HARMONIA FACULTY

NAYOON CHOI

Flute (BA, MM, DMA)

Nayoon Choi is an active flutist, teacher, and freelancer in the Northern Virginia and Washington, DC areas. Dr. Choi has over twenty years of experience teaching the flute and piccolo in London, South Korea, and the USA. She teaches various skill levels from beginner to advanced and students of all ages in both private and group lessons. Her students have won various competitions and have continued their studies at the university level.

Born in South Korea, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal College of Music in London, her Postgraduate Diploma from the Trinity College of Music in London, her Master of Music degree in flute performance from Illinois State University, and her DMA in flute performance from George Mason University.

Nayoon made her solo debut with the Masan Youth Symphony Orchestra in South Korea at age 12. Ms. Choi has given solo recitals throughout Korea, London, and the United States, and she has toured Spain and the United Kingdom as a member of the Meridian Trio for flute, viola, and harp; she has also toured Austria as a member of the Eine Flute Ensemble. She has performed at major venues across the United States, including the Kennedy Center, as a member of Ahrya Trio. She has won concerto competitions at George Mason University and Illinois Stage University and was awarded the prize at the North London Chamber Festival. She has performed in numerous master classes with Sebastian Bell, Andras Adorjan, Susan Milan, Wissam Boustany, Jeffrey Khaner, and Christina Jennings. Her formal teachers include Dr. Young Kim, Susan Milan, Paul Edmund-Davies, Jamie Martin, Wisssam Boustany, Dr. Kimberly Risinger, and Julianna Nickel.

Nayoon performs actively as a soloist and as a member of the Ahrya Trio and loves to teach flute for all levels and ages.

MARIBETH FRANK

Violin/Viola (BA, MM)

Maribeth Frank began her violin studies at the age of three at the New School of Music in Philadelphia. She continued on to study at many pre-eminent schools including the Meadowmount School of Music, North Carolina School for the Arts and the University of Houston under the tutelage of many well-known teachers including Ivan Galamian, Jascha Brodsky, Linda Cerone, and Elaine Richey. While living in Houston, Texas she played with the major Orchestras in the area, including the Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet, and Houston Grand Opera Orchestras, as well as enjoying a fulfilling career of private teaching. Since moving to the Northern Virginia area in Oct. 2002, she has played as Concertmaster with the Annapolis Symphony as well as a member of the Washington Ballet, Richmond Symphony, and Alexandria Symphony Orchestras as well as teaching extensively at her private studios.

PIERRE GUERTIN

Woodwinds/Jazz Piano (BA, MM)

Pierre Guertin is a performer, private teacher and freelance artist on Saxophone, Clarinet, Piano, Flute, and Trumpet. Having 35 years of teaching experience, his approach inspires and motivates through a creative, practical and efficient methodology, expediting the learning process easily for students of all technical levels and musical styles.

Mr. Guertin has had numerous instrumental and vocal concert appearances which include performances with Keith Richards, Jose Feliciano and Jazz Great Hank Mobley, back-up singer for Pete Seeger, opening for the rock bands ‘YES’ and ‘The Village People’, the Opening Ceremonies for the Provincial Parliament of Ontario (Canada), the US Coast Guard Base, Flotilla 73, the World Peace Center (NYC), the ANZAC Commemoration Service, British Empire Building, Rockefeller Center (NYC), the 150th Anniversary of ‘Taps’, and the J.F.K. Assassination 50th Anniversary Commemoration (Arlington Cemetery, VA). He also collaborated with the Blues Music Award Album of the Year Nominee, Paul Gabriel-2014, and has been an On-Air Personality with various radio stations.

Mr. Guertin studied Music Education at the University of Florida, and after touring with Florida State Theater’s production of “Ain’t Misbehavin” playing saxophone and clarinet, moved to the New York area for the last 25 years working with world-renowned Gospel singer Georgia Louis accompanying her on Piano and Saxophone (Ms. Louis was the first black woman to host a nationally syndicated television show, “TV Gospel Time” in the 1960’s and was named Louis Armstrong’s “Musical God-Child”). He also studied voice with Dr. William H. Collins, Jr. and Robert LaRocco, both of New York City and has had extensive experience as a Gospel and Jazz vocal/instrumental soloist and accompanist.

