Our Faculty

Kristopher Hale is a passionate musician, performer and teacher, with over 30+ years of playing and 19+ years teaching students of all ages and levels. Mr. Hale has both a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Guitar Performance and a minor in piano performance in 2003 and a Master of Arts in Music Performance/Pedagogy with a concentration in guitar in 2005. Along with his classical training, Kris has studied Advanced Jazz Guitar Improvisation at Berklee College of Music.  Hale also teaches Classical, Jazz, Rock, Blues, Bluegrass, Country and Oldtime and plays many other plucked/strummed instruments such as Bass Guitar, Banjo, Dulcimer, Mandolin and Ukulele. Kris has taught privately at Barry's Music, Blue Note Music, A Little Knight's Music and Hayden Music and is currently an Adjunct Professor of Music at Radford University and Roanoke College and has also served on the faculty of Virginia's Governors School for the Arts, Emory & Henry College, University of Lynchburg and Virginia Western Community College.  Contact us today to start studying with Kris!

Camellia Delk has been playing the violin for 26 years and the viola for 22 years. She received her B.S. in music from Radford University in 2005 and was concert master of the Chamber Orchestra. After graduating she attended a week long class in Washington D.C., Every Child Can, for the Suzuki Violin Book 1. Over the past 12 years Camellia has performed with the Valley Chamber Orchestra and toured/recorded with various rock bands in the states and over seas. Currently she plays violin/viola with Thrasher United Methodists in Vinton and plays weddings and special events. She loves to pass on her knowledge to others. 

 Becca Haynes is a vocalist from Franklin County, Virginia. Her musical history began at a young age, and consisted of performing folk, bluegrass, and contemporary music with her father. In fifth grade, she began performing in her elementary school choir. From there on choir became her passion. She continued to perform in choral ensembles through her senior year of high school. She has participated in All-District and All-State Virginia ensembles, and is currently in two ensembles at Radford University. After pursuing her Associate’s Degree at Virginia Western Community College, she came to Radford to study Vocal Music Education. She is expected to graduate in December of 2019. The Music Education program at Radford has provided her with extensive knowledge of healthy vocal production and basic piano techniques.

  Van  Hofmann has been playing drum set since he was eight years old, and has sat in with a variety of Blues, Folk, and Rock groups in North Carolina’s Greater Triad Area. He served as Drum Major of the Glenvar High School Marching Highlanders and been exposed to quality  marching percussion education through that ezperience. He currently studies Music Education at Radford University and is the drummer for the Jazz Combo.    

Kathryn (Katie) Elswick is a native of Grundy, VA and a 2006 graduate of Grundy High School. She graduated with a BA degree in music education at Morehead State University (MSU) in Morehead, KY in 2011 where she was principal flutist of the MSU Symphony band and studied conducting with the renowned Dr. Richard Miles. Katie has also taught general music, concert and marching band for Dickenson and Buchanan County Public Schools. Katie is a recent graduate of Radford University where she received her MA in Music and studied conducting with Dr. Wayne Gallops. During her time at Radford, Katie served as the graduate conducting assistant to the RU bands and was the 2017 Concerto competition recipient. Katie has been featured as a flutist in performances all over the United States, Europe, and Spain. 

Ariel Somoan Austin is from Roanoke Virginia and a senior who will be graduating in the spring of 2020. At Radford University, she is studying music education with the goal of one day become a college band director. Her primary instrument is the flute which, she is currently studying under Peter Shanahan. She plays in the Radford University Symphonic band, directed by Wayne Gallops and the Flute Choir, directed by Peter Shanahan. She also serves as Vice President, Membership and Treasurer in Sigma Alpha Iota. 

Stephen Marion is originally from Buchanan, VA and a 2009 graduate of James River High School. He graduated with a BA degree in music education and Summa Cum Laude Latin honors (3.99 GPA) at Radford University in Radford, VA in 2018 where he was principal trombonist of the RU Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Jazz band. He studied conducting with the renowned Dr. Gallops and piano performance with world-class performers Kwan Yi and Sooyun Yun. Stephen has also taught general music, concert, and marching band for Montgomery and Pulaski County Public Schools during his coursework and student teaching. During his time at Radford, Stephen performed close to 50 separate performances spread between professional concerts, pep band performances, and jazz concerts held on campus grounds. Stephen specializes in Trombone, Trombone w/F attachment, Euphonium, and Piano while having a solid working knowledge of all band and some stringed instruments. 

Stefan Castro is a trombonist from Charlottesville, VA. He began playing trombone in 2003, and graduated from Albemarle High School in 2010. He then spent a year at Piedmont Virginia Community College, where he continued to take lessons from Steve Layman, and play in the Charlottesville Municipal Band. He started attending Radford University, taking lessons from Dr. Dayl Burnett. He was section leader and performed in both the top Wind Ensemble and Concert Jazz Ensemble during his time there, and played in various chamber groups. After finishing his Bachelor's degree in Music Education in 2014, Stefan started teaching elementary music and beginning band at Fallon Park Elementary in Roanoke City. After three years, he switched to Roanoke County. He is currently in his fourth year of teaching, working at Fort Lewis and Green Valley Elementary. Stefan plays and performs with many different groups in southwest Virginia, including The Let's Dance Band, Slides Rule, Valley Chamber Brass, and Latin Clave, and has performed at various local churches for other concerts and events.