Directors
Dr. Ryan Murphy
Principal Guest Conductor
Ryan Murphy was appointed associate music director of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square on March 27, 2009. In this capacity, he is responsible to assist Mack Wilberg, music director, with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in rehearsals, concerts, tours, and the weekly broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word. He also serves as the conductor of the Temple Square Chorale, the preparatory ensemble for new singers in Choir service.
Dr. Murphy has extensive choral conducting and professional musical theater experience. Prior to his appointment, he conducted six choirs in the Boston area, including two choirs at the prestigious New England Conservatory Preparatory School. He served for four years as the choral director at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, an internationally recognized secondary school affiliated with the New England Conservatory. He was the music director of the Tuacahn Center for the Arts in the St. George, Utah, area from 2005 to 2007 following five seasons as music director at the Sundance Institute in Provo, Utah. While in Boston, he maintained an active performing schedule, including collaborations at the Tanglewood Summer Festival.
Dr. Murphy graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in piano and organ performance and pedagogy. He holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from Brigham Young University and a doctorate in choral conducting from Boston University, where he studied with Dr. Ann Howard Jones.
Ryan and his wife, Jennifer, have four children.
Elizabeth W. Marsh
Camp Director
Associate Conductor of VIVACE Orchestras
Elizabeth Marsh began her musical studies at the age of two and studied cello with local Utah teachers Richard Hoyt, Carey Cheney and Monica Call. While pursuing her master’s degree from the University of Michigan, she studied Cello Performance under Richard Aaron and Amir Eldan. She also studied with Eleonore Schoenfeld and Peter Stumpf at the University of Southern California, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Violoncello Performance.
She has studied conducting with Kenneth Kiesler, Sharon Lavery, and Rotem Weinberg, and has conducted for Northern Utah Youth Ensembles, Vivace Youth Orchestras, and American Heritage Lyceum Orchestras.
Mrs. Marsh has enjoyed a fulfilling career as a cellist, concertizing with professional and volunteer orchestras and as a chamber and freelance musician. She has won concerto competitions on the national level and soloed with symphonies locally and throughout the United States. She currently enjoys performing with Utah’s newest orchestra, the Bountiful Philharmonia.
Elizabeth has taught hundreds of cellists of all ages over the past three decades, many of whom have attended music schools on scholarship and won jobs in professional orchestras. She also authored and published Scale Trail Challenge and Up to the Bridge for young cellists.
One of her favorite musical experiences is performing with her husband, Gregory, in the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square. She has played principal cello for a number of years, and is grateful for this special opportunity to combine her spiritual conviction with her love of music. Elizabeth and Gregory love teaching their ten young children.
Dr. Benjamin W. Gaughran
Guest Conductor
Dr. Benjamin Gaughran (pronounced [gↄk-rәn]) is a dynamic conductor, pianist, singer, and educator with over two decades of experience leading choirs and orchestras across educational, community, and professional settings. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Southern Virginia University, where he conducts the Chamber Singers and Men’s Chorus, and teaches courses in conducting and choral literature.
Gaughran completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Michigan, where he held multiple conducting and teaching roles, including leadership of the Orpheus Singers, Arts Chorale, Women’s Glee Club, University Choir, Men’s Glee Club, and Chamber Choir. He was nominated for the Outstanding Graduate Instructor Award in 2025 and was a Finalist for The American Prize in Conducting.
In 2023, he was selected as a Conducting Fellow at the Chorus America Choral-Orchestral Conducting Academy, one of the nation’s most competitive programs. Dr. Gaughran’s scholarly work focuses on the choral music of Trinidad and Tobago, exploring the cultural impact of genres like the calypso chorale.
A Fellow of the Royal Schools of Music in Conducting, he holds degrees from institutions in both the UK and US. Beyond his professional work, he enjoys traveling, cooking, and time with his family.
For more information, visit www.benjamingaughran.com
Mrs. Denise Willey
Artistic Director of VIVACE Orchestras, Camp Founder
Denise Willey (founder and artistic director of VIVACE Youth Orchestra Program and Vivace Orchestra Camp,) was named Utah Music Teacher of the Year by the American String Teachers Association, and was awarded Utah’s Best of State (Children’s Orchestra and Camp) in 2018. An enthusiast of teaching Suzuki students to read music, she authored the I LOVE To Read Music! ™ literacy program and Easy Steps to Music Reading. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music from the University of Utah. Mrs. Willey has directed hundreds of young musicians from across the country at the Vivace Orchestra Program, Mountains & Strings camps, the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute, and in school and after-school orchestra programs. She maintains a thriving private studio, is a registered Suzuki Teacher Trainer, and has served on the Suzuki Association of Utah board of directors for over thirty years. Mrs. Willey is the mother of six grown children—all of whom have received national recognition for their music—and the busy grandmother of sixteen, nearly all of whom play a stringed instrument. She teaches orchestra at Willow Creek Middle School.
