Samuel Anderson is Manager of Education and Community Engagement with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and a freelance musician in the Maryland area. He has performed with several orchestras in the Maryland area. Most notably: Mid Atlantic Symphony, Washington Opera Society, and Virginia Symphony. He also performs in a variety of groups from big bands to chamber ensembles in the Baltimore area. He is a founding member of Cortina Brass, Charm Brass Quintet, and the Wind Collision Duo. Mr. Anderson’s chamber music career has led to performances throughout the MidWest and South Eastern USA, as well as Germany, and notably an upcoming tour in Japan for the Summer of ‘25. He earned an M.M. from Yale School of Music where he studied with Scott Hartman, and his B.M. from Vanderbilt University with Jeremy Wilson. He teaches low brass instruments. Away from his role with the BSO and freelancing, Samuel spends his free time at home watching movies, or exploring the Maryland scenery with his fiancee and their dog, Ollie.
Mr. Keith Karasik teaches violin, viola, cello and bass. He enjoyed his first professional performance at age 10 when he play the tuba in his father’s band. He switched to the bass violin in High School where he played in the school orchestra and jazz band. Outside of school he was invited to perform and record with a local band called Daybreak.
Mr. Karasik received his Bachelors of Arts in Music Education and a Masters of Music in Performance. He has advanced training in theory, composition and improvisation. Mr. Karasik has a variety of musical experiences which include chamber groups, symphony orchestra, opera, jazz, theater and pop.
Mr. Karasik believes music is an important part of human culture. It is a form of expression and tells a story.
Mr. Karasik’s music approach includes three main parts.
1. Neuro-Mechanics: Connecting to your instrument, producing a sound you enjoy and developing muscle memory.
2. Musical Structure: Understanding the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic patterns in music and recognizing them whenever they occur.
3. Enjoy the Journey: Learning how the musical experience expands your appreciation of and sensitivity to your other pursuits.
Mr. David Lowe has decades of experience as a performer, writer, independent researcher, and educator in many genres of music.
For many years he has informally studied West African Styles, Brazilian Styles, Cuban and Caribbean Music, Jazz, Art Music, and Early Music. He continues to research and refine his discipline.
As a composer, arranger, and performer, he is fluent in traditional writing, popular music, and Jazz. His professional training began as a self-taught electric bassist developing relationships with musicians like Koko Taylor, Albert King, and John Lee Hooker. His experience inspired him to formalize music studies and earn a degree in composition in Boston. Over the past decade, he learned to play Double Bass from Ira Gold. He devotes efforts to refining his bass soloist and writing skills and his independent research. His current projects include surveying the musical development of the North Eastern region of Brazil, African American Church Music, Early Italian Music Pedagogy, and Early European Folk Music and Dance Traditions. Additionally, he operates an experimental musicianship skills training lab. The goal is to develop customized standards-based instrumental music instruction for learners interested in learning popular music and jazz professionally.
Mr. Harrison Sturges is a music educator specializing in guitar, bass, drums and music theory, working with students from beginner to advanced levels. He gained a Bachelor of Science in Music Engineering Technology and Electrical Engineering, and has years of performance experience across a range of genres, including jazz, rock, blues, Latin, and funk.
During his studies, Mr. Sturges performed regularly with Jazz ensembles, and later with the American Music and Metal Ensembles at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. He has also taken part in multiple regional and national tours while in high school and during his time at the university, gaining practical, real-world experience as a performing musician. Mr. Sturges brings a well-rounded, practical approach to teaching and focuses on helping students build solid technical skills, musical understanding, and confidence in their playing, in a supportive and structured learning environment.
Dr. Jessica Banks is a professional flutist and teacher living in the Baltimore/DC metro area. Before moving to Maryland, Dr. Banks served as the Flute Professor at Mississippi State University as well as the director of the MSU flute choir. An enthusiastic performer, Dr. Banks has performed with the Starkville Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Delta Symphony, Lexington Philharmonic, North Mississippi Orchestra, Owensboro Symphony, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and Evansville Symphony Orchestra. Additional performance honors include concerto appearances with the Starkville Symphony, W.D. Packard Concert Band, MSU Wind Ensemble, MSU Community band and she was recently named as the winner of the 2020 Flute New Music Consortium’s solo flute competition.
Dedicated to the continued availability of a comprehensive music education for all, Dr. Banks supports music programs in the region by making frequent visits to high schools and middle schools. She has enjoyed visits to over 100 middle and high schools as well as colleges to perform for students and lead clinics regarding flute techniques and the study of music as a career path.
Additionally, Dr. Banks has presented clinics and performances for the National Flute Association (USA), Mid South Flute Society, Atlanta Flute Club, Florida Flute Association, Mississippi Bandmasters, Music by Women conference, National Band Association Southern Band Symposium, College Music Society Southern Regional Conference, and the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the US (SEAMUS). She serves as a board member and competition coordinator for the Mid South Flute Society, is a member of the National Flute Association Membership committee, and is a commissioning member of the Flute New Music Consortium.
Dr. Banks received her Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Flute Performance degrees from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory in Berea, OH. She completed her Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Her principal teachers include Thomas Robertello, George Pope, Kathryn Thomas-Umble, and Shery Larson. In addition to her flute studies, Dr. Banks completed doctoral minors in Baroque flute and Music Theory.
Ms. Carla Ruffin enjoys sharing the gift of music with others and helping them reach their goals. She has over 30+ years experience as a musician including a Bachelors degree in Music Education and worldwide travel as a member of the US Army Band. Ms. Ruffin looks forward to helping her students see how high they can fly!
Music is Ms. Ruffin’s passion because it can evoke every emotion and aspect of the human experience. Teaching young people and adults the skills needed to play woodwind or piano for their own pleasure, develop music proficiency for college or to perform for others gives her great satisfaction.
Congratulations to RSM’s students that participated in the 2022 Howard County Chapter of Piano Guild. Our students received Superior Plus, Superior and Superior Minus ratings:
Superior Minus: Gabriella Kerechanin, Sanya Srenenivas
Superior: Xylia Wheat, Sofia Fabian, Jeremy Zhang, Taylor Jackson
Superior Plus: Rana Ghandi, Chloe Yan, Anisa Jackson, Sola Garmew, Veena Sellappan, Danielle Spence, Shishir Nallar, Isaiah McCray
MSMTA Music Theory Exam
Congratulations to RSM students that participated in the 2022 MSMTA Music Theory testing exam. Our Students averaged in the 95th percentile receiving superior and excellent ratings:
Superior Plus: Lucas Rosa, Jaylen Yan, Chloe Yan, Jeremy Zhang Superior: Kim Burson Excellent Plus: Allison Sabo, Alexandra Wu
Royal Conservatory Exam Award
Congratulations to Kai Luo for receiving First Class Honours in the 2022 Royal Conservatory practical examination.
MSMTA Keyboard Musicianship Exam – Student Achievement
Congratulations to Jeremy Zhang who participated in the MSMTA keyboard musicianship exam. Jeremy received superior ratings.
MSMTA Piano Solo Competition – Student Achievement
Congratulations to Jeremy Zhang who participated in the MSMTA piano solo competition. Jeremy received excellent ratings.
