Anna Hawkins, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Music
Area of Instruction: Piano
719-587-7701
ahawkins@adams.edu
A dynamic pianist and collaborator, Dr. Anna Hawkins is the Assistant Professor of Piano at Adams State University. She has performed in venues throughout the United States, Portugal, Spain, and Italy, including the Museu Romântico in Porto, Portugal, Steinway Hall in New York, Colegiata de San Juan Bautista in Gijón, Spain, and Casa del Petrarca in Arezzo, Italy and made appearances at Porto Pianfest, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Gijón International Piano Festival. She has earned prizes in several competitions, including first prize in the 2023 Atlanta Music Club Scholarship Competition and the 2022 Georgia MTNA Young Artists Piano Competition as well as Honorable Mention in the 2019 International Keyboard Odyssiad and Festival. Hawkins also enjoys regularly collaborating with instrumentalists and chamber groups on a wide variety of projects and was selected to receive chamber music coachings with distinguished artists Trio con Brio Copenhagen, Orli Shaham, and Liza Stepanova among others.
As a pianist and scholar, Hawkins has a particular interest in using interdisciplinary methods to perform and research works by under-represented composers. Her most recent research project combines visual art, literature, and history to contextualize and interpret Femmes de Légende, a collection of piano pieces by French composer Mélanie Bonis. Through both performing and research, Hawkins strives to meaningfully connect with people by illuminating musical narratives.
Hawkins is a passionate educator who teaches applied piano, class piano, and music fundamentals at Adams State. Student mentorship and equitable access to music education are integral components of Hawkins’ teaching philosophy. She works to equip each of her students with the artistic, imaginative, and practical skills that enable them to discover and hone their own unique artistic voice. Prior to her appointment at Adams State, Hawkins served as an Instructor of Record in Piano and Aural Skills at the University of Georgia where she earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in piano performance and additional minor in collaborative piano. She holds a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from Furman University where she graduated summa cum laude.
Amy Johnson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Music
Area of Instruction: Voice
719-587-7422
ajohnson@adams.edu
Amy C. Johnson, originally from Indianapolis, IN has been teaching voice for many years, working with students of all ages in both classical and musical theatre styles. Her students have performed in opera and musical theatre productions, given successful recitals, and been finalists in various competitions. Amy has also worked extensively as a musical director, teaching artist, and accompanist. She created curriculum for elementary and middle school musical theatre classes, composing music for several productions. She directed and produced the Nebraska premiere of J. Eyre, a new musical by Paige Scott.
As a performer, Amy is equally at home on the opera, recital, and musical theatre stage. She performed regularly with Cleveland Opera, appearing in The Magic Flute (Papagena, Queen of the Night), Elixir of Love (Adina), The Barber of Seville (Rosina), The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel), and Die Fledermaus (Adele). Other favorite roles include Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, Kate in Kiss Me, Kate!, and Sophie DePalma in Masterclass. She has been the featured soloist in many concerts and recitals. Due to her love of new music, Amy recently made the North American premiere of Six chants d’amour by Nicolas Chevereau and Chants d’amour by Nicolas Bacri.
Amy has Bachelor’s degrees in Choral Music Education and Vocal Performance with continued graduate studies in Voice at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She received her Ph.D. in vocal pedagogy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2024. Her research on acoustics in singing with emotions was presented at the International Symposium on Performance Science (ISPS) and at the The International Congress of Voice Teachers (ICVT) in Vienna, Austria. Her dissertation research on singing and acting has been accepted for presentation at conferences with both the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) in Austin, TX and at the ISPS in Warsaw, Poland.
Melinda Leoce, D.M.
Assistant Professor
Area of Instruction: Percussion and Music Business
719-587-7702
mleoce@adams.edu
Melinda Leoce, D.M., is Assistant Professor of Percussion at Adams State University. Before joining the faculty at A.S.U., she served as the Instructor of Percussion at Graceland University in Iowa. She is also an active performer who has appeared with groups including the Des Moines Symphony, Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, and at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.
As an educator, Professor Leoce’s passions include percussion chamber ensemble performance and pedagogy, marching percussion, Brazilian music, steel pan, and pop music culture. As a music educator, she believes in respecting and cultivating her students’ past and present musical endeavors while also exposing them to new genres, instruments, and experiences that illuminate future paths of study. Professor Leoce believes that the music classroom should be vibrant, collaborative, and diverse.
Melinda received her Doctorate in Percussion Performance from the University of Indiana in 2024. Prior to that, she studied Percussion Performance at Florida State University and Music Education and Percussion at the University of Central Florida.
James Lind, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Music
Area of Instruction: Director of Bands and Brass Studies Coordinator
719-587-7059
jlind@adams.edu
A Colorado transplant, James M. Lind currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Bands and Brass Studies Coordinator at Adams State University. He conducts the ASU Wind Symphony and ASU Brass Choir, teaches applied music for all brass instruments, Brass Methods, Conducting Methods, and general music classes. Previously, Lind served as Lead Music Faculty at Otero College in La Junta, Colorado. There, he guided the development of a growing, multi-faceted and comprehensive music program. A passionate educator committed to student success, Lind devotes one-on-one attention to meet the needs of each individual student and help each grow as a learner and musician.
As a performer, Lind enjoys a varied career as a trumpet player and music director. Currently, he performs with the Pueblo Symphony as Principal Trumpet and free-lances with various chamber groups throughout Colorado. Previous performance credits include, the Dallas Opera Orchestra (banda musician, on-/-off stage roles), North Texas Chamber Orchestra (principal trumpet), Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra (second trumpet), Holy Moly (country/cowpunk band), the Lab Bands at the University of North Texas. In addition to performing, Lind served as Associate Conductor of the Greater Fort Worth Community Band in Texas.
