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Music Faculty

Dr. Keith Dippre (2001), Department Chair; Professor of Music (2010); B.A., Azusa Pacific University; M.A., California State University at Los Angeles; D.M.A., Ohio State University.
Phone: (910) 630-7101
E-Mail:
Web page: www.societyofcomposers.org/user/keithdippre.html

Dr. Keith Dippre was born in Ancon, Panama in 1960. He received his undergraduate degree from Azusa Pacific University in California and his M.A. from California State University at Los Angeles. For roughly eight years, prior to beginning doctoral studies in composition at Ohio State, he played the resort and nightclub circuit on the west coast and was a multi-keyboardist in the hip-hop oriented "Raw Nature." While living in California, he had the privilege of opening concerts for artists such as Debbie Gibson and doing studio work with popular jazz saxophonist Boney James. While at Ohio State, Dippre was the recipient of the Ruth Friscoe award for composition (1998) and was Composer-in-Residence with the Ohio State University Symphony Orchestra (1999). He made his festival debut as accordionist in OSU's Contemporary Music Festival 2001 playing the Lucas Foss piece "Curriculum Vitae with Time Bomb." He also produced a piano concerto entitled "700 N. Electric," and a document, "Compositional Issues with Corigliano, Oliveros, and Kernis." His principal composition teachers have been Dr. Phil Shackleton, Dr. Byong-kon Kim, and Dr. Jan Radzynski.

He is currently the Department Chairman and Associate Professor of Music at Methodist University, teaching such courses as music theory, aural skills, and composition. Dr. Dippre also received a Regional Artist Project Grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County and was an artist-in-residence at the Artist's Enclave at I-Park (East Haddam, Connecticut). In October of 2003 his piece "Pilgrim's Blues" (for piano, violin, and cowbell) premiered in Northampton, Massachusetts commemorating the tercentenary celebration of Jonathan Edwards. He has been recently featured in the SCI National Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his work "California Low Brow" and was also commissioned by Duo 46 in 2008 for his "Year of the Rat" piece for guitar and violin. He has had commissions and performances with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, and his current publisher is Imagine Music (Medina, New York).

On his recent sabbatical from Methodist University, he took part in the Fresno New Music Festival and was a guest lecturer at Azusa Pacific University. Dr. Dippre's most recent premiere, "Sun Ra and the Apogee of Saturn," debuted with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra on October 13, 2012 under the direction of Fouad Fakhouri. Keith was also the recipient of the Henry Grady Miller Cup award for best published choral work in 2012, presented by the North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs.

Mr. Charles Dumas, Jr. (2010), Instructor of Music; Director of Marching Band; B.S., M.A., University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Phone: (910) 630-7673
E-Mail:

Clarinetist and saxophonist, Charles Dumas, Jr., is the private clarinet instructor as well as the Director of Athletic Bands and the Jazz Ensemble at Methodist University. A Fayetteville native and public school educator for over twenty years, Mr. Dumas served as the Band Director at Fairmont High School and Middle School in Robeson County for four years before returning to his alma mater as the Director of Bands at Douglas Byrd High School from 1992 until his move to Methodist in 2008. Mr. Dumas is active in the region as an adjudicator for both marching band and concert band clinics and contests, as part of his role to recruit for Methodist University and the Music Department. Active as a musical arranger for both marching band and jazz band, as well as a drill writer for marching band, he has written shows for several high schools in North Carolina. In 2004, Mr. Dumas received the Inez Easley Educator of the Year Award for Cumberland County based on his work in Multi-Cultural Integration in the classroom. He was also recognized in 2007 by the North Carolina Bandmasters Association with their highest honor given, the Award of Excellence. The recipient of this award is chosen by their peers for their outstanding performance in the field of Instrumental Music Education. Mr. Dumas received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music Education from University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Ms. Jane Weeks Gardiner (1985), Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs; Associate Professor of Music; B.M., Salem College; M.M., New England Conservatory.
Phone: (910) 630-7158
E-Mail:

Jane Weeks Gardiner is currently Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Methodist University. At Methodist University, she has also served as Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities and Chairman of the Music Department. Mrs. Gardiner is the founder of Friends of Music at Methodist. In 1976, Mrs. Gardiner received her undergraduate degree in piano performance from Salem College where she was the recipient of the Rondthaler Award in Music. She earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance from The New England Conservatory of Music where she studied with Victor Rosenbaum. In addition, she has been the recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship at Harvard University. In 2006, Mrs. Gardiner was awarded the Outstanding Faculty Award by the Methodist University Alumni Association and in 2007 she was the recipient of Methodist University's Professor of the Year Award. She has appeared several times as a soloist with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and performs frequently in recital as a solo and collaborative pianist. Mrs. Gardiner is also the pianist and choir accompanist at Hay Street United Methodist Church.

