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Meet The Instructors

Michael Whittaker

Michael Whittaker

Film Scoring Instructor

After attending UCLA’s film scoring program , Michael Whittaker spent six years as a full time composer and arranger for FOX television. Having scored over 300 television episodes and TV movies including the popular Power Rangers, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The New Addams Family, and Leprechaun 6. Michael has been independently film scoring and producing for companies like Disney, Sony, NBC and Lions Gate Films. In 2011, his theme was chosen as the main theme of the new Disney Family Movies channel. His orchestration and keyboard skill have won many awards such as the Telly award for his score to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, Bank of America Musical Achievement award, International Association of Jazz Educators player excellence award, and the Clarence Brown Memorial scholarship for jazz.

David Shipps

David Shipps

Orchestration Instructor

David Shipps is an active orchestrator and conductor based out of Nashville, TN, where he has worked for almost 20 years.  A graduate of the University of North Texas, David received an intense classical training in composition, studying for two years with one of America’s most prominent female composers, Dr. Cindy McTee.  As an orchestrator, David has had the opportunity to work alongside some of the entertainment industry’s brightest composers in the areas of film, television and videogame scores, such as John Debney, Trevor Morris, Heitor Pereira, Sarah Schachner, Carter Burwell and John Paesano.  Projects have included notable game franchises such as Call of Duty, Madden, Destiny 2, Mass Effect and Marvel’s Avengers.  David has also worked on movie and television titles ranging from London Has Fallen, the Angry Birds 2 Movie, The Playmobil Movie, Lost in Space, and Vikings.  He has also developed into a well-respected studio conductor, having led ensembles of various sizes on dozens of film scoring projects over the last several years.

Jesse Nemitz

Jesse Nemitz

Technology Instructor

Jesse began his career in technology working as an IT network administrator and consultant for clients such as Gateway, Notre Dame University, Eaton Corp and Child Fund. In 2011, he became a full-time music producer, dedicating the majority of his time writing and producing music for signed and unsigned artists out of his studio in Nashville, TN. With his background in computer technology and advanced knowledge of how music technology works, Jesse has become a key advisor and studio designer for many top composers and producers. His expertise makes him a valuable consultant to The Complete Film Composer Course.

Orchestra Instructors

Jimmy Bowland

Jimmy Bowland

Flute

  • Nashville Symphony

  • Vanderbilt’s Blair School Of Music
Grace Woodworth

Grace Woodworth

Oboe and English Horn

  • Nashville Symphony
  • Austin Symphony
  • National Repertory Orchestra
  • Faculty at Belmont University
  • University Of Texas at Austin
Emily Bowland

Emily Bowland

Clarinet

  • Chattanooga Symphony

  • Nashville Opera Orchestra

  • Orchestra Kentucky

  • Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and University of Southern California
James Lotz

James Lotz

Bassoon

  • Professor of Music at Tennessee Tech University

  • Nashville Symphony

  • Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra

  • Yale University And University Of Tennessee
David Davidson

David Davidson

Violin

  • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
  • Nashville Recording Orchestra
  • Florida State University
Anthony Parce

Anthony Parce

Viola

  • Nashville Symphony
  • New World Symphony
  • New England Conservatory and Rice University’s Shepherd School Of Music
Emily Nelson

Emily Nelson

Cello

  • Vanderbilt’s Blair School Of Music
Quentin Flowers

Quentin Flowers

Double Bass

  • Belmont University
Steve Patrick

Steve Patrick

Trumpet

  • Nashville Symphony
  • Knoxville Symphony
  • Chattanooga Symphony
  • Indiana University
Jennifer Kummer

Jennifer Kummer

French Horn

  • Nashville Opera
  • Gateway Chamber Orchestra
  • Nashville Symphony
  • Western Illinois University and University Of Southern California
  • Horn Instructor at Lipscomb University
Jeremy Wilson

Jeremy Wilson

Trombone

  • Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Vienna State Opera
  • Professor of Trombone at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music
Neil Konouchi

Neil Konouchi

Tuba

  • Chattanooga Symphony & Opera

  • Nashville Symphony
  • Berklee College Of Music and University of Southern California