Katie Patterson, Director
An Atlanta-based singer, actor, and teacher, Katie Patterson started her career in the arts with a Bachelors of Music from Georgia State University where she concentrated in vocal performance. Katie has been teaching private voice and piano lessons around Atlanta for over 12 years. From there she transitioned into event planning and administration in addition to music education. Ms. Patterson has been with First Presbyterian Church for 7+ years and enjoys working with church members and the Atlanta community to create a thriving and dynamic arts environment. Katie also performs frequently around metro Atlanta in professional theater productions, concerts, and cabarets.
Faculty Bios
Alana Bennett, Cello
Atlanta-born cellist, Alana Bennett, has proven herself to be a dynamic and versatile musician on an international stage. From baroque to film music or rock to hip-hop, Alana has embraced all of music?s personalities. As an undergrad at New York University, she principally studied with renowned cellist and pedagogue Marion Feldman and explored jazz with Laura Seaton-Finn and the Alexander Technique with Eddy Malave. She then went on to study at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University with world class cellist and chamber musician Sharon Robinson. While at Indiana University, Alana concentrated in chamber music literature. Her string quartet was invited on fellowship to perform Bartok?s String Quartet No. 2 at the Garth Newel Music Center in Virginia. Alana has been invited to conduct masterclasses and coach students and ensembles at the NYU Art of Collaborative and Solo Playing as well as the Bolivia Clasica program. As a performer she has been a member of the acclaimed New York String Orchestra and performed with them at Carnegie Hall. She has played masterclasses and coached with Bonnie Hampton, Jorja Fleezanis, Jaime Laredo, Eugene Moye, and Anthony Elliott. Currently Alana serves as principal cellist of the Dekalb Symphony Orchestra. She regularly plays with the Macon Symphony, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra Augusta. Alana is a faculty member at Perimeter College at Georgia State University and also maintains a private cello studio in Atlanta, Georgia.
Brendan Callahan-Fitzgerald, Piano
Brendan Callahan-Fitzgerald is an Atlanta-based musician and teacher. In 2013 he spent the summer participating as an apprentice artist for the Des Moines Metro Opera. In 2013 he won the Georgia District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and received the Encouragement Award at the Regional level. He has performed the roles of Rodolfo in La bohème, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Don José in Carmen, The Duke in Rigoletto, Le Chevelier de la Force, in the Dialogues of the Carmelites, King Kaspar in Amahl in the Night Visitors, and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, the title role in Werther, and Giles Corey in The Crucible, and Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Alfredo in La Traviata. Brendan holds a position as a staff musician at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, and maintains a voice and piano studio in Atlanta.
Tim Haney, Guitar
Tim Haney has a Bachelor Of Arts in Guitar Performance. With ten years of teaching experience, he works well with children and adults of all ages. He teaches technique, theory, both finger styles, and how to effectively use a pic. He has extensive background in classical, blues, rock, flamenco and folk styles.
Jens Korndörfer, Organ
In addition to serving as Director of Worship and the Arts, and Organist at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, GA, and instructor for organ at Georgia State University, Dr. Jens Korndörfer performs regularly at major venues and festivals around the world. Highlights include solo concerts at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, Duke University Chapel, the Montreal Bach Festival, the Cathedrals in Berlin, Paris, Salzburg, Oslo, and Moscow, Westminster Abbey in London, Suntory Hall and Metropolitan Art Space in Tokyo, Kyoto Concert Hall, and the Cultural Centre in Hong Kong.
He has concertized with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, and the Hofer Symphoniker. His repertoire reaches from the Renaissance to the 21st century, including world premiere performances of compositions by Vania Angelova and Pamela Decker.
Dr. Korndörfer graduated with highest honors from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, the Oberlin Conservatory, the Musikhochschule in Bayreuth, and McGill University in Montreal. His teachers include Olivier Latry, Michel Bouvard, James David Christie, and Ludger Lohmann.
He has recorded four CDs and published numerous articles in international music journals. Dr. Korndörfer is frequently invited to give presentations and master classes at conventions and universities around the world.
