Nicholas Bissen is a musician of many disciplines, currently teaching Saxophone at Stephen F. Austin State University and the surrounding areas. He is from Warrensburg, Missouri, where he received his Bachelor of Music Education in Instrumental and Vocal music at the University of Central Missouri.

Clarinetist Ben Chen made his American solo debut at the Kennedy Center, the result of winning the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute concerto competition. His performances since then have taken him across the United States, from Maine to Alaska, and internationally to China, Japan, and Canada. 

Lorraine Duso Kitts is Professor at the University of Central Arkansas teaching double reeds and adjunct oboe instructor at Hendrix College. She plays Second Oboe with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra as well as Principal Oboe with the Conway Symphony Orchestra.

A native of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Dr. Gail B. Levinsky is committed to the teaching and training young musicians. Presently serving on the faculty of Susquehanna University, her career began teaching saxophone in the Dallas (TX) area (Grades 6-12) and for the past 24 years in higher education.

Oboist Kathleen McNerney has been hailed by critics for her “rich, full bodied tone” and “attention to the natural and enticing timbre of the instrument”. She is co-founder and Artistic Director of critically acclaimed, VentiCordi Chamber Music, which is entering its 12th concert season. VentiCordi, which presents concerts for mixed instrumental ensembles has been a primary focus of Kathleen’s passions.  Its innovative programming has been hailed in the press, with one writer exclaiming, ”My vote for the most interesting chamber music ensemble in recent years in Maine goes to VentiCordi."

Flutist Joseph Piscitelli made his solo debut at the notable age of sixteen, performing at New York’s Town Hall and Alice Tully Hall. A graduate of New York’s High School of Performing Arts, Mr. Piscitelli continued his studies at Queens College and obtained a BM and MA as a student of Ransom Wilson and Robert Stallman. He spent summers in France under the tutelage of Jean-Pierre Rampal and Alain Marion and earned a Certificate from the Conservatoire de Nice.

Elizabeth Roberts, Principal Bassoon and Director of Youth Education for the Charlottesville Symphony since 2001, joined the faculty at the University of Virginia the same year. She became a member of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra as their contrabassoonist in 2017, and has played Second Bassoon with the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra since 2015.

Sarah M. (Gill) Schettler plays Second Flute in the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, teaches flute lessons at Tulane University and the University of New Orleans, and maintains a private studio where she teaches students from beginner through high school students.

Flutist Dominique Soucy is an active teacher and performer in the New York City area. As a winner of the Montreal Symphony Competition, The Canadian Music Competition and Artist International in New York, she has performed in most major halls in New York, Washington and Canada.

George Stoffan has taught at NEMC since 2015.  He has performed in the Czech Republic, Belgium and Germany, Canada, and throughout the United States.  As a Fulbright Award recipient, he was artist-in-residence at the Janacek Academy of Music in Brno, Czech Republic in the fall of 2012.