Our Music Instructors
Welcome our new instructors!
Jessica Rigdon & Catherine McConnell
We are so pleased to announce our two new directors for our coming school year! Jessica Rigdon, who has been in music education since 2006, will be our new Band Director for all three band groups. Cathy McConnell, who has been directing school orchestras in the Pensacola area since 2000, will be our new Symphonic Orchestra director. We will be sharing more information soon!
Jennifer Schuler
Strings Director
Jennifer Schuler joined WFHEMA in 2020 as director of Beginner and Intermediate strings. She studied under Dr. Alberto Jaffe, former artist in residence of Pensacola and author of the Jaffe Strings Method. She graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education, violin proficiency. She holds 14 years of teaching experience in both private and group lessons. In addition to teaching for WFHEMA, Mrs. Schuler teaches private string lessons in her personal studio. She also performs as a violinist with Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Panama City Symphony Orchestra. Jennifer is also a homeschooling mother of 2. Whenever she is not teaching or playing violin, she loves making memories with her family and spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking.
Daniel Blomdahl
Daniel Blomdahl started playing clarinet in 5th grade after hearing the Seattle Symphony perform Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. It was at that moment that he decided that music was something he wanted to pursue full-time. Mr. Blomdahl completed a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Music Education with an emphasis in piano from Pensacola Christian College in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Throughout his college career, he played a variety of band and orchestral instruments in PCCymphony, Symphonic Band, woodwind ensembles, brass ensembles, and string ensembles. While teaching full-time, he also completed his Master of Music Education from Bob Jones University in 2020.
Mr. Blomdahl has over 15 years of experience teaching private lessons to a variety of ages, skill levels, and instruments, as well as almost 10 years of experience leading beginner band. He has also had experience leading intermediate and advanced bands and orchestras. When he is not involved in a musical event or practicing, Mr. Blomdahl loves reading, cooking, and drinking coffee.
Erin Rowland
Beginner Strings Assistant
Erin Rowland came on staff with WFHEMA in 2022. She began playing cello in sixth grade in her hometown of Springfield, MO. Although hesitant to try out for the youth symphony that year, she agreed, was accepted, and has enjoyed playing in many orchestras since, including the Kansas University Symphony Orchestra and Arapahoe Philharmonic in Denver, CO. She currently enjoys performing with the Northwest Florida State Orchestra.
Erin studied cello under Prof. Edward Laut at KU for five years while earning a bachelor of Architecture.
She has over 20 years of experience teaching private cello lessons and group cello sessions and performs in various ensembles, including special events, weddings, worship bands, and large church orchestras.
Erin has enjoyed the many blessings and opportunities her music career has provided her, including friendships and discipline. Her goal is to share the privilege and joy of using her musical gifts to glorify God.
