ARGS Music Department Faculty

Dr. Helena von Rueden

Applied Voice, Music Theory, Audition Prep, Contemporary Ensemble

Dr. von Rueden started out in the sciences, earning a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Harvard University. However, her love for music eventually won out, and she went back to school at University of California, Santa Barbara where she earned her Masters of Vocal Performance and Doctorate in Choral Conducting. She taught at Hampden-Sydney College for twelve years coaching voice, conducting chorus, and teaching music theory and piano, before taking the job at ARGS in fall 2026 where she is teaching voice, theory, and audition prep. Helping students find their voice is one of her passions, and she loves to help guide students on their musical journeys as they discover both the thrills and the peace possible through making music. She believes some of life's most important lessons and most profound joys can be found through engagement with the musical process.

Dr. von Rueden is an active performer in the central Virginia area, singing oratorio solos for ensembles like the Central Virginia Master Chorale, Schola Cantorum at the Cathedral for the Sacred Heart, and the Petersburg Symphony. She founded the Piedmont Singers of Central Virginia in 2017, a professional vocal octet specializing in 20th and 21st century classical music. She is now singing with Vox Humana, a professional chamber chorus in the Richmond area. She lives in Midlothian with her husband, two daughters, and two badly behaved dogs. In her spare time, Dr. von Rueden loves gardening with native plants, cooking, and enjoying nature.

Ms. Sarah Saul

Bands, Recording Tech, Audition Prep

As a teacher, Ms. Sarah has been described as "energetic, direct, thoughtful, professional and warmly humorous." Her private flute students are consistently successful at the district level and all-state eligible. As an ensemble teacher, she has led students through successful concerts and district assessments and learned of a deep-seated passion for classroom and ensemble teaching. 

In 2020 Ms. Sarah earned her master's degree in Music Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory, where she also earned her bachelor's degree in music performance. At Shenandoah she studied with the internationally known flutist, Jonathan Snowden.

Ms. Sarah has studied a wide range of music, from Bach to Pulitzer Prize-winning composers John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon and Joseph Schwantner, and more. In spring 2017, Sarah toured Argentina with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jan Wagner, performing in major concert halls in Córdoba, Paraná, Rosario and Buenos Aires. In the fall of 2018, Sarah was a finalist in the Student Soloists Competition where she performed the first movement of Lowell Liebermann’s “Concerto, op. 39." In the Spring of 2019, Sarah was selected by Washington Performing Arts to perform in a masterclass given by Sir James Galway at the Kennedy Center.

Ms. Sarah lives in Richmond where she teaches private flute lessons, performs with ensembles such as the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra and Commonwealth Winds, and continues to seek out music education and performance opportunities. When not teaching or playing, Ms. Sarah enjoys hiking, swimming, and watching reruns of The Office with her partner, two cats, and guinea pig.

Mr. Dante Perry

Choir, Music History, Recording Tech

Dante Perry is beyond excited to be joining the ARGS staff as choral director. Having begun his choral career as a student of Michelle Graham at Midlothian High School, he is excited for this homecoming of sorts. He is a graduate of Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Mr. Perry has worked as a choral director at Peasley Middle School since 2020, where his groups earned Superior ratings and helped the school earn its distinction as a Virginia Music Educations Association Blue Ribbon School. Prior to teaching at Peasley, he was employed at Martin Millennium Academy, a K-8 school in Tarboro, NC. Mr. Perry has experience teaching a diverse range of courses in his time as a music teacher, including middle school chorus, beginning band, guitar, general music, and elementary music. 

He, along with his wife and children currently reside in Henrico, Virginia along with their dog. He is an avid fan of the Carolina Panthers, Ultimate frisbee, and a cappella music.

Mr. Larry Cauley

Orchestra, Contemporary Ensemble, Piano

Larry Robert Cauley earned his Bachelor’s from Shepherd University, an MA in Teaching from Liberty University, and a Master's Degree in Popular Music Pedagogy from the University of Miami. He studied saxophone, piano, and music composition. He has taught music in Stafford County Public Schools, the Richmond Catholic Diocese, and Henrico County Public Schools. He was an Assistant Band Director at The University of Virginia, and formerly served as the Assistant Director for the Virginia Commonwealth University “Peppas” Athletic Band.

Mr. Cauley started in music as a saxophone and woodwind player, and most recently played bass clarinet in the University of Virginia Wind Ensemble. As a marching percussionist, he finished his Drum Corps International career as the drumline section leader of the 11 time world champion "Cadets". Also as a percussionist he has performed with the Broadway cast of STOMP, at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida, toured South Africa and Taiwan with his percussion group “6 to 1”, and organized the Philadelphia Eagles Drumline in 2009.

Mr. Cauley has conducted band, orchestra, and choir. His orchestras at Colonial Forge High School performed chamber works such as Stokowski’s transcription of Bach's "B minor Prelude", as well as full orchestra on works such as Stravinsky’s "Firebird Suite", and full orchestra with choir on works such as “Make Our Garden Grow” & “West Side Story”. He has conducted musicals, most recently “Legally Blonde” & “Fiddler on the Roof”.

Mr. Cauley lives in Richmond, VA with his 3 sons. In his spare time he enjoys scuba diving and spending time with his family.