Dr. Scott Marosek (2007), Associate Professor of Music (2012); B.M., M.M., University of Missouri at Kansas City; D.M.A., University of North Texas.
Phone: (910) 630-7252
E-Mail:
Web Page: www.scottmarosek.com

Pianist Scott Marosek performs regularly as a soloist and collaborative artist. His performances in China, Israel, and throughout the United States have included appearances at such renowned venues as Xinghai Hall, the Jerusalem Music Centre, and the Meyerson Symphony Center. He has also performed several solo recitals sponsored by the Van Cliburn Foundation, and has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. As a result of his ongoing interest in new music, he has performed premieres of several new works. In addition to his work as a classical artist, Scott frequently performs with jazz groups.

Scott is president of the Fayetteville Piano Teachers Association and serves on the board of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association. He spends his summers teaching and performing at the Methodist University Summer Jam. He has also taught piano at Southwestern Adventist University and keyboard classes at the University of North Texas. Scott lives in Wade, NC with his wife Stephanie and daughter Laurel.

Dr. Michael D. Martin (2007), Associate Professor of Music (2012); Director of Choral Activities and Music Education; B.M.Ed., M.M., University of Maine; Ph.D., Kent State University.
Phone: (910) 630-7153
E-Mail:

Dr. Michael Martin originally hails from the great state of Maine. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree (1986) and Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting (1990) at the University of Maine. He completed his Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis in choral education through Kent State University, Kent, OH. He has taught in grades 4-12, in the capacity of orchestral, choral and, instrumental education positions, throughout ME, NH and MA. He has received recognition as a teacher and conductor, having been the recipient of several teaching awards, serving as a guest conductor, vocal and conducting clinician, and as a judge for New England, Midwestern, and East Coast festivals. His past student performing ensembles (SATB, SSAA, TTBB) have received both regional and national awards for their performances.

Dr. Martin has also enjoyed a rich involvement in conducting community choral groups in NH and ME. In 2001, he created a semi-professional chorus, The New Vocal Collective, in central New Hampshire recording one compact disc. Under his tutelage, they performed works by 20th century composers and large works by Britten, Fauré and Rutter. He also conducted the Portland Downeasters, a Portland, ME based barbershop chorus, which became one of the top four choruses in the Northeastern District in 2002-2004. He received national attention with his championship barbershop quartet The Management (1986-2003) by touring New England schools in support of music programs. For this work promoting youth involvement in music, the quartet shared the National Education Service Award sponsored by MENC and SPEBSQSA in 1995. In 1996, he received distinction as the recipient of Distinguished Choral Director of the Year from the Maine Chapter of ACDA, an award that he shared with his quartet. He has served on the faculty of many harmony schools and as a clinician in support of this American art form.

His current college groups are in constant demand for performances in Fayetteville and North Carolina He is currently the Director of Choral Activities and Music Education at Methodist University where he conducts the MU Chorale, Chamber Singers, and "The Noblemen." Additionally, he is the Artistic Director of the Cumberland Oratorio Singers in Fayetteville, NC. Michael lives in Fayetteville with his wife Amanda, his son David, and his daughter, Meredith.

Dr. Larry Wells (2006), Associate Professor of Music; Director of Instrumental Activities; B.A., M.S., Washington State University; M.S., Portland State University; D.M.A., University of North Texas.
Phone: (910) 630-7602
E-Mail:

Larry holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Washington State University (1990). He holds a Master of Science in Teaching Music from Portland State University (1996), and has recently completed a Doctor of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance/Wind Conducting from the University of North Texas (2006). His dissertation is entitled Construction Applications, Practices, and Techniques of Natural Trumpets; A Comparative Analysis of Baroque and Modern Era Trumpet Construction Methods.

Currently, Larry is the Director of Instrumental Studies at Methodist University in Fayetteville. Prior to his appointment at Methodist, Larry taught for one year at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and three years at Southwestern Oregon Community College.

In addition to teaching, Larry was the General Manager and Associate Conductor for the 500+ member Metropolitan Youth Symphony in Portland, Oregon. During his five-year tenure at MYS, Larry oversaw all operational aspects of the non-profit group, and conducted the Preparatory Band. Larry also spent four years working for the David. G. Monette Corp. building custom trumpets for notable players such as Wynton Marsalis, Adolph Herseth, and the late Maynard Ferguson.

