John Higgins John Higgins has taught French Horn, all brass, and woodwind instruments at the Muncie Music Center since its re-location opening in 2011. John was the director of the Yorktown Middle School Band Program for 20 years. He currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Taylor University teaching Brass and Woodwind Method classes along with being the French Horn studio teacher. Mr. Higgins' musical experience includes performances with several orchestras throughout Indiana and Illinois including the Muncie Symphony, Marion Philharmonic, Anderson Symphony, Lafayette Symphony and Danville, Illinois Symphony orchestras this season. Pam Collins Pam started teaching at the Muncie Music Center at the age of 17. She attended DePaw University in Greencastle, IN and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree. She was the Director of Bands at Argos Community Schools for 6 years. She’s received a Master of Arts Degree from Ball State University in music while teaching. She became the Director of Bands for Cowan Community Schools, and served there for 28 years. Pam Collins gives lessons in all band instruments for any student 5th grade to adult. She also helps time to time with area high school bands, and is the director of a homeschool co-op band. Pam also performs with the America’s Hometown Band, as well as the Clarinet Connection, a clarinet choir in Muncie. Christopher Swinney Christopher Swinney has been in and/or around music for the majority of his life. At the age of seven, his uncle gave him Metallica’s “Master Of Puppets” album for Christmas…a few months later his father bought him a guitar and the rest is history. Christopher started his first band, Chronic Chaos, at age thirteen…which he played in for over ten years releasing two full length albums and one E.P. After graduating from Eastbrook High School in Marion, IN, he studied recording/live sound at The Recording Workshop (Chillicothe, OH) and Performance Guitar/Music Theory at Ball State University. Over the last twenty years he has played in and toured the world with many notable bands including Brazil (Fearless Records), Underminded (Kung Fu Records), The Reason (Warner Bros. Records), and platinum selling punk band The Ataris (Columbia Records). If you haven’t

heard of The Ataris, I am sure you have heard their cover version of Don Henley’s song “Boys Of Summer” which still receives massive radio play all over the world. Christopher has been teaching private guitar and bass lessons for the last 15 years, and in 2006 founded, Rock and Roll Summer Camp…a summer workshop geared towards music minded tweens and teens. For the last five years Christopher called Gulf Shores, AL home where he worked in Artist Relations for the Hangout Music Festival, rubbing elbows with the likes of Tom Petty, Stevie Wonder, Foo Fighters, Skrillex, Kings Of Leon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Crowes, Imagine Dragons, and many more. In February 2017, Christopher and his family moved back to the Muncie, IN area. He has resumed teaching music full time, and resurrected his Rock and Roll Summer Camp music program! He teaches Guitar/Bass/Ukulele/Banjo/Mandolin.

David Blakley Mr. Blakley is currently the principal 2nd violinist/librarian for the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, a post he's held for over 10 years. He is also the concertmaster of the East Central Indiana Chamber Orchestra (ECICO) and has been soloist with them on several occasions. He has also served as concertmaster, assistant concertmaster or principal for Pittsfield (MA) Symphony, Anderson Symphony, Marion Philharmonic, Kokomo Symphony, Hillsdale Community Orchestra (MI) and taught at Ball State University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Taylor University and Valdosta State University (GA). He is also in demand for chamber music,

commercial recordings, and has served in the past as a judge for ISSMA and the MSO Young Artist Competition. His had studied with several notable violinists including Charles Treger, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, and most recently Ms Sherry Kloss.

Stephen Meyers Stephen Meyers, From Logansport, IN, began studying at 6 years old and participated in ISSMA solo and ensemble throughout middle and high school. Later on he went on to participate in IMEA All State Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble in high school, as well in IPA percussion competition in high school. He Studied percussion performance under Anthony Cirone at IU school of music for one year, before he transferred to BSU and earned BS in music technology. He went on to play drums with various bands including Ezra, Souled Out, and currently Clay and the Chameleons. He has had opportunity to judge snare drum for ISSMA solo and ensemble district competitions for four years, and now has been teaching at Muncie Music Center for 9 years! Jan Crouch Jan is a music educator with a passion for teaching and sharing music with students of all ages, especially beginners. He is a classically trained pianist and has excelled in piano, trumpet organ, and voice. He has performed in many different venues plus taught in public schools, accompanied many student performers and judged piano and vocal students for ISSMA. Currently he is enjoying arranging hymns and playing in many local churches. Anthony Echarry Anthony Echarry is currently studying Music Performance at Ball State University, where he plays tenor saxophone in Jazz Ensemble 1. Although he graduated from Noblesville, He moved to Florida for one year and attended Hagerty High School where he picked up the clarinet. After he graduated from Noblesville High School, Anthony joined the Wisconsin National Guard and has been playing saxophone and clarinet in the 132nd Army Band for 3 years. Prior to teaching at Muncie Music Center, Anthony was the clarinet instructor for Noblesville’s Marching Band and was the Instructional Aide for the Performing Arts at Noblesville West Middle School.

