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Jennifer Arnold
Cello Instructor & Chamber Music Coordinator
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University of Denver - BM
University of Denver - MM
At CA Since: 1993
Jennifer Arnold has been at CA as the cello instructor since 1993. In addition to private and group teaching, she is CA's Chamber Music Coordinator and the Middle School and Upper School orchestra director. She has her bachelor’s degree in cello performance and her master’s degree in cello performance/Suzuki pedagogy, both from the University of Denver, Lamont School of Music. Her primary teachers were Richard Slavich, Carol Tarr and James Maurer (Suzuki).
In addition to teaching at CA, Jennifer maintains a private Suzuki studio at her home in Lakewood. She is a former teacher of the group Suzuki program, Denver Talent Education and was the Children’s Music director at Park Hill United Methodist Church for more than 20 years. She is a freelance cellist, playing all around the Denver metro area as well as playing regularly with a string quartet. She is past president of the Suzuki Association of Colorado and remains active in that association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Jennifer is also cellist with the popular '70s band, Mr. Majestyk’s 8-track Revival. Her interests revolve around chamber music and incorporating alternative styles- pop and rock, along with traditional teaching. She is a founding member of Denver Chamber Camp which is a summer music camp for young musicians based out of CA that incorporates rock and roll with traditional orchestra and chamber performance.
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Madoka Asari
Piano Instructor
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Madoka Asari joined the Schotters Music Center faculty in fall 2021 as a Piano Instructor, and she has been directing and teaching music since 2015. From youth musical theater director, music theory teacher, accompanist for the Colorado Children’s Chorale, the Boulder Suzuki Strings, and the Lamont School of Music, to private piano instructor and concert performer, Asari has brought varied and proficient experience to her role. She holds a BM in Piano from the University of Denver Lamont School of Music, an MM in Piano from the University of Indiana Jacobs School of Music, and is the recipient of fellowships from the Aspen Music Festival and the Music Academy of the West. Asari also plays the celesta, or bell-piano, a little-known instrument for which familiar pieces have been written by such composers as Tchaikovsky (“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”) and Grofe (Grand Canyon Suite: “On the Trail”).
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David Bailey
Guitar Instructor
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University of Colorado Denver - BS
University of Northern Colorado - MM
At CA Since: 2022
David Bailey joined CA’s private music instruction group as guitar instructor in fall 2022. He has been a member of the Denver music scene for many years, as a private music instructor and performer, Swallow Hill faculty member, music director, and band leader. Bailey holds a BS in Jazz and Commercial Guitar from the University of Colorado-Denver and an MM in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. His first love is jazz, but he has always played in rock ‘n’ roll bands. Bailey’s performance experience includes Red Rocks, Underground Music Showcase, Westword Music Showcase, Colorado Guitar Festival, Greeley Jazz Festival, Auraria Jazz Festival, and the Montreal Jazz Festival, as well as weddings and corporate events.
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Brenda Bartel
Lower School Music
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Bethel College - BS
At CA Since: 2017
Brenda Bartel brought more than 25 years of elementary music teaching experience to CA, where she has served as Music Instructor for students in Grades K-5 and Director of the Lower School Choir since 2017. Her choral conducting experiences include having served as the Assistant Director of the Evergreen Children’s Chorale and the Artistic Choral Director of the Newton Community Children's Choir in Newton, Kan. She received her bachelor’s degree in music and elementary education from Bethel College in North Newton, Kan.
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Connie Char
Piano Instructor
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University of Colorado at Boulder - BM
Ithaca College - MM
At CA Since: 2004
Connie Char, piano instructor, received her Bachelor's in piano performance from CU-Boulder and her master’s in piano performance with an emphasis on Suzuki piano pedagogy from Ithaca College in New York, where she also taught on the music faculty for three years. She has also taught piano and music appreciation classes at Red Rocks Community College and Aurora Community College. Char has maintained a private piano studio in her home where she has worked with students from ages four to 70. She is a member of the Foothills Music Teachers Association. Char lives in Lakewood.
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Nora Golden
Lower School Music
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University of Puget Sound - BM
University of Puget Sound - MAT
At CA Since: 2010
Nora Golden, a 2000 CA graduate, returned to CA in 2010 to teach Pre-K-Fifth Grade music and movement. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Nora is a fully certified Orff Schulwerk practitioner and serves on the executive board of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of AOSA. She performs with local choirs and loves hiking and camping with her family.
