Adjunct Instructors
Jessica Baldwin
Voice Instructor
Jessica Baldwin (member NATS, MENC, ACDA) completed the Master of Music degree in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance at Meredith College in May 2005, graduating summa cum laude. She also completed her Bachelor of Arts in Applied Voice at Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, WV, in May 2002, graduating summa cum laude. In addition to presenting many solo vocal recitals, Jessica has performed in musicals, operas, and theater productions including Hansel and Gretel (Gretel), The Telephone (Lucy), Crimes of the Heart (Meg), Crazy for You (Polly), My Fair Lady (Eliza), Hello, Dolly! (Irene Malloy), Sister Angelica (Sister Genevieve), Cinderella (Stepmother), Oklahoma! (Ado Annie), and How to Eat Like a Child (Rachel). Some of her vocal accolades include winning the Meredith College Concerto Competition, placing second in Graduate Women at the 2003 NC NATS Competition, placing alternate in the 2002 MTNA Eastern Division Collegiate Artist Competition, Glassboro, NJ, winning the senior women division of the 2001 NATS Tri-State Competition (WV, MD, PA), winning the 2001 WVMTNA Collegiate Artist Competition, and winning the 2001 Alderson-Broaddus College Concerto Competition.
Jessica has been working as an accompanist since age 12. She was selected to be an accompanist for the WV All-State Chorus in 1997 and 1998, and received a 4-year student accompanist scholarship to Alderson-Broaddus College.
In addition to running her private studio, Jessica teaches at Ohio Valley University, Marietta College, and WVU-P. She also sings and plays in several Marietta area bands: Maybe Logic, The Swinging Orangutangs, The Mud Ducks, and Brandy Hard Sauce.
Randall Brannon
Clarinet/Saxophone Instructor
Mr. Brannon holds a Bachelor of Music degree from West Virginia University and a Master of Music in Applied Clarinet from Ohio University. His principal clarinet teachers have been Dr. Charles Krusenstjerna, Dr. David Lewis, and Dr. John Weigand. In addition to his public school teaching, Mr. Brannon teaches privately and performs regularly as a soloist and as a member of various bands and orchestras in the Parkersburg area.
In 1992 and 2007, he was named West Virginia's Outstanding Bandmaster by Phi Beta Mu National Band Honorary. In 2000, Mr. Brannon was Wood County's Teacher of the Year. A native West Virginian, Mr. Brannon is currently Assistant Band Director at Parkersburg South High School in Parkersburg, WV. Prior to assuming this position, Mr. Brannon was Band Director at Edison Junior High School, also in Parkersburg.
During his twenty-six years there, Edison's ensembles, jazz band, and wind ensemble performed frequently at the WVMEA State Conference as Honor Groups and State Finalists. The Edison Jazz Band was a winner of the Regional Contest several times and has consistently received superior ratings at the Regional Festival for many years. Edison's Wind Ensemble has been a WVMEA Honor Finalist seven times since 1992.
Prior to teaching at Edison, Mr. Brannon was the Band Director at Petersburg High School in Petersburg, WV. He has served as conductor and clinician for State and Regional Bands and Conferences in various parts of West Virginia.
Robert Coddington
Guitar Instructor
Robert Coddington, Instructor of Guitar, began playingthe guitar at age 12 and enrolled as a guitar major at Montgomery College in Rockville, Md, at age 17.
After transferring to the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Md, he completed his Bachelor of Music degree, having studied classical guitar with guitar department head Ray Chester.
Bob has performed at recitals and other events in Baltimore and other areas of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio and more recently with the Marietta College Choir and College Band. He has been teaching guitar for more than 15 years.
Mr. Coddington's duties at Marietta College include applied guitar lessons and guitar class.
Christopher Dearth
Trombone/Euphonium Instructor
Christopher Dearth is the Instructor of Trombone at Marietta College. In addition to these duties, Chris is Principal Trombonist with the West Virginia Symphony and a member of the Trombonanza Trombone Quartet.
