Kathy Lollar
Owner, Educational Director; Piano and Voice Teacher
In 2010, Kathy Lollar retired after a thirty-year career in public school music education. She received her education locally by attending Permian High School and Odessa College. She earned her degrees from The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (B.A. in Music Education; M.A. in Elementary Education.) During her career with the Ector County Independent School District, she taught music at Gonzales Elementary and choir at Permian High School, Hood Junior High School and Nimitz Junior High School (all in Odessa, Texas.) For Kathy, retirement from public school certainly did not mean retirement from music education. Kathy’s goal was to offer West Texas children a place to express their musical creativity without the constraints placed upon them in the public-school setting. Additionally, Kathy wanted to give local music educators the opportunity to teach children according to their own special needs and abilities. Her professional dreams came true when her husband, Steve, enabled her to open West Texas Music Academy. WTMA opened in May of 2011, and it has been a joy for the Lollars. Kathy and her husband, Steve, adore their daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Steve Lollar
Owner, Business Director
(Bio written by Ms. Kathy.) Let me tell you about my husband, Steve. A man of many talents, he is an amazing singer and artist. During our 48-year marriage, Steve has walked beside me every step of the way helping to make my dreams become reality. In 1996, Steve’s dream of a college education became a reality when he earned the Associate of Arts Degree from Odessa College. While I spend my time teaching students at West Texas Music Academy, Steve Lollar fulfills the duties of business manager. Making my dreams come true yet again, Steve takes care of financial matters, new student interviews, and all the business and logistical aspects of the Academy. If you’ve ever been to WTMA, you will know that Steve is the happy greeter at the door, and he will make you feel like the most important person in the world. Because of his lifetime of management experience, West Texas Music Academy has become a reality.
Connor Leggett
Guitar and Bass Guitar Teacher
Connor Leggett graduated from Midland Classical Academy in 2010. Throughout his grade school and high school years, Connor studied both guitar and piano. He went on to Texas Tech University where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education Degree in December 2014. Connor has served as a guitar teacher at Ector Middle School in Odessa. In addition to his teaching, Connor serves as guitarist and music assistant at the Christian Church of Midland.
Josh Tucker
Percussion Teacher
Josh Tucker was a highly acclaimed member of the Permian High School band and drum line. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin graduate has taught WTMA students for over a decade. His enthusiastic personality opens the way for eager student learning. Josh teaches students the rudiments of rhythm and the basics of percussion technique. Students in Josh’s studio will have a great advantage when it comes time to audition for the drumline at their school. If you see a guy walking around WTMA with a pair of drumsticks, that would be Josh. When it comes to teaching percussion, Josh Tucker never misses a beat.
Sarah McQueen-Cunningham
Voice and Piano Teacher (specializing in jazz)
Sarah McQueen-Cunningham is the Director of Choral and Vocal Studies and professor of music at Odessa College. She has taught a wide variety of courses including Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, and Vocal Jazz Ensembles as well as Music Theory, Ear Training, Piano, Music Appreciation, Pop Music in the US, Music History and private instruction in both classical and jazz voice and piano. While the Director of Vocal Studies at Sierra College, the SC Jazz Singers, under her direction, won the Downbeat Award for Best Student Ensemble and was invited to participate in The Next Generation Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California. Sarah graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a B.A. in Jazz Studies and later earned a M.M. in Music Education. She has served as adjudicator at the Reno International Jazz Festival and the Golden Empire Choral Festival. She was a member of the professional choir, RSVP who was chosen as a United Nations Music Ambassador to provide music to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In 2014, she was awarded Faculty of the Year by the Associated Students of Sierra College and received the Crystal Apple Award, Teacher of the Year in 2018. Sarah’s beautiful voice can be heard on five of the last seven Sacramento State vocal jazz albums, the “Best of College Acapella 2007”, and many RSVP albums. Sarah is new to West Texas, and along with her family, is learning to use y’all in a sentence.
Tamara Conn
Piano Teacher
For two decades, Tamara Conn has served Odessa music students. The Texas Tech University graduate began teaching elementary music for Ector County ISD in 2005. Later, she taught piano classes at Ector MS and Milam Elementary. Tamara was the first teacher hired when WTMA opened in 2012. She taught piano for us for five years before taking a break to care for her young children. She returned in 2023 and we could not be happier. Welcome home, Tamara.
Melody Drinkard
Piano Teacher
Odessa native, Melody Drinkard, is a graduate of The University of Texas Of the Permian Basin. Melody recently retired from Ector County ISD after a successful career as elementary music and keyboard teacher at several Odessa schools. She is available to teach private lessons in piano at WTMA. Melody enjoys traveling and spending time with her two grandbabies.
