Music Adjunct Faculty

 

"Musically expressive,” “dynamic,” and “passionate,” are words used to describe Canadian/American pianist Isabelle Aubin, whose collaborative piano skills makes her a much sought-after artist. Her language skills in French, Italian, German and English make her very effective and applauded by singers she works with including Metropolitan Opera Coach Gildo DiNunzio.

Ms. Aubin currently teaches Diction and Vocal literature at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she also is a Staff Pianist. She also works as Vocal Coach at Ave Maria University and is Principal Keyboard with the Punta Gorda Symphony.

Before relocating to Southwest Florida from Rochester NY,  she held position as Principal Coach with Rochester Lyric Opera (NY); Collaborative Pianist, Vocal Coach and Instrumental Coach at Buffalo State College (NY); Collaborative Pianist at Nazareth College of Rochester (NY) where she has also taught French Lyric Diction; Principal Keyboard of the Genesee Symphony Orchestra (NY); and has held the position of Festival Coordinator, Collaborative Pianist, Chamber Music Coach and Vocal Coach with Festival di musica da camera, in Ripatransone, Italy.

Ms. Aubin has worked in Italy for Centro Studi Italiano;  Sessione Senese per la musica e l’arte; Festival di musica da camera; in Austria, the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz; the Mozarteum in Salzburg; in Canada, the Chœur Symphonique de Saguenay Lac St Jean; Camp Musical du lac St Jean and the College d’Alma.

Isabelle has also prepared and performed full opera productions for Société d'arts Lyriques du Royaume; Opéra Plume; Universitié du Québec; Camp Musical du Lac St-Jean; Festival di musica da camera; and Rochester Lyric Opera.

She has been a frequent performer on the radio with broadcasts by Radio Canada. Programs titled; "Concert Dimanche," "Opera du Samedi," and "Jeunes artistes."

Ms. Aubin studied coaching and accompanying with Denise Massée, Martin Katz, Robert Evans, and Jean Barr, song interpretation with Graham Johnson, Harold Heiberg, and Paul Schilowski, and piano with Nathalie Pepin, Serge Guillemette, Janina Fialkovska, Karl Engel, Raoul Sosa, and Joseph Bloch.

Ms. Aubin received her B.M., from the Conservatoire de Musique du Quebec; M.M., from Montreal University; and teaching certificate from the University of Quebec.

As a highly trained and experienced piano teacher, Elena Bock runs a respected and successful Piano Studio in Naples, Florida, and is also an Adjunct Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and at Florida Southwestern College. In addition to teaching Group Piano to college and university students, Ms. Bock also teaches Applied Piano, Music Appreciation and Ear Training.

Beginning her formal music education in Russia, Ms. Bock attended the Ryazan School of Music and the Moscow State Pedagogical University, receiving her B.M. in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy and a M.M. in Music Education.

After moving to the U.S. in 2000 and becoming a citizen shortly thereafter, Ms. Bock established her Studio, while simultaneously working to improve the musicianship of her students at college.

Each year Ms. Bock's private students win or place in every significant piano competition in Southwest Florida including those sponsored by the Naples Music Club, the Bach Ensemble, Steinway Music Society, and Southwest Florida Music Teachers Association.

Her private students have met with considerable success.  They have been engaged in various competitions through the years, and several have gone on to pursue music majors at Florida Gulf Coast University, University of Florida, and Miami International University.

Judy Christy joined the FGCU faculty in 2010 as adjunct professor of oboe and chamber music. She has been principal oboist of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra since 1996. Previously she played with the New World Symphony. 

Judy earned her bachelor’s degree at Oberlin Conservatory, where she studied with James Caldwell and Alex Klein. She then earned her M.M. degree at Rice University, studying with Robert Atherholt. She also pursued additional studies with John Mack.

Judy has performed as principal oboist of the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Des Moines Metro Opera, the Colorado Music Festival, and the Peter Britt Music Festival. Her solo appearances have included concertos by Vaughan Williams, Strauss, Harbison, Mozart, Bach, and Vivaldi.

With her siblings and her husband, Christy performs in the Christy Oboe Quartet, which has released a CD of music by Mozart, Britten, J.C. Bach, and James Stephenson.

Stephen Detjen has been a Band Director/Music Educator since 1983.  He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Syracuse University and a Master of Music from Ithaca College.  After teaching in New York state for thirteen years he relocated to southwest Florida in 1998.

Now entering his thirty-sixth year as an educator, he has experience in every level of music from developmental kindergarten, teaching the hearing impaired and deaf through high school band and now college methods.  Stephen’s most recent position is at Manatee Middle School in Collier County, where he teaches band grades 6-8.  Previous positions include Pine Ridge Middle School- band and chorus grades 6-8, Naples High School- All band activities plus advanced placement music theory, Immokalee High School- band, chorus, orchestra, guitar, and piano.  His achievements include superior ratings at FBA marching and concert assessments,  state concert appearances, indoor winter guard and percussion design, and participation in both state and national festivals.

Professionally, Stephen is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, National Association of Music Education, and the Florida Music Educators Association

Mr. Detjen is extremely excited to be part of the Bower School of Music & the Arts this fall as the Brass Methods Instructor.

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Music Education – University of Miami, Miami, FL
Studying classical guitar with Juan Mercadal & Rene Gonzalez
Completed extensive studies in jazz guitar with Paul Guma

SPECIALALITIES
Instrumental Music Education, Classical Guitar, Classroom Guitar

RESEARCH & TEACHING
Instrumental Chamber Music, Classroom Guitar Instruction, Instrumental Music Education

COURSES OFFERED
Class Guitar (Music Education Emphasis)
Class Guitar (Music Therapy Emphasis)

PUBLICATIONS

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Guitar Instruction for Elementary Music Teachers – Presented to the elementary music teachers in Collier County, FL

GRANTS & AWARDS
2010 - Innovative Teaching Award from the Florida Music Educators Association

BIO
Mr. Ferlazzo previously was the guitar instructor at Edison Community College (now Florida Southwestern State College) and taught for 35 years as a public-school music educator in Fort Myers.  While teaching in the public schools, Mr. Ferlazzo served as the Secondary Music Specialist for the Lee County School District.  Mr. Ferlazzo continues to have an active private studio and is an instructor for many summer camps for guitarists.

 

Ming Gao has served as concertmaster of the Nanjing Experimental Orchestra in his native China and of the Eastman Philharmonia at the Heidelberg Castle Festival in Germany. He has also served as acting concertmaster of the Youngstown and Harrisburg symphony orchestras and MOSSPAC Chamber Orchestra. During the summer months, Ming is a first violinist in the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in New York, and he has also served as the acting Associate Concertmaster/Concertmaster during the 2018, 2019 and 2021seasons.

Before joining the Naples Philharmonic in 1993, Ming performed with the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestra. He also appeared in music festivals in the United States, Germany and China, including Sunflower Music Festival, Pine Mountain Music Festival, Buzzards Bay Musicfest, MOSSPAC Music Festival, Heidelberg Castle Festival and the Spring of Xuanwu Hu Festival.

Over the years, Ming has been invited back to China many times to give chamber music recitals in Nanjing, Wuxi, Zhenjiang, Suzhou and Beijing. Some of these concerts were broadcast live by Jiang Su Provincial TV station and CCTV (China national television station). In addition, he has recorded solo and chamber music for the Nanjing radio and television stations, Jiangsu Provincial radio and television stations and QRS Music Rolls, Inc. He was also given the title of Guest Professor of Violin at the Nanjing Conservatory of Music, offering violin master classes in China.

As a soloist, Ming has appeared with the Naples Philharmonic, Orchestra Nova, Nanjing Experimental Orchestra and Jiangsu Provincial Symphony Orchestra, among others, performing a repertoire including Chen Gang’s Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, and Paganini’s Concerto in D Major.

 

Suzanne Kirton began music studies as a child on piano, but when she was a high school sophomore she became enchanted by the flute's sound and decided to make that her instrument. Upon graduation she was accepted at the Juilliard School and studied with Sam Baron her freshman year.

