Instructors

 Paul Eddison Lewis has composed a variety of works ranging from electronic music to pieces for large ensemble. In 2014, Lewis' work The Ninth Gate was honored with the BMI Student Composer Award. Lewis’ involvement in electro-acoustic music has resulted in works for fixed media and works for live instrument and electronics. In 2019, Lewis’ work was commissioned from the Tampa City Ballet in the production of “7th Avenue in Ybor,” which has been featured on Good Day Tampa Bay, Bay News 9, Ybor MainStage Theater and the Palladium.
      Paul holds a BM in composition from the University of South Florida studying under Baljinder Sekhon and Paul Reller. He has also participated in masterclasses with composers including Stuart Saunders Smith, Hilary Tann, David Lipton, Robert Morris, Michael Schelle and Yotam Haber. He was selected as the featured student composer in the USF student showcase concert for the NASM committees visit to USF. In addition to his compositional achievements, Lewis is also an active music performer with experience playing contrabass with the USF Symphony Orchestra under the direction of William Wiedrich, Mostly Pops Orchestra under the direction of Robert Romanski, and playing cello for the Dade City symphony.
      In 2019, Paul was selected to be the conductor for the USF Health Orchestra and is currently performing under his direction. Lewis also teaches many aspiring musicians who have achieved honors and awards such as All State Honors, Superior ratings from Solo Ensemble, District Winner in the National Piano Auditions, and First chair seating for All County.

 Charlotte Lewis is a classically trained violinist with a passion for performing, currently residing in Pasco County, Florida.Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the University of South Florida. She has performed with the USF Symphony Orchestra, the USF Honors Orchestra, the South Shore Symphony Orchestra, and the Dade City Symphony; she has attended music festivals such as Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and CODA Mountain Academy and has participated in workshops with The Florida Orchestra and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. She has been featured as a soloist with the Dade City Symphony, the Thursday Musicale, and the USF New Music festival.
      Charlotte is an active performer of contemporary music and has premiered many new works for both chamber ensemble and solo violin in the Tampa Bay area; she enjoys working with living composers to help bring their work to life onstage and in the recording studio.In addition to classical and contemporary music, Charlotte loves to connect with her Appalachian heritage through fiddle and folk music.

 After getting her degree in vocal music from the University of Tampa, Mindy Prendes 
discovered a love for teaching. Following in the footsteps of her mother and sister, she  became a teacher in 2002. She has taught elementary music in Pasco County for over 20 years. She currently teaches at Seven Oaks Elementary where she was named teacher of the year in 2014. 
 
      As a classically trained mezzo-soprano, Mindy has sung in many concerts, musicals, weddings, and various public events. She has performed with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and the professional chorus, The Richard Zielinski Singers. Her repertoire consists of many operatic pieces in languages such as Latin, Italian, and German. 

      Mindy believes that good voices aren’t just gifted to those that are lucky enough to be born with them. With the right teacher, she believes anyone can grow their voice into something beautiful. 

JEFFREY CHODIL is a professional Classical pianist with over 30 years of music experience. With degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University (B.M.) and USF (M.M.), Jeffrey worked in Florida for 15 years as piano teacher, accompanist, chamber musician, soloist, and composer/arranger. As pianist, he has given world premiere performances in the US and Brazil. Through diverse collaborations, he has worked with Dreamhouse Theatre, 4 Cellos & A Piano as pianist and principal arranger, Spanish Lyric Theatre, OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), USF-PAMA (Performing Arts and Medicine Association), and more. Jeffrey has also served as guest judge for HACA’s Spotlight on Talent (in 2017, 2020, and 2025). He currently serves as Music Director at the Dade City First United Methodist Church, as Adjunct Piano Faculty at Saint Leo University, and as Piano Instructor at Prelude Academy.

Jeffrey’s teaching method draws on his Classical training and incorporates lessons learned through his work at USF assisting in research studying pianist hand biomechanics. His students develop solid foundations of technique and theory, always at the service of enabling music as a form of self-expression. Jeffrey encourages a flexible approach for healthy learning habits that combine critical listening skills with creative problem solving strategies.

Jing Zhang, D.M.A., is an Adjunct Professor of Voice in the Department of Music at Saint Leo University, where she teaches applied voice and courses in music appreciation. A classical mezzo-soprano and vocal pedagogue, Dr. Zhang holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance with a minor in Arts Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and she holds a Performance Diploma from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.

Jing strives to create a supportive, student-centered approach for her teaching. Her number one priority as a teacher is to encourage creative, comfortable, and collaborative environments where students feel free to explore their voice. Since 2022 Jing also taught voice lessons through the Community Music Lessons program under UW-Madison, working with students all ages. These experiences have prepared her to work with student of diverse backgrounds, levels, and musical goals.