Performance WorX

03/29/2026

Prayer warriors needed! Doug contracted a bacterial infection through his dialysis port about three weeks ago. The port stopped working during dialysis and they were not able to fix the problem. So, he was sent to FGH to have a procedure to fix the port. On Wednesday he started having confusion and by Thursday evening we went back to FGH. He had temperature of 106.9 and his blood pressure was extremely low. He was admitted to ICU. They started antibiotics. The infection cleared from the blood, but they found growth of the bacteria in his heart. The antibiotic is being continued for six more weeks in order to clear it from his heart lining. Yesterday, he had problems at dialysis with his oxygen level, blood pressure, and heart rate. He was admitted once again to the hospital for more testing. Please pray that the tests reveal what is causing the problems and that God will use the Doctors and the medications to bring healing to his body.

12/23/2025

Bowl bound! Defeat WKU!! SMTTT

10/16/2025

Doug Broome is pleased to announce the sale of Performance WorX to Brett and Yvonne McKenzie as he retires due to ongoing chronic illness and hospitalization. Yvonne has been a wonderful Performance WorX mom and will be an excellent choice to carry the banner forward. The new company name is Hattiesburg Music Studio, and its address is 16 Office Park Drive, Ste. 10 (next door to Stagestruck and across the street from Anderson’s Paint and Decorating). You can reach them at 601.818.1881. Be sure to call in to welcome them and set up your lessons with Ross and the faculty. Your prayers are certainly appreciated as I continue recovery with physical therapy and dialysis. Thanks for all your support through all these years, and a special thanks to all the wonderful students who have made Performance WorX the great success it has been for 30 years now. Let’s wish the greatest success for the McKenzies as they lead this great company forward!

07/17/2025

Performance WorX is honored to announce the appointment of Jesyel Cezar Guimarāes Quevedo as Assistant Professor of Music tesching piano, percussion, and assisting in other aress of his exprrtise/interest.
Jesyel Cezar Guimarães Quevedo is a Brazilian pianist, composer, and educator from Santa
Maria, Brazil, known for his expressive performance style and thoughtful musicianship. He holds
a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the Federal University of Rio Grande do
Sul (UFRGS), where he studied under Professor Ney Fialkow, and earned his Master’s
degree from the University of Wyoming, working with Dr. Theresa Bogard. He is currently
pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Performance at the University of Southern
Mississippi.
Jesyel’s musical journey began early, with formative studies at the Instituto Popular de Arte e
Educação (IPAE) in Porto Alegre. In 2015, he entered UFRGS’s Extension Program in Musical
Instruments, first studying under Felipe de Souza and later under Ney Fialkow, continuing with
him through his undergraduate program.
He has extensive teaching experience, having worked as a piano instructor at Casa da Música,
the Porto Alegre Music School (EMPA), and UFRGS’s Extension Program, in addition to
serving as a collaborative pianist for the voice class "Canto I" at the university. Since 2016,
he has also taught privately, offering lessons in piano, keyboard, music theory, and ear training
to students of various levels.
From 2024 to 2025, Jesyel served as Music Director at the First United Methodist Church of
Laramie, Wyoming, where he led sacred music programming, directed ensembles, and
coordinated musical events for the community.
His artistic path includes international recognition, such as First Prize at the 5th Franz Liszt
Foundation Composition Competition in Turin, Italy (2018), and Third Prize at the 30th Souza
Lima Piano Competition in São Paulo, Brazil (2021). Jesyel has also participated in festivals,
workshops, and masterclasses with artists such as Cristina Ortiz, David Witten, Sławomir
Dobrzański, Olívia Tsai, and Fabio Luz, gaining valuable insights into both performance and
pedagogy.
Currently based in the United States, Jesyel continues to balance academic research, solo and
collaborative performances, and music instruction. His playing is characterized by nuance,
technical polish, and emotional clarity, and his career reflects an ongoing commitment to artistic

07/17/2025

Performance WorX is honored to announce the association of Carlos E. Tello Herrera as assistant Professor of Music offerring instruction in guitar and string bass.

Carlos E. Tello Herrera is a dynamic Colombian conductor, educator, multi-instrumentalist, and musical innovator whose passion for music extends beyond the stage and into the heart of the communities he serves. Currently the Conducting Graduate Assistant of the USM Symphony Orchestra and Conductor of the Hattiesburg Civic Orchestra, Carlos is a visionary musical leader dedicated to using the transformative power of music to inspire dialogue, inclusion, and social change.

