Faculty Information
Office Staff
Aaron Mitchell, Faculty Director. Mr. Mitchell is one of the founders of Utah Conservatory. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Park City Arts & Music Conservatory, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships to music students. He is the founder of Professional Artists Group, LLC, and owner of Park City Music, LLC, and member of the National Association of Music Merchants. Aaron began his love of music as a boy when hired for three seasons as a member of the New York City Opera Children’s Chorus; including productions of La Boheme, Turandot, Cavalleria Rusticana, Il Pagliacci, Carmen, 110 in the Shade, and was a little fox in the ensemble of The Cunning Little Vixen. He was a guest solo artist with the San Juan Capistrano Symphony, and featured in the North American premier of Villa-Lobos’ The Girl from the Clouds in NYC. He also appeared in the PBS National TV Broadcast of Carmen. Mr. Mitchell has also been teaching guitar over the past several years and studies a variety of instruments.
Additional Office Staff: Dr. Fredric Cook & Debra Cook (see Voice & Acting); Casey Hansen (see guitar)
Voice and Acting
Debra Lynn Cook, Managing Director of Utah Conservatory, co-founder of Utah Conservatory, Head of Voice Department and member of piano faculty. Served 10 years as Adjunct Assistant Professor for the University of Utah's Actor Training Program ,also developing the Department of Theatre’s Musical Theatre studio courses, as well as a year for the U’s Music Department. Served 11 years on the music faculty at Brigham Young University, teaching voice, group voice and diction. Graduate from Brigham Young University with a Masters Degree in Music Performance. Studied with Rita Patané, Seth Riggs, William Schuman, David Triestram, Ray Arbizu, Joan Kreugar, and was past president of the Southern Utah Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Current member of UTMA and NATS. Founder of Utah Vocal Arts and Metropolitan Vocal Arts Institute, and principal of Beachwood Arts Management. Founding Board Member of Opera West. A winner of the American Opera Auditions, U.S.A. World Showcase, and a regional finalist for the Metropolitan Opera Auditions. Cook has done opera and concert work throughout the United States, including solo performances with the National Choral Society at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, Utah Symphony, and several seasons in repertory with Utah Opera Company. She performed off-Broadway, is featured as Roxanne in Stuart Crane's cast recording of Cyrano, and has served as a professional choral conductor and competition adjudicator. She is also a professional accompanist and studied piano with Eugene Watanabe and Dr. Bryan Stanley.
Dr. Fredric William Cook, PhD, Founder and Executive Director, Director of Drama and Performance Programs, and Vocal Coach. Graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Drama and Film. Received a Master's Degree from Hunter College in New York City with an emphasis in Directing. Received a Post-Graduate Certificate from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and studied Education in the University of Utah’s Department of Education Doctoral Program. Received a Doctoral Degree in Educational Studies from Rochville University. Studied with Uta Hagen, Bobby Lewis, Mira Rostova, Harold Clureman, Arthur Miller, and Cecily Berry. Taught at Hunter College in New York City as an Associate Professor in Theatre and Film where he developed a series of film production workshops and curriculum between the Theatre and Film Departments for students to learn the differences between acting for film and for the stage. Served as Adjunct Faculty at Utah Valley State College. Founded and directed the Los Angeles Academy of Dramatic Art, and formed the Alexander Repertory Company, which performed in three theatres in Hollywood, often having five plays in repertory. Some of Dr. Cook’s former students include Delta Burke, Christopher McDonald, and Joe Pantalione. Dr. Cook received a Los Angeles Dramalogue Critics Award for his performance in Walking to Waldheim at Theatre Geo in Hollywood and the Best Actor Award from Louisburg College in Louisburg, NC. He is a founding member of the Berkeley Repertory Company; and, as a playwright, he has had five plays produced at regional theatres across the country. As an actor, he has performed over one hundred and fifty roles in drama and musical theatres in the US and London, and has been seen in over two dozen movies for television, as well as several dozen TV series. In 1969, he was the first "McMurphy" in the San Francisco production of One Flew Over the Cookoo’s Nest, and joined the Off-Broadway production in 1970. Other classic stage roles include the title role in King Lear and Woyzeck, and Mark Antony in Julius Caesar. He has directed over 55 plays coast to coast. He produced commercials in New York, and worked as a unit production manager and publicity director of Future Films. Cook is a member of Actor’s Equity, Screen Actor’s Guild, and American Federation of TV and Radio Artists.
