Music Faculty and Staff

Bio

Pianist Dr. Marina Bengoa keeps an active performing and teaching career in the United States and Europe. She has won numerous prizes in international and national piano competitions and has performed as a soloist with orchestras from Spain and the United States.

Apart from her activity as a pianist, Bengoa regularly presents at national and international conferences. She gave presentations for the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in 2021 and 2023, ASMTA (Arkansas Music Teachers Association) in 2023, the Graduate conference at the University of Calgary (Canada) in 2021, Musicking (University of Oregon) in 2021, Catedra Bogota Musical International (Colombia) in 2022, Encuentro de Pianistas (Costa Rica) in 2024 and SHE: Women in Music Festival (University of Arkansas) in 2024.

Dr. Marina Bengoa is the Assistant Professor of Piano at Eastern New Mexico University. Previously, she taught at Southern Arkansas University.

Bengoa holds a Doctorate in piano performance and a Masters in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Oregon, receiving the Outstanding Award in Piano Pedagogy. She also has a Masters in Piano Performance from Georgia State University. In both universities, she served as a Teaching Assistant. As a native of Spain, Bengoa earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano with honors in Piano and Chamber Music from the Conservatori Superior de M?sica Salvador Segu? de Castell? Spain. Her main piano professors were Dr. Alexandre Dossin, Dr. Sergio Gallo, and Leonel Morales. Dr. Bengoa is passionate about promoting Spanish music and has created a website dedicated to this purpose. You can find it at https://spanishpianomusic.org/

Bio

Mezzo-soprano Dr. Marie Bird is known for her energized performing, teaching, and mindfulness coaching. Dr. Bird has performed with such companies as the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Taos Opera Institute, Amarillo Opera, Red River Lyric Opera, Seagle Music Festival, and the Orvieto Musica Festival in Italy. Some of her most noteworthy roles have been Prince Orlofsky in Johann Strauss Die Fledermaus and the Witch in Sondheims Into The Woods. Dr. Bird is an advocate for both classical and nonclassical vocal styles. She and her students maintain active performance schedules in which they perform opera, art song, musical theater, cabaret, jazz, country, pop, and R&B repertoire.

Dr. Bird is also a mindfulness specialist and mental health advocate. She has completed MBSR or Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction training through the University of Massachusetts Medical School Center for Mindfulness and the research of Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn. Mindfulness is the act of staying in the present moment, non judgmentally. Dr. Bird uses mindfulness exercises that include but are not limited to breath work, body mapping, meditation, and yoga to help her students with performance anxiety and self-doubt. Dr. Bird continues to do research in mindfulness and help performers with their anxiety both on and off the stage.

Dr. Bird holds degrees in vocal performance from Texas Tech University, the University of Alabama, and Florida State University. She has previously taught at Midland College in Midland, Texas where she taught applied voice and helped manage a continuing education program, which provided voice lessons to people of all ages in the Midland and Odessa regions.

Bio

Oboist Tracy Carr is Professor of Music at Eastern New Mexico University and is active as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, clinician, and educator. As a founding member of Duo and Trio Encantada, Carr has performed in Austria, England, Italy, Spain, and China, and has performed and presented at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Chengdu, China, the Eastman School of Music, West Texas A & M University, Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Austin, University of New Mexico, University of Southern California, University of Las Vegas-Nevada, University of Denver Lamont School of Music, Chicago State University, Miami University, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, among others. Carr has performed and lectured at the College Music Society, the Hawaii International Arts & Humanities, the International Double Reed Society, and the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Conferences.

Tracy currently performs with the Roswell and Southwest Symphonies and has performed with the RI Philharmonic, the RI Civic Chorale and Orchestra, the New England Philharmonic, the Classical Music Festival of Eisenstadt, Austria, and the Grumo International Music Festival of Tesaro, Italy, where she was also on the faculty. She is a PARMA Recordings artist has written numerous articles on oboe pedagogy and performance, music history, Baroque performance practice, humanities, and mentoring junior university faculty that have been published in the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI) Journal, the International Double Reed Society (IDRS) Journal, The New Mexico Musician, The Instrumentalist magazine and others. She has also authored and co-authored three book chapters.

