CIFA Faculty and Staff
Sue Boyd Price, CIFA Administrator
Wes Cameron (woodwinds, brass)—M.M. (conducting), University of Southern Mississippi. Adjunct instructor at WCU in World Music, Music Technology, Music Literature, and Methods Classes including woodwind, brass, percussion, and strings. Directs the WCU instrumental ensemble. Organist, Heritage United Methodist Church, Hattiesburg.
Dr. Carlos Castilla (guitar)—adjunct guitar faculty at WCU. B.M. Los Andes University in Bogotá, Colombia. M.M. (guitar performance) University of Southern Mississippi. Doctoral studies at University of Southern Mississippi. Former faculty, Music Department of La Universidad del Atlántico in Columbia.
Josephine D'Arpa (voice)—associate professor of music at WCU. B.M. (church music and music education), WCU; M.M. (church music, vocal performance emphasis), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Music director, Court Street United Methodist Church, Hattiesburg.
Dr. Ellen Elder (piano, group piano, CIFA Piano Area Coordinator)—assistant professor of music at WCU. B.M. (piano performance) University of Southern Mississippi; M.M. (piano performance and literature) and D.M.A. (piano pedagogy and performance) University of Michigan. Former faculty at University of Michigan Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program, Schoolcraft College, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Eastern Michigan University.
Dr. Rudy Gatlin (voice) – A.A. Jones County Junior College; B.M. (music education) from William Carey University; M.M. (vocal performance and pedagogy) from University of Southern Mississippi; Ph.D. (music education) from University of Southern Mississippi. Adjunct Voice Instructor at USM; Adjunct Faculty Member, Pearl River Community College. Praise and Worship Leader at Mt. Vernon Congregational Methodist Church.
Dr. Howard Keever (composition, theory, piano)—Professor of music theory and composition, and program advisor of the Winters School of Music at WCU. B.M. (music theory), Eastman School of Music; M.M. (composition) and Ph.D. (music theory), Florida State University.
Dr. Connie Roberts (voice)—Professor of music at WCU. B.M. and M.M. from Louisiana State University; D.M.A. University of Southern Mississippi. Degrees in vocal performance with special studies in choral conducting and opera. Former faculty, Louisiana State University, Belhaven College, Jackson Preparatory Academy, A.P.A.C. Performing Arts High School in Jackson.
Kathy Vail (organ)—assistant professor of music at WCU. B.M. and M.M. (organ performance) from Mississippi College. Directs Carey Carillon (handbell ensemble) and Carpenter's Wood (contemporary Christian vocal ensemble). Organist at First United Methodist Church, Laurel.
Dr. Gene Winters (voice)—Professor of church music and voice at WCU. B.A. (music theory), B.M. (church music/music education), M.M. (church music) from WCU; Ph.D. in music education (vocal pedagogy) from Florida State University. Recipient of the 2002 Mississippi Humanities Council Outstanding Humanities Professor Award. Interim dean, Winters School of Music, 2003-2006.