Our Music Faculty

Narine Abelian: (Piano)
Narine grew up in Yerevan, Armenia in a family of musicians. Her parents recognized her talent, and she was often seen playing difficult pieces at a young age. Her first piano concert was at the age of five, and she continued to play in public throughout childhood. Narine attended the Aram Khatchaturian Music College, and later attended conservatory for five years, graduating with a Masters in music. She has over 20 years of teaching experience.


Lisa Chippendale: (Violin)
Lisa began teaching violin in 2000 at the Darlington Fine Arts Center. In addition to maintaining a home studio, she began teaching at the Wayne Art Center in 2004. She is an active freelancer in the Greater Philadelphia region, playing violin in ensembles such as the Reading Symphony, the Kennett Symphony of Chester County, Delaware Symphony, and the Bay-Atlantic Symphony. She holds a Bachelor of Violin Performance and a BA in English from Boston University.


Elizabeth Cochran: (Double Bass)
Elizabeth received her AB from Bryn Mawr College and a Diploma in Music from the New School of Music in Philadelphia, where she was the student of Michael Shahan. She performs with numerous symphonic & chamber ensembles in the Philadelphia region, including the Delaware Symphony, Pennsylvania Ballet, and the Philly Pops. In addition to her work as a bassist, Elizabeth is the organist at Central Baptist Church in Wayne, PA.


Paul Di Francesco: (Guitar & Piano)
Paul teaches at the Wayne Art Center and at Friends Select in Philadelphia. His students enjoy playing a wide variety of musical styles ranging from the Renaissance era to the present. He is a composer and former member of the American Composers Forum. Performances include numerous pieces for string quartet, brass ensemble, and small chorus, including performers from the Curtis Institute, the Opera Orchestra of Philadelphia, and Orchestra 2001. He has been a performer/arranger for various jazz ensembles in the San Francisco Bay Area, and received his BA in composition from the University of California, Santa Cruz.


Sharon Doerner: (Piano)
Sharon has taught at the Wayne Art Center for ten years, and privately for 15 years. She obtained her BA from Michigan State University and has also studied with Gisa Adler at the New School of Music.


Sarah Dubois: (Violin, Viola, Piano, Composition)
Sarah coordinates the Wayne Art Center music program. She is violinist with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Philly Pops, Orchestra 2001, and a former professor of violin and viola at Immaculata University. A nationally recognized composer of classical chamber music, she has been represented by Theodore Presser & Shar Music. A recipient of the Tanglewood Fellowship, she has studied with Geoffrey Michaels, David Nadian, Leonard Mogil, and Joseph DePasquale. She has a BS in Music Education from West Chester University, and received a full scholarship for the Masters Program at Temple University.


Jung Ju Gim: (Piano)
Jung Ju received a Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance & Theory as well a Master's Degree in Piano Performance from Temple University. She has also completed the Suzuki Teacher's Training and attended the Taubman Summer Institute of Piano.


Jay Krush: (Piano)
Jay is a performer, composer, teacher and conductor who has taught piano at the Wayne Art Center since 2001. He serves on the faculty of the Boyer College of Music at Temple University where he teaches tuba & euphonium, as well as directs the Contemporary Music Ensemble. He is a tubist with the Grammy Award winning Chestnut Brass Company and with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra. As a composer, Jay has written over 70 works for a wide variety of media.


Shannon Lee: (Violin)
Shannon holds degrees in performance from the Seoul National University in South Korea and Temple University. She has served as concertmaster for the Ohio Light Opera and the Seoul National University Orchestra. Her performances include soloist in concertos with the KBS Symphony and the Seoul Chamber Orchestra. First prize winner at the Seoul National Music Competition and the Nanpa Violin Competition, she performed a solo recital at the Kyoto International Music Festival and performed in the Carnegie Hall 100th Anniversary Concert. Shannon currently plays with the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Philly Pops, and a number of other orchestras in the Philadelphia area.


Yi-Chih Lien: (Piano)
Yi-Chih obtained her BS in Piano Performance from Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taipei, Taiwan, with further studies at the National Taiwan Normal University. She received her MA in Music Therapy from Immaculata University, as well as the certificate of Expressive Art Therapy. She has been teaching piano for many years, and enjoys teaching students of all ages and experience levels.


Yun Park: (Violin, Viola, Piano)
Yun received a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Biola University in California. She is a violinist & violist for various Philadelphia area chamber groups, and has taught violin, viola, and piano at the Wayne Art Center since 2001.


Frances Tate: (Flute)
Frances is an active teacher and performer in the Philadelphia & Baltimore areas. She is currently second flutist with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, piccolo with the Lancaster Symphony, and co-principal flute with the EMM Festival. In addition, she has performed with the Baltimore Symphony, Philly Pops, Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, as well as the Charlotte, Delaware, Annapolis, Knoxville and Richmond Symphonies. In 2002 she was the second place winner in the National Flute Association's Piccolo Artist Competition. Frances has a Master's Degree from the Peabody Conservatory and Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan. Her primary teachers include Robert Willoughby, Leone Buyse, and Laurie Sokoloff.


Christine Watts: (Cello)
Christine is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music. She currently teaches cello for the Wayne Art Center, and is the author of many books for the young cellist, including: Cello Method, Book & CD, The Sliding Book, Changing Positions from One to Four, and Improvisation & Theory for the Young Cellist. In addition to writing and teaching, Christine performs with local chamber music groups, and has performed solo twice with the Philadelphia Orchestra.