Sarah Blazs, Piano

Sarah Blazs began playing the piano at a very early age in her home state of Florida.  She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Florida State Univeristy, where she holds a Bachelor of Music degree and a Certificate in Piano Pedagogy, studying with Leonard Mastrogiacomo and Dr. Victoria McArthur.  Throughout her career, Sarah has always had great passion for teaching children and pursues opportunities to bring music into their lives.  While at FSU, she taught at Mason's School of Music, teaching private, pair, and group lessons.

In August 2010, Sarah moved to Norman and began studies at the University of Oklahoma.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, where she studies with Dr. Jeongwon Ham and takes classes with Dr. Jane Magrath and Dr. Barbara Fast.  She also serves as a graduate teaching assistant, teaching Aural Theory to undergraduate music majors.  Sarah is excited to be a member of the faculty at the Fine Arts Academy, and looks forward to sharing her love of piano with the students.

Jennifer Davis, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, and Saxophone 

 Jennifer Davis grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1993.  She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1998 from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  Jennifer taught band, choir, and general music to students in pre-K through 12th grade in the Mooreland Public School district for ten years (1999 - 2009).  She is now working on her Masters of Music degree in Ethnomusicology at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.  Jennifer studied under Nancy Stizza-Ortega for flute, Melanie Speer for oboe, and Dr. Chris Bade for clarinet and saxophone.

Jennifer is an oboist in the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony and her church orchestra.  She regularly performs at local nursing homes and assisted living centers by singing and playing flute, clarinet, saxophone, and guitar.  Her previous performing experiences include playing in: John Marshall High School Band, Oklahoma City Community Orchestra, Oklahoma  Baptist University Symphonic Band, Oklahoma Baptist University Jazz Orchestra, Northern Oklahoma College Community Band, Northern Oklahoma College Jazz Band, Woodward First Baptist Jericho Orchestra, and Mooreland Pep Band.

Michelle Hedges, Trombone, Trumpet, Baritone, French Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, Piano, Percussion

 Michelle Hedges has been giving private lessons for 26 years.  She was born into a musical family and started taking piano lessons at age 4.  Her love affair with brass instruments began at age 12, and she would later receive a Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance from Southeast Missouri State University.  In college, she also had the opportunity to learn all of the brass instruments and percussion, and continues to play trumpet and trombone in the New Horizons Bands at the University of Oklahoma, and percussion in the Oklahoma City Symphonic Band.

Michelle is still active on piano and in December of 2010 was the accompanist and musical director of the musical "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" in Cumming, Georgia.  Michelle is acquainted with many styles of music, from Latin and Jazz to Classical.

Michelle recently moved from Atlanta, Georgia, where she had an active studio of 40 students.  Michelle loves music but also loves figuring out how a student learns.  She has had experience and success teaching people with ADD, ADHD, and high functioning Autism.  Michelle is pleased to join the teaching faculty at the Fine Arts Academy of First Baptist Church. 

Rachel Schmoyer, Piano

Rachel Schmoyer is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, and has experience teaching in both the private and group setting.  She received her MM in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, and obtained her undergraduate degrees in Piano Performance and Keyboard Pedagogy from Cedarville University in Ohio. 

Rachel teaches group piano and private lessons at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, and also works as the director of the Fine Arts Academy of First Baptist Church in Norman.  Furthermore, she currently serves as Representative at Large for the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, and is also involved in the Norman Area Music Teachers Association.  Rachel has experience working with a wide age-range of students, and enjoys the challenges and perspectives that each one brings. 

Jennifer Tripi, Piano

Jennifer Tripi recently received a Masters degree in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma.  Beginning her teaching career in the small town of Rome, Georgia, she received undergraduate degrees in both Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Shorter College.

Jennifer has taught group piano and applied lessons at the University of Oklahoma.  In addition to First Baptsit, she currently teaches privately at her home studio in Norman and at the Oklahoma Baptist University Preparatory Department.  Jennifer also teaches weekly Kindermusik classes at Gilliam Music in Norman.

In addition to teaching, Jennifer serves as the accompanist at Bridgeview United Methodist Church in Norman and does freelance accompanying. 

Aaron Vasquez, Guitar

Since the age of ten, Aaron Vasquez has studied rock guitar, and began his classical guitar studies at the age of fourteen. He received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Guitar Performance from the University of Oklahoma.  

Aaron has earned many awards including "Most outstanding undergraduate guitarist" at the University of Oklahoma, and an award for best guitar solo at the Wichita Jazz festival.  He holds the position of worship leader and lead guitarst at Crosspointe Church in Norman. 

Aaron has a busy teaching studio, and is pleased to join the teaching faculty at the Fine Arts Academy of First Baptist Church.   Aaron enjoys playing the guitar in a variety of musical styles, and pulls from his diverse musical experiences when teaching.

Joan Wallace, Piano

Joan Wallace graduated from the University of Michigan in Piano Performance in December of 2009.  She has taught piano privately in her native city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she was also an accompanist and liturgical pianist.

Joan has been playing piano since the age of four.  She was accepted as a piano major to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan at the age of 15, and has been continuing her piano students since that time.  She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma, where she also teaches group and applied piano.

Tom White, Piano

Tom White has been in love with music all his life and started playing the piano at age 12.  He has been teaching piano to both children and adults since 1998.  He grew up in Pennsylvania and received his Bachelor’s degree in piano from Penn State University in 2000. 

After graduating he moved to the beautiful state of Colorado where he continued to teach and perform.  In 2010 Tom completed his Masters Degree in Piano Performance at the University of Northern Colorado and is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of Oklahoma  studying both Piano Performance and Pedagogy.

