Darlington’s Instrumental Music Conservatory is a year-round program that draws upon the expertise of local and regional performing artists. These resident artists have helped place their students at renowned institutions such as the Peabody Conservatory, the Mannes School of Music and the Eastman School of Music.
The Instrumental Music Conservatory provides a full range of musical training that includes basic lessons, fundamentals classes, master classes, juried recitals and audition preparation.
By the time they graduate, students enrolled in our conservatory program will have developed an electronic portfolio of repertoire and accomplishments with audio documentation of steady and marked improvement over several years.
Features
- All recitals, performances (solo and ensemble), and each semester’s jury examination is recorded and added to the students electronic portfolio.
- Exposure to colleges and universities of choice, for scholarship auditions regardless of the students’ career plans.
- Weekly music fundamental training (ear, rhythm and piano), supervised practice sessions, private lessons, theory and composition class occur during ASA times to minimize strain on academic requirements.
- Flexible levels of commitment/participation for members of varying interest
- Required solo repertoire recital each semester.
- Private lessons and master classes are provided by Darlington’s resident artists and fees are included in semester tuition; however, students that enter with an existing private teacher are not required to change teachers.
- Each member is required to pass an end of semester adjudication by a panel of Darlington’s resident artists as part of their end-of-semester jury examination/recital.
- Daily large ensemble participation required.
Resident Artist Biographies
Flute: Melanie Fuller
Melanie Fuller’s educational background includes study at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, a Bachelor of Music from Florida State University, and a Master of Music from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Her flute teachers include Samuel Baron, Albert Tipton, Ferdnand Caratge, Marcel Moyse and Toshio Takahashi. She has performed at the Bach Aria Festival in New York, and has appeared as a guest artist at the National Flute Association Convention and the Florida Flute Fair. She was a co-founding member of the Atlanta Chamber Players for 14 years and served as the artistic director for several years. She has been heard on National Public Radio’s “In Performance Today” numerous times with both the Atlanta Chamber Players and Kokopelli Consort. Fuller served on the faculty of Kennesaw State University for 14 years, where she taught flute and coordinated the Music by Women Composers Concert Series. She has been a guest teacher at many high school and middle school band clinics. She has recorded on the Coronet, Press Avant and Leonarda labels. She currently freelances in the Atlanta area; teaches at the University of West Georgia, the Georgia Academy of Music and Casa Montessori School; and performs with the Macon Symphony Orchestra.
Clarinet: Luan Mueller
Luan Mueller is the North American liaison of the International Clarinet Association, founding president of the Atlanta Clarinet Association, and a freelance performer in the Atlanta area. She was the Karl Leister Atlanta tour coordinator for his 2005 American tour. As the clarinet instructor at the State University of West Georgia, she works with all university clarinetists through private instruction, clarinet ensemble and Master Classes. Mueller has performed as principal clarinet of the Spanish Lyric Orchestra, New Sigmund Romberg Orchestra, New York Gilbert and Sullivan Touring Troupe, and the Cobb Symphony. She has also performed Eb, Bb, A, Bass Clarinet and assorted recorders with the Florida Symphony, Baltimore Symphony and the Annapolis Symphony. Her woodwind quintet recording debuted on NPR in Washington, D.C., in 1976, with further TV appearances and a Christian music recording, “Harborside Christmas.” Her private studio is proud to have produced first chair All-State clarinetists in the states of Georgia, Florida and Maryland.
