Janet, one of our most tenured instructors, has taught at The Music Center since 1992. She finds value in practice, commitment, and working hard to achieve mutual respect between student and teacher. Janet feels each lesson should be stimulating and informational and encourages her student’s interest in music by applauding their efforts — while ensuring they have the belief to succeed.

Lindsey joined The Music Center in 2023, instructing our Music First Classes. She enjoys sharing her love of music with students of all ages and skill levels. She connects with students by encouraging them to try all forms of music and explore new ways of self-expression. “I especially love working with preschoolers and toddlers, seeing music ignite their imaginations and joy,” adds Lindsey. “There’s nothing purer than seeing a young child discover their love for music.”

Glenn has taught at The Music Center since 2021 and embraces the diversity of his students and colleagues while enjoying a first-class learning environment. He believes in empowering his students and connecting his experiences and expertise with their interests, goals, and personalities. “I balance the student’s focus on technical and analytical skills with creative play and experimentation at the keyboard, aspiring for a holistic approach,” he adds.

Hannah joined The Music Center in 2022 to teach voice and is thrilled to share her abilities with students of all ages and levels. Her goal is to help students explore their unique voices’ beautiful colors and layers, learn to sing with ease, drop the tension, and pick songs that suit them perfectly while presenting a challenge. “Seeing a student discover that lightbulb moment when working on a challenging piece is one of the most rewarding parts of my job,” she explains.

Ted Hogarth joined The Music Center’s Community Music School in 2025, bringing with him a lifetime of musical exploration and artistry. A dynamic performer, composer, educator, and recording artist, Ted specializes in saxophone, clarinet, and jazz improvisation—and thrives on helping students find their unique musical identity.

Dr. Dan Jonas joined The Music Center’s Community Music School in 2025 after relocating to Battle Creek, Michigan. A seasoned trumpeter, composer, and educator, Dan brings decades of experience as both a performer and teacher. He specializes in jazz and classical trumpet and thrives on helping students connect technical skill with expressive performance. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dan holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of Colorado, where he studied with Brad Goode and Dr. John Davis.

Bobby teaches the art of DJing and crafting new digital music through basic music production, song editing, remixing, and developing electronic press kits. His DJ curriculum is designed to equip aspiring DJs with essential skills for success. Bobby emphasizes the importance of gaining experienced in DJ technology, particularly Rekordbox, to efficiently manage music sets and enhance live performances with lighting and technical mixes.

Danae Mollenkamp is a passionate educator and music therapist who recently joined The Music Center (TMC) and the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Watertown, Wisconsin, Danae brings 25 years of piano training and 16 years of vocal training to her students. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy from the University of Iowa, she teaches both beginner and advanced students, offering a diverse and enriching musical experience.

Xiaoxiao Ouyang is a pianist and educator who brings a rich background in both solo and collaborative performance to The Music Center. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from Michigan State University, along with a Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Her accomplishments include winning First Prize at the 2025 Concert Artists International Competition, which included a performance at Carnegie Hall. As a performer, Xiaoxiao has extensive experience as a collaborative pianist, working closely with vocalists and instrumentalists across a wide range of repertoire. She has also served as a lecturer in piano at Hunan Normal University in China, where she developed a strong foundation in teaching students with diverse goals and musical backgrounds. This combined experience allows her to bring a thoughtful, well-rounded approach to her teaching. At The Music Center, Xiaoxiao works with students of all ages and skill levels, focusing on building a strong technical foundation while encouraging musical expression and creativity. “I strive to help each student develop both confidence and artistry at the piano,” she shares. “It’s important to me that students not only learn technique, but also find their own musical voice.” Xiaoxiao has a particular passion for Romantic and late-Romantic repertoire, especially the works of Brahms, and enjoys exploring a wide variety of musical styles. She describes one of her most memorable musical experiences as performing at an international level following a major competition win—an opportunity she found both exciting and deeply rewarding. Outside of music, Xiaoxiao enjoys running, traveling, and discovering new cuisines.

