Music Faculty and Staff

Sarita Kwok

Professor of Music
Chair, Department of Music
Adams Endowed Chair in Music

Sarita Kwok has distinguished herself as one of the most captivating and sophisticated performers to emerge from the ranks of Australia’s classical musicians. She has been enthralling audiences across the globe since she debuted with the Sydney Symphony at the age of fifteen and was named Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year (Strings) shortly after. 

Born in Australia to Chinese parents, and raised in both Australia ... more ➔

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Sandra Doneski

Dean of Faculty
Associate Professor of Music
Director, Graduate Program in Music Education
Director of Undergraduate Program in Music Education

Dr. Sandra Doneski has taught in the Department of Music at Gordon College since 1999. She has been a teacher of music to students in kindergarten through graduate school. She teaches courses in music education methods, learning theory, assessment, curriculum development. She also supervises student teachers and conducts the Gordon College Children’s Choir. Dr. Doneski founded the Children’s Choir in 2000 to give children in the community ... more ➔

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Benjamin Klemme

Conductor of Symphonic Band
Conductor of Symphony Orchestra

Recognized for inspiring musicians and audience members alike through performances with a distinct synthesis of artistic excellence and community engagement, conductor Benjamin Klemme is a member of the music department faculty at Gordon College, where he leads the Gordon Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band, and teaches courses in conducting and instrumental music education. Previously Klemme has served the Quad City Symphony Orchestra as Associate ... more ➔

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Jessica Modaff

Assistant Teaching Professor in Music
Collaborative Pianist; Vocal and Instrumental Coach

Jessica Modaff, Assistant Teaching Professor in Music, is a collaborative pianist, music theorist, and vocal/instrumental coach. Dr. Modaff has held coach and professional collaborative pianist positions for numerous choirs and individual performers throughout the United States, as well as England, France, Russia, Slovenia and Austria. She has accompanied at contests and events for ACDA, NATS, IMEA, IHSA, MMEA and Stars at Symphony ... more ➔

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Mary Montgomery Koppel

Assistant Professor of Music

With music described by the Boston Globe as "hypnotic" and "haunting and hopeful," Mary Montgomery Koppel is a sought-after composer of choral, vocal, chamber, and orchestral works. Praised for her “luxuriant choral writing” and “myriad coloristic sonorities,” she writes in a compositional language that is both richly complex and contrapuntally refined, while remaining both aurally accessible and challenging. ... more ➔

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Holly Zagaria

Applied Instructor of Voice

Holly Zagaria serves as a singer (Mezzo-Soprano), pianist, organist, music director, adjudicator, clinician, educator, and vocal pedagogue, and performs regularly in all capacities.  She teaches Voice, Fundamentals of Theory, Ear Training, and Opera Ensemble at Salem State University, and has taught Introduction to Music in previous semesters.  Dr. Zagaria joined the Voice Faculty at Gordon College in September, 2019 and has ... more ➔

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