Beau Roland
Guitar / Voice / Piano Teacher
Beau Roland is a native of Odessa and serves as associate choir director at Wilson and Young Middle School. He is a graduate of The University of Texas of the Permian Basin where he earned his bachelor’s degree in music education. Growing up in Odessa, Beau sang in the choirs at Nimitz Jr. High School and Permian High School. He earned All-Region Choir honors and sang with the Black Magic vocal ensemble while studying voice with Kathy Lollar. As a music student at UTPB, he studied voice with David Corman. He performed with the University Choir, Ensemble Choir, Men’s Choir, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and the barbershop quartet. Additionally, he sang vocals with the jazz band, BAJ. During his college years, he also studied piano and guitar. Beau enjoys performing in musical theater, playing piano and guitar, and spending time with his son, Lennon. Beau, the Lollars are thrilled to have you back at WTMA, first as a student, and now as a teacher.
Ethan Ward
Violin/ Viola / Cello / Trumpet Teacher
An Odessa native, Ethan Ward graduated from Permian High School in 2016. During his years at Permian, he participated in band, orchestra and choir and studied voice with Kathy Lollar at WTMA. In 2021, he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Texas Permian Basin as well as an all-levels teaching certificate. Ethan has taught K – 12 music in McCamey ISD and orchestra for ECISD. His Bonham/Nimitz orchestra earned superior ratings at this year’s UIL evaluation. Proficient at several instruments, Ethan is available for private lessons in violin, viola, cello and trumpet.
Seneca Mick
Voice Teacher
Seneca Mick, mezzo-soprano, has been in the performing arts since childhood. At the age of three, she started dance training. With 15 years of experience in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and musical theater under her belt, she took a break from dance to pursue classical vocal training. As a student of Kathy Lollar, Seneca achieved the rare title of a 4-Year Texas All-State Choir member. Additionally, she was twice named Outstanding Soloist at UIL State Solo Competition. Seneca has studied voice at Odessa College and Texas Tech University. She looks forward to her life-long journey in the arts, teaching and performing with the goal of evoking emotions in others through the magic of music.
Justine Falch
Voice and Piano Teacher
Justine Falch is a voice and piano teacher, clinician, and adjudicator. She currently teaches Music Appreciation for iSchool Virtual Academy with Responsive Education. Prior to that, she was the head choir director at Wilson & Young Middle School in Odessa. Previously, she spent four years as the head choir director at Killeen High School. She has held positions at Muleshoe, Belton, and Robinson High Schools. Justine has enjoyed teaching private voice and piano lessons for nearly two decades. Her private students consistently earn placement in honor choirs and receive performance awards in competition. Ms. Falch holds a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting and a certificate in Early Music Performance Practice from Texas Tech University. She earned her Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Vocal Music Education from Oklahoma State University. She and her husband, Jeremy, live in Odessa and enjoy visiting state parks in their RV.
John Gillian
Piano Teacher
John Gillian retired from ECISD after teaching elementary music students for 33 years. An Odessa native, John earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Sul Ross State University and a Master of Music Degree from Texas State University. John has served as President of the Texas Music Educators Association, enjoys singing in choirs and performing on trombone and euphonium, and is excited to teach piano students at the West Texas Music Academy. In addition to musical activities, John volunteers significant time as Council Commissioner for Scouting America’s Buffalo Trail Council, as well as Masonic organizations in Odessa. John and his wife, Leslie are proud of their son, Jerry who will graduate in December 2025 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering at Texas A&M University.
Daniella Rodriguez
Piano and Voice Teacher
Daniella Rodriguez, soprano, is a graduate of Texas Woman’s University and Odessa College where she earned honors studying music with a focus in voice. She has been teaching private lessons in voice and piano for several years around the Dallas Fort-Worth and West Texas areas. In addition to teaching at WTMA, Daniella works with children’s voice with the Permian Basin Theater Works and serves as fine arts assistant at Odessa College. A lover of many musical genres, Daniella has performed in various plays, musicals, and operas while also singing lead with a DFW based rock band. She is an asset to WTMA as a patient and knowledgeable piano and voice teacher.
Francesca Florance
Piano and Violin Teacher
Francesca Florance is from Detroit, Michigan, and is a lifelong musician. She began studying piano at age six and studied violin throughout middle and high school. She graduated from Wayne State University in 2019 with her bachelor’s degree in music education. She moved to Odessa to serve as the ECISD harp director and teaches daily at Odessa High School, Bowie Middle School, and Milam Magnet Elementary School. She serves on the worship team at Community Bible Church as pianist.