Kirton earned a B.M. degree from Florida State University, her M.M. degree from the Boston Conservatory and a Professional Studies Diploma from the Juilliard School. She has taken master classes and studied privately with a number of great teachers, including Sir James Galway, Julius Baker, Robert Stallman, Leone Buyse and Geoffrey Gilbert.

Prior to Naples, Kirton was principal flutist for the Symphonia Virtuosi and the Rome Festival Orchestra. In 1994, Kirton was a finalist in the International Flute Competition in Budapest, Hungary.

As a soloist with the Naples Philharmonic, Kirton performed the Vivaldi Flute Concerto in D with Keith Lockhart conducting (1994). She performed it again in 2007 at Festival Miami. In 2000, she performed the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto, along with principal harpist Dickie Fleisher. She has also soloed with the Philharmonic Baroque Ensemble, performing the Bach Suite No. 2 in B Minor in 1995, 1996 and 2002.

Kirton has been an adjunct professor at Florida International University for several years, has freelanced extensively in the Miami area and maintains a private studio in Naples. She may be heard on CD in Music Minus One's Bolling Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio.

Kirton and her husband are proud parents of a daughter Giszelle and son Iain. They also have three loquacious African Grey Parrots, two dogs and a cat. Kirton has been principal flutist of the Naples Philharmonic since 1993.

Hailed by Montréal’s La Presse as “nuanced and singing,” Ryan Little was appointed as Principal Horn of the Naples Philharmonic in April 2017 by Music Director Andrey Boreyko. Born in Burke, Virginia to a musical family, he began studying piano at age 3 before switching to viola, trumpet, and eventually to horn at the age of 10. Ryan received his Master of Music degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in 2017 where he studied with William VerMeulen of the Houston Symphony. In 2015 he received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University where he studied with Gail Williams and Jonathan Boen.

Ryan has performed as Guest Principal Horn with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Frankfurt Radio Symphony, and has also performed with the Chicago Arts Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Florida Orchestra, Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, and the Utah Symphony. He won Second Prize and the Gretchen Snedeker Prize at the 2013 International Horn Competition of America. In 2014, he was selected as a finalist for the International Horn Society’s Premier Soloist Competition in London, England and at the Aeolus International Competition for Wind Instruments in Düsseldorf, Germany. As a concert soloist, he has performed with the Naples Philharmonic, Northwestern University’s Baroque Music Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Ensemble, l’Orchestre de la Francophonie (Montréal), and the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra.

During the summers Ryan has performed at the Britt Music & Arts Festival, Grant Park Music Festival, and the Sun Valley Music Festival. He also participated as a fellow in the Castleton Festival, Lucerne Festival Academy, National Orchestral Institute + Festival, l’Orchestre de la Francophonie, Spoleto Festival USA, Tanglewood Music Center, and YOA Orchestra of the Americas. Ryan performs on an instrument made in 2012 by Karl Hill of Rockford, Michigan.

Si-Cheng Liu, cellist, is currently an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Cost University and Florida Southwestern State Collage and the music director of Upper School Chamber String Orchestra at the Community School of Naples. 

She has played with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra regularly since 1995 and is also a member of the Naples Piano Quartet, which has been very active in the Southwest Florida area, playing in a number of venues including “Live at the Promenade!” by the Bonita Spring Arts Center for the past five years, as well as concert series at various churches and country clubs. The group has also toured China, performing concerts in Nanjing and Beijing, which were broadcast live nationally by CCTV, China’s national television station. She is also the cellist of the Apollo Piano Trio, has performed in Sanibel Island Big Arts concert series, and Naples CAPA concert series. During the summer, Si-Cheng goes to Chautauqua Institution, NY for all kinds of cultural activities, including concerts, chamber music recitals, operas, theater, cello and violin master classes and lectures, and has played with Chautauqua symphony Orchestra.

For many years, Si-Cheng has been heavily involved in music education in the Southwest Florida Region, where her cello students have won top prizes at the Naples Music Club Scholarship Auditions, All-State Orchestra Auditions, NPO Concerto Competitions, and awards at summer music camps. Some of her students have gone on to pursue their music careers at major conservatories in U.S.  

