Preparatory Music Faculty

         Master of Music

         Violin Performance

         Bachelor of Music

         Violin Performance

About:

A native of Michigan, Mr. Clifford began his violin studies at age six. Many of his formative years were spent studying at the University of Michigan School of Music with Robert Culver.  His summer studies include Interlochen International Music Camp, Meadowmount School, and Encore School for Strings. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and his Master of Music degree in violin performance from the University of Miami. His teachers include Daniel Majeske, Stephen Majeske, David Cerone, David Updegraff and Glenn Basham. Patrick was principal second violin with the National Chamber Players, and has performed with the North Carolina Symphony, the Knoxville Symphony, the Florida Grand Opera Orchestra, Miami City Ballet Orchestra and the Naples Philharmonic. He has performed throughout South and Central America and continues to perform solo and chamber music recitals here in south Florida. He is currently assistant professor of violin and viola at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where his position includes being first violinist in Quartetto Stringendo, the quartet-in-residence at the university, the founder/director of the Preparatory Department, founder/director of Stringendo School For Strings and the concertmaster of the Palm Beach Atlantic Symphony. As a pedagogue, Mr. Clifford has been teaching privately for twenty five years and teaching full time at the university level since 2000. Mr. Clifford’s travels as a clinician at conferences, judge for competitions, and master-class instructor have taken him throughout the United States, South America and Asia. Mr. Clifford performs on a violin previously in the collection of Mischa Mischakoff bearing the name Matteo Goffriller 1720. He currently resides in Lantana, Florida with his wife Belen who teaches violin and viola in the Preparatory Department, is second violin in Quartetto Stringendo, and their two children Nathan and Joanna.

         Bachelor of Music

         Violin Performance

          Bachelor of Music

          Violin Performance

Born in Havana, Cuba, Belen began studying the violin at age eight, attending the Manuel Saumell Conservatory and studying with Alla Taran. At age thirteen Belen was accepted to the Esteban Salas Conservatory in Santiago de Cuba. She completed her studies there receiving the certificate of performer/professor of violin and viola. During this time she competed nationally in the Amadeo Roldan Competition and was awarded first prize, second prize, and two honorable mentions. She was also a member of the Symphony Orchestra of Santiago de Cuba. She then entered the Institute of Fine Arts in Havana where she completed her studies in violin performance. While in Havana she was a member of the Camerata Brindis de Salas and the National Symphony Orchestra first violin section. After emigrating to the United States she attended the University of Miami where she received her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance. She has performed as a member with the Miami City Ballet Orchestra, the Florida Grand Opera Orchestra, the Boca Pops, and was a per service member of the Naples Philharmonic. She also is second violinist in Quartteto Stringendo, the quartet-in-residence at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She currently teaches violin and viola in the Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Music and Fine Arts Preparatory Department as well as the Stringendo School for Strings Summer Academy. Mrs. Clifford enjoys teaching and the relationships she develops with her students. Many of her students hold leadership positions in the area youth and school orchestras and have won numerous competitions here in Palm Beach county and throughout the state of Florida. It gives her great satisfaction to watch her students as they succeed musically, academically as well as personally.

