Piano program home

ALUMNI

VCU piano graduates have successfully pursued advanced music degrees at other major universities and conservatories. Many have held professional positions at such prestigious locations as Indiana University, the San Jose Opera, the Kennedy Center and the Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, the Northern Virginia Community College and the International School in Shanghai, China.

Our students have been frequent prizewinners in major national and international piano competitions, including the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition, the Stravinsky Competition and MTNA’s Collegiate Artist Competition. Many have been featured soloists with orchestras, including the Seoul Philharmonic, the Park Avenue Symphony of New York, the Charleston Symphony, the Richmond Symphony and others.

Audio sample
VCU graduate, Leilani Mork performs "Suite de Danzas Criollas Op. 15, Scherzando-Coda" by Alberto Ginastera
download .mp3 here

Here are some of our distinguished alumni:

Leila Hepp (M.M. 2005) – faculty, International School in Shanghai, China.

Leilani Mork (M.M. 2004 summa cum laude) – adjunct faculty at VCU, pianist for the Richmond Ballet, former vocal coach and accompanist for the Opera Festival di Roma's educational program, musical director for University of Virginia's Opera Workshop.

Zachary Wadsworth ( Community Music School graduate) – senior at the Eastman School of Music. Participant, the Tanglewood Institute Young Artists Composition Program and Aspen Music Festival and School. Soloist, Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Thomas Webb (B. M., 1975) – director of in-school and community performances at the Opera San José, head of the music staff. Formerly Principal Coach and Music, Music Director of the Resident Artists of Portland Opera, Assistant Conductor at Connecticut Grand Opera, faculty of the Yale University School of Music. Graduate degree in Vocal and Instrumental Accompanying from the Manhattan School of Music in New York. Assistant Conductor and Coach/Accompanist at Santa Fe Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Opera North at Dartmouth College, and Central City Opera Festival in Colorado. Recitals: Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall in New York with both operatic and Broadway singers and instrumentalists. Soloist with the Oregon Symphony in Portland. Coach/Pianist at Sacramento Opera, West Bay Opera, and San José State University.

Tom Jennings (BM, 1986; MM, 1987) – Director of Worship and Arts at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, the largest Protestant congregation in Manhattan, with over 5,000 members. Oversees a program of 300 professional musicians, including members of the New York Philharmonic and noted jazz artists. A published composer of more than one hundred works in multiple genres. Resides in Manhattan and is married to soprano Michelle McBride Jennings (VCU BM, 1987).

Ellen Flint (B.M. 1962) – Associate Professor of Music at Wilkes University. M. Mus from Rice University, PhD from University of Maryland. Publications in The Musical Quarterly, Perspectives of New Music, Contemporary Music Review, and American Music Teacher. Collaborative and solo lecture-recitals at the state conventions of the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association.

Harvey Jacobson (B.M., RPI) – applied piano faculty, Northern Virginia Community College. Awarded the "Certificate of Individual Merit" from the National Federation of Music Clubs for his contribution toward the furtherance of American music and was included in "The International Who's Who in Music," following a series of lecture-recitals on the solo piano music of the American composer, Edward MacDowell. Frequent appearances on both radio and television performing the music of Scott Joplin, Edward MacDowell and the serious music of Thomas "Fats" Waller.