Peer Artist Leadership Program

Staff

Program Director/Faculty Mentor

Dr. Marissa Guarriello
Marissa Guarriello currently serves as the Visiting Assistant Professor of String Music Education. She has several years of experience teaching public-school strings to grades 3-12 in Texas and Pennsylvania. During her time at Indiana University, Guarriello was awarded the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning Community Engaged Learner Award for her work with the Bridges Musical Arts Youth Orchestra while she completed her coursework and presented research at conferences. She also enjoyed teaching clinics in local schools and working with the Fairview Violin Project. Most recently, Guarriello served as the Director of Programming for Music for ArtsQuest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where she had the opportunity to work in the music industry as a talent buyer and programmer.  

Guarriello’s current research focuses on the intersection of music industry education in K-12 music programs and the inclusion of creative activities in secondary ensemble classrooms. She has also written several articles, blog posts, and peer-reviewed articles. She co-authored “Hustle to the Start” (2021) and “The Creative String Orchestra” (2020) and co-founded the F-flat Books podcast “Musicast” where she enjoys speaking to musicians and music educators. Her research on Viennese émigré composer Hans Gál earned the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship in 2016. She enjoys collaborating with other teacher-researchers around the country to continue research efforts.  

Guarriello holds a Bachelor of Music Education (BME) from Penn State University and a Master of Arts (MA) in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music.  

Program Coordinator

Jennifer Aikey, PhD Student

Graduate Leader

Anna Tschiegg-Baker: Anna Tschiegg Baker is currently working towards her Master of Music Education Degree at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Ms. Tschiegg is a Maryland native but came to North Carolina to receive her bachelor’s degree in music education at UNCG in 2016. Primarily a violinist, Tschiegg studied with Marjorie Bagley during her undergraduate experience, and is once again taking lessons with her during her graduate studies. Ms. Tschiegg has spent the last three years teaching middle school orchestra in North Carolina as well as playing violin in local pit orchestras, symphonies, and community events. She is a member of the Raleigh Symphony and substitute violinist for various orchestras. Ms. Tschiegg is currently a teaching assistant for the UNCG School of Music and a teacher in the Lillian Rauch Beginning Strings Program and Peer Artist Leadership Program.

Private Lesson Instructors

UNCG Graduate Students
UNCG Undergraduate Students

Program Teachers/Student Bios

Jennifer Aikey: Jennifer Aikey (eye-key) is pursuing a PhD in Music Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she also holds a graduate assistantship. Mrs. Aikey taught Orchestra at Durham Middle School from 2013-2023 in Cobb County, GA. Mrs. Aikey received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Augusta University and received her Master of Music Education from Florida State University. Her research interests include factors of music teacher attrition and retention, incorporating popular music and eclectic styles into school ensembles, and examining experiences of music teachers with exceptionalities.

Mr. Aiden Chestnut is a UNCG student, and violinist pursuing a BA in Music degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Mr. Chestnut graduated from Jacksonville High School in Onslow County and attended Coastal Carolina Community College to begin working on his associate in arts degree. He has attended the Southeast Honors String Festival, and Coastal
Carolina Community Orchestra, and is a member of ASTA (The American String Teachers Association).gam His interests include factors of music teaching, increasing access to music/musical instruments in smaller towns and rural areas, music performance, and music therapy.

Ms. Lyndie Enchautegui (en-chow-teggy) is a senior UNCG student pursuing a BM in Music Education. Primarily a violist, Ms. Enchautegui (known as Teacher Tegui) currently teaches violin and viola. She is from Jacksonville, North Carolina and grew up in Onslow County. Ms. Enchautegui performed in many groups throughout her high-school career including; Jacksonville High School’s musical pit orchestra, Coastal Carolina Community Orchestra, All-County Orchestra, Eastern Regional Orchestra, UNCG Southeast Honors Orchestra, and accepted into NC Governor’s School for Music. She has worked in the PAL program for three years, has interned at Haines Middle School and Northwest Guilford Highschool, and spent her 2024 summer working for the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Summer Day Camp Program with various age groups. Ms. Enchautegui currently studies with Dr. Scott Rawls, and her previous teachers were Amy Sanchez and Joli Brooks.

Christopher Fitts is an undergraduate student at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Mr. Fitts is majoring in Music Education with a concentration in cello under the instruction of Dr. Alexander Ezerman. Mr. Fitts is from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and has been playing the cello since the 6th grade. Mr. Fitts is currently teaching with the PAL Program with UNCG.

Evan Kuhl is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Mr. Kuhl is majoring in Music Education under the instruction of Dr. Marissa Guarriello, with a concentration in cello under Dr. Alex Ezerman. Mr. Kuhl is from Davidson, North Carolina, and has directed the Lake Norman Philharmonic Orchestra with the guidance of Mr. Eduardo Cedeño. Mr. Kuhl has played in many different ensembles, orchestras, and symphonies in the past. He is currently part of the Camerata Strings Quartet and is looking forward to his studies at UNCG School of Music.

Ms. Molly MacKellar (Mac-Kell-er) is string teacher and violinist pursuing a BM in Instrumental/General Music Education with a minor in Arts Administration at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Originally from Charleston, SC, she has been playing violin since 6th grade and has participated in opportunities such as South Carolina Music Educators Association’s Region Orchestra and the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra. Her passion for teaching came from her previous teachers Margaret Selby, Ryan Silvestri, and Stephanie Silvestri, who all showed her what music could do for others. She now studies with Marjorie Bagley and is a member of the University Symphony Orchestra at UNCG.

Allyson Rhodes: Ms. Allyson Rhoades is a senior BM Instrumental Music Education (K-12) major. Her primary instrument is the cello, but she has performed in wind ensembles on French horn and euphonium. Ms. Rhoades is a current student of Dr. Alex Ezerman. She will be student teaching this Spring and will be pursuing a career in the United States Armed Forces as a musician after graduation.

Malik Winston: Malik Winston, a native of Fayetteville, NC, currently attends the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He studies music performance with a concentration in violin under Professor Marjorie Bagley and is currently a senior. Mr. Winston has studied violin for 10 years and has been a part of several orchestras and programs throughout the state, including the NC Honors Orchestra and the University Symphony Orchestra at UNCG. Mr. Winston has been a PAL program teacher through the UNCG School of Music for 2 years.

Nhi Ho: Nhi Ho is a second-year undergraduate at UNC Greensboro. She is pursuing a degree in Violin Performance and is currently studying with Professor Marjorie Bagley. She has also studied with Amanda Gentile, Hye-Jin Kim, and Ara Gregorian. Her passion for music relates to symphony orchestra, chamber music, and film and video game music. Originally from cHARLOTTE, NC, Nhi Ho has been involved in the Charlotte Youth Symphony Orchestra, Youth Orchestras of Charlotte, Boruff Chamber Workshop, and participated in masterclasses with various musicians.

News and Upcoming Events

Fall Performance: November 16th at 1:00 pm in the UNCG Organ Hall

Spring Performance: March 6 at 7:00 pm in the UNCG Organ hall

Tanger Center Performance: April 11 at 7:00 pm at the Tanger Center