Linda is the founding Artistic Director of the Writers in the Round Concert Series. She is a prolific poet, songwriter, producer, and recording artist who has released three books of poetry and six original albums, all of which have won critical acclaim internationally. Linda won the 1984 Kerrville Folk festival with two of her songs: "Blow Out The Light”, and “Please Don't Run”. Her beautiful and haunting a cappella composition, “Let Her Go Gently”, was published in Sing Out Magazine, has been a comfort to countless grief stricken loved ones throughout the world, and is used in Memorial Services and Hospice’s across the country.

Linda helped to launch House Concerts and songwriting series in Seaside, FL; Wilmington, NC; Little Rock, AR; Cotter, AR; Lafayette, IN; and in Houston, Texas. She has hosted and performed in numerous radio and TV shows, including Bob Hope's Telethon for the Healing, as well as in major concert venues across the country. She has opened shows and performed with Bonnie Rait, Donovan, Carolyn Hester, Jesse Collin Young, Steve Gillette, Loudon Wainwright, III, Nancy Griffith, Arlo Guthrie, Trout Fishing in America, Lucinda Williams, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Townes Van Zandt, to name just a few. Linda was the Music Designer for Main Street Theater’s production of "A Piece of my Heart" in Houston, and the Assistant Producer/Director of Mid America Hot Springs National Parks production of “Papa Bear Mama Bear". Linda has directed over 1400 musical events.

Linda has been teaching and performing for 40 years, and helps her students to record original albums, perform in concert and play music for the pure, personal joy of it. Her teaching repertoire includes contemporary folk, and incorporating 60’s music into her teaching plans. Linda is well known for her laid-back, nurturing style, which is instrumental in helping both children and adults explore and develop their creativity. She has recently been honored with the inclusion of the Legacy of Linda Lowe at the Center For Texas Music History, and at Rice University.

Linda’s album releases, currently online, can be found here:

Barbwire Heart
Even the Moon
Little By Little - Remastered

Bill has been playing music for 23 years and has performed internationally. Bill teaches rock, blues, classical and jazz, with an emphasis on structure, music theory, rhythm and improvisation. His background in music is diverse and Bill has been teaching full time for 13 years. Bill has a degree is in Psychology with a minor in Music from SHSU. He understands the importance of teaching foundational music concepts. He has a direct teaching style and helps his students to connect with others through music. Bill's carefully selected material for lessons focus on rhythm, reading literacy, practical theory, aural training, flat pick/finger picking style, songwriting and performance. Students are encouraged to bring their favorite music to lessons also.

Erin started studying piano at six and guitar at fourteen. While she was studying jazz under the great jazz educator and pianist Shelton Berg at San Jacinto College she began studying the bass violin. She also had the opportunity to study studio recording techniques, music business, and perform with the internationally award winning big band that Shelly led. She performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, and in Mexico City she toured as a good will ambassador. Erin later attended The University of Houston studying music composition with an emphasis in Jazz Studies. An in demand “bassist”, both electric and acoustic, Erin has performed with countless bands and recording artists including Ray Charles. She is currently working as a lead jazz guitarist in a trio performing standard jazz and original compositions.

Michelle, a Theater and Mass Media major at Henderson State University, also studied Drama and Dance at Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School for seven years under Linda Kent, David Baecker, and Janine Levine. She attended Master classes with Stephen Schwartz, Andrea Burns, Peter Flynn and John Plumpis. Michelle has also studied jazz, ballet, tap, modern dance, musical theater and stage combat.

Michelle won the Reddie Spirit Award for best admissions essay for HSU; and was reviewed in SingOut Magazine for the song 'Maybe my Baby', in the musical Little by Little (Rollin' Records Production). She was also awarded The Poetry Award, as well as the Most Eloquent Writer  Award at Perry Mansfield. In addition, her artwork of the skyline of Houston was chosen to be etched in steel by Artist Mel Chin on one of his seven 70-foot pillars,  which pay tribute to Houston's past and present at Sesquicentennial Park on historic Buffalo Bayou.

