Editorial Board
INTRODUCING OUR EDITORIAL BOARD
Nico de Villiers, Editor-in-Chief
South African-born Nico de Villiers is a coach, collaborative pianist, and author. He is the Deputy Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England. He performed as soloist and collaborative pianist at London’s Royal Festival Hall, the Salzburg Mozarteum, the Bonn Kammermusiksaal, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Dr. De Villiers’s research interests include themes of identity and migration in art song with a specific focus on the Dutch-American composer Richard Hageman (1881–1966). In addition to founding the Richard Hageman Society, De Villiers co-authored the groundbreaking biography Richard Hageman: From Holland to Hollywood (Peter Lang, 2020) with Kathryn Kalinak and Asing Walthaus, and recorded Voices: Songs by Richard Hageman, the first album solely dedicated to Hageman’s songs, with Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg (ALIUD, 2022). He published several articles in Classical Singer, Opera, Pianist Magazine, and the New York Singing Teachers Association’s journal, VOICEPrints. He holds an undergraduate degree in Solo Piano Performance from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow, a Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a practice-based PhD in Music from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. (www.nicodevilliers.com)
Katie Hughes, Associate Editor
Katie Hughes is a pianist originally from Boulder, Colorado, USA, who enjoys collaborating with instrumentalists, soloists, and ensembles in a variety of genres. She is currently the Accompanist and Event Coordinator at Chadron State College, where she collaborates with all of the music students. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley with a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance in 2019, and graduated from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music with a Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano in 2021. Katie has held various church music positions, directed and played for theater companies, and accompanied camps such as Rocky Ridge Music Center, Broadway Academy, Interlochen Classical Voice Intensive, and Opera Classica. Throughout her undergraduate degree, she enjoyed being part of several jazz and classical choirs, directing a cappella groups, and performing live music as a singer/songwriter. When not behind a keyboard, Katie can most likely be found going on long runs, enjoying a warm cup of coffee, or crafting. (www.katiehughesmusic.com)
Paul A. Lee, Associate Editor
Paul A. Lee is currently an Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of West Alabama, where he teaches courses in music theory, history, and class piano, in addition to teaching lessons in the piano and organ studio. Outside UWA, Dr. Lee also collaborates with the faculty and graduate students at the University in Alabama, particularly in the trombone, violin, and viola studios. His recent engagements have included multiple recitals in Arizona, string and chamber recitals in Alabama and Mississippi, Schubert’s Winterreise, and performances in New York City with the Litha Symphony Orchestra. With long-time collaborator Dr. Alex Lapins (tuba and euphonium), the two have performed throughout the Southwest and South. Dr. Lee holds undergraduate degrees from Virginia Tech (piano and mechanical engineering), a master’s degree in collaborative piano from the University of Tennessee, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in collaborative piano from Arizona State University. (www.paulleepiano.com)
Claire Marquardt Associate Editor
Claire Marquardt of Poteau, OK, started playing piano at age four. During her time as a piano major at East Central University, she won the collegiate division of the national Lynn Freeman Olson Composition Contest. Claire then received a Master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Oklahoma; she studied with Dr. Stephen Beus and held a graduate assistantship in accompanying in the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre.
While living in Ada, OK, Claire helped to organize and found the Chickasaw Nation School of Piano and taught all classes and lessons for the School for two years. She simultaneously served as the choir pianist for Ada and Stratford public schools. Claire also completed a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from the University of Central Oklahoma, studying with Dr. Sallie Pollack. She currently is Assistant Professor of Music (staff pianist) and Preparatory Department Director at Oklahoma Baptist University.
Luis Vallés, Associate Editor
Luis Vallés holds a PhD from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) and second PhD from the Jaume I University of Castellón (Spain), both on piano accompaniment, for which he was awarded the extraordinary Doctorate Prize of the Jaume I University of Castellón. He also holds a degree in Piano, Chamber Music and Piano Accompaniment from the Conservatory of Barcelona. He has been awarded several prizes, including the Prize of Honour for Accompaniment and the Mention of Honour for Chamber Music. He is currently continuing his research in the field of piano accompaniment, on which he has published numerous articles in different music education journals, intervened with various communications in different congresses, and is co-founder of AESPIRE (Spanish Association of Collaborative Pianists). He currently works as collaborative pianist at the Conservatory of La Vall d’Uixó (Castellón, Spain), and also as University Professor at the International University of Valencia in the Master of Musical Research. (www.luisvallesgrau.wordpress.com)