Mr. Brandon Kennedy is a multi-instrumentalist with over a decade of professional performing experience. Holding both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music, he has played guitar in a variety of genres, in addition to being a highly proficient Irish fiddler. Having studied internationally in Ennis, County Clare, he has performed throughout the East Coast and Ireland. An award winning songwriter, he continues to perform shows numbering into the hundreds annually.
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.
Congratulations to RSM’s students that participated in the 2021 Howard County Chapter of Piano Guild. Our students received Superior Plus, Superior, Superior Minus and Excellent Plus ratings:
Excellent Plus: Kim Burson, Rishi Aluru, Alexander Sleeman
Superior Minus: Susanna Babatunde, Sophia Fabian, Allison Sabo, Caleb King, Lucas Rosa
Superior Plus: Terrence Tam, Anisa Jackson, Isaiah McCray, Jeremy Zhang, Zane Bourne, Nicholas Emig
Congratulations to the following students that received special plaques this year:
Sonatina Performance Plaque (performed a complete Sonatina program consisting of 14 memorized pieces): Shishir Nallar, Danielle Spence
MTNA Studio Festival Awards
Congratulations to RSM student, Kaylin Herron, for her participation in the 2021 Howard County Chapter MTNA Studio Festival. Kaylin performed on the cello and received a superior minus rating.
Royal Conservatory Exam Award
Congratulations to Alexandra Wu for receiving Honours in the 2021 Royal Conservatory practical examination.
MSMTA Music Theory Exam – Student Achievement
Congratulations to RSM students that participated in the 2021 MSMTA Music Theory testing exam. Our Students averaged in the 90th percentile receiving superior and excellent ratings.
Superior Plus: Alexandra Wu, Rana Ghandi, Isaiah McCray, Rishi Aluru, Nicholas Emig, Sebastian Clare, Sophia Clare, Michael Leahy, Kai Lou, Terrence Tam, Kim Burson
Superior: Allison Sabo
Excellent Plus: Veena Sellappan, Alexander Sleeman
Congratulations to RSM’s students that participated in the 2020 Howard County Chapter of Piano Guild. Our students received Superior Plus, Superior, Superior Minus and Excellent Plus ratings:
Excellent Plus:Veena Sellappan
Superior Minus: Allison Sabo, Gabrielle Jackson, Lucas Rosa, Alaiyah Shelton, Caleb King, Susanna Babatunde, Rana Ghandi
Superior: Nadia Walcott, Valentina Rosa, John Sharpe, Soraya Sharif, Anisa Jackson, Sophia James, Aiko Gulston, Tatyana Chasen, Sophia Clare, Sebastian Clare, Isaiah McCray, Rishi Aluru, Alexander Sleeman, Jeremy Zhang, Nicholas Emig, Shishir Nallar
Superior Plus: Jeanine Sharpe, Cloe Sharpe, Danielle Spence, Veronica Sharpe
Duets Superior Minus: Sophia Clare and Sebastian Clare
Duets Superior: Danielle Spence and Tatyana Chasen
Congratulations to the following students that received special plaques this year:
Founder Performance Plaque: Shishir Nallar
Sonatina Performance Plaque: Nicholas Emig
High School Diploma Performance Plaque: Veronica Sharpe (performed a 90 minute program)
Royal Conservatory Exam Award
Congratulations to Alexandra Wu for receiving Honours in the 2020 Royal Conservatory practical examination.
MSMTA Piano Solo Competition – Student Achievement
Congratulations RSM students, Terrence Tam for receiving honorable mention and Grace Lowden for receiving excellent ratings in the 2020 MSMTA Spring Piano Festival Competition. The MSMTA Spring Festival Piano Competition is an annual event in which students perform two pieces from different periods. Way to go Terrence and Grace!.
Congratulations to RSM student, Sean Cheng, for receiving honorable mention in the Doris and Larry Chase Sonata Competition this year. The Doris and Larry Chase Sonata Competition is held for students in 12th grade and below. Way to go Sean!
MSMTA Piano Solo Competition – Student Achievement
Congratulations to all RSM students that completed in the 2019 MSMTA Spring Piano Solo Festival. Our students received outstanding ratings and awards:
1st Place Winner: Sean Cheng
2nd Place Winner: Vincent Zhou
Honorable Mention Award: Alexandra Wu and Jason Yu
Excellent Rating: Nicholas Emig and Grace Lowden
Miriam Shields Gottlieb Memorial Piano Competition
Congratulations to RSM student Danielle Spence for receiving excellent ratings in the 2019 Miriam Shields Gottlieb Memorial Piano Competition!
Howard County Act-So Competition
Congratulations to RSM student, Olivia Hammond, for winning first place, gold medal, in the Classical Instrumental Music category of the 2019 Act-So competition in Howard County. Olivia will compete in Act-So’s national competition in Detroit Michigan this summer.
MTNA Studio Festival Awards
Congratulations to RSM’s 2019 MTNA Studio Festival Winners Scoring Superior Plus, Superior, Superior Minus, Excellent Plus and Excellent ratings:
Local Winners (performed 3-4 memorized pieces):Dev Patel, Cameron Grissom, Kim Burson
Pledge Winner (performed 2 memorized pieces): Taylor Anderson, Kia Bourne, Amisa Humphrey, Lillian Sengamalay
Piano Guild Awards
Congratulations to RSM’s students that participated in the 2019 Howard County Chapter of Piano Guild. Our students received Superior Plus, Superior, Superior Minus and Excellent Plus ratings:
State Winners (performed 7-9 memorized pieces): Nicholas Emig, Sydney Smith, Danielle Spence, Shishir Nallar
District Winners (performed 4-6 memorized pieces): Soraya Sharif, Shravan Yoagentharan, Anisa Jackson, Nadia Walcott, Aiko Gulston, Matthew Wu, Laila Sheikh, Alexander Sleeman, Sebastian Clare, Sophia Clare
Local Winners (performed 2-3 memorized pieces): Valentina Rosa, Taylor Jackson, Zane Bourne, Myles Walcott, Alexandra Wu, Allison Sabo, Kim Burson, Isaiah McCray, Tatyana Chasen
Congratulations to the following students that received special plaques this year:
Founder’s Plaque Award: Danielle Spence and Nicholas Emig
Student Achievement
Congratulations to RSM student, Anika Sinha, who was selected to participate in the 2019 National Juniors Honors Choir. She will be performing at the Royal Festival Hall in London this summer. She was selected after a nationwide audition in which she had to submit two recorded songs. Anika will also participate in the Women’s Gifted and Talented (GT) Ensemble next year when she starts high school. Way to go Anika
Student Achievement
Congratulations to RSM student, Olivia Hammond, who is one of four freshman to be accepted into the Howard County High School Gifted and Talented Orchestra (HSGTO)! The HSGTO is an honors ensemble comprising of students from every high school in Howard County. Talented students are selected to audition for the GT Orchestra. Once selected, they participate in various rehearsals in order to prepare for GT Orchestra concerts.