At Henderson State University, Michelle was a Staff writer for the Oracle; a DJ for 99.9 The Pulse FM; and was on the staff of HTV. She was the recipient of the 'Best Actress' award as the Ballerina in Hotel Cassiopeia; and the 'Best Actress' award for playing the part of  'Rose' in Dancing at Lugnessa. She also played 'Randi Canwell' in the world premier of  Simon Says Shoot, which received the 2004 Directors Choice award at the America College Theater Festival. Michelle is an Alumna of the Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha XI Delta.

Michelle has been Stage Manager, Camp Counselor and a Staff member of WITR for over 15 years and is Now head of the Drama Department. She is the founder of the MC Theater Group at Writers in the Round and is the Drama Teacher at Xavier Educational Academy, both located in West University Place, Texas. Michelle has toured with Carolyn Hester and "Women in the Round on the Road "performing original music in Radio Shows across the South Eastern US. She has won parts in over 300 stage productions. Michelle was also a life guard and swim instructor at West U Community Center.

Elizabeth has a diverse background in the performing arts. She has worked  as a songwriter, private voice coach,  piano teacher, musical theater teacher,  performer, songwriter, and  writer/producer for theater and independent film for over 20 years.  She taught voice and musical theater at Northwest Children's Theater in Portland, OR; HOFSTRA in NY, improv and musical theater at St. Mark's Episcopal School summer session, and has coached private students in voice, performance, and piano.  

Elizabeth has performed as a singer in choral groups, operettas, musicals, and in acoustic rock on stage. She has performed in  numerous plays, film and tv shows, and commercials in NY and Portland and was the writer and producer of an award winning short film, Going to the Chapel in 2011. She wrote the original music for the film and continues to write music and loves sharing the joy of this creative outlet with children of all ages. 

Elizabeth finds introducing young children to the wonder of music and the performing arts to be one of the most gratifying experiences of her life. Helping children discover something new about themselves through music and performance is a gift beyond measure.  At WITR, she coaches students in voice training, piano, musical theater performance and songwriting. She has a BA from Willamette University and a musical theater performance degree from American Musical and Dramatic Academy. 

Jacob "Jake" Edelstein graduated from Soka University of America where he got into Jazz and begin playing stringed instruments while also earring a degree in linguistics and translation. Since that time, he has worked as a teacher, an interpreter, and a translator, and has performed music with players of many musical genres. His translations have appeared in many journals, including publications for the City of Long Beach and, Introduction to the Pacific Basin (Routledge 2017). 

Jake learned how to play drums from his father, who, for most of Jake's childhood, was a working musician and production sound mixer. Jake is grateful for that early exposure to music and the Southern California reggae scene that helped him to grow up musically, taught him how to settle in on a groove, and then let him escape to express what the music requires.  

Jake currently teaches English, Media and Society courses at Xavier Educational Academy in Houston, Texas where he is also the school’s program coordinator. He is thrilled to also be a part of the WITR team! Music has been his greatest companion and most articulate teacher throughout his life and he hopes to help students find the style of intense love for music has been lucky enough to develop.   

Judi has taught piano and voice full-time in Houston since 1987, and spends every Friday night playing keyboard for ComedySportz, an improv troupe. She grew up in the musical theatre community in Cleveland Ohio, sneaking into the local theatre, but quickly got hired to accompany and arrange music. She also teaches improvisation, composition, coaches pop vocal students, and accompanies instrumental and vocal contest students. Her self-published book, “Piano Freedom,” teaches students how to play and improvise pop music and even improvise classical music.

Sally started teaching piano, flute and guitar when she was 14 years old.  She also started teaching gymnastics at that time, eventually coaching on a team that ranked 6th in the nation. Sally is passionate about helping students discover and learn to play the music they want to learn. With a B.A. in Theatre and M.B.A. specializing in the arts, Sally has a vast knowledge of all kinds of music.  She is open to teaching all genres that are relevant to students whether that be pop, classical, musical theatre, oldies or original tunes.   
 
“I believe that motivating and inspiring 21st Century piano students requires a different approach than the way I was taught.  Most people see themselves being able to play and sing songs or accompany friends at gatherings so I start ear training, theory and teaching chords right away, just like the guitar students.  I draw materials from various blogs on the web for the latest teaching methods and my students use apps on the iPad and computer for learning notes, theory or accompanying a song.”
 
