GUITAR TEACHERS
Jeff Nagel teaches guitar and bass guitar. He has attended Virginia Tech and VCU with emphasis on Jazz Studies. Jeff has been playing professionally and teaching for more than 20 years. He has played in a variety of bands that have toured throughout the United States.
Matt Balestino teaches guitar and bass guitar. He has a BA in Jazz Studies from VCU. He has played in a wide variety of bands playing throughout the Richmond area. He has been teaching private lessons since 2003.
Scott Martin teaches guitar. He received his bachelor of Business from University of Florida. He has been playing and recording music since 1978. He has taught several group guitar classes throughout California and Virginia. He has been teaching private lessons since 1997.
Jimmy Payne teaches guitar and mandolin. He attended University of Richmond. He has been teaching and playing professionally since 1974. He specializes in blues, bluegrass, flat-picking and Traditional American Music.
Anthony Curtis teaches guitar and bass guitar. He has been teaching and playing professional since 1975. He has recorded a few CD's that have gained National attention. He plays in a wide variety of band and groups that play throughout the Richmond area.
Doug Cherrington teaches guitar, banjo and mandolin. He has performed as a freelance musician for 30 years. Doug specialized in bluegrass music for the banjo and mandolin.
Christopher Brown teaches guitar and bass guitar. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from VCU. He has been performing classical guitar for 14 years. He has played in a wide variety of bands from Rocket Queen to classical wedding duos for weddings. He has been teaching private lessons since 2000.
Clifton McDaniel teaches guitar and bass guitar. He received his Bachelor of Music Composition Degree from James Madison University. He has been performing for 14 years with a wide variety of groups. He also plays the trombone proficiently and has an interest in songwriting.
Chip Talley studied with Tim Allison and Trip Johnson and a variety of other schools and academies. He plays with a variety of bands within the Richmond area. Chip has been teaching guitar since 1993.
Brett Edwards teaches guitar, bass guitar, mandolin and banjo. He has been teaching since 1998. He is currently attending VCU to finish his degree in Music Education. Brett plays with a variety of groups, currently he is playing with Scattered, Smothered and Covered that play bluegrass, blues and swing throughout the Richmond area.
Joy McDonald teaches piano, french horn and guitar. She received her BA in Music Education from Virginia Tech. She received her Master's Degree in Information Systems at Virginia Tech. Joy has taught middle school band at Land's Down Middle School in Baltimore and Tuckahoe Middle School in Richmond. She performs with Commonwealth Winds and Old Dominion Brass Band. She has been teaching private lessons since 2000.
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BRASS TEACHERS
Bob Miller teaches trumpet. He has a BS in Music from Towson University. He completed some graduate work in jazz performance at VCU. He plays with such bands as Bio Ritmo and Hobex. He has been teaching for since 1999.
Todd Tinsley teaches all brass. He graduated with a BA in Music Education from Longwood College. He is currently the band director at Hungary Creek Middle School. He has been teaching private lessons since 2002.
Joy McDonald teaches piano and french horn. She received her BA in Music Education from Virginia Tech. She received her Master's Degree in Information Systems at Virginia Tech. Joy has taught middle school band at Land's Down Middle School in Baltimore and Tuckahoe Middle School in Richmond. She performs with Commonwealth Winds and Old Dominion Brass Band. She has been teaching private lessons since 2000.
Thomas Brewer teaches all brass. He received his BA in Music Education from Stetson Unversity in DeLand, Florida. He taught High School and Middle School band for about 5 years. He performs with area ensembles such as Commonwealth Winds, Richmond Pops Band, Northen Neck Orchestra and Festival Brass Quintet.
Bryan Hooten teaches low brass. has a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from University of Southern Mississippi. He received his Master's of Music in Jazz Performance from VCU. He has played with a wide variety of bands. He currently teaches at VCU, James River High School and Hanover High School. He currently plays with the band, The Great White Jenkins.
Jim Pennington teaches all brass. He has a bachelor's degree in Music Education from James Madison University. He taught High School band for 14 years in Henrico and Hanover County. Her currently helps with a variety of schools' bands and plays with Commonwealth Winds and Richmond Brass Concert. He has been teaching private lessons for about 20 years.
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STRING TEACHERS
Virginia Stallings Flores received her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from The Catholic University of America in Washington DC and received her Master's of Violin Performance from Temple University in Philadelphia. She has played with a few Symphony Orchestras in the Northeast. She also has performance experience on viola playing with the Shenandoah University Chamber group. She has taught at a variety of schools in a classroom and privately. She has been teaching violin and viola since 1997.
Jennifer Johnson teaches violin and viola. She earned her degree form Ithaca College in Ithaca New York. She is currently a strings teacher for Henrico County Schools and also taught at schools in New York as a strings instructor. She has been teaching private lessons since 2001.
Tom Stevens teaches violin and Viola. He graduated from Manhattan School of Music in 1998. He has played and studied with various groups such as: New York Philharmonic, Temple University, St. Petersburg String Quartet, Richmond Symphony, Connecticut Opera. He has taught at Hostra University, Manhattan School of Music and he is currently teaching at University of Richmond. Tom has taught private lessons since 2000.
Natalia O'Brien teaches violin and viola. received her Bachelor's Degree from Shenandoah University and her Master's Degree from Lynn University. She also has a diploma in Violin Performance and Primary Music Education Specialization from National Conservatory of Music. She has performed extensively throughout the United States with a variety of groups and has taught at the elementary and college level.
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DRUMS TEACHERS
Travis Paull teaches drums and mallets. He earned his music degree at The College of William and Mary. He also attended classes at the University of Alabama. He has taught in a private setting in various schools and music stores since 1999. He moved to Richmond in 2005 and since has worked for various schools working with their marching bands and Percussion Ensemble.
