Acclaimed flutist Danilo Mezzadri is a ACUE Distinguished Teaching Scholar and Professor at The University of Southern Mississippi. He is artistic director of International Flute Workshop in Italy and Southern Flute Festival in the United States. Danilo, featured as a soloist with more than fifty ensembles worldwide, has a “glowing, golden tone,” “vivid musicality” (Fanfarre Magazine), and his “dexterity is enviable” (British Flute Society). His performances have been reviewed as “gorgeous” (Detroit Free Press) “with a limpid sound and coaxing every ounce of lyricism” (Jackson Citizen Patriot). Danilo serves on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI), Festival Mar de Minas (Brazil) and Festival de Música Contemporânea Plurisons (Brazil). Besides being Principal Flute at Gulf Coast and North Mississippi Symphony Orchestras, Danilo has annually served as a guest teacher and soloist throughout the Americas and Europe. As an avid performer of new music and chamber music, Danilo is founding member of the Quarteto Brasilis and Accento Trio. In 2022 Danilo has joined the virtuosic Plurisons Ensemble. Danilo Mezzadri is the creator of the Spider Log interleaved practice system with graphic feedback. Through his system, Danilo has helped many young musicians develop repertoire and technical mastery.

Brazilian flutist Carlos Feller received his Doctor of Music degree from The Florida State University. He holds a b.m. From the Paraná State University—Brazil, and a m.m. In flute performance from The University of Southern Mississippi. Feller was prizewinner in competitions such as the William T. Gower Concerto Competition, Music Teacher National Association, and the Flute Society of Kentucky Young Artist competition. Carlos Feller is a member of the ensemble Traverso Colore, a chamber group dedicated to historically informed performances of baroque music on period instruments. An enthusiast of new music for flute, he has performed at the International Computer Music Conference in New Orleans, at the International Michel Debost Composition Competition in Curitiba-Brazil, and at the XV Biennial Festival of New Music at Florida State University. International appearances as a recitalist and clinician include Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Colombia, France, and Switzerland. Dr. Feller currently serves as the Director of the Hot Springs Flute Ensemble in its 37th season, and on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University.

Susan Ruggiero serves as associate professor of music at William Carey University where she teaches voice, flute, graduate theory, and directs the operas. Ruggiero has performed as a principal artist with New Orleans Opera, Mississippi Opera, Kentucky Opera, Natchez Opera, Opera South, Wildwood Opera, Blue Lake Opera, and Opéra Louisiane. She is the recipient of several prestigious awards and honors including: Shreveport Opera’s Singer of the Year Competition (First Place), The Mozart Award in the National Orpheus Vocal Competition, two-time District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Tanglewood Fellowship, and Third Place Award Winner in Mobile Opera’s Scholarship Competition. An active performer, Ruggiero has appeared as a soloist at Scuola Musicale di Milano, Sala San Tommaso del Palazzo Boncompagni-Roccasecca, and Ostia Antica (Italy), Festival Música nas Montanhas and Paço da Liberdade (Brazil), The Natchez Music Festival, festivalsouth and many other venues throughout the United States. Ruggiero holds a doctorate in voice from Louisiana State University, master’s degrees in both voice and flute performance from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University.

Dr. Mary Chung holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from North Greenville University, a MM, and DMA in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Southern Mississippi. Chung has performed in France, Canada, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Honduras. Her solo awards include first place in the 11th Luis A. Ferré International Piano Competition (Puerto Rico), winner of the William T. Gower Concerto Competition at the University of Southern Mississippi, finalist in the Concerto Competition at the Brevard Music Festival, alternate winner in Mississippi’s MTNA Young Artist Auditions, as well as recipient of the Music Teachers National Association’s Student Achievement Recognition Award. Chung served as full time faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi, as well as Oklahoma Baptist University, as adjunct professor at Belhaven College, piano instructor for Piano Institute at the William Carey University, “Appasionato” Music camp in Dominican Republic, and at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. Dr. Chung has served as adjudicator for piano competitions in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. In the Fall of 2017 Dr. Chung joined the faculty as coordinator of the piano department at Ouachita Baptist University.