Rebecca Wiitala, Piano

Sarah Blazs, Piano

Sarah Blazs began playing the piano at a very early age in her home state of Florida.  She is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Florida State Univeristy, where she holds a Bachelor of Music degree and a Certificate in Piano Pedagogy, studying with Leonard Mastrogiacomo and Dr. Victoria McArthur.  Throughout her career, Sarah has always had great passion for teaching children and pursues opportunities to bring music into their lives.  While at FSU, she taught at Mason's School of Music, teaching private, pair, and group lessons.

In August 2010, Sarah moved to Norman and began studies at the University of Oklahoma.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, where she studies with Dr. Jeongwon Ham and takes classes with Dr. Jane Magrath and Dr. Barbara Fast.  She also serves as a graduate teaching assistant, teaching Aural Theory to undergraduate music majors.  Sarah is excited to be a member of the faculty at the Fine Arts Academy, and looks forward to sharing her love of piano with the students.

Jennifer Davis, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, and Saxophone 

 Jennifer Davis grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1993.  She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1998 from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  Jennifer taught band, choir, and general music to students in pre-K through 12th grade in the Mooreland Public School district for ten years (1999 - 2009).  She is now working on her Masters of Music degree in Ethnomusicology at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.  Jennifer studied under Nancy Stizza-Ortega for flute, Melanie Speer for oboe, and Dr. Chris Bade for clarinet and saxophone.

Jennifer is an oboist in the Oklahoma Baptist Symphony and her church orchestra.  She regularly performs at local nursing homes and assisted living centers by singing and playing flute, clarinet, saxophone, and guitar.  Her previous performing experiences include playing in: John Marshall High School Band, Oklahoma City Community Orchestra, Oklahoma  Baptist University Symphonic Band, Oklahoma Baptist University Jazz Orchestra, Northern Oklahoma College Community Band, Northern Oklahoma College Jazz Band, Woodward First Baptist Jericho Orchestra, and Mooreland Pep Band.

Michelle Hedges, Trombone, Trumpet, Baritone, French Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, Piano, Percussion

 Michelle Hedges has been giving private lessons for 26 years.  She was born into a musical family and started taking piano lessons at age 4.  Her love affair with brass instruments began at age 12, and she would later receive a Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance from Southeast Missouri State University.  In college, she also had the opportunity to learn all of the brass instruments and percussion, and continues to play trumpet and trombone in the New Horizons Bands at the University of Oklahoma, and percussion in the Oklahoma City Symphonic Band.

Michelle is still active on piano and in December of 2010 was the accompanist and musical director of the musical "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" in Cumming, Georgia.  Michelle is acquainted with many styles of music, from Latin and Jazz to Classical.

Michelle recently moved from Atlanta, Georgia, where she had an active studio of 40 students.  Michelle loves music but also loves figuring out how a student learns.  She has had experience and success teaching people with ADD, ADHD, and high functioning Autism.  Michelle is pleased to join the teaching faculty at the Fine Arts Academy of First Baptist Church. 

Rachel Schmoyer, Piano

Rachel Schmoyer is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, and has experience teaching in both the private and group setting.  She received her MM in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, and obtained her undergraduate degrees in Piano Performance and Keyboard Pedagogy from Cedarville University in Ohio. 

Rachel teaches group piano and private lessons at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, and also works as the director of the Fine Arts Academy of First Baptist Church in Norman.  Furthermore, she currently serves as Representative at Large for the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, and is also involved in the Norman Area Music Teachers Association.  Rachel has experience working with a wide age-range of students, and enjoys the challenges and perspectives that each one brings. 

Jennifer Tripi, Piano

Jennifer Tripi recently received a Masters degree in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma.  Beginning her teaching career in the small town of Rome, Georgia, she received undergraduate degrees in both Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Shorter College.

Jennifer has taught group piano and applied lessons at the University of Oklahoma.  In addition to First Baptsit, she currently teaches privately at her home studio in Norman and at the Oklahoma Baptist University Preparatory Department.  Jennifer also teaches weekly Kindermusik classes at Gilliam Music in Norman.

In addition to teaching, Jennifer serves as the accompanist at Bridgeview United Methodist Church in Norman and does freelance accompanying. 

Aaron Vasquez, Guitar

Since the age of ten, Aaron Vasquez has studied rock guitar, and began his classical guitar studies at the age of fourteen. He received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Guitar Performance from the University of Oklahoma.  

Aaron has earned many awards including "Most outstanding undergraduate guitarist" at the University of Oklahoma, and an award for best guitar solo at the Wichita Jazz festival.  He holds the position of worship leader and lead guitarst at Crosspointe Church in Norman. 

Aaron has a busy teaching studio, and is pleased to join the teaching faculty at the Fine Arts Academy of First Baptist Church.   Aaron enjoys playing the guitar in a variety of musical styles, and pulls from his diverse musical experiences when teaching.

Joan Wallace, Piano

Joan Wallace graduated from the University of Michigan in Piano Performance in December of 2009.  She has taught piano privately in her native city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she was also an accompanist and liturgical pianist.

Joan has been playing piano since the age of four.  She was accepted as a piano major to the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan at the age of 15, and has been continuing her piano students since that time.  She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma, where she also teaches group and applied piano.

Tom White, Piano

Tom White has been in love with music all his life and started playing the piano at age 12.  He has been teaching piano to both children and adults since 1998.  He grew up in Pennsylvania and received his Bachelor’s degree in piano from Penn State University in 2000. 

After graduating he moved to the beautiful state of Colorado where he continued to teach and perform.  In 2010 Tom completed his Masters Degree in Piano Performance at the University of Northern Colorado and is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of Oklahoma  studying both Piano Performance and Pedagogy.

Rebecca Wiitala, Piano