pipe Major of the Macalester College Grade 5 Pipe Band.