The Studio

Doctoral Candidates


Alex Caselman (DMA)

Alex Caselman is from Lee’s Summit, MO and is pursuing his DMA in trumpet performance at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. At UMKC Alex performs with Volker Brass, the Graduate Fellowship Brass Quintet. He also performs with the Conservatory Wind Symphony, Trumpet Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra. He has been a semi-finalist in the ensemble division of the National Trumpet Competition, and in 2009 he was the winner of the Concerto/Aria Competition at the University of Central Missouri. Alex has been a member of the University of Tennessee Graduate Brass Quintet, the Flatirons Brass Quintet, and the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. He has performed with the Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra, Northland Symphony, Marshall Philharmonic, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Alex received a BM in Music Education from the University of Central Missouri and a MM in Trumpet Performance from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he was a graduate assistant with the “Pride of the Southland” marching and pep bands. His primary instructors include Phil Clark, Alan Wenger, Cathy Leach, Terry Sawchuk, Justin Bartels, and Keith Benjamin.

Alex’s Website.

 

Alex Casselman
 

Meagan A. Conley (DMA)

Meagan A. Conley is pursuing a DMA in trumpet performance at the UMKC Conservatory. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Arkansas State University, an Artist Diploma from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Master of Arts from the University of Iowa, where she was a member of the Iowa Brass Quintet. She has performed with the Arkansas Symphony, the Arkansas State Brass Quintet, the Delta Symphony, and the Delta Brass Quintet. In 2014 Meagan was appointed an adjunct trumpet instructor position at Arkansas State University. In 2015 she toured Mexico with Opera Maya, an opera company based in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. She currently the principal trumpet of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra. Her primary instructors include Chris Wilson, Amy Schendel, and Dr. Keith Benjamin.

 

Megan Conley
 

Jeff Curtin (DMA)

Jeff Curtin grew up in Kettering, Ohio and began playing trumpet when he was 10 years old and since that time has played in venues all across the United States. In 2009, Jeff joined the faculty of Southern Nazarene University as Adjunct Instructor of Trumpet and held that position until 2014, when he left to pursue his doctoral studies at the UMKC-Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, Missouri. He has performed in various orchestras throughout the Midwest and is currently a member of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra. He has also appeared with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Enid Symphony Orchestra and the Northland Symphony Orchestra as well as several orchestras in Ohio and Indiana. While in Oklahoma, Jeff was a founding member of the Boulevard Brass Quintet, which was featured in the 2014 motion picture Rudderless directed by William H. Macy.

Jeff is currently in his second year of Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the UMKC-Conservatory. He received both his Bachelor of Musical Arts degree and Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Oklahoma. His primary teachers have been Dr. Karl Sievers, Dr. Keith Benjamin, William Adam and Basil Drew.

 

Jeff Curtin
 

Emily McGinnis (IPhD)

Emily McGinnis is a music educator, conductor, researcher, and performer in the Kansas City region. She is currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Adjunct Instructor at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, where she teaches undergraduate music education courses and supervises student teachers. Her past teaching experiences include director of band positions in Illinois and Kansas, as well as maintaining a full private lesson studio. McGinnis conducts and coaches the Fountain City Youth Brass Academy bands and has been a guest conductor for UMKC Conservatory Wind Ensemble chamber groups. McGinnis’ research interests include undergraduate music education curriculum, the experience of women in brass bands, and the emotional intelligence continuum for preservice teachers. She has received numerous grants for her research and has presented at regional and national conferences. As a trumpet player, McGinnis performs with the UMKC Conservatory Wind Symphony and the Fountain City Brass Band. In 2015, she was a semi-finalist in both the solo division and small ensemble division at the National Trumpet Competition, and participated as a performer and conductor at the International Trumpet Guild conference. McGinnis holds a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College.

 

Emily McGinnis
 

Alberto Racanati (DMA)

Alberto Racanati began his musical studies in his home town of in Bari, Italy. He graduated with a Diploma in Trumpet in 2010 under the tutelage of his teacher Armando Tonelli, and began freelancing and attending competitions in the southern Italy. Alberto continued his studies in Bari as Master’s student in Music Performance, during which time he spent a year in the National Academy of Music in Gdansk, Poland, as an exchange student. After obtaining his Master’s degree in Bari, he returned to Poland where he studied with Adam Stachowiak and Szymon Pawlowski. In 2014 he was awarded the Faculty Quintet Graduate Assistantship at Western Illinois University, where he received his second Master’s Degree in Trumpet Performance with Dr. Bruce Briney. He was a national finalist in the 2016 MTNA competition in the young artist brass category. In 2016 he began his Doctoral studies at UMKC and his currently studying with Dr. Keith Benjamin.

