The Community Music School faculty includes undergraduate and graduate music students enrolled in the UGA Hodgson School of Music, as well as professional musicians from the surrounding community. Please take a moment to get to know our Professional Teachers:

Kristin Jutras, CMS Director

Kristin Jutras, the Director of the UGA Community Music School, began violin studies via the Suzuki Method at the age of 4 at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.   She continued her studies at Eastman, receiving both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in violin performance as well as a Performer's Certificate.   After studying through the method herself, she has completed Suzuki Method Teacher training at the Eastman School of Music, Texas Christian University, and the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.  Kristin has maintained a full Suzuki teaching studio since 1997 and is currently the President of the Suzuki Association of Georgia.
In addition to her teaching career, Kristin has been a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  She has performed in Carnegie Hall numerous times, recorded much of the standard orchestral repertoire, and toured Europe three times with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Kristin has also been an active chamber musician performing regularly with Duo Renard, the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Mount Vernon Music, and other chamber groups in the Dallas area.  Currently she performs as 2nd violinist in the UGA Hodgson School of Music Franklin String Quartet.

Erin Ellis, Suzuki cello

Erin Ellis began her cello studies at the age of 4 in Birmingham, Alabama. Since then, she has gone on to receive Bachelors and Masters degrees wtih honors in cello performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music with a minor in Early Music. Dr. Ellis has participated in Aspen, Music Academy of the West, and National Repertory Orchestra summer festivals. An active performer, Dr. Ellis performs with the Greenville Symphony and is Principal Cello of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Ellis also performs frequently as a baroque cellist with groups such as Atlanta Baroque and New Trinity Baroque in Atlanta, GA.
As a dedicated music educator, Dr. Ellis maintained an active preparatory studio in Rochester and served as a Teaching Assistant at Eastman before relocating to Altanta, GA. She received her Suzuki teacher training from Tanya Carey at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In Atlanta, Dr. Ellis maintains a private studio of both children and adults and teaches at the Waldorf School of Atlanta.

Chris Enghauser, Bass

Versatile bassist Chris Enghauser has a MM in Music Performance from the University of Georgia, a BM in Music Performance from George Mason University, is a tenured bassist with the Macon Symphony Orchestra in Macon, GA, and Principal Bass of the Toccoa Symphony in Toccoa, GA. Chris is Director of Bands at Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School and keeps a busy schedule teaching and freelancing in many jzz, rock and acoustic groups. Chris recently recorded with rock legend Chuck Leavell on his upcoming tribute to pioneering blues pianists which will also feature guitar legends John Mayer and Rolling Stones' Keith Richards. Other recording highlights include jazz guitarist Mimi Fox's DVD Live at the Palladium (2010), Randall Bramblett's recording and live DVDThe Meantime (2010), and Commonality by Jeff Coffin (of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and the Dave Matthews Band) which was nominated Jazz Times 'indi record of the Year' in 2000. Chris performed with national Broadway tours of Pump Boys and Dinettes, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Cole Porter's Anything Goes, and has performed with Bela Fleck, Roy Wooten, Victor Wooten, Sarah Evans, Paul McCandless, Randy Sabien, Barbara Lamb, Mark Feldman, Chester Thompson, Jeff Mosier, David Grier, Mac Davis, Cecil Welch, Dromedary, Curley Maple, Augusta Symphony, Columbus Symphony, and Gainesville Symphony to name a few.

Rachael Fischer, Violin

Originally from Ringgold, Georgia, Rachael Fischer began her Suzuki violin studies at the age of four. She was named the winner of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Association's Concerto Competition in 2000, and the winner of the University of Georgia Concerto Competition in 2004. Rachael has also attended several summer music festivals including the Meadowmount School of Music in New York. She has performed in master classes for several renowned violinists including Brian Lewis, Walter Verdehr, and Stanley Ritchie, as well as members of the Tokyo, Parisii, and Ebene string quartets. She is also an active chamber musician and has had extensive coaching sessions with the St. Lawrence and Juilliard String Quartets. Rachael has been invited to perform at several national and international events as a member of a violin-saxophone duo. Rachael holds a Bachelor of Music egree in violin performance from the University of Georgia, the Master of Music degree in violin performance from Arizona State University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in violin performance with a minor in musicology from the University of Georgia. Rachael has taught violin in UGA's Community Music School for six years, and she began her Suzuki teacher training this past summer at the Atlanta Suzuki Institute with Carrie Reuning-Hummel. In addition to her violin teaching and performing, Rachael also teaches music courses at Georgia Gwinnett College and Piedmont College, and currently serves as the Membership Chair for the Suzuki Association of Georgia.

Dwayne Holloway, Drumset

Born in Tifton, GA., Dwayne started his musical journey listening to and learning from local gospel musicians. At the early age of 4, he began lessons on the drumset and was playing for choirs and gospel quartet groups around South Georgia by age 7. It was not until high school that Dwayne heard his first jazz recording. From then on he knew that jazz music was the type of music he wanted to play. He then signed up for the high school jazz band and won best soloist and best rhythm section awards two years in a row. After graduating high school, Dwayne attended Abraham Baldwin College becoming the first percussion major in school history. He also performed with the jazz band and the jazz chours touring around South Georgia.
After two years at Abraham Baldwin College, Dwayne transferred to the University of Georgia where he studied percussion with Dr. Tony McCutchen, drumset with Dr. Arvin Scott, and performed with the UGA jazz ensemble. Under the direction of Steve Dancz, the jazz ensemble travelled to Montreaux, Switzerland to perform at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. He also got a special invitation to travel with Steve Dancz to Bangalore, India to perform at the World Sacred Music Festival and received the once-in-a-lifetime privelage of meeting the honorable Dalai Lama.
While studying at UGA, Dwayne maintained an active night schedule, often performing with as many as seven bands around Athens and Atlanta. This also included recording with Adam Nitti, Beehive, and Athens-based bands Squat, Tibbets Street, and Apenas Atenas. In 2000, he also became a faculty member at The Atlanta Institute of Music teaching jazz performance and rhythm dictation classes. In 2001 Dwayne received his Bachelors of Music degree from UGA and moved to New York City where he had the opportunity to perform with Tituss Burgess. He also studied with Pat Patrillo and Bob Quaranta.