Chris completed his Bachelor in Music at Oberlin Conservatory where he studied with Per Brevig (formerly of the Metropolitan Opera) and Raymond Premru (formerly of the Philharmonia Orchestra and Philip Jones Brass Ensemble). His Master's in Music was completed at Arizona State, where he was a teaching assistant and studied under Gail Eugene Wilson. While at ASU, Chris was a member of the Sun Valley Brass Quintet, which placed second at the 1992 Summit Brass International Brass Ensemble Competition.
After his time at Arizona State, he did post-graduate work at Indiana University with M. Dee Stewart (formerly of Philadelphia Orchestra), Keith Brown (formerly of Metropolitan Opera), Carl Lenthe (formerly of the Bamburg Symphony), and Scott Hartman (Boston University, Proteus 7, formerly Empire Brass). While at Indiana, Chris was a teaching assistant, performed several recitals, did coursework towards his D.M., took several symphony auditions, and performed the Tomasi, “Concerto for Trombone” with the Indiana University Symphony Orchestra as winner of the Brass Concerto Competition. Chris has also performed with the Phoenix Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Owensboro Symphony, and Huntington Symphony.
Chris has also taught adjunct positions at West Virginia Wesleyan College, the University of Louisville, Morehead State University, Indiana State University, and Ohio University. Other teachers of Chris’ include Reginald Fink, Joseph Alessi, Mark Lawrence, and Milt Stevens.
Melissa Herceg
Flute Instructor
Melissa Herceg is a graduate of Fairmont State Colelge with a bachelor's degree in music education, and has completed most coursework toward a master's degree in music performance and pedagogy at Ohio University. She is currently employed by C.A. House Music of Parkersburg, WV, and maintains a private flute studio. Her flute and piccolo students have performed as members of the West Virginia all-state band, West Virginia all-state orchestra, and various honor bands. Melissa has performed with various orchestras and wind ensembles in West Virginia and Ohio, and was selected as a performer for the 2008 Trevor Wye Summer Class. She currently serves as second flute and piccolo of the River Cities Symphony Orchestra, and performs as Duo Apollonio with her cellist husband, Robert.
Melissa is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the National Flute Association, and the Parkersburg Choral Society.
Jane Irvine
Piano Instructor
Jane Irvine has a BA in music education from WVU and a MA in music education from Ohio University. She recently retired from Warren Local Schools after 30 years of teaching elementary/middle school music.
She serves as organist and handbell director at First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg, WV. She is active in the handbell world—an active enthusiastic member of the Mid-Ohio Valley Ringers!—and serves as education chair for the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers Area V (Ohio, WV, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky.)
She is on the Board of Directors for Artsbridge and a member of the National Society of Arts and Letters.
Jocelyn Majoy
Bassoon/Oboe Instructor
Jocelyn Majoy first studied the oboe with Betty-Rae Smith of Parkersburg. She went on to study with Cheryl Priebe at West Virginia University where she received her Bachelor's Degree in music education in 1980. After receiving her Masters in Music with Randall Ellis at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, Jocelyn played in various orchestras including the Schenectady Symphony in New York, The Land of Legends Orchestra in Granville, Ohio, and the River Cities Symphony in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Jocelyn has extensive experience teaching general music in elementary schools in West Virginia, New York, and Ohio. She is currently a vocal and general music teacher for the Wolf Creek Local Schools in Waterford, Ohio. She has also taught private music lessons on the oboe and the bassoon for the past 14 years.
Cyndi Puls
Violin Instructor
Cynthia Puls began cello studies in Evansville, Indiana. She earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana and a Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University. Cynthia formally taught as an adjunct professor at Butler University and Marietta College. As a doctoral student she created a book for teaching cello methods for music majors.
She performed with the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra (KY), Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra (LA), Gilbert and Sullivan Society, the Baton Rouge Opera Orchestra, Terre Haute Symphony (IN), and the West Virginia Symphony. Cynthia soloed with a touring contemporary group in Louisiana including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, LA.