Dr. Isaac Hurtado, voice faculty. Mr. Hurtado taught at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse, Michigan, and has many of his students matriculating into the world’s best college programs, including Juilliard, CCM, and Manhattan School of Music. Among them, many have progressed to professional work in opera and musical theatre. Addtionally, he is the founder and director of Utah Vocal Arts Academy in Provo, Utah. Hurtado is critically acclaimed for successes as Edgardo in Lucia di Lamermoor, Werther in Werther, the Duke in Rigoletto, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Alfredo in LaTraviata, and Roméo in Roméo et Juliette. Additional opera roles include Belmonte in Die Entfürung aus dem Serail, the title role in Bernstien’s Candide, Roméo in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, Ferrando in Cosí fan tutte, Agenore in Mozart’s Il re pastore and Tebaldo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi. As Roger Doremus in Lee Hoiby’s Summer and Smoke, Mr. Hurtado was heard nationally on National Public Radio’s World of Opera and has appeared with Opera San Jose, Utah Festival Opera, Opera North, Opera Circle of Cleveland, the Festival Opera of Walnut Creek (CA), Central City Opera, the Bay Area’s Midsummer Mozart Festival and Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy. In concert Mr. Hurtado performed Liszt’s A Faust Symphony with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and gala concerts with the Santa Rosa Symphony and Martinez Opera. For the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra he was tenor soloist in Bach’s Magnificat and G
Major Mass. Recent engagements included Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra, a debut with Phoenix Opera as Remendado in Carmen, Messiah with the Central United Methodist Church, a concert with Sun Valley Opera, tenor soloist for Traverse City Symphony’s Gala Christmas Concert, and “Werther in Concert” with Opera Circle Cleveland. Upcoming engagements include an appearance with the Temple Square Chorale of Salt Lake City and Rigoletto with Thee Oaks Michigan’s, Acorn Theatre.
Jane Talley, Acting Faculty. Talley has directoed over seventy plays and musicals, and taught theatre in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas over the course of thirty years. Her theatre experience includes acting, dancing, singing and TV (commercials and childrens' shows in Illinois). She received a BA in theatre from Southern Illinois University and an MA in Directing from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. As a teacher in Southern California, she was on the board of SCETA (Southern California Educational Theatre Association) and was Vice President of high school theatre for Southern California. Jane also served as the Nevada State thesbian Director for two years. Her passion for "good" theatre is boundless, and she loves the energy, enthusiasm, and raw courage which actors bring to the stage. she is excited to be the drama teacher for Utah Conservatory.
Gretchen Windt, Voice Instructor. Originally from Chicago, mezzo-soprano Gretchen Windt received her Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. While studying at CCM, she performed in Cosi fan tutte (Dorabella), Dangerous Liaisons (Victoire), and A Childhood Miracle Chicago, IL). Operatic highlights there included a full production of Le Nozze di Figaro (Cherubino) and selected scenes from Der Rosenkavalier (Octavian) and Cosi fan tutte (Dorabella). Ms. Windt has performed leading and supporting roles with regional Chicago companies including Bowen Park Opera, OperaModa, and DuPage Opera Theatre. She also sang professionally with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Musicians’ Residency Program. She was an Apprentice Artist with Sarosota Opera (FL) including mainstage performances of Die Fledermaus (Ida) and an Apprentice Artist with the Utah Opera and Symphony including mainstage performances of Le Nozze di Figaro (A Bridesmaid) and MacBeth (Lady-in-Waiting).
Valerie Hart Nelson, Voice, Cello, & Beg. Piano. Nelson received her Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from Florida State University where she studied with Dr. Wanda Brister and was also 2008 winner of the Hannah Beaulieu Career Development Award at Florida State University. Valerie is at home in both operatic and concert repertoire and has been a featured soloist in such works as Handel’s Messiah, with Utah Luric Opera, Murray Symphony and Chipola Jr. College, and Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven 9th, Berlioz Strophes, and Elgar’s Tower of Magdala with the Utah Lyric Opera Ensemble. Valerie has also performed a variety of operatic and musical theater roles and spent two seasons with Ohio Light Opera where she performed the roles of Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Ida in Die Fledermaus, The Dutchess in The Gondoliers, and the Nanny in the world premier of Robert Ward’s A Friend of Napoleon. Most recently she has performed the roles of Quickly in Falstaff, Katisha in The Mikado, the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Baba in The Medium, and Oberon in Midsummer Night’s Dream with Florida State Opera, as well as The Magic Flute with Utah Opera, "Teacup" in Ravel's L'anfant et les sortileges at the Chantanville Foundation Festival in Virginia, Buttercup in Rogers Memorial Theater's HMS Pinafore, and soloist with Utah Lyric Opera's Messiah and the Utopian Baroque Ensemble.
