Amy Bach, piano and violin

Amy is pleased to attend Valor Summer Conservatory for her second summer. She is from Bountiful, Utah, and began to study piano in 1st grade and violin in 4th grade. Her mother, a professional cellist, greatly encouraged her in her musical pursuits and homeschooled her from kindergarten through 12th grade. She completed 10 levels of Federation on piano and 4 levels of Federation on violin?all with superior ratings.

Amy enjoys playing in orchestras and played with the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra for 4 years. She previously played in Utah Youth Symphony for 4 years and in Davis Youth Symphony for 1 year. Amy enjoys playing string and piano trios with her mother and sister for church and other functions. She also enjoys accompanying both soloists and ensembles and has accompanied in church and at college. Amy just graduated from Bob Jones University with a BMus in piano pedagogy. She studied piano with Mr. Tom Grimble and violin with Mr. Achim Gerber. She plans to take piano lessons at the University of Utah this fall and begin pursuing a masters in collaborative piano in the fall of 2012. She knows that God will reveal His perfect plan in His time.

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Allison Chetta, violin

Allison Chetta is from Clarkesville, Georgia, and was homeschooled until she began college at Bob Jones University in 2008. She began studying violin at age three and piano around age six. She also studied harp, voice, and guitar throughout her pre-college years. Allison was chosen concert-mistress in the Georgia All-State Middle School Orchestra. She also won the first place scholarship award in the Northeast Georgia Music Club piano festival.

Allison attended Bob Jones University as a freshman violin performance major; she won the Commencement Solo Strings competition and performed in the Honor’s recital. Unsure of whether music was truly God’s call for her life, she pursued medicine (with a biology major) before returning to her love—music! Now she eagerly anticipates all that music brings to her life and is particularly interested in the philosophical aspects of music, ethics, and music therapy. She enjoys sports (specifically basketball) and hanging out with her family and numerous nieces and nephews! She has studied with Valerie Gardner (a Curtis Institute graduate and Valor visiting guest) and has been studying with Achim Gerber at Bob Jones University. Allison hopes to pursue a bio-ethics masters degree upon graduation in 2012 with an undergraduate in violin performance. She is also contemplating music therapy for graduate school as well. She is open to allowing the Lord to lead her in any direction He would have for her life.

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Ardis Chetta, violin

Ardis Chetta, from Clarkesville, Georgia, is a senior at Bob Jones University studying violin performance under the tutelage of Achim Gerber. She began violin at age three and piano around age six. A few years later, she also took lessons on harp. From the studio of Mrs. Valerie Gardner, Ardis participated in All-State orchestra from 7th grade through 12th grade. She was first chair in All-State Senior High Orchestra in 11th grade. She also won the Gainesville Music Club piano scholarship as well as the local Junior Festival high school scholarship. Ardis achieved a superior rating in the National Guild auditions for 12 consecutive years.

During her second year of college, Ardis won the MTNA state strings competition and went on to compete for National in Virginia. She also was awarded the William McEver String Scholarship by the Bob Jones University string faculty. She has been a finalist in the commencement strings competition twice and has participated in many ensembles at Bob Jones University, including the symphonic orchestra, Collegium Musicum, and numerous chamber groups. She also has had the privilege to use her music to minister in her local area, in the Greenville area, in New Zealand, and in Europe (with the BJU Musical Mission Team).

Ardis has chosen for her life verse II Corinthians 12:9 -- And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Ardis is not sure where God wants to take her or how He wants to use her talents but she is resolved to honor Him with all her abilities.

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Hannah Hancock, voice

Hannah is from Richmond, VA and has been singing all her life. Though she officially began voice lessons at age 15, her first exposure to music began at home with her mother and older brother singing hymns to start off homeschooling every morning. Hannah has always been active in her church's music ministry through choirs and solo works, and often sings with her brother as well.

Currently, Hannah is a rising Junior Vocal Performance major at Bob Jones University. She is involved in various university choirs and musical groups, and sang in the opera chorus of Faust this past semester. She has been involved in various music competitions, earning third place in the regional NATS competition Freshman year.

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Amanda Harmon, piano

I was born into a Christian home and my parents taught me a love for music. Our family was constantly going to concerts and operas, and all of my 7 siblings took music lessons. Many times on Friday nights we would watch recordings of The Three Tenors! I started taking piano lessons when I was 6. I wanted to quit many times, but my mom told me that I would regret it if I did. She was right! I’ve had some injury due to tension problems, and because of my own experience with pain, I would like to help other injured musicians. After getting my Bachelor’s degree in piano performance, I plan to go for a Master’s in piano pedagogy and then teach! I’m very excited to see what God has planned for my life.

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Markel Toler, voice

Markel Toler has been singing with her family since she was 2 years old. Her father has been a music teacher in Church and School Ministries her whole life, and began to teacher her voice lessons at the age of 5. At the age of 6 she started playing the piano and at the age of 8 she also began flute lessons. Markel says that she is "indebted to her father for his love and support", and knows she would not be where she is without him. In High School, Markel placed Third in the Women's Voice competition at Bob Jones University, and is now studying at Bob Jones University in the studio of Dr. C. Stanley Eby with a degree in Voice Performance. In College, Markel has been apart of two competitions for the National Association of Teachers of Singing for South Carolina and was qualified to continue to the Regional competition.

The Lord has given Markel a great love and desire to use music to reach young singers for the cause of Christ and possibly professionally. She is not sure where the Lord is leading her, but is certainly excited to see where she ends up.

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Stephany Waycaster, voice

Born in Washington state and raised in Glendale, Arizona, Stephany is a true Westerner. The love of music has been deeply rooted in her from childhood. When she was 11 she had the opportunity to take voice lessons from Jesse Garcia, a graduate of BJU. She studied with him until her senior year of High School when she began studying with John Giger. Throughout junior high and high school she participated in vocal competitions on both state and national levels, receiving superior ratings.

Currently Stephany attends Bob Jones University, where she is pursuing a degree in voice performance, studying under Jean Greer. She plans to continue studying voice in hopes of singing professionally.

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