Hixson-Lied Graduate Fellows

Julia Beck

Julia Beck is a Ph.D. candidate in piano pedagogy in the Glenn Korff School of Music, where her research focuses on accessible and adaptive approaches to music learning, with an emphasis on vibrotactile feedback and students with hearing loss. A native of Minot, North Dakota, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Minot State University before completing her M.M. in piano pedagogy and performance at UNL. She currently studies under Dr. Brenda Wristen.

As a graduate assistant at UNL, Julia teaches undergraduate keyboard skills courses, helping students develop foundational piano skills for careers in music teaching and performance. She has a strong interest in teaching students with hearing loss and other sensory disabilities and is passionate about fostering creative and accessible approaches to music education. In the future, she hopes to continue advancing inclusive approaches to music education, developing innovative technologies and pedagogies that make music learning more accessible.

Julia’s research has been recognized nationally and internationally, including recent presentations at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy and the 37th ISME World Conference in Montreal, Canada. Her current dissertation examines the use of vibrotactile feedback to support musicians with hearing loss, exploring vibrational haptics as a multisensory tool for music learning.

Originally from Peru, Nehemías Calsin Molleapaza graduated from the National University of Music of Peru, and he received a scholarship in 2007 to study at the National Experimental University of the Arts in Venezuela. In 2022, he earned a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from Andrews University in Michigan, where he also studied for a Master of Divinity. He began his musical studies at ESFAJ and trained as an orchestral conductor through the "Orquestando" program in Peru. He started his conducting studies in 2005 under Wilfredo Tarazona. 

He attended masterclasses with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Luca Pfaff-Piazza (Switzerland), Ángel Gil-Ordóñez (Spain), Parcival Módolo (Brazil), and Germán Gutiérrez (Colombia), among others. He served as assistant conductor of the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra and graduate assistant for the AU Wind Symphony in Michigan, and he was the principal conductor of the Bahia College Symphony Orchestra (2013-2017, Bahia, Brazil). He also served as an assistant conductor and instructor for the System of Children's and Youth Symphony Orchestras of Peru (2010- 2012). He has conducted the National Children's Symphony Orchestra of Peru, the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Peru, and the Peruvian Union University Symphony Orchestra. In addition, to founding a children's orchestra project in Bahia, Brazil. 

He has performed as principal horn with the National Symphony Orchestra of the National University of Music, the Simón Bolívar Symphonic Band of Venezuela, and the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Peru; he has also been a guest performer on several occasions with the National Symphony Orchestra of Peru. In July 2005, he was selected to join the Latin American Youth Symphony Orchestra (under the direction of Claudio Abbado and Gustavo Dudamel) and has participated in festivals across South America, Central America and the Caribbean. He was a winner of the Wolfgang A. Mozart National Competition (Peru, 2006) and has performed as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra (in 2005, 2006 and 2007), the Piura Symphony Orchestra, the CNM Symphony Orchestra, and the National Police Symphony Orchestra. 

He currently holds the position of graduate teaching assistant, leading the Campus Orchestra at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and is in his second year of doctoral studies in music, specializing in orchestral conducting.

Michel Drake is in his final year of his DMA Degree in jazz studies at UNL, where he has been appointed to be a Graduate Teaching Assistant as well as Instructor of Record and is working to enter Candidacy Status this Fall. Drake grew up in South Eastern Ohio, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in music from Muskingum University. Drake would later earn his Masters Degree in Music Performance from Kent State University. 

Drake has worked extensively around the state of Ohio both as an educator and as a performing musician over the past 15 years. Some professional groups in Ohio he has performed with include the Muskingum Valley Symphonic Winds, The Zanesville Memorial Concert Band, The Richard Simcox Big Band, The Dave Schubach Big Band, The Rusty Knights Big Band; which he directed for 5 years between 2017-2022, The Hillbound Gypsies, Y-City Barbershop Chorus, Coshocton Community Choir, The Renner Theater of Zanesville; operating music tech, The Akron Civic; woodwindist for pit orchestra, as well as being a band leader around North and South Eastern Ohio for various events. Drake has taught a private music studio for 15 years, and has been actively involved across the state of Ohio doing clinician work at summer band camps, or through other various forms of musical service. Some of the schools in Ohio that Michel has worked with include: Paint Valley Schools, Chippewa High School, Danbury High School, Athens High School, Orange High School, West Muskingum High School, Tri-Valley High School, Zanesville High School, Mt. Gilead High School and Caldwell High School. 

Currently, Drake is actively involved with Arts Incorperated, The Capital Jazz Society in Lincoln, as well as NOMA in Omaha, Nebraska, for the past two years. He is also continuing to teach private music lessons in Nebraska as well. He recently performed with Jacob Chung in Fall 2025, when he visited as a guest artist through the Hixson-Lied College of Fine Arts, as well as under the direction of guest artist  Stephen Phillip Harvey, in Spring 2026. Drake is planning to release his solo album, "Reflections," sometime this year.  

Some other notable aspects of Drake's music career include working with world renowned jazz artists such as Harry Allen, Joe Levano, Carl Allen, Chuck Owen, Christopher Zuar, Sam Blakeslee, Bobby Selvaggio and Bobby Watson. 

Drake plans to enter a career teaching music in higher education, upon completing his degree in May 2027. 

Emma Heaton is an emerging vocalist, voice teacher and researcher who is currently pursuing Ph.D. studies in vocal pedagogy at Nebraska. Her current research investigates acoustic and physiological measures of phonation type and how these objective measures compare to singers' subjective perceptions. Her undergraduate and master’s studies in both Toronto and London, Ontario, were in the field of voice performance.

