Faculty

Meet the Faculty

William S. Carson

Alma A. Turechek Professor of Music, Chair

B.A., Macalester College
M.M., Southern Illinois University
D.M.A., Arizona State University

Phone: 319.399.8520
Email: wcarson@coe.edu
Bio

Director of Bands; Clarinet, Conducting, Music History

Marc Falk

Professor of Music

B.A., Macalester College
M.M., University of Minnesota
D.M.A., University of Iowa

Phone: 319.399.8629
Email: mfalk@coe.edu
Bio

Learning Commons; Music History

Luke Lovegood Headshot of Luke Lovegood

Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education

B.M.E., Coe College
M.M.Ed., VanderCook College of Music

Phone: 319.399.8521
Email: llovegood@coe.edu
Bio

Coordinator of Choral Music Education; Director of Choral Ensembles, Applied Vocal Lessons

Steve Shanley

Pearl M. Taylor Professor of Music

B.M.E., University of Northern Iowa
M.Ed., University of Minnesota
M.A., University of Iowa
Ph.D., University of Iowa

Phone: 319.399.8639
Email: sshanley@coe.edu
Bio

Coordinator of Music Education; Director of Jazz Studies

Brett Wolgast

College Organist

B.M., Kansas State University
M.A., University of Iowa
M.F.A., University of Iowa
D.M.A., University of Iowa

Email: bwolgast@coe.edu
Bio

Artist-Instructors - String

Madeline Capistran Headshot

Madeline Capistran, M.M.

Violin Instructor | Email

Madeline Capistran grew up in Fargo, ND, and began studying violin with her mother, continuing her studies with Sally O'Reilly at the University of Minnesota. Madeline holds a B.M. from Michigan State University and a M.M. from DePaul University, Chicago, as a student of Ilya Kaler. She was a member of the Northwest Indiana Symphony, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, and attended such summer programs as Musicorda, Meadowmount, and the Colorado College Summer Music Festival. As a soloist, Madeline has performed with the FMSO, on NPR’s "From the Top,” and on WFMT’s “Relevant Tones.” Recent opportunities include subbing with the Minnesota Orchestra. Madeline is a member of the Quad City Symphony, the Des Moines Symphony, and is Assistant Concertmaster of Orchestra Iowa.

Amy Phelps Headshot

Amy Phelps, D.M.A.

Cello Instructor | Email

Amy Phelps earned a Masters in Music in 2004 and the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Cello Performance in 2010 from the University of Iowa, where she was appointed the Teaching Assistant and performed extensively with the Center for New Music. In 1989, she obtained a double-degree in Cello Performance and French Literature from Oberlin College and Conservatory. After her undergraduate education, Dr. Phelps' multiple interests led her to France, where she studied at the Conservatoire National de Région de Marseille. In addition to teaching Applied Cello at Coe College since 2008, Dr. Phelps coaches String Seminar, String Ensemble and Literature and String Pedagogy. She is Assistant Principal Cellist of Orchestra Iowa and section cellist of the Quad City Symphony.

Gretchen Brumwell Headshot

Gretchen Brumwell, M.M.

Harp Instructor | Email

Gretchen Brumwell is the Teaching Artist in Harp at Coe College. An active performer, she serves as principal harpist of Orchestra Iowa and performs throughout eastern Iowa. She has appeared as a soloist with many area symphonies, including Orchestra Iowa, the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony and the Fort Dodge Area Symphony. As a chamber musician, she is a frequent performer on Orchestra Iowa’s Shuttleworth Chamber Series. In addition to her work at Coe, Ms. Brumwell serves as harp instructor at the Orchestra Iowa School, where she also directs the Orchestra Iowa School Harp Ensemble. She received a master’s degree in harp performance from Rice University.

Jessica Altfillisch headshot

Jessica Altfillisch, M.M.

Viola Instructor, Harmony School of Music Coordinator | Email

Jessica Altfillisch is a violist from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jessica has performed across the United States as well as Russia as a freelance musician. In addition to her performing life, she is an Instructor of Viola and Arts Administration at Coe College. She founded the Harmony School of Music, Iowa’s first El Sistema-inspired program. Jessica is a trained Suzuki educator and Iowa licensed teacher. She is a passionate advocate and teacher trainer in music education for social change and has been a presenter to El Sistema USA and YOLA National Symposia. In January 2022 she was named a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education White Accomplice for Racial Justice cohort.

John Hall Heashot

John Hall, M.M.

Bass Instructor | Email

John Hall has a Masters in Music in Double Bass Performance from the University of Georgia. Formerly with the Memphis Symphony, he has been a member of Orchestra Iowa for twenty-four years. Additionally, Mr. Hall taught orchestra for Cedar Rapids Community schools for twenty-two years. He was a recipient of the Iowa String Teacher Association Studio Teacher of the year Award in 2009 and the KCRG A+ in Education Award in 2005. He was a Guest Artist for KCCK Corridor Jazz Project in 2015 and 2021.

Headshot of Tom Nothnagle

Tom Nothnagle, M.M.

Guitar Instructor | Email

Tom Nothnagle is accomplished in a broad range of genres and a number of instruments including classical, 10-string, 12-string, bass guitar, banjo and mandolin. Tom promotes music literacy for all ages and abilities. He's a guitarist's guitarist with a sense of humor, virtuosity, and genre-bending facility based on solid classical technique, and has performed in a wide variety of settings and venues. As a professional musician since the 1970s, Tom creates genre-bending improvisations and compositions rooted in classical guitar techniques. His training is as varied as his musical approach including instruction/ influence from Benjamin Verdery, John Hoffman, Michael Lorimer, Nelson Amos, and Pierre Bensusan.