The Joy of Christmas Book 5

Dr. Christopher Fisher is Professor of Piano at the Ohio University School of Music in Athens, Ohio where he directs the internationally respected graduate programs in piano performance and pedagogy. Dr. Fisher is the author of Teaching Piano in Groups (Oxford University Press, 2010), co-author of Piano Duet Repertoire (Indiana University Press, 2016), and co-author of Functional Skills for Pianists (Oxford University Press, 2022). He is currently co-editing the Oxford Handbook of Piano Pedagogy (Oxford University Press). In demand as a workshop and master class clinician, Dr. Fisher has been a guest artist and/or clinician at conferences, conservatories, and universities across the globe.

Teodora Owen, originally from Romania, attended the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, United Kingdom, for her undergraduate studies prior to studying with Christopher Fisher at the Ohio University School of Music. At the Royal Conservatoire, she studied piano performance with concert pianist Jonathan Plowright. She also worked with Adriano Ambrossini at the Conservatorio Dall’Abbaco in Verona, Italy. Highlighted performances include recitals and collaborations across the United States and Europe, as well as solo appearances with the Oradea State Philharmonic in Romania. Teodora Owen teaches a successful private studio of piano students and is an up-and-coming collaborative pianist, improviser and arranger.

Sean Parsons is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. Originally from Illinois, Sean holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master's degree in Jazz Studies from DePaul University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois. Prior to his appointment at Ohio University, where he teaches Jazz Studies and Music Theory, Sean has held faculty positions at Marshall University and Illinois Wesleyan University. He is in demand as a performer and clinician nationwide. Sean has shared the stage with many of the most notable musicians in jazz, including Clark Terry, James Moody, Aretha Franklin, Jon Faddis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Steve Turre, and Randy Brecker.

Ohio native, Lydia Sander, currently resides in Texas where she teaches full time at Parker Piano Studios. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from Ohio University's Honors Tutorial College, Ms. Sander completed her Master's degree in Piano Pedagogy at Texas Christian University. In addition to being an active teacher, Ms. Sander adjudicates local events and gives lectures at the national, state, and local levels. Her musical passions include composition and arranging, pedagogy, inter-arts collaboration and performance, and community engagement. Also a proficient harpist, Ms. Sander enjoys performing both piano and harp for various events.

Chee-Hwa Tan’s compositions explore the piano’s tonal colors, encouraging performers to connect through emotion, story, and sound. Her landmark collection, A Child’s Garden of Verses, has empowered musicians to discover their artistic voices through the synthesis of literature and music. Her solo piano works are published by Piano Safari, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and ABRSM. Through her publishing company, Dayung Sampan Music, Chee-Hwa expands her philosophy of artistry to vocal and instrumental combinations for all levels. A native of Malaysia and a U.S. citizen, she has taught at the University of Denver, Oberlin Conservatory, and SMU. Learn more about Chee-Hwa’s music and teaching philosophy at chee-hwa.com.