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Jillian Calure grew up in Howard county, Maryland. Coming from a very musical family, she inherited a love for music and creativity very early on. She started piano and singing lessons at age 5. At age 8, she started learning her primary instrument, flute, studying with professional flautist David LaVorgna. Since the start of her musical journey, she has been actively involved in a variety of musical ensembles throughout her academic career. During high school, she played flute and piccolo for wind ensemble, and even learned trombone for her school’s jazz band, pep band, and marching band. Outside of school, she played flute for the Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2019 and 2020. Her passion for music didn’t stop when she graduated high school; it inspired her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Music Education at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. At UMBC she currently studies flute with Dr. Lisa Cella, and enjoys learning all about the pedagogy, methodology, and psychology behind music education. She has performed in UMBC’s wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, and new music ensemble; which has allowed her to explore a variety of different musical styles, genres, and performance techniques. She plans to graduate in the spring of 2025, once she completes her student teaching internship. Jillian mainly works with beginner and intermediate woodwind students (primarily flute, clarinet, and saxophone), but is also happy to teach beginner brass students due to her background in trombone. She enjoys teaching her students about different techniques, and encourages them to step out of their comfort zones by trying something new or challenging. Part of her core teaching philosophy is that music is a gift that is meant to be shared with everyone! Jillian hopes to make a positive impact in the lives of her students, just as her previous instructors have done for her.
Stan has taught and performed for many years. He has toured Europe with Circus Ron Calli, played with The National Circus of Paris, and performed on numerous cruise lines. Stan has shared the stage with Aretha Franklin, Lionel Ritchie, The Platters, The Coasters, The Drifters, and The Crystals. He locally plays with “Maryland’s opening act to the stars” Gene Vincent and Cadillac Cruisers and has opened up for stars like The Beach Boys, Three Dog Night, and Joan Jett. He also writes horn arrangements for the group. As of October 13, 2013, Stan Rouse is being inducted into the Maryland Music Hall of Fame. Other inductees include Frank Zappa and Dennis Chambers.
Kimberly McNicholas Keehner inherited her love of music from her father, who played trumpet with a US Army Air Force band during World War II. Kim began playing flute at age 10 and was a member of bands and orchestras associated with Towson University’s outstanding music department. She earned bachelor and masters degrees in music education at Towson where she studied flute under noted instructor Robin McKey-Day.
During a 32-year teaching career with the Baltimore County Public Schools, elementary and middle school bands and orchestras under Kim’s direction received superior and excellent ratings at both county and state levels of competition. In addition she served as the elementary instrumental music representative to the Maryland Music Educators Association and has played flute and piccolo with the Gettysburg Symphony Orchestra.
Kim specializes in developing a lifelong love of music and performance in the youngest musicians. Although she excels at playing and teaching woodwinds (flute, clarinet and oboe), Kim is happy to work with students who are learning strings and brass. Quite simply, Kim’s passion isn’t just music, it’s teaching the techniques that guide beginning players to excel. Whether working with young musicians in several Howard County schools or as a part of the Mike’s Music family, Kim is uniquely qualified to nurture the sheer joy that comes from making music.
Elizabeth Robbins began studying the viola at age 9 and the flute at age 10, and has experience performing and teaching strings and woodwinds. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education at Ithaca College, where she studied flute with Kelly Covert. She spent one semester at the Ithaca College London Center, taking lessons with Susan Milan at the Royal College of Music. After completing her undergraduate degree, Elizabeth moved to southern Maryland, where she taught pre-k through fifth grade band, strings, chorus, and general music for four years at St. Mary’s County Public Schools. While in Maryland, she earned her Master of Music in Music Education from Boston University. In 2010 she played Griffes’s Poem for Flute and Orchestra with the Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland In Concert as the winner of the COSMIC Young Artist Competition.
Elizabeth earned her PhD in music education at Temple University in 2019. While at Temple, she worked as a TA in the music education department, which included serving as a graduate conductor of the Night Owls Community Band and teaching Woodwind Methods to undergraduate and graduate students. She also taught as an adjunct and supervised student teachers at West Chester University. During her doctoral studies, she was a member of the viola faculty for the Music Education Pathways program at Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, PA and was a member of the flute faculty at Ferrwood Music Camp in Drums, PA. Elizabeth is happy to be back in Maryland, teaching 4th-6th grade band and orchestra in Prince George’s County Public Schools.