Cynthia developed a course entitled, "Exploring Composers" (designed for elementary students to study composers, form and analysis and music history), is director of The Cello Company in Parkersburg, West Virginia (a group of young cellists ages 3 to adult), is an Artsbridge Catalog Artist, is a member of Arts in Education in Charleston, West Virginia, performs in a variety of chamber groups, performed as soloist with The Evergreen String Orchestra located in Marietta, Ohio, and is a founding member of the Trillium Piano Trio. As a member of The Trillium Piano Trio she has performed in the Kanawha Forum Series, Sundays at Two in Tamarack, Glenville University, Saint Cecilia’s Concert Series, Lyceum Series, and the Arts Link Series. As a cello soloist, she recently performed with violinist, Ozcan Ulucan as soloists with the Marshall University Orchestra.
She started The Cello Company in Parkersburg, WV in 1994. Cynthia’s cello class performed for the WTAP telethon to support special needs children at Grand Central Mall, the opening of the WV House of Delegates in Charleston, WV, the opening of the Cultural Art Center (Parkersburg, WV), The Smoot Theater (WV), The Castle (Marietta, OH), The Multi-Cultural Festival (WV), and the Martin Luther King Celebration at the WV Cultural Center in Charleston, WV. The Cello Company also performed at Tamarack in Beckley, WV, as part of their Children’s series and they had the privilege of performing with the Camarata Swedish String Ensemble concert as part of The Camarata US tour. The Cello Company recently performed with the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra as part of the Kremlin's US tour from Russia. A smaller ensemble performed with the Evergreen Strings at Ohio Valley University (Vienna, WV) and with the Marshall String Ensemble at Marshall University (Huntington, WV) as soloist on the Vivaldi Double Cello Concerto. Cello Festivals attended include: The Varga Celebration (Janos Starker was in attendance) at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and at Marshall University’s Cello Festival under the direction of cellist, Solen Dikener.
Her teachers include: Thaddeus Brys, Fern Glass, Sieva Lezhnev, David Littrell, Fritz Magg, and Mark Simcox. She performed in Master Classes with The Pablo Casals Trio, cellist, Stephen Katz, cellist, Zara Nelsova and cellist Fritz Magg.
David Puls
Violin Instructor
David Puls began violin studies with Harry Katzman and Carol Sindell in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. He pursued further studies at Indiana University. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Akron.
He has been active with the West Virginia Symphony, the Wheeling Symphony, the Akron Symphony, and the Ohio Chamber Orchestra. David is an Artsbridge Catalog Artist, teaches privately, performs in a variety of chamber groups, and is a member of Arts in Education in Charleston. As music director of the Trillium Piano Trio he has performed in the Kanawha Forum Series, Sundays at Two in Tamarack, Glenville University, Saint Cecilia’s Concert Series, Lyceum Series, and the Arts Link Series. He taught music fundamentals as a graduate assistant at Pennsylvania State University.
David currently teaches as a lecturer and violin/viola instructor at Marietta College.
Debra Rentz
Voice Instructor
Soprano Debra Rentz, a voice instructor in the Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music at Marietta College, holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, Illinois State University, Normal and a Master of Music in Voice Performance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her voice teachers include Winifred Faix Brown, Richard Conrad, Frances Crawford, Mark Elyn, Rodney Miller, William Miller.
Ms. Rentz has distinguished herself through the beauty of her voice and the artistry of her interpretations. The Boston Herald praised her recent portrayal of Adina in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore, saying, "The vocal highlight of the evening was her Act II aria, Prendi, per me se libero, Adina's first expression of love for Nemorino. But Rentz's secret weapon is her gift as an actress. From her first moment onstage, this adina was clearly higher up the class ladder from all the rest."