Carlos holds a Master of Music in Orchestra Conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi (2022–2024), where he studied under Dr. Michael Miles. He also earned a Master of Music Research from the International University of La Rioja in Spain (2017–2019) and a Bachelor’s degree in Double Bass Performance from the Conservatorio Antonio María Valencia in his hometown of Cali, Colombia (2007–2015), where his musical journey began.

With a bold and inclusive conducting philosophy, Carlos believes music is more than notes on a page—it’s a vehicle for human expression, academic inquiry, and cultural connection. His work emphasizes the interpretive and social dimensions of orchestral performance, bringing to the podium a deep respect for the voices of composers and artists from all backgrounds.

His conducting experience spans countries, from his current role with the Hattiesburg Civic Orchestra to guest and leadership positions with the Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra Tito Sangiorgi in Cartagena, Colombia. As a performer, Carlos has held principal and section positions with orchestras including the Meridian Symphony (USA), the Vienna Summer Music Festival (Austria), the USM Symphony, and long-standing ensembles in Colombia such as the Cali Philharmonic and the Bellas Artes Symphony.

Beyond the classical world, Carlos is also an accomplished guitarist and the founder of Medias Nueves, a creative musical project that fuses Latin American folk traditions with the improvisational richness of jazz. Through this genre-bending ensemble, he explores the diversity of Latin rhythms, stories, and harmonies, blending tradition with innovation to create a fresh and heartfelt sound.

In addition to his performance and conducting work, Carlos is a committed educator. From 2014 to 2021, he served on the faculty of the Universidad de Bellas Artes y Ciencias de Bolívar, where he taught double bass, music theory, and conducted student orchestras, helping shape the next generation of Colombian musicians.

Whether on the podium, in the classroom, or on stage with his guitar, Carlos E. Tello Herrera continues to champion the transformative, humanizing force of music, bridging cultures and communities through the universal language of sound.

Call Performance WorX at 601.271.0330 or check http/www.PerformanceWorX.org to arrange lessons with Carlos.

07/17/2025

PerformanceWorX is honored to announce the promotion of Ross Andrus to the position of Professor and General Manager effective August 1. 2025. Mr. Andrus brings a wealth of experience to the position having taught at PWX for the past thirteen years offering instruction in Band Insrtuments, Music Theory, and Piano.

For over 13 years, Ross Andrus has had the pleasure of teaching, arranging, and performing as a Faculty Member with the Performance WorX Family. Ross takes immense pride in teaching wind instruments, piano, percussion, and music theory. His Alma Mater is The University of Southern Mississippi, where he majored in Jazz Studies and Music Education. During his college years, he played Tenor and Bass Trombone in many solo and ensemble settings. Ross studied with Trombone Professor, Dr. Marta Hofacre, who taught him the importance of performing with the best sound in mind, no matter the level of technicality. While learning to play music in the jazz idiom, Ross was assigned to study under Leland “Lee” Kornegay. After a semester of playing in small groups and ensembles, Ross had an “A-Ha” moment. After listening to Lee’s instruction and demonstrations on his trumpet, Ross took on a new musical mentor. He also acquired an affinity for writing and arranging for chamber groups, wind bands, rock bands, jazz combos, and jazz ensembles, to name a few. Ross was a member of the USM Orchestra, Wind Bands, Jazz LAB Bands, Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, and Jazz Combos. Before attending Southern Miss, Ross went to Acadiana High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he decided to pursue a career in music. While playing in an hour of band class, Dr. Hofacre decided to drop by after travelling through the area of recruitment for USM and taught an impromptu trombone master class. Not only did she leave a lasting impression on him, but she unknowingly recruited a future student of hers. Being born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana, Ross was always around good music, whether it was listening to his dad play bass, grandfather on Cajun fiddle and accordion, or road trips to New Orleans. His influences range all the way from Paul Simon to Queen, and Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis, and JJ. Johnson.

Call 601.271.0330 or http/www.PerformanceWorX to contact Ross Andrus.

