Vance Music Studios staff is dedicated to the advancement of your child in all facets of music. We offer one-on-one instruction to students of all ages for a wide range of instruments.
Vance Music staff members tailor lessons to the individual student and provide students with expertise through pieces, technique, music theory, music history, and ear training skills. Each staff members has at least 20+ years teaching experience in one-on-one lessons. Several members have also taught in a classroom setting. In addition to the one-on-one attention students receive in lessons, they also receive written comments from our entire teaching staff after recital performances.
Our staff members work consistently to improve their personal skills on their instruments as well as their education skills. To accomplish this, staff members continue practicing and learning new music, attend conferences, workshops, meet with other musicians, and perform regularly.
Meet Our Staff Members
Rex Vance
- Violin student of Dr. James Caesar, Beatrice Pease & Leopold Shopmaker (student of Leopold Auer & Willy Hess, & for whom the Leopold Shopmaker Violin Competition is named)
- Currently performs in the Vance Music Band, Vance Music String Quartet & Faith Renewal Church Praise Band
- Performed in violin master classes for world-renowned artists Samuel Applebaum & Christian Howes
- Performed in the Hutchinson Symphony, Fort Hays Symphony, Wichita State University Symphony, Friend’s Community Orchestra, KS University Medical Arts Symphony, KS City KS Symphony, First Baptist Church String Orchestra & First Baptist Church Praise Band
- Performed in the Hutchinson Symphony with Art Garfunkel
- String Clinician for classical, jazz, rock, bluegrass, old-time fiddle, gospel, Cajun, Irish, Welsh & Scottish music
- Clinician for Friends University, Wichita State University, & the KS American String Teacher Association
- Played backup for Ernest Alexander, Alvis Barnett, Karla Burns, Craig Curry, Andy May, The Partons Band, Pee Wee Reese, The Stutes Family Band & The Terrys Band
- Former board member of KS American String Teacher Association
- Member of American String Teacher Association, KS American String Teacher Association, National Association for Music Education, KS Acoustic Arts Association & KS Bluegrass Association, Music Teachers National Association, & Wichita Metropolitan Music Teachers Association, Inc.
- Published composer and arranger
Marissa Vance
- Violin student of Dr. Alla Aranovskaya of the St. Petersburg String Quartet, Rex Vance & Nancy Luttrell
- Jazz violin student of Dr. Robert Young, Dr. Mark Foley, Tom Fowler & Rex Vance
- Piano student of Chet Vance, Judith Fear, Meghan Vance, Wynona Vance & John Goering
- Vocal student of Xavier Moore, Janet Vance and Chet Vance
- Bachelor of Violin Performance degree from Wichita State University, magna cum laude
- Currently pursuing a Master’s Certificate in Music Business from Berklee School of Music Online
- Currently performs in the Vance Music Band, Vance Music String Quartet & Faith Renewal Church Praise Band
- Former General Music and Praise Band teacher for Faith Academy
- Performed in a violin master class for Nashville artist Billy Contreras
- Performed in the Hutchinson Symphony, Wichita State University Symphony, Wichita State University Jazz Combos, First Baptist Church String Orchestra, First Baptist Church Praise Band, First Baptist Sanctuary Choir, & Douglas Avenue Assembly Of God Church Praise Band
- Played backup for Ernest Alexander & Craig Curry
- Performed as a violinist in the Wichita State University Symphony with the St. Petersburg Quartet at Carnegie Hall
- Performed in the Wichita State University Symphony with the rock band KANSAS
- Pit orchestra member for productions including: The Addams Family, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, 1776 (received Mary Jane Teall Award for Best Ensemble), & A Man Of No Importance (received Mary Jane Teall Award for Best Ensemble)
- Member of American String Teacher Association, KS American String Teacher Association, National Association for Music Education, Music Teachers National Association, & Wichita Metropolitan Music Teachers Association, Inc.
Janet Vance
- Master of Music Education from Wichita State University
- Kodály Level III Certification from Wichita State University
- State of Kansas licensed K-12 music teacher
- Former elementary vocal music teacher for USD 259
- Vocal student of Dr. George Gibson, Dr. David Weber, Dr. Vernon Yenne & Janice Jaworsky
- Currently performs as pianist at Faith Renewal Church
- Choir director for church & civic performing groups
- Pianist for weddings, funerals, parties, school & church functions
- Piano accompanist for solos, ensembles & contests
- Toured the United States & Europe with the Continental Singers
- Performed with the WSU Singers, Opera Theatre and Madrigal Singers
- Performed in Master’s Project (vocal jazz ensemble), Vance Music Band, Wichita State University Singers, Wichita State University Opera Theatre, Wichita State University Madrigal Singers, First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir & First Baptist Church Bell Choir
- Member of Music Educator’s National Conference, KS Music Educators Association, Kodály Music Educators of KS, National Association for Music Education, Music Teachers National Association, & Wichita Metropolitan Music Teachers Association, Inc.
Meghan Vance
- Piano student of Paul Reed, John Goering, Chet & Wynona Vance
- Violin student of Rex Vance
- Guitar student of Sterling Gray
- Currently performs in the Vance Music String Quartet
- Experienced pianist for weddings, funerals, parties, school and church functions
- Pianist for weddings, funerals, parties, school & church functions
- Piano accompanist for solos, ensembles & contests
- Former piano accompanist for the First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir, the Central Christian Academy Choir, & the Faith Academy Choir
- Performed in the Wichita State University Orchestra, Wichita State University Summer Orchestra, Wichita Youth Symphony Orchestra & First Baptist Church String Orchestra
- Pit orchestra member for various musicals
- Member of National Association for Music Education, Music Teachers National Association, & Wichita Metropolitan Music Teachers Association, Inc.