Dr. Carr is a Marigaux Oboe Performing Artist and received degrees from the University of RI, Miami University, and the University of Southern California.

Research Interests

Music Performance (Solo, Chamber, & Orchestral)

Music Education & Research

Baroque Performance Practice

Music History

Mentoring and Leadership

Bio

Dr. Mark Dal Porto has had his works performed by such ensembles as the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Kiev Chamber Choir, Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Kuhn Choir of Prague, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Texas Christian University Symphony Orchestra, Kronos String Quartet, Boston Metro Opera, Vanguard Voices and Brass (Dearborn, Michigan), Wichita Falls (Texas) Chamber Orchestra, and many University Wind Ensembles. His recorded works available on CD include Galactica for Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Song of Eternity for Orchestra, Song of the Night for Oboe, Voice and Piano, Spring, the Sweet Spring for Mixed Choir and Piano, and When Your Song Rang Out to Me for Mixed Choir and Piano. His many commissions include those from the Orchestra of Southern Utah, the College Orchestra Directors Association, the Santa Fe Community Orchestra, and the Pemigewasset Choral Society of New Hampshire.

Dal Porto serves on the faculty of Eastern New Mexico University as professor of music and coordinator of Music Theory and Composition and can be seen as a frequent guest composer and conductor. A former student of Donald Grantham, Dal Porto received degrees from California State University, Sacramento (B.A. Piano Performance, M.A. Theory/Composition), and the University of Texas at Austin (D.M.A. Composition). His past teaching assignments have included serving on the faculty at Texas State University, Northern State University, and Texas Womans University.

In 2015, Dal Porto was awarded certificates of excellence in band, choral, and orchestral composition from The American Prize organization. He was also awarded first prize (from over 140 entries from around the world) in the CODA (College Orchestra Directors Association) 2013 International Composition Contest for his orchestral work Song of Eternity.

Bio

Vicki Garcia is the Administrative Assistant for the Department of Music. She graduated from ENMU in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Music and double minors in Music Technology and Music Composition. During her time as an ENMU undergraduate, Vicki was involved in several ensembles within the Department of Music including the Greyhound Sound Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Steel Drum Band, Clarinet and Piano studios, and the No Te Rindas clarinet quartet. Vicki also worked as an engineer in the Department of Music Recording Services from 2018 to 2021. During the 2020 pandemic, Vicki was one of only a few student workers in Recording Services, and primarily oversaw the recording, livestreaming, and production of all recitals and virtual performances during this time. Currently, Vicki happily rejoins the Department of Music, working alongside her previous professors and mentors. Outside of her administrative duties, Vicki serves as a keyboardist for the First Baptist Church Portales, and vocalist/sound technician for Orpheus Music Group.

Bio

Dr. Lanjiabao Ge has maintained an active solo performing career that has included venues such as Carnegie Hall, Steinway Piano Gallery, and the Kennedy Center. Ge is a winner of various International Piano Competitions including the MTNA Young Artist Performance Competition, World Piano Teachers Associations International Competition, Paderewski International Piano Competition, Kings Peak International Music Competition, and Hershey Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition.

As a collaborative pianist, Ge has appeared in chamber concerts at prominent events such as the North Star New Music Festival at Truman State University, the Schlern International Music Festival, the Opening Gala concert at the Global Summer Institute of Music, and the Lancaster International Piano Festival. Ge has also collaborated with numerous professional vocalists and opera productions, which has afforded herself opportunities in the field of opera and has coached over thirty opera productions.

As a classroom and studio teacher, Ge?s innovative and unique instruction, Reaching Every Learner: Utilizing Universal Design for Learning for Overcoming Access Barriers in University Based Group Piano Instruction, in the secondary piano program has earned high praise from the faculty and students alike. Her imaginative lesson planning and command of classroom technology facilitated new teaching modalities throughout the COVID 19 pandemic and earned her recognition as a 2021 Finalist for the Graduate School Teaching Excellent Award at University of Florida.

