Our Faculty
LAURA
Piano
A note from our founder: From an early age, I knew I wanted to play the piano. Once I began taking piano lessons at the age of seven, it became a lifelong study for me. Read more...
ADAM
Bass, Cello, Piano
Adam Jones is a 2024 BA-Music graduate from VCU where he studied cello under Dana and Jason McComb. He is also a graduate of Clover Hill High School where he was principal cellist of the schools touring Chamber orchestra, Cavalier 21.This is where he got his start in playing professional repertoire such as the Mendelssohn Octet and Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden”
IAN
Drums, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Melodica
A music teacher for over 15 years and a performer for 24, Ian began playing piano at an early age. The melodies to his favorite movie and game soundtracks inspired his love for music. From a family of diverse musicians, he learned to play music by the likes of Elton John, Billy Joel and Ben Folds from his talented father and brother. Read more...
KENNY
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Voice
Kenny Delevante is a multi instrumentalist whose primary instruments are guitar and voice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Studies with a primary focus on solo classical guitar performance. He started playing guitar at 13, and in his formative musical years was mostly self taught in learning various styles of guitar playing such as folk, jazz, fingerstyle, blues, metal, and solo guitar compositions. Read more...
ZACK
Piano
Zack started his classical piano training at age 6 and quickly discovered a deep passion for music. Feeling inspired by the Baroque and Classical music that his teacher provided to him, as well as popular music throughout the 90s and 2000s, Zack has devoted himself to music both as an art form and as a means of personal growth. Read more...
JOHN
Guitar, Violin, Drums, Bass
John C is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University's classical guitar program. He has acquired over 12 years worth of experience ranging from orchestral performances to solo concerts. His talents include guitar, ukulele, violin, drums, and some piano. His lessons are centered around gaining enthusiasm for music and learning the fundamentals skills necessary to participate in the musical community. Read more...
HAILEY
Voice, Piano, Saxophone
Currently serving as a vocalist and saxophonist in the 380th Army Reserve Band in the Richmond and Fort Eustis areas, Hailey Amick brings a joyful and multifaceted musical background to our school. Her journey began at the age of six with piano lessons and a lifelong passion for singing. Read more...
MAIA
Violin, Viola, Piano
Maia is a Music Education Major at VCU studying under Susanna Klein. A Chesapeake native, Maia has extensive experience in music education and performing through opportunities with Hampton Roads Chamber Players, the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra, and her Alma mater, Grassfield High School. Read more...
MIKIYAS
Guitar, Piano
No biography yet.
SARA
Piano, Voice, French Horn
Music has always been Sara's calling. She has studied many instruments including violin, piano, french horn, flute, guitar, and handbells. She has been singing her whole life in church, school, university, and community ensembles. At age 12 she wrote her first song, and continued to write and perform locally in her hometown of Lexington, VA. Read more...
GRETCHEN
Piano, French Horn, Flute
At the age of 7, Gretchen began piano lessons and found them magical. Learning to make music and progressing steadily led her to the French horn in fifth grade. She studied continually on both instruments through college and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Read more...
EMILY
Voice
Emily is a music major finishing up her degree in vocal performance at Virginia Commonwealth University. She gained her background in musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. With a strong background in ballet and other dance forms, she likes to focus on the physical aspects of singing technique, meshing practices from dance, musical theatre, and classical singing. Read more...
ABBY
Voice, Piano
Abby is a classically trained vocalist, pianist, and educator. Her musical journey started very early as she came from a music-loving family of singers. Music was always playing in the house, and she sang in as many choirs as she could as a kid. She eventually started classical voice and piano lessons in middle school. Read more...
JUSTIN
Piano, Violin, Guitar, Mandolin
Justin is a lifelong musician and music lover. He began playing the piano at 5 and the violin at 7, and he picked up the mandolin and guitar along the way. He studied music composition at the College of Charleston with Edward Hart and Yiorgos Vassilandonakis, where his senior project “Memory” won the Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate Research award. Read more...
MINJEE
Piano
A native of South Korea, Minjee Jang started playing piano when she was only five and has been loving it since. While most of her musical life was involved with classical music, she later fell in love with Jazz, and fully devoted herself to Jazz performance and composition. Read more...
ETHAN
Drums, Guitar, Ukulele
Ethan has been a passionate and dedicated drummer and guitarist since elementary school. Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, he studied both drums and guitar at school and in private lessons, and earned a teaching degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Read more...
RICARDO
Drums, Piano
Ricardo R is a graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University (B.M.) and Texas A&M - Commerce (M.M.). While in his undergraduate years, Ricardo was a brass member with the Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps (2011-2012) and a front ensemble member for the George Mason Indoor Drumline (2015). Read more...
CHRIS
Oboe, Saxophone, Flute
Chris is a current music student at Virginia Commonwealth University in the process of getting a Music Bachelor of Arts degree, with a minor in Psychology. He is classically trained and plays saxophone as his main instrument, but loves playing with other instruments such as guitar, flute, and oboe. Read more...
THOMAS
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele
Thomas is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied music with a concentration in performance/jazz studies. He’s been playing guitar since age 12, starting with rock music before a fascination with improvisation led him to jazz. Read more...
ANJI
Piano, Guitar
Anji’s music education began at a young age with piano lessons and later, guitar and voice. She grew up in a family where playing an instrument (or two) was valued and encouraged as both parents were musicians. They held many musical performances as a family which included playing a 3 octave handbell set.