Rentz's repertoire includes both opera and operetta. Her operatic roles include Gilda in Rigoletto, Violetta in La Traviata, Lucia in Lucia de Lammermoor, Pamina and First Lady in The Magic Flute and Naiad in Ariadne auf Naxos. She has recently performed the role of Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni with the Ohio University School of Music Opera Department. Recent operetta appearances include Hanna in The Merry Widow and Mary Lloyd in the American stage premiere of Emmerich Kalman's Duchess of Chicago.
Ms. Rentz has become something of a specialist in the performance of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and has performed a wide variety of roles. Her favorites are Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, both Casilda and Gianetta in The Gondoliers, the title role in Patience, and Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, including a performance on board the USS Constitution through the collaborative efforts of the Boston Academy of Music and the U.S. Navy.
Debra's shimmering soprano voice is also well suited to oratorio and pops concerts. She has been a featured soloist in Vivaldi's Gloria, Mozart's Requiem and Orff's Carmina Burana. In addition to several engagements for Barber’s orchestral work Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Ms. Rentz has performed pops concerts with the St. Louis, Cedar Rapids, Omaha, Owensboro, Elmhurst Richmond, River Cities and Fox Valley symphonies.
Harry Rich
Trumpet Instructor
Harry Rich, a trumpet instructor at Marietta College, holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Music in Applied Trumpet from Western Michigan University, and completed doctoral work in Applied Trumpet at Ball State University.
Harry taught brass techniques and music history at Glenville State College from 1985 to 2004, where he was responsible for all brass applied instruction. He also assisted with the marching band, the small brass ensembles, and the jazz band. Harry has additionally held positions at West Virginia Wesleyan College (2004-2005), West Virginia Institute of Technology (1969-1979), and Mansfield State College (1968-1969).
Harry is a former member of the West Virginia Symphony, The Appalachian Brass Quintet, and the Lyric Brass Ensemble. He is presently a member of the Travlin' Brass Quintet, The Mountain State Brass Band, and the Smoot Theatre House Jazz Band. He has guest conducted a number of All Area and All-County Band Festivals as well as clinic sessions at various band camps and one Trumpet Clinic presentation at the WVMEA.
Dr. David Tadlock
Voice Instructor
Dr. David Tadlock teaches Applied Private Voice, Diction for Singers 1 and 2, Form & Analysis, Advanced Ear Training 3, and Composition. A baritone singer, pianist, composer, and stage director/vocal coach for local and regional opera and musical theater productions, Dr. Tadlock works closely with Marietta College's Department of Theater to prepare singers for musical theater roles, and often conducts the pit orchestra for performances.
He holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Indiana University's School of Music, and both a Master’s and Doctorate in performance from The University of Connecticut at Storrs.
Additional graduate studies were taken at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Indiana University in Bloomington, and Washington University in St. Louis. Previous faculty positions include North Dakota State University, The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, Goshen College in northern Indiana, and Clayton State University in Atlanta. He is a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing), Actors Equity Association, and the music honorary society Pi Kappa Lambda.
Dr. Tadlock is the founder and director of The Genesis Theater Project, a summer musical theater group in Athens, Ohio. Originally conceived as a group for high school and college students, The Genesis Theater Project is now entering its sixth year and has expanded to include full adult casts as well as occasional children's ensembles. The group most recently performed Jason Howland's 2005 musical "Little Women," and Stephen Schwartz's award-winning musical, "Pippin."
Dr. Tadlock has also worked as a guest stage director for productions at Ohio University (Britten's opera, "Albert Herring" in 2001), Rio Grande University (Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance" in 2005), Athens High School ("The Man Who Came to Dinner" and "The Secret Garden" in 2001 and 2002), and Tarleton State University in Texas ("Opera, Etc." in 2003).Professional solo appearances and opera/musical theater roles include performances with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Theater Factory St. Louis, the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, The MUNY Theater in St. Louis, Connecticut Opera Express, and Augusta State University in Georgia. He most recently appeared on stage in a 2005 production of Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden, in which he played the role of God.