Sydnee Hinrichsen
Camp Manager
A Las Vegas native, Sydnee Hinrichsen began playing the violin at 4. She has performed in venues around the world, and has been invited to be a soloist at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome and Carnegie Hall. After graduating from Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, she began studying Music Education at Brigham Young University. Sydnee has taught over 100 private students, and recently was a guest clinician and performer at Nevada ASTA’s annual “Violin Day.” Sydnee is passionate about music theory and conceptual learning. She currently studies with Monte Belknap and plays a custom made 2019 Jordan Hess Violin.
Instrumental Faculty
Aaron Ashton
Violin, Fiddling
Aaron Ashton (Violin, Viola, Electric Violin) is the sort of musician who lives in classical, fiddle and ethnic genres with equal ease. Aaron’s work work can be heard on the soundtracks of Spartacus, The Seeker, Velveteen Rabbit, and Red Dragon (Silence of the Lambs). Aaron has performed with Peter Cetera, William Joseph, Smokey Robinson, Josh Groban, the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and the Country Music Awards. His accomplishments include “Outstanding Violinist” from The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival; the “Federation of Music Competition college division winner; and “Studio Musician of the Year” Pearl Award. Ashton currently works in Salt lake City as a freelance violinist/fiddler, directs Blue Sky Music Camps, and performs with “The Aaron Ashton Band.” His recently released album, “Split the Difference” is available now at Amazon.com and iTunes.
Erin Bailey
Folk Dance, Orffestra
Erin Bailey loves making music and dancing with children. She has
taught in the Alpine School District as an Elementary Music Specialist
for the last eight years. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from
Brigham Young University and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Western Governors University. She is pursuing certification in the
Orff and Kodaly music education methods. She is excited to bring the
magic of folk dance and the Orff ensemble to the children. Erin enjoys
spending time in the mountains and with her family.
Meredith Campbell
Violin
Amy Lynn Clouse
Folk Dance, Orffestra
Amy Lynn is a mindful, caring, passionate and energetic educator who believes that instilling a love, as well as an ability to create and perform music, is an invaluable gift for our children. Amy began teaching music in 2000 and has taught music to all ages in private, international and community schools in Utah, PA, Hawaii, Venezuela, China and the Czech Republic. She holds a B.S. in Music Education from West Chester University and a M.S. in International Education from Framingham State University.
Amy understands that her diverse experiences, connection to culture and broad perspective is a benefit to her teaching. She believes that when we know who we are and share our individual gifts and passions without fear, we will live in fulfillment and peace. Together we can!
Michelle Hansen
Clarinet, Folk Dance, and Orffestra
Michelle Hansen received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Master’s degree in Clarinet Performance from BYU. She has taught private clarinet and piano lessons for many years and is pursuing certification in Kodaly and Orff music education methods. Michelle has worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines flying between Japan and Newark and also worked as a volunteer storyteller at the Orem Library for 17 years. Michelle taught music in the public schools for 2 years and has hopes to return there someday.
She currently plays with the Orchestra at Temple Square and teaches music classes at the Lindon Community Center and for children with special needs. She also loves to play tennis, cook for her 6 children and husband, and read anything recommended to her.
Randen Heywood
Viola
Randen Heywood has over two decades of teaching private lessons on viola, violin, and cello. He enjoys teaching his orchestra students as all the instruments sound best when played together! Mr. Heywood has a BM in music education from Brigham Young University, a MM in Composition from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in Music Technology from Southern Utah University. He is an award-winning composer and has written three volumes of a music sight reading method book entitled Reading in Rhythm. Mr. Heywood has a growing orchestra program at Frontier Middle School and Cedar Valley High School in Eagle Mountain. He is a charter member of the viola section in the Orchestra at Temple Square and enjoys performing on the weekly broadcasts. He and his faithful and supportive wife reside in Eagle Mountain, Utah are the proud parents of six children. Mr. Heywood also enjoys woodworking, electronic music creation and production, sports, and outdoor recreational activities.
Dr. Kristina Horrocks
Viola
Dr. Kristina Horrocks joined the music faculty of Brigham Young University–Idaho in 2017, teaching applied viola and music theory. Dr. Horrocks was awarded her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Viola Performance and Certificate of Graduate Studies in Music Theory Pedagogy from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. She earned her Master of Music and Bachelor of Musical Arts from BYU and BYU–Idaho respectively. In addition to her university pursuits, Dr. Horrocks has been teaching young violists and violinists for 21 years as a trained and certified Suzuki teacher.