Ge has recently joined the music faculty at Eastern New Mexico University as an Instructor of Collaborative Piano. Previously, Ge served as a Coordinator of Collaborative Piano at Truman State University and taught at University of Florida and University of Miami as Adjunct Lecturer in Piano. Ge holds degrees in piano performance from the University of Florida, the University of Miami, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Bio

Peter is a flexible and engaging artist who pursues the creative act through the medium ofpercussion. His interests and experiences encompass a diverse range of musical styles and idioms, including orchestral performance, contemporary chamber music, Trinidadian steel pan, improvisation, and Eastern European folk music.

Originally from the Chicago area, his earliest foray into music came as a member of the Veselo Selo Tamburitza Orchestra, a Serbian-American youth ensemble which performed traditional tamburitza string music at ethnic events and festivals across the Midwest. These formative musical experiences provide the germ for his debut solo album Balkan Reflections, a project featuring original percussion arrangements inspired by the music of Southeast Europe. Peter also forms one half of the duo Two Petes and a Pan with Wisconsin-based percussionist Peter Naughton. Together they cultivate an eclectic original repertoire, synthesizing elements of jazz, Americana, rock & roll, and classical music to create fresh and exciting concert experiences.

During his doctoral studies Peter performed frequently with the Iowa Center for New Music Ensemble, interpreting a wide array of 20th and 21st century repertoire and premiering numerous new works. He was an inaugural consortium member and performer with The Green Vibes Project, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and sustainability in chamber music composition. As a steel pan artist Peter has logged hundreds of performances at venues ranging from farmers markets and middle school gymnasiums to 2,000-seat concert halls. His double tenor playing can be heard on Iowa Percussions 2018 album, Jungle Music.

Peter is currently Assistant Professor of Music at Eastern New Mexico University where he oversees a comprehensive, student-centric percussion program. He previously taught at Northeast Lakeview College in San Antonio, Texas, and at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Peter received his formal training at the University of Iowa (BM, DMA) and the University of South Carolina (MM). His teachers include Dan Moore, Scott Herring, William Menefield, Bert Ligon, Dennis Barunica, and Jeffrey Majetic.

Bio

Dr. Spencer Hartman is an active pedagogue and performer in the West Texas and Eastern New Mexico communities. Dr. Hartman is currently serving Lecturer of Music at Eastern New Mexico University. Additionally, Spencer performs as Principal Flute with of the Roswell Symphony Orchestra and the Southwest Symphony and Flute III/Piccolo with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra.

Spencer Hartman earned a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Flute Performance at Texas Tech University where he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the flute studio of Dr. Lisa Garner Santa. While attending TTU, Spencer performed regularly with the Lubbock Symphony Educational Outreach Woodwind Quintet and the Texas Tech Graduate Woodwind Quintet. Hartman has earned the Master of Music degree in Flute Performance and Pedagogy from Memorial University of Newfoundland under the tutelage of Dr. Michelle Cheramy and the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he studied with Dr. Therese Wacker. In addition, he has received influential mentorship from Carol Wincenc and Gretchen Pusch. Spencer has performed in masterclasses for William Bennett, Leone Buyse, Jasmine Choi, Paul Edmund Davies, Marianne Gedigian, Susan Hoeppner, Christina Jennings, Katherine Kemler, Marya Martin, Alexa Still, and Ransom Wilson.

Dr. Hartman has presented lectures at the Oklahoma Flute Fair, The San Diego Flute Guild Spring Festival, The National Association for College Wind and Percussion Instructors National Conference, the Flute New Music Consortium, the Mid Atlantic Flute Festival, the Mid South Flute Festival, and the Texas Flute Society Festival. Dr. Hartman has given masterclasses at Texas Womans University, the University of New Mexico, and the Southeast New Mexico Music Educators Association. Spencer has been a semi finalist in the National Flute Associations Young Artist Competition.

Hartman is also an accomplished collaborative pianist who has performed extensively with vocalists, choirs, and large scale opera and music theater productions. He performs in professional and student recitals both vocal and instrumental. Spencer has performed in masterclasses of Christina Jennings, Alexa Still, and Brett Deubner as well as performing in the world premiere performance of Erik Franklins Zephyr Rhapsody for Clarinet, Trumpet & Piano. Dr. Hartman has served as a Vocal Area Staff Accompanist at Texas Tech University where he works with the University Choirs.

