State Board

Esther Jeehae Ahn

Lauded for her interpretive coherence and graceful realization, pianist Esther Jeehae Ahn has captivated international audiences with her rare blend of musical brilliance, sensitivity, and emotional depth. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has performed in major venues, series and festivals, including Alice Tully Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, University of Music and Theatre Leipzig, and Seoul Arts Center. The recipient of numerous prizes and awards in America and her native South Korea, Esther received her training at Walnut Hill School for the Arts before earning both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from New England Conservatory. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Literature from Eastman School of Music, with a minor degree in Accompanying and Chamber Music. Esther currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at Weber State University, where she is also the Director of WSU Piano Festival. Additionally, she is Program Assistant at the Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival at USF Tampa and a faculty-mentor at Bravo Waukegan.

Juliet Preston

Juliet Gamero Preston has enjoyed a long and rewarding career as a classical pianist and teacher, collaborating with professional musicians, theaters, and ensembles in Montana, Utah and Texas. She is active as a composer, adjudicator, and pedagogical mentor, presenting on pedagogical topics for the Music Teachers National Association and the International Keyboard and Collaborative Arts Society. She co-founded The Collaborative Pianists Guild of Utah to promote the field of collaborative piano. Ms. Preston holds a BM from the University of Utah and a MM in piano performance from the University of Texas at Austin and has taught at the University of Montana, Concordia University at Austin, and Weber State University. She currently teaches piano for Utah Valley University. Her commissioned works have been performed by the piano-six hands group The Inouye Sisters and her commercial music for the band Memoryfield can be heard on all streaming platforms and YouTube.

Amanda Bishop

Amanda Bishop recently completed her bachelor's in Piano Performance and Pedagogy in December 2022 at the University of Utah and will begin her master's degree in Piano Performance Pedagogy in Fall 2023. She has played piano for seventeen years and has won many awards in an expansive variety of performance and music theory programs, including ten years of the Utah Music Teacher's Association's (UMTA) Achievement in Music (AIM) program, eleven years of the Utah Piano Federation Solo and Concerto Festival, and countless recitals. She auditioned and was one of the few pianists chosen to play for the April 2017 Federation Honors Recital at Assembly Hall in Temple Square. Amanda also received the great honor of being one of two performers (and the only solo pianist) for Dr. Miguel Chuaqui's honorary faculty event held at the University of Utah Thompson Chamber Hall celebrating his seven-year position as the Director of the School of Music at the University of Utah. Amanda previously studied with the talented pedagogue, Karlyen Tan, for eleven years and is currently studying with the prestigious Dr. Jie Lu in the University of Utah's School of Music program. While in her undergrad at the University of Utah, she had the opportunity to study with several admiral pianists and pedagogues, including Dr. Ning Lu, Dr. Jeffrey Price, and Dr. Koji Attwood. Amanda currently holds the position of Concert and Artistry Director at Daynes Music where she supervises all of Daynes pianos that are distributed to various events throughout Utah, including UMTA Festivals, Gallivan Center Excellence concert series, Bachauer concert series, and dozens of other events. Amanda also holds the position of President of the University of Utah UMTA Collegiate Student Chapter (2021-present) and Collegiate Faculty Chair of the UMTA Collegiate State Board (2023-present). Amanda is a capable and fast-learning young pianist with a matured musical sensitivity and developed ear. She uses these attributes to her advantage in hopes to move audiences with her sincerity and ingenuity at the piano.

Moragh J. Morrison

Born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Moragh Morrison holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano from the University of Windsor, an Associate Diploma (ARCT) in Piano Performance from The Royal Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music in Performance and Literature from the University of Notre Dame. Her teachers include Dr. Gregory Butler, William Cerny, and John Owings. She has played in master classes for Eugene List, Ransom Wilson, and Marion Hall, and has performed with such notable musicians as Julius Baker and Alex Klein. Having taught for more than 45 years, her students have won top prizes and awards in The Royal Conservatory of Music exams, Utah State University’s Piano Festival, Mountain Crest’s Young Artist Cup, Smithfield Health Day’s Competition, and Logan High’s Concerto Night. Moragh loves the challenge of personalizing her teaching style to encourage and motivate each individual to learn to the best of their ability.

Kylee Fullmer

Originally from Lehi, Utah, Kylee moved to Cache Valley to study at Utah State University. She received both her masters and bachelors degrees in piano performance and pedagogy. After graduating, Kylee decided to stay in Logan to run a private studio and work as an associate faculty member at USU. With over 10 years of teaching experience, Kylee is passionate about teaching people of all ages to enjoy music, whether that is by playing, listening or creating their own music. When she is not practicing or teaching, Kylee enjoys reading, sewing, exercising, camping, and skiing.

