CMS Albion Faculty

Amy Alcenius (trumpet) Amy is finishing her Bachelor of Music Education degree at Albion College.  Her performing experience includes the Albion College Symphony Orchestra, Albion College Marching Band (Drum Major), Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble and Jackson Community Concert Band. 

Laura Gilbertson (voice) Laura holds a Bachelor of Music Education with a major in voice from Shorter College. She completed a Master of Music and a Doctor in Musical Arts, both in vocal performance from University of South Carolina. She has been a preschool music specialist. She has been a frequent opera performer, including singing with Columbia Lyric Opera. Laura has won several vocal competitions, most recently the District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. A church soloist, she has also directed youth and children’s choirs, and is currently the Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Marshall.  

Scott Grupke (trombone and low brass) Scott holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from Western Michigan University and a Master of Music Performance from the University of Cincinnati. He has been a member of the Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and Lansing Symphony Orchestras, Blue Wisp Big Band, and PsychoAcoustic Orchestra.

Laura Hirleman (clarinet, saxophone) Laura earned her Bachelor of Arts in music from Western Michigan University.  She has been a clarinetist with area concert bands, pit orchestras, community bands, and is a member of Forest Winds Quintet.  Laura is an adjunct faculty at Kellogg Community College, and has ensemble, solo and chamber music experience. She is middle school band director at St. Joseph Catholic School in Battle Creek.

Lia Jensen (piano) Lia earned a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Master of Music in piano performance & pedagogy from Pennsylvania State University. She has a Master of Arts in music history & theory from Pennsylvania State University, and has recently finished a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A prolific performer, Lia has won concerto and scholarship competitions.

Stacy Root (Music First) Stacy has a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Michigan State University with K-12 certification, as well as Level I certification in Gordon Music Learning Theory. She is currently elementary music teacher for Marshall Public Schools. She has taught in other Michigan schools and at Kellogg Community College. Stacy is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and Sigma Alpha Iota.

Lisa Shanks (piano) Lisa is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Albion College. She has performed for Albion College concerts, most recently the College’s Beethoven Series Concerts. Lisa participated in the Con Brio Music Festival performances in Blonay, Switzerland, and the University of Michigan Sonata Sonatina Festivals, as well as the World Piano Pedagogy Conference. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota.  

Edward Swarthout (guitar) Ed attended the Hannibal School of Guitar and has played with Reflection, a Syracuse, NY band. He plays for Marshall Civic Players productions and is a theater technician for Kellogg Community College.

Rebecca Van De Ven (oboe, English horn, beginning piano) Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Wisconsin, and a Masters of Music in oboe performance from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She attended Pierre Monteux School for Conductors and Music Academy of the West. She is an orchestra performer, finalist and winner in scholarship and concerto competitions, and oboe instructor at Albion College.

Man Kai (Alyssa) Wong (violin) Alyssa is pursuing degrees in music and chemistry at Albion College. She is a student of Takeski Abo, concert master of the Battle Creek Symphony. She has played in the Tecumseh Pops Orchestra and in various pit orchestras for musicals. She is concertmistress for Albion College Symphony and a member of Sigma Alpha Iota.