            Bachelor of Music

            Violin and Viola Performance

      Bachelor of Music

      Violin Performance

Renata was born in Havana, Cuba. She began her musical education in Manuel Saumell Conservatory when she was 8 years old with Ala Taran, a teacher from the Ukraine. Miss Guitart graduated High School from the Esteban Salas Conservatory in Santiago de Cuba, where she earned the Teacher and Player of Violin Certificate in 1989. She was then awarded a full scholarship to continue her studies in the Higher Institute of Arts in Havana. Miss Guitart participated in Competitions within the Santiago de Cuba winning the 3rd Prize in 1984 and the 2nd Prize in 1987. She also won the 3rd Prize in the National Competition in 1987. Renata has been playing in professional orchestras since she was 14 years old. She toured the country with the Easter Symphony Orchestra. From 1992 – 1995 she was concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba as well as a member of the prestgious Camerata Brindis de Salas Chamber Orchestra. In 1994 she toured Spain with performing also in the Autumm Festival of Madrid. In 1995 she emigrated to the United States where she received a scholarship to finish her musical studies in the University. While studying at the University she earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in both Violin and Viola Performance. She studied with Glenn Basham, Robert Rozek and Pamela McConnell. She has performed with the Boca Pops Orchestra, the Florida Philharmonic, Symphony of the Americas, and the Miami Symphony with which she performed in Carnegie Hall. She currently performs with the Naples Philharmonic, the Palm Beach Opera, she is the violist in Quartetto Stringendo the quartet-in-residence at Palm Beach and is on the Faculty of the Palm Beach Atlantic University Preparatory Department. Atlantic University of Miami of Miami Province.

       Bachelor of Music

       Violin Performance

Kelsey Lin was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her love of music began at a very early age when she begged her mother to take her to cello lessons. Eventually she traded in her cello for a much smaller instrument, the violin. Over the years Kelsey participated in many music festivals such as the Florida State University Summer Music Camps, Brevard Summer Music Festival, Indiana University Summer String Academy, and Domaine Forget Summer Music Festival. During those festivals Kelsey studied violin with Austin Hartman violinist in the former Biava Quartet, Helmut Lipsky violin professor at the University of Montreal, and Marie Berard, violin professor at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. During these festivals Kelsey also participated in ensemble practice. At Brevard she was placed as the principal violinist of the Transylvania Symphony Orchestra, and was also placed in the elite Il Solisti group. She participated in many string ensembles receiving instructions from the Biava String Quartet and the Nash String Quartet. Kelsey has also been asked to play in many master classes with great violinists Oleh Krysa, Regis Pasquier, Elmar Oliveira, and Mimi Zweig. While attending high school at A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. High School of the Arts, Kelsey was selected to play in the Florida All-State Orchestra for three consecutive years. She also soloed with her high school orchestra and was concertmaster on occasion. Currently Kelsey is the El Sistema Director at U.B.Kinsey/Palmview Elementary School of the Arts and mentors at Jupiter Middle School. She is also on faculty at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Preparatory Department. Kelsey is dedicated to creating and sharing music with people of all ages in PB County.

       Bachelor of Science

       Elementary Education,

Susan Snow is an American violinist who was raised in Lakeland, Florida. After several years of piano lessons, Susan took up the violin at the age of 10 and spent her middle and high school years attending arts schools, earning yearly positions in Florida’s All-State Orchestra, and serving as Concertmaster for both her high school symphony and All-county orchestras. For her college years, Susan continued her education at Palm Beach Atlantic University where she received a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Music. During these years, Susan studied classically with Patrick Clifford. After graduation, Susan was presented with the unique opportunity to tour, record, and perform with the rock group, ‘Dashboard Confessional’. For 3 years, Susan toured all over the states, Canada, and Australia, playing electric violin. She also accompanied the group during performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’brien, and The Today Show. Her time with the band culminated in a sold-out show at Madison Square Gardens in NYC, which was filmed for a PBS special. In an effort to combine her 2 passions, teaching and violin, Susan joined the faculty of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Preparatory Department . Since joining the faculty in 2007, Susan has enjoyed instructing private students, teaching ensemble/theory classes, facilitating group lessons at nearby schools, and working with students at the Stringendo School for Strings summer camp. Susan’s hope as a violin instructor is to instill in her students a lifelong dedication to and passion for the violin while having fun along the way! In an effort to combine her 2 passions, teaching and violin, Susan joined the faculty of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Preparatory Department. Since joining the faculty in 2007, Susan has enjoyed instructing private students, teaching ensemble/theory classes, facilitating group lessons at nearby schools, and working with students at the Stringendo School for Strings summer camp. Susan’s hope as a violin instructor is to instill in her students a lifelong dedication to and passion for the violin while having fun along the way!

