Music Faculty

B.S., University of Phoenix

Barry Caudill is a 23-year veteran of the computer and video gaming industry, starting as a tester at the original Microprose studio in Hunt Valley, MD and culminating as Director of Gameplay Development at Firaxis Games. Throughout that time, he managed numerous departments including audio, testing, writing, game design, and production. He is also a lifetime recording and performing musician in jazz, pop, rock and funk. He is currently working with Crack the Sky, Technicolor Motor Home, The Speakers Of the House, Honest Lee Soul, and two big bands - The Melting Pot and The Don Arnold Big Band.

M.M., Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University

Teaching Areas: Class Piano
Research Interests: History of Piano, Classical Piano Music, Piano Fundamentals

M.M., Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University; BMED, Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University

MFA, American University
John Malis' Personal Website

Jon Malis is an interdisciplinary artist investigating the representation and display of visual content, focusing on how various methods of presentation and production can alter the viewer’s interpretation, and experience of visual culture. He has been recognized with the National Photography Award from the von Lebig Art Center, grants from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, semi-final nominations for the Lumen, Sondheim and the Trawick prizes and a Panavision New Filmmaker's Grant. He’s exhibited extensively in the Washington, DC region, nationally, and internationally; reviewed in the Washington Post and City Paper; and featured on Maryland Public TV and PBS.

M.M., Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University

Teaching Areas: Guitar Studies, Music History, Music Theory

DMA, University of South Carolina; M.M., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; B.M., Belmont University

Teaching Areas: Concert Choir, Cantorei, Conducting Methods, Orchestration and Arranging, Core Music Courses
Research Interests: Anglican Revival Period, Baroque Oratorio

DMA, Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University
Michael Rickelton's Personal Website

Michael Rickelton is a composer of “extremely attractive and thoughtfully shaped” music (Music Web International). Composer Lori Laitman described Michael as having “a great and clear gift for writing for the voice.” The inspiration for his work encompasses poetry, prose, visual arts, and diverse musical influences from Hässler to Nine Inch Nails. Recordings of Michael’s music have been released by Albany, Delos, and Petrichor Records. In addition to his faculties positions, he co-organizes Go Compose North America, an organization offering online workshops and opportunities for young composers.

M.S., Towson University; B.S. Towson University

Mark St. Pierre has been a music educator for the past 34 years and a freelance percussionist for 39 years. He is an accomplished musician having played in many local groups covering many styles including symphonic, pop, rock, funk, jazz, and Latin. Mark has shared the stage with many notable musicians including Dennis Chambers, Gary Granger, and Scott Ambush, is a drum set/hand drums clinician and is currently the director of music ensembles at Loch Raven Technical Academy and Jazz Ensemble/Jazz Combo at Loyola University.

DMA, University of Maryland
Anthony D. Villa's Personal Website

Dr. Anthony D. Villa is an active jazz musician performing regularly with his trio, the Anthony Villa Trio, and as the pianist with the Melting Pot Big Band, the Blue Big Band, and the Cold Spring Jazz Quartet. The Washington Post has praised his work as "the rare piece that sounds fresh while hinting at the near past" and as "deserv[ing] a lasting place in the musical firmament."