ERIC RUPLE, Professor | Interim Director of the School of Music
Eric Ruple enjoys an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. He has performed several times at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.: including a solo concert of the music of Beethoven in 2007. He has been a pianist for the Virginia Symphony and Richmond Symphony. Mr. Ruple has performed and presented concerts and masterclasses at a several universities and festivals throughout the United States. He has twice been a guest clinician for the City Music Festival in Hong Kong, China. In 2010, he taught and performed solo and chamber music at Opusfest in Cebu, Philippines. In May, 2012, he is scheduled to perform at the American Liszt Society Festival, in Oregon.
Mr. Ruple has been on the James Madison University music faculty since 1987, coordinated the Piano Area from 1992-2010. He has been a MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher since 2001. In addition to JMU, Mr. Ruple has taught in a variety of other settings, including his summer work as a faculty member at the Virginia Governor’s School for the Visual and Performing Arts. He often adjudicates competitions and festivals throughout the region.
Mr. Ruple has been particularly interested in late twentieth-century American piano music and has received acclaim for his performances of works by Elliott Carter, Frederick Rzewski, Robert Muczynski, John Corigliano and George Tsontakis, to name a few. He has done workshops and concerts on the music of fellow Arizonan, Robert Muczynski. Also of particular interest is the music of Beethoven, which resulted in a sabbatical leave from James Madison University in 2006 for the study and subsequent lectures and performances of Beethoven’s monumental “Diabelli” Variations.
Eric Ruple received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Piano Performance from Arizona State University, an Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and his Doctorate from the University of Michigan. Among those with whom he has studied include: Leon Fleischer, Eugene Pridonoff, Theodore Lettvin, Martin Katz, Ozan Marsh and Charles Fisher. He has also worked with members of the LaSalle and Guarneri String Quartets.
Email: rupleek@jmu.edu
Office: 540.568.3614
Connie Driscoll joined the JMU band staff in 1987. She attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Prior to joining the staff at JMU, she was an assistant Underwriter for United Fire and Casualty Insurance Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Supervisor for Warranty Services at Dunham Bush in Harrisonburg, Virginia. For the past 20 years, Connie has played clarinet in the Harrisonburg Rockingham Concert Band where she has served as president, secretary and treasurer. She has also played clarinet in the JMU Concert Band and JMU University Band. Connie has assisted in the planning and organization of the JMU Parade of Champions contest, the Marching Royal Dukes band camp, and the Marching Royal Duke trips to two Presidential Inaugural parades, Macy’s Parade, two Bands of America Grand National Championships, and the European tour. She is a former recipient of the College of Arts and Letters Staff award. This award is given by the College of Arts & Letters in recognition of exemplary service to the University, College and community.
Kimberley Stebbins Jordania holds the position of Administrative Assistant in the School of Music. She received a B.M. from Southern University and a M.M. in Music Education from University of Tennessee. She traveled extensively with her late husband, Conductor Vaktan Jordania, in The Republic of Georgia, Korea and Russia. She managed his recording studio as well as his music business.
Michele Kirkdorffer, Associate Professor of Oboe and Music Admissions Coordinator at James Madison University, received a B.M. and M.M. at the University of Northern Iowa and a D.M.A. at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Dr. Kirkdorffer studied with Sara Lambert Bloom and Thomas Barry and has coached with Robert Bloom, Allan Vogel, Alex Klein, Peter Bowman, Sherry Sylar and John Mack. She has performed with the Roanoke Symphony in Virginia; the Richmond Symphony in Indiana; Louisville Symphony Orchestra in Kentucky; West Virginia Symphony Orchestra; and is an active free-lance musician. Dr. Kirkdorffer has also performed at the Lucca Festival in Lucca, Italy, American Oboist Festival and the Sarasota Music Festival. During the Lincoln Center Mozart Bicentennial Celebration, she performed in Avery Fischer Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the Juilliard Opera Theater. Dr. Kirkdorffer currently performs with the Montpelier Wind Quintet, the resident quintet at James Madison University. This quintet has presented recitals at the Virginia Music Education Association convention, the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, the International Flute Association Convention and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. On numerous occasions Dr. Kirkdorffer has appeared as a soloist with JMU ensembles performing concertos by composers such as; Mozart, Schickele, Bach, Telemann, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Harbison. She performs on soundtracks for The Learning Channel and National Geographic and performed on the 2004 Emmy award-winning soundtrack, Stalking Leopards, composed and produced by David Cottrell of Cottrell-Mangum Music. Dr. Kirkdorffer has performed as a recitalist and presented oboe master classes at the University of Kentucky, East Carolina University, Valdosta State University, the Virginia Music Educators Association convention and the annual JMU Double Reed Day.
William G. Posey received his Bachelor of Music Degree from James Madison University, where he served as drill instructor and drum major. Mr. Posey was a clinician for United Music Enterprises, teaching drill, music, drum majors, marching and maneuvering, and leadership classes all across the United States and Canada. He has also served as clinician for Bands of America in both the U.S. and Great Britain. While in England, Mr. Posey served as a marching instructor for one of the top British drum and bugle corps.
Scott Rikkers is the Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Director of the School of Music at James Madison University. A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, he received his Bachelor of Music Education from Western Michigan University and Masters of Music in Education from James Madison University. Prior to his appointment at JMU, Mr. Rikkers was the Director of Athletic Bands at The University of Montana where he coordinated the athletic band program as well as conducted the University Concert Band and assisted with the Music Education curriculum. He has held a graduate assistantship with the James Madison University band program, prior to which he taught k-12 music in Michigan, holding positions in General Music and Middle/High School band.
Judy Sager is a Rockingham County native, born and raised in the Broadway area, and a graduate of Broadway High School. Before coming to the School of Music in 2008, she held the office of Virginia Deputy Commissioner of Revenue for 11 years. Former work experience includes 16 years in the JMU admissions office, Administrative Assistant in the Dean's Office for College of Integrated Science at JMU and Admissions Officer at Bridgewater College. She resides with her family in the Broadway area. 
A native of New Mexico, Dr. Mary Jean Speare received a B. M. summa cum laude from Eastern New Mexico University in piano performance, an MM in piano performance from Southern Methodist University, and a Ph. D. in Musicology from Washington University in St. Louis with a dissertation on “The Transformation of Opéra Comique: 1850-1880.” Before coming to James Madison University, she held one-year positions at Baylor University and the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. She has given papers at international conferences in Prague, Belgium and Dublin, and at the national convention of the American Musicological Society. Her publications include articles on various aspects of nineteenth-century French opera. 
Donna Wampler holds the position of Program Support Technician in the School of Music office. Her love of music began with her mother who was a piano teacher in the Washington DC area. She enjoys accompanying and is the Minister of Music for Cross Roads Baptist Church. She has been involved with Eastern Mennonite University’s Preparatory program with her four children for the past 12 years and is active in the Arts. Her previous work experience includes accounting as well as preschool and elementary education. She plans to complete a bachelor’s degree from JMU.