As a performer, Larry holds a position in the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has played numerous times with the Portland Opera, the Oregon Symphony, the Eugene Symphony and Opera, and the Salem Chamber Orchestra. While at the University of North Texas, Larry played with the UNT Symphonic Band, UNT Baroque Orchestra, and the UNT Opera Orchestra.

Outside of music, Larry's interests include playing golf, woodworking, and playing with his three children: Pruette (7), Harrison (5), and Daulton (2).

Adjunct Faculty

Linda Cotter (2012), Adjunct Instructor of Flute; BMA University of South Carolina, 2004, MM Louisiana State University 2006, DMA ABD Louisiana State University.

Linda Cotter is a flutist and piccoloist in the Fayetteville, NC area. In the fall semester of 2008, she began her study as a Doctoral Candidate at Louisiana State University and was the Substitute Flute Professor for the semester. She is currently the Adjunct Flute Professor at Methodist University, flutist with the Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, substitutes in area orchestras, and she also has a thriving flute studio.

While in Atlanta from May 2010 to May 2011, Mrs. Cotter was the Piccolo player for the Tara Winds Concert Band and recently soloed with them on their Fall Concert and at University of Southern Mississippi in February. While in Louisiana she was the 3rd Flute/Piccolo for the Baton Rouge Symphony and was the Principal Flutist with the Louisiana Sinfonietta. She was Principal of the LSU Wind Ensemble during the two years of coursework for the DMA as well as the two years of her Master's Degree. She also played with the LSU Symphony Orchestra for two years while getting her Master's Degree.

Before attending Louisiana State University, Mrs. Cotter received her Bachelor's Degree in Flute Performance from The University of South Carolina. There she was principal flutist for both the Symphony Orchestra and the Symphonic Band. She was a substitute for the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. She was the state winner for the South Carolina MTNA solo competition and received second place at the regional level.

Mrs. Cotter was married to Bobby Cotter on July 22, 2006. They currently reside in Fayetteville, NC.

Mr. Skipper Hartness (2008), Adjunct Professor of Classical Guitar

Skipper Hartness is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, but grew up in Hope Mills, NC. Mr. Hartness attended the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education. Mr. Hartness received his Master degree in Music Education from Appalachian State University in 1978. He studied Classical Guitar locally with Danny Infantino, and in Raleigh, NC. with Myrna Sislen. He has been a life-long student of the guitar and guitar pedagogy, attending many guitar master classes. In addition to teaching guitar privately, Mr. Hartness has taught guitar at Fayetteville Technical Institute, UNC Pembroke, and Cumberland County Schools where he also has taught orchestra for thirteen years.

Mr. Jason Jordan (2008), Adjunct Professor of Classical Percussion

Mr. Jordan received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he studied percussion with Cort McClaren and conducting with John Locke and Nicholas Holland III. He received his Master of Music Performance degree from Appalachian State University studying percussion with Rob Falvo and Scott Meister. Mr. Jordan has performed with the North Carolina Symphony, Asheville Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, Fayetteville Symphony, the New Paradigm Percussion Quartet, and the Philidor Percussion Group. Mr. Jordan holds professional affiliations with Percussive Arts Society and Music Educators of North Carolina. Mr. Jordan is an active performer, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States.

Ms. Deanne Renshaw (2006), Fine Arts Coordinator; Adjunct instructor of Oboe. B.M., M.M., Northwestern University.
Phone: (910) 630-7100
E-Mail:

A former student of oboe legend Ray Still, Deanne Renshaw earned both her Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Oboe Performance from Northwestern University before moving to North Carolina in 1999. For over ten years she held the Principal oboe chair with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, and performed as a soloist with the orchestra in 2007, during which time she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Manhattan Chamber Philharmonic in 2009 and returned with the Carolina Philharmonic in 2011. Having gained additional influence from world-renowned oboist Alex Klein, Deanne currently performs as Principal oboist with the Carolina Philharmonic and can be found in the pit orchestra of the North Carolina Theater. In 2012, she was featured as soloist with the Wilson Barton Symphony Orchestra. She subs regularly with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and has performed as the principal oboist for the Amman Symphony Orchestra in Jordan, the International Symphony Orchestra in Israel, the Long Bay Symphony, the North Carolina Master Chorale and Opera Carolina in Charlotte. Deanne has also played with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Recognized for her "lovely, winning English Horn solo" by the Classical Voice of North Carolina in 2009, Deanne was invited by Ray Still to perform on his last public recital of his lengthy and reputable career in 2007. She is currently the Orchestra Personnel Manager for the Carolina Philharmonic and Educational Outreach and Teacher Coordinator for the Conservatory International, a subsidiary of the Carolina Philharmonic, and acts independently as a prominent contractor for musicians throughout North Carolina. She is the Oboe Instructor and Fine Arts Coordinator at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC, and teaches oboe at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, following several years on the music faculty at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois.

