Chris Soll
Piano, Flute, Theory

Chris has been teaching at Linton-Milano Music since 1991 and maintains over 70 weekly students of all ages and levels. She has been playing music for over 30 years and she has a Master of Music - Theory and Composition, from ASU and a Bachelor of Science in Music - Scoring & Arranging, from the University of Colorado at Denver. She graduated with honors from CU Denver and was nominated as a member of the National Music Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, while at ASU.

Chris holds two recitals per year and encourages students to participate in Linton-Milano Music's Annual Awards Music Festival. Her goal is to teach students to become "musically literate" so that they understand theory, technique, and musical interpretation and are, ultimately, able to read music fluently and expressively. Several of her students have gone on to become professional music teachers themselves.

In addition to teaching, Chris plays professionally at church and private engagements.

Richard Wall
Piano, Voice, Violin, Viola, Theory and Composition

Richard has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Music Theory and Composition, with a theory emphasis, from ASU. He studied piano with Dr. John Metz, Dr. Hamilton Tescalaro, group piano with Dr. Caio Pagano, and theory with Dr. Ellon Carpenter. His undergraduate thesis was entitled: “Tonal progression and retrogression in Gustav Mahler’s Das Lied von Der Erde, “Der Abschied.” Richard is also a DJ with a former residency with La Rogue at Barcelonas in Scottsdale. He has maintained over 60 students for the past 5 years.

Richard is now doing professional recordings - a great idea for the holidays or for keepsake recordings!

Joel Wolcott
Voice, Piano

Joel has his Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Montana. He recently moved from Montana to earn his Master's in Opera Performance at Arizona State University.  He has studied with Dr. David Cody and also spent a semester in Vienna, working under a variety of teachers and coaches. He currently studies with Dr. David Britton.

As an active performer, Joel has sung Basilo in the Marriage of Figaro and more recently Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi. He has also performed scenes from Street Scene, Carmen, The Gondoliers, Eugene Onegin and many others.

Joel has a great love and respect for the power of music. That love is matched by his enthusiasm to teach and his excitement to help his students find the joy and fun of music.

Stephanie Butler
Voice, Piano

Stephanie has a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Northern Arizona University. She has had 8 years of private voice lessons and 5 of piano. She student taught choir and music theory at Red Mountain High School, and is now employed full time by the Mesa Public Schools as a substitute music teacher.

Stephanie is a member of the American Choral Director's Association and the Music Educator's National Conference.

Eric Christopher Perry
Voice, Keyboard,
Guitar, Woodwinds

Eric received his undergraduate education at Fredonia State University and is currently working towards his Master’s Degree at Arizona State University under the tutelage of David Britton.

Perry has performed with Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance Programme, Opera New Jersey, Western New York Chamber Orchestra, Orchard Park Symphony, Fredonia Bach Consort and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2007 he made his debut at the annual Bach and Beyond Festival under the direction of M. Grant Cooper. Perry has previously studied with Thea F. Wheeler, Dr. Gerald Thomas Gray and Dr. Todd Graber. He also received additional musical instruction from Carol I. Crawford, Anthony Laciura and M. Tm Reynish.

In addition to performing, Perry has great passion for teaching and conducting. He has experience in private vocal instruction and musical coaching. He served as a vocal instructor the Academy of Performing and Creative Arts in Utica, NY; the same organization in which he was a multi-instrumental teacher (woodwinds, piano, guitar, percussion) and staff administrator for a summer workshop from 2004-2007. This past summer he piloted a musical theatre intensive workshop for the Academy, which now has expanded into a full academic curriculum. With experience in both choral and instrumental conducting, his major credits include Godspell!, Cabaret and The Rocky Horror Show.

Trisha Wright
Piano, Voice

Trisha was earning money as a composer and accompanist before she ever had a lesson. She taught herself to play the organ in church, played the oboe for 8 years, was on the drum line in high school, was in the jazz band, symphony and choirs - all with no formal training. When she started college, she continued pursuing her love of music as a Choral Education major. Her compositions have been performed in churches and by choirs at Mesa Community College.