DR. YOUNGIK JANG

Guitar/Piano (BM, MM, DMA)

Dr. Youngik Jang is an award-winning guitarist who pursues his musical passion in multifaceted styles, mainly in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Starting with a performance in South Korea with his first prize achievement at Seoul Baroque Competition, Youngik has been globally performing with continuously receiving many performance opportunities, including his winner’s achievement in small ensemble division at Guitar Foundation of America, second prize at Edwin H. & Leigh W. Schadt String Competition in Allentown, Pennsylvania, performances at many classical guitar societies including the “Charlie Byrd Memorial Scholarship series at Mainstay” in Rock Hall, Maryland, performance as a member of Phoenix Arts Management, and an invitation at Sungshin Women University in South Korea as a guest artist.

Youngik’s first musical experience started at the age of four with the piano that later changed to classical guitar at the age of ten. While attending Yewon art school in South Korea, Youngik was under the tutelage of the internationally renowned classical guitarist, Seung-kook Oh, and the multi-awards-winning guitarist/composer, Byeong-woo Lee. Youngik’s pursuance in music later expanded to the United States of America by attending Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California, and studying classical guitar from Kenton Youngstrom. Youngik later attended Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in the studio of Julian Gray, with an enormous scholarship award and Graduate Assistantship while pursuing Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees. Youngik continuously studied under Julian Gray for pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Shenandoah University, with the full scholarship award and Teaching Assistantship.

Youngik is currently active in the emphases of performance, composition, and education. As a performer, his notable performances include Walters Art Museum, Thursday Noon Series at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Guitar Fret Festival, Pyeongchang Special Music & Art Festival in South Korea, Charlie Byrd Memorial Scholarship Series, Guitar Foundation of America and its New York Regional Symposium, and Wilmington Classical Guitar Society. As a composer, Youngik premiered his composition for the electric guitar and loop station at Computer Music Consort at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and worked in K-pop and film scoring industry in South Korea, with multiple internationally acknowledged movies: ‘Ode to My Father,’ ‘The Face Reader,’ ‘Perfect Number,’ and ‘The Neighbors.’ As an educator, Youngik integrates his musical and industrial experiences to offer a distinguished education in pre-college and collegiate levels as an educator and competition adjudicator to students, who are now globally located and dedicated in areas of performance, composition, music production, and music therapy.

SOO KIM

Piano (BM)

Soo Y. Kim graduated Ewha Womens’ University in Seoul, S.Korea and she studied both Musical Composition and Economics. She grew up and lived in musical family. Her sister is very dedicated organist in S.Korea and she has a lot of relatives who majored in music.

She has been teaching piano over 10 years at various locations including her home studio and piano accompaniment experience at local churches. She also teaches early childhood music at local preschool. She is a active member of NVMTA (Northern Virginia Music Teachers Associations) and many of her students have been participating local piano festivals and competitions.

In her spare time, she likes to watch movies and compose her own children’s songs.

Liya Ma

Violin (BA, MM)

Originally from China, Liya Ma performed on stages throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, and China, appearing in a diverse array of venues ranging from; Symphony Center, Gannon Concert Hall, Disney Concert Hall, UCLA Royce Hall, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Tobin Performing Arts center to name a few.

As an active orchestral and chamber musician, Ms. Ma is currently a members of several professional orchestras, ensembles, and semi-professional youth orchestras. Ms. Ma won the Associate Principal Second Violin position with the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra in Iowa, a section violin position with Peoria Symphony Orchestra in Illinois, a section violin position with Southwest Michigan Orchestra in Michigan, and a regular member position with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, where she works closely with musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, including Robert Chen (concertmaster) and Baird Dodge (principal second violin). Ms. Ma also plays regularly with Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic, Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, and Northbrook Symphony Orchestra. She served as concertmaster of DePaul Concert Orchestra at DePaul University and Bob Cole Symphony Orchestra at California State.