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Olasuyi Ige
Violin/Viola Instructor
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University of Denver, Lamont School of Music - BM
University of Denver, Lamont School of Music - MM
At CA Since: 2024
Olasuyi Ige is a violinist and teacher who was most recently a teaching artist at El Sistema Colorado, where he created meaningful bonds with students as he taught them their instruments and helped them find themselves and express themselves through music. He performs with the Arapahoe Philharmonic, Boulder Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic, and Cheyenne Symphony, and he also teaches at the Colorado Music Institute. As well as preparing his students for performance, Olasuyi composes and arranges music for them and for ensembles in which he plays. Through his three core values of education, which are equity, inclusivity, and growth, he strives to create a long-lasting love of music in his students and in the audience.
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Phil Jones
Music Lesson Coordinator, Combo Director & Instrumental Music Instructor
Northern Arizona University - BM
At CA Since: 2012
Phil Jones began teaching at CA in Fall 2012. He holds a bachelor's degree in Music Performance from Northern Arizona University. Jones is an active performer on many different wind instruments and prides himself on his versatility as a musician and teacher. He has been teaching privately for over 15 years and has loved every minute of it! His goals are to foster a love of music in his students, help them to understand music theory and performance, and prepare them for life and career by teaching dedication, discipline, and passion for whatever paths they pursue.
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Kevin Padworski
Vocal Music Director
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Eastern University - BA
University of Denver, Lamont School of Music - MM
University of Colorado Boulder - DMA
At CA Since: 2019
Dr. Padworski is a conductor, composer, and career musician who came to CA in Fall 2019 from the Colorado Children’s Chorale, where he served as the Associate Conductor and Technical Coordinator and the Artistic Director of The Colorado Chorale. He is a published composer and writes music for both instrumental and choral ensembles. He was the Principal Pianist and Symphonic Rehearsal Pianist for the Colorado Symphony Chorus and Orchestra in Denver. He has performed on various instruments, sung, and conducted across the United States and in Europe, appearing with the Jubilate Deo Chorale and Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Cincinnati Youth Choir, Colorado Repertory Singers, Choral Arts Society, Colorado Symphony, Colorado Children’s Chorale, Lamont Symphony Orchestra, Opera Colorado, Evans Choir, Distinguished Concerts International New York, and MidAmerica Productions. Dr. Padworski has also performed in recitals as a saxophonist, organist, and conductor.
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Peder Sill
Piano Instructor
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale - BM
University of Denver, Lamont School of Music - MM
At CA Since: 2024
Peder Sill is serving as a long-term sub for a fellow piano instructor. He has taught private piano lessons to students of all levels and ages, been an accompanist, and has taught elective courses at DSST and Denver Language School. His love of music shines through and transfers to his students, and most have continued their music studies beyond high school graduation. He has attended many master classes from noted pianists and has received awards for performance.
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Isabella Ubertone
Flute Instructor/Pre-K Music
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Graceland College - BM
University of Northern Iowa - MM
At CA Since: 2000
Isabella Ubertone teaches private and group flute lessons and is a chamber music coach. She loves performing as a soloist and with chamber groups. Isabella is a creative pedagogue and enjoys presenting her ideas and teaching philosophies to music educators and performers. While also maintaining a thriving private studio, Isabella also coaches local high school students for music ensembles who are preparing for competitions, concerts, chair auditions and auditions for music camps. As former President and Education Coordinator of The Colorado Flute Association, Isabella remains active in the organization and their events. Isabella has a Bachelor of Music degree from Graceland University and a Masters of Music degree from The University of Northern Iowa, having studied with Dr. Angeleita Floyd. She also has training in young student’s music education through Lynn Kleiner’s Music Rhapsody program. In her free time she loves teaching and doing Taekwondo at United Martial Arts Center. Isabella is the leader of the Little Ninja and Dragon’s Demo Taekwondo Team.
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Maria Wietrzynska
Piano Instructor
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Maria Wietrzynska came to CA’s Music Department in fall 2021 as a Piano Instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Azusa Pacific University School of Music and is currently working on advanced degrees in Piano Performance from both the Texas Christian University School of Music and the University of Colorado Boulder School of Music. Her teaching experience includes group piano courses at UC Boulder, some middle school and high school choir classes, and private lessons in Colorado, Texas, and California. She has performed in solo recitals, orchestras, concert series, and competitions, regularly serves as an accompanist, and she enjoys attending international Music Institutes and Master Classes.