Ellis Perez is a voice instructor at The Music Center who brings a strong background in choral, classical, and musical theatre performance to his teaching. A Battle Creek native and current student at Michigan State University, Ellis has performed with the university’s top choral ensemble and participated in a choral performance at Carnegie Hall. He has also been active in theatre in and around the Battle Creek community for much of his life, shaping a versatile approach to vocal performance and storytelling. At The Music Center, Ellis works with students of all ages and experience levels, focusing on building confidence, vocal health, and a strong technical foundation. He has a particular interest in working with changing voices, guiding students through periods of vocal transition with a focus on healthy technique and long-term development. Drawing on experience across a wide range of vocal registers, he brings a thoughtful perspective that allows him to support students with insight and technical awareness. “I want my students to feel confident in their voices and understand how to use them in a healthy, sustainable way,” Ellis says. “My goal is to equip them with the knowledge and technical skills they need to sing with confidence.” One of Ellis’s most memorable musical experiences was performing Carmina Burana with the Michigan State University Choir and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. He recalls being surrounded by artists who were equally passionate about music and being moved by the power and scale of the sound filling the concert hall. Outside of music, Ellis enjoys spending time with family and friends, supporting their creative endeavors, and caring for his two dogs and three cats.

Cindy began teaching at The Music Center in 2012. Her teaching philosophy includes meeting students where they are skill-wise and strengthening their musical foundation. Cindy’s goal is to instill a passion for music in her students and encourage them to bring beauty into the world through their playing.

Tim began playing the trombone as a 5th grader. After earning his Bachelor of Music degree in performance from Cedarville University, he went on to study at the University of North Texas, where he completed a Master of Music degree in Bass Trombone performance and continued with post-graduate work there. While at UNT, he performed with the Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Symphony, Lab Bands, and the Baroque Orchestra among various chamber groups.

Philip Rugel’s life in music began with a bassoon in his hands and a restless imagination at work. At thirteen he was already writing duets for his lessons; by seventeen he had produced a body of chamber music and an opera bold enough to anchor his senior recital at the Interlochen Arts Academy. That early success carried him to the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Christopher Rouse, Joseph Schwantner, and Samuel Adler, and later to the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau to work with Tristan Murail and Philippe Manoury. Rugel’s voice is shaped as much by the concert hall as by the television glow of his childhood. The symphonic sweep of Sibelius and the intensity of Shostakovich sit alongside the eerie, imaginative sound worlds of The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, and The Outer Limits. The scores of Bernard Herrmann and Jerry Goldsmith, in particular, continue to echo through his work. His output spans opera, chamber music, vocal cycles, and orchestral writing. Highlights include the 2016 Sydney premiere of his opera Purgatory; performances of his song cycles Tilbury Town and A Demon in My View at the University of Texas in 2021; and the 2022 world premiere of his wind quintet Introduction and Fantasia in Seoul. In 2024, Sauro Berti of the Opera Orchestra of Rome commissioned Circadian Rhapsody, now touring across Europe. Most recently, Rugel’s Concertino for Bassoon and Chamber Orchestra was premiered in Kalamazoo in 2025 to an enthusiastic audience response. Beyond composing, Rugel has taught theory and composition, conducted community ensembles, and now serves as assistant conductor and board member of the Recorder Orchestra of the Midwest. He continues to create new work from his home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. https://www.philiprugelmusic.com/

Nora joined The Music Center in 2021, teaching voice and piano to students of all skill levels. She was drawn to the center because of its dynamic approach to teaching while encouraging students to embrace all forms of music. Nora connects with her students by establishing goals and cultivating a plan of action.

Craig has taught at The Music Center since 1996 (before it was even called The Music Center!). He enjoys the diverse music repertoire at the center but also the wide range of students he gets to meet and teach. Craig strives to develop a rapport with all students while embracing their unique personalities and needs. Once a connection is made, he works with each student to map their own woodwind learning journey.

Ed has taught at The Music Center since 2008 and offers specialized instruction on various string instruments, including guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo, and mandolin. His greatest reward is making a breakthrough with a student, allowing their talents to shine, and enriching their life. He adds that learning to play and embracing musical techniques must be exciting and gratifying for everyone. “It has to be fun, or it’s not worth doing.”

Tahmoures has taught at The Music Center since 2019 and was the school’s first entirely virtual instructor. He has also been performing as a soloist and within chamber ensembles for 12 years and teaching privately. Tahmoures takes a flexible approach, basing his instruction on each student’s individual needs. He shares his passion for music with all his students and encourages them to develop their unique musical voices.

Elva has taught at The Music Center since 2021 while living in Michigan and attending Michigan State University. She now teaches virtually for the center from her home in Hartford, Connecticut. Since 2016, Elva has taught flute lessons in private and group settings to students from elementary through university ages with diverse backgrounds and music goals. Passionate about teaching and invested in her students, she fosters strong flute-playing fundamentals and creates a positive space for students to learn and express themselves.