Cecy Robinson

Cecy Robinson grew up in Richfield, Utah where she first developed a love for music. She started taking piano lessons when she was seven years old and began teaching piano when she was seventeen. Cecy also enjoys participating in choirs. She was a member of the One Voice Community Choir for several years and had the opportunity to accompany her high school choir. She attended Southern Utah University where she studied under the direction of Dr. Christian Bohnenstengel and enjoyed participating as a member of SUU’s piano ensemble and Opus chamber choir. During her time studying she also served as the president of the SUU chapter of UMTA. In December of 2022 Cecy received a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in piano performance.

Meryal Hylton

M. Meryal Hylton is a pianist and teacher who is passionate about helping students learn. As a teacher, she enjoys staying current in educational methodology and has six years' experience. She recently presented on educational neuroscience as it applies to piano in the annual Utah Music Teachers' Association state conference (November 2022). As a pianist, she was one of four winners in U of U's Give Bach competition; placed third in the adult division of UVU's American Mountain West International Piano Competition; and performed in a recital at a music festival in Maryland. Meryal graduated with a Bachelor's of Music in Piano Performance from UVU Fall 2022 as president of UVU's UMTA chapter, and as part of her new life chapter (pun intended!) is excited to lead the UMTA piano concerto competition for the next two years. When she's not practicing or teaching, Meryal enjoys spending time with her adorable husband and daughter.

Andrea Knowlton Bailey, NCTM

Jihea Hong-Park

Korean American pianist Jihea Hong-Park enjoys a versatile and vibrant career as a performer, educator, clinician, and citizen artist. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative pianist at major venues across the U.S., Asia, and Europe. As an internationally recognized clinician and workshop facilitator, Ms. Hong-Park has presented at the International Teaching Artist Conference, UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) International Arts Symposium, MTNA National Conference, College Music Society National Conference, National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, PLZ Music Festival @DMZ Korea, and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Ms. Hong-Park received her B.M. and M.M. degrees at The Juilliard School and pursued postgraduate studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. She currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Piano at Brigham Young University.

Esther Jeehae Ahn

Lauded for her interpretive coherence and graceful realization, pianist Esther Jeehae Ahn has captivated international audiences with her rare blend of musical brilliance, sensitivity, and emotional depth. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has performed in major venues, series and festivals, including Alice Tully Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Shalin Liu Performance Center, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, University of Music and Theatre Leipzig, and Seoul Arts Center. The recipient of numerous prizes and awards in America and her native South Korea, Esther received her training at Walnut Hill School for the Arts before earning both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from New England Conservatory. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Literature from Eastman School of Music, with a minor degree in Accompanying and Chamber Music. Esther currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at Weber State University, where she is also the Director of WSU Piano Festival. Additionally, she is Program Assistant at the Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival at USF Tampa and a faculty-mentor at Bravo Waukegan.

Mindy Garff, NCTM

Following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, Mindy Garff loves being a music teacher, with all of the rewards and challenges that it brings. Beginning at age 8, she began studying accordion, then added piano to that. She started teaching music lessons as a teenager and continues to teach both piano and accordion. Among the teachers she has studied with are Robert Patterson, Steve Mori, and Barbara Shelton. Mindy earned her music teachers national certification in music (NCTM) in 2011. She credits UMTA with helping her to continually improve her teaching skills.

Jill S. Gubler, NCTM

Jill Gubler(NCTM) lives in Bountiful, Utah. She grew up in American Fork where she began teaching piano lessons in 1969. That’s right…she’s been teaching for 53 years and going strong! Jill has taught lessons in American Fork, Provo, Loa, Hyde Park, Farmington and Bountiful. She is a BYU graduate and has also taught preschool, Kindermusik and the Mayron Cole Group Piano Method. She has learned from not only her many students and their wonderful parents, but her colleagues in UMTA. Attending monthly chapter meetings and annual conferences, along with participating in AIM, Federation and many other programs available to her, helps her to feel like she is keeping abreast of the times and staying current. Jill adores her students and loves making creative recital favors. She loved teaching her own 3 daughters to play and is thankful to her mother who first taught her lessons at the age of 5. Music and family are her great passions!

Wendy Brewster

Wendy began teaching piano lessons in high school, took a break to raise 6 children, and started back up again 10 years ago, running an independent studio out of her home. She studied under her mother, Esther Wallace, and Stephanie Hinckley, followed by two years of jazz with Ted Johnson. She studied flute as well. She has served for several years as the treasurer of the Salt Lake Chapter. Outside of music, Wendy is an avid quilter, having pieced over 75 quilts and did the long arm quilting herself.

Marie-Ann Harris, NCTM

Linda Cole

Linda Cole started taking private piano lessons when she was four years old. She continued for 13 years. She showed a talent for playing the piano at an early age. At seven, she was the pianist for the church primary, and at eleven, she was the church organist and choir director. At sixteen, she was the High School choir accompanist. Starting in fifth grade she played violin until she graduated from High School. She has accompanied numerous church choirs and played Handel’s Messiah at a stake fireside. She also plays piano solos, piano/organ duets, and sings. Working full time clerical jobs, she taught part-time piano lessons for 30 years and is still teaching. She has started teaching violin and cello within the last six years. She plays violin with the West Valley Symphony and has been for 15 years. She is also Magna Air Stream’s ensemble conductor and accompanist.