Si-Cheng received her Bachelor of Arts from the Nanjing Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music from UMKC, and the Artist Diploma from Duquesne University. Her major cello teachers include Ann Martindale, principal cellist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

 

Jordan Nashman's CV

James Patterson has been praised by some of the most respected critics in the United States, including Andrew Porter, who called him “a bass to watch — sonorous and beautiful in timbre” (New Yorker) and John Rockwell of The New York Times, who gave Mr. Patterson special praise for his performance as Fafner in the Seattle Opera production of Wagner’s Ring.

Since beginning his career as an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera in 1983, Mr. Patterson has given over 150 performances with that company, including the roles of Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Fafner in the widely acclaimed Ring cycle, and the King of Egypt in Aida with Leontyne Price.

He has performed extensively throughout Canada, singing a variety of major roles with Canadian Opera Company and the opera companies of Manitoba, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, and Ottawa. Mr. Patterson’s career has also taken him throughout the United States, with highlights including roles with Chicago Lyric Opera, Seattle Opera, New York City Opera, San Diego Opera, Miami Opera, and Michigan Opera Theatre.

International highlights include roles with the Netherlands Opera, performances of Peter Sellars’ iconic Don Giovanni in France, and concerts in Madrid for the New York City Opera.

Mr. Patterson’s concert repertoire is extensive, and includes engagements with the Boston Symphony, the Seattle Symphony, the San Jose Symphony, and the Detroit Symphony, and at Carnegie Hall in a concert performance of Handel’s Semele with Marilyn Horne and Kathleen Battle.

His connection with opera in Florida goes back to the late 1980s in Miami and Orlando and Mr. Patterson had the honor of being featured as Angelotti in Opera Naples’ Tosca which was their inaugural production. In subsequent years he has performed multiple times with the company, including Sarastro and The Speaker in The Magic Flute, Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin  and most recently as Il Re in Aida

Since beginning his teaching career in 1995 Mr. Patterson has taught voice to hundreds of students both privately and at multiple universities in Michigan and Florida. Many of his students have gone on to distinguished careers both nationally and internationally in performing arts, education, and music therapy.

John Phillips is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario where he received his undergraduate degrees in both Music and Education. He pursued a Masters Degree in Music Education at Boston University and is currently a PhD candidate at York University in Ethnomusicology. He attained an Artist Diploma in trumpet performance from the Western Conservatory of Music.

While at Western, Phillips taught undergraduate conducting and graduate music education classes. He has also been an instructor for both the University of Toronto and York University in the faculties of music and education.

In the fall of 2015, Phillips retired from UWO and moved to Florida. He served as Artistic Coordinator and General Manager of the Southwest Florida Symphony for three years and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Symphonic Chorale of Southwest Florida.

Phillips was responsible for the curriculum review, revision, and implementation of the Arts at the Ministry of Education for the Province of Ontario. He has also served as Principal and Instructor of the in-service music teacher training programs at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

In demand as a clinician and consultant, Phillips shares his unique brand of music education through workshops with State and Provincial Music Educators’ Associations, the National Association for Music Education, and as a presenter at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Throughout his career, he has participated in numerous initiatives with Music for All including the National Concert Festival, the annual Summer Symposium, and the Bands of America Grand Nationals. He has recently been added to the Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician roster.

Phillips has adjudicated music festivals and events in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Indonesia. He regularly guest conducts honor bands across Canada and the United States. For twenty years he conducted the Wind Ensemble at the National Music Camp of Canada and was recently a guest conductor at the International Music Camp. Phillips has served as Judge Administrator for Drum Corps International since 2000, and was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame, Class of 2015.

Dr. Jennifer Piper is an award-winning flutist, pedagogue, and orchestral musician, receiving Honorable Mention in the 2021 American Prize Instrumental Solo Competition and Winner of the Flute New Music Consortium’s Flute and Electronics Competition in 2020. She teaches flute, music appreciation, and chamber music at Florida Gulf Coast University and previously taught at Central Michigan University, the University of Hartford, and Delta College.

