Brianna Atwell, viola is originally from Seattle. She attended Central Washington University where she received many awards including the Farrell Merit Scholarship for a survey of non-standard viola repertoire. She has a masters in viola performance from the University of Washington, where she is currently a doctoral candidate. She performs regularly in Seattle, with Affinity Chamber Players and other ensembles, and collaborates with many local composers as both a performer and as a music editor & copyist.

Josiah Boothby, french horn — Josiah Boothby plays French horn in the Seattle Chamber Brass. He is a graduate student at the University of Washington where he studies with Professor David Kappy. An active performer and teacher in the Seattle area, Josiah is known as a versatile musician, with experience playing rock, jazz, and freely improvised music in addition to classical repertoire. He regularly plays with the Bellevue Philharmonic, the Tacoma Symphony, and the University of Washington Symphony Orchestra.

Lou Bush, Children's Program — Louise Bush has over 30 years of experience as a musician and educator. She hold bachelors and masters degrees in piano performance from Tulane Univesity, where she also studied violin. She also studied in Paris and Fontainebleau, including with famed educator Nadia Boulanger. Educating children is a real passion for Lou, and six years’ participation in Judy Witmer’s Parent Education/Child Development program through Bellevue College, as well as training in Suzuki and Dalcroze methods, has enriched her music teaching greatly. Lou is the mother of two violinists.

Annie Center, viola, piano — equally at home with viola and piano, Annie enjoys an international career as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. She has performed as piano soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. As violist, she has performed at the Marlboro, Ravinia, Olympic, Utah, Prague, Red Rocks, and Music In The Mountains Festivals. She has also performed with members of the Juilliard, Guarneri, Emerson, Cleveland, Philadelphia string quartets. Annie holds degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and San Francisco Conservatory. Her major teachers include Robert Schultz, Paul Hersh, Isadore Tinkelman, Robert Weirich, and Paul Coletti.

For ten years, Mrs. Center was the assistant principal violist of the Phoenix Symphony. She was also the principal violist of the Phoenix Symphony Sinfonietta and the Arizona Chamber Orchestra for which she performed regularly as a viola soloist. While she lived in Arizona, she was the pianist of the Concorda Trio with her cellist husband, Michael Center and violinist Dana Pasley. Currently she is the marketing director and a faculty member of the Academy Of Music Northwest.

Patrick Clark, Theory 1 & 2, (& graphics design). —Patrick Clark is a native of Albany, NY, where he was a choral scholar at the Cathedral of All Saints. He attended the College at New Paltz as a voice major (baritone), and achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in theory and composition. Upon relocating to Seattle in 1997, Patrick studied privately with composer Janice Giteck, and with John Rahn, Richard Karpen, and Juan Pampin at the University of Washington, where he received a Master of Music degree. As a vocalist, Patrick has performed with artists as diverse as The Kronos Quartet, Marc Seales, and Bob "Schoolhouse Rock" Dorough. Many of his compositions have been played in New York and Seattle, where Patrick continues to compose with an emphasis on producing non-traditional, graphic scores. 

In Sept. Patrick replaces Brandon Derfler, Ph.D. who will be an Asst. Professor at a Univeristy in Utah. Brandon taught for us since 1997.

Jan Coleman, String Chair— Jan Coleman is director of the Coleman Violin Studio, where she she specializes in teaching form, release of tension, body balance, movement and expression to students of all levels from all over Puget Sound. Other Coleman Studio teachers include Simon James and Elisa Barston. Coleman Studio students have won top awards, including in the Seattle Music Teachers Association Simon-Fiset String Competition, have gone on to study at prestigious conservatories, and have performed as soloists with numerous orchestras, including the Houston Symphony, the Bellevue Symphony, and Philharmonia Northwest.

Stephen Creswell, violin and viola, inclines towards the more imaginative slopes of the classical spectrum: early/historical performance music, and contemporary music. His youthful studies took him to Indiana University and the Curtis Institute, in Philadelphia. Mr. Creswell has had the privilege of working with many great musicians, including Anner Bylsma, Mstislav Rostropovich, Gustav Leohnhardt, Abraham Skernick, and the Guarneri and Juilliard Quartets. He currently performs with the Northwest Sinfonietta, Seattle New Music Ensemble, and the baroque orchestras of Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, B.C. Mr. Creswell teaches as Adjunct Professor of Violin at Seattle University, is a member of the Annas Bay Musicians group, and frequently acts as concertmaster for the Seattle Choral Company and Seattle Pro Musica. In the past summers, he has performed chamber music at Cascade Early Music Festival in Leavenworth with flutist Jeffrey Cohan, historical guitarist Oleg Timofeyev, gamba player Susie Napper, and lutenist/leader Stephen Stubbs. This season in Seattle, Mr. Creswell will present several contemporary music recitals, in addition to resuming his Walk to Bach series after a two-child hiatus.

