The Harper School

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)

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)