       Bachelor of Arts

        Doctor of Musical Arts Cello Performance

        Master of Musical Arts Cello Performance

        Master of Music

        Cello Performance

Hailed by The New York Times as “an elegant and accomplished artist” of “taste, technique, musicianship, and a contagious youthful enthusiasm”, Claudio Jaffé fascinates his audiences with his colorful and passionate virtuosity. As a recitalist and chamber musician, Jaffé has performed in some of the most prestigious concert halls around the world, including the Weill Recital Hall, in New York City; the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires; Sociedade Cultura Artistica in São Paulo; Wigmore Hall in London; and Suntory Hall in Tokyo;  At the age of 18, he made his first appearance as a soloist with a major symphony orchestra. He has also performed throughout the United States with the Delaware, Lexington, Missouri, Pensacola, Jackson, and Columbus symphony orchestras to name just a few. He was a semi-finalist in major International competitions including the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow, Russia; the Gaspar Cassadó International Cello Competition in Florence, Italy; the Naumburg Competition in New York; the Maria Canals International Competition in Barcelona, Spain; and the Viña del Mar International Music Competition in Chile. Jaffé was also selected as Musical America’s Young Artists of 1987. In addition to performing in over 40 U.S. states, Jaffé has been an active educator. He has conducted master classes around the world and has served on the faculty at several music festivals. He was a faculty member at Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University, and for 4 years served as Dean of the Conservatory of Music at Lynn University. He created and directs the String program at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, FL and has been the Resident Conductor of the Florida Youth Orchestra for over 14 years. He is currently Professor of Cello at Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Music and Fine Arts, Preparatory Department, and is on the faculty of Stringendo School For Strings Summer Academy. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Jaffé began his cello studies at the age of seven and gave his first public concert at the age of eleven. His early teachers included Iberê Gomes Grosso, his father Alberto Jaffé, Antonio Guerra Vicente, and Juarez Johnson. At the age of fifteen, he received an invitation by the distinguished Yale professor of cello Aldo Parisot to study in the United States. Subsequently, Jaffé earned his undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees from Yale University under Parisot’s tutelage. Jaffé studied in Master classes and special workshops with great masters of the cello including Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, Tokyo String Quartet, Janos Starker, Nathaniel Rosen, and Ralph Kirshbaum.

      Doctor of Musical Arts

      Piano Performance

       Master of Music

       Piano Performance

       Bachelor of Music

       Piano Performance

       Bachelor of Science in Bible

Dr. Erikson Rojas, has given numerous solo and chamber performances in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, including eight appearances at Carnegie Hall. In each case he has been featured as soloist with orchestra. His recordings have obtained critical acclaim, and as a teacher, lecturer, and church musician, he continues to gain distinction amidst high demand. Dr. Rojas is honored to have been one of five Americans and the only Hispanic in 30 pianists selected worldwide to participate at the Cleveland International Piano Competition. He has won the Ambler Symphony Orchestra Competition, the Outstanding Young Christian Artists Competition, Cuba’s Amadeo Roldán and UNEAC Competitions, among others. Dr. Rojas’s primary piano teachers include Leon Fleisher, Samuel Hsu, Eleanor Sokoloff, and Min Kwon. Studies in conducting and organ were with Gustav Meier and Robert Carwithen, respectively. Other lessons and masterclasses in piano were with Claude Frank, Gary Graffman, Seymour Lipkin, Martin Canin, John Perry, Ilana Vered, Sasha Starcevich, Pavlina Dokovska, Susan Starr, Jorge Luis Prats, Charles Abramovic, and Paul Hoffmann. He is on faculty at Palm Beach Atlantic University, Csehy Summer School of Music, and Sounds of Manhattan International Music Festival and Competition. He also serves as Pianist of the Choral Society of the Palm Beaches and as Music Minister at Royal Palm Presbyterian Church in Southeast Florida, where he resides with his beloved wife Diandra. Hailed as “an impressive performer in his own right… impassioned, hypnotic, insightful…superb tonal control” by the New York Concert Review, and as a “prodigy…Rojas, the piano and the music become one” by the Los Angeles Times.