Amy Ferguson

With enthusiasm and endless passion for music, Amy has spent her lifetime sharing and creating music on the piano. Amy studied piano with Elaine Beckstrand and Dr. Yu-Jane Yang and she has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Weber State University. Amy has had 27 years of piano teaching experience and loves her piano studio. She is an experienced accompanist, composer, and arranger and enjoys sharing these skills with others. She has composed and arranged dozens of piano pieces for students and recently had the opportunity to write new school spirit songs for two new elementary schools. Amy is married to her high school sweetheart, Michael, who is an incredible jazz pianist, and together they are parents to four awesome kids. Amy also enjoys gardening, raising chickens, reading, taking walks, crafting, and listening to classical music.

Angela K. Toone, NCTM

Angela K. Toone NCTM, grew up studying piano with Patricia Graham and Bonnie Winterton who encouraged her to teach piano lessons herself and study music at the University Level. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Utah studying with Gladys Gladstone Rosenberg and Jeffrey Price. She received a one-year membership to UMTA as an award upon graduating, and can trace nearly every positive change in her studio to UMTA knowledge and colleagues. While raising 4 awesome kids (who also play the piano), Angela has performed as a soloist with community orchestras, taken a Jazz Piano Course for Piano Teachers, and continually volunteers her music abilities at church. She earned her National Certification in 2021, and is recently diving into pedagogy: mentoring her students in teaching their own students, and offering a podcast and an online course on how to get started teaching piano.

Tiffany Ann Horrocks

Tiffany Horrocks began teaching music in 2005 under the training and direction of her mother, Paula Manwaring. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Utah's School of Music. Tiffany is the owner and director of a multi-teacher studio, Jordan Music School in West Jordan. She served as President for the Salt Lake Chapter of UMTA in 2020-2022, and is currently serving on the State Board for the MTNA Foundation Fund. She loves teaching piano and preschool music groups and is happily married with three children.

Rowena Bunce

Rowena Bunce has been teaching piano for over 10 years. She is a proud product of UMTA's AIM program. She always remembered the valuable, well-rounded curriculum that AIM gave her as a student, and she knew that she needed to give her students the same experience. She feels UMTA has made her a better teacher and made her students better musicians. Rowena has taught many students over the years, including all 4 of her own children. She is constantly looking for teaching tools and techniques to make music fun and engaging. She has created YouTube ear training videos, Kahoot quizzes, and Gimkit games for herself and other teachers to use. Rowena loves being involved in UMTA. She has served as the Bridgerland Chapter President and on the State Board. She truly values the camaraderie of her fellow chapter and state members and enjoys learning and sharing with them.

Bonnie Hopper Jack

Bonnie Jack has been teaching piano lessons for over 25 years – first as a high school student, then for 17 years at the Art City Music Academy in Springville, and currently as an independent teacher in Sandy, Utah. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2000, and a Master of Music in Piano Performance in 2006, both from Brigham Young University. Her teachers include Gerald Dahling, Carolee Eriksson, Robin Hancock, and Scott Holden. She has served as President of the Sandy Chapter of UMTA, and is currently serving as State AIM Chair for UMTA. She has two children, and her hobbies outside of piano include photography, reading, doing projects, lifting weights, walking her dog, and hiking.

Caroline Jennings, NCTM

Caroline Jennings received her master and bachelor’s degrees in piano performance from the University of Utah. Ms. Jennings became a Permanent Professional National Certified Teacher of Music in 2020. She has enjoyed serving in UMTA as the president of the St. George chapter, a member of the State AIM Board, and as local AIM chapter chairman. She maintains an active private studio and is a part time professor at Utah Tech University.

Sharalyn Heath, NCTM

Janet Olsen

Janet Olsen is a classically trained pianist, vocalist and pedagogue. Fluent in English and Spanish, she specializes in piano pedagogy, music theory and the teaching of students on the Autism Spectrum. Janet is an international best selling author, presenter and speaker. She serves on the State Board of the Utah Music Teachers Association, is a Royal Conservatory of Music Center Representative, and is an Ultimate Music Theory Elite Educator. Currently residing in the Utah County, she is the mother of 4 children

Risha M. P. Russon

Risha Russon is a private piano and organ teacher and is currently serving as the UMTA State Chair over Performance Evaluations Risha’s love of music is inspired by her family’s examples. Hearing her mother play and singing at the piano together are treasured memories. Risha has been playing the piano for over 24 years. As a child, Risha was taught by her mother, Lorelei Andrews, and Denise Frost. She studied the organ with her mother. Risha participated in band, choir, and numerous extracurricular activities. She participated in All-State choir for two years. Risha studied Economics and History with a management emphasis at Utah State University. She also studied organ for six years with Professors Lynn Thomas and Mildred Camire.