Note from the Director:
Music has always been an important part of my life. As a child I began piano lessons at eight years old. My mother, who was a pianist, thought that taking piano lessons was the foundation of musical training. At ten years old I began cello lessons. Playing a musical instrument developed self confidence and a feeling of accomplishment, not to mention discipline.
This love of music led me to pursue an education in music. Being a teacher for over thirty years has been a fulfilling career choice. What a joy it has been to see people of all ages develop their gift of music. I believe the gift of musical instruction is one of the best investments you can make in your child's life.
I'm looking forward to meeting you.
Carol Clem
Piano
Sondra (Sonnie) Kale
Sondra studied piano at Hastings College, Colorado College and Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She has taught private piano students and has had extensive piano performance.
She has done guest appearances at the Metropolitan Club and Pierre Hotel in New York.
Sonnie has been a church organist and pianist for many years. She currently serves as pianist at Covenant Baptist Church. She is an enthusiastic teacher who wants her students to be successful and enjoy learning to play the piano.
Piano
Susan Roberts
Keeping up with new piano techniques is important to Susan's teaching success. She has her B.S. Degree in Music Education from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. She has successfully taught piano for a number of years. She has directed choirs in Ohio, New Jersey and North Carolina.
Piano/Oboe
Elizabeth Dockery
Elizabeth is a graduate of UNC-Greensbor with a degree in Music Education and Oboe Performance. She is currently the band director at Community House Middle School and is an active oboist in the Winthrop University Carolinas Wind Orchestra and the Carmel Baptist Church Orchestra. Elizabeth enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her husband, Steven and playing with their cat and beagle puppy.
Piano
Marsha Walker
It is Marsha's desire to help her students realize their potential in music. She has taught piano, voice, directed children's choirs, handbell choirs, drama and is a professional vocalist. She brings the love of music to her teaching. She is a former teacher of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. Her Bachelor of Arts degree is from Birmingham Southern College.
.Voice
Melodie Griswold
Melodie has been teaching voice for nineteen years. She has her Bachelor of Theology, Church Music emphasis from Berkshire Christian College in Lenox, MA. She earned a Bachelor of Music/Vocal Performance and Masters of Music/Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of North Carolina- Greensboro. Her enthusiasm and experience make the study of voice a rewarding experience for her students.
Suzuki Violin/Traditional Violin and Viola
Diana Matusa
Diana is an accredited Suzuki violin teacher. She begins students as young as three years old along with a parent attending lessons. She also teaches traditional violin and viola to all ages.
Her education includes a Masters of Art in Music from the Academy of Music in Bucharest, Romania. For the past eleven years she as played first violin with the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra. She was a violinist with the Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra and National Opera in Bucharest, Romania before coming to the United States.
Piano/Voice
Carolyn Swanner
Experienced in both piano and voice teaching, Carolyn's enthusiasm for the arts is evident in her desire to help her students develop their musical skills. Carolyn has a BA in Voice from California State University. She has taught at McAlpine and Steele Creek Elementary Schools in Charlotte.
Piano
Jennifer Austin
Jennifer brings a wealth of experience to her piano teaching. She has a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Music Education from Appalachian State University and a Masters of Music in Piano Performance from Winthrop University. She is also a certified teacher in Musikgarten. She is the Staff Accompanist at Winthrop University and is the Director of Winthrop University Piano Academy. She enjoys teaching beginners as well as advanced students.
Suzuki Piano/ Suzuki Parent and Child Class/Music FUNdamentals
Nancy Brown
For the past thirty years Nancy has been teaching piano. She uses the Suzuki Method which
involves the parent with the child during lessons. She also teaches the Suzuki Parent and Child Class and Music FUNdamentals. She is the past president of NC Suzuki Teachers Association. She earned a BA in Elementary Ed and a Masters of Education from Clemson University. Nancy has a very unique gift of teaching the young student to love music.
Piano/Drums
Mark Dorsett
Mark's love of teaching is evident in the way he works with students of various ages. Mark began studying piano and drums in elementary school. He studied drums at the University of South Carolina and played in the Furman University orchestra, jazz and stage bands. Mark is a graduate of Furman University. He has played professionally with a variety of jazz groups.
Trumpet/Trombone/Baritone
Keenan Harmon
Keenan is a classically trained trumpeter who also plays jazz. He was a member of the Winthrop University Pep Band and Pit Orchestra. He has played in several of the operas at CPCC, chamber orchestras and opera orchestras in the Charlotte area. His desire is to help his students become better musicians. Many of Mr. Harmon's students have entered auditions for Western Regional Orchestra, All State Orchestra and Governor's School for the Arts.
Guitar
Arthur Meehan
Arthur teaches acoustic, electric and classical guitar. He studied classical guitar with Jerry Willard who teaches at Stony Brook University in New York and jazz guitar from Howard Morgan who teaches at Manhattan School of Music. His lessons are designed to use hymns of the church and contemporary Christian worship music. He encourages students to use their skills, as they progress, within their local community.
Flute/Saxophone/Guitar
Patty Moore
Patty has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University with special emphasis in music and fine arts. She has advanced studies in flute and guitar. Patty has enjoyed performing in contemporary bands that include jazz and blues genres. She is a gifted musician who encourages her students to develop confidence in playing.
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