He is represented by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc., in North America.
www.jenskorndoerfer.com
Elizabeth Lamberth, Piano
Elizabeth has taught piano while in attendance at the Oberlin Conservatory, at the Concordia Conservatory in Bronxville NY and privately for 24 years. As a pianist, she has performed, accompanied and collaborated in chamber music and has served as a pianist/organist for several churches, most notably as Director of Music for St. Malachy?s the Actors? Chapel in New York City. Elizabeth treasures her work with young people of all ages (as well as with adult students!) and is always inspired by their determination, creativity, energy, wit and intelligence; all of which come to light in the process of learning and making music together. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Indiana University, a Bachelor of Music in Piano from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music in Piano from Mannes College The New School for Music. She loves liturgy and the study of all the world?s religions, being outdoors, wildlife and birds, reading, cooking, singing and the arts. She is currently studying organ with Dr. Jens Korndorfer through SFA.
Charlie Little, Brass
Charles Little has been a member of the PSPA faculty since the school was founded. Mr. Little holds a Bachelor of Music degree in French horn from Kent State University and a Master of Music in Musicology from Georgia State University. He studied French horn with Myron Bloom, former principal horn of The Cleveland Orchestra, and with William Slocum, professor of horn at Kent State University. He is widely recognized as a brass teacher in the Atlanta area. As well as maintaining his own teaching studio, Mr. Little has taught at Columbus College, the Neighborhood Music Schools of Georgia State University, the Georgia Academy of Music, the Peggy Still School of Music, and Noteworthy Studios in Alpharetta. He is also in demand as a brass clinician in the Atlanta area schools.
As a performer, Mr. Little has been a member of the Youngstown Symphony, the Atlanta Woodwind Quintet, the Southwind Brass Quintet, the Atlanta Chamber Orchestra, the Georgia Sinfonia, the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and the Atlanta Lyric Theatre Orchestra. He has also performed with the Atlanta Opera, the Augusta Opera, Theatre of the Stars, the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and as an extra with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Little has done freelance work accompanying such renowned artists as Henry Mancini, Chuck Mangione, Doc Severinsen, Linda Ronstadt, Nelson Riddle, Ray Charles, the Moody Blues, Tony Bennett and Marvin Hamlisch. He has recorded in studios in Atlanta and Greenville, South Carolina.
Allegra Whitney, Voice
Allegra Whitney, a graduate of Florida State University?s voice program, has performed as soprano soloist and ensemble member for Walt Disney World, Florida State University Opera, and several local musical theater organizations throughout her school years. Currently, Allegra sings with the Atlanta Opera Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus / Chamber Chorus, and serves as Co-Director of Children's Choirs, Staff Singer and Soloist at First Presbyterian Church. In addition to performing theatrically behind the mic as a VoiceOver Talent for Massive Dynamics, Allegra teaches private voice, piano, and guitar for the School of Fine Arts at First Presbyterian and is certified as a MusikGarten music educator.
Jonathan Urizar Violin
William Mann, Trombone
William Mann is the Assistant Professor of Trombone at Georgia State University. He is also a founding member of the American Trombone Quartet and second trombone with the Des Moines Symphony.
William is regularly sought after as a lecturer, clinician and performer throughout the United States and Brazil, including the Bay View Music Festival in Bay View, MI, the Third Coast Trombone Retreat, and the Festival Nacional de Musica in Goiania, Brazil.
In the summer of 2012, William won second place in the overall solo competition at the International Women?s Brass Conference in Kalamazoo, MI, competing against other brass musicians from around the world.
In addition to performing with the Des Moines Symphony, William?s orchestral experiences include performing with the Atlanta, Chattanooga, Columbus, Lexington Philharmonic, Ohio Valley, West Virginia, Quad-City, Missouri, Tuscaloosa, Meridian, Victoria and Waco Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed with the Austin Lyric Opera, as well as the Victoria Bach, Texas Music and Hot Springs Music Festivals, and the 49th Armored Division Band. His jazz experience includes performing with the Di Martino Osland Jazz Orchestra (DOJO) and the Waco Jazz Orchestra, among others.
