Soprano, Dr. Hee Jin Chang is an active performer in Maryland. She received her Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Institute in 2023. Dr. Chang completed her Doctorate, Master and Bachelor in Music Arts at the Seoul National University.
Dr. Chang has performed major and minor roles such as Suor Angelica, Tosca, Gilda, Norina, Gretel, Annina and Giovanna at CUA, Seoul Metropolitan Opera. She was also cast in Giulia from Rossini’s Opera ‘La Scala di Seta’ for Peabody’s Opera. Dr. Chang was awarded the London Classical Voice Award and the Classical Singers Vocal Music Competition.
Dr. Chang has taught voice and intermediate piano students for over 15 years. As an instructor, her goal is to make the students feel confident and joyful with singing and playing piano. Dr. Chang believes students can grow musically with proper technique and when they enjoy their music.
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.