Pete Jutras, New Horizons Piano

Pete Jutras is an Associate Professor of Piano and the Piano Pedagogy Specialits at the University of Georgia. He is also Editor-in-Chief of Clavier Companion magazine, a leading piano pedagogy journal. His writings have been published in The Journal of Research in Music Education, The Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, American Music Teacher, Clavier Companion, and Keyboard Companion.
Dr. Jutras is a frequent presenter at conferences across the country and around the world. His recent presentations include the ISME World Conference and national conferences of CMS, MENC, and MTNA in locations such as Albuquerque, Atlanta, Beijing, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Ottawa, and Portland.
A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, Jutras holds the B.M. degree in music education from the Eastman School of Music, the M. M. degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Southern Methodist University, and the Ph.D in music education with an emphasis in piano pedagogy from the University of North Texas. Prior to his UGA appointment, he was visiting lecturer at Southern Methodist University and taught at Richmond Community College and at the Meadows School of the Arts Community Education Division of SMU where he developed a series of piano classes for adults.

Ruth Monson, Violin and Adminstrative Assistant

Prior to moving to Athens in 2009, Ruth Monson was an active freelance violinist in New York City, Ann Arbor, MI, State College, PA, and most recently, Salt Lake City, UT. She has extensive orchestral experience, having trained in the National Orchestral Association (NOA). She served as principal second violinist of NOA for one year and later in that position with the Ann Arbor Chamber Orchestra for six years. She played in the Flint Symphony, Michigan Opera Theater, Toledo Symphony, and from 2000 - 2009 was a regular substitute in the violin and viola sections of the Utah Symphony, going on their European tour in 2005.
In addition to orchestral playing, Ruth has maintained an active private teaching studio, enjoyed chamber music as a member of the Carujian String Quartet in Pennsylvania, and worked as a recording studio musician.
Recently Ruth is a part time instructor at UGA working as an administrative assistant and teacher in the Community Music School and the University String Project. She holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Brigham Young University as a student of Henri Temianka.

  Kathleen Powell, Chamber Music Coordinator and Billing Manager

Kathleen Powell formerly served as assistant principal first violin of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and as second violinist of the Ceruti String Quartet, at the University of Memphis. She received a B.M. in Violin Performance from Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and a M.M in Violin Performance from Rice University.
Kathleen helped found the Rhodes College Chamber Music Camp and was also a co-founder of Chamber Music for Strings - workshops teaching chamber music skills to junior and senior high school string players. She also served as a coordinator for the University of Memphis' summer music camp. Kathleen served as Manager and then Executive Director of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program, and also served on the Board of Directors for Art for Life's Sake - founded by Dr. Hattie Isen.

Melinda Smith, Early Childhood Coordinator

Originally from Lenoir, NC, Melinda Smith received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC. She has served as a private music instructor, Music Minister, Children's Choir director, preschool teacher at Friendship Presbyterian School, Mom n' Me class instructor in Harford Community College in Bel air Maryland, and Assistant Director of Athens Singing Christmas Tree - a production involving a 300-member cast including children, youth, an adult choir, orchestra, and actors.
Currently, in addition to her role as Musikgarten Coordinator for the UGA Community Music School, Melinda serves as a private vocal and piano teacher at Chick Music and maintains her own private studio in her home. She is also an assistant director of the Adult Choir at Prince Avenue Baptist Church, leads a ladies ensemble, and sings solos in church, weddings, and other public events.
Melinda is married to her high school sweetheart, Tim Smith. They have 3 daughters, Nicole, Adrienne, and Danielle, and live in Bogart, GA.

Mark Wheeler, Intro to Jazz Theory instructor

Recently retired from the UGA Dance department, Mark Wheeler grew up in a musical home, having a mother who was a voice major. His piano studies began at the age of 7, branching out to gospel music and playing by chords at the age of 12. As a freshman voice major in the Indiana University School of Music and member of the Singing Hoosiers he received top-notch training, hearing
excellent pianists, bassists, and percussionists accompanying the best in popular music and performed throughout Indiana and Illinois, at the Rose Bowl 1968, and on a USO Tour to Greenland and Labrador.
Mr. Wheeler studied jazz improvisation with the now legendary
David Baker as well as private piano-composition with Michael Lucas, who for many years was the pianist for singer Johnny Mathis. Since living in Athens, he has studied with Steve Dancz, Jack Coker, Rick Hitchcock, and Randal Bramblett.

Lonna Wilkinson,
Alexander Technique Coordinator

Lonna Wilkinson currently teaches the Alexander Technique in the Departments of Dance, Theatre, and Music at UGA. She is a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique and a member of the American Society of Alexander Teachers (AmSAT). She completed her three year teacher training in 2000 and has taught courses and workshops in schools, community centers, and universities. She has worked with performers of all kinds, children, and a wide variety of people looking to improve posture, ease chronic pain, and find greater ease in daily life. Prior to training in the AT, Ms. Wilkinson enjoyed a career as a professional modern dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She completed yoga teacher training in 2010.

Faculty members of the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music participate in the Community Music School by teaching master classes, observing lessons, mentoring CMS faculty, and assisting with CMS class curricula.