Executive Directors

 

Lawrence Porter M.M.

Director - Founder

 

 

Mr. Porter has long been involved in both

the performance and teaching of great music.  He is a concert and jazz pianist and an organist, and has been invited to perform around the country, in addition to his work in Santa Fe.  As a music educator he has been taught at Texas Christian University, the University of Northern Arizona, Antioch College (Ohio) and in Santa Fe teaches privately as well as with Santa Fe Community College.  Mr. Porter has over 30 years of experience with piano and music competitions, having won his first competition in 1970 at the Arkansas State Music Teachers National Association, and since then performed at competitions in Texas, Colorado, Paris and at the Van Cliburn International Amateur Competition.  He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Northern Arizona University, and has done Doctoral Studies at Arizona State University and the University of North Texas.

 

As Concert Technician, he has served with Steinway, Bosendorfer, Fazioli, Baldwin, Yamaha.

 

 

Mary Jo Nixon

Vice-President

 

Ms. Nixon received her BA in Journalism from Steven F. Austin University and has a career history that includes Re-write Editor and Society Editor for several newspapers, Accounting and Financial Inventory services for the National Guard of the State of Texas, Advertising Executive for several large department stores and Assistant Sales Manager for a major manufacturer of watercraft.  She has been active with the National Red Cross, the Community Art League, the Community Concert Association, the Symphony League, Friends of the Public Library, and served on the Marshall Symphony League, raising money to purchased musical instruments for impoverished children in the Public School Music Department.

 

 

 

Dr. Michael Baron 

Executive Director

 

Michael Baron, Associate Professor of Music, heads the piano area of the university music program while teaching courses in applied and class piano. An award-winning concert pianist, Baron performs more than forty concerts each year, including annual tours of Europe and engagements throughout the United States . Equally at home as a recitalist, a soloist with orchestra, and a chamber musician, Baron commands a diverse repertoire, ranging from Baroque compositions to world premieres of contemporary works. His virtuosity and musicianship regularly garner the highest critical acclaim. Il Tempo ( Rome ) praised his “spellbinding recital. Baron kept the audience enthralled with a combination of touching poetry and superhuman virtuosity.” Baron holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from The Ohio State University where he studied with legendary American pianist Earl Wild. He also worked extensively in Italy with renowned pianist Orazio Frugoni.

A distinguished educator, Dr. Baron was formerly Artist-in-Residence, Head of Keyboard Studies, and a tenured Associate Professor of Music at Mesa State College in Grand Junction , Colorado . He has also taught at the State University of New York, Beloit College , and The Ohio State University. Among others, Baron has presented masterclasses for Music Teachers National Association, the National Federation of Music Clubs, and the Crested Butte Chamber Music Festival. He has served as a jurist for numerous competitions including the Jefferson Symphony National Music Competition, Competition Internationalé, Rocky Mountain Competition, Pikes Peak MTNA Competition, American Piano Guild Competition, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra Competition and Capella Musicale.

Dr. Baron's students have won or placed in numerous competitions, including Competition Internationalé, Music Teachers National Association, Maurice S. Thomas Memorial Competition and Four Corners Piano Competition. He is a popular teacher and presenter for music teacher association workshops. Baron co-directs the Corsi Internazionali di Musica Summer Music Festival at the University of Urbino , Italy ( www.urbino.beadlam.us ) and is Artistic Director of the Rocky Mountain Music Alliance Concert Series in Colorado Springs , Colorado.

 

 

 

Frances McKelvy

Excutive Director

Consulting

Atlanta, Texas

 

 

 

Dr. Michael Smith

Excutive Director

Counseling

Former Professor, University of Wyoming

Albuquerque, NM

 

 

 

Advisory Board

 

 

Dr. Phillip Kawin
Professor of Piano
Manhattan School of Music, NY

Albuquerque, NM

Rev. Wayne Hammer
First Christian Church
Santa Fe, NM

Reese Baker
Santa Fe, NM

 

Martha Burgraff

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Bill Rodway
Albuquerque, NM

Accounting

Abrams & Sarkissian, LLC
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Honorary Board

 

Mrs. Frances McKelvy

Atlanta, Texas

 

Mrs. Cleo Williamson

Dallas, Texas

 

Natalie Sturdy

Marshall, Texas