 

Alberto racanati
 


Master’s Students

Patrick Oliverio (MM)

Patrick Oliverio is a freelance trumpet player and educator in the Kansas City Metro. Originally from Little Rock Arkansas, Patrick received his Bachelor of Music with emphasis in trumpet performance from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He has had the pleasure of performing with ensembles such as the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, Arkansas Philharmonic, Northland Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Brass Works, and the Fountain City Brass Band. Patrick is a full time member of the Fountain City Brass Band and was fortunate to be in the group when they won both their 5th and 6th North American Brass Band Championship titles and their 6th and 7th U.S. Open Championship titles. Patrick has also won the International Trumpet Guild’s Scholarship Competition in 2011, 2012, and 2013 and was a participant in master classes featuring Wiff Rudd, Allen Vizzutti, The American Brass Quintet, John Aley, and Rex Richardson. Mr. Oliverio is an active private lesson teacher in the Kansas City area with students in both Kansas and Missouri All State Bands. Patrick is currently pursuing a Masters in Trumpet performance at UMKC. His primary teachers are Dr. Richard Rulli and Dr. Keith Benjamin.

 

Patrick Oliverio
 


Undergraduate Students

Abby Altman

Abby Altman is from Lone Jack, Missouri and is pursuing a BM in trumpet performance. Abby is an active performer in the Kansas City area and has played with the Conservatory Wind Ensemble, the Cherry Street Brass Quintet, and the UMKC Trumpet Ensemble. Abby has been a semifinalist in the ensemble division of the National Trumpet Competition and is an active teacher with the Base Academy of Music, a local nonprofit which aims to provide a musical foundation to urban youth.

 

Abby Altman
 

Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music and Dance. He grew up in North Platte, Nebraska, and graduated from Gretna High School in Gretna, Nebraska. In high school, he performed with the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra and the Metropolitan Area Jazz Orchestra. Ryan is currently a member of the Conservatory Wind Ensemble and one of the UMKC Trumpet Ensembles. His young career as a studio musician involves his playing on the band JAGAJA’s debut album. Ryan’s influential trumpet mentors include Chris Tucker, Joseph Homan, Michael Thompson, and currently Dr. Keith Benjamin.

 

Ryan Anderson
 

Kenji Llewellyn

Kenji Llewellyn is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with an Instrumental emphasis. Kenji is from Olathe, KS and a proud alumnus of Olathe Northwest High School where he excelled both his instrumental and choral endeavors. Kenji also participated in statewide Solo & Ensemble competition where he was consistently awarded Superior rating. Kenji is currently studying under Dr. Keith Benjamin.

 

Kenji Llewellyn
 

Phillip Olson

Phillip Olson is pursuing a BM in Music Performance. Phillip is an alumnus of Shawnee Mission East, under the direction of Kim Harrison, Ken Foley, and Johnathan Lane; while in high school, he performed the musicals: Bye, Bye, Birdie; The Drowsy Chaperone, and Shrek. He has performed with the Kansas City Youth Symphony, at the 2015 International Trumpet Guild conference, with the Abel Ramirez Big Band, and now performs with the UMKC Conservatory Wind Ensemble, 11 o’clock Jazz Band, and the Conservatory Orchestra. Phillip has studied with Barry Springer and currently with Dr. Keith Benjamin.

 

Phillip Olson
 

Alex Spoon

Alex Spoon is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in music performance at the University of Missouri Kansas City. He grew up in the Kansas City area and went to North Kansas City High School where he took part in wind ensemble, pep band, jazz band, brass choir, and pit orchestra. Outside of school, Alex was principle chair trumpet for the Kansas City Youth Symphony and principle chair in Kansas City Youth Jazz’s Reno Band. He now is performs in the UMKC Conservatory Wind Ensemble. Alex has studied with Brian Rood and is now currently with Dr. Keith Benjamin.

 

Alex Spoon
 

Frankie J. Watcher

Frankie Watcher is an undergraduate Music Therapy major at the University of Missouri- Kansas City. She is from Freeman, MO and graduated from Heartland High School. Wachter is a member of the Conservatory Wind Ensemble. Wachter has studied trumpet with Lauren Hart Shaltis and is currently a freshman studying with Dr. Keith Benjamin. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree, Wachter plans on becoming a music therapist to help children.

 

Frankie Watcher
 

Cody Young

Cody Young is currently attending the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance for a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with an Instrumental Emphasis. He was born and raised in Shawnee, KS and is a proud alumni of Shawnee Mission North High School. Along with being a student he is also an active performer, mentor, and musician. He is a member of The Conservatory Wind Ensemble and The International Trumpet Guild. His teaching experience includes working under the direction of Paul Schapker and Chad Reed as a teaching assistant, as well as an independent private lessons instructor. Cody has studied trumpet with Nicholas Howell and is currently studying under the direction of Dr. Keith Benjamin. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree he plans on continuing forward in school until he has obtained his PhD in Music Education. With this level of education he aspires to share the beauty and passion of music that he gets to experience every day of his life.

“To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.”
– Leonard Bernstein

Click Here to E-mail Cody

 

Cody Young