Prior to her move to Florida, Dr. Piper performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Midland Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Canton (OH) Symphony, and the Ohio Light Opera company. She also served as an Associate member in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, collaborating with some of today’s most sought-after conductors and musicians including Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Chen, and Sir Andrew Davis.

Please visit www.jenniferthepiper.com for more information.

Dena Register is a seasoned music therapy clinician, educator and program development specialist. She is pleased to support the FGCU music therapy program as an adjunct professor.

Prior to joining the Bower School of Music in this capacity, she designed and implemented the music therapy program at West Virginia University, serving as the director of music therapy from 2015-2018, and was an Associate Professor in the music therapy program at the University of Kansas from 2003-2015.  Additionally, she served as the Director of Faculty Programs in the Office of International Programs and a Faculty Fellow in the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Kansas.

Dr. Register earned B.M., M.M., and Ph.D. degrees in music therapy from the Florida State University.  Prior to her teaching career, she worked as a private practice music therapist in Tallahassee and Tampa, Florida providing services to early intervention programs, students with special education needs, bereaved children and adolescents and battered women and children. She also provided internship supervision and coordinated the music therapy program at Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee, FL. 

In 2009, Register was awarded a Council for International Exchange of Scholars-Fulbright Scholar award to teach and conduct research at Mahidol University, College of Music in Thailand. She developed the “Therapeutic Uses of Music” training to build awareness and appreciation of music therapy as a discipline among medical and education personnel. To date, she has trained more than one hundred professionals, initiated numerous clinical services sites and offerings and consulted on research projects across Thailand. She developed and launched the first music therapy Masters degree program in Southeast Asia at Mahidol University in 2013 and continues her work there as a consultant, teacher and researcher.

Her consulting work in the US is primarily centered on the recognition of music therapy by state governments and the recognition of the MT-BC credential as the required credential for all practicing professionals. Register has served as the Regulatory Affairs Advisor for the Certification Board for Music Therapists since 2006, where she works with music therapists across the country on obtaining this professional recognition. She delivers training to students and professionals alike on the importance of advocacy for the profession.

Mary Griffin Seal is a pianist and music faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University where she currently teaches Class Piano. 

Ms. Seal majored in music at Hartt College of Music and Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, where she received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in piano performance, and was elected to membership in Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society.  Noted teachers have included Watson Morrison, Edith Stearns, Anita Gelber, and Robert Steinbauer. 

She performs frequently as both piano soloist and accompanist for choirs, singers and instrumentalists. She has also served as a staff accompanist for the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.

Since 1992 she has been an active member of Southwest Florida Music Teachers Association and Florida State Music Teachers Association, serving in many capacities, including local and district president, state president, and state foundation chairman.    She is also a member of the music faculty at Florida South Western State College, teaching Applied Piano, Class Piano, and serves as primary staff accompanist for the music department.

Robin Shuford Frank, pianist, is Chorus Master, Music Administrator, and Director of Educational Outreach for Opera Naples, for which she also serves as Musical Director for youth productions. She engages Southwest Florida’s youth through the company’s Student Apprentice Program, Elementary In-School Tours, Resident Artists Program, and community outreach performances. An accomplished pianist, she serves as the rehearsal pianist for Opera Naples’ main productions and performs in numerous concerts and events. Aside from her work with Opera Naples, Frank is the accompanist for The Festival Singers of Florida and frequently performs with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and The Naples Players.  An Adjunct Professor in the Bower School of Music at Florida Gulf Coast University, she has a Masters degree from Westminster Choir College in Accompanying and Vocal Coaching and a Bachelors degree in Music Education from The Florida State University.

