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Steven Benham Professor Emeritus Email: benhamsr@plu.edu Professional Biography Education Ph.D., Geology, Indiana University, 1979 M.A., Geology, Indiana University, 1971 B.S., Geology, Washington State University, 1968 Areas of Emphasis or Expertise Stratigraphy Sedimentation Paleontology Oceanography Biography Dr. Steven R. Benham began his career at PLU in the fall of 1982. Steve grew up in rural Kitsap County, WA, attended Olympic Community College for two years, and then earned his

. Miho Takekawa was raised in Tokyo and currently resides in Seattle. She teaches at Pacific Lutheran University, where she heads the percussion studio and directs the school’s percussion and steel pan ensembles. During the 2010-2011 school year, she was an interim professor of percussion at the University of Washington School of Music. Miho began piano at age three and took up percussion at thirteen, ultimately graduating from Tokyo’s prestigious Kunitachi School of Music. She earned both Master’s

Dawn Sonntag Lecturer - Composition Phone: 253-535-7602 Email: dsonntag@plu.edu Website: //www.dawnsonntag.com Professional Biography Education D.M.A., Vocal Performance and Composition, University of Minnesota M.M., Choral Conducting, Ohio State University B.M., Voice Performance, University of Texas-El Paso Responsibilities Composition Lessons and Songwriting. Accolades Swedish International Cultural Exchange Grant, 2019 Music Teacher National Association - Ohio Distinguished Composer of the

Ricardo de la Torre Lecturer Phone: 253-535-7602 Email: delator@plu.edu Office Location: Mary Baker Russell Music Center Office Hours: (On Campus) Mon - Fri: By Appointment Professional Biography Education D.M.A., University of Colorado Boulder M.M., Indiana University B.M., Escuela Superior de Música, Mexico City Responsibilities Applied Piano Lessons Biography Active as a performer, teacher, adjudicator, curator, and scholar, Dr. Ricardo de la Torre has played in concert venues in Mexico, the

Michael Stasinos Professor Emeritus Website: http://michaelstasinos.com Professional Biography Additional Titles/Roles Term of Service: 2003-2022 Education M.F.A (Cum Laude), New York Academy of Art, 1996 Savannah College of Art & Design, 1993 B.S., Southern Utah University, 1991 Areas of Emphasis or Expertise Painting Accolades 2008 Wang Center Travel Grant, Pacific Lutheran University 2001 Art Department Travel Grant, Eastern Illinois University 2001 1st Place, All Nude, All The Time, Eugene

Amy Boers Staff Pianist Phone: 253-535-7602 Email: aboers@plu.edu Biography Biography Amy Boers is well known as a collaborative pianist, music director, singer, and church musician. As pianist and collaborator, she currently holds positions at Pacific Lutheran University (staff pianist), Symphony Tacoma (principal keyboard), and Symphony Tacoma Voices (pianist and assistant rehearsal conductor). Her work at Pacific Lutheran University is varied between accompanying the acclaimed Choir of the

Edward Castro Lecturer - Trumpet Phone: 253-535-7602 Email: castroea@plu.edu Office Hours: (On Campus) Mon - Fri: By Appointment Professional Biography Education D.M.A., University of Washington Graduate Studies Music Pedagogy, University of Maryland M.M., Yale University B.M., The Manhattan School of Music Responsibilities Applied Trumpet Lessons Biography Dr. Edward Castro has made it his mission to educate and entertain through music. Born New York City, his formative music training started

University.  Mr. Rine is currently principal clarinet of the Northwest Sinfonietta and the Tacoma Symphony.  Since moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1988 he has worked extensively with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Northwest Chamber Orchestra and the Auburn Symphony.  In addition, Mr. Rine teaches band at Curtis Junior High School.

Kate Olson Lecturer - Jazz, Improvisation Phone: 253-535-7602 Email: kate.olson@plu.edu Website: http://www.kateplayssax.com/ Professional Biography Education BA, Music (Jazz Emphasis), University of Wyoming MM, Improvisation, University of Michigan Biography Kate Olson is an improvising saxophonist and music educator based in Seattle, WA. Since moving to Seattle in 2010, she has done her best to infiltrate the local, regional and international improvised music scenes. She can be heard

Janissa Pheann Business and Records Coordinator Phone: 253-535-8178 Email: beechujs@plu.edu Professional Education BBA, Business Administration, Pacific Lutheran University, 2009 Responsibilities Financial Manager for the Wang Center, includes financial planning and monitoring of all Wang Center accounts Manages payments of invoices for the Wang Center Financial reconciliation for study away programs, including Travel Expense Voucher preparation Manages all Wang Center Purchase Cards and Bank