Gina Alm, galm@vanguard.edu, ext. 3010. Adjunct Professor of Music. M.M. Piano Pedagogy; M.M. Piano Performance, University of Oregon. 
Ms. Alm’s teaching areas include Class Piano, Private Piano Instruction, Introduction to Music and Conducting. Gina Alm began her studies at the age of six in Salem, Oregon. She won many local competitions and debuted with the Portland Youth Philharmonic at the age of sixteen. Ms. Alm went on to study at Biola University, earning degrees in both Piano Performance and Music Education. While at Biola, Ms. Alm studied with Jennie K. Wong and participated in Master Classes with Bela Siki and Menahem Pressler. She was also awarded the Outstanding Musician of the Year, Outstanding Pianist of the Year as well as other scholarships and competitions which include the Theodore Presser Scholarship and Sigma Alpha Iota competition. Ms. Alm continued her studies with Claire Wachter at the University of Oregon, where she was awarded a Fellowship in the Piano Pedagogy program. Currently, Ms. Alm is a member of the Music Teachers Association of California through which she maintains a private studio. She also accompanies for instrumental recitals and competitions and is involved in music ministry as a choir director and accompanist for The Rock in Anaheim.
Tanya Karyagina, Adjunct Professor of Piano and Accompanying, D.M.A. University of Southern California. 
Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Tanya Karyagina made her concerto début at the age of nine with the Kazakh Chamber Orchestra and has also appeared with Kazakh National Symphony, Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra, TCU Symphony, USC Symphony, North East Symphony, and Nova Amadeus Chamber Orchestra working with such distinguished conductors as Leon Fleisher, Sergiu Comissiona, and Nicola Samale, to name a few. Having won prizes in over twenty International Piano Competitions, she has performed extensively throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Russia, Canada, Belgium, France, Italy and Germany in such venues as Carnegie Hall in New York, Vilar Performing Arts Center in Colorado, Bass Performance Hall in Texas, Rachmaninov Hall in Moscow, Central Concert Hall, National Philharmonic Hall and National Opera Theater in Kazakhstan and many others. She has appeared on CBS 11, world satellite TV, Radio Vaticana and Kazakh National TV and radio stations performing, giving interviews and acting.
Tanya started taking piano lessons at the age of five and holds a Red Diploma from the Special Music College for Gifted Children in Kazakhstan, a Bachelor of Music Degree and a Performer’s Certificate from Texas Christian University and a Master of Music Degree, an Artist Diploma and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from University of Southern California, where she studied with the renowned professor John Perry.
In 2010 Tanya joined the Music Faculty at the Vanguard University of Southern California. Formerly, she was a part of the Music Faculty at the University of Southern California working as an Assistant Lecturer of Piano and also taught at the Preparatory Music Division at Texas Christian University. Apart from her teaching and piano performance career Tanya plays harpsichord professionally. She is also an aspiring violinist. She likes being outdoors, swimming, reading, cooking, travelling and experiencing new cultures.
Dr. Jung-A Lee, Adjunct Professor of Music, Organ and Accompanying. D.M.A., Boston University. 
Dr. Jung-A Lee has performed in Europe, North America, and Asia as an organist, pianist, and conductor. She currently works as an organist at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, an adjunct professor at Vanguard University, and an accompanist for the Men in Blaque Choir at University of California, Irvine. In April, 2009 she founded Music Mission International in order to promote organ music. She is the chairman of the non-profit organization with twelve board members.
Dr. Lee completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in organ performance from Boston University. In Boston she served as an organ scholar of The Memorial Church, Harvard University from 2001 to 2003 whose services were broadcast on the radio. She also worked as a collaborative pianist at Boston University. She earned her Master of Music degree in organ performance from Yale University with a full scholarship and worked as a collaborative pianist for the Opera School at Yale. While studying there she received many prizes including the Charles Ives Prize which is given to a gifted performer. From 1996 to 1997 she studied at Humboldt University and Kirchenmusikschule in Berlin, Germany as an exchange student. Lee finished her Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Toronto. While studying in Toronto, she served as an organist at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church whose services were broadcast on the radio. In addition, she also holds a London Trinity College Licentiate Diploma in piano performance.
Lee can be heard as organist on Rorem: Works for Choir and Organ/Harvard University Choir CD on Black Box label (catalog number 1102) and on the Men in Blaque’s recordings of UCI. Her first DVD of Music Mission International, “Beauty in the Wind,” will be released soon. http://www.musicmissioninternational.org
Michael Nigro, Adjunct Professor of Music, Guitar Studies. M.M. Guitar Performance. California State University, Fullerton. 
Michael Anthony Nigro has been drawn to the sounds of the guitar since the age of 12. After several years of lessons with local teachers and self-study, he attended the prestigious Indiana University School of Music where he graduated with his Bachelor of Music Degree in 2000 under the direction of Ernesto Bitetti. After moving back to his native Southern California, he attended California State University, Fullerton and earned a Master of Music degree under the tutelage of David Grimes.
