Meet our Faculty
Founded by Alicia Gregorian Sawyers in 2018, the Grand Rapids Chamber Music Camp has been a destination for students throughout Michigan to further their studies.
Our world class faculty has included teachers from all over Michigan as well as Ohio and New York.
Alicia Gregorian Sawyers, Founder & Director
Cellist Alicia Gregorian Sawyers lives in Grand Rapids, MI and performs with several orchestras throughout the area and around the state. She is the Principal cellist for the West Michigan Symphony, with whom she has soloed several times.
A passionate chamber musician, she has had the opportunity to work with renowned musicians such as Paul Katz, Roger Tapping and members of the Borromeo and Juilliard String Quartets. She has been invited to perform at the Saugatuck (MI), White Lake (MI) and Four Seasons (NC) Festivals on several occasions. Mrs. Sawyers is the Artisitic Director of the Grand Rapids Chamber Music Camp which focuses on getting chamber music into the hands of students of all ages.
A dedicated teacher, Mrs. Sawyers maintains an active private cello studio throughout the year. She has been on the Faculty at New England Music Camp (ME), Blue Lake Suzuki Family Camp (MI), Western Reserve Chamber Music Festival (OH) and The Artists Program (NY). She also serves as a guest artist and clinician at the bi-annual Michigan Cello Festival.
A diverse musician, Mrs. Sawyers was featured in the pilot music videos for the fiddling group, Barrage 8 and has performed with famous artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Stevie Wonder, Sarah MacLaughlin, Johnny Mathis, Kanye West, Amy Grant and The Who. She has appeared in concert at Jordan Hall, Sanders Theater, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall for the Mostly Mozart Festival.
Mrs. Sawyers has spent her summers at various music festivals including the Bowdoin International Music Festival, The Meadowmount School of Music and The Perlman Music Program. She received her Masters Degree from New England Conservatory studying with Natasha Brofsky and her Bachelor of Music Degree from Michigan State University, where she studied with Suren Bagratuni.
Kimia Ghaderi, Violin/Administrative Assistant
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, violinist Kimia Ghaderi has forged an impactful and dynamic career in the realms of solo, chamber and orchestral performance. Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Grand Rapids Symphony, she has performed with many orchestras including The Cleveland Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Akron Symphony. She has appeared as soloist with the Grand Rapids Symphony and has collaborated at chamber music festivals throughout the U.S. and in the Dominican Republic, Quebec, Austria, Italy, and China. Invested in making music accessible to people of all generations in every part of the community, she presented over 60 outreach recitals throughout Northeast Ohio for the ArtsConnect series of Piano Cleveland.
A dedicated violin instructor, Kimia earned complete pedagogical training in the Suzuki Method at the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies and has served on the violin faculty of numerous music programs including Baldwin Wallace University Community Music School, Interlochen Summer Arts Academy, GVSU String Leadership Camp, and El Sistema at the Rainey Institute. She currently has a thriving private studio in Grand Rapids. Kimia earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from Rice University, graduating magna cum laude, and her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Megan Crawford, Violinist
Violinist, Megan Crawford, has been a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony since 1999, and is currently Interim Professor of Violin at Western Michigan University. Before becoming a mother (of 5), she concertized as a soloist and chamber musician. She earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan, and Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music, where she won Concerto Competitions at both schools, in addition to other awards. More recently, Ms. Crawford has been a featured soloist with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Dearborn Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Kent Philharmonic, and the Baroque on Beaver Festival Orchestra. She has performed extensively as a chamber musician, including several recitals at the GRAM Sunday Classical Series, and helped create String Leadership Camp at GVSU, where she was Visiting Professor from 2015-2021. In addition to a successful private studio, Ms. Crawford has previously taught at Calvin College, Western Michigan University, Phoenix Phest, and substitute taught in the preparatory divisions for Manhattan School of Music and Mannes School of Music.
