Faculty
John Allen
Upright and Electric Bass
John has been grooving the Central Oregon music scene since 1998. His versatility is evident in the genres that he plays (jazz, classical and pop) and that he plays both upright & electric bass.
Brent Barnett
Drums
Brent is a Bend local with over thirty years of performance experience behind the drum set playing in bands that range from reggae, hip-hop, blues, rock, and Americana.
Jay Bednorz
Cello
Jay began her musical journey on the piano bench at age five followed by adding the flute at age ten and cello at age fourteen. Playing the cello became her favorite instrument and she has maintained that love ever since!
Rick Buckley
Piano
Rick took his first piano lesson in Norfolk, Virginia, back in the late 60’s before moving to Chicago where he became a part of the progressive rock scene over the next twenty years.
Seth Burrows
Guitar Department Chair
Guitar, Bass Guitar, Band Program
Originally from Breckenridge, Colorado, Seth has been playing guitar for thirty years, and teaching for twenty-five years. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Seth believes in inspiring his students to become great musicians, not just great guitar players.
Michael Carney
Piano Department Co-chair
Piano
Michael was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He started taking classical piano lessons at the age of four, playing in numerous recitals and competitions. In high school, Michael joined the jazz band and continued his music studies at the University of Oregon where he played in various jazz and Latin ensembles.
Michele Clements
Kindermusik
As part of a teaching career spanning the last twenty-five years in Bend–La Pine classrooms, Michele has joined the Kindermusik staff at CSM, giving her the opportunity to share her great love of teaching and music with children and their families. She has completed both a Master's Degree and Doctoral-level coursework in education. Michele and her youngest child can routinely be seen singing the Kindermusik songs and practicing the dances, always joyfully excited to explore movement and music together.
Cash Gately
Violin
Cash, a CSM Emerging Educator, discovered his love for music at a young age, smashing piano keys and strumming his dad’s guitars. He then discovered the violin in 6th grade and quickly took to the instrument, frequently performing in orchestras and at church.
Julie Hanney
Piano & Ukulele
Julie has been playing the piano and writing songs since she was a young child. After graduating from the University of Oregon's School of Music she set her sights on becoming a published composer. After accomplishing this with many works published for choir, piano and other instruments, she then turned her attention to teaching, directing choirs and recording solo piano albums. Her fifth album of original piano music titled Wonderment was recently released by Heart Dance Records.
Julianne Hansen
Voice, Piano, Guitar, Oboe, Ukulele
Julianne was born and brewed in a musical family of opera singers, Broadway performers, and professional touring musicians. Her classical training in voice, piano, guitar, oboe and ukulele were complemented by the soul and funk of the Bay Area where she grew up performing.
Meshem Jackson
Percussion Department Chair
Percussion and Drums
Meshem has been studying and performing drums and percussion since the age of ten. He has performed and recorded as a professional musician with dozens of jazz, funk, soul, rock, alternative, pop, country, reggae and blues bands.
Amy Jacobson
Piano Department Chair
Kindermusik Program, Piano, and Voice
(currently on maternity leave)
Amy has been taking piano lessons since she was six years old and has taught private piano lessons since 2014.
Michael Long
Drums, Percussion, Uilleann Pipes, Tin Whistle, Anglo Concertina
Michael’s music story began in his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. His drumming career started with a set of wooden spoons, pots and pans, some Motown records, and parents who were surprisingly tolerant of noise. He eventually graduated to actual drums, and began performing and recording with bands and musical theater productions. He studied percussion at the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a focus on world music.
Blake Lowrey-Evans
Guitar, Piano, Ukulele
The only thing Blake enjoys more than playing and writing music is sharing his love for music through teaching. With an emphasis on allowing each student to discover their own musical personality, Blake teaches electric and acoustic guitar, ukulele, and beginning piano. There is so much to be learned through music. It teaches us to be creative, to listen, to be patient, to set goals, to believe in ourselves, and how to work well with others.
Patrick Ondrozeck
Piano and Drums
Patrick graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance in Percussion and Piano. During his time in college, Patrick was an active member of many musical groups, including marching band, symphonic band, orchestra, jazz band, percussion ensemble, steel drum band, brass choir, and solo and accompanying piano.