Jennifer Glenn, violist, has performed throughout the United States, Austria, China and Mexico. She received her Bachelors in Viola Performance from the University of the Pacific, and Masters in Viola Performance from the University of Arizona . She did further studies in Vienna, Austria . Her primary teachers include Joyce Ramée, Dr. Michael Allard, Hong-Mei Xiao, and Gertrude Rossbacher, former violist with the Berlin Philharmonic. Currently free-lancing throughout Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, Jennifer regularly performs with the Yakima and Federal Way Symphonies, Seattle Choral Company and Puget Sound Concert Opera. She is also involved in film and videogame soundtrack recordings and coaching chamber music at Academy of Music Northwest.

Hiro Imamura David, piano performed extensively as piano soloist both in the US and Europe, including with the San Francisco Symphony, the National Symphony in Washington, DC, the Houston Symphony, the Boston Pops, the Denver Symphony, the BBC orchestras in Scotland and Wales, the New Philharmonia of London and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony. She also gave many recitals in London and throughout Great Britain before retiring from the concert stage. She returned to the US ten years ago, and focuses now on teaching and accompanying.

Eric Flesher, DMA, composer, Provost — Eric studied composition with Joël-François Durand, (University of Washington), Paul-Heinz Dittrich (Künstlerisch-weiterbildendes Studium, Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin), Alexander Goehr (M. Phil., Univ. of Cambridge), and Aurelio de la Vega (B.M., California State Univ. Northridge). Additional studies in master classes with Aaron Jay Kernis, Jukka Tiensuu, Gerhard Stäblear, and Charles Wuorinen. His compositions have been performed widely in both Europe and the United States, and have appeared at such festivals as June in Buffalo, Bumbershoot (Seattle), and the Brandenburg Colloquium for New Music. Prizes include honors from the Internationaler Wettbewerb für Neue Musik (Rheinsberg, Germany) for his composition To Sleep, Perchance and the Hanns Eisler Preis (Berlin) for InSolve. In 2002, he was awarded the Franz Liszt Stipendium by the Hochschüle für Musik "Franz Liszt" in Weimar, Germany, where he lived as a guest composer-in-residence for 4 months.

Harumi Makiyama Flesher, piano — Collaborator & freelance performer. Piano Performance, New England Conservatory in Boston (M.M. and G.D.); B.M. & M.M Elizabeth University of Music in Hiroshima, Japan. An avid performer of contemporary music; studied with Futaba Inoue, Kyoko Sato, Veronica Jochum; completing her doctoral degree in piano performance with Craig Sheppard, University of Washington. Her participation at international festivals includes the Northwest German Academy of Music Summer Festival in Detmold, Adriatic Chamber Music Festival in Bonefro, Italy. Appeared at major international venues, such as Benaroya Hall, Boston's Jordan Hall and the Tokyo Bunkakaikan. Performed with international ensembles such as the Krakow Chamber Music Orchestra and the Razumovsky Quartett Wien. In 2003, she won first prize in the Padronini Young Artist Trust Competition in Kitakyushu, Japan. Recently, she worked as a collaborative artist with the Northwest Girlchoir. Leads an active professional life as a concert pianist and collaborative artist.

Alan Futterman, Director, ACO — Former Music Director of the Dover Symphony, the Weierstrass Society Concerts of New York and the Bellevue Youth Symphony. He has conducted throughout Europe with the Zaccho Festival Orchestra and as Conductor-in-Residence for Jeunesse Musicale. Locally, Mr. Futterman is the Music Director of the Peninsula Ballet Orchestra, the Bremerton Symphony Orchestra and served on the faculty of Central Washington University for over 10 years. Mr. Futterman holds a Master's Degree from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor's Degree from the Manhattan School of Music. As a Doctoral candidate, he served as Assistant Conductor to Maestro Vladimir Kin of St. Petersburg and participated in master classes with Sir Georg Solti and Leonard Bernstein. An active composer, Mr. Futterman's works include Farrago and Fugue, the World Beat Dance Suites I and II and the Fiesta Mexicana, all commissioned by the Yakima Symphony.