As a performer, Dr. Horrocks has been a member of several professional orchestras and chamber groups. She has performed with orchestras around the U.S., Europe, and China, and is currently a member of Serenata Strings, the BYU–Idaho faculty string ensemble, and the Idaho Falls Symphony.
Kristi Geddes Jenkins
Violin
Performing on the violin for over 25 years, violinist Kristi Geddes Jenkins, from Ogden, Utah, has toured throughout the United States and Europe as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and part of the rock band, Room 102. She was the first violinist in the Aquarelle String Quartet that was chosen as a resident string quartet at both the Deer Valley, and Yehudi Menuhin String Festivals, working extensively with the Muir and Alexander String Quartets, violist, Toby Appel, and cellist, Lynn Harrell. She was a founding member of the professional Kronberg Ensemble located in Omaha, Nebraska. She graduated with a B.A. in Violin Performance from Utah State University in 2008 where she studied with Will Fedkenheuer and the Fry Street Quartet. While there she won the 2007 Concerto Competition, where she then soloed with the USU symphony. She then went on to complete her Masters of Music degree at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2010, where she studied with Rebecca Fischer and Julie Yoon of the Chiara String Quartet. Kristi joined the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra in 2012, where she was the Concert Master for 10 years. Kristi has been a mentor and coach throughout her various chamber experiences and has taught private students since age 16, teaching ages 3 to collegiate. She is currently teaching violin out of her home and raising her four beautiful children.
BekaLara Willey Larrucea
Violin
BekaLara Willey Larrucea will graduate this summer from Utah Valley University, where she has served as concert master and principal violist of the UVU Symphony. Her teacher is Donna Fairbanks. Beka is majoring in Violin Performance.
She won the Hal Campbell 2021 composer competition and soloed with the Orchestra of Southern Utah performing her original composition “Violin Fantasy” this past April. Rebekah has soloed with the Utah Symphony a five times, along with the Debut Orchestra in Beverly Hills, Utah Valley Symphony, UVU Symphony, Timpanogos Symphony, etc.
BekaLara started violin at 12 months with her mother, and also studied with Deborah Moench, Barbara Williams, and Katherine Eberly. She played her first full symphony at age 7, and solo violin in “Fiddler in the Roof” at 12. She won the Utah Prize in the first Stradivarius International Violin Competition, first prize in the Utah Baroque Competition, & 2nd place in the Grand Junction Symphony Competition. She was concertmaster of Utah’s All-State Orchestra, concert master of the Lyceum Philharmonic & Music Festival for ten years, from age 12, and performed in National High School Honors Orchestra and Orchestra at Temple Square.
Beka is also a gifted vocalist. She won 1st place in the Scera Shell Celebrity and NATS competitions, soloed on Puccini with the Utah Symphony, has sung the soprano solos in Messiah, and shared the spotlight on violin and voice with Dallyn Vail Bayles on the American Fork Symphony concert in 2020.
Teacher-trained in the Suzuki method, Rebekah maintains a studio of young violinists/violists, is associate director of Vivace Chamber Ensemble, and is the string coach for the Vivace Orchestra Camp and Mountains and Strings Retreat.
Bryan Lew
Viola
Bryan is a member of the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra since April 2018. Prior to his appointment with the Kyushu Symphony, he was a member of the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra since 2015.
A native of Lehi, Utah, Bryan began studying viola at the age of 5. He graduated summa cum laude from Brigham Young University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree under the tutelage of Claudine Bigelow. Bryan completed his Master of Music degree at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying viola with Atar Arad. Previous festival appearances include Tanglewood Music Center, Spoleto Festival USA, National Repertory Orchestra, the National Orchestral Institute, and Domaine Forget.
An active chamber musician, Bryan won Grand Prize at the 2012 Utah Chamber Music Competition, and he received the Kuttner Quartet Fellowship Award at Indiana University in 2014. As a soloist, Bryan has performed in master classes and recitals throughout Japan, North America, Europe, and China.
Sarah Mano
Music & Movement, Piano
Sarah Mano began studying piano at the age of 5 and violin at the age of 8, studying under Nan Purcell, Robert Smith, Irene Peery-Fox, and Barbara Williams. Named BYU School of Music’s Outstanding Performer, Sarah soloed with several symphonies, including appearances in Venice, Prague, and Utah. She currently performs with Inouye Sisters Six Hands and is working on a project to research, perform, and teach the unique genre of six-hand repertoire to students and teachers.