Saxophone: John Bleuel
John Bleuel is assistant professor of music (saxophone, double reeds, conducting, woodwind methods and aural skills) at the State University of West Georgia. He holds a a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance from the University of Georgia. His principal teachers were Kenneth Fischer (saxophone) and Thomas Dvorak (conducting). As a member of the Bleuel Duo with pianist Linda Li-Bleuel, he has performed on the Bridge New Music Series at Lincoln Center, the Eleventh World Saxophone Congress in Valencia, Spain, and throughout the eastern United States, Europe, and Japan. They have premiered several works for saxophone/piano duo, and have recorded for Arizona University Recordings and ACA Digital. He has performed as saxophone soloist with numerous bands and orchestras in the Midwest and Southeast, including a performance of Ingolf Dahl’s “Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Orchestra” with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in April 2002. John Bleuel is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
Oboe: Mickey Fisher
Mickey Fisher is semi-retired after 34 years of service to the Dalton (Ga.) Public School System, where he taught middle and high school band and served as coordinator of instrumental music. He is now employed as an applied woodwind professor at Berry College in Rome, where he also conducts the clarinet choir and double-reed ensembles. A graduate of Rossville (Ga.) High School, Fisher holds his Bachelor of Science and Master of Music Education from Austin Peay State University. In the course of his career, he has held memberships in many professional organizations including GMEA, MENC, NBA, ASBDA, Phi Mu Alpha, WASBE and is past president of the Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu National Bandmasters Fraternity. He performed professionally as an oboist with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Orchestras for eight years, and continues to play with the L’Abri Orchestra in the Chattanooga and North Georgia areas. He has conducted clinics and judged band events extensively throughout the Southeast, and for nine years served as director of the Georgia Lions All-State Band in their performances for Lions State and International Conventions. He also served as a conductor for two Southeast Regional Honor Bands in their concert tours of Europe. He is one of the co-founders of Bravo Music Camp, a summer camp for middle school band and orchestra students held at Berry. Fisher was awarded the Citation of Excellence by the National Band Association following a performance by his Dalton Middle School Band at the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic held at Troy State University. Most recently, he was presented the Distinguished Service Award and a 40-Year Service Award by the Georgia Music Educators Association.
Trumpet: Adam Hayes
Adam Hayes is active throughout the eastern United States as a professional trumpet player and educator. A seasoned soloist, as well as chamber, orchestral, jazz, and commercial musician, he has performed throughout North America, Europe and Asia. With an interest in new music and creative music, he is working on several independent endeavors promoting the latest in solo trumpet repertoire. His debut album, “CURRENT,” features new compositions for solo trumpet and piano. Hayes actively commissions new works for trumpet by a variety of composers. He has published articles and reviews for various music publications. He has also performed with professional ensembles including The Atlanta Opera Orchestra, The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, The Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, The Hollywood Festival Orchestra, The Hollywood Hills Orchestra, The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, The Santa Fe Symphony, The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, The West Virginia Symphony, The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, The Richmond Symphony Orchestra, The New Mexico Brass Quintet and numerous regional orchestras. He has been a soloist with the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus, and has performed studio-recording and commercial engagements with artists such as Diana Krall, Neil Sedaka, Edwin McCain and Mannheim Steamroller. Hayes is artist in residence and professor of trumpet at Berry College in Rome, where he teaches the trumpet studio, courses in music and conducts the jazz ensembles. Prior to this appointment, he taught at Clemson University, North Georgia College & State University, The University of New Mexico, Truett-McConnell College and for the Georgia Governor's Honors Program. He received a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from The University of Georgia, a Master of Music from The University of New Mexico, and is currently completing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
French Horn: Ellie Jenkins
Ellie Jenkins has been an active freelance horn player and teacher for over 10 years, performing with many orchestras and chamber ensembles in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Georgia. Some of these include the Green Bay Symphony, Rockford Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony, Northern Lights Chamber Winds and the Matrix Brass. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where she was a student of Douglas Hill. Jenkins taught previously at Northern Arizona University, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She currently performs with the Chamber Players of the South, the Rome Symphony, the Roman Festival Brass and as a frequent substitute with the Chattanooga Symphony. She is also a member of the Superior Festival Orchestra in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Trombone and Low Brass: Sam Baltzer
Sam Baltzer earned his Doctor of Music Education from Indiana University. Since 1987, he has served on the music faculty at Shorter College, where he is a professor of music. He is the founder and artistic director of Rome's Own Musical Ensembles Inc., which hosts a concert series featuring the Northwest Georgia Winds, the Clock Tower Jazz Ensemble and the Chamber Players of the South. Baltzer is also the conductor for these groups. He is active as a composer and arranger, as a performing musician, and has published articles in various music journals, music appreciation software applications, and music for concert band.