Kathryn Monson, Voice Faculty. B.A. Music Education (Vocal Performance & Pedagogy as well as Choral Education) at Brigham Young University. There, and from her additional training, she has developed the skills to be able to teach all styles of singing in a hands-on, intuitive way. She loves working with beginners as well as with seasoned singers. Many of her students perform in musicals at the schools and local theaters. She focuses on helping each student develop healthy singing techniques, build a varied repertoire and gain confidence for auditioning and performing. Kathryn has sung with the Utah Opera Chorus since 2005 and has been a guest soloist with the Salt Lake Symphony and the Salt Lake Community College Chamber Choir.
Piano
Dr. Bryan Stanley, Piano & Theory Faculty. Bryan Stanley is a pianist and composer in Park City and Faculty Chair of the piano department at the Utah Conservatory in Park City, UT. He is published by Hal Leonard, Boosey & Hawkes and G. Schirmer, his most recent publications including two arrangements of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring for solo piano and violin/piano. He has had several commissions and performances, including a guest artist appearance with the 2007 Gina Bachauer International Piano Festival. He has also played for President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton. Stanley premiered his 2nd Piano Concerto in May 2008 at St. Louis Community College and the Riverton Metropolitan Orchestra in Utah. His works have also been performed at Baylor University, Indiana University-Southeast, Simpson College, University of Oklahoma, and Lewis University. In 1997, the Des Moines Metro Opera premiered his one-act chamber opera, The Cask of Amontillado, the result of winning a national chamber opera competition sponsored by the company. The premiere, which he conducted, was enthusiastically reviewed in the November 1997 issue of Opera News magazine. Dr. Stanley has a DMA in composition from the University of Oklahoma in 2002, an MM in piano performance from University of Missouri-Kansas City (1996), and a BM in piano performance from Simpson College (1994). He has studied piano with Joanne Baker, Ed Gates, Robert Larsen and Robert Spillman.
Mike Vermillion, Piano and Guitar Instructor and Chairman of the Con Brio Music Festival and Competition. Former Pesident of the Park City Chapter of Utah Music Teachers Association. Mike joined the Utah Conservatory staff in 2001 as a teaching apprentice and was accepted as an instructor in 2003. Mr. Vermillion is currently the music teacher for Lady of our Lourdes Catholic School (grades K-8) in Salt Lake City. He also studied music at Salt Lake Community College and served for 6 years as the Music Minister for the Tooele Christian Fellowship. He is an accomplished solo and ensemble player and composer for the English Hand Bells, and has performed as a keyboardist and guitarist in several bands.
Susanna Howder, Piano. Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance, Magna Cum Laude. At university, Susanna prepared and facilitated individual and group lessons covering a complete curriculum of musical topics. She also created an engaging environment for her little pianist by creating fun games for early piano. Susanna has a wealth of accompanying and performing experience, and has even instructed student in dance. She was also award the Excellence in Keyboard Award from Spring Arbor University, Outstanding Senior Award, Deans Award, Oregon Federation of Music’s Junior Festival God Cup Award and has completed the Oregon Music Teacher’s Association Syllabus Exams.
Colleen Sharpe, Piano, a graduate student in Piano Performance at the University of Utah School of Music. Graduate of Cal State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor's in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication. Then, moved to Park City, where she continued to studied music theory and piano pedagogy under Dr. Bryan Stanley, with an emphasis on classical music. Colleen is very diverse in her accomplishments, ranging from competitive snowboarder to sushi chef to favored music teacher. She also served as the staff pianist/accompanist for the Park City Community Church, where she also performed a community piano concert.
Piano Instruction also offered by:
Debra Cook (voice), Gretchen Windt (voice), and Valerie Nelson (voice).
Guitar
Michael Bayless, Guitar Faculty. Graduate of University of Southern California School of Music (USC) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Student of Christopher Parkening. Former Chair of Classical Guitar at the California Master’s College. Concertized internationally in Classical, Blues, and Rock.
