Faculty

Zane Brock
Applied Instrument: Piano
Secondary Instruments: Banjo, Guitar
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: MA from Western Carolina University, EdS from Lincoln Memorial University, BA from Furman University
NSM Faculty: Since 2017

Troy Lucia
Applied Instrument: Piano, Organ
Secondary Instruments: Voice
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: BM with Honors from New England Conservatory of Music
NSM Faculty: Since 2020

Greg Holland
Applied Instrument: Trumpet
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: MM in Trumpet Performance from Northwestern University, BM in Music Education, Magna Cum Laude, from Georgia State University
NSM Faculty: Since 2011

Joshua Crook
Applied Instrument: French Horn
Secondary Instruments: Trumpet
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: MA and BA in Horn Performance from Florida State University
NSM Faculty: Since 2019

Bradley Nelsen
Applied Instrument: Bassoon
Secondary Instruments: Oboe, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone
Campus: Online, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek
Education: MM in Wind Conducting is from the University of Nebraska, BM in Instrumental Music Education is from the Schwob School of Music in Columbus, GA
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra: Principal Bassoon
NSM Faculty: Since 2019

Scott Douglas
Applied Instrument: Percussion
Campus: Online, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek
Education: (coming soon)
NSM Faculty: Since 2017

Marcy Meredith
Applied Instrument: Voice
Secondary Instruments: Piano
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: MM in Music from Georgia State University, MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of South Florida, BM in Music from Berry College
NSM Faculty: Since 2015

Yelena Ayzenberg
Applied Instrument: Piano
Secondary Instruments: Bayan (Russian Accordian), Voice
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: Diploma o Nepolnom Visshem Obrazovanii from Rimsky-Korsakova College of Music, Mogilev, Belarus, Specialist Diploma in Culture and Education from Kult-Prosvet College of Music, Mogilev, Belarus
NSM Faculty: Since 2008

Susan Andrews
Applied Instrument: Piano
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: BM in Piano Performance from the University of Georgia
NSM Faculty: Since 2005

Angela Anzai
Applied Instrument: Piano
Campus: Online, Buford, Johns Creek
Education: BM in Piano from Kennesaw State University
Awards: Kennesaw State University honors: Emmanuel Ax Piano Scholarship and the Steinway Society Endowed Scholarship
NSM Faculty: Since 2016

Rita Atkinson
Applied Instrument: Violin
Secondary Instruments: Fiddle, Guitar, Piano, Mandolin
Campus: Online, Buford, Lilburn
Education: Graduate of Guitar and Keyboard Programs from Atlanta Institute of Music
NSM Faculty: Since 2008

Marina Dmitriyev
Applied Instrument: Violin
Secondary Instruments: Piano
Campus: Online, Buford, Sandy Springs
Education: BM in Violin Performance and Teaching from St. Petersburg Conservatory (Russia)
NSM Faculty: Since 2011

Anne Anderson
Applied Instrument: Violin
Secondary Instruments: Viola, Piano
Campus: Online, Buford, Lilburn, Johns Creek
Education: Atlanta Suzuki Institute, Suzuki institute at East Carolina University, Gwinnett Technical College.
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra: Associate Concertmaster
NSM Faculty: Since 2012

Bjorn Anderson
Applied Instrument: Double Bass
Secondary Instruments: Cello, Guitar
Campus: Online, Buford, Lilburn
Education: Texas State University, Atlanta Institute of Music
NSM Faculty: Since 2013

Isaac Bear
Applied Instrument: Guitar
Secondary Instruments: Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin, Banjo
Campus: Online, Sandy Springs
Education: BM in Classical Guitar Performance from University of North Florida
NSM Faculty: Since 2005

Eric Denton
Applied Instrument: Guitar
Secondary Instruments: Bass Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele
Campus: Online, Buford, Lilburn
Education: Graduate in Guitar Studies from Atlanta Institute of Music
NSM Faculty: Since 2005

Mirela Dragan
Applied Instrument: Piano
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: BM in Piano Performance and Music Theory from Georgia State University, received the John Schneider Award for exceptional pianistic talent
NSM Faculty: Since 2008

Melissa Fargason
Applied Instrument: Viola
Secondary Instruments: Violin, Cello, Piano
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: BM in Music Education from Clayton State University
NSM Faculty: Since 2017

Don Gardo
Applied Instrument: Trombone
Secondary Instruments: Euphonium, Tuba, Trumpet
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: BM in Trombone Performance from Georgia State University
NSM Faculty: Since 2013

Brandon Graham
Applied Instrument: Voice
Secondary Instruments: Piano
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: BM in Vocal Performance from Emmanuel College
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Chorus, Bass (on leave)
NSM Faculty: Since 2015

Jim Greer
Applied Instrument: Piano
Campus: Online, Sandy Springs
Education: BM in Music Education from Southern Illinois University
NSM Faculty: Since 2005

Philip Gubser
Applied Instrument: Clarinet
Secondary Instruments: Saxophone, Flute
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: BA in Music Education from Georgia College & State University
NSM Faculty: Since 2011

Clark Hodges
Applied Instrument: Saxophone
Secondary Instruments: Flute, Clarinet
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: Georgia State University, awarded the GSU Foundation scholarship for exceptional musicianship
NSM Faculty: Since 2020

Michelle Hung
Applied Instrument: Bassoon
Secondary Instruments: Piano
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: BM in Music Performance Taipei National Univ. of the Arts and Tunthai Univ. in Taiwan
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Wind Orchestra, Bassoon; Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra, Substitute Bassoon
NSM Faculty: Since 2008