Percussion: Douglas R. Overmier
Douglas R. Overmier holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music from Ohio University, as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to his arrival at Angelo State University in Texas, where he was director of percussion studies from 1999-2003, he held teaching positions in Ohio's public schools, in Music at Concord College, North Carolina State University, Meredith College, and Angelo State University, as well as graduate teaching positions at Ohio University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As a performer, Overmier has appeared in almost every venue possible for a performing percussionist: with nationally renowned artists including Steve Houghton, Dizzy Gillespie, Mary Wilson, and David Samuels as well as in drum corps, recording studios, and with national touring productions of musicals and operas. His numerous performance credits include The North Carolina Symphony, Triangle Opera Company Orchestra, North Carolina Wind Symphony, the West Virginia Symphony, San Angelo Symphony and Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra. He is a published composer of band, jazz, and percussion works and has authored numerous articles in Percussive Notes, Southwestern Musician, the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Instrumentalist magazines.
Violin: Angele Sherwood-Lawless
Angele Sherwood-Lawless began her studies with Anna Tringas at the age of 8. She attended The Meadowmount School for Strings and Encore during the summers studying with Linda Cerone, and continued her studies with Cerone and David Updegraff at The Cleveland Institute of Music. After completing her Bachelor of Music, she moved to the Atlanta area, where she now is a very busy teacher and freelance musician. She currently plays with The Atlanta Opera, is concertmaster for The Atlanta Lyric, The Atlanta Pops, and often plays lead with many touring shows at the Fox Theater. She has also served as concertmaster of The Ohio Light Opera, The Atlanta Bach Choir and the Georgia Sinfonia. She has played in many orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Ballet orchestra, Alabama, Columbus, Savannah, Macon, Chattanooga, Akron symphonies and the Florida Orchestra. Sherwood-Lawless has taught in many schools in the Atlanta area, including Agnes Scott College, The Lovett School and The Georgia Academy of Music. She now keeps a studio in her home. Some of her students’ accomplishments include scholarships to Loyola, Florida State and Southern Methodist Universities; many participants in the Georgia All-State Orchestra program; and positions in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Viola: Adam Crane
Adam Crane, artistic director of CraneClassical Music Society, has enjoyed a successful and varied musical career. He received his Bachelor of Music from the Mannes School of Music in New York. As a chamber musician, he has performed as violist with the Roanoke String Quartet, the Zaslovsky String Trio, the Alaria Chamber Ensemble, the Weinstock String Quartet, the Niles String Quartet and the Sonoklect Contemporary Music Ensemble. With the International Music Program Quintet, he performed extensively throughout Europe, including in Leipzig’s famed Gewandhaus. Crane was a founding member of the Boneyfiddle Chamber Players, in residence at the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Arts Center. While a member of the Roanoke String Quartet, he was integral to the development of a PBS documentary featuring music written by Thomas Jefferson and now in the holdings of Mr. Jefferson’s library in Monticello. He has also collaborated with Maya Angelou in "Artemis," an innovative concert combining poetry with chamber music. Crane has held principal viola positions in the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the Ohio Valley Chamber Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Opera Festival, the River Cities Symphony, the International Music Program Orchestra, the Rockbridge Symphony Orchestra, the Kingsborough Symphony Orchestra and the Huntington Chamber Orchestra. He has also appeared on PBS and NPR, has recorded with Musical Heritage Society, and has been a finalist in the internationally acclaimed William Primrose Viola Competition. He is a member of the Sullivan-Crane duo, serves as a clinician at Lassiter High School and is director of instruction at Ronald Sachs Fine Violins Teaching Studios. He performs frequently with regional orchestras, including the Alabama Symphony, Ludwig Symphony, (principal viola), the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Tennessee and Chamber Music Atlanta.
