Adjunct Professors
In addition to our outstanding full-time faculty, the Fine Arts Division employs several professional musicians in applied lesson teaching as well as several talented and qualified classroom professors. Our Adjunct Professors are listed below according to their area of expertise.
Applied Lesson Adjunct Professors
Brass | Guitar | Percussion | Piano | Strings | Voice | Woodwinds
Brass
Rick Britsch - french horn, Chamber Brass
principal horn, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra
rbritsch@calvin.eduPhil Bajema - trumpet
Mark Lago - tuba
Thomas Peck - trombone
Guitar
Matthew Cosgrove - guitar
Organ
Elizabeth Claar - organ
Piano
Deborah Alley - staff accompanist
Michelle Fevig - staff sccompanist
Thomas Moss - staff accompanist
Gwen Varineau - staff accompanist
Strings
Jennifer Alman - chamber strings, viola, violin
Eric Phelps - cello
Voice
Philip Holmes - voice
Corlyn Longer-Schreck - voice
Kathy Wagner - voice
Kathy Wagner is well known for her mastery of a variety of styles and musical genres. She has performed jazz, standards, pop, opera and musical theatre in every type of venue from pig races to the classroom to the concert stage. A recipient of numerous awards, she was notably the silver medallist at the American Traditions Singing Competition in Savannah, Georgia. Recordings include The Pink Album , Not Since Prom, Taking A Chance On Love and I Love A Piano. She recently completed two Allied Arts concert tours with pianist Rich Ridenour to rave reviews. Symphony concerts include West Shore, Elgin, Saginaw, Bay Area, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and the Bijou Orchestra. Favorite musical theatre roles include Eva Peron (Evita), Velma (Chicago), The Old Lady (Candide), Mama Rose (Gypsy) and was a Grand Award recipient for her outstanding performances as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeny Todd and Fosca in Passion. She was the featured artist in the LA World Premiere of Love Handles, and The Lambs Theatre in New York As a director credits include Baby, And The World Goes Round, I Love you, You're Perfect, Now Change, Beauty and the Beast and received a special Grand Award for her production of Beehive. She also won a Grand Award for her vocal direction on Spitfire Grill and most recently worked on The Rocky Horror Picture Show and A Man of No Importance. Kathy has opened for The Drifters, The Platters, The Shirelles and Little Anthony. Her most recent concert was opening for Bob Newhart to a sold out house. Kathy has long been swinging tunes with The River City Jazz Ensemble who have performed for the Governor’s Inaugural Ball and 4 past presidents. Kathy is a partner in BTV Productions which seeks to cultivate, promote and employ the best area talent. She is a sought after vocal coach and a founding member of the West Michigan Cabaret Association. She has a terrific husband of 28 years and two wonderful daughters who love when mom sings, but even more when she cooks!
Woodwinds
Tiffany Engle - saxophone
Heather Hill - flute
Keith Hudson - oboe, bassoon
John Varineau - clarinet
Assistant Conductor and clarinet, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra
Conductor, Grand Rapids Youth Symphony & Classical Orchestra
jvarineau@juno.com
Classroom Adjunct Professors
Greg Alley - brass methods
Aaron Bouwman - Chancel Singers
Elizabeth Claar - music theory
Dave Culross - composition, middle and high school methods
Frank Duron - music technnology
Dave Gilman - entertainment industries
Carol McNeil - music for elementary teachers
Les Rowsey - middle/high school methods
Gary Stewart - TAP, student teaching
John Varineau - basic conducting