Douglas T. Erekson, Guitar and Percussion Faculty. Masters Degree from USC in Professional Writing in Screenwriting, with additional Doctoral Studies. Graduate with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree with Brigham Young University in Motion Picture Production, with a Music Minor. Mr. Erekson is skilled in many instruments, including the guitar, dobro, bass, and drums. He has performed in many groups with various instruments, including The Mr. Lucky Band, Back Porch Believers, Billings Symphony, and the BYU Jazz Ensemble. Recently, he released a gospel bluegrass CD titled Back Porch Believer and a Children's Gospel CD called Little Nature's Heaven.
George Simon, Guitar, Currently studying at the jazz performance/composition program at the University of Utah’s School of Music. He also attended Berklee College of Music’s summer performance program in funk/fusion styles. Mr. Simon began playing the guitar at the age of 13 and has grown comfortable with many styles such ass jazz, blues, funk, indie, metal, rock, bluegrass, and latin music. Currently, George is working and touring with his funk band, Big Blue Ox.
Casey Hansen, Guitar. 10 years, playing everything from blue grass to punk rock, while in addition, having roots firmly planted in the blues and rock n' roll . Also, having studied Blues-Harp, Saxophone, and Piano throughout school while playing in Jazz-band, he is a huge fan of Jazz and Rag-Time. Studying mainly 60's rock style guitar, some of his larger influences are Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton, while also holding tight to the catalysts of blues such as Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King. Specializing in band oriented rock, Mr. Hansen has been the lead guitarist and vocalist for several performing bands which have played a plethora of venues around the state. Casey has enjoyed teaching guitar in a private setting for over 4 years and in addition is a skilled song-writer and vocalist.
Guitar Instruction also offered by:
Korky Ollerton (drums), and Mike Vermillion (piano).
Bass Guitar
Bass Guitar also offered by:
Korky Ollerton (guitar), and George Simon (guitar).
Drums
Korky Ollerton, Percussion / Guitar Faculty and School of Rock Show Director. A Performance Major from the Southern Utah University, Mr. Ollerton also attended the Musicians Institute of Technology, focusing on studio drumming, Latin, jazz, funk, rock fusion and swing with emphasize on live performance. As a Music major of El Camino College, Mr Ollerton also studied voice, music theory, guitar, bass, and piano. Mr. Ollerton has been a private drum instructor since 1982 and previously owned and operated a music school in St. George, Utah. He’s had over 670 performances with the Tuacahn Center for the Arts, including Cabaret, The Music Man, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Sound of Music, The King and I, Peter Pan, Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella, South Pacific, and much more. Mr. Ollerton has studied from Ron Benson and Dr. Darin Wadley.
Drum Instruction also offered by:
Douglas Erekson (guitar).
Violin/Viola
Caitlin Fowler, String Faculty (violin). Ms. Bardsley recently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Utah School of Music, where she studies with Hasse Borup. She also studied at the University of California Thorton School of Music, wherein she played with the USC Symphony and Chamber Orchestra. She has studies with Eudice Shapiro (USC) and Gerald Elias (assoc. concertmaster, Utah symphony), and played professionally in the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra. She has taught for the University of Utah String Pedagogy Program and has tutored private violin students for several years.
Cello
Cello Instruction also offered by:
Valerie Nelson (voice)
Ukulele
Ukulele Instruction also offered by:
Mike Vermillion (piano)
Flute/Saxophone/Clarinet/Oboe/Trumbone/Trumpet/Tuba/French Horn
David McCallister, Brass & Woodwinds Faculty. Graduate with a Masters and Bachelors Degree from the University of Utah, where he is currently doing doctoral studies in music education. Mr. McCallister plays and teaches variety of instruments, including Trumpet, Flute, Trombone, Tuba, Clarinet, and Saxophone. Over his career, he has performed in numerous ensembles, taught in several public schools, and currently teaches school band in the Salt Lake Valley. David is also fluent in Spanish.
Theory & Composition
Theory instruction also offered by:
Dr. Bryan Stanley (piano), David McCallister (Flute, et. al.), Debra Cook (voice), Valerie Hart (voice), Douglas Erekson (guitar), Korly Ollerton (Drums)
Composition Instruction also offered by:
Dr. Bryan Stanley (piano), Douglas Erekson (guitar)
Utah Conservatory
Music Lessons for All Ages
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