CSPA String Faculty
Mandy Wang, violin/viola, String Division Chair
Violinist Man Wang is the first prize winner of the 2015 MTNA Kansas State and West Central competition, third prize winner of the 2015 Enkor International Chamber Music Competition, honor prize of the 2016 Misbin Memorial Chamber Music Competition. Other competitions she got top prizes include 2010 Shandong Young Artist Competition and Golden Award of the Music Competition in Beijing. She has performed extensively
as a soloist and member of the CNU String Quartet throughout Beijing and Shandong. From 2000 to 2006, Ms. Wang was frequently invited to perform in Japan, Korea and Taiwan with the Shandong Youth Philharmonic as a soloist, chamber musician, and concertmaster. In the summer of 2017 she performed in Aspen Music Festival under the baton of Ludovic Morlot of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and prominent British conductor Jane Glover, where she studied with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Robert Chen and Cornelia Heard. Also she was a member of the International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico in its inaugural season in 2017 where she got re-invited for their consecutive seasons.
Ms. Wang’s talent for music was noticed when she was very young. She began studying the violin at the age of 5 in Shandong. In 2007, She was admitted to the Beijing Capital Normal University (CNU) as a top student. She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with the most prestigious scholarships. In 2018 Man Wang received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in violin performance at the University of Kansas, where she studied with Dr. Véronique Mathieu and served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the university orchestra. In 2020 she received her Graduate Certificate from the University of Kansas in violin performance under the instruction of David Colwell. Currently, she is working on her Master of Music degree in viola performance studying with Boris Vayner. Since 2017 she is a faculty member at Ottawa University and performer-artist at NAVO Organization. In 2017 she joined the Community School for the Performing Arts in Manhattan, Kansas.
Brett Lytle, cello
Brett Lytle is in his first year teaching middle and high
school orchestra for USD 383. Prior to his roles at CSPA and USD383,
Brett held graduate teaching assistant positions in music and
educational psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Brett
began playing cello at age 10 and studied with Erinn Renyer, completing
bachelor's degrees in music education and cello performance from
Washburn University in 2019. He was awarded a graduate assistantship and
Hixson-Lied Performing Arts Fellowship to study cello performance at
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, studying with Dr. Karen Becker. In
2020, he was awarded a graduate teaching assistantship and fellowship in
Educational Psychology through the College of Education and Human
Sciences at UNL. Brett graduated with a M.M. in cello performance from
UNL in 2021.
Clara Kachanes, violin/viola
Clara received a Bachelor of Music degree from Fort Hays State University in 2020. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Arts Leadership and Management through Wichita State University.
Clara’s orchestral engagements have included the Great Bend Community Orchestra, Hays Symphony Orchestra, Fort Hays State University Sinfonietta, Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra, and Salina Symphony Orchestra. Some of Clara's other past musical engagements include Western Kansas Orchestra Festival, UMKC Honor Orchestra Festival, Regional and State Music Festival, KMEA Southwest District Festival, and Kansas Intercollegiate Orchestra. During her summers, Clara has attended High Plains Music Camp, Camp Allegro, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and the Brevard Music Festival. Her internship opportunities have included High Plains Music Camp, Western Kentucky University String Institute, and NAVO.
Clara gained experience in administrative work during her undergraduate career as Personnel Manager and Orchestra Librarian for the Hays Symphony. Clara is excited to expand on this knowledge by working for the Flint Hills Children’s Choir as the Administrative Director.
Ryan Keith, violin/viola
Ryan Keith is currently a student at Kansas State University studying Violin Performance/Pedagogy. An avid teacher and performer, Ryan joined the faculty at CSPA in the spring of 2020. A recipient of the Wichita Symphony’s Youth Talent Award and the 1st Prize at the K-State Honors Recital, Ryan enjoys working with students and helping them achieve their full musical potential. Serving as the concertmaster of the K-State Symphony Orchestra and the 1st violinist of the Inventa String Quartet, Ryan’s performance experience is vast and varied. Ryan has participated in many orchestras, including the Wichita Youth Symphony and the Kansas All-State Orchestra. He has also participated in summer festivals, such as the Violin Intensive and the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival.