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

Currently the Director of the UGA Community Music School, Kristin Jutras began Suzuki violin at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY when she was 4 years old.   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.   While still in school, Kristin held a full-time position in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and pursued her Suzuki Method teacher training at 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.

Dave D'Angelo, Saxophone / Woodwinds

Dave D'Angelo's career encompasses many facets of the music industry. He is a jazz performer, music educator, woodwind doubler, Broadway musican, Grammy nominated recording artist, move soundtraack musician, film actor, and a published author. He holds a B.M. degree in Music Education and a Master's degree in Woodwind Doubling from Youngstown State University and has studied with some of the most notable classical musicians in the country such as: Joseph Edwards at YSU, Louie Paul of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Peter Seminauer of the New York Philharmonic.
As an alto saxophonist, he traveled on world-wide tours from 1980-1982 as a member of the Buddy Rich Big Band, which included major jazz festivals and numerous television appearances. In 1981, he was a featured musician on MCA records, "The Buddy Rich Big Band" and can still be seen on YouTube's feature of The Buddy Rich Big Band in London in 1981, performing the alto solo on "Love For Sale."
Dave spent 27 years working as a woodwind doubler in New York City playing Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Flute, Flute, Piccolo, Bari Sax, Alto Sax, Tenor and Soprano Sax (but NOT at the same time!) in the orchestras of over 60 Broadway shows, collaborating with such notable artists as: Sarah Jessica Parker, Bernadette Peters, Liza Minelli, Reba McEntire, Julie Andrews,Tony Bennett, James Brown and Sammy Davis Jr. to name a few.
From 1992 - 1996 Dave worked as a music educator and innovator in Atlanta at Pace Academy where he developed their instrumental music program. In 1996 Dave rejoined the Buddy Rich Reunion Band in NYC playing alto saxophone and flute on Atlantic Records Grammy nominated 2 CD release entitled, "Burning For Buddy", produced by Neil Peart of Rush. The recording session brought in drummers of historic proportions in cluding Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Omar Hakim, Bill Bruford, "Guns N Roses" Matt Sorum, and Max Weinberg of the Bruce Springstein E St. Band.
In 1999, Dave was cast as the featured onscreen jazz saxophonist in the Disney movie "The Cradle Will Rock," which was written and directed by Tim Robbins.
While in NY, Dave worked as an instructor of clarinet and saxophone at Wagner College in Staten Island for 6 years, and worked for 9 years teaching instrumental music grades 4-8 at Future Musicians, Inc. in New Jersey. This year, he was invited to be a guest clinician at The Hartford Academy for the Arts in Hartford, Connecticul, The Cincinnati Conservatory, Boise State University, Arizona State University, and Youngstown State University.
On June 23, 2011, he completed 213 performances of a nine month North American tour as the featured clarinetist, "Herschel", and woodwind doubler in the Broadway musical, "Fiddler On The Roof." Dave D'Angelo is the published author of "Chords and Keys For the Clarinet," which has been endorsed by classical clarinetists internationally including: Jim Ognebene, clarinetist with the MEtropolitan Opera Orchestra in NY, John Cipolla of the International Clarinet Association, and internationally renowned clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, artist/professor at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

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.

Rebecca Floyd, Suzuki Violin and Viola

Rebecca Floyd has been teaching violin and viola for CMS for eight years and maintains a private studio of students ranging in age from four to twenty. Rebecca also teaches Parent Education classes and group classes for CMS's youngest violinists. She earned her Bachelor of Music in viola performance in 2005 and her Masters of Arts in musicology in 2009, both at the University of Georgia. Rebecca is deeply committed to the Suzuki Method and has taken more than ten units of teacher training on both violin and viola from the Suzuki Association of the Americas teacher trainers. Over the past six years she has attended workshops all over the country and trained with well-known instructors including Lynn Baughman, Elizabeth Stuen-Walker, Ed Kreitman, and Laurie Scott. Currently Vice President of the Suzuki Association of Georgia, Rebecca also performs with the John's Creek Symphony Orchestra and teaches music courses at Gainseville State College.

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.

Dan Nettles, Jazz/Rock Guitar

For the past two decades, Dan Nettles has divided his time between performing and educating. As the bandleader/composer/guitarist for the "adventure-jazz" ensemble Kenosha Kid, Nettles has taken his unique indie-rock-jazz aesthetic across the US and into Canada and Europe for the past 8 years. The projects are frequently multi-media events that include film, dancers, or actors. As an educator, Nettles has taught hundreds of students of all ages, styles, and levels of ability. Either as a private instructor or in a classroom setting, his lessons are always designed to "teach how to learn", rather than focusing on rote technical performance.
Since 2007 he has been the lead instructor for both the Camp Amped summer sessions and after school programs, serving both as an instructor and as a designer of the curriculum and continues to work as a visiting artist to the Jazz Studies classes at the University of Georgia. Nettles has studied privately with Grammy award winning artists Dave Douglas and Bill Frisell, jazz luminaries Jerry Bergonzi, Steve Khan, and Hal Crook, and received two grants for large works from the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association in Brunswick, Georgia.
He has created several acclaimed recordings: In 2008 a combination DVD/CD featuring an all new score for Buster Keaton's classic silent film "Steamboat Bill, Jr.", in 2009 a vinyl/digital release of the sci-fi suite called "Fahrenheit", and in 2010 a sweeping double disc live recording called "Land of Obey". Along with eclectic folk artist Jim White, he created a score for the Juilliard musical "The Americans" which is documented in 2010's "Sounds of the Americans".

  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, Musikgarten 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.

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.