Bio

Kayla Liechty is in her twentieth year as Vocal Coach and Collaborative Pianist at Eastern New Mexico University, where she coaches voice students, teaches Music Appreciation, and collaborates in Stagecraft for Singers, operatic and musical theatre productions, and student, faculty and guest artist recitals. Prior to coming to New Mexico, she was a full-time collaborative pianist at the University of Oklahoma (2002-2005) and Director of Accompanying at Stetson University (1992-2002).

Ms. Liechty received a BME in piano from Stetson University (1990), an MM in Accompanying and an MME from The Florida State University (1992).

Ms. Liechty has collaborated with some of the finest musicians of our time, including Marilyn Horne, Sherrill Milnes, Jennifer Larmore, Martina Arroyo, Leona Mitchell, and Fred King. She has accompanied choirs for five performances in Carnegie Hall, China, Newfoundland, Norway, and throughout Europe, spending two seasons as pianist for the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. Kayla served a decade as a vocal coach and pianist for Sherrill Milnes summer opera workshop, VOICExperience, and was National Auditions Pianist for Walt Disney World Entertainment.

In the area of scholarly and artistic endeavors, Ms. Liechty's contributions include Bach to Bix, a CD collaboration with tubist Ted Cox, The French Connection, a CD collaboration with hornist Eldon Matlick and an 80-accompaniment CD companion to Roberto Mancusi's textbook, Voice for Non-Majors. Academic presentations she has made include Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico Annual Conference, Rocky Mountain CMS Conference, National NAfME Conference, SWACDA Conference and National ACDA Conference. She has recently been named Music Editor for the soon-to-be-released voice anthology of the art songs of the esteemed Mexican composer, Manuel Ponce.

Ms. Liechty's publications include articles in the Neurocase journal (2003; 9: 493-503), entitled, Musical Skill in Dementia: A Violinist Presumed to Have Alzheimer's Disease Learns to Play a New Song; the MTNA journal, American Music Teacher; the American Choral Directors Association journal, Choral Journal; and a book chapter, entitled "Nurturing Vocal Talent," in the book, The Nurturing of Talent, Skills and Abilities.

Research Interests

Collaborative Piano

Music Education

Piano

Voice

Bio

Dean O'Hare graduated in 2012 with a BBA in Business Administration from ENMU. He currently teaches Music Appreciation for the Music Department, from 2012 to present, and Photography Projects for the Art Department. He has been a licensed photographer since 2010: DBA Dean O'Hare Photography and has over 15 years of experience as a professional photographer. Mr. O'Hare owned Dean's Music from 1989 to 1995 and managed Philip's House of Music from 1996-2000.

Bio

Dr. Jason Paulk is Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM, where he conducts the University Singers, Chamber Singers, and Swanee Singers ensembles, and teaches beginning and advanced conducting, in addition to choral methods courses. He was honored with the 2013 Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching at ENMU. Jason's degrees include a DMA from the University of Oklahoma, MM in Conducting and MM in Music Education from Westminster Choir College, and BME from Stetson University. Jason taught at Deltona High School in Deltona, FL, prior to attending the University of Oklahoma on a University Fellowship.

Choirs under Jason's direction have performed at state music conventions in Florida and New Mexico under the auspices of the National Association for Music Education and for the 2009 National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association. Eastern New Mexico University choirs have performed four world premieres of significant choral compositions, prepared and performed numerous major works for orchestral performance, and performed for audiences throughout the United States, Europe, and China; in May of 2013, 95 ENMU students and alumni performed throughout Italy in performances at St. Mark's (Venice), St. Peter's (Rome) and in Florence. Jason maintains a busy guest conducting schedule, having conducted recent festivals in Florida, Kentucky, New York, Texas, Mississippi, and New Mexico.