Dr. Tadlock lives in Athens, Ohio, with his wife and daughter. He is the choir director for the Athens First Presbyterian Church, where several of his most recent choral compositions have had their first performances.
Elizabeth Thacker
Music Education Instructor
Elizabeth Thacker began teaching in the Louisiana Public School system where she was employed as a vocal/general music teacher for eight years. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1997 as well as her Master of Music in 2005 from the same institution. Mrs. Thacker was a member of The Golden Band from Tigerland Color Guard as well as a choreographer and advisor for the Color Guards at Destrehan High School and Hahnville High School in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. During her studies at Louisiana State University, Mrs. Thacker participated in Women’s Chorus, University Chorus as well as a select ensemble, Schola Cantorum. Mrs. Thacker is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education at The Ohio State University, where she held a teaching assistantship for two years. At The Ohio State University, Mrs. Thacker participated in several choral ensembles including Chorale, Women’s Glee Club, Ladies First, and Mastersingers. Mrs. Thacker assumed teaching responsibilities for music methods courses designed for special education and elementary education majors as well as conducting responsibilities for the Mastersingers ensemble. Mrs. Thacker currently serves Marietta High School as the Instructor of the Color Guard in The Wall of Sound as well as the Choir Director for both Marietta Middle School and Marietta High School.
Rocky Wiseman
Tuba Instructor
Rocky Wiseman is a tuba instructor at Marietta College. He received his Master of Arts from West Virginia University and his Bachelor's degree from Ohio University, where he studied with Leighton Conkling and Clyde Thomson. He has had extensive teaching experience both in his own private studio and as an instrumental teacher at Parkersburg High School (1996-2003) and Blennerhasset Junior High School (1975-1996). He has also presented master classes for the American Shcool of Bass and the International Bass Conference.
Rocky is currently a member of the River City Symphony Orchestra and the Doug Hess Big Band and works as a freelance bassist in Parkersburg, WV. He is a member of the International Bass Society, the Music Educators National Conference, and Musicians Union Local 136.
Karen Picard Young
Piano Instructor
An active instructor and collaborator, Karen Picard Young currently teaches piano at Marietta College as well as running a private studio. Prior to Marietta, Ms. Picard Young served on the faculty at Bowling Green State University where she taught class piano and coordinated the piano division of the Creative Arts Program, the preparatory school associated with the University.
For several years, Karen was an accompanist for the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts. She has been the adjudicator for the Music Teachers National Association Middle West District Ribbon Festival and the National Federation of Music Clubs for Northwest Ohio. She earned an MM in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Bowling Green State University where she studied with Virginia Marks, and a BM in Piano Performance and BS in Elementary Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she studied with Phyllis Orr East.
Luke Zyla
French Horn Instructor
Luke Zyla is currently the band director at Parkersburg South High School. At Parkersburg South, he conducts the Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and Jazz Ensemble and also teaches classes in music theory, music history, piano, instrumental techniques and computer applications.
Mr. Zyla has also served as director of bands at Jackson Junior High, VanDevender Junior High, Franklin Junior High in Wood County, WV and Ravenswood (WV) High School. Since 1978, his bands have earned many superior ratings at regional band festivals and his students have appeared numerous times at the West Virginia Music Educators Conference as part of the All-State Band, All-State Orchestra, and the Solo-Ensemble Honors Recital. His Jazz Band at Jackson Junior High appeared as the State Honor Band and the Parkersburg South Symphonic Band has also received the same honor.
In addition to his teaching career, Mr. Zyla is active as a performer on the French horn and as a conductor. He was a founding member of the Eastlawn Brass Quintet and has performed with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra since 1979. He is also the conductor of the Parkersburg Choral Society.
Mr. Zyla holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree in music education from West Virginia University. His teachers on French horn include: William Cooper, Joseph Thayer, William Brophy, David Sternbach, Douglas Lundeen and Dale Whitman. Mr. Zyla was recognized as the West Virginia Bandmaster of the year in 1997 and received the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the NFHS Music Association in 2005.