07/17/2025

Meet Nicole Herrera: Your New Violin Instructor! Nicole teaches in Violin and upper strings she is Suzuki certified and teaches Suzuki lessons and classes

Nicole Herrera is a highly skilled violin and viola player with 14 years of performance experience. She holds a Master’s degree in Music Performance with a minor in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Nicole has performed and studied internationally, with experiences in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and most recently, Vienna.

As a certified Suzuki teacher with experience in the USM Suzuki Program, Nicole is dedicated to nurturing young musicians. Join us at her String Suzuki Studio and embark on a creative journey to musical success! Call 601.271.0330 or check out http/www.PerformanceWorX.org to register for private lessons or group Suzuki string classes today.

07/17/2025

Performance WorX is pleased to welcome Peyton King as Assistant Professor of Voice and Piano.

Peyton King is an accomplished vocalist and dedicated educator with extensive performance experience and formal training in music. She holds an Associate of Arts in Music from Jones College and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Music and Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi.

Her performance highlights include opening for the Radio City Rockettes in New York City, singing at the iconic St. Patrick's Cathedral, and participating in multiple concerts at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Peyton has taught private voice to students ages 7-17 at the esteemed French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts and also has experience teaching in a primary level special education classroom. During her undergraduate studies, she trained under professional operatic vocalists and is equipped to offer individualized instruction across a range of musical genres.

Coming from a family with a deep rooted passion for music education, Peyton draws inspiration from her grandmother, Beth King, a piano teacher of over 20 years, and her father, Mark King, who instilled in her a love of music from an early age. With a strong foundation in music theory and ear training developed before kindergarten, Peyton brings both expertise and enthusiasm to her teaching. She is committed to helping young singers build confidence, discover their unique voice, and grow as musicians

Call PerformanceWorX at 601.271.0330 or check us at http/wwwPerformanceWorX.org.

07/16/2025

Performance WorX is honored to welcome Orin King as Instructor in Saxophone and Guitar.

You can set up lessons with Orin by calling 601.271.0330 or checking http/www.PerformanceWorX.org.

07/16/2025

Performance WorX is proud to welcome Jesyel Cezar as Assistant Porofessor of Music teaching Piano, Guitar, and Percussion. Cezar is beginning doctoral studies at the University of southern Mussiasippi .
Jesyel Cezar Guimarães Quevedo is a Brazilian pianist, composer, and educator from Santa
Maria, Brazil, known for his expressive performance style and thoughtful musicianship. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the Federal University of Rio Grande do
Sul (UFRGS), where he studied under Professor Ney Fialkow, and earned his Master adegree from the University of Wyoming, working with Dr. Theresa Bogard. He is currently
pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Performance at the University of Southern
Mississippi.
Jesyel’s musical journey began early, with formative studies at the Instituto Popular de Arte e
Educação (IPAE) in Porto Alegre. In 2015, he entered UFRGS’s Extension Program in Musical
Instruments, first studying under Felipe de Souza and later under Ney Fialkow, continuing with
him through his undergraduate program.
He has extensive teaching experience, having worked as a piano instructor at Casa da Música,
the Porto Alegre Music School (EMPA), and UFRGS’s Extension Program, in addition to
serving as a collaborative pianist for the voice class "Canto I" at the university. Since 2016,
he has also taught privately, offering lessons in piano, keyboard, music theory, and ear training
to students of various levels.
From 2024 to 2025, Jesyel served as Music Director at the First United Methodist Church of
Laramie, Wyoming, where he led sacred music programming, directed ensembles, and
coordinated musical events for the community.
His artistic path includes international recognition, such as First Prize at the 5th Franz Liszt
Foundation Composition Competition in Turin, Italy (2018), and Third Prize at the 30th Souza
Lima Piano Competition in São Paulo, Brazil (2021). Jesyel has also participated in festivals,
workshops, and masterclasses with artists such as Cristina Ortiz, David Witten, Sławomir
Dobrzański, Olívia Tsai, and Fabio Luz, gaining valuable insights into both performance and
pedagogy.
Currently based in the United States, Jesyel continues to balance academic research, solo and
collaborative performances, and music instruction. His playing is characterized by nuance,
technical polish, and emotional clarity, and his career reflects an ongoing commitment to artistic integrity and musical exploration.
Calll Performance WorX at 601.271.0330 or htp/PerformanceWorX.org to schedule lessons.

07/14/2025