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 and currently teaches guitar at Odessa College. 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.
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. Mrs. Conn currently serves Midland’s First Christian Church as Director of Music and Children. 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.
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 singing in local performing organizations, 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 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. Ethan serves Midland’s Christ Anglican Church as Choir Director.
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.
Katherine Kuhn
Piano Teacher
Katherine Kuhn is a retired music educator who taught elementary music in Ector County ISD for 19 years. She also served as piano accompanist for ECISD and Andrews ISD. Additionally, she taught private piano lessons in Fort Stockton, Monahans and Odessa. She has served Odessa’s First Presbyterian Church as organist for the past 26 years. Katherine grew up in Fort Stockton, Texas and earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from West Texas A&M University. Ms. Kuhn is grateful to her own teachers for igniting a passion for music since her own childhood and she looks forward to passing this love for music on to her own students. Welcome to WTMA, Katherine.
Tabitha Elaine Jones
Voice Teacher
Tabitha E. Jones is a composer and recording artist who has a very diverse background. Although Odessa is her hometown, the daughter of missionaries spent much of her early years in Bolivia. She shared her love of music with the children her parents served, by teaching them to sing and play piano. Tabitha returned to West Texas in 2021 in order to pursue her dream of a college degree. She recently earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Her professors and the public-school teachers who supervised her students teaching semester rave about her ability to connect with students as well as her knowledge in putting music pedagogy into practice. On a side not, Tabitha studied voice here at WTMA for a time when she was a child. We are happy to welcome Ms. Jones to the WTMA vocal faculty.
Daniela Salinas
Violin Teacher
Midland native, Daniela Salinas is a senior at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin where she is completing her coursework toward her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. With an expected graduation date in 2027, Miss Salinas comes to WTMA highly recommended by the UTPB music faculty. She is described as an incredibly talented musician and a natural born leader. Daniela plays violin in the UTPB Philharmonic Orchestra and clarinet in the UTPB Symphonic Winds. She serves as section leader in both organizations. Ms. Salinas currently teaches private lesson violin students and enjoys her time spent with her students.