New Faculty for 2025-26

While I have been a member of our campus community for almost a decade, I am thrilled to begin this next chapter at Ithaca College as a MYRN faculty member in the Department of Music Education. My journey to Ithaca was many years in the making and my love of this institution is deeply personal.

As a young boy I recall my parents sharing many anecdotes about their incredible experiences in the Portland (CT) High School Band led by Eric Osterling (Ithaca College class of 1946). Mr. Osterling was a student of the late Walter Beeler and his legendary career in my hometown spanned 34 years. Truth be told - my parents met in band class so I suppose Mr. Osterling played a small part in my very existence! As you might imagine, joining the band was a directive, not an option in our household! Fast forward a number of years, three degrees, eleven years teaching band in the public schools in CT and NY, many honor band jobs, and four+ years of teaching in higher education - the rest is history. I am profoundly proud of my degree from our college and humbled to continue my work on the faculty of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. The success of our graduates, the artistry and scholarship of our faculty, and the rich and industry-leading history of our school serves as a constant source of much inspiration and pride. I am grateful for this opportunity to continue collaborating with our students and world-class faculty as we advance our mission together.

Dr. Ísis Jarnicki de Carvalho is a spinto soprano, voice instructor, and director from Brazil. Dr. Carvalho enjoys curating collaborative recitals in diverse styles, genres, languages, and cultural traditions and performing the traditional repertoire for her Fach . Dr. Carvalho is committed to championing the performance of works by women composers from the 19th to the 21st centuries and promoting low-cost or free-of-cost accessible attendance experiences for audiences with disabilities.

Her recent performances include an all-women composer recital at Women’s History Through Storytelling: An Interdisciplinary Event at the University of Tennessee Southern in Pulaski and (Not So) Well-Mannered Women, a musical tribute to bold, assertive, and resilient women who have been misjudged, mistreated, and erased throughout history. She has also performed as the soprano soloist in Symphony No. 2 (“Resurrection”) by Gustav Mahler and in Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos during her tenure as a Visiting Instructor of Voice at Concordia College at Moorhead, MN.

On the operatic stage, Dr. Carvalho has performed in American productions of Glory Denied (Old Alyce), Albert Herring (Lady Billows), Hänsel and Gretel (The Mother), The Magic Flute (2nd Lady),and Orpheus in the Underworld (Public Opinion). Brazilian performances include Maria Tudor (title role), Suor Angelica (The Nursing Sister), L’occasione fà il ladro (Ernestina), Master Peter’s Puppet Show (El Trujamán), and Trial by Jury (The Plaintiff). Dr. Carvalho's original staged production of Liana Alexandra’s Chant d’Amour de la Dame à la Licorne , a chamber opera for soprano, cello, and piano, contains accessible features and can be watched here.

• DA in Voice Performance with secondary emphasis in Musical Theatre,
• Ball State University (2023)
• MM in Voice Performance, Indiana State University (2018)
• BM in Voice Performance, School of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná in Curitiba, Brazil (2013)
• Graduate Certificate in Chamber Music Performance,
• School of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná (2012)
• BM in Piano Performance, School of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná (2008)

Composer Nicolas Chuaqui has been praised for his "sharp and precise imagery" (The Utah Review ) and recognized as a composer of depth and imagination. Most recently, he was winner of the Khorikos ORTUS International New Music Competition and winner of the Bernard Rogers Prize from the Eastman School of Music for his orchestral work Cantus .

Equally at home in acoustic and electroacoustic settings, Chuaqui composes music for a broad range of performers, all of which is influenced by his fascination with musical memory, time, and impression. He has had fruitful collaborations with orchestras (The Albany, Oregon, and Riverside Symphonies), chamber groups (Unheard-of Ensemble, Ensemble Rosario, and the Arditti Quartet), vocal ensembles (Schola Antiqua and The Crossing), individuals (Jason Hardink, pianist), an opera company (New Voices Opera), and many others. His works incorporating technology have been premiered at the SEAMUS National Conference, International Computer Music Conference, Diffrazioni Multimedia Festival (Florence, Italy), and others. Through this activity, Chuaqui is steadily building a reputation as a gifted and sought-after collaborator on an international level.

Chuaqui is a dedicated and passionate teacher of composition and technology. He holds a doctorate in composition from the Eastman School of Music, where his primary teachers were Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, David Liptak, and Robert Morris, and he also holds degrees from Indiana University and Dartmouth College. In addition to teaching and composing, Chuaqui takes an active role in the performance of new music, having founded New York-based Become New Music, an organization dedicated to presenting the music of living composers in which he frequently performs as pianist, vocalist, and conductor.

