Faculty, Staff & Board

Michele Ottesen has an extensive background as a violinist, learning early on from Doris Preucil at the Preucil School in Iowa City, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan. She is a well-known and respected musician and music educator, playing in the Quad City Symphony and educating hundreds of string students through her long-time role as Director of Orchestras at Davenport North High School. Michele joins the Deanery as the new Director of the Hilltop Orchestra.

Jack Schieferdecker's passion for music began with guitar, choir, and band at a very young age. As a teacher, he especially enjoys seeing eager students of all ages get caught up in the same excitement he felt toward music as a child. He holds a B.A. in Music from St. Ambrose University, where he studied with Marian Lee.

I enjoy seeing my students discover connections between their own playing and the music. My teaching philosophy is tailored to the individual's taste, age, and experience level, and includes emphasis on listening, score study, and creative thinking.

Ben Lorentzen is an experienced freelance musician, private instructor, and orchestra director in the North Scott School District. Ben has played viola in the Quad-City Symphony Orchestra since 2007, and is a member of the rock group Jason Carl and The Whole Damn Band; he freelances regularly throughout Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. He studied with Deborah Dakin at Augustana College and Sally Chisholm at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a Master of Music in Viola Performance. A short work-study job during graduate school as a reading tutor in the Madison Public Schools inspired him to focus on education.

My teaching focuses on reading proficiency, practice strategies, practical/progressive technique, and creativity. I use classical music training as a basis of preparation and a bridge to the varied musical opportunities now available to string players.

Jennifer Pickering has over 20 years' experience teaching violin and viola; she also sings, plays clarinet, and guitar. She has played with string quartets, Celtic ensembles, and rock bands, and served as principal violist for the Clinton Symphony. Jenni holds a B.A. in English and a B.M. in Viola Performance from Augustana College, and studied with Deborah Dakin.

Music has always had a place in my life, from my earliest memories of singing with my parents while my dad accompanied on guitar. I have come to feel that music is for everyone, and I love to tailor my lessons to the student by exploring and integrating their musical interests into the lesson. It overjoys me to see students from ages 5 to 75 thrive in my studio. I focus on musical development, enjoyment, hard work, and laughter as part of a well-rounded life and educational experience.

Originally from Sioux City, Iowa, violinist Renee Santos received her Master of Arts in violin performance at the University of Iowa with Dr. Scott Conklin. She was a member of both the Dunn Graduate String Quartet and the Seamark Quartet under the instruction of Prof. Elizabeth Oakes. Renee also earned her Bachelors of Music at the University of Iowa, and has been an active member in the Chamber Music Residency Program and the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra, where she served as the concertmaster. Renee loves chamber music, and has participated for the past four years in the Summer Chamber Tour, a collaboration between the Chamber Music Residency Program and Arts Share that brings chamber music to communities throughout Eastern Iowa. As part of her work with the Dunn Quartet, she helped to develop Caring Cadences: a program to create and present concerts for people with dementia and memory loss. Renee presented her work on Caring Cadences at the Midwest American Music Therapy Association Conference in 2025. She has won numerous competitions and performance opportunities, including solo appearances with Orchestra Omaha in 2021 and the Cherokee Symphony in 2019. She has worked in chamber masterclasses with the Brentano, Takacs, and Cavani string quartets, and in solo masterclasses with Alan Snow, Dmitri Murath, Liza Ferschtman, Pasha Sabouri, and Jinjoo Cho. In the summer of 2026, Renee will travel with the Seamark and Conifer Quartets to Prague as part of a collaboration between the Chamber Music Residency Program and the Lobkowicz Collection.

Scott Sund established his independent cello studio in Davenport in 1994. He plays in the Muscatine Symphony and the String Arts Trio, and was a longtime member of the St. Ambrose Chamber Orchestra.

Playing the cello is a unique journey for every student. I encourage my students to develop their musical skills by focusing on technique and sound production. Creating a solid foundation takes time and patience, but it is essential if students are to become free to incorporate their own ideas and emotions in the music they are studying. I encourage students to listen carefully while practicing, and work with them to identify problem areas and solutions.

Hannah Holman is a world-class cellist with vast experience in solo, chamber, and orchestral settings, and as a teacher. She joined the Quad-City Symphony in 2001 and became Principal Cellist in 2008; she has also been a member of the New York City Ballet Orchestra since 2012. She is a founding member of three chamber groups — Trio 826, the Beaumont Piano Trio, and Quadrivinium — and played in the Maia Quartet from 2002–11. She has served on the faculties of the University of Iowa, Worcester College (UK), Michigan State University, and Virginia Union University. As a soloist, she has appeared with orchestras throughout the Eastern United States. She holds an M.M. in Cello Performance from New England Conservatory, where she studied with Fritz Magg, and a B.M. from Michigan State University.

An enthusiastic and versatile flutist, Paul Mizzi's creative endeavors span teaching, performing, and scholarship. Paul is a sought-after recitalist who has performed in various ensembles nationally and internationally. As a scholar, his research examines the role of sound in player experience of stealth video games. Paul's students benefit from his depth of musical experience and are held to a high standard of excellence; his teaching has been praised for producing impressive, audible changes in students within months.

I have found that fostering a relaxed yet focused affect, with a flexible, adaptive structure, is the best way to foster growth in my students. Those who study with me can expect the highest level of detailed, quality instruction. My students often remark that studying with me allows them to finally understand elusive concepts or skills in flute playing.

Edgar Crockett is a composer, trumpeter, and audio engineer residing in Northwest Illinois, with over 30 years of teaching and playing in the Quad-City Metro Region. He has directed ensembles and taught at Arizona State University, the University of Iowa, Black Hawk College, Rivermont Collegiate, Augustana College, St. Ambrose University, and Christ Church College, Canterbury, Kent, UK.

As a performer and conductor, Edgar has worked with Ray Charles, Tom Harrell, Jimmy Heath, J.J. Johnson, Danilo Perez, Wycliffe Gordon, Seamus Blake, David Sanchez, Alex Sipiagin, and many other jazz greats.

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Gwen has taught piano in the Quad Cities for more than a decade. Her focus is providing basic education in reading, theory, and musicality for students of all ages - adults as well as children, for performance and achievement, or for personal enjoyment. Gwen is currently a cellist with the Hilltop Community Orchestra and is also a visual artist.

"I love the language of music, and I'm a firm believer in life-long learning. We have a wealth of musical literature already available to us, and we have the ability to create it. It's a joy that can be experienced for a lifetime."