Meet Our Instructors

Stephanie Wilkes

voice, piano, mini-melodies

Stephanie is a Vocal and Piano Instructor. She holds a Master’s degree in Music Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education/Choral. Her research involved evaluating and improving rural elementary music teaching.

Stephanie specializes in teaching K-12 music and children’s choirs. Stephanie is the Company Music Director at Evergreen Children’s Chorale and the K-8 Music Teacher at Montessori School of Evergreen.

Casey Wilkes

woodwinds and band, guitar, piano, other

Casey is a woodwinds, guitar and piano instructor. He holds a Master’s degree in Music from the University of Delaware and a Bachelor’s degree from Loyola University in New Orleans.

Since 2009 he has worked in Colorado, Delaware, and Washington, DC, as a teaching-artist and mentor. Past students have won top chairs in honor groups and college scholarships. He has performed throughout the United States and as far away as France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Taiwan. Currently, he plays clarinet with the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra.

Van Powell

strings, guitar, composition, other

Van is a strings instructor originally from Arkansas with expertise on Bass, Violin, Viola and Cello. He holds a Masters degree in Music Composition and a Bachelors Degree in Music Theory from the University of Arkansas.

During his tenure he performed with the Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Combos and Big Band. He is the leader and bassist of Denver-based group Vanimal Kingdom and member of jazz group The Cat’s Glasses

Ryan Kaelin

bass, strings, guitar, digital audio

Ryan is an strings and guitar instructor with 15 years experience. He studied music education at Suffolk County Community College and Stony Brook University in New York.

He formally was the bass section coach for the Legacy High School Orchestra and maintains a private studio of musicians in the Denver Area.

Ryan performs with several local groups in New York and Denver. He has appeared at Summit Music Hall, The Mercury Cafe, (CO), and The Knitting Factory (NY).

Jon Gauer

brass and band, guitar, vocal

“Gauer” is a trombone and brass instructor. He holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Trombone Performance from the University of North Texas, where he was a Graduate Teaching Fellow and a member of the One O’Clock Jazz Lab Band. His past teachers include Dr. James Robertson, Dr. Vern Kagarice, Tony Baker, and John Rojak.

Gauer has experience in symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles, brass quintets, and commercial bands. His work includes over a decade of performances and a discography of over 20 studio albums.

He is the leader of The Cat’s Glasses and trombone player in Vanimal Kingdom. More info can be found at his website. www.jongauer.com