Miguel Flores got his BA in Music from California State University Los Angeles. Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, he has been a theatre professional for the last 25 years. He has worked in opera, theatre, dance, new works, and music education. He a Music teacher at a public high school, in California, for two years before returning the LA theater scene as a stage manager before traveling the US to ASM Operas. He moved to St. Louis for 4 years to work as an Associate Production Manager before moving to New England to be in other Production Management roles at theaters such as North Shore Music Theatre, MIT Department of Music and Theater Arts, and most recently, The Huntington Theatre. He continues as a freelance PSM for local operas, dance and other events.

Robin Guiver is a professional actor, movement director, and educator with over two decades of experience in theatre, film, and television. Originally from London, he trained in Lecoq-based physical theatre before expanding his career into film and television, working on major international productions across both mediums.

Robin’s theatre credits include performing in the original West End cast of War Horse as an actor, puppeteer, and movement associate; performing and coaching for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony; appearing at the London International Mime Festival in the award-winning production Light ; and touring scripted and devised work across the UK and Europe.

On screen, Robin has worked both in front of and behind the camera. As an actor, he played Chistery in Wicked , appeared in Doctor Who and numerous award-winning short films, and is widely recognized for his performance in Dear Brother, the viral Johnnie Walker advertisement hailed as one of the greatest commercials of all time.

Behind the scenes, Robin founded Performance FX , a specialized training company that prepared actors for complex performance challenges in the UK film industry. From 2015 to 2023, he recruited, trained, and directed performers, ensuring seamless integration between live-action actors and digital or animatronic characters. His expertise was instrumental in bringing animated characters to life on major film projects, including Wicked , The Little Mermaid , Fantastic Beasts , and many others.

Robin has also worked extensively as a freelance movement artist and puppeteer in the film industry on projects including Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire , Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom , Star Wars Episodes VII, VIII & IX , and Gravity .

Alongside his performing career, Robin has taught and coached actors at institutions including Cornell University, Rose Bruford College, and the London International School of Performing Arts, with a focus on screen acting, movement, and devised theatre. His teaching bridges classical acting techniques with modern industry demands, preparing students for the evolving landscape of theatre and film.

At Ithaca College, Robin is excited to share his extensive industry knowledge with students, empowering them to develop their craft, build meaningful industry connections, and navigate artistic careers with confidence.

American soprano Julie Liston Johnson is well known for her rich, shimmering timbre, technical brilliance, and diverse repertoire encompassing opera, concert, and recital. Dr. Liston Johnson is a soprano, pianist, choral conductor, stage director, and educator with a love for both classical music and music theatre. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice performance and opera from The University of North Texas, a Master of Music degree in voice from The Juilliard School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in voice performance from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN).

Julie has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall, Teatro Communiale di Bologna, Alice Tully Hall, Meyerson Symphony Center, Trinity Church Wall Street, and Durham Cathedral where in in 2019 she sang the soprano solos in Verdi’s Requiem . Most recently, Julie sang the soprano solo in Brahms Requiem at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas as well as the lead role of Ellida Wangel in a workshop premiere of The Lady from the Sea , based off the novel by Henrik Ibsen at both at Symphony Space and National Opera Center in New York City.

Dr. Liston Johnson has served on the voice faculty of The University of Texas Arlington and The Juilliard School Extension Division, and was awarded teaching fellowships both at The Juilliard School and The University of North Texas. Further studies include Bel Canto at Caramoor and a full fellowship at Aspen Music School. Julie presented the subject of her dissertation Pieces of 9/11: Memories from Houston by Jake Heggie, in July 2022 at the NATS National Convention in Chicago and is preparing additional performances for the fall of 2026 in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the attacks, to be presented both in Texas and New York City.

Julia Hamilton-Louey is excited to return to Ithaca College after a year of researching and writing as a Fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities and Visiting Scholar at the Eastman School of Music. She has previously taught at Ithaca College, where she was Visiting Assistant Professor of Musicology from 2023 to 2024, and Columbia University, where she was Core Lecturer in Music Humanities from 2021 to 2023. Her scholarly research focuses on the intersections of music, gender, race, and antislavery politics in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. She has published an article and a book chapter on British women’s domestic music-making as a form of abolitionism and her current book project is provisionally titled Musical Abolitionism: Debating the British Slave Trade in Song. 