Ms. Mano has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance and is a nationally certified piano teacher through Music Teachers National Association. Sarah has taught private piano lessons for over 20 years. She finished her Orff levels training in 2010. She teaches early childhood music and movement classes, has presented at several national and local music education conferences, and is past president of Utah Orff Chapter. Beginning a steady yoga practice in 2011, Sarah is a Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT).
Sarah Marshall
Cello
Sarah Marshall has been playing music since age 5. She has a B.A in Cello Performance from Brigham Young University-Idaho and a M.M in Cello Performance from the University of Utah. She studied with Karin Hendricks, Robert Tueller, Elliott Cheney and Pegsoon Whang. Sarah is the Director of Music at Paradigm High School’s in South Jordan and runs a private Suzuki cello studio. Sarah has played with the Orchestra at Temple Square for 9 years and enjoys performing with the Canyon String Quartet. Sarah enjoys traveling and has toured the United States, Canada and Europe with various orchestras. When not making music Sarah loves to run, go to the theater, and spend time with her family.
Eric Noyes
Vocal Specialist, Bass
Eric received his Bachelor of Music degree in choral education from Brigham Young University and his Master of Music Education degree from Central Washington University. He currently teaches choir, guitar, and musical theatre at South Hills Middle School in Riverton. In 2019, Eric was given the Jordan Education Foundation Outstanding Educator Award for his work at South Hills. He loves the awkwardness of middle school students, and finds great joy in providing experiences for teenagers to perform music excellently. Additionally, Eric is active as a director of community choirs, currently working as the Associate Conductor of Utah Voices, a large ensemble based in Bountiful. Previously, Eric served as the conductor of the BYU Russian Choir for three years, as well as an accompanist and member of several university choirs. He also was the associate conductor of Sterling Singers for two seasons. Eric’s musical versatility has provided him opportunities to perform in unique settings such as Hale Centre Theatre, Carnegie Hall and with the ACDA Men’s Honor Choir. Eric and his wife enjoy making music a priority and joy for their three children.
Kaitlin Rackham
Violin
A violin instructor located in Saratoga Springs, Kaitlin Rackham graduated with a Master of Music in Violin Performance from Brigham Young University in 2015, studying under Professor Alexander Woods. She currently is a member of the Orchestra at Temple Square, performs with the Lux Choral Society and Salt Lake Choral Artists, and teaches a robust violin studio.
In addition to coaching at the Vivace Orchestra Camp since 2019, Kaitlin has worked as a Chamber Music Coach for BYU’s SummerFest music program and as a sectional coach for several LYCEUM Orchestras and Summer LMFY. Through private lessons, Kaitlin is building a community of violinists in the Saratoga Springs’ area that will propagate for years to come.
Marcos Da Conceição Rangel
Cello
Marcos Rangel is originally from Rio de Janeiro – Brazil. He is a passionate and dedicated cellist currently teaching private cello lessons at his own cello studio, called Cello Studio Academy.
He began piano lessons at the age of 10. When he was 13 years old, he changed to cello lessons with Lenie Vieira and Marcelo Salles. Cello became his new passion and occupation. Between 2014 to 2019 he worked on and received his Bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance, his Music Education Licensure, and his Post-Graduate degree in Music Therapy.
His cello skills have been enhanced by many cellists around the world. In Brazil, he studied with Hugo Pilger (UNIRI0) and Marcelo Salles (principal cellist of the Opera Theater). He participated in many Master Classes with: Fabio Presgrave (UFRN), Claudio Jaffe (Palm Beach Symphony), Annie Francis Bauless (Utah State University), Dane Johasen (The Cleveland Orchestra), Elise Pittenger (UFMG), Bernhard Löecher (Germany), Martin Ostertag (Germany), Rolland Pidoux (France), Gavriel Lipkind (Israel), and Nina Kotova (Russia).
In 2012, Marcos was selected as a student for the Instrumenta Oaxaca, one of the most important Music Camps in Mexico. In 2013, he participated in the 37º Deutch Skandivavischer Orquestrewoche in Berlin – Germany, with the final concert at the Berliner Philharmonie.
From 2018 to 2020, he became a cellist in the Espirito Santo State Orchestra in Brazil, where he played as principal cellist for several concerts. In 2020, he became a Suzuki Cello Teacher trained in books 1-10 by Shu-Yi Scott and Tanya L. Carey. In 2023, he became a cellist in the Orchestra at Temple Square.