NICK
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Banjo, Drums
Nick's method focuses on teaching the fundamentals of musicianship to students of all backgrounds and skill levels. He will help you create a solid foundation for musical progress and achieve any of your unique goals as a musician.
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KARL
Drums
Born into a musical family in the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area, Karl began his musical journey with piano lessons under the guidance of his mother who is a dedicated piano teacher. His early years were filled with exploration of various instruments but it was at the age of 10 that he discovered his true passion for the drums. Read more...
JO
Piano
Born and raised in the Chesapeake/Virginia Beach area, Jo Santos was enrolled in piano lessons at the age of four. From then, through high school, he would complete a 14-year classical education under Elizabeth Sjolund. Read more...
LULU
Piano
Lulu (she/her) is a senior in the VCU music department. She studies jazz piano along with composition, performance and trombone. Lulu hopes to continue her studies after undergrad by pursuing music production as well as musical composition at the graduate level. Read more...
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KEVIN
Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Ukulele
Kevin Granados is a currently at VCU studying music education as well as Performance, jazz, and saxophone. On some weekends Kevin like to drive up to Alexandria and play with his band The Outcasts BrassBand. He is also very enthusiastic about getting with friends and just making music and having a great time. Read more...
NATHAN
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Saxophone
No biography yet.
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HEIDI
Violin, Piano
Heidi is an Instrumental Music Education Major at Virginia Commonwealth University where she studies violin under Susanna Klein. She grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia with a family who encouraged musical activities, such as singing in church choir and starting an instrument through the public school system. Read more...
ISAAC
Drums
Isaac Miao is currently studying at VCU as a Jazz Studies major.
He has a strong passion for several music genres including rock, funk, hip-hop, jazz, and fusion. All of which he applies to his band MISC. Isaac’s really interested in making a connection with his students and creating the same passion for music that he has. Read more...
WES
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele
Wesley Castle is a student currently enrolled in the Music Performance program at VCU School of the Arts, studying jazz guitar under Professor Trey Pollard. Based in the DMV, Wes has experience as a performer, song writer, and teacher. Having engaged in ensembles such as the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra, VCU’s Jazz Orchestra, and VCU’s Afro-Latin Orchestra, he has plenty of experience with performing jazz, pop, rock, folk, and many other Western genres. Read more...
KERIK
Bass, Trumpet, French Horn
No biography yet.
BEN E
Drums, Piano
Ben Eisenberg is an accomplished drummer and pianist in the Richmond area. After graduating from VCU Music in 2022, Ben has since continued to work all around Virginia and neighboring states. His talents have brought him to stages on cruise ships, local theaters, and venues around Richmond, Charlottesville, and DC. Read more...
JACOB
Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Trombone
Jacob is a musician, teacher, and woodwind repair technician in the Richmond area. He has been playing saxophone in both jazz and classical contexts for over 10 years, and regularly performs with the premier ensembles at Virginia Commonwealth University and with smaller groups, from small jazz combos to rock bands. Read more...
Brian
Voice
No biography yet.
CAROLINE
Violin, Viola, Guitar, Voice
For over 20 years Caroline Vain has studied the violin as her main instrument. Growing up classically trained, Caroline was a member of several orchestras including the New Jersey Youth Symphony and New Jersey Regional Orchestra. Upon moving to London, UK, while still in high school, Caroline developed an interest in folk music and became a member of the first cohort of the English National Youth Folk Ensemble. Read more...
RINATT
Guitar, Bass
Rinatt is a guitarist, composer, and educator based in Richmond, VA. With a broad background in rock, jazz, funk, gospel, R&B, and classical guitar, he brings a wealth of experience to his performances and teaching. Rinatt frequently performs locally in Richmond and has also performed in major cities such as Cincinnati, Chicago, D.C., and New York. Read more...
SYDNEY
Violin, Viola, Cello, Piano
Sydney is an instrumental Music Education Major at VCU where she studies violin with Susanna Klein. She grew up in a very musical family and often performed with them at church services, sang in choirs and took several years of piano lessons as a child. Sydney's dedication to music really blossomed in her senior year of high school where she was Concertmaster of her top orchestra group as well as principal cello in the intermediate orchestra group. Read more...
CHRISTINA
Voice, Ukulele
Christina is a singer-songwriter known for her authenticity. She grew up in a very musical community yet surprisingly had a major fear of performing and sharing her music with people. Nevertheless, she overcame this fear with much work and dedication, because performance and music are where she feels most at home. Read more...
BRAD
Guitar, Bass, Drums, Banjo
Brad teaches, performs, and practices on many instruments and enjoys helping others stay inspired to play music as well. After playing casually with friends and classmates at an early age, he studied formally in Baltimore, MD at Towson University and began a professional performing and teaching career. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music, he began a diverse performing career as a bandleader, sideman, teacher, and producer making music live and recording throughout the Washington DC, Baltimore, and Mid Atlantic area. Read more...
DREW
Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Violin
Drew P is a graduate of the University of Denver-Lamont School of Music in St. Louis with a bachelor degree in Music Education with a specialization in viola. He has performed in nationwide orchestras including Riverside Symphony Orchestra of NYC, Columbia Symphony Orchestra of NYC, and Virginia’s own Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra. Read more...
Emily S
Voice
BEN L.
Piano
No biography yet.