WEST CHESTER ACADEMY - Key Persons

Mr. Ken earned a Bachelors of Science in Music Education and Master of Music degrees from Miami University. Post-graduate studies in Music Education and Jazz Studies were taken at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Mr. Ken's professional background includes performances with Dizzy Gillespie, the Manhattans, Mills Brothers, George Benson, and others. Trumpet studies include master classes with Bobby Shew, Arturo Sandoval, and Alan Vizzutti. Jazz ensembles in southwestern Ohio, of which he is a part, include Xavier University, Sinclair College (Dayton), Jazz Central Big Band (Dayton) and Maple Knoll Big Band (Cincinnati). Mr. Ken is also a part of the Miami University Campus Owls Tribute Band in Oxford. Mr. Ken's professional affiliations include the American Federation of Musicians, National Association for Music Education, Ohio Music Education Association, and Jazz Education Connection of Ohio.

Dan Qiao has enjoyed a vibrant career as a violinist performing in concerts worldwide, including in China, Europe, and the USA. In 2015 she moved to the USA. Now she is a Doctoral candidate at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. Dan has received many honors and awards for her work as a solo and chamber musician, including 1st place at the Three Arts Scholarship Competition, and is a multi-time winner of the CCM concerto competition. She is the First Prize in Music International grand Prix Adult string at Lincoln Center, NYC. She played a chamber music recital with legendary violinist Maxim Vengerov at Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves in 2019. She also played in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center (NYC). Dan is also an enthusiastic teacher. She has taught private students for 15 years for both traditional and Susuki Method. She teaches beginner to advanced students both traditional and Suzuki methods. Her students won many competitions and got into famous music colleges in both USA and China with full scholarships. She is a very patient teacher. She uses multiple strategies to inspire students in every lesson and performance. She focuses on inspiring students all ages to find the beauty and fun in music. She always finds the best way to teach each student based on their personality and level. She is also good at teaching how to practice efficiently on the technique. She is looking forward to students of all ages and levels joining her studio.

Lacee Link, currently pursuing her Master's at Miami University as a Graduate Assistant under Dr. Sarah Kim, is an active teacher and performer in Ohio. She teaches at the Virginia Glick Music Academy and West Chester Academy, and serves as Co-Principal of the Miami University Symphony Orchestra. Link also coaches chamber and teaches private lessons at the Oxford Summer Music Institute. With a recently completed Master's degree from Boise State University, she received full tuition coverage and a stipend as a member of the Graduate String Quartet under Dr. Brian Hodges. Link's achievements include performing with the Boise Philharmonic, winning first prize in the Boise State University Concerto-Aria competition, and coaching successful students in the Boise Phil Youth Orchestra. During her Bachelor's at Kennesaw State University, she studied under Charae Krueger and was a member of the John and Linda Cooke Scholarship Quartet. Link has received masterclass instruction from notable cellists and attended summer music institutes on merit-based scholarships. She completed Suzuki training book 1 in February 2024 and begins book 2 training in April 2024 under Dr. Alice Ann O'Neill in Cincinnati.

Job Titles:

• Piano, MYC Teacher, RCM National Teacher

Upon her completion of a Master's Degree in Piano Performance under the tutelage of Dr. Siok Lian Tan at Miami University in 2018, Ms. Kang Ning became the Music Department leader at West Chester Academy. She serves as the private piano instructor, Royal Conservatory of Music National Teacher, and is certified to teach the Early Childhood Music program- Music for Young Children. Her experience in taking applied piano lessons and pedagogy courses with Dr. Tan has set her to be a well-rounded musician and a high demand piano teacher. Her teaching philosophy is to provide a comprehensive piano pedagogy approach that helps students thrive through music and develop a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning. Her students' age and musical background range from 5 to 70 years old, beginning to late intermediate level. As a Classical pianist and Teaching Assistant at Miami University, she taught Functional Piano classes to undergraduate music major students, accompanied the Chamber Singers Choir, and collaborated with instrumentalists and singers for competitions and recitals. She also earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance with first-class honor at University Putra Malaysia in 2014. She received the Licentiate Trinity College London Recital Diploma with Distinction in 2015. Ms. Kang Ning has also been a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) since 2016 and has been actively attending the MTNA National Conference every year.

Timothy Knight is a graduate from Miami University where he received a Masters Degree in Music Performance and a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and Performance under the instruction of percussion teachers: Michael LaMattina, Patrick Schleker, and Chris Tanner. During his time at Miami, he has performed in numerous ensembles, including marching band, wind ensemble, symphony band, symphony orchestra, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, Japanese taiko group, and steel band. He performed, Tiger Dance by Jeffrey Dennis Smith, as a marimba soloist for the percussion ensemble in Fall 2018. He had traveled with the marching band to perform in two Bengals games at Paul Brown Stadium and at Lucas Oil Stadium for the Bands Of America Grand National Championship in 2017. In the steel band, he had performed with many guest artists including Rusty Burge, Liam Teague, Tracey Thornton, Hal Melia, Lalo Davila, Tom Miller, Victor Provost, Gary Gibson, and Ben Wahlund. As an educator and freelance percussionist, he previously taught in the front ensemble sections for North Laurel, Ross, Fairfield and Hamilton High School marching bands. He is currently a percussionist/timpanist for the River's Edge Brass Band. He also plays at numerous church services and other special events. He has been teaching private lessons since he graduated at Miami University and is excited to join the music faculty at West Chester Academy to teach percussion to students at any age.

Voice, Young Musicians, Music for Young Children (MYC)