Sally prefers to work in small groups.  The children are much more motivated to practice for each other, it teaches them to do their part and its just more FUN.  As soon as they’re ready she has beginners take 15 minutes alone, and 30 minutes with another student  (Students signing up with a friend get the sibling discount.)  Last concert her trio of 6 and 7 year old girls played, Louie Louie, My Hair had a Party Last Night and Mean.
 
Sally has students from 6 to 65.  Some are learning to play by ear and some that just want to read music.  She teaches 2 days a week at Writer’s in the Round and volunteers at Family Point in the Memorial area other days.  She also offers partial scholarships for especially motivated kids from families needing a little help. 

After completing his work at Chireno High School, in Chireno, Texas, in 2011, Chance Moore entered Angelina College, where he earned an Associate degree in music. A major highlight from his Angelina years was performing as the All-State Jazz Guitarist at the Texas Music Educators Association in San Antonio in 2013.

After his time there, he transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University in Fall of 2013, where he majored in Music Composition and gave guitar lessons privately through SFASU’s Music Preparatory Division. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2016, earning a Bachelor of Music degree.

In 2017, upon receiving a half-graduate assistant-ship to work for the Music Theory and Sound Recording Technology areas, he returned to Stephen F. Austin State University to attend graduate school, majoring in Music Composition and Theory.

While he continued with his teaching duties in the Preparatory Division, he began playing guitar for the First United Methodist Church of Nacogdoches and for Abundant Life United Methodist Church.

In his second year of graduate studies, Chance studied abroad for a semester in Australia at the University of Tasmania, where he had the first international premiere of an original work.

In Spring, 2019, Chance was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda national honor society for music. He received a Master of Music degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2019. ”

Ruthanne is a classically trained musician of many talents who is passionate about performing all styles of music. The focal points of her musicianship are on the viola and violin as well as musical composition and theory. She began her musical study at the age of 5 with the piano before branching out to stringed viol instruments at age 7, and it has been said from early on in her study of music that she can play just about any instrument placed in her hands.

Ruthanne studied and practiced the viola under master musicians from San Jacinto College and the University of Texas at Brownsville, where she remained principal violist at both institutions throughout her academic studies and degrees earned. She continues to perform regularly in various groups such as The Classical Revolution and has performed for numerous weddings, banquets, and other special occasions throughout Texas.

Performing regularly, collaborating with other musicians, and experiencing all genres of music are a few of the important lessons her students become familiar with. Having over 10 years of teaching experience benefits Ruthanne’s ability to tailor her lessons to fit the individual needs of her students, and she relishes in sharing her love and knowledge of music with others.

Coming soon to WITR:

Wildwood’s Online Master’s Class

Stay tuned for more information on Wildwood’s Online Master’s Class courses.

Ronnie is an accomplished guitarist, a talented master of the instrument, known by his peers in the music and recording industry for a unique ability to tastefully embellish and improvise on a tune's melody in a manner that supports both vocal and instrumental elements, and with a signature style that delights the listener's ear.

Ronnie has been playing professionally since 1965. He has been a member of The Instant Daddio’s, Dash Riprock and the Dragon’s, The Coconuts, the New World Beatniks, Mr. Big and the Rhythm Sisters, Wildwood and Women in the Round, and he is also known for his comedic stage presence.

His songwriting talents have been heard as jingles and theme songs for TV and radio. Ronnie is also well known among performers for writing the novelty song "Breakfast Blues", recorded by many groups including Trout Fishing in America. He has also toured internationally playing rock, blues, jazz, Latin, reggae, folk and all popular styles and has taught guitar in Houston, Dallas, and Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Ronnie is an accomplished recording musician, recording sessions in Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami and Pensacola, including numerous albums from his own studio.

Ronnie's teaching repertoire includes acoustic and electric guitar as well as electric bass.

His album “World Beach” can be found be found at Apple Music; Amazon and Spotify.

Aura Lee, growing up in a musical family in Kentucky, sang in a rock band and a church choir in junior high, and a folk trio, New Rivertown Singers, in high school. She was a member of the folk trio, Night Kitchen, while attending Boston University. She was the lead singer with Jim Alkire's Jazz Band in Lafayette, Indiana.

