Testimonies
“I have always had great admiration for Jill Sprenger’s gifts: she’s a splendid pianist and a remarkable teacher who has had many prize-winning students. How fortunate for Fort Worth that she’s decided to open a conservatory!”
-Shields Collin Brae: Principal Keyboard, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra; Artistic Consultant, The Cliburn
“Advanced piano studies with Jill Sprenger gave me the discipline and structured practice techniques to enable me to attain my PhD and reach my career goal as company leader at an emerging biotechnology company.”
-John W. Colson: PhD, Director of Operations, ClostraBio, Inc.
“I have worked for years with Drs. Kurt and Jill Sprenger... knowing their talents and their commitment to excellence the Fort Worth Conservatory is sure to be a great success!”
-Ron Neal: Director, Dallas Chamber Orchestra
“The years we studied under Dr. Sprenger were invaluable to our growth as players - the skills and confidence he helped us develop continue to provide inspiration and joy as we progress through our careers as professional musicians. Thank you, Dr. Sprenger, for teaching us how to love the music and so much more.”
-Katie Shore & Ross Holmes: fiddle players, Asleep at the Wheel and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
“As faculty members at institutions where I attended the Sprengers were instrumental in my growth. Subsequently as peers in the music industry I still value their professional collaboration.”
-Raimundo Penaforte: composer and former faculty, The Juilliard School
Faculty
KEJI SANCHEZ:
PIANO
Keji Sanchez is currently completing a DMA in Piano Performance at Southwestern Seminary. She also holds MM degrees in Music Theory (Mannes Conservatory) and Piano Performance (SWBTS). As a teacher, Keji has been very active as a piano instructor and has also taught elective piano lessons and music theory at the collegiate level. Many of her piano students are the winners of the Fort Worth Piano Solo Competition, recipients of RCM Center Certificates of Excellence, and gold medalists of Texas State Theory Exams. She has also served as music theory coach at Mannes College in subjects of ear-training, dictation, theory, and Schenkerian analysis. As a soloist, she was the first-prize winner of numerous piano competitions in her homeland. Keji has participated in PianoTexas International Academy & Festival and has studied with renowned artist teachers such as Piotr Paleczny, Robert Roux, Dina Yoffe and Joseph Kalichstein.
BRIDGETTE MCHALE:
DOUBLE BASS
Bridgette McHale is a soloist, orchestral performer, chamber music artist, and private bass teacher. Having started the double bass at 9 years old, Bridgette began soloing and competing nationally a year later when she joined the Empire State Youth Orchestra. As a consistent 4 time winner of the NY Philharmonic Music Scholarship Fund as a senior through University, Bridgette went on to win other solo and orchestra scholarship competitions at Tanglewood, Chautauqua, Luzerne & Round Top Summer Music Festivals where she received intense study with several principle bass players of major symphonies. Bridgette is an alumnus of the renowned music conservatory, Eastman School of Music at University of Rochester where she studied with virtuoso bass soloist, Professor James B. Vandemark and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance. As the first female bassist to enlist and serve in the United States Marine Corps, she expanded her musical knowledge and experience from classical to many other genres of music while performing nationally with the band.
MATTHEW NAZIER:
CLASSICAL GUITAR
Matthew Naizer is an aspiring performer and pedagogue and delights in teaching both beginning to advanced guitar students of all ages. He has an undergraduate guitar performance degree from Texas State University and is currently pursuing an MM in classical guitar with Dr. Will Douglas at Southwestern Seminary. Born and raised in Houston, Matthew's love for the guitar was kindled in third grade when he was handed his first guitar. It was not until high school that Matthew was introduced to the classical guitar and he excelled quickly earning UIL competition medals for solo and ensemble.
BORA KIM:
VOICE: SOPRANO
Bora Kim, a native of Korea, has a Bachelor of Music in voice performance from Chongshin University in Seoul, where she was the recipient of numerous Academic awards. She received a Master of Music in Church Music with a concentration in voice performance from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth as a student of Dr. Angela Cofer, consistently being named to the Dean's List. In 2018 she received the James McKinney Award for Outstanding Performer at Southwestern, the same year she earned First Place at the National Association of Teachers of Singing State Voice Competition in Texas. She currently teaches voice in the DFW area, and is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Church Music with a concentration in Voice Performance.