His debut recording, “Homage to Piazzolla,” (Music & Arts CD1149) has received critical acclaim from the American Record Guide and Classical Guitar Magazine.
“It’s a pleasant collection of spiky Argentine rhythms interspersed with soulful milongas. Nigro has a big sound, a smooth tone, and sure-footed interpretive instincts. The production is clean and the sound clear…The notes include brief biographies of the composers, many of whom will be unfamiliar to most listeners. Nigro is to be commended for recording their music.”
American Record Guide
Nigro’s second recording titled, “Guitar Sudamericana,” (Balcon Records 62607) features compositions by Jose Luis Merlin, Jorge Morel, Eduardo Falu, Villa-Lobos, and many others.
He has performed in 29 states, giving concerts and master classes at many esteemed universities, guitar societies, libraries, museums, and community concerts. Some of the colleges he has performed and given master classes at are; Bates College in Lewiston, ME, Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, Amarillo Community College, TX, Glendale Community College, AZ, Marylhurst College in Portland, OR, and William Jessup University in Rocklin, CA. Michael is an active member of the guitar community; he is co-founder of the Long Beach Classical Guitar Society, independent reviewer of new music publications for the GFA (Guitar Foundation of America) periodical, Soundboard Magazine, and sought after teacher and performer.
Michael has been on the faculty of Vanguard University of Southern California since January 2006 where he teaches class guitar, is co-director of the guitar ensemble, and hosts a studio of about 15 students. www.nigroclassicalguitar.com
Sarah Scott, sscott@vanguard.edu. Adjunct Professor of Music, Intro to Fine Arts, Music and Worship. M.A.C.L., Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena.
Sarah Scott teaches courses in worship, spiritual formation, and music and art history at Vanguard University. She began teaching at VU in 2005, while assisting in the authorship of the new major – Music and Worship Arts – a degree program for musicians that focuses as much on theology and pastoral formation as it does music, with a smattering of A/V, film, design, and theatrical production to prepare for the reality of worship positions within the contemporary church.
Sarah brings a love and passion for music and art to the classroom, and desires to bring theologically-grounded worship leaders to our churches. Prior to coming to Vanguard, Sarah was on pastoral staff at churches for ten years, and was an integral part of a handful of church plants, including Rock Harbor Church in Costa Mesa and The Next Level Church in Denver, Colorado, where she developed a passion to bring our many generations together in corporate worship, focusing more on God than on style.
Sarah is a member of the Worship Mentor Network, a part of Worship Foundations, International, which has connected her with some of the most established worship leaders in the nation. Even so, her greatest joy is mentoring others, walking life with those heading out to lead worship in our churches for the first time. She lives in Southern California with her very patient husband and energetic 3-year-old, with a new arrival coming in March.
Rich Chasin, Private Music Instructor, Trumpet Studies. B.M., University of Michigan.
Mark Converse, Private Music Instructor, Drum set. B.M., Cal State University, Northridge.
Russel Dicey, Private Music Instructor, French Horn Studies, B.F.A California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles Philharmonic Summer Institute
Nathan Jarrell, Private Music Instructor, Jazz Guitar Studies, M.M. San Diego State University.
Ellen Jung, Private Music Instructor, Violin Studies. M.M., Yale University. (Artist-in-Residence)
Jennie Jung, Adjunct Professor of Music, Music History. D.M.A., The Julliard School. (Artist-in-Residence)
Julie Jung, Private Music Instructor. M.M., New England Conservatory of Music, Boston. (Artist-in-Residence)
Izumi Kashiwagi, Accompanist, M.M., Keyboad Collaborative Arts from University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Phil Keen, Private Music Instructor, Trombone and Tuba Studies. M.M., University of Michigan.
Jane Kim, Private Music Instructor, Voice Studies, M.M. California State University Fullerton
David Kress, Private Music Instructor, Voice Studies. M.M., University of Southern California.
Rich Messenger, Adjunct Professor of Music, Secondary Vocal Methods. Graduate Studies, University of Iowa.
Elliott Moreau, Private Music Instructor, Bassoon Studies. M.M. University of Southern California.
Sorah Myung, Private Music Instructor, Viola Studies. M.M. from Yale School of Music.
Heather Reithmeier, Private Music Instructor, Voice Studies, M.M., California State University, Fullerton.
Ryan Reithmeier, Private Music Instructor, Voice Studies, M.M., California State University, Fullerton.
Robert Reno, Adjunct Professor of Music, Composition, D.M., University of Indiana, Bloomington.
Bill Schlitt, Private Music Instructor, Percussion Studies. B.A., Cal Poly, Pomona.
Lisa Schroeder, Private Music Instructor, Flute Studies. M.M., California State University, Long Beach.
Martin Torres, Private Music Instructor, Bass Studies. M.F.A., University of California, Irvine.
