2021 Spotlight Classical Instrumental Strings Panel
Dr. John Burdett is the Associate Director of Winds and Percussion, and Director of Music Education at Azusa Pacific University where he conducts the acclaimed APU Wind Ensemble and teaches graduate students pursuing the Master of Music in Conducting and the Master of Music in Music Education degrees. Dr. Burdett completed music education and conducting degrees at Azusa Pacific University and California State University, Los Angeles before earning the Doctorate of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has published and presented his research at European and American conferences, including the International Society for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association, Spirituality and Music Education, and California Music Educators Association and contributed to the Peter Lang (Oxford) series. Dr. Burdett particularly enjoys engaging with high school and middle school students through conducting regional and state honor bands and orchestras in Texas and California and serving as an adjudicator with The Music Center of Los Angeles’ Spotlight program - Classical Instrumental Division.
Dr. Moni Simeonov is Director of String Studies at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University at Long Beach. He also serves on the university’s violin faculty. Dr. Simeonov is currently pursuing doctoral studies at USC’s Thornton School of Music where he studies with Midori and serves as Adjunct Instructor of Violin and Chamber Music. An active member of the IRIS Chamber Orchestra, Dr. Simeonov also performs with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Opera, Master Chorale, Ensemble San Francisco, and serves as the acting Concertmaster for the Sacramento Philharmonic. His doctorate studies include minor fields in Viola Performance, Schenkerian Analysis, Japanese Language, as well an emphasis on the interpretation of Balkan folk music.
Dr. Leif Woodward is an alumnus of the USC Thornton School of Music and graduated Pi Kappa Lambda. He holds a Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California as well as a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Dr. Woodward performs with groups such as: Tesserae, Los Angeles Musica Angelica, Los Angeles Master Choral, Long Beach Symphony, and Pacific Choral. He has appeared at the Carmel Bach Festival, San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, and Corona Del Mar Baroque Music Festival. Dr. Woodward currently teaches at UC Riverside, Orange County School of the Arts, and has been a guest Instructor at the University of Southern California and the Colburn School. Dr. Woodward is in high demand as a teacher and his students attend top Universities and Conservatories around the nation. Recently, his former student was appointed as the new Principle Cellist of the Pacific Symphony.
2021 Spotlight Classical Instrumental Piano Panel
Dr. John Burdett is the Associate Director of Winds and Percussion, and Director of Music Education at Azusa Pacific University where he conducts the acclaimed APU Wind Ensemble and teaches graduate students pursuing the Master of Music in Conducting and the Master of Music in Music Education degrees. Dr. Burdett completed music education and conducting degrees at Azusa Pacific University and California State University, Los Angeles before earning the Doctorate of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has published and presented his research at European and American conferences, including the International Society for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association, Spirituality and Music Education, and California Music Educators Association and contributed to the Peter Lang (Oxford) series. Dr. Burdett particularly enjoys engaging with high school and middle school students through conducting regional and state honor bands and orchestras in Texas and California and serving as an adjudicator with The Music Center of Los Angeles’ Spotlight program - Classical Instrumental Division.
Susan Kim-Pedroza has been on the adjunct faculty at Long Beach City College since 2012 and performs throughout Southern California. She attended the Los Angeles County High School of the Arts, Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Southern California where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance. She studied with Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Daniel Pollack, Constance Keene, and Dr. M’lou Dietzer. Susan serves as an adjudicator for piano competitions and auditions throughout Southern California. She is currently the Program Director for the Orange County North Branch of the Music Teachers Association of California. She has served as the Regional Chairperson for the Southern California Junior Bach Festival (2007-present); CAPMT Concerto Competition Chairperson (2011-2013); Recording Secretary (2007-2009) & Treasurer (2009-2011) for the Music Teachers Association of California, North Orange County Branch; and the Director of the West Coast Conservatory, Fullerton, California (2006-2011). Susan teaches privately in Anaheim Hills, California
Dr. Louise Thomas is the Associate Dean for the College of Performing Arts and Director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts at Chapman University. She studied at Trinity College in Dublin and at the Hochschule für Musik in Hannover, Germany, and received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance from the University of Southern California. Louise Thomas has concertized extensively in her native Ireland and throughout Europe, North America and Asia at such notable concert venues as the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire in Moscow, the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing and Carnegie Hall in New York City. Dr. Thomas has made CD recordings in Germany, at the Banff Center for the Arts in Canada with the Irish Contemporary Music group Nua Nós, and has made numerous radio and TV broadcasts.
2021 Spotlight Classical Instrumental Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion Panel
Dr. John Burdett is the Associate Director of Winds and Percussion, and Director of Music Education at Azusa Pacific University where he conducts the acclaimed APU Wind Ensemble and teaches graduate students pursuing the Master of Music in Conducting and the Master of Music in Music Education degrees. Dr. Burdett completed music education and conducting degrees at Azusa Pacific University and California State University, Los Angeles before earning the Doctorate of Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has published and presented his research at European and American conferences, including the International Society for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association, Spirituality and Music Education, and California Music Educators Association and contributed to the Peter Lang (Oxford) series. Dr. Burdett particularly enjoys engaging with high school and middle school students through conducting regional and state honor bands and orchestras in Texas and California and serving as an adjudicator with The Music Center of Los Angeles’ Spotlight program - Classical Instrumental Division.
Dr. Susan Helfter is an artist-educator known for her community engagement work through music. At the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, Dr. Helfter is an Associate Professor of Practice, in the Music Teaching and Learning Department and Director of the Thornton Community Engagement Programs. As a hornist, Dr. Helfter is a past winner of the Canadian National Music Competition and in her role with the Thornton Community Engagement Programs since 2004, she has been responsible for the direction, design, implementation and funding of these extensive music programs. Her current musical interests and pursuits lie in community and musician self-actualization through musical engagement, with research topics of musician identity, musician as facilitator and community partnerships. Dr. Helfter is called upon regularly by professional arts organizations to lead masterclasses, workshops and contribute to the development of young and emerging musicians.
David Washburn is Principal Trumpet with the LA Chamber Orchestra and the Pasadena Pops Orchestra and is Associate Principal Trumpet of the LA Opera Orchestra. He is active in the recording studios, having numerous motion picture soundtracks to his credit. Mr. Washburn is on the faculty of Chapman University, Biola University, and UC Irvine. He has also served as principal trumpet and soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and held teaching positions at Cal State University Northridge, Redlands University, Idyllwild School of the Performing Arts, and the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. He received his Master of Music degree, with distinction, from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and his Bachelor of Music from the USC School of Music.