Brad Hawkins performs widely as cellist and composer, having had premieres of his works across North America, as well as in Germany, Romania, and Japan. He has been a featured performer on KEXP, KBOO (Portland) KBCS, and Performance Today (NPR). After representing Indiana University as student performer in a tour of contemporary music, Brad moved to Seattle in 1999 and formed the Seattle New Music Ensemble. Since that time, he has lectured on contemporary electronic string techniques at the Freiburg Hohschule Für Musik, written two film scores, numerous pieces for chamber groups and choral ensembles, works for theater, ballet, and jazz groups. Brad has also toured in support of a recent CD of experimental improvisational music and performed at the National Oldtime Fiddler Championships in Weiser, Idaho (not the same tour nor the same music).

Adam Haws, composer — Adam holds degrees in composition from Western Washington University (BM) and Indiana University (MM and DMA). He has participated in the Aspen Music Festival, Bang on a Can Music Festival, and received performances at Bowling Green State University's New Music Festival, and the Prishtina DAM Festival in Kosovo. Performing groups include the Indiana University New Music Ensemble, Kuttner String Quartet, Color Field Ensemble, and readings by members of the Cleveland Orchestra. He enjoyed several Wagnerian summers interning with Seattle Opera's education department and has worked frequently as a copyist. In his spare time, Adam enjoys hiking, films, his rambunctious cats, and every genre of music he has thus far encountered.

Simon James, Masterclass Series Program — Australian violinist Simon James has performed around the world as a soloist and chamber musician. He is currently the Second Assistant Concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, where he has often also performed as a soloist and served as concertmaster. In addition, he serves as concertmaster of the Seattle Chamber Orchestra, has performed as guest concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony, and has led the Seattle Opera orchestra on many recent productions. Mr James is an active teacher with a large studio of gifted students and is the newest addition to the highly regarded Coleman Studio. He performs on a violin made by J.B.Vuillaume in Paris in 1860.

Mary Kantor, Winds Chair — Clarinetist Mary Kantor received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Washington and graduated from the Academy of Music in Vienna with Honors in clarinet performance. She has studied with David Atkins, William McColl, and Rudolf Jettel. As founding member of both the Johann Strauss Trio and the Mazeltones, she toured widely and appeared on radio and television. She is currently principal clarinetist with the Bellevue Philharmonic and the Seattle Choral Company, and a member of the Shalom Ensemble. As a soloist, she has performed the Mozart Concerto and Richard Strauss' Duet-Concertino with Philharmonia Northwest. She has also performed with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, and the Austrian Radio Orchestra. She coaches the Seattle Youth Symphony, Cascade Youth Symphony, and Bellevue Youth Symphony clarinet sections, and is Professor of clarinet at SPU. In addition, she maintains a private studio of clarinetists, many of whom go on to graduate from music schools such as Indiana University, Peabody, and the University of Michigan. She has also been published in Clarinet Magazine.

Dorothy Klotzman, Vice President — Dorothy Klotzman co-founded the Academy of Music Northwest with James Paul and Dee Wells in 1997. Composer, Conductor. B.S., M.S., The Juilliard School; Director, Conservatory of Music, Brooklyn College; Executive Director, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College. Recipient of the Danforth Foundation's "Harbison Award for Gifted Teaching." Member: ASCAP. Clarinet, piano, composition. Dorothy is currently on sabatical to complete an opera based on a book by renowned author, Jonathan Spence.

Pamela Liu, violinist/violist, has been in demand as a performer and pedagogue since returning to the Northwest 5 years ago. She received her Bachelors in Violin Performance at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. She also joined the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra in Taipei, Taiwan, before attending the University of Washington where she received a Masters Degree in Violin Performance. Ms. Liu previously served on the faculty at the New Heart School of Music, in Houston, Texas and Moments Musicaux, in Taipei, Taiwan, and directed the Formosa Youth Orchestra, performing with sponsored concerts at the recital hall at Benaroya Hall. An active performer, Ms. Liu can be heard through the Lully Piano Trio, free-lancing with local orchestras and the recording music industry, and the violin-guitar duo, Tutti Dolce, with her husband, Chris Liu. They have a one-year old daughter, and currently reside in Shoreline, Washington.

Carol Macaulay, Teacher, Children's Program — MM and BM in Music Theory from the Manhattan School of Music; Full Certificate, Dalcroze School of Music; harmony studies with Nadia Boulanger; conducting with Igor Markevitch. Founder/Director of the Vagabonds Children's Ensemble; Consultant: American Council for the Arts in Education and Children's Music Workshop. Publications: The Musical Toolbox and The Pitch Constructs of Western Tonal Music. Former faculty: Hunter College, New York University, and the Manhattan School of Music (theory faculty and choral conductor in both College and Preparatory Divisions between 1984 and 2000).  Returning after serving four years as a chaplain to military veterans in NE Tennessee.