Pat Pearsall
Band Department Chair
Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukulele
Originally from Aberdeen, Washington, Patrick has called Bend home for over thirty years. After starting with the saxophone in middle school, he added guitar and bass into the mix in his early teens. After studying Jazz Theory at the University of Oregon, Patrick hit the road and spent most of the next twenty years extensively touring with many regional and national acts. Over that span, Patrick played over two thousand shows and recorded dozens of albums both of his music and as a hired-gun studio musician.
Sandra Peevers
Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin
Born and raised on a lake in the rolling green hills of Upstate New York, and well- traveled since then, Sandra brings an eclectic breadth of experiences revolving around music and performance. Early musical explorations in folk, blues and American roots music led to a B.A. in Music, followed by a move to Los Angeles where she attended the Dick Grove Music School, studying jazz guitar, and an inspired program at Naropa Institute studying with the innovative jazz /world group Oregon.
Sharon Schwatka
Fiddle/Violin, Viola, Piano, Voice, and Music Theory
Sharon grew up in a family of musicians right outside of San Diego, California, and has been a professional musician from the early age of fourteen. Featured in the United Service Organizations, Sharon was blessed to have traveled across the nation, entertaining for active duty military and recruits.
Stephan Seguin
Piano and Drums
Stephan is an educated pianist, keyboardist, drummer, and composer, and has taught since 2008. Ever since he was young, Stephan had music dancing around in his head, so he was motivated to try and figure it out, first through a computer music program, then eventually on piano/keyboard, as well as taking private drum lessons.
Jimena Shepherd
Emerging Voices class
Jimena’s fourteen years of vocal training has made her no stranger to the highs and lows of becoming a skilled vocalist, and she has a passion for helping each student achieve their goals as a singer and artist. She recognizes that each voice is individual and works with each student to discover and understand their core vocal qualities and apply it to different styles of music.
Brenda Simmons
Violin, Viola, Cello, Awesome After School Orchestra
Brenda Simmons received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Eastern Washington School of Music in 1999, and her Masters of Music Education from Boston University in 2013.
Slade
Voice
“I am not here to teach you how to sing. I am here to help you free that inner Rock Star so you can share it with the whole world!”
Finley Smith
Violin and Saxophone
Finley, a former CSM student and now a CSM Emerging Educator, first began his music practices when he picked up the violin in the 6th grade. He continued to develop his skills and eventually also picked up playing the saxophone. He is now studying for his Associate Degree in Music at COCC as well as becoming an Emerging Educator for Cascade School of Music, where he studied violin with Brenda Simmons.
Tyler Spragg
Drums
Tyler Spragg, a proud Oregonian, found his musical home in Central Oregon after relocating from the Willamette Valley in 2015. He acquired his first drum kit at the age of 12 after a few foundational years as a percussionist in the school band and has poured countless hours into studying, practicing, and performing ever since. Active in Bend's vibrant music scene, Tyler has performed with several groups in genres ranging from funk and jazz to rock, folk, metal, blues, hip-hop and neo-soul.
Danielle Summerville
Piano and Harp
Danielle started her musical journey at age six with classical piano lessons, trained in the Suzuki method. She learned to play guitar at age twelve. She always had a fascination with the harp and dreamed of playing it someday; on her 20th birthday she was given one as a gift and began studying under Melissa Morgan, who specializes in folk harp and composition. She has also trained with Naomi Alter, Ramona Unwin, and Mindy Ball who is the principal harpist for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Pacific Symphony Orchestra.
Franchot Tone
Guitar and Bass Guitar
Franchot was bitten by the music bug at twelve years old when he first picked up his dad’s guitar. He joined his first band in the 7th grade and has been pursuing his passion for music ever since. He attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and graduated with BA in music theory. He later attended the contemporary Musicians Institute in Hollywood, where he studied at their Guitar Institute of Technology earning a performance certificate.
Michelle Van Handel
Voice and Piano
As a vocalist and pianist, Michelle loves sharing her passion for music with her students. She has been part of the Central Oregon music scene for twenty-five years. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon Music School, as well as holding a B.S. in Psychology.
Amanda Wrenn
Irish Fiddle and Folk Singing
Amanda is dedicated to sharing her passion for Irish fiddle and folk singing with her students.