His hobbies include baking, learning new languages, playing fun board games, attending Utah Symphony and Utah Opera Concerts, and world travel. He lives in Herriman with his wife, Alaina Rangel, their 18-month son, Alberto, and their little miniature pinscher, Paçoca.
Madeleine Riding
Violin
Madeleine is a 2022 graduate of the violin performance program at Brigham Young University. She performed as concertmaster of the BYU Philharmonic and played in the Honors Quartet.
In 2018, Riding was awarded the “Best Debussy Performance” in the Great Composers Competition, placed second in the American Protégé International Romantic Music Competition and performed at Carnegie Hall in 2019. In 2023, she was a national finalist for the MTNA Young Artist Performance Competition.
In 2016 and 2017, she played as a first violinist in the NAfME All-National Orchestra. Riding had the opportunity to perform in Italy in 2018. She played in various recital halls, performed in orchestras, and studied with professors from the Arrigo Boito and Milan Conservatory of Music.
She has a great love for teaching and has been building her studio for 10 years. Riding works hard to make it a positive environment for all students to learn and enjoy the violin. In 2021, she was invited to be a presenter and performer at Nevada ASTA’s “Violin Day.”
Outside of playing the violin, Riding enjoys running half marathons, baking sourdough bread, reading and traveling.
Darrin Thiriot
Clarinet
Darrin Thiriot is a Retired Air Force Band (Washington D.C.) clarinetist and Army Premeire Band Conductor. A Member of the Orchestra at Temple Square since 2021, he was also the former Principal clarinet with the Fayetteville Symphony and Clarinet Professor at Methodist University in North Carolina. Currently a Doctoral Candidate in Clarinet at the University of Utah, and he serves as Music Director/Conductor of the Bountiful Philharmonia Orchestra.
Kathryn Troy
Cello
Katie DeLaMare Troy is a cellist and composer whose focus is to bring joy, meaning, and humor to diverse audiences through music. Katie has demonstrated her commitment to increasing classical music’s accessibility through organizing community concerts, performing therapeutic music, and even creating humorous online videos. She was named the Loring Conant Music Practitioner Scholar, which funded her training to become a Certified Music Practitioner to play one-on-one therapeutic music at the bedside of patients in hospitals. As a 2023 DMA graduate from the studio of Dennis Parker at LSU, her current focus is on creating interactive, engaging concerts that push the boundaries of the traditional classical performance.
Miriam Wagstaff
Viola, Violin, Fiddle
Miriam Wagstaff began studying violin at the age of six, adding viola at age eleven. Highlights include performing as All-Star Evening soloist with the Utah Symphony 2016, serving as concertmaster of the Utah All-State Orchestra 2018, and participating as first violinist in the BYU Honors Quartet 2019-2020 season. Miriam has soloed with several orchestras across the state including the Utah Valley Symphony, Orchestra of Southern Utah, Southwest Symphony, and Timpanogus Symphony Orchestra. She has participated in masterclasses with William Hagen, Stephanie Chase, Paul Coletti, Patricia McCarty, James Dunham, and Natalie MacMaster. Previous teachers include Prof. Monte Belknap, Dr. David Dalton, Denise Willey, and Megan Cottam.
Miriam is an award winning fiddler with a particular interest in Irish and other ethnic styles. Miriam was awarded the Utah State Open Championship in 2015, and has fiddled at various venues, including the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and live radio show “Life Under the Horseshoe.” She released an album of folk music in 2022 titled Memory’s Refrain.
Miriam currently works as a freelance musician, and is expanding her private studio of violin, viola and piano students. In addition to her love of music, Miriam enjoys teaching folk dances at youth camps, weddings, and other social gatherings.
Nathan West
Violin
Nathan West started playing violin as a Suzuki student at age 6. He performed regularly throughout his teenage years in his hometown of Pocatello Idaho at nursing homes, retirement centers, community and church events.
After serving a mission for his church, he attended Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Arts, String Emphasis degree. This trend continued as he attended graduate school at the University of Utah, earning a Master of Music in Violin performance. He supplemented his studies at the U with pursuit of a new interest, orchestral conducting.
Nathan’s motivation has always been performing. He has always enjoyed entertaining people of any age and culture with music and showmanship. He has performed solo recitals and in orchestras around the mid-West and several times in Europe. In 2020 he performed in Carnegie Hall with the Park City Singers.
Currently he teaches music and orchestra at Promontory Charter School (grades 5-8) in Perry, conducts the Northern Utah Youth Chamber Orchestra, and teaches private lessons.
Alexander Willey
Double Bass
More faculty information coming soon!
We are hiring the best of the best— many of your favorites from past years and some new faces!
VIVACE Family Music Camp 