Randall Burghart, Orchestra Conductor
An active singer, conductor, composer and stage director, Randall Burghart is Director of Music and Worship Arts at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids and Artistic Director of the Choral Society of GR, where he takes a special interest in bringing rarely-performed large-scale choral works to the West Michigan community, including the Michigan premiere of James MacMillan’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. He has music directed dozens of musicals, along with numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief. A composer for the stage, he has written incidental music for several stage plays, including original music for Civic Theatre’s SRT production of James and the Giant Peach, an award-winning score for A Little Princess, and a full-length musical, Finding Home. A graduate of Cornerstone University and Michigan State University, Burghart studied composition with Richard N. Stewart, conducting with Charles K. Smith, and voice with Robert Bracey and Stanley Kolk. He and his wife Kristen have four children, who share their parents’ passion for good theatre, spirited entertaining, and fine cooking.
Andrea Gay, Choir Director
Andrea Gay has been teaching, directing, and engaging students at the secondary level for 21 years. She is passionate about sharing the gift of music with the communities she serves and is a student centered educator. She currently is the vocal music educator at Crestwood Middle School, in Kentwood Mi where she directs the 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Choirs, General Music classes as well as the School Musical. During her time there, choirs under her direction have consistently earned Division 1 Ratings as a part of the Michigan School of Vocal Music Association Choral Festivals. She is a past District 10 Co-Manager and is active in this organization. She thoroughly enjoys sharing her teaching knowledge with the next generation of educators and consistently hosts and mentors student teachers from GVSU. She is also the Youth Choir & Handbell’s Director at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, Mi. Andrea holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Central Michigan University with a minor in Choral Direction. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her 2 children and extended family, and enjoys reading. She is also an avid tennis player, a member of the United States Tennis Association, and serves as Captain to her 18+ Weekend Women’s Travel Team. Andrea is thrilled to be serving as the vocal music director for a second year in a row at the Grand Rapids Chamber Music Camp!
Carrie Brannen, Cellist
Carrie Brannen, cellist, is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where she earned her Master of Music degree in performance under the instruction of Astrid Schween, cellist of the Juilliard String Quartet, in 2016. She also holds a Bachelor of Music degree in performance from Western Michigan University (2013), and an Associate of Music degree in music education from Grand Rapids Community College (2011).
Ms. Brannen has appeared as a soloist with the Vintage Parlor Orchestra, Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra, and Kent Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a substitute cellist with the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, and Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Brannen has also been featured on Interlochen Public Radio as a guest on both the “In Studio A with” and “Kids’ Commute” programs.
A dedicated music educator, Ms. Brannen has served as an outreach instructor for the Strings to Schools program sponsored by St. Cecilia Music Center, and specializes in offering private lessons, masterclasses, chamber coaching, and orchestra sectionals to students of all ages and skill levels in the greater Grand Rapids, MI area. She also works part time as a string repair technician for Meyer Music, having joined the company in August 2021.
Dr. Amanda Smith, Violist
Violist, Dr. Amanda Smith is an active orchestral and chamber musician in the West Michigan area. She currently serves as assistant principal with the Traverse City Philharmonic, and can often be seen with the Battle Creek and West Michigan symphonies. While pursuing her Artist Diploma and serving as graduate assistant at Ball State University, she performed with the Muncie and Anderson Symphonies, and served as principal violist for the East Central Indiana Chamber Orchestra. As an advocate for new music Dr. Smith has premiered works by Adam Kennaugh, Mary Jane Halco, Nate Bliton, and Laura Roth. Dr. Smith is also a dedicated teacher maintaining a studio at Ada Conservatory of Music, and is on faculty for Poppen programs in Muskegon. She has spent summers teaching at various camps including the MASTA camp, Music for the Sake of Music summer festival in Green Bay Wisconsin, and is the Director of the Ada Conservatory String Camp. Dr. Smith earned her Master’s degree from Western Michigan University and Doctor of Musical Arts from Michigan State University.
Teresa Bellamy, Violinist
Teresa Bellamy enjoys a multifaceted career in music, combining positions in education, performance, and administration. She maintains a private studio of violin and viola students in Grand Rapids, teaching students of all ages and skill levels. Her students participate in their school orchestras as well as St. Cecilia Music Center’s youth ensembles. As a performer, Ms. Bellamy holds the position of Assistant Principal Second Violin with the Holland Symphony and performs frequently with the West Michigan Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Southwest Michigan Symphony, and many chamber ensembles throughout West Michigan. Recently, she began her role as Orchestra Librarian with the Lansing Symphony. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance from the University of Akron and a Master of Music in Violin Performance from Bowling Green State University.
