Jason Carson
Choir Conductor, Middle School

Mr. Carson is beginning his third year as Director of Choral Activities at Westside High School. Under his direction, the choir students have created a new standard of excellence at Westside High School. Most impressive was the successes of his choirs at the annual UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Competition where two of the three participating choirs earned “Sweepstakes” trophies.

Mr. Carson holds a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA), and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Baylor University (Waco, TX). He is also certified in Kodaly (Level I).

Before accepting a position at Westside High School, Mr. Carson started the Vocal Music program at Pin Oak Middle School in 2003. A year prior to this, he had the great opportunity to teach at the Spence School, one of the premier girls’ schools of New York City. His teaching experience also includes a position at Pasadena High School, and opening a new high school, Sandra D. O’Connor High School, in Helotes, TX. He has studied conducting and score study with Dr. Kenneth Fulton, Dr. Robert Young, Dr. Stephen Hyde, and Michael Haithcock.

Mr. Carson is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Society.

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Dr. Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Featured Clinician, Choral & Vocal Studies

Eduardo Garcia-Novelli is a native of Argentina who earned two degrees from conservatories in Buenos Aires. He served as assistant director of the Argentinean National Young People Choir in Buenos Aires and served as director of the award-winning choral program at Belgrano Day School. He earned a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Houston.

Dr. Garcia-Novelli served as assistant director of the Houston Symphony Chorus from 1997 to 2002. He came to Carthage in 2008 from Lamar University, where he was Director of Choral Activities and Director of the Symphony of Southeast Texas Chorus from 2002 to 2008. In 2006 he was awarded Lamar University's Faculty Merit Award for excellence in teaching.

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Shawn Heller
Accompanist

Captivating audiences around the world in his interpretations of Gershwin, J.S. Bach, Mozart, or Chopin, Shawn Heller is one of the most versatile and thrilling young pianists of today. He is sure to dazzle you with his uncompromising virtuosity, artistic vision, and unique style. Music critics have described Shawn as a 'pianist of distinction', and have commented on his 'impressive technique' and 'incredible composure'.

A native of Dallas, Shawn made his orchestral debut as soloist with the Arts Magnet High School Orchestra at age 14, and victories soon followed at state competitions where he earned first prize at the Texas Music Teachers Federation and East Texas State University. Before the age of ten, Shawn had performed live on a KCBI radio broadcast and was invited to join Dino Kartsonakis in Pianorama at Dallas Music Hall at Fair Park.
Mr. Heller's early teachers include Colleen Brashear and Carol Wilcoxson. He is a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston where he studied with Dr. William Black, Abbey Simon, Horacio Guttierez, Carlisle Floyd, and Ruth Tomfhorde. He has also performed at master classes with Frederic Chiu, Santiago Rodriguez, Christoph Eschenbach, Joaquin Achucarro, Michael Chertock, and Vladimir Viardo. As well as being an established classical artist, Shawn Heller is also an accomplished jazz pianist.

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David Landgrebe
Conductor, Choral & Vocal Studies

David Landgrebe is in his seventh year as the assistant choral director at Spring High School. He conducts the Concert Men, A Cappella Women, teaches AP Music Theory, and co-directs the annual all-school musical.. David also assists with the Concert Women, Chorale Men, Chorale Women, Chorale and Chamber Choir. Choirs under his direction and co-direction have consistently earned Sweepstakes at University Interscholastic League Concert and Sight-Reading Contest. In the summer of 2007 David was named an inaugural recipient of the Distinguished Young Director Award given by the membership of the Texas Choral Directors Association.

David is very active in his service to the music education field, having served as the Facilities Chair for the Vocal Division of the Texas Music Educators Association in 2008 and 2009 and as a section leader or organizer for multiple region choirs. He currently serves as computer tabulations coordinator for Region IX and helps coordinate technology annually during the Texas Choral Directors Association conference. David also is currently serving as the TMEA Area D Vocal Chair.

David is a Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of Houston where he received the Bachelor of Music degree with elective studies in Music Education. While at U of H, he studied conducting and music education with Dr. Betsy Cook Weber and Dr. Charles Hausmann and voice with Katherine Ciesinski and Patryk Wroblewski.
A recipient of a Texas Music Educators Association educational scholarship, his professional affiliations include ACDA, TCDA, TMEA, Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda. In 2009 David joined the membership of the Texas Music Adjucators Association. David resides in Spring.