Professional service occupies a great deal of Jason's schedule, including positions with the following organizations: Editor of the Student Times monthly column in the Choral Journal of the American Choral Directors Association; Editorial Board Member for the Choral Journal of the American Choral Directors Association; Advisory Board Member for NAfME's Music Educators Journal and Teaching Music; and Chair of Collegiate Repertoire and Standards for the Southwestern American Choral Directors Association.

Jason remains very active as a scholar, having published approximately fifteen articles in the last seven years. Last year, he wrote a book chapter (in collaboration with Kayla Paulk and Jason Vest) in Nova Publishing's "The Nurturing of Talent, Skills, and Abilities," discussing the development of vocal talent in the choral rehearsal. Hal Leonard will publish a new book by Dr. Paulk and Dr. Ryan Kelly in the fall of 2016 entitled Messiah: Warm-ups for Successful Performance.

Bio

Grammy considered saxophonist Dr. Richard A. Schwartz has commissioned and or premiered nearly thirty new works for saxophone, performed for regional, national and international events in North and South America and Europe and is the grand prize winner of the 1997 International Henri Mancini Institute Concerto Competition and recipient of the 2010 Southeastern Louisiana University Presidents Award for Excellence in Artistic Activity. After performing the Boston premiere of Jan Curtis Transformations for voice, piano, and alto saxophone in Jordan Hall, The Boston Globe declared, Richard Schwartz displayed extraordinary talent on the saxophone, sympathetically mirroring the voice and contributing his own improvisatory imagination.

Awarded three United States patents, Schwartz founded the music publication company SilverKeyMusic.com authoring the internationally recognized intonation tool The Tuning C.D. and many instructional guides in music education.

Research Interests

Faculty research interests include saxophone performance and pedagogy, jazz ensemble pedagogy, jazz history, jazz improvisation, jazz composition, musical intonation, advanced woodwind techniques including multi-phonics, circular breathing, double-tonguing, the altissimo register, and more, entrepreneurialism in music, sight-reading techniques, recruitment techniques and more.

Bio

Dustin D. Seifert, a native of Lancaster, Ohio, is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU). Professor Seifert served as Chair of the Department of Music for 18 years (2007-2025). Dustin received the B.M.Ed., summa cum laude, from The University of Akron and the M.M.Ed. with an emphasis in instrumental conducting from the University of Illinois where he was the recipient of the Guy M. Duker Award. His mentors include Richard L. Cass, Michael R. Golemo, Robert D. Jorgensen, Tucker R. Jolly, James F. Keene, Gary E. Smith, Mark E. Moore, and Deborah A. Confredo.

Professor Seifert is responsible for the operation and organization of a comprehensive undergraduate instrumental program. Dustin conducts the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Greyhound Sound Marching Band (GSMB), and teaches applied euphonium and tuba. Professor Seifert leads courses in low brass teaching techniques, techniques of marching band, band and wind ensemble history and repertoire, secondary instrumental methods, and beginning and advanced conducting. The ENMU Bands offer several important outreach events annually including the Green and Silver Classic Marching Band Festival, Hound For A Day marching band immersion event for high school students, and the ENMU Band Director Workshop - The New Mexico Thing. In 2023, the GSMB was selected by the rock band Metallica as the Division II/III winner of the For Whom the Band Tolls marching band competition.

Widely honored as a Music Educator and conductor, Professor Seifert was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 2022. He received the Spirit of Eastern Award in 2004 acknowledging outstanding contributions, dedication and loyalty to ENMU over a sustained period. He was the 2005 recipient of ENMU's Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dustin has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus in Music Education by The University of Akron School of Music and as Music Educator of the Year by the New Mexico Music Educators Association.

Research Interests

Instrumental Conducting

Wind Ensemble and Band Repertoire

Marching Band Techniques

Instrumental Music Education

Low Brass Pedagogy

Music Administration

Bio

Dr. Pamela Shuler, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is currently serving as Assistant Professor of Music at Eastern New Mexico University. At ENMU, Dr. Shuler teaches applied clarinet lessons, directs the clarinet choir, and has taught music theory, music appreciation, freshman seminar courses, and student teaching observations.