Trisha has been teaching piano and voice since 2002. She enjoys hosting opera nights and composer nights for students and fellow musicians. She will receive her Bachelor's degree from Ottowa University in December of 2009.

Melinda Pekrul
Voice, Piano

Melinda Pekrul has a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from Arizona State University. She has studied voice for 10 years and has been teaching since 2003. Her instructors include Linda Spevecek (Choral Composer), Darlene Kliewer-Britton (ASU Faculty, and Claudia Kennedy (current vocal teacher).

Melinda has been a part of many local choral ensembles. She has performed as a soloist in these ensembles and continues to perform in local churches for such events as weddings, funerals and holiday concerts.

Melinda has an enthusiasm for teaching, and loves to see her students progress in vocal quality and performance.

Emily Williams has a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Vocal performance from Arizona State University and a Master’s of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from Brigham Young University. Performance credits include Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief and The Duchess in The Gondoliers.

She has been teaching voice lessons since 2002 and more recently has begun teaching piano and guitar students.

Emily enjoys teaching healthy vocal techniques in any style (classical, jazz, pop, musical theatre) and loves helping students of all ages progress with their vocal goals. She hopes all of her students learn to enjoy and appreciate music as she has.

Rachel has a Bachelor's of Interdisciplinary Studies in Music and English Literature from ASU, and teaches piano, cello, and voice.  She is currently working on her certification as an orchestra teacher while employed as a substitute for the Mesa and Gilbert Public School districts.  She has also participated in a variety of ensembles, ranging from piano accompanist for musicals, choirs and soloists, orchestral and string quartet work, and arrangements for choir and vocal quartet performances.

Rachel places high value in the musical learning process, and delights in helping to guide her students' progress.  Her teaching technique depends on the individual students' needs, but always with a heavy emphasis on music theory and quality of interpretation.

Tony has been an accordion instructor since 1969. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Composition from California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles. He was an active member of the Accordion Federation of North America and is currently a member of the Arizona Accordion Club.

Tony has written, arranged and performed music since childhood. His accordion arrangements have been used in schools across the U.S. One of his many compositions was included as a required competition piece at the annual AFNA Music Festival. As a performer, he has traveled from coast to coast. He has performed with various nationally known recording artists and in prestigious venues in New York and Los Angeles.

As a teacher, his goal is to facilitate musical excellence and honesty. Tony has taught at Linton-Milano Music since 1992.

Diana Noble
Piano, Voice, Violin

Diana has been teaching for over 18 years. She teaches, voice, violin, and piano. She is well-versed and has performed in many venues. Her experience includes opera, broadway musicals, live bands, studio recording, orchestras, ensembles, etc.

Patience and precision are her strengths in teaching. She works exceptionally well with youth and enjoys the creative learning process of teaching one-on-one. She is currently finishing her BA in music education.

Bill began teaching private piano lessons in 1972, and has been at Linton-Milano Music since 1988. He has A.A., B.A., and M.A. degrees from Ohio Valley University, David Lipscomb University, and Scarritt Graduate School. He is a certified teacher and college professor teaching at: Rio Salado Community College, Mesa Community College, Vanderbilt University and Ohio State University. He has served for 25 years as a piano adjudicator and professional pianist.

Bill’s piano studies include: Elsie Zellers Private Lessons 3 years; Janet Pummil (13 performances Carnegie Hall) Ohio Valley University 2 years; Francis Hill David Lipscomb University 2 years; William Hicks (Julliard Graduate) Blair Academy of Music 2 years; Piano teaching mentor Walter Byers (50 years teaching experience) 14 years.

Specialties include: keyboard/piano playing, music reading, sight reading, improvisation, music theory, EZ Play Book playing, Fake book playing and Lead sheet playing.