Dr. Randy Tinnin (Rutgers University, D.M.A., Juilliard, M.M., and the University of North Texas, B.M.) is Professor of Trumpet at the University of North Florida School of Music. Dr. Tinnin has appeared with Serafini Brillanti, throughout the U.S., in the U.K. and France, and won the “2006 North American Brass Band Association Solo Contest.” New York area engagements include appearances with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Queens Philharmonic, and WQXR-NY radio broadcasts. Early music appearances include the American Bach Society, San Francisco Bach Choir, St. Bartholomew’s Chamber Orchestra, and the NYC chapter of the Early Music Foundation, New Trinity Baroque (Atlanta), Vox Ama Deus (Philadelphia), and the Spire Chamber Ensemble (Kansas City). Dr. Tinnin’s research has been published in the International Trumpet Guild Journal and the Journal for the Arts in Society. Dr. Tinnin was the Director of the HOPE Schools of the Arts, a mentoring program serving children in Spanish Harlem and Chinatown in NYC, and is currently the director of the UNF Music Mentors Program, training UNF music students to mentor under-served children in Jacksonville, Florida.

Rhonda Nus Tinnin, soprano and pedagogue, has performed throughout the U.S., in the U.K., Italy and France as a soloist and with the trio Serafini Brillanti. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Drake University, Rhonda Nus Tinnin pursued post baccalaureate studies privately in NYC with Eva Likova (Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan), Maitland Peters (Chair of Voice Department, Manhattan School of Music), Robert Cowart (Linguistics Faculty, Juilliard and Manhattan School, Metropolitan Opera Young Artists Development Program), and Cynthia Hoffman (Faculty and former Chair of Voice Department, Juilliard). Ms. Nus Tinnin also received linguistics training at the Italian Cultural Institute (Italian Consulate), and the Alliance Française, participated in master classes with Tito Gobbi (Italy), Frank Corsaro, Evelyn Lear, and Christopher Alden, and was coached by David Sievers, Marcello Garafolo, David Mauillo and Fred Urrey. In pursuit of a pedagogical career, Ms. Nus Tinnin later received her Master of Music Performance from the University of North Florida. She currently teaches privately and is part of the faculty at the Florida School of the Arts. Her students have gone on to prestigious musical theater programs such as the University of Michigan, Texas State, Carnegie Mellon University, NYU, Manhattan School of Music, Webster University, and University of the Arts.

Marriage By Degrees is the passion project of Randy and Rhonda Tinnin, combining their years of experience as public speakers, coaches, and academics, with their life experiences of attaining advanced degrees while raising three daughters.