Faculty
Angelene Ku | Violin
Multi faceted violinist and educator, Angelene Ku is a graduate of University of Michigan (Violin Performance, BM) and Boston University (Violin Performance, MM). Angelene is working on the prestigious Artist Diploma program at Texas Christian University, starting August, 2024. Angelene was a full tuition scholarship recipient at the University of Michigan. She has studied under Lucia Lin (Boston Symphony Orchestra) and David Halen (Concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony) Angelene has received masterclasses throughout her studies by prestigious musical figures such as, Ilya Kaler, John Largess, Kurt Sassmannshaus, Grigory Kalinovsky, Simon James, and many others. She has appeared at music festivals such as Innsbrook Summer Music Academy, Napa Valley Music Festival, Texas Chamber Music Institute. During Napa Valley Music Festival, as an orchestra fellow, she shared the stand with David Kim (Concertmaster of Philadelphia Orchestra) and Katherine Fong (Assistant Principal 2nd of the MET Orchestra). Angelene was also a full scholarship recipient for the Texas Chamber Music Institute where she also worked as a Resident Assistance. Aside from music festivals, she also performed for Michael Buble’s national tour in Grand Rapids, MI. Her passion in Jazz led her participate in Boston University’s Jazz Combo and University of Michigan’s Contemporary Arts Orchestra. As an avid educator, Angelene has worked with various institutions and organizations as a violin instructor such as Sphinx Organization, City Strings, Michigan Artist Citizen in partnership with University of Michigan, to name a few.
Lucas Silva | Violin
Boeun Kim | Voice & Piano
Manuel Muñoz | Piano
Dr. Danny Milan | Piano
Danny Milan is Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy at Texas Woman’s University and is an active performer, teacher, and composer. Dr. Milan has performed internationally including Maccagno, Italy; the Esterhazy Palace in Austria; and the George Enescu Museum in România. Additionally, he performed in a competition showcase recital at Carnegie Hall in June of 2018. During his undergraduate studies, Milan also opened for the Count Basie Band in Elmhurst, Illinois with the Kent State Jazz Ensemble.
Dr. Milan is a dedicated pedagogue and teaches undergraduate and graduate applied piano, class piano, clinical keyboard for music therapy majors, chamber music, and coordinates class piano and the piano pedagogy program at Texas Woman’s University. He also established the annual TWU Summer Piano Institute in 2022 for pianists aged 12-18 and continues as its director.
Dr. Milan is an active member of MTNA and is a current evaluator for the MTNA Collegiate Chapter Enrichment Grants. At the state level for Texas Music Teachers’ Association, he was recently nominated to the Board of Directors and is currently both the chair of the College Faculty Forum and the TMTA Collegiate Chapter Advisor for Texas Woman’s University.
As a presenter, Milan recently gave a session on playing pop music at the piano for the classical musician at MTNA in Atlanta, a presentation he has also given at NCKP. With his research on Romanian music and musicians, Dr. Milan has published Romanian pedagogical topics in both the Piano Magazine and Piano Inspires’ “Inspiring Artistry” series.
In addition to classical performance and pedagogy, Dr. Milan is also known for performances and compositions in both the jazz and pop idioms and has independently written, recorded, and released seven albums of music through his website at www.dannymilan.com. He recorded an eighth album in 2018 of all Romanian music for flute and piano, which includes an original work inspired by his own Romanian ancestry.
Dr. Milan holds degrees in piano performance from Kent State University (BM), Bowling Green State University (MM), and the University of Oklahoma (DMA).
