Nick O'Donnell
Guitar
Nick has studied guitar with prominent musicians in Los Angeles and Portland, and graduated from Portland State University Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Music degree in Jazz Guitar.
He brings years of playing and teaching experience to the table, and he covers a wide musical range, including rock, jazz, blues and classical guitar. Nick teaches these styles to ages 6 and up, and teaches beginning to advanced level students in most styles.
Darrell Hunt
Orchestra
Darrell was born in Longview, WA and began playing the violin at the age of twelve. After further studies in the Portland/Vancouver area, he won the concerto competitions for both the SW Washington Youth Symphony (as a sophomore) and the SW Washington Symphony (as a senior). He then attended the University of Puget Sound, winning that school’s concerto competition and earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. His teacher there was Edward Seferian.
Darrell also has a Masters in Music Degree from Rice University in Houston, TX. He has served as concertmaster for the University Puget Sound Symphony, Ballet Tacoma, Tacoma Civic Chorus, The Spoleto Festival in Charleston, assistant concertmaster of the Tacoma Symphony, and last season, acting concertmaster of the Oregon Sinfonietta. Darrell loves teaching and has 22 years of experience working with students of all ages and abilities.
Mary Sue Tobin
Band
Mary-Sue Tobin received a Masters of Music in Saxophone Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Portland State University where she served as the graduate teaching assistant for the jazz studies department.
She performs regularly with The Oregon Symphony Pops (Pointer Sisters, Johnny Mathis) and has performed at numerous Jazz Festivals (including The Portland Jazz Festival, The Mount Hood Jazz Festival, Cathedral park Jazz Festival The Vancouver Wine and Cheese Jazz Festival, The Banff International Jazz Festival) and has shared the stage with international jazz and R&B stars such as Dave Douglas, The Temptations, James Moody and Esperanza Spalding.
MST maintains a full studio of students through Beacock’s Music Education Center where she also directs band and teaches jazz improvisation seminars. She also serves as an adjudicator for NW solo/ensemble festivals and a clinician for school seminars. She has performed classical concerts with her saxophone quartets multiple times at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference and also performs with the Portland Center Stage Orchestra for their musical productions. She and her family live in Portland, OR where she teaches, records and performs professionally.
Bettina Ferraro
Piano
Bettina Ferraro earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Montana State University, and her Master of Arts in teaching at Grand Canyon University in Pheonix, Arizona. She also studied under the Royal Conservatory of Music system in Canada, until her move back to the states in 1997. She has enjoyed working in church music ministries, working with both adult and children’s choirs, as well as participating on worship teams. She is a music director of Christian Youth Theater, and currently sings in a dance band.
Bettina feels called to teach because she believes in striving for excellence, while making music fun and accessible to all ages and abilities. Her hobbies include training for triathlons, writing and gardening. She loves spending time with her family, biking with her husband and 3 children, and traveling.
Although Bettina’s main focus is teaching music, I also like to take opportunities to perform whenever I can. I was involved for two seasons of singing in Bellingham Festival of Music under the direction of Michael Palmer, and have performed at local community events.
Everett Carlson
Percussion
Born right here in Vancouver, Everett Carlson is a native to the Pacific Northwest. At 8 he started playing guitar, bass and drums and have never looked back. In high school he participated in the La Center Jazz Band, Concert Band, Pep Band and Stage Band. He is especially passionate about jazz and attributes much of his success to his reading ability. Everett has played music in Honolulu, Vancouver BC, Mexico and Berlin as well as regularly along the west coast. He plans on attending Portland State University and completing his studies to receive a degree in music composition.
Bettina Ferraro
Choir
Bettina Ferraro earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Montana State University, and her Master of Arts in teaching at Grand Canyon University in Pheonix, Arizona. She also studied under the Royal Conservatory of Music system in Canada, until her move back to the states in 1997. She has enjoyed working in church music ministries, working with both adult and children’s choirs, as well as participating on worship teams. She is a music director of Christian Youth Theater, and currently sings in a dance band.
Bettina feels called to teach because she believes in striving for excellence, while making music fun and accessible to all ages and abilities. Her hobbies include training for triathlons, writing and gardening. She loves spending time with her family, biking with her husband and 3 children, and traveling.
Although Bettina’s main focus is teaching music, I also like to take opportunities to perform whenever I can. I was involved for two seasons of singing in Bellingham Festival of Music under the direction of Michael Palmer, and have performed at local community events.