William received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in trombone performance from the University of Texas at Austin in addition to a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University.
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Ricky Saucedo, Woodwinds
Ricky studied clarinet and flute performance at Georgia State University with Dr. Kenneth Long, clarinet, and Paul Brittain, flute. He's been a woodwind instructor for numerous schools throughout the Atlanta area while maintaining a private studio since 2002. He was the winner of the Brumby Concerto Competition and later performed Mozart's Clarinet Concerto accompanied by the Georgia State University Symphony Orchestra. He was Principal Clarinetist in the University Symphony Orchestra for 4 years and has been featured various times as solo Guest Artist with the New Atlanta Philharmonic and also with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Ricky has had the pleasure of performing at masterclasses with world-renowned clarinetists, Charles Neidich, Bepi D'Amato, and Guy Deplus. His other primary teachers include Laura Ardan, Principal Clarinet of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Jon Manasse, Clarinet Professor at The Juilliard School. In 2010, he moved to New York City to study with Ayako Oshima and Charles Neidich, Clarinet Professors at The Juilliard School.
After returning to his home state of Georgia in 2013, Ricky continues to teach and perform music in and around Atlanta, including teaching Band and Instrumental Music at St. Benedict's Episcopal School, acting as the Clarinet Teaching Artist for The Atlanta Music Project and also as The Woodwind Instructor for The Gift of Music Foundation. Mr. Saucedo is a sought after clarinetist/reed player for orchestras, professional theatres and other performances in the Atlanta area and continues to maintain a private studio.
Julie Coucheron, Piano
Born in Oslo, Norway, Ms. Coucheron began playing the piano at age four. She earned her Bachelor and Master?s Degree with honors from the Royal Academy of Music in London. At the age of 30, Ms. Coucheron has established an international career, winning awards in Italy, Germany, UK and in the United States.
Ms. Coucheron has worked with musicians such as Claude Frank, Emanuel Ax, Chee-Yun Kim, Christopher O?Riley, Steve Miller Band, Yo-Yo Ma, and Elton John, and has toured Europe, America, South America and Asia, performing in halls like Verizon Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.
Ms. Coucheron has performed with the Norwegian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic; Jena Symphony Orchestra, and the Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra in Kiev.
Ms. Coucheron regularly performs at festivals such as the Oslo Chamber Music Festival, Bergen International Music Festival, Amelia Island Music Festival, Madison Chamber Music Festival, Juneau Jazz and Classics and at La Jolla Summer Fest. She is Artistic Director of the Fjord Cadenza festival in Norway and for the Kon Tiki Chamber Music Festival in Oslo, Norway.
In addition, Ms. Coucheron also performed during the 2003 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, and at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
In addition to her busy concert schedule, Ms. Coucheron is a sought after teacher and pedagogue. In August 2014, she was appointed Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the top 50 state schools in the United States.
Ms. Coucheron has given masterclasses and taught at schools such as the New England Conservatory, Emory University and Mercer University.
Marshall Isseks, Piano/Saxophone
Marshall Isseks is originally from a musical family in Liberty, New York. Having come to Atlanta in 2006 to attend Emory University, he graduated in 2010 with a BA magna cum laude in philosophy. Since then, he has worked as an in-demand musician and music educator and earned a Master's in Music in Jazz Studies in 2016 from Georgia State University. From 2013-2016, Marshall led the long-running jazz jam session on Thursdays at the Queen of Sheba and has performed with a lengthy and impressive list of the southeast's most respected musicians and groups. He believes that music education is an integral part of any person's general knowledge and vital to our society's overall well-being.
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Lessons with Allegra required prior approval. Contact the office to register: 404-228-7753
Julia Doker, Piano
Julia Dokter holds two doctoral degrees in music; one in organ performance (McGill University) and one in musicology (Universiteit Utrecht). She has published a number of articles on various music topics in academic journals, and has recently published a book on baroque music. While primarily an organist, she also enjoys playing harpsichord and piano, and teaching these instruments to adults and children of all musical levels. She also teaches at GSU and Agnes Scott College
