The Harper School

Erika Beal:   Erika is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University, where she received a Bachelors of Music in Music Education as well as a second major in Psychology. During her time at Gardner-Webb, she was actively involved in the Marching Band and Symphonic Band. She also held officer positions in the Gardner-Webb chapter of Collegiate National Association for Music Education, serving as treasurer, publicist, and president. As a music educator at Happy Valley School she achieved the school’s first superior rating at MPA. Additionally, many of her students were chosen to participate in All-County Band, District Band, All-County Chorus, and NC Honors Chorus. She also started elementary and middle school Theatre programs. She currently teaches at Clyde Campbell Elementary in Catawba County. She teaches flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, and Music Together. Erika has been an instructor at the Harper School since October 2012.   (return to top)

Kendal Bray Clark:   Kendal is a native to and a product of the rich musical legacy of Caldwell County. She currently works at Crest View Baptist as the Music Ministry Director and as the Pastor’s and Ministries Assistant. She has taught music privately for many years and is excited to now be affiliated with the Harper School. She has experience teaching music to all ages - including serving as a long term music teacher sub at the preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school levels. She has a musical theater background and currently serves on the Foothills Performing Arts board. She has 12 years experience in Music Ministry and is currently the Music & Worship leader for the Caldwell Baptist Association. Besides learning the fundamentals of music, one of Kendal’s favorite things to teach is performance skills and working towards a goal, performance, or audition. Kendal is proud of her students and their accomplishments as many have been awarded music camp and college music scholarships, placed in all county or district band and all state chorus, performed in community musicals and talent shows, and much more. She is excited to help her students find opportunities to take their talent outside of the practice room.   (return to top)

Jonathan Druel:  Jonathan is a fun and spry guitarist originally from California. Since 2014, Jonathan has experimented with various instruments and genres and has a variety of school, church, festival, cafe, and other gigs under his belt. Using this knowledge, Jonathan has assisted his fellow students and friends with music theory, instrument maintenance, live performance, sound, and many other categories. He also has taught his friends how to play instruments in a fun and intuitive way. He looks forward to meeting and teaching the diverse art of guitar to his students.   (return to top)

Holly Hargett:  Holly Sherrill Hargett is a native of Caldwell County. She is a senior at Lenoir-Rhyne University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She performs with Lenoir-Rhyne Universities’ Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble. She currently has an Associate in Fine Arts from Caldwell Community College. Holly is the music teacher for Oak Hill Charter School. In addition, she provides flute lessons at the Harper School. She has volunteered for several years during the summer at the Harper School’s Camp Treble in addition to helping out students at local schools. Holly looks forward to sharing her musical knowledge with every student.   (return to top)

Alison Kielen:  Alison comes to Lenoir, North Carolina from the Great Lake State of Michigan where she studied violin in college and performed with the Michigan State University Symphony and Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Alison has 25 years experience teaching violin and is excited to join Harper School as a violin instructor. She looks forward to coming alongside students and helping them accomplish their goals in music making. Alison has received Suzuki teacher training certification and teaches both Suzuki and traditional methods. Alison currently works at Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, North Carolina.   (return to top)

Rhonda Lorence.  Rhonda is a certified Suzuki violin and viola instructor. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor in Music Performance from the University of South Florida. During her 27 years of performance she toured internationally with Mantovanni Orchestra. Ms. Lorence served as the principle violist with esteemed orchestras such as the Minnesota Philharmonic, Tampa Bay Opera, Naples Symphony Orchestra and Gilbert and Sullivan Orchestra. As a composer she has received critical acclaim and international radio airplay for original compositions on her Winter Moon and Movements in the Moment CD and in 2005 she was nominated in four categories for the New Age Reporter Lifestyle Awards. Rhonda is the lead violinist for The Mountain Laurels for whom she produced and arranged their 1st CD “Highland Blooms” this year. Ms. Lorence has extensive Suziki teacher training from Furman University and Buffalo Suzuki School. At the Harper School of Performing Arts she is continuing music development with the teaching of the Mark O’Connor Method and has added a variety of teaching styles for her students from classical to celtic and fiddling. Her teaching strategies include innovative and interactive methods, which integrate digital recordings and interactive CDs as instructional tools. Ms. Lorence is dedicated to inspiring the joy and love of music in students of all ages. (return to top)

Bailey Smith:  Bailey has been studying piano for 10 years, and is currently a student at South Caldwell High School where she plays the Alto and Tenor Saxophone. Loving teaching and music from a young age, she is taking the strides to go to Western Carolina University where she plans to get her degree in Music Education. Bailey is someone who is dedicated to her work and loves to not only teach, but write and arrange her own music as well. She is very active in the Blue Ridge Ensembles offered at The Harper School and has been a part of the All-County and All-District Bands (Saxophone). When it comes to piano she plays at her church almost weekly. She looks forward to working with students on piano and/or saxophone!  (return to top)

Jeremy Perez:  Jeremy is a Caldwell County native with deep roots in Granite Falls, where he has spent most of his life. With an unwavering passion for music, he is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in music production and performance. Jeremy's enthusiasm for music knows no bounds, spanning diverse genres such as metal, rock, jazz, and the blues. He radiates joy when discussing music and is dedicated to assisting others in embarking on their own musical journeys. Jeremy eagerly awaits the opportunity to share his knowledge and expertise, guiding individuals as they explore the boundless world of music and discover the joy it brings.  (return to top)

Justin Hefner:   Justin Hefner has been strumming the strings of the banjo since the early age of 14. Having discovered his love for music, the trumpet, steel guitar and organ were added to his repertoire. His music background includes former lead banjo with the Catawba River Boys, former choir director for Old St. Paul’s Lutheran, St. Paul’s Lutheran, and Messiah Lutheran Churches in Catawba County. Currently a trumpeter in the Bruce Long Orchestra and the Blue Ridge Jazz Band.  (return to top)

Melissa Vanerbloeman:  Melissa began studying music at a very young age. She attended Westminster Choir College, in Princeton, NJ, as a Voice Major and Piano Minor (School of Music to Rider University). She received a Bachelor's Degree with a Double Major in Fine Arts (Music Concentration) and Elementary Education from Rider University. When Melissa attended William Lenoir Middle and Hibriten High, she was highly involved in Band (Flute) and Choir (voice). She had the blessing of receiving an Alto position in NC Honors Chorus for 4 years and also participated in many local flute solo contests. Her employment, over the years, has been as Pre K Music Teacher, Private Lesson Instructor and background vocalist. Melissa has acquired private and public instruction with 8 years of voice concentration, 7 years of flute concentration and 7 years of piano concentration. This allows Melissa to be an excellent choice to start your child in the direction they would like to follow.   (return to top)

Michael Willis.  Michael discovered his interest in a musical career as a percussionist with the award winning Lenoir High School Band and studied music at Brevard College and Appalachian State University. He has extensive experience playing professionally with a variety of musical groups. He has played percussion with the New York Quartet and with the Jerry Lambert Trio in Charlotte, Raleigh and Atlanta. His unique style of Jazz piano developed while working with Milton Clapp and the New York Quartet. He studied Harp with Jean Morehead in Raleigh and Lorraine Little in Charlotte. Michael played harp and piano at the Tower Club in Charlotte from 1989-1996 and does freelance work with several musical groups in the area. (return to top)