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Rufus Ferguson is a multi-genre keyboardist raised in Flint, Michigan and based in Detroit, Michigan. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz piano from Western Michigan University under the mentorship of Roger Jones, Jeremy Siskind and Matthew Fries. He began his musical journey at a young age as a gospel pianist and organist and later began playing jazz piano at age 13. His commitment to being well-versed in multiple genres of music has afforded him many unique opportunities such as playing with Grammy-nominated and award-winning artists and groups of all genres.
Rufus is an experienced performer who has traveled the world sharing the stage with such artists as The Temptations, The Velveletes, Bishop Marvin Sapp, Rodney Whitaker, Dwight Adams, Brandon Williams, Wycliffe Gordon and so many more. Rufus is currently featured on Grammy Nominated producer Brandon Wiliams upcoming album alongside pianist Taylor Eigsti and Robert Glasper. He is also an experienced arranger, composer and teacher, specifically in the jazz and gospel music genres. His compositions and arrangements have been showcased by his 9-piece ensemble at the 2018 Gilmore Keyboard Festival and his orchestral arrangements have been performed by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra as well as the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra. Rufus has served as class piano instructor at Western Michigan University where he also directed the University Jazz Lab Band. He has also served as Assistant Professor of Jazz and Popular Music at Albion College.
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Townes Osborn Miller is Professor of Music and Coordinator at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan, and she also serves as the Adjunct Flute Instructor and Director of the Flute Choir at Saginaw Valley State University. She is the woodwinds coach for the Saginaw Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra and maintains a private studio. She is proud to be a Gemeinhardt Teaching Artist.
Dr. Miller tours internationally with the International Flute Orchestra and the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, with whom she will be performing in 2022 in Provence, the Italian Riviera, and the Baltics. She will also participate in a three-day residency and concert at the New England Conservatory, Jordan Hall, in Boston. Just before the pandemic began in February 2020, Dr. Miller premiered a piece she commissioned for Flute, Mallet Percussion and Piano, by Bill Withem, Dragonfly. In 2019, Dr. Miller premiered a flute/organ piece written for her and Nicholas Schmelter by Moonyeen Albrecht, Psalms for Flute and Organ (set 2). In 2018, Dr. Miller performed on a world premiere piece for flute choir, Three Lyric Escapades, by Bruce Frazier, at the National Flute Association Convention. She gives recitals regularly throughout Michigan and in January of 2020, performed at Western Carolina University, North Carolina. She looks forward to taking the stage again with guest artist Dr. Brittnee Seimon, mezzo-soprano, and Dr. Carl Angelo, piano. Dr. Miller was the Artist in Residence for the St. Paul's Music in the Heart of the City concert series in Flint for their 2019-2020 season.
An active clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Miller has presented Flute 101: Tips and Tricks to Ensure a Better Flute Section and Recommended Solo and Ensemble Literature for Flute at the annual Michigan Music Conference. Her presentation for flute was also accepted into the 75th Midwest Clinic conference for December 2021. She has adjudicated for the Flint Institute of Music, MSBOA, and the Southeast Michigan Flute Association among others, throughout the United States.
Dr. Miller serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for the National Flute Association Conventions every year. These conventions attract nearly 3,000 flutists from all over the world. Dr. Miller also serves on the Board of Trustee’s for the Flint Institute of Music, chairs the Patron Development committee and serves on the Executive Board. She is a past member of the Flint Cultural Center Corporation board. Dr. Miller received her DMA with honors, from the University of Kansas and her MA and BA from Western Carolina University. Her primary professors were Dr. Eldred Spell and David Fedele.
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