M.M. in Bassoon Performance (University of Southern California, 1988)

B.M. in Bassoon Performance (St. Olaf College, 1986)

Principal Bassoon, Naples Philharmonic

2^nd Bassoon, Grand Teton Music Festival

Formerly Assistant Principal/2^nd Bassoon San Antonio Symphony and Florida Symphony Orchestra; Member of the Executive Board, International Double Reed Society

Courses Offered: Applied Music Bassoon

Recordings: The Music of Julius Weissenborn; Fiesta at the Philharmonic; A Night in the American West

Matthew Sonneborn earned a B.M. degree from the New England Conservatory. Matt is in his 30th year as Principal Trumpet with the Naples Philharmonic. He has been a frequent soloist with the orchestra performing Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Hummel's Concerto for Trumpet, Copland's Quiet City, Leopold Mozart Concerto, and the Florida premiere of James Stephenson's Concerto for Trumpet. Matthew also performs in the Pops series, and with the Naples Philharmonic Brass Quintet.

During the summers Sonneborn performs on occasion at the Grand Teton Music Festival, with the Baltimore Symphony and with the Colorado Music Festival. He has played under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, André Previn, Simon Rattle and Leonard Slatkin.

Helen Tintes-Schuermann is a versatile singer-actress who regularly performs in opera, oratorio, concert and musical theater. Tintes has sung with numerous USA and European companies, including Gulfshore Opera, St. Petersburg Opera (Fl), Chicago Opera Theatre, Light Opera Works (Chicago), F-M Opera (MN), Gran Teatro del Liceu (Barcelona, Spain), Staatstheater Kassel (Germany) and Theater an der Wien/Raimund Theater (Vienna). An international operatic highlight was performing with Gwyneth Jones in Strauss’ ​Elektra (Third Maid) ​at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, Spain.

A sought-after concert artist, Tintes has appeared as soloist with numerous European festivals (Monte Carlo Festival, Ascona Festival, Bodensee Festival and Fest in Hellbrunn/Salzburg) and with orchestras, fine arts series and universities throughout the USA. Her performance in Verdi’s Requiem (Augusta/USC Symphonies) was praised: “Surely in heaven there is a mezzo soprano who constantly sings that opening phrase of the Lacrymosa as beautifully as Tintes-Schuermann sang it” (The State/South Carolina).

Recent engagements include performances with Gulfshore Opera in Verdi’s Rigoletto (Giovanna) and La Traviata (Annina), as well as Handel’s ​Messiah​ with the Ft. Myers Mastersingers (FL) and concerts with the SW Florida Symphonic Chorale (​“Sing-Out​”and “​Mass Appeal”)​. In summer 2020 she appears in The Sound of Music (Sr. Sophia) with Broadway Palm Dinner Theater. Upcoming 2020-21 performances include concerts at St. Leo University (FL), St. John Evangelist Catholic Church’s Concert Series (FL), as well as the Gesellschaft für Musiktheater and St. Peter’s Catholic Church (Krypta Series) in Vienna, Austria. 

Tintes is a recognized master teacher, who has taught at important universities and conservatories, including the Music and Arts Private University of Vienna (MUK), Northwestern University, USC (Columbia, SC) and Ave Maria University. Through the prestigious Erasmus (European Union) program, she has performed and given masterclasses throughout Europe (Austria, Spain, Hungary, Estonia, Finland, Greece) and has also performed and taught in China. She is a resident of Southwest Florida, where she is teaches voice and related course at St. Leo University (Tampa, FL) and maintains a voice studio (Vienna Voce). She is delighted to join the Voice Faculty at FGCU this fall.

Paul Votapek has been a member of the Naples (FL) Philharmonic since 1988 and was chosen by Music Director Christopher Seaman to be its Principal Clarinetist in 1996. He has appeared as soloist with the Naples Philharmonic on five occasions. At the request of Music Director Keith Lockhart, he spent the 1998-1999 season as Acting Principal Clarinetist of the Utah Symphony. As a chamber musician he has performed at the Pine Mountain, Kairos and Marrowstone Music Festivals. Paul has released a CD of the Concert and Contest Collection for Clarinet with his father, Ralph Votapek. In 2012 Paul performed at the International Clarinet Association Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska. He been an adjunct music faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University since 2007.

Paul received his bachelor and master's degrees from Northwestern University where he studied with Clark Brody and Robert Marcellus. He has completed doctoral classes and recitals at Florida State University where he studied with Frank Kowalsky.