James Paul, Co-founder and President — DMA in Historical Performance Practice, University of Washington (1/2 completed at Stanford but invited to teach for a UW faculty on sabatical, so finished his DMA there); M.A., Composition, University of Washington; B.A. in Music, Lewis and Clark College, Oregon; Graduate, Royal School of Church Music, England. Professor, United States International University, San Diego; Adjunct Professor in Comprehensive Musicianship, San Diego State University. Music Producer, National Public Radio. Founder and Director, Early Music Ensemble, a world touring ensemble for 20 years. Choral Conductor.

Willard Schultz — Assoc.Prof. Emeritus, University of Calgary, has enjoyed a career of teaching, performing, accompanying, lecturing and master classes in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia.   During his tenure in the U. of Calgary, he was responsible for developing the Masters Degree program in Piano Performance and the parallel program in Performance/Pedagogy for piano.  He was for one academic year Visiting Professor and Artist Teacher in WSU; Head of Piano in Wuhan Conservatory of Music, PR of China, for three semesters; 2 summers in South Bohemia Festivals Czech Republic; presenter in conventions in U.S., Canada, London UK, Canberra, Australia.  Since 1994 he has been a regular faculty member and performer in Adamant Summer School for Pianists,VT, and is currently Chair of Piano AMNW.  Many of his former students are successfully involved in the music profession in universities, music schools in U.S., Canada, and PR of China.    He maintains a studio in North Seattle, serves on the Music Advisory Panel of SYAMF.

Gerard Schwarz, Honorary Director, Music Director, Seattle Symphony (1985-2011) is one of the leading conductors of his generation; recognized internationally for his innovative programming and renowned recording history. During his twenty-five year leadership with the Seattle Symphony he has passionately advocated for American composers with many performances and recordings of their works. His over 260 releases include collaborations with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Tokyo, Czech, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, London Symphony, Los Angeles Symphony, and the New York Chamber Orchestra. As a strong advocate for music education, Maestro Schwarz built an impressive education program for children and youth at the Seattle Symphony. Maestro & Mrs. (Jody) Schwarz' son, Julian, an award winning cellist, is an Academy alumnus, currently at The Colburn School in CA.

Arthur Shaw, conductor — Arthur Shaw began formal violin studies at the age of three. After receiving his undergraduate degree with an emphasis in violin, he pursued graduate studies in conducting with Jay Decker at Wichita State University and Gustav Meier at the University of Michigan. Further studies included master class work with Herbert Blomstedt, Asher Tempkin, Harold Farberman, and many others. Mr. Shaw has amassed an unusually large list of performed repertoire as a professional conductor, having served over 27 years as Music Director/Conductor of a number of symphony orchestras in the US as well as orchestras in Mexico, Eastern Europe, and Japan. He has received awards from the Southern Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. He is also highly sought as a clinician for orchestras and festivals in the Pacific Northwest.

Nancie Linn Shaw, Chamber Music Ensemble Director — Viola, Violin. Orchestra Director, Newport High School. Professional chamber music performer. Teacher, violin, viola. Conductor; frequent clinician and adjudicator in Washington State; faculty at Southern Oregon University; performed in Ashland, OR, and continues to coach chamber music for the Ashland Summer Chamber Music Festival. Active performer on violin, viola, and in chamber music.

Dee Wells, Vice-President & Managing Director — Dee co-founded the Academy with Dorothy Klotzman and Jim Paul in 1997, following a forty-year career in the computer world, working in systems analysis and design. Her experience in business application design, implementation, documentation and management; in hiring, training, and supervising programming and design staff, along with a life-long love of classical music have led her to become the organizational backbone of the Academy, as well as one of its visionary founders.

Nathan Whittaker, cello —Before joining the Academy, Nathan served on the faculty of the Indiana University String Academy. He performed as principal cellist for the Columbus, Indiana Philharmonic and associate principal cellist with the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. He performs regularly in early music festivals in the US, Canada, and Europe. Regionally, Nathan is a member of both the Seattle and Pacific Baroque Orchestras, and teaches at Cornish. He holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Cello Performance from the University of Indiana, and is currently a DMA candidate in cello performance with Toby Saks at the University of Washington.