Tim Carney Tim was born in Muncie, IN back in “57”, and started playing music in “64” on a Kay mandolin. He picked up the guitar in “66”, and played in a succession of bands throughout prep, middle and high school. In “76” Tim joined the US Army, serving with the 7th Special Forces at Ft. Gulick, Panama Canal Zone where he continued to play music on the weekends with Touch band, and Humpty Dumpty. In “80” Tim left the Army and enrolled at Ball State University, where he majored in Music Theory, with guitar as his main instrument. In the intervening years, he taught guitar and mandolin and played in a number of local bands including; Gopher Broque (80-83), the Touch band (83-87), Hoos’yer Daddy (88-92;96-04). In “93” Tim went on tour with The Fortunes (Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling, You’ve got Your Troubles) where he played on the same stage with 60’s and 70’s icons Rare Earth, The Coasters, The Marvelettes, Spencer Davis, Jerry Corbetta

(Sugarloaf), Mike Pinera (Iron Butterfly), The Turtles, Herman’s Hermits, Jazz guitarist Clint Strong (Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Tal Farlow, Howard Roberts) and Steel Guitar icon Jimmy Day among others. Tim came off the road in “96” and resumed teaching and playing with the reformed Hoos’yer Daddy band. In 2005 Tim joined Southside Sound and began working and teaching at the Muncie Music Center. Tim currently plays with The Remedy band, manages the guitar department at Muncie Music Center, and teaches music a few days a week.

Jason Scott

Jason first began playing piano and brass instruments at the age of seven, before moving on to drum set at age twenty, followed by congas, dumber, cajon, djembe, bass, washboard, ukulele, and other ethnic percussion instruments. Over the years, he’s taken lessons from Jack Gilfoy, Kenny Phelps, Johnny Lee Lane, Mark Dault, and Bruno Cabrera. He began singing and playing in church as a young child and formed his first band at age 21. His love of music led to teaching in 2004, when he began giving private lessons, helping students read music, play rudiments

and songs. In addition to giving lessons, he currently plays in a church praise band, and co-facilitates the Rock and Roll Summer Camp with Christopher Swinney, a guitar instructor at Muncie Music Center!

Malorie Dunlap

Malorie Dunlap is a piano instructor and certified musikgarten teacher. She has a passion for teaching piano and introducing music to children as young as newborns. She earned a bachelor’s degree in piano and church music from Indiana Wesleyan University, as well as a Masters degree in chamber music and accompanying from Ball State University. She spent years accompanying vocalists, choirs, and instrumentalists. Now, while taking care of her two kids, she loves practicing, getting students involved in competitions, and she enjoy playing piano at church every Sunday and leading the worship band.

Karin Morgan Karin Morgan is a trained Suzuki piano teacher with over 25 years of professional piano teaching experience. She has seen wonderful results working with children, adolescents, and adults by combining both the Suzuki and Traditional piano teaching methods. Karin has served as one of the piano judges at the Indiana Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival in Muncie for 3 years. Additionally, Karin was the worship leader at her church for 2 years. Her education consists of a master’s degree in Adult and Community Education & Executive Development for Public Service from Ball State University.

Erik Morgan Erik Morgan has been playing guitar since he was 12 years old. He is also very skilled on the mandolin. He provides both patient and thorough guitar instructions and tries to make learning both fun and educational for kids and adults alike. For the last 3 years Erik has been one of the lead guitarists on the worship team at his church. His favorite genres to play on the guitar include rock, classical, contemporary, and metal. Erik also has experience in writing, recording, and mixing music from his home studio.