Instrument Lessons during COVID

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Emma began playing the flute at the age of 5 when her mother enrolled her in a group flute class at the local community center. Over the past nearly 20 years of flute playing, she has had the opportunity to perform around the country and around the world in Australia, Germany, the Czech Republic, DR Congo, and the Philippines. 

In addition to performing in orchestras and other chamber ensembles, Emma enjoys helping students discover their own love of music. She believes music adds happiness and beauty to life.

Emma is a recent graduate of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance. Her love of music has led her to continue her studies as a graduate student of Dr. Tadeu Coelho at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Originally from Athens, Georgia, Liam Franco studied with numerous faculty at the University of Georgia for clarinet and saxophone during his years in middle school. After placing in GMEA All-State/All-District bands for both clarinet and saxophone, and attending the UGA Summer Music Institute, he relocated to Winston-Salem, NC, to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) High School to study saxophone performance with Dr. Robert Young. Liam continued into college at UNCSA where he is currently studying for a Bachelors of Music in Saxophone Performance. Liam enjoys performing with the UNCSA Wind Ensemble, Nu Ensemble, Reed Quintet, and Saxophone Quartet.

Devin recently graduated from St.Olaf College where he studied Instrumental Music Education, this fall he’ll start his Masters in Trombone performance at UNCSA studying with John Ilika. Devin has performed around the country with the St. Olaf Band, as well as playing in multiple collegiate orchestras and Jazz ensembles. Apart from playing, Devin has taught in music classrooms from elementary through the collegiate level and found that no matter what where students are in their musical journey there is always more to learn. In Devin’s opinion the trombone is the greatest instrument, ever, and will work with each student to help them progress in technique and ability no matter the level while striving to keep music fun and exciting, as it should be.

Dante’ Thomas is a currently a graduate student at UNCSA, studying under Mr. John Beck. Dante is working towards a Master’s degree in Music Performance. Before moving to Winston-Salem, Dante’ was a student at the University of Southern Mississippi, under the direction of Dr. John Wooton, where he received his Bachelor’s in Music Education. Mr. Thomas has worked at quite a few local schools in Mississippi and community college’s teaching front ensemble, battery percussion, and concert percussion. Mr. Thomas has been in no shortage of groups and ensembles having been part of symphonic bands and wind ensembles, timpanist for a lab orchestra, various percussion ensembles and chamber groups, SoMiSPO (Southern Miss Steel Pan Orchestra), Southern Miss Drumline, and even some jazz bands and jazz combos. Some of his most notable talents include jazz theory and improvisation (for vibraphone) rudimental snare drum, drum set, and lead pan.

Kennedy Graves is a college junior from Cincinnati, Ohio. She discovered the violin and started playing the instrument at the age of 3, initially studying with