Paul Saunders (2011) is a saxophonist and music educator working in the Fayetteville, NC Area. He is an experienced, energetic musician who has been organizing and leading Jazz groups and other ensembles since 1995. Having been a music teacher since 1997, he became the instructor of saxophone at Methodist University in 2011.

Paul's Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance is from the University of Rhode Island. He also holds a M.M. degree in Modern American Music Performance on saxophone from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Some of his notable music mentors have been David Key, Chris Ashton, Brian Sparks, Joe Parillo, Bill Street, Jerry Bergonzi, Ken Radnofsky, George Garzone and Charlie Banacos.

Saunders is passionate about every opportunity he has to be involved in performing music. Although his favorite type of music to play is Jazz, he has extensive experience performing a wide variety of music from Classical to Reggae, Sacred to Original Rock and also has experience playing orchestra parts for musical theatre. While his main instrument is saxophone, he has been known to perform on piano, flute, clarinet, electric bass and guitar, as well as vocals.

He is also very motivated by the opportunities he has to be involved in the music of the future through his regular involvement in music education. His educational philosophy is based on achievable and measurable results as well as care for student needs. He is a music teacher because he believes in its power to enrich people's lives.

He grew up in Rhode Island and began playing jazz music with peers as a middle school student and in high school was organizing jazz groups to play at school events. As an undergraduate student at URI, he was simultaneously coached by several mentors while gaining experience in Dixieland Jazz, Big Band, (where he received the honor of being the first chair tenor saxophone soloist for three years in a row) Jazz Combo, Chamber music, (where he spent time in various roles on different saxophones) Concert Band, solo Classical saxophone repertoire, and more. While playing Classical music during this time he was accompanied by talented pianists such as Kathryn Chester. He played Jazz with groups at venues in Providence, RI such as AS220 and the Custom House Tavern. He performed with Gary Buttery, Gary Grammolini, Gene Pollart, Ann Danis, Donald Rankin, Robert "Buzz" Buzzerio, Brian Sparks, Joe Parillo, and many more.

Subsequently he spent seven years in the Greater Boston, MA area, where he had the opportunity to benefit from the musical guidance offered by the outstanding faculty of the Longy School of Music and other gifted musicians. He was heard playing music alongside George Garzone, Dave Bryant, Peter Cassino, Mark Retallack, Ben Aldridge, Andrea Rupert, Yoshiko Kline, Jeff Buckridge, Charlie Kolhlase and Erinn Brown, to name a few. He was the music director of Living Hope Church of the Nazarene- Peabody.

In 2008, Paul joined the U.S. Army Bands program, and has served musically with them in Columbia, SC, Atlanta, GA, and presently in Fayetteville, NC, with opportunities to participate in a large variety of musical pursuits. He resides in Hope Mills, NC with his wife Andrea and two daughters.

Mr. Skip Walker (2005), Adjunct Instructor of Drumset, Jazz and Popular Culture, and Religion. B.M., Berklee College of Music; M.A., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; further study, Boston University.Skip has recorded and performed with The Fatback Band, Israel Houghton, Bubba Brooks, Maria Howell, Althea Rene, and Onaje Alan Gumbs. Skip is a proud endorser of Silverfox Percussion, Soultone Cymbals, and DC California Drums in Los Angeles California. Visit Skip on the web at myspace.com/macrorhythm. E-Mail:

Skip's new jazz CD, "Funky Cafe" by
Skip Walker & Macrorhythm, is now available on iTunes, Amazonmp3.com, and Napster

Elizabeth Winstead (2008) is a native of Wilson, North Carolina who received her undergraduate degree in music from Meredith College and a Master of Music degree from East Carolina University. Elizabeth is an active soloist, recitalist, clinician and adjudicator and is an adjunct instructor at Barton College and Methodist University. Elizabeth also owns a private voice studio in Wilson. Elizabeth has served as a church musician and as conductor for various civic choruses in the Wilson and Rocky Mount area. She has extensive experience in musical theatre serving as musical director for many stage productions with Act for Youth, The Playhouse and Theatre at Barton College. Elizabeth resides in Wilson with her husband Alan, and her son David attends New York University.