Nell Jorgensen Buchman, piano
Anna Reiser, piano
Michael Rivers, piano
Linda Sparks , piano
Larisa Topolkaraeva, piano
Mary Van De Loo, piano
Catherine Walby, piano
Nell Jorgensen Buchman, piano, is a well-known Fox Valley accompanist, performer, teacher, and adjudicator. Since receiving her Masters of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma in 1994, Ms. Buchman has pursued an active teaching, performing, and adjudicating career at Lawrence University, Lawrence Academy of Music, and throughout Wisconsin. She has a private studio, teaches class piano, and coordinated Lawrence Academy of Music’s Piano Festival for several years. A native of North Carolina, she has played with the Raleigh Symphony, the Cimmaron Opera Company and with the Brevard Music Center Orchestra and was a guest on North Carolina Public Radio’s lunchtime concert series. She served as piano department coordinator at the Academy of Music and taught theory and summer chamber music during her tenure at Lawrence, and served as music director for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Waupaca. As a member of the Wisconsin Music Teachers’ Association, Ms. Buchman has adjudicated throughout the state for WMTA and other piano organizations.
Teaching style and philosophy: I believe anyone can learn how to play the piano and enjoy achieving success with a combination of sound learning/practice strategies, relaxed piano technique and positive reinforcement. I expect commitment to lessons, practice, and communication from students and their parents while striving to provide a nurturing learning atmosphere full of growth potential on many levels.
Anna Reiser, piano, is a native of the Fox Valley and enjoyed piano and theory lessons at the Lawrence Academy of Music throughout her childhood. She continued her piano studies at Lawrence University, earning a B.M. in piano performance with an emphasis in pedagogy in 2011 (honors in course and in independent study) under the instruction of Cathy Kautsky and Mary Van De Loo. As a student at Lawrence University, Ms. Reiser pursued harpsichord studies with Kathrine Handford, earning the Miriam Clapp Duncan Award in Organ and Harpsichord Literature.
Ms. Reiser incorporates principles of the Taubman Approach to piano playing into her playing and teaching. Since 2004 she has studied an integrated approach to piano playing with Teresa Dybvig, director of The Well-Balanced Pianist. An intern teacher at the Lawrence Academy of Music, Ms. Reiser is currently pursuing graduate studies in piano performance and pedagogy at the University of Wisconsin – Madison under the instruction of Martha Fischer and Jessica Johnson. She has special interests in early music, 20th century music, sacred music and opera.
Michael Rivers, piano, has been a member of the faculty at Lawrence Academy of Music since 1999. A native of Geneva, Illinois, he received his B.M. in Piano Performance from DePaul University and his M.M. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University. He is an accompanist for studio of Joanne Bozeman at Lawrence Conservatory of Music and a member of WMTA. He lives in Appleton with his wife and three cats and is an avid gamer.
Teaching style and philosophy: I have a casual but focused teaching style. Parents are welcome, but not required to sit in on lessons. Students have a voice in choosing in repertoire. Reading is taught mostly by interval. Students are encouraged to perform as often as possible.
Linda Sparks , piano, is a well-known Fox Valley performer, teacher, and adjudicator. A native of Alabama, she earned her Master’s in piano performance at the University of Alabama, where she graduated with special honors, and taught at Jacksonville State University, Alabama, before moving to Wisconsin. She has taught at UW-Green Bay, UW-Fox Valley, Lawrence Academy of Music, and maintains a private teaching studio. She is a nationally certified teacher in MTNA and a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, honorary music fraternity, as well as Delta Omicron. An active accompanist with singers and instrumentalists, she has appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio from the Chazen Museum in Madison, Neenah Public Library, UW-Stevens Point, Winchester Academy, UW-Green Bay, Lawrence Conservatory, and Alabama Educational Television. She has also served as music director and pianist at Attic Theatre and organist/choir director at local churches.
Teaching style and philosophy: Ms. Sparks believes that every student should have the opportunity to experience the amazing universal language of music, and what better way than through piano study. It is not only a joy to learn to play the piano, but to become aware of one's very own creative instincts. Then,as individual goals are set and attained, the student reaps the joy and satisfaction of success!
Larisa Topolkaraeva, piano, has been a member of the faculty at Lawrence Academy of Music since 1994. A native of Tbilisi, Georgia, Ms. Topolkaraeva began her piano studies at the age of five with her mother - a pianist. After receiving her B.A. in piano performance from the Tbilisi State Conservatory she moved to Moscow, where she earned her Masters' degree (with highest honor) and Ph.D in piano performance and pedagogy from the Russian State Academy of Music (formerly Gnesin's Institute) in Moscow. Prior to her move to Appleton, she taught piano at the numerous music academies in Tbilisi and Moscow.
Mary Van De Loo, piano
Catherine Walby, piano, has been teaching at Lawrence Academy of Music since 2000. In addition, she teaches class piano and secondary piano lessons at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. She has run the week-long Academy Piano Odyssey camp each summer since 2003 and has served as theory teacher and keyboard department coordinator in the past.
Ms. Walby received a B.M. in piano performance with a pedagogy emphasis and a B.A. in biology from Lawrence University. Her primary teacher was Kathleen Murray for both piano and pedagogy. She received a M.M. in piano performance and pedagogy in 2000 from the University of Oklahoma, studying under Jane Magrath, Andrew Cooperstock and Howard Lubin.
As a member of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association), Ms. Walby has served as Appleton district auditions chair since 2001 and state Badger keyboard auditions chair since 2005. She will begin a three year term as state president of WMTA beginning in October of 2009. She also served as state secretary for several years and has been actively involved in the local Fox Valley MTA.
Ms. Walby continues to play actively, collaborating with colleagues, college students and Academy students on recitals and juries. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and baking with friends, reading, traveling and gardening.
Teaching style and philosophy: I would describe myself as a traditional piano teacher. This means that I begin students in a method book that takes them to a late elementary/early intermediate level. At that point, we begin (or continue) exploring standard piano repertoire such as Bach and Mozart. We focus on the classics while also exploring other areas that interest the student. I encourage students to participate in recitals and festivals, including a concerto competition once they reach 6th grade. All students study theory as well as music history. While I have had students go on to study music, my primary goal is to create lifelong musicians who support and understand the arts for themselves and the broader community.
