School of Music

Faculty and Staff

The School of Music at Cleveland State is proud of its reputation for personal, individualized attention to the academic and musical needs of its students. Many of the more than fifty faculty members either perform or conduct with the region’s most notable professional ensembles, including the Cleveland Orchestra, while the award-winning composition faculty guides one of the most complete programs of contemporary music study in the nation. The School of Music is also proud of its professional support staff of specialists, guiding and assisting students and faculty throughout the academic year. Along with musical opportunities that can only be found in a great artistic city, outstanding instruction and support by an engaged faculty and staff has provided Cleveland State students with the educational foundation needed to distinguish themselves as performers, composers, teachers and scholars throughout the world.

Administrative Staff
  • Kate Bill, Student Recruiter/Enrollment Administrator
  • Valerie Mathis, Administrative Assistant
  • John Powell, Audio Engineer, Coordinator of Audio Services
  • Heather A. Russell, Director, School of Music, Associate Professor, Coordinator of Music Education
  • Michael R. Solema, Facilities Coordinator and Stage Production Specialist
 Artists in Residence
Brass
Composition & Theory

Click here to view the Music Composition webpage!

Jazz Studies
  • Dan Bruce, Applied Faculty, Electric Guitar, Jazz
  • Alfredo Guerrieri, Applied Faculty, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass - Pop & Rock and Jazz
  • Joe Miller, Applied Faculty, Jazz Trumpet
  • John Perrine, Professor, Saxophone, Coordinator of Jazz Studies
  • Bill Ransom, Applied Faculty, Drum Set
  • Jackie Warren, Applied Faculty, Jazz and Piano
  • Chris Vance, Applied Faculty – Jazz Bass, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar - Pop & Rock, Pop & Rock Ensemble Director
Music Education
Music History / Ethnomusicology / Jazz History / Roots of Rock & Soul
Percussion

Click here to enter the Percussion Department's website!

Piano/Organ/Jazz Piano
Pop and Rock
  • Alfredo Guerrieri, Applied Faculty, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass - Pop & Rock and Jazz
  • Bill Ransom, Applied Faculty, Percussion
  • Chris Vance, Applied Faculty – Jazz Bass, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar - Pop & Rock, Pop & Rock Ensemble Director
Strings & Guitar

String

Guitar

  • Dan Bruce, Applied Faculty, Electric Guitar, Jazz
  • Alfredo Guerrieri, Applied Faculty, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass - Pop & Rock and Jazz
  • Brent Hamker, Applied Faculty, Electric Guitar
  • John Karkosiak, Applied Faculty, Electric Guitar
  • Brian Kozak, Applied Faculty, Guitar
  • Chris Vance, Applied Faculty – Jazz Bass, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar - Pop & Rock, Pop & Rock Ensemble Director
Voice / Choral / Opera
Woodwinds
Emeritus & Emerita
  • J. Heywood Alexander, Professor Emeritus, Music History
  • Albert Blaser, Professor Emeritus, Music Education
  • Elizabeth Unis Chesko, Associate Professor Emerita, Voice
  • Judith Eckelmeyer, Professor Emerita, Music History
  • Ernest Hisey, Associate Professor Emeritus, Voice
  • Edwin London, Professor Emeritus, Composition
  • Howard Meeker, Professor Emeritus,  Director of Instrumental Music
  • Howie Smith, Professor Emeritus, Jazz Studies, Composition, Woodwind Faculty
  • Eric Ziolek, Professor Emeritus, Composition, Former Chair, Department of Music, Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences