SCORE FACULTY AND BIOS
Matthew Chicurel (Co-director) is a violist, violinist, conductor, and private instructor based in Chapel Hill, NC. He has performed and worked with many organizations, including the North Carolina Symphony, Playmakers Repertory Company, the Durham Performing Arts Center, and more. Mr. Chicurel is an alumnus of the U.N.C. School of the Arts, and Mannes College the New School for Music.
Emi Mizobuchi (Co-director) is a violist and private instructor from Chapel Hill, NC. She has played with the North Carolina Symphony, the North Carolina Opera, the Carolina Philharmonic, and more. Miss Mizobuchi holds both a bachelors and a masters degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music in viola performance, with an undergraduate minor in Spanish Language, and a graduate concentration in Eurhythmics Pedagogy.
Jake Wenger (Cello faculty) is a cellist, teacher, and conductor who regularly performs solo, chamber, pit orchestra, symphony orchestra, and contemporary music. Mr. Wenger is a native of Raleigh, NC, and has played the cello in many exciting venues such as the Durham Performing Arts Center, and Carnegie Hall. Mr. Wenger is a graduate of both the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Manhattan School of Music.
Erich Lieth (Jazz faculty) is a pianist and teacher of all music styles, specializing in jazz and improvisational techniques. In addition to performing and instructing year-round, Mr. Lieth has a PhD. in Neuroscience, and has done extensive work with elderly people, using music to help combat the devastating effects of memory loss.
Braima Moiwai (Rhythm faculty) is a West African drumming teacher who takes a multi-disciplinary approach to sharing his culture, as he entertains and informs his captive audiences using music, storytelling, and hand-made traditional textiles. Mr. Moiwai is known for his dynamic and heartfelt way of connecting with others, and has won several awards throughout his lifetime including the “2008 Star Studded Citizen Award” and “Tar Heel of the Week”.
Dr. Karen Allred (Piano faculty) is a highly accomplished performer and educator, who holds degrees from Meredith College, UNC Chapel Hill, and UNC Greensboro. Dr. Allred is a recipient of the Emerging Artist Grant from the City of Raleigh Arts Commission in 1991-1992 in the area of piano performance, and also placed in the National Beethoven Piano Sonata Competition as a semi-finalist in 1991 and as an alternate in 1993. A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through MTNA (www.MTNA.org), Dr. Allred currently maintains a private studio in Chapel Hill.