      Doctor of Musical Arts Piano Performance and Pedagogy

      Master of Music Piano Performance and Literature

      Bachelor of Music

Canadian pianist, Rosalyn Soo Mauldin, originally from Calgary, Alberta, received her Bachelor of Music with distinction from the University of Victoria. She was a fellowship recipient and teaching assistant in piano at the Eastman School of Music, where she obtained her Master of Music in Piano Performance and Literature. Her teachers include Gloria Saarinen, Robin Wood, David Burge, and Tony Caramia. Rosalyn Soo Mauldin completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma, under the direction of Andrew Cooperstock, Jane Magrath, and E. L. Lancaster.

Dr. Soo Mauldin has been featured as a guest artist on radio and television programs, and is a frequent performer in Canada and the United States. Her playing was described on the Nashville Public Radio program Live from Studio C as, “…sparkling technique which she uses to full musical advantage.” She is the recipient of various awards, including art grants from the Robert Spence Foundation and Alberta Culture. She has won numerous competitions, including the Nell Keaton Cooke Competition, the Wurlitzer Collegiate Artist Competition (Oklahoma), and the Alberta Young Artists Competition. Rosalyn Soo Mauldin holds Associate and Licentiate performance diplomas from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Victoria Conservatory of Music, Mount Royal College Conservatory, and the Western Board of Music. She has performed at the National Piano Pedagogy Conference and Music Teachers National Association Convention. In addition, Dr. Soo Mauldin has adjudicated for various competitions, presented recitals, workshops, and master classes for numerous universities and music associations across North America. She also assisted with music ministry during a mission trip with the Iglesia Evangelica Nacional Presbiteriana in Guatemala. Dr. Soo Mauldin has taught on the faculties of Vanderbilt University, Ball State University, Belmont University, Georgia State University, University of South Alabama, and University of Mobile. She has also served on the faculty of the Masterworks Festival, inaugurated by the Christian Performing Artists’ Fellowship. Dr. Soo Mauldin is married to the Rev. Dr. David Mauldin, and they have two sons, Joseph and Daniel.

       Doctor of Musical Arts

       Piano Performance

       Master of Music

       Piano Performance

        Bachelor of Music

        Piano Performance

Award-winning pianist Joseph Kingma, whose sound has been described by conductors as “rich and encompassing, yet delicate and refined,” and “flawless and expressive,” maintains a career as both a performing artist and committed pedagogue. He has won awards in numerous international competitions, including first prize in both the American Liszt Society’s 2017 Franz Liszt International Piano Competition and the Monroe Symphony League’s 2018 Marjorie Stricken Emerging Artists Competition.

He comes to Palm Beach Atlantic University after two years as assistant professor of music at Louisiana College. A pianist with an active performing schedule, he has appeared on recital series, at universities, and with orchestras across the nation, including the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Union University, William Carey University, the Illinois Valley Symphony, and the Spring Hill Orchestra, to name a few. For the 2018-19 season, he has also been invited to perform recitals and conduct master classes at Wheaton College’s Conservatory of Music, Ohio State University, and the University of North Alabama; he will perform additional solo recitals on the Dorothy MacKenzie Price Concert Series (OH), the Good Shepherd International Concert Series (MN), the St. James Concert Series (LA), the Cathedral Concert Series (LA), and the Arts Alive! Concert Series (PA). A versatile musician, Joseph regularly performs as a chamber musician in a variety of genres, including several performances with the Cordova Quartet, violinist Jessica Mathaes, baritone Terrance Brown, and soprano Kameryn Lueng. He often adjudicates competitions, and recently judged the Rapides Symphony Young Artist Competition and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s Frank Hanley Piano Competition. In 2017, Joseph graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with his DMA, where he studied with Anton Nel. Previously, he earned his BM and MM at Rice University under the tutelage of Robert Roux. His earlier teachers include Aviram Reichert, Philip Pletcher, and Elena Arseniev.