OUR FAculty
Amber Engel
Amber Engel is a performer and educator based out of Winston Salem. She earned degrees in vocal music performance and choral music education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2007. Amber has taught piano and voice lessons to a variety of ages, and has taught general music, chorus, and band at the elementary and middle school levels. Since 2021, she has worked as a legal administrator and office manager at McDonald Wright LLP, a small law firm in Greensboro. Amber is extremely involved in local community theatre at the Theatre Alliance of Winston Salem. She is onstage singing, dancing, and acting for several musicals every year, and is often found designing and running sound for other productions. In addition, she is the primary music director for the theatre and in charge of editing and organizing tracks for all productions. Amber has three amazing kids named Catey, Alora, and Colin, as well as a kitten named Jinx who is a horrible troublemaker but whom she loves very much.
Mary Boudreault
Mary Boudreault is an accomplished music educator and performer with experience teaching students at every level—from elementary classrooms to high school bands and university instrumental studies. A National Board Certified educator, Mary is a two-time recipient of North Carolina Regional Teacher of the Year. Mary has held teaching positions at High Point University, Winston-Salem State University, and North Carolina public schools. She is a sought-after clinician specializing in arts integration, guiding teachers to create engaging, holistic learning experiences for all students.
Mary performs as a horn player with symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles. She has toured nationally and internationally with acclaimed groups, including Mannheim Steamroller, the New England Symphonic Ensemble, da Capo Brass, and Relevents Wind Quintet. Mary is a Delos recording artist, where the album, From the Beginning, premiered in the top ten of the Billboard Classical Albums Chart. She is a former finalist of the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition and has presented recitals and concerts across multiple countries, sharing her artistry with diverse audiences.
In addition to her performance career, Mary is a fourth-generation church musician, proudly serving as Music Director at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church. Mary grew up singing tight family harmonies and playing a variety of instruments in a small rural church. Drawing from her formative experiences learning to strum a guitar, play a melody on piano, or joyfully sing with others, Mary is passionate about music and its ability to heal, inspire, and connect.
Mary combines her passion for performance and mentorship to inspire students of all ages to grow in confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of the arts at the Oak Ridge Arts Collective.
Mark Hibshman
Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Mark Hibshman graduated from West Chester University in West Chester, PA with both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Trumpet Performance. He was awarded a graduate assistantship by the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and earned a Masters Degree in Trumpet Performance. From there, he was awarded a Graduate Fellowship and assistantship from the University of North Carolina - Greensboro, where he pursued his doctorate from 2002-2006. His teachers have included Frank Kaderabek, Dr. Kenneth Laudermilch, Dr. Paul Morton, and Dr. Edward Bach.
Mark is an active performer throughout the state and currently is a member of the Salisbury Symphony and the North Carolina Brass Band, and regularly performs with many other groups including the Greensboro Symphony, Winston Salem Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, Piedmont Wind Symphony and the da Capo Brass Quintet. Outside of the state, Mark has performed with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, and was a member of the Louisiana (Lafayette, LA) and Capitol Brass Quintets (Dover, DE).
Melissa Dant
Melissa Dant has a life-long passion for violin and began playing at the age of five. Ms. Dant attended Butler University where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance under Larry Shapiro. She continued her study of violin performance under the direction of Sally O’Reilly and received a Master of Music degree from the University of Minnesota. Ms. Dant received her Doctor of Musical Arts in violin performance from Texas Tech University where she studied violin under Dr. John H. Gilbert and viola with Dr. Renee Skerik.
Ms. Dant spent summers studying violin at music camps such as Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Indiana Arts Academy, Lutheran Summer Music Camp, Madeline Island Music Camp, Ithaca Chamber Music Camp, and the Schlern International Music Festival in Italy. Additionally, she has received coaching from various artists including: Brentano String Quartet, Norman Fischer, Mary West, Tom Rosenberg, Jena Ter-Mergerian, Scott Conklin, Annie Chalex, Charles Castleman, George Work, and Kristen Yon.
In addition to teaching violin privately, Ms. Dant has taught at the International School of Minnesota (Eden Prairie, MN) and Abiding Peace Academy (Greenville, SC).
Ms. Dant has held orchestral positions with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale, Fox Valley Symphony, and the Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium. She was also a substitute violinist for the Amarillo Symphony, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and Spartanburg Philharmonic. Throughout her musical career Ms. Dant has been an active musician in local venues playing for weddings, churches, operas, theatrical plays, and many other special musical events.
Dr. Nicholas Lewis
Dr. Nicholas Lewis is an artist specializing in trombone pedagogy and performance. He maintains a thriving career as a freelance musician, performing regionally with groups including Winston-Salem Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, Durham Symphony Orchestra, and Greensboro Opera among others. Nick earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
He was awarded an Excellence Foundation Fellowship and two summer research assistantships. As a graduate teaching instructor at UNCG, Lewis teaches performance study in a diverse studio of undergraduate trombonists. He has conducted the UNCG Trombone Ensemble and served as the UNCG Athletic Band Assistant. Lewis’ research is devoted to enhancing the repertoire of the trombone by transcribing the art songs of Florence Price.
Denise Pugliese
Denise Pugliese is an active piano teacher in Oak Ridge. She received her Bachelor degree in music from Mars Hill College, graduating with honors. She received a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy with an emphasis on performance from Converse College where she graduated with honors as well. In graduate school she studied with Dr. George Luktenberg and became a member of Pi Kappa Phi. In addition to teaching private piano lessons Denise also teaches music in preschool. She is trained in Orff music and has taught preschool music in Illinois, Kansas and North Carolina.
Denise has been an active member of MTNA and the state affiliates of North Carolina, South Carolina, Kansas and Illinois. In Illinois Denise worked with the state syllabus exams and was President of the Naperville Chapter. She has served as President and Treasurer of the Greensboro Music Teacher Association. She has served in many positions in the North Carolina Music Teacher Association and is currently Immediate Past President. Denise is an active adjudicator throughout the state.
Gwen Dunlap
have 20 years experience in the fitness field as an Exercise Physiologist, Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and working in a medical weight management center. I love working with clients who are new to exercise and don't feel comfortable going to the gym. Or clients who are looking for an exercise professional that will consider all health issues and physical issues when designing the best exercise program. My ideal client is ready to learn and experience the benefits of exercise.
Many of my clients are looking for a different experience than what a commercial gym offers. I have a focus on medical fitness, where considerations are made for health issues and physical limitations as well as other barriers to exercise. I offer a slow and progressive approach to building an exercise program that is sustainable.
We all need accountability, especially for exercise as it’s not typically a part of our daily habit. But the benefits of exercise abound! I educate and meet my clients where they are, then help you progress over time. I look forward to meeting with you and helping you reach your goals!