Susan Crosser, Pianist
Having been privileged to train with Haruko Kataoka, co founder of the Suzuki Method, and having observed Dr. Suzuki teach in person, Susan feels a passion to share the wonderful Mother Tongue approach to learning piano with families. She has raised 4 children in the Suzuki Method, 3 who are now professional Suzuki teachers. She designed, directed and taught the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Suzuki Piano Program for 30 years. Susan is an active member of the Suzuki Association of America, the Music Teachers National Association, Michigan Music Teachers Association, Piano Teachers Forum of Grand Rapids, National Federation of Music Clubs and St. Cecilia Music Center of Grand Rapids. She frequently serves as Suzuki guest clinician in Midwest Workshops and Institutes. Her students are contest winners of scholarships to Music Camps and Major University Music programs and winners of Piano Concerto competitions who perform as soloists with orchestras. Susan’s students accompany choirs, soloists and have become church music leaders, music teachers, recording artists and touring performers as well as doctors, lawyers and dentists who enjoy and play music for life passing that love unto their own children.
Lee Copenhaver, Cellist/Music Theory/Composition
Lee Copenhaver studied music education, cello performance, and music theory at schools in Pennsylvania (Mansfield U.), New York (Ithaca College), and Iowa (The University of Iowa).
Lee taught music theory, ear-training, and orchestration courses at Grand Valley state University for 33 years. He now plays with the West Michigan Symphony and the Holland Symphony and performs with area string quartets. He is also an irregular "on call" musician at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids.
"Dr. C" is a published composer and arranger; his latest work is for mens' vocal quartet.
His ability to turn any situation into stand-up comedy has to be heard to be believed.
Brendan Hollins, Pianist/Violist/Conductor/Music Theory/Composition
Brendan is a sought-after music director who has toured professionally as soloist and music director in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Since moving to Grand Rapids he has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Ballet Company, Opera Grand Rapids, Broadway Grand Rapids, and more. Having shifted his focus to composition and direction he enjoys being on the other side of the stage, directing shows, orchestras, bands, and more. Find him at the park eating fried chicken and pushing his two baby girls on the swings.
As soloist he has performed with orchestras at home and abroad in addition to masterclasses with numerous international artists and pedagogues including Charles du Toit, Jorma Panula, Harold Farbermann, and pianists Alexei Lubimov, Elisabeth Leonskaja, André Watts, Konstantin Scherbakov, Melvyn Tan, and John O'Conor. As a sought-after pianist and music director, engagements include recitals with Ryan Speedo Green (currently performing Champion at the Metropolitan Opera), Opera Grand Rapids, Grand Valley State University's Opera Theatre program, the Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids Ballet, New York City Ballet, and a variety of Broadway tours.
Linda Gregorian, Violist
Mrs. Gregorian has been a member of the viola section in the Lansing Symphony since 1985. In 2002 she was awarded the Commitment to Excellence teaching award by the Okemos Education Foundation. In 2014 she was nominated and on the MASTA ballot for Studio Teacher of the Year Award.
Mrs. Gregorian’s teaching experience includes 13 years as a private teacher in Owensboro, Kentucky, seven years for the Michigan State University Suzuki Program, 32 years for the Okemos, Michigan Suzuki Program, and 17 years as 5th grade Strings Instructor and 6th grade Orchestra teacher for the Okemos Public Schools, retiring from that position in 2011. She served as a Clinician at the Blue Lake Fine Suzuki Family Camp for ten summers, and has been a guest clinician at a number of Suzuki Workshops in the state of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. She spent 32 summers teaching Violin, Viola, and Chamber Music at the New England Music Camp in Maine.
Linda Gregorian graduated with Honors from Michigan State University in 1971 with a Bachelors degree in Violin Performance. She earned a Master of Music in Violin Performance degree from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana in 1982. Her principal teachers included Lyman Bodman, Walter Verdehr, and Delmar Pettys. She has attended prestigious music festivals such as Interlochen National Music Camp and the Meadowmount School for Strings one summer where she studied with Dorothy Delay. She successfully completed Suzuki Violin Teacher Training Units 1A-6 after graduating from college.