Lind graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Texas Wesleyan University. He pursued graduate studies at the world-renowned University of North Texas College of Music, earning both the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Trumpet Performance. His primary teachers include John Holt and Keith Johnson (classical trumpet), Jay Saunders and Rodney Booth (jazz trumpet). He studied conducting at the University of North Texas with Dennis Fisher (Faculty Emeritus) and Eugene Corporon (Director of Wind Studies and Regents Professor of Music). He has undertaken additional studies with John Haynie (Faculty Emeritus, University of North Texas), Ronald Romm (Founding Member of the Canadian Brass), and Nicholas Althouse (Baroque Trumpet).
In his spare time, Lind enjoys hiking, watching sports, and spending time with his wife Allison and two children, Charlotte and Joseph.
Lind is a Trumpet Artist for S.E. Shires Co., Custom Brass Instruments (Holliston, MA).
Brooke Miller, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor
Area of Instruction: Woodwinds and Music Education
719-587-7574
bmiller@adams.edu
An accomplished performer and educator, Brooke Miller currently serves as Assistant Professor of Woodwinds and Music Education at Adams State University in Alamosa, CO. Previous to her appointment, she worked at the University of North Texas where she established a new virtual lesson program that provides high quality private music instruction to underserved communities in the DFW Metroplex.
As a music educator, Dr. Miller continually maintains a vibrant private studio. She has also had the privilege of mentoring young educators as the instructor for woodwind methods at the University of North Texas and the instructor for clarinet methods at Ithaca College.
An advocate for new music, Brooke has been involved with many composer premieres, projects, and recordings. Her passionate performances of works related to underrepresented topics and composers have been presented throughout the nation.
Brooke received her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in clarinet at The University of North Texas. She holds a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from Ithaca College where she worked as a graduate assistant and a Professional Performance Certificate and Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Pennsylvania State University. Her teachers include Phillip Paglialonga, Richard MacDowell, and Anthony Costa.
Beth Robison, D.M.A.
Department Co-Chair, Professor of Music
Area of Instruction: Director of Choral Activities
719-587-7703
brobison@adams.edu
Dr. Beth Robison has been an active performer and choral music educator as Professor of Music at Adams State University, where she serves as department chair and Director of Choral Activities. In addition to conducting the Adams State choirs and teaching choral conducting and education classes, Beth has also directed numerous honor choirs throughout the region, including the annual Adams State University “Top of the Nation” Honor Choir Festival, and has been an active member of the American Choral Directors Association. In 2013, Beth was a recipient of the Adams State Presidential Teaching Award.
Prior to teaching at Adams State, Beth was a professional musician in the New York City metropolitan area for sixteen years where she performed and recorded a wide variety of ensemble and solo repertoire, including oratorio and opera. She has appeared numerous times at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and other major concert venues with various professional ensembles including Musica Sacra, the Gregg Smith Singers, Voices of Ascension, and the New York Virtuoso Singers.
Beth has toured both nationally and internationally premiering solo and chamber works by American composers. She has also worked with Dave Brubeck, Chanticleer, Ward Swingle, Garrison Keillor, Marilyn Horne and Ned Rorem. Some of Beth’s more diverse experiences in New York included recording for
the World Wrestling Federation and appearing as a back-up singer for Andrea Bocelli on the Late Show with David Letterman.
Beth received her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance and Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Ohio University. She earned her DMA with honors in Choral Conducting from the University of Kansas where she conducted the early music ensemble, Collegium Musicum.
Matthew Schildt, Ph.D.
Department Co-Chair, Professor of Music, Director of Master of Arts in Music Education
Area of Instruction: Music Theory, Composition, Music Recording and Technology
719-587-7606
mschildt@adams.edu
My name is Matthew Schildt and I have been teaching music theory, composition, music technology, and recording at Adams State University since 2005. Before teaching at Adams State, I taught at Kent State University, Hiram College, and the University of Akron. I received my Ph.D. in music theory and composition from Kent State University and my bachelor’s degree in music recording technology and composition from Lebanon Valley College.
My compositions have been performed at various conferences and festivals, including the Tutti New Music Festival, University of Alabama Huntsville New Music Festival, Colorado Composers Concerts, College Music Society conferences, and numerous Society of Composers conferences.
In 2016 my album This Little Light was released on Heart Dance Records and was in the top 50 albums on the Zone Music Reporter for five months, was listed among the “best of 2016” on the radio program Audiosyncracy, was listed as the #2 album on Gaia Prime Radio, and has been featured on radio stations in ten countries. Music of mine has been used in various animations, videos, and advertisements on youtube, including animations based on the popular video game Five Nights at Freddy’s, with videos using my music receiving over 80 million views. My compositions have also been heard in several films and theater productions, including the documentary A Shared Space: Learning from the Mustard Seed School. In 2006 and 2008, I performed piano on two PBS documentary soundtracks by songwriter Don Richmond.
I have presented on diverse topics at various music conferences, including the International Conference on Twentieth-Century Music in Brighton, UK. My favorite bands are Marillion and Radiohead and I enjoy going to concerts and listening to all sorts of podcasts.
Adjunct Instructors
- Mr. Marc Eaton | Area of Instruction: Guitar
- Dr. Chelsea Oden | Area of Instruction: Clarinet, Woodwind Methods
Ensemble Directors
- Director of Choral Activities | Dr. Beth Robison
- Director of Bands |Dr. James Lind
- Jazz Ensemble and Combo | Prof. Melinda Leoce
- Mariachi | Mr. Dean Swift