Ms. Ma’s major musical festival experience includes attending Atlantic Music Festival as a Contemporary Ensemble Fellow in 2021. In 2019, she attended Youth Music Culture Guangdong in Guangdong, China, where she collaborated and performed with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble. She has also attended the PRISMA festival in Canada twice, both times receiving a full scholarship, and worked with Martin Chalifour (concertmaster of Los Angeles Philharmonic), Dennis Kim (concertmaster of Pacific Symphony), and Mate Szucs (former principal viola with Berlin Philharmonic)

Ms. Ma received her last Post-Master’s Performance Certificate at DePaul University, where she studied with soloist Janet Sung. She received her master’s degree at California Stage University, Long Beach under Professor Moni Simeonov, and Bachelor of Arts degree at China Conservatory of Music under Professor Hui Jin. Ms. Ma likes to cook and travel in her spare time and is self-trained photographer.

CAMPBELL MASON

Voice, Piano, (BM, MM)

Campbell Mason is a versatile and effective voice and piano teacher. She received her Master of Music in Voice Pedagogy in Contemporary Commercial Music from Shenandoah University and her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Bucknell University. She was awarded the Bucknell University Prize in Music and graduated summa cum laude. Campbell has performed in musicals, operas, and pop-style concerts, and toured nationally and internationally with premiere choirs. She attended the Boston Conservatory Opera Intensive in Valencia and the CCM Institute at Shenandoah Conservatory. In addition to her performance experience as a singer, Campbell accompanies herself on guitar and piano. As a teacher, Campbell specializes in voice for all levels and piano for beginners to intermediates. Campbell personalizes her instruction to each student, and emphasizes ear-training, music reading, and diverse genre exploration. She provides her students with the tools to reach their goals and to become multifaceted and confident musicians.

HALEY MURPHY

Theater Director

Haley Murphy has been a theatre director and teaching artist for over 20 years. She was the founder and director of Dodgeball Theatre, and educational theatre company with the mission of educating, developing and supporting the next generation of theatre artists through workshops, staged readings, mentorship, and through the Teen Ensemble, a devised theatre program teen performance artists now in its 14th year. She has worked regionally around the country including developing a summer drama camp for youth in western Maine, and she continues to direct and teach in the DC area - including current programs at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. She has developed and led workshops and curriculum bases creative drama lessons, supported and produced new works, and directed theatre projects across all ages. She is a winner of multiple local theater awards and is a graduate of Bennington College, where she majored in Directing and minored in Early Childhood, and she is currently as student in the Creative Teaching Through Drama certificate program at Catholic University.

VIVIAN L. PODGAINY

Cello, (BM, MM)

Vivan L. Podgainy retired from the United States Air Force Band Strings in the fall of 2021 after 26 years of service. She was principal cellist of The USAF Strings Orchestra from 1997 through 2011, and performed two concerti in six performances as soloist with the orchestra. Other highlights. of Vivian’s Air Force career include the 2009 inauguration concert on the national mall, as well as a performance at the Kennedy Center Honors banquet in 2016.

Vivian has taught Suzuki and traditional cello for over thirty years. While living in Hartford, CT for four years before joining the Air Force, she taught Suzuki cello private lessons and group classes at The Hartt School Community Division, University of Hartford. She also taught cello at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut, and the Eastern Music Festival of North Carolina. Currently, Vivian maintains a private studio in Norther Virginia, and was recently appointed to teach Suzuki and traditional cell at the Harmonia School of Music and Art.

Originally from Dix Hills, New York, Vivian studied cello with Jerome Carrington and composition with Andrew Thomas at the Julliard School Pre-College Division. She also studied piano privately with Jean Vandersall. Vivian received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music degree from Cleveland Institute of Music. She began work on her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Catholic University of America.