Seth Kuehn
Applied Instruments: Clarinet, Saxophone
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: (coming soon)
NSM Faculty: Since 2019

Kyle Loughman
Applied Instrument: Tuba
Secondary Instruments: Euphonium, Trombone
Campus: Online, Buford, Lilburn, Sandy Springs
Education: BM in Music Education from Kennesaw State University
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra: Co-Principal Tuba
NSM Faculty: Since 2017

Alan McConnell
Applied Instrument: Trombone
Secondary Instruments: Euphonium, Tuba, Trumpet, Flute, Saxophone, Clarinet
Campus: Online, Sandy Springs
Education: BM in Music Education, Cum Laude from James Madison University
NSM Faculty: Since 2014

Lindsey Marcus
Applied Instrument: Voice
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: BA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Vocal Performance from Syracuse University
NSM Faculty: Since 2019

Emily Nicolich
Applied Instrument: Violin
Secondary Instruments: Viola
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: Berklee College of Music, Boston, Certified Suzuki Instructor
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra: Section Violin
NSM Faculty: Since 2019

Fausto Ojito
Applied Instrument: Guitar
Campus: Online, Buford, Johns Creek
Education: Musical Education at Universidad Del Atlantico (Barranquilla, Colombia), Music Performance at Escuela Distrital de Artes E.D.A. (Barranquilla, Colombia).
NSM Faculty: Since 2018

John Pagano
Applied Instrument: Guitar, Percussion
Secondary Instruments: Bass Guitar
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: BM in Music from Five Towns College in New York
NSM Faculty: Since 2011

Richard Ross
Applied Instrument: Guitar, Bass Guitar
Secondary Instruments: Piano
Campus: Online, Sandy Springs
Education: MM from University of Miami, BM from Berklee College of Music, Mus Ed from Florida Atlantic University
NSM Faculty: Since 2013

David Schroeder
Applied Instrument: Double Bass, Bass Guitar
Secondary Instruments: Piano, Guitar
Campus: Online, Sandy Springs
Education: BM in Music Performance and Jazz Studies from Georgia State University
NSM Faculty: Since 2016

Chelsea Shankles
Applied Instrument: Violin
Campus: Online, Buford, Flowery Branch
Education: University of North Georgia, Violin Performance
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra, Section Violin
NSM Faculty: Since 2019

Jonathan Smith
Applied Instrument: Piano, Voice
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: MM in Theory from Southwestern Seminary, BM in Piano/Theory from Georgia State University
NSM Faculty: Since 2018

Rick Smith - NSM Co-Founder & Director
Applied Instrument: Piano, Choral Conducting
Secondary Instruments: Voice
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: BM in (double degree) Music Education and Church Music from Shorter College
Consortium Director: Gwinnett Symphony Chorus, Music Director; Gwinnett Symphony Musical Arts Consortium, Artistic Director
NSM Faculty: Since 1997

Yulia Soboleva
Applied Instrument: Piano
Secondary Instruments: Voice
Campus: Online, Johns Creek
Education: MM from the Saint-Petersburg Conservatory (Russia)
NSM Faculty: Since 2019

Teodora Stoyanova
Applied Instrument: Flute, Piccolo
Secondary Instruments: Piano
Campus: Online, Buford, Lilburn
Education: MM and BM from the National Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra, Principal Flute
NSM Faculty: Since 2010

Robert Trocina - NSM Co-Founder & Director
Applied Instrument: Trumpet, Orchestral Conducting
Secondary Instruments: French Horn, Euphonium, Trombone
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: BM in Music Education from Kennesaw State University, further studies in conducting and performance at Georgia State University, Columbus State University
Consortium Director: Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra, Music Director; Gwinnett Symphony Musical Arts Consortium, Artistic Director
NSM Faculty: Since 1997

Shelly Unger
Applied Instrument: Bassoon
Secondary Instruments: Oboe
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: DMA in Bassoon Performance from University of Georgia, MM from Rice University, BM from Indiana University
NSM Faculty: Since 1997

Mariel Uzal
Applied Instrument: Piano
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: MM from University of Georgia, BM from Juan Jose Castro Provincial Conservatory of Music in Argentina
NSM Faculty: Since 1999

Billy Valentine
Applied Instrument: Voice
Secondary Instruments: Piano
Campus: Online, Buford, Lilburn
Education: BA Music from Shorter University
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Chorus, Tenor
NSM Faculty: Since 2013

Jennie Visscher
Applied Instrument: Piano
Campus: Online, Sandy Springs
Education: BM in Piano Performance from University of West Georgia where she later continued studies through workshops in Pedagogy and Piano Performance
NSM Faculty: Since 2007

Kim Wright
Applied Instrument: Voice, Piano
Campus: Online, Sandy Springs
Education: MMus Vocal Performance degree with Honors from London College of Music, University of West London
NSM Faculty: Since 2019

David Wilkes
Applied Instrument: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Campus: Online, Johns Creek
Education: MM in clarinet performance from Kent State University, Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance from Auburn University
NSM Faculty: Since 2018

Earl Williams
Applied Instrument: Saxophone
Campus: Online, Lilburn
Education: (coming soon)
NSM Faculty: Since 2011

Lisa Youngquist
Applied Instrument: Flute, Piccolo
Campus: Online, Buford
Education: University of North Texas, University of Oklahoma
Consortium Musician: Gwinnett Symphony Wind Orchestra, Flute/Piccolo; Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra, Substitute Flute/Piccolo
NSM Faculty: Since 2019