Amanda Morton is an award-winning music director, writer, and educator who has worked on Broadway as well as several notable regional theatres such as the Wilma Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse, and Goodspeed Musicals. She is the music supervisor for a new adaptation of Anne of Green Gables by Matte O'Brien and Matt Vinson as well as Picnic at Hanging Rock by Greta Gertler Gold and Hilary Bell. She also serves as music director for the forthcoming Broadway production of Crazy Rich Asians being adapted by Helen Park, Amanda Green, Leah Nanako Winkler, and Tat Tong. As a writer, Amanda was awarded a 2023 Pew Grant in the area of Contemporary Expressions of Culture & Identity to develop an original piece that investigates her experience as an adopted Korean American through the lens of satire and musical comedy. Wishing To Grow Up Brightly will be produced this Fall in the Philadelphia region at Theatre Horizon. Amanda is an active mentor for MUSE (Musicians United for Social Equity), whose mission is “to challenge systemic acts of exclusion and support musicians as we transition to a more diverse and inclusive environment for all.” She has a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Performance from Ithaca College.

Broadway credits: Tommy , Gutenberg! The Musical! , KPOP . Other select credits include: Diary of A Wimpy Kid (by Kevin Del Aguila, Michael Mahler, and Alan Schmuckler), Other World (by Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, and Ann McNamee), Music Director/Conductor/Keys 1 for the first national tour of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical ; RENT (Paper Mill Playhouse), Into the Woods (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), The Appointment (Lightning Rod Special), The Bridges of Madison County (Philadelphia Theatre Company), Anne of Green Gables (Goodspeed Musicals, The REV Theatre Co.), Passing Strange (Barrymore award recipient, Wilma Theater), KPOP (Ars Nova), A Period of Animate Existence (Pig Iron Theatre Company), The Color Purple (Barrymore award recipient), Peter and the Starcatcher, A New Brain, Into the Woods (Barrymore award recipient), and Spring Awakening (Theatre Horizon), Do You Want A Cookie? (Bearded Ladies Cabaret), A Year With Frog & Toad (Barrymore award nominee), The Secret Garden, Passion, and Parade (Arden Theatre Company).

Dr. Luis Gallo Quintero is a Colombian oboist and educator with an active career in solo, orchestral, and chamber music. He performs frequently with ensembles across Florida and Georgia, including the Naples Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, and Tallahassee Symphony. Internationally, he has performed at world-renowned venues such as the Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), and Konzerthaus (Vienna).

Dr. Gallo is a member of the Civitasolis Reed Quintet, a 2021 Coltman Chamber Music Competition prizewinner, dedicated to expanding the reed quintet repertoire through new commissions.
As an educator, he has led masterclasses throughout the U.S. and Colombia and taught at Florida State University, where he earned D.M. and M.M. degrees along with certificates in Music Theory Pedagogy and College Teaching. He also holds B.M. and B.S. degrees from Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

Amanda Spooner (she/her/hers) has been an educator at Ithaca College for 6.5 years and, in her time with the school, designed and launched the BFA in Stage Management program. Amanda has worked professionally on Broadway, off-Broadway, and throughout the country -- her specialization is in the development of new plays and musicals. She is the founder of the grassroots campaign Year of the Stage Manager, the Director of Education for the Stage Managers’ Association, an ambassador for the Parent Artist Advocacy League, and is an active volunteer at Actors’ Equity Association. Amanda received her MFA from the Yale School of Drama, her BA from San Francisco State, and her AA from Las Positas College. She is most proud of being a parent to her son, Jack.

Clara Warnaar is a percussionist, composer, and educator based in New York City. Clara is a member of the Contemporary Ensemble and has appeared as a guest artist with renowned groups such as Yarn/Wire, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, and Ensemble Signal. Her deep interest in new music is evident in her active premiering of new works by emerging and interdisciplinary artists, as well as her collaborations with acclaimed composers such as Ted Hearne, Missy Mazzoli, Courtney Bryan, Felipe Lara, Ellen Reid, Ash Fure and Steve Reich.

Her versatility extends beyond the concert hall—Clara has appeared on Broadway in Into the Woods and can be heard on film soundtracks including White Noise, The Fate of the Furious, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She also drums for the electronic rock band Infinity Shred.

On any given summer, Clara can be found teaching at the Interlochen Percussion Intensive, the Sō Percussion Summer Institute, or at the Walden School. She also regularly collaborates with Luna Composition Lab and OAcademy, mentoring next-generation composers as they write for percussion.

Originally from Los Angeles, Warnaar is now based in New York City. Clara completed her musical studies at the Manhattan School of Music and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Outside of music, she enjoys running, cooking, and working on personal creative projects, including an illustrated book and a curated series of experimental releases titled A New Age for New Age, which explores and reimagines the aesthetics of New Age music.