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Amy Moore
Featured Clinician, Middle School Choir

Amy Moore is currently in her 13th year of teaching and her ninth year as head choral director at Labay Middle School. During her tenure at Labay, the choirs have received consistent awards including numerous UIL Sweepstakes and Best in Class recognitions at area festivals. Students under her direction consistently place in the all-region choir and receive superior ratings at solo and ensemble competition. Mrs. Moore is very proud to be a main feeder to Cypress-Falls High School where many of her former students continue their musical pursuits and compete successfully at the All-State level. She is committed to her students’ success not only as young singers and musicians, but as outstanding and successful individuals.

A native West Texan, Mrs. Moore is a graduate of Levelland High School. While in high school, she was a member of the Texas All-State Choir in 1990 and 1991. In 1996, she graduated magna cum laude from Baylor University with a bachelors degree in Music Education. While at Baylor, Mrs. Moore received numerous honors including Outstanding Music Educator, Outstanding Choral Musician, Outstanding Senior Woman in the School of Music and Who’s Who Among American College Students.

Mrs. Moore was selected as the Labay Middle School “Spotlight Teacher” for the 2008-2009 school year and currently serves as lead mentor on her campus. Mrs. Moore is an active adjudicator and clinician throughout the state. Her professional affiliations include TSTA, TMEA, TCDA and TMAA. She lives in Houston with her husband of twelve years, Greg, who is a high school choir director, and their three sons, ages eight, four and three.

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Catherine Schaefer
Accompanist

Catherine Schaefer, a native of Spokane, WA, holds a B.M. and a B.A. from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She recently moved to Houston to pursue her M.M. under Abbey Simon at University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where she also teaches music theory and aural skills, and works as an accompanist.

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Brian Shircliffe
Vocal Studies

Lyric baritone Brian Shircliffe is excited to be performing with Ars Lyrica again. The San Antonio native has sung with Dayton Opera, Lake George Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Opera in the Heights, Houston Grand Opera and Opera Vista. Following his performance as Dancaïro in Carmen, with Houston’s Opera in the Heights, the Houston Chronicle said: “The best individual singing of the evening came from Brian Shircliffe as Dancairo, one of Carmen’s fellow smugglers... He had a sure vocal presence, a natural, unblemished sound and an easy delivery...” Among the leading roles he has performed are: Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Alvaro in Il Viaggio a Rheims, Masetto in Don Giovanni, The Magistrate in Buoso’s Ghost, Tom in Face on the Barroom Floor, Guglielmo and Don Alfonso in Così fan Tutte, Melchior in Amahl and the Night Vistors, Marcello and Schaunard in La Bohème, and Sid in Albert Herring. Mr. Shircliffe earned his master’s degree from The University of Houston’s Moores School of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Timothy Jones. While at the Moores School he added the roles of the Steward in the new British opera Flight by Jonathan Dove, the Philosopher in Massenet’s Cherubin, Harry Easter in Street Scene, Guglielmo in Così fan Tutte, and Figaro in John Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles to his repertoire. The Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition awarded him both third place and Audience Choice Award in 2007. Mr. Shircliffe can be heard on the recently released recording of Dominick Argento’s Casanova’s Homecoming in the role of Lorenzo da Ponte.

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Kimberly Tobola

Kimberly Tobola is in her 8th year as Director of Choirs at Lanier Middle School in HISD. Under her direction, Lanier Choirs have consistently received Sweepstakes awards at UIL Contest and Sight Reading and Splashtown Choral Festival. In addition to her teaching, Ms., Tobola also sings with the professional vocal ensemble, VOX.

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Holly Wilson
Accompanist

Holly Wilson holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, and a Performer's Certificate from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She also has a Certificate of Performance from the Russian School of Piano, in Freiburg, Germany. Her teachers have included: Ruth Tomfohrde, Dr. Robert Weirich, Abby Simon, Dr. Vitaly Margulis, and Sergei Babayan. She has been a medalist in the San Antonio Music Club Competition, the Ruth Burr Competition, the Missouri MTNA Competition and the UMKC Concerto Competition. Upcoming performances this fall include: recital engagements in Houston, Fort Worth, and Shreveport; and, an orchestral engagement in Kansas City, Missouri.

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