Her cello teachers include Jerome Carrington, Richard Kapuscinski, Alan Harris, Alan Stepansky and Robert Newkirk. Additionally, she performed in master classes for Janos Starker and Steve Doane, and coached with Bryan Dumm, Pamela Frame and David Teie.

Jinghua Pu

Piano (MM, DMA)

A winner of various international piano competitions in both China and the United States, pianist Jinghua Pu has performed throughout the United States, China, and Italy including venues such as Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the mansion at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland, the Phillip Center in Gainsville, Florida, the Great Hall at U.S. Department of Justice, the Ware Center at Lancaster, PA, and embassies in the District of Columbia. Her performances have been covered by various media, to include Italian local press Liberta and Korea Dalily.

After graduating from Xi’an Conservatory of Music with honors, Jinghua moved to the United States where she received a Masters in piano performance from the University of Florida, studying under Dr. Kevin Orr. Jinghua received her Doctor of Musical Arts at the Catholic University of America with Dr. Ivo Kaltchev. Over the years, she also received instruction from pianists to include; Karl-Heinz Kaemerling, Joaqin Achucarro, Joseph Banowetz, Logan Skelton, Douglass Humphreys, and Santiago Rogriquez.

Jinghua enjoys a regular performance schedule as both a soloist and chamber musician. As collaborative artist, she has worked with numerous singers, instrumentalists, and choirs, to include cellist Michael Mermagen and the University Choir of Catholic University.

Jinghua is a Steinway & Sons Educational Partner and a member of the Music Teachers National Association and the American College of Music.

FUMIKO REEDER

Piano (BM)

Member of National Guild of Piano Teachers National Honor Roll, Mrs. Reeder has over 44 years of experience of private piano teaching, and incorporates theory and ear training instruction into the lessons. She enjoys teaching students of all ages.  Her students have gone on to study with world renowned piano teachers, such as Emilio Del Rosario at Music Institute of Chicago, and Menaham Pressler at Indiana University School of Music. They have also received many awards from National Guild of Piano Teachers, MTNA, Society of American Musicians, National ARTS Recognition Program, and many regional and national competitions.

JULIA SEDLACK

Violin/Viola (BM, BA)

Julia Sedlack is a native of the Miami metropolitan area who has extensive experience performing with collegiate and semi-professional ensembles. She recently graduated with dual undergraduate degrees in Music and English from Samford University where she performed with the Samford Orchestra, the Samford Opera Orchestra, the Worship Arts Ensemble, and the university acapella choir. Her teachers have included Kathryn Kreuger, Jeffrey and Angela Flaniken, Laura Mozena, and Cynthia Hinkelman.

As a former Suzuki kid herself, Miss Sedlack is a great proponent of Suzuki music education. She is certified to teach Suzuki violin books 1-3 and has completed training under James Hutchins at East Carolina University and Kirsten Marshall at Ithaca College. 

Miss Sedlack is passionate about interdisciplinary study and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Medieval and Byzantine Studies from the Catholic University of America.

DR. STEFFANY SHOCK

Violin/Viola (BM, MM, DMA)

Violinist Steffany Shock began her musical studies as a child in Toledo, Ohio, where she studied with Eugene Goldberg, who was a student of Maurice Warner.  As an orchestra musician she has performed extensively with groups in Northwest Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  She currently works as a freelance violinist in the Washington D.C. area and performs regularly with the American Festival Pops Orchestra and the Washington Concert Opera.  Steffany holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts from James Madison University, where she was the teaching assistant for Wanchi Huang, a Masters of Musical Arts from Pennsylvania State University, and a Bachelor of Music from Bowling Green State University.  She has completed Suzuki teacher training for Violin Units 1-10.

