Meet Our Faculty
Dryer Music School Faculty
Kellis Dryer
Owner, Piano Instructor
Kellis Dryer has been teaching piano students of various ages and
levels since 1988. She has maintained a studio of
over forty students and has taught piano, music theory, and
music appreciation courses at the college level. She enjoys
teaching beginning students all the way through advanced
students who are studying major concert repertoire. Several of
Kellis' students have gone on to major in music and have become
successful piano teachers and performers.
Kellis holds a Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance and
Pedagogy with a minor in Harpsichord from Illinois Wesleyan
University and completed her Master's coursework in Musicology
at Ohio University. She studied piano with celebrated master
teachers R. Bedford Watkins and Thomas Hecht.
Although Kellis plays and teaches many types of music, she especially enjoys playing music composed by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin. Kellis has an academic interest and fondness for Baroque performance practices, particularly in the music of J.S. Bach. She enjoys playing Baroque and Renaissance music on clavichord and harpsichord.
Kellis is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, North Carolina Music Teachers Association, Raleigh Piano Teachers Association, and the Boston Clavichord Society.
Email Kellis at kdryer@dryermusicschool.com.
Richard Dryer
Owner, Clarinet & Saxophone Instructor
Richard Dryer has been teaching clarinet and saxophone students since 1990. He enjoys teaching students of all levels and focuses on solo repertoire and technical skills, but also assists his students with band and orchestral music. He is an accomplished chamber ensemble coach and provides opportunities for his students to participate in small ensembles. Many of Richard's students have successfully auditioned for District Band and the Triangle Youth Music ensembles. Several of his students have gone on to be active performers and successful music educators.
Richard received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Butler University and his Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Kent State University. He studied with master teachers Achille Rossi, Dennis Nygren, and Ron deKant. Richard served as a member of the US Air Force Band of Flight where he played in the concert band and in the Contemporary Clarinet Quartet and served as sound technician for the brass quintet. He is currently the Band Director and Electives Department Chair at Thales Academy in Apex and routinely performs with Carolina Clarinet and the Tchaikovsky Virtuosi.
Email Richard at rdryer@dryermusicschool.com
David Prodoehl
Double Bass, Electric Bass, & Piano Instructor
David Prodoehl is a professional musician with excellent academic and performance credentials offering up-beat, quality lessons to children and adults. With over 25 years of performance experience, he's friendly, patient, kind, and willing to structure your lessons to fit your goals and needs. David enjoys teaching music of many styles, and will gladly find or arrange "special request" pieces for his students to learn.
Born into musical mid-western family, Dave began Suzuki piano lessons at age three. By elementary school, he was learning both piano and bass. His primary Bass teachers were Dan Armstrong of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Jack Budrow and Lenny Finkelshteyn of the North Carolina Symphony. Dave holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University of Wisconsin, and a Master of Music degree from East Carolina University. To round out his formal education, Dave studied with renowned pianist and organist Wolfgang Rubsam at Lawrence University, and with Janette Fishell at E.C.U.
David has taught at the college level, including at E.C.U, N.C. State University and Pitt Community College. He loves working with brand new beginners too. He has also taught in local public and private schools. Dave is an active member of the Cary-Apex Piano Teachers Association.
Performing and touring with many outstanding orchestras and musicians in the Triangle area and beyond keeps Dave musically active. These have included the North Carolina Symphony, Raleigh Symphony, Carolina Philharmonic, Capital String Quartet, churches, rock bands, and chamber music ensembles.
Email David at dprodoehl@dryermusicschool.com
Jenny Zhou
Violin & Viola Instructor
Jenny Zhou (Violin, Viola) began her teaching career in a highly regarded private performing arts school for children and young adults in Chengdu, China, soon after she graduated from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. There, she taught many students from 5-year old beginners to college-entry high school students. She also worked in a film recording studio for many years until she came to the United States in 1990. She then won a scholarship to West Virginia University where she continued her studies in violin performance and string pedagogy. She came to North Carolina in 1998 and Raleigh became her hometown where she began to run a very successful violin teaching studio. Her students range from 4-years old to adult. In addition to teaching, she is also a violinist with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, Triangle Chamber Orchestra, and the Carolina Philharmonic.
Email Jenny at jzhou@dryermusicschool.com
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