DR. JILL SPRENGER:
DIRECTOR & PIANO
Dr. Jill Sprenger has earned advanced piano performance degrees from Oberlin Conservatory, Indiana University, and the University of Southern California. Her teachers have included Menahem Pressler, John Perry, and Hans Graf while studying on a Fulbright Grant in Vienna. She is widely sought after as a conference speaker and clinician throughout the world.
Dr. Sprenger was Professor of Piano and Pedagogy at Southwestern Seminary for 24 years where her former Academy grew to 200 students and 26 teachers.
She has been a longtime professional performing musician within the Metroplex and has also maintained a large thriving private studio. Dr. Sprenger has a passion for teaching both beginning to advanced students, many of whom have gone on to attend major universities such as Oberlin Conservatory and Johns Hopkins/Peabody Conservatory.
Dr. Sprenger is currently a US Representative for the RCM Certificate Program, a member of the Royal Conservatory College of Examiners, and a facilitator for their online Piano Pedagogy Courses through which she enjoys mentoring beginning teachers.
DR. KURT SPRENGER:
INSTRUMENTAL COORDINATOR & VIOLIN
Dr. Kurt Sprenger is music director of the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra where he has served since 2002. Dr. Sprenger has also served as artist-in-residence at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently principal violin with the Dallas Chamber Orchestra and the Brazos Chamber Orchestra, and he is active as a studio violinist in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Overseas, he has served as artist-in-residence at the National Conservatory of Italy, conducting opera throughout the country. In addition, he has conducted and recorded with the Warsaw National Philharmonic in Poland. Dr. Sprenger has held faculty positions with universities in Texas, Wisconsin, and California and is active as an educator working with All-Region and All-State orchestras throughout the country. Dr. Sprenger received his DMA from the University of Southern California.
JAN LASSKER:
KEYBOARD EXPLORATION
Jan Lässker has a piano performance degree from Texas Wesleyan University and an enthusiastic passion for music and teaching children to love music. Originally from Switzerland, his love of piano and jazz was confirmed to his parents when he invited his entire kindergarten class to his home for his first concert without their knowledge. After careers as a draftsman and pilot, Mr. Jan eventually returned to his love of music by receiving his college degree and is currently a FWISD elementary school teacher. He lives in Fort Worth with his wife who is a FWISD art teacher and his 5 year old daughter.
SARAH TEICHLER:
KINDERMUSIK & FLUTE
Sarah Teichler is an accomplished performer and well-respected teacher of all ages in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. She holds a Master of Music in Church Music from Southwestern Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music, Wheaton, Illinois. In addition to teaching flute, Sarah is a certified and licensed Kindermusik educator. She loves making music with others, whether in an ensemble of highly skilled musicians, or in a class of toddlers just starting out their musical journey. Making music brings her great joy.
MARK SANCHEZ:
VIOLIN
Mark Sanchez received his Master of Music with a Concentration in Violin Performance at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he taught and conducted the Chamber Orchestra. Mark also performs with the Brazos Chamber Orchestra as well as the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra. During his high school years Mark studied with Eugene Cherkasov of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in preparation for his college auditions. He attended Baylor University studying violin with Dr. Eka Gogigashvili and Dr. Bruce Berg and received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education in 2012. While studying at the University of Houston with Dr. Kirsten Yon he was a music mentor for the Virtuosi of Houston Orchestra as well as taught privately in public schools.
ZOE HOUSE:
ASSOCIATE PIANO
Zoe House has a passion for playing piano and for sharing that joy with her students whom she has taught in her private studio and at the LIFT Schoolhouse. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including 2nd place in Fort Worth Music Teachers Solo Competition. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Degree in piano performance and pedagogy at Texas Wesleyan University with Dr. Ilka Araujo.
JENNIFER KIM:
PIANO AND
COMPOSITION