MS BIXIAO “BESSIE'“ WANG

Voice (BM, MM)

Ms. Bixiao Wang is a doctoral student in vocal performance at Shenandoah University. Ms. Wang has performed regularly across the United States and internationally throughout Europe and Asia. Highlights of her performances include playing (Rosina) in The Barber of Seville, (Countess) in Le Nozze di Figaro, (Celia) in Lucio Silla, and (Laurentia) in Captain Lovelock. Ms. Wang has experience as a private vocal and piano instructor with multiple honors and awards to her name including a first class award for opera of arias from the International Music Competition in Hong Kong.

SONIA YON

Voice/Musical Theater (BA, MM)

Lyric Soprano Sonia Yon has been a voice teacher at Harmonia School of Music since 2013.

She holds a M.M. in vocal performance from Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan, Italy, and a B.A. in vocal performance from Seoul National University, South Korea

Sonia has sung in many of the top opera houses around the world, including the Piacenza Municipale Opera House (Italy), Gran Teatre del Liceu (Barcelona, Spain), Kammeroper (Vien, Austria) Vercelli Opera House (Italy), Seoul Opera House (S. Korea), Theatre Royal Glasgow (UK) and New York City Opera

Sonia Yon made her European opera debut at the Piacenza Municipale Opera House. She has sung for several seasons at the Seoul National Opera and Seoul Art Center Opera House. That appearance marked the start of her career as a lyric soprano, and she has since performed as multiple major lyric soprano roles in the United States, Italy, Austria and S. Korea.

In the United States, she has sung Cho Cho San in Giaccomo Puccini Madama Butterfly, as well as numerous other roles for the Seoul Opera House.

When Sonia was in Italy, she won many international competitions. She placed 1st at the Flaviano Labo international competition, and 3rd at the Mario Basiola International Competition. She also won numerous prizes at the Imperia, Katia Ricciarelli, Viotti, Angelica Catalani International Competitions in Italy, the Belvedere international competition in Austria, and the Vinas international vocal competition in Spain.

Ms. Sonia H. Yon has performed as the lead role in many operas, such as Madama Butterfly, La Boheme, La Traviata, Un Ballo in Maschera, Aida, Il Trovatore, La forza del Destino, Tosca, Don Carlo,Romeo et Juliet, Rusalka, Otello, Le Nozze di Figaro, The Merry Widow, Verdi Requiem, Sour Angelica, Manon Lescaut, Anna Bolena, and Il Corsaro, in Italy, Spain and South Korea. She has also performed in The Magic Flute in Vienna, Austria for seven months. She has performed over 700 concerts in New York, Fairfax, and many cities in Europe and South Korea.

Ms. Yon has over 25 years of teaching experience and was an adjunct professor at Seoul National University for several years. She taught Voice, Piano, Italian diction, and Opera Theater. She has also been a church choir conductor for over 20 years, which has given her exceptional understanding of the dynamics of group singing.

Ms. Sonia H. Yon has been giving lessons in the traditional Bel Canto technique to professional singers, as well as high school students who are going on to major in vocal music. She is able to teach in Italian, German, and French as well as any kind of Opera and Broadway genre. Many of her students have been admitted into NYU, Manhattan Music school, London Royal academy of music, Indiana, Jacob music school, MNC, and Arizona University with Sonia’s direct teaching. Moreover, she teaches Musical Theatre based on her extensive opera experiences. Ms. Yon absolutely delights in seeing their musical growth and progress.

DR. YING ZHAO

Piano (BM, MM, DMA)

Dr. Ying Zhao is a music educator, active solo and collaborative pianist. Dr. Zhao holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from Pennsylvania State University, where she also served as a teaching assistant and rehearsal pianist. Her primary teachers include Steven Smith, ​Marylène Dosse and Lanlan Guo. She also played in masterclass of ​Jerome Lowenthal, Leon Fleisher, Boris Slutsky and Richard Becker. An active performer, Dr. Zhao has appeared on stages throughout United States and China, including San Francisco State University, California State University Fullerton, Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, Beijing Normal University, Xiamen University, Pittsburgh Heinz Hall, National Archive Museum, Penn State’s President’s Concert, Garcia Piano Competition, National City Christian Church, and Mayflower Music Festival.