As an active performer, Dr. Shuler has been heard throughout the United States, in Spain, and Japan. She has performed with the Roswell Symphony, Southwest Symphony Orchestra, Champaign Urbana Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, Kansai Clarinet Ensemble, Concert Band of Central Illinois, and the American Wind Symphony Orchestra. Recent performances include the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest? conferences in Denver, CO (2023) and Reno, NV (2022).

Dr. Shuler is passionate about working with students at all phases of clarinet mastery and enjoys serving as an active clinician for students ranging from middle school through the collegiate level. Dr. Shuler also coordinates both the ENMU Single Reed Celebration and the ENMU Summer Band Camp and serves as a member of the International Clarinet Association Pedagogy Committee.

Dr. Shuler holds a Bachelor of Music in Education from Youngstown State University and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees from the University of Illinois. Her principal teachers include Joseph Edwards, Robert Fitzer, and J. David Harris. Shuler lives in Portales, New Mexico with her daughters Eleanor and Beatrice and husband Sidney, who is also on faculty at ENMU.

Research Interests

Research interests of Dr. Shuler include the classical chamber commissions of Benny Goodman and performing new works for clarinet and chamber ensemble. As a member of the Proha Clarinet Quartet, Shuler was invited to perform at the 2008 (Chicago) and 2009 (Washington D.C.) Vandoren Clarinet Chamber Festivals. Dr. Shuler is currently engaged in a project to commission a new work each year for clarinet and trumpet along with colleague and husband Dr. Sidney Shuler.

Bio

Dr. Sidney E. Shuler holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Youngstown State University (OH) and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His major teachers include Ronald Romm and Dr. Michael Ewald (University of Illinois) and Dr. Christopher Krummel of Youngstown State.

As a performing artist, Dr. Shuler has served as principal trumpet of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra (IL) and guest principal trumpet of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra (IL). Shuler has also performed with additional orchestras including the Moscow State Radio, Illinois, and Green Bay Symphony Orchestras. As an orchestral and commercial musician, Shuler has performed with artists such as Rachel Barton Pine, Mark O'Connor, Lynn Harrell, Mannheim Steamroller, Art Farmer, Sean Jones, Byron Stripling, Roger Williams, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Additionally, he has also performed under the baton of esteemed conductors David Zinman, James Conlon, and Michael Stern, as well as many others. Adding to his performance credits, Shuler has been heard in solo recital and chamber performances across the United States as well as abroad in Russia and in Spain.

Dr. Shulers appointments at the University of Illinois and at Chadron State College (NE) have included responsibilities teaching trumpet while leading diverse instrumental ensembles. These ensembles have performed in venues such as AT&T Stadium (TX), Coors Field (CO), the University of Utah, and other venues across the United States.

Shulers students have earned scholarships to attend summer music festivals and positions in international performing groups. Additionally, his students have earned scholarships to various colleges and universities.

Sidneys current position as assistant professor of trumpet and assistant director of bands is at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM where he resides with his wife Pamela, daughters Eleanor and Beatrice, and their dogs, Campbell, Honus, and Fergie.

Bio

A current music faculty member at Eastern New Mexico University, Ellen teaches courses for music and non-music majors.

Prior to her New Mexico move, Ellen was on the voice faculty of the University of Texas at El Paso from 2006-2013, teaching studio voice to Vocal Performance, Music Education, Musical Theatre, and Commercial Music majors. She was also part of the music faculty at El Paso Community College (EPCC) from 2001 - 2013, teaching studio voice and Music Appreciation courses.

While in El Paso, Ellen received several performing and project grants from the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts. The performing grants allowed Ellen and esteemed El Paso colleague, acclaimed classical guitarist Armin Harrison, EPCCs Music Dept. Coordinator, to bring musical programs ranging from Renaissance and Baroque music to original contemporary music, where they were joined by bassist/cellist James David Hamilton and percussionist Benjamin Guerrero. One of these grants resulted in the release of an album of original Adult Contemporary songs, Destiny, co written with her producer, T.L. Brown, which featured the talents of Harrison (also a co-writer on Shelter Me), Hamilton, and Brown.

Ellen received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana, and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Meredith College in Raleigh, N.C.