Pinson Chanselle is finishing up his Music degree at VCU. He has played drums for a variety of groups from jazz to rock. He has been teaching private drum lessons since 2004.
Scott Clark earned his degree n Jazz Studies at VCU. He also attended East Carolina University pursing a music education degree. He also has experience playing in percussion ensembles a wide variety of rock and jazz bands. He has been teaching since 2002.
Grant Bauley is finishing up his Jazz Studies degree at VCU this summer. He plays in VCU bands and ensembles. He also plays guitar and piano. Grant started teaching in 2005.
C.J. Wolfe teaches drums. He attended VCU as a Jazz Performance Major. He has been playing professionally since 1997. He plays a wide variety of music with different groups from rock, funk and jazz. He specializes in Jazz.
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PIANO TEACHERS
Gabe Churray teaches piano and composition. He has a bachelor of music from James Madison University and a Master of Music in composition from James Madison University. He has played professionally at Busch Gardens and continues to play in the Richmond area. He has been teaching private lessons since 2003.
Joan Mabe teaches voice, piano and oboe. She holds her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music with Vocal Performance specialization from the University of Utah. She has extensive opera, concert and recital solo performance experience. Joan has been teaching privately since 1994.
Virginia Stallings teaches violin, viola and piano. She has her Bachelors of Music Performance from The Catholic University in Washington DC, and has a Master's of Music in violin performance from Temple University in Pittsburg. She has extensive performance experience throughout the Northeast as well as teaching experience. She has been teaching private lessons since 1997.
Mindy Varner teaches piano. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from VCU. She has taught at Prince George County School and New Kent Elementary. She has been teaching private lessons since 2003.
Chip Talley studied with Tim Allison and Trip Johnson and a variety of other schools and academies. He plays with a variety of bands within the Richmond area. Chip has been teaching guitar since 1993.
Joy McDonald teaches piano, french horn and guitar. She received her BA in Music Education from Virginia Tech. She received her Master's Degree in Information Systems at Virginia Tech. Joy has taught middle school band at Land's Down Middle School in Baltimore and Tuckahoe Middle School in Richmond. She performs with Commonwealth Winds and Old Dominion Brass Band. She has been teaching private lessons since 2000.
Chris Nickels teaches piano. He is a graduate of VCU with a degree in piano performance. He has played professionally with the Washington Ballet, Richmond Ballet. He currently accompanies ballet classes at VCU and was the resident composer for the Moving Forward Dance Company. Chris has been teaching privately since 2004.
Bonnie LeBlanc teaches piano. She received her music degree from Chowan College in North Carolina. She has been a choir director and accompanist for a few different church organizations. She has been teaching private lessons since 1980.
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WOODWIND TEACHERS
Jeff Nagel teaches all saxes and beginning and intermediate flute. He attended both Virginia Tech and VCU. He studied jazz throughout his school career. He has played in a wide variety of bands throughout the Richmond area. He has taught private lessons since 1994.
Karl Von Klein teaches all saxes and clarinet. He received his BA in Music at the University of Richmond. He has played in a variety of bands including Fighting Gravity, Agents of Good Roots and the Richmond Symphony. He also teaches at Collegiate School. Karl has been teaching private lessons since 2000.
Ann Choomack teaches flute. She earned her BA in Flute Performance from Eastman School of Music in New York. She received a Master of Music in Flute Performance from New England Conservator of Music in Boston. She also attended Duquesne University, Mary Paper School of Music in Pittsburgh. She has experience playing with a variety of orchestra and chamber orchestra throughout the northeast. Currently she is a core member of the Richmond Symphony. She has been teaching since 1999.
J.C. Kuhl teaches saxophone, clarinet and beginning flute. He graduated from Towson University in Towson, MD with a BA in Jazz and Commercial Music. He has vast experience playing with bands including Agents of Good Roots, Modern Groove Syndicate and Devil's Workshop. J.C. has been teaching since 2004.
Lisa Brewer teaches clarinet, sax and beginning/intermediate flute. She received her Bachelor of Music Education at Stetson University in Deland Florida. She earned a Master's of Music in clarinet performance from VCU. She has taught at a couple of schools in the Florida area in a classroom and privately. She is currently teaching at New Kent Elementary School. Lisa has been teaching private lessons since 2003.
Deb Saidel teaches all woodwinds. She has her Master of Music in flute performance from Georgia State University. She also recieved her BA in Music Studies from VCU. Deb has been teaching and playing professionally in the Richmond area for over 20 years. She has also taught at Governor's School, St. Catherine's, Henrico Co. Public Schools and VCU. Deb has performed with a wide variety of groups and theatres in and around the Richmond area.
Nathan Koch teaches all woodwinds. He graduated from Longwood University with a BA in Music. He performed extensivley with Longwood's ensembles and wind symphonies. He has performed with such groups as The Slackers and Fighting Gravity. He currently is performing with Murphy's Kid's, a reggae rock band that is touring up and down the east coast.
Joan Mabe teaches voice, piano and oboe. She holds her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music with Vocal Performance specialization from the University of Utah. She has extensive opera, concert and recital solo performance experience. Joan has been teaching privately since 1994.
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VOICE TEACHERS
Joan Mabe teaches voice, piano and oboe. She holds her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music with Vocal Performance specialization from the University of Utah. She has extensive opera, concert and recital solo performance experience. Joan has been teaching privately since 1994.
Nick Brata earned his Bachelor of Music Education at the Unversity of So. Florida in Vocal Performance as well as his Master's Degree in choral conducting. Nick has performed in a variety of shows and operas. He has taught at the middle and high school level in Florida and is currently teaching vocal classes at St. Christopher's in Richmond.
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