Piano and Voice Lessons

Anne schafer

Anne, who teaches voice and beginner piano has been studying music since the age of four and has been performing professionally since the age of sixteen. She started her intense studies at Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs Senior High School and received her PCCA diploma was well as her high school diploma. During this time she traveled to England and Scotland with the Sunshine State Choir and had choral solos in Sterling Castle, York Minster, and various other cathedrals. She also performed in the jazz, madrigal, and chamber choirs at PCCA during her four years there.

She specializes in Italian aria, has been heavily involved with USF Opera Theater and has studied under the coaching of Dr. Lowe for four years. She has also taken two years of Italian language and studied abroad in Italy, Austria, and France. In addition to her school involvement, she can also be seen performing at various Italian restaurants, city events, and weddings in the area.

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Siri Gundersen

Siri Gundersen teaches violin and piano. She was concertmistress of several of the orchestras she has participated in. She auditioned and was accepted as a part of the Florida All-County Honors Orchestra several times. Over the years, Siri has participated in over 14 different Solo and Ensemble events and has received a rating of superior each time. Participating as principal violinist, Siri has demonstrated brilliant leadership and has led many orchestras/chamber groups to breath-taking performances. She served as the principal violinist/soloist during Riverview High Schools production of “The Messiah.” In 2007, Siri won the “Most Outstanding Soloist” award at the Florida Annual Fiestaval Music Competition. She also won the “Strongest Musician” award at a prestigious award ceremony. In addition, Siri has served as principal violinist in many theatrical productions. After working extremely hard to pursue her musical endeavors, Siri was honored with the Pelican Players Music Scholarship. As an extremely passionate musician, Siri has given lessons for years to many young students in her church community. Currently, she is studying at the University of South Florida as a music education major. She studies under Julliard graduate, Carolyn Stuart. When she graduates, Siri plans to further her education until she receives her PH.D. Then she plans to conduct a professional symphony.

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Shannon O'Connor

Shannon teaches piano here at Bigel Music. Formerly a Pre-Medicine student at the University of Maryland, she recently transferred to the University of South Florida to pursue her true passion, Music Education. She has been playing the piano since age seven, as well as played cello for numerous DC-Metropolitan area orchestras. She has also sang in numerous choirs and high school productions, including her high school's nationally competing show-choir "Showstoppers" and being named vocal director of the high school's regionally acclaimed production "Blast from the Past." Currently a junior and a member of USF's Chamber Singers, Shannon studies under pianist Miroslava Panaytova. Coming from a musical family, she believes music is a part of life everyone grows to love and be a part of, and hopes to help her students grow!

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Amanda Henderson

Amanda Henderson teaches piano, voice, and clarinet. She has played the piano for several years, and is currently studying under Dharshini Tambiah at the University of South Florida in the pursuit of a BS in Music Education. Over the past five years, Amanda has earned superior ratings for every solo and ensemble event, including the Mixed All-State Chorus in 2007. Amanda also has a wide range of theatrical experience having played for and acted in over a dozen musicals including the Sound of Music, Carousel, and The Music Man, to name a few. Collegiate choir experience includes being an active member of the ‘USF Chamber Singers’ (under the direction of Dr. Richard Zielinski) as well as ‘Bel Canto’ (under the direction of Dr. Lynne Gackle). Amanda’s passion is to share her love of music of all forms through teaching others how to sing and play music.

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Porsche Purkett

Porsche teaches violin and piano. She started playing violin at the age of seven and has been in various music festivals throughout her career. Currently Porsche attends the University of South Florida pursuing a degree in violin performance in the studio of Julliard graduate violinist Carolyn Stuart. Dedicated to her community, she has been a member of the First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace’s orchestra for seven years, and has been a member of the All-County Orchestra every year since the 6th grade. She was the concertmistress in 7th and 8th grade of Greco Middle School and was also a member of the All State Honors Orchestra in 8th grade. Throughout high school she as a member of the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestras in which in June of 2007, she performed at Carnegie Hall. She was the concertmistress of King High School her senior year and also received the Master Musician award which entitled her to scholarship money every year along with the Robert Price Music Scholarship for her musicianship. Also, she received a superior rating on several occasions at the annual high school Solo and Ensemble event. Not only has she excelled as a performer, but as a teacher as well. Her passion is to teach because she feels that music should be in everyone's life. There is nothing better than the feeling of accomplishment after hard work and teaching and learning heightens the self esteem giving students a whole new positive perspective on life in general.

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elizabeth nelson

Elizabeth teaches voice and bassoon. Her styles of vocal coaching include classical, musical theatre, and jazz. She has performed extensively throughout Austria, Budapest, Vienna, the state of Florida, and at Rosie O'Grady's Broadway Room in N.Y.C. She most recently made her solo debut with the Florida Orchestra under the direction of Matt Catingub. She was named the outstanding vocalist at the Koger Jazz Festival, University of North Florida, the Lakeside Jazz Festival in Daytona Beach and the Florida State Jazz Festival, Tallahassee, Florida. In 2006 she was the featured vocalist at the Music Educators National Convention in Salt Lake City. She has appeared in various musical theatre and USF opera productions, including The King & I, Medea, A Midsummer's Night Dream, Cinderella, and Annie Get Your Gun. She is also a bassoonist in the USF Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Her methods of teaching bassoon include focusing on proper technique, musicianship, and reed making. Elizabeth has been heard on WFIT radio's jazz programming in Melbourne, Florida. She has performed with the internationally acclaimed Satellite High School "0" Hour Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Orchestra. She is currently a member of the professional choral group the “Richard Zielinski Singers”, a featured soloist with the University of South Florida Chamber Singers and has been a soloist at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, St.Petersburg, Florida. She currently attends the University of South Florida as a Performance Major. She hopes that her passion about music and teaching will help improve children’s lives.

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