Cello: Annie Camp
Annie Camp received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from The Juilliard School of Music, studying with such teachers and coaches as Leonard Rose, Lorne Munroe of the New York Philharmonic, Joseph Fuchs, Martha Gerschefski of Georgia State University and Wolfgang Laufer of the Fine Arts String Quartet. She has performed in master classes for Janos Starker and Joel Krosnick of the Juilliard String Quartet, and while at Juilliard she performed two solo recitals at Lincoln Center. Camp was previously cellist for LYRA String Quartet, Dal Segno Piano Trio, Da Capo String Quartet, Bronx Opera Company, Amato Opera Company, principal cellist of Queens Philharmonic under Joanne Falletta, and cellist of the all-string jazz band Jazz a Cordes. She played with the Alabama Symphony for seven years and has performed with the Atlanta Symphony, Greenville Symphony, Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Lyric Opera and Atlanta Ballet. She has also performed concertos with Lee University Chamber Orchestra, DeKalb Community Orchestra and Atlanta Chamber Orchestra. Camp received her teaching certificate from the New York School for Strings, and implemented her own original string program in the New York Public School System through Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. She is currently string orchestra teacher at Darlington; teaches privately in the Atlanta, Rome and Chattanooga areas; and is adjunct cello instructor at Lee University as well as director of the Community School for the Arts.
Bass: Emmy Hengeveld
Emmy Hengeveld’sprofessional career has spanned over two decades. She has studied with Joe Jackson, Mike Bradt, Dave Mazanek and Bill Sunrich. She is the principal bassist for the Rome Symphony Orchestra, and has been active in numerous Shorter College opera and musical productions. Hengeveld is also principal bassist for the La Grange Symphony Orchestra. She has played with the Georgia Philharmonic, the Trio da Roma, the Bennett Jackson Trio, Rome Sinfonietta and has been an active member of the Jacksonville State University Faculty Trio since 2008. She is an inaugural member of the Gadsden Symphony Orchestra (Ala.) since 1990, and acts as bassist for Snead State College Theatre Group in Boaz, Ala. Hengeveld performs and teaches throughout the Southeast, with studios in Alabama and Georgia. She has also collaborated with such notable conductors as Maestro Bob Bernhard, Thomas Hines, Philip Rice, Richard Prior and Les Filmer, and is a member of ASTA (American String Teachers Association).
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Colleges, Universities, Conservatories and Camps Attended by Students
- Peabody Conservatory
- Mannes School of Music
- Eastman School of Music
- Notre Dame
- Yale
- The U.S. Navy School of Music
- The University of North Texas
- Northwestern University
- University of Arizona
- Ohio State University
- Loyola University
- Florida State University
- University of Illinois – Champaign-Urbana
- Florida A&M University
- The University of Florida
- Georgia State University
- University of Georgia
- University of West Georgia
- Southern Methodist University
- Vanderbilt
- University of Texas – Austin
- Texas A&I University
- Texas A&M University
- Baylor University
- University of Texas – Brownsville
- University of Texas, Pan-American
- Texas Tech University
- Pittsburg State University
- Troy University
- Jacksonville State University
- The University of Alabama
- Auburn University
- Columbus State University
- Sanford University
- Cincinnati Conservatory
- Cleveland Institute of Music
- Boston Conservatory
- Capital Conservatory
- University of Alabama
- University of Tennessee
- Morehead State University
- Ohio University
- McGill University
- Appalachian State
- NYU Stoneybrook
- University of Maryland
- University of South Florida
- Stetson University
- Banff
- University of Northern Iowa
- University of Texas
- Bowling Green State University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Kent State University
- Louisiana State University
- Miami University (Fla.)
- Oberlin Conservatory
- Ohio State University
- University of Akron
- University of Iowa
- University of Michigan
- University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
- University of North Carolina – Greensboro
- Wake Forrest
- University of Kansas
- Stanford
- Xavier College – New Orleans
- Mercer University
- The University of Oklahoma
- Valdosta State University
- University of West Florida
- Interlochen Arts Camp
- North Carolina School for the Arts Camp
- Brevard Music Camp
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Sample Audio Files
“Romance No. 1”
by Robert Schumann
Performed by Keila Gunter '11
on Oboe
[Download the audio](right-click and save as)
"Nina"
by Pergolesi
Performed by Ashley Zhang '11
on Bass
[Download the audio](right-click and save as)
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