After college, a tour with Podunk Peacock in Europe led to the duo Marc and Linda and eventually evolved into the 5-piece, multi instrumental, high energy, vocal and comedy band "Wildwood". Aura Lee added autoharp, kalimba and percussion to the group, which recorded a self -titled album, performed frequently on regional TV shows and played to SRO crowds throughout the Southwest. While she was performing with Wildwood's Ronnie Levine in Sportin' Life in Houston and LA, she fell in love with the music of the 1930's Boswell Sisters, revered as "The World's Foremost Harmonists", became friends with Vet Boswell, the one surviving sister and crisscrossed the country, doing research for a Boswell Sister screenplay.

Aura Lee co-authored the book "Manners are Fun" in conjunction with her position as Executive Director of Historic Thomas Duncan Hall, a not-for-profit performance venue in Lafayette, Indiana. She and her son, Skye, wrote and recorded songs for the hall's 15 year old program which has inspired Citizenship, Civility and Character in thousands of school-age children. Through her business, Etiquette Connect, she has presented to groups from Girl Scouts and at-risk teens to Purdue University Post Doctoral students and Houston's Xavier Education Academy.

Aura Lee recorded and toured with Women in the Round on the Road throughout Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana, Florida and North Carolina performing in theaters, listening rooms, TV and radio shows for thirty years.

Music has been a sustaining joy from her childhood and loves to to share that joy with people of all ages.

Erich grew up in West University Place, Texas where he studied drums, guitar, and keyboard at Writers in the Round Concert Concert Series Music and Drama for several years. He served as an intern in the WITR Summer Camp in both 2007 and 2008.

Erich attended The University of Houston, Houston Community College, Antioch College and New College of California where he studied for a year and traveled abroad with the LEAPYear Program visiting Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Joining the band NeuHuman Erich soon moved to Austin performing in clubs and listening rooms in the area. He played keyboards and sang in Austin, while participating in the 100 Songs in 100 Days Project. During that project he worked on the collaborative aspects of songwriting as well as video production.

In 2019, Erich moved to Houston for the summer to teach drums, piano, guitar and songwriting at WITR Summer Music Camp for both summer sessions.

We are very excited to include Erich Graham as one of our WITR Music Teachers who teaches virtually with WITR from his home in Austin.

Songs in 100 Days Project

In loving memory

Writers In The Round dedicates the space below to honor our teachers who have passed on from our earthly band. May their memory live on in the minds and hands of their students, to whom they strove to impart a love of music and an ability to express that love in performance. All of us at WITR, students, parents and staff, mourn your passing and miss you.

IN MEMORIAM
December 1, 1947 - August 4, 2017
Joe was an actor, musician, composer and songwriter with 39 years of experience. Among many TV shows, he was a writer for “Sesame Street”, and performed on "A Prairie Home Companion". His children’s programs have been taught in schools and on stage across the country and he has released several children’s CD’s from his Non Toxic Band for children. He performed publicly In Houston area clubs with his wife Susan Elliott as the jazz duo, Mood Indigo, voted best jazz duo in Houston by the Houston Press. Joe  taught jazz with an emphasis on structure and music theory. He had been with Writers In The Round since 2001.

http://www.bradshawcarter.com/tributes/Joseph-Romano

IN MEMORIAM
1952 - 2017
Gary Gillispie attended the University of St. Thomas, U of H and the Philladelphia Music Academy. He worked with the Houston Ballet Company, Houston Dance Center and the Up Town Dance Center. He was the Musical director for Company on Stage where he recently directed the “Fantastics”, “God Spell”, “Snoopy”, “Pied Piper of Hamilton”, and the “Nutcracker”. Gary was also the founding Director of the Houston Music Conservatory formed in 1985, performing in concerts across the country and currently accompanied well known performing and recording artists in the Houston area. He had been with WITR since 2005. He was a regular concert performer at Shermann Clay. Gary performed for President Bush and had worked with Steve Allen, Arnnett Cobb, and Chuck Mangione. For the past four years Gary had been the Organist for Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Gary helped to start up Tele-conference Music Lessons for Florida State Hospital in Orlando. Gary was a loved and respected teacher of piano and music theory for 45 years and taught with an emphasis on traditional and improvisation.