Passionate about the performance of early and new music, Heaton has recently been heard as an alto soloist in Bach’s Cantata BWV 12 and Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and has participated in the premiere of Anna Hostman’s opera, “Cells of Wind.” Both her previous education and her experiences teaching voice in a private studio setting have led her to become fascinated with the structure and function of the human voice. At UNL, she looks forward to continuing to explore the possibilities of inclusive, singer-centered and science-informed voice pedagogy.

Jingyi Huo is a dedicated vocal pedagogy researcher, educator and performer, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in vocal pedagogy in the Glenn Korff School of Music. She previously earned a Master of Music in music theatre vocal pedagogy from Carthage College and a Bachelor of Music in music education from Russian State Pedagogical University.

With experience teaching voice and Chinese, Huo combines her expertise in research, performance and education to help students develop expressive, efficient and effortless singing. She combines her expertise in research, performance and teaching to help students achieve expressive, effortless singing. She was also a music producer with at least 40 original works that have reached nearly one million listeners.

Tianning Ma is pursuing a DMA in vocal performance in the Glenn Korff School of Music, where he also serves as a graduate teaching assistant in voice. He received his Master of Music in vocal performance at Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi di Como and his Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Jilin College of Arts.

He performed in several operas at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi di Como, including Radames in "Aida" and Luigi in "Il tabarro." With UNL Opera, he toured as Rodolfo in "La Bohème," performing at Friends of Opera and the Golden Husk Theatre. As a member of the Lirico Siciliano chorus, he toured in a production of Verdi's "Nabucco" through more than 30 cities across Italy, Spain and France, culminating in a performance at the Massy Opera Festival. Among his recent honors, he won second prize at the NATS National Student Auditions in the Advanced College TBB category, one of the most competitive national vocal competitions in the United States, having advanced from a second-prize finish at the NATS West Central Region Student Auditions.

Nate Meyer is a clarinetist from Bennington, Nebraska, currently pursuing a Master of Music in clarinet performance at the Glenn Korff School of Music, where he serves as the graduate teaching assistant to Dr. Diane Barger. Meyer received his Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. 

Meyer is involved with the arts across Nebraska such as being a woodwind technician at local high school marching bands, teaching privately, and even serves as the Head Librarian for Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra. Performance opportunities include his performance as the winner of the John Shildneck Young Artist Competition with the Lincoln Municipal Band and UNL's Single Reed Day, as well as a masterclass with Michael Lowenstern. Meyer plans to combine his studies with the experiences at the graduate level to develop his teaching and artistry.

Michele Michaelis is a Ph.D. student in music education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Glenn Korff School of Music. Pursuing a Ph.D. in music education is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, and she is grateful for the opportunity to learn from leaders in the field at UNL. Her research interests lie at the intersection of music education and educational neuroscience, with a particular interest in using neuroscience research to better understand the cognitive processes involved in music making. Alongside her doctoral studies, Michaelis is pursuing a graduate certificate in educational neuroscience.

Michaelis’ first year as a doctoral student provided opportunities to share her research and collaborate with colleagues in the field. In fall 2025, she presented a poster on eye tracking and Orff instrument playing at the Big Ten Academic Alliance conference. In summer 2026, she presented a second poster at Northwestern University at the Society for Music Perception and Cognition conference. She has also been invited to co-present a workshop at the Nebraska Music Educators Association conference in November 2026.

The Hixson-Lied Fellowship provides Michele with the opportunity to continue pursuing these professional experiences while developing the research she has long hoped to pursue. She hopes her work will contribute to a deeper understanding of the mental processes involved in music making and, ultimately, to music education practice.

Tristyn Oberender is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in tuba performance at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he studies with Professor Carson McTeer. He holds a Master of Music degree in tuba performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Drake University, where he studied under Dr. Vince Kenney. 

Oberender has presented masterclasses at the Drake University Honor Band and Morningside University Honor Band and has performed with numerous collegiate ensembles, including the Drake University Wind Ensemble, Drake Symphony Orchestra, and University of Nebraska–Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. In addition to performing, he has served as an ensemble conductor and music educator, developing a passion for both musical performance and teaching. As a doctoral student, Oberender continues to pursue opportunities that expand his artistry, pedagogy and contributions to the musical community.

Dmitrii Tulupov is a violinist pursuing a Master of Music in violin performance at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he serves as a graduate teaching assistant. He holds a Bachelor of Music in performance from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. His experience includes performances as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player with university ensembles and international festivals, as well as recognition in national and international violin competitions.

He began performing with the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra as a high school student, gaining early orchestral experience. During his undergraduate studies, he also taught privately and in school programs, working with students on technical development, musicality, and performance preparation. His background combines performance, competition and teaching.

Lyric soprano Duruo Yao hails from China and is working toward her DMA degree in vocal performance at the Glenn Korff School of Music. She holds a Master of Music in vocal performance, awarded with distinction, from Zhejiang Conservatory of Music. She completed her undergraduate studies at Hangzhou Normal University, graduating with distinction with a Bachelor’s degree in music education.

Yao’s academic interests cover vocal pedagogy alongside vocal and operatic performance practice. Her operatic role credits feature Countess Almaviva (Rosina) in “Le Nozze di Figaro,” Marie in “La Fille du Régiment,” and Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni.” She has also taken part in Offenbach’s operetta “The Bandit’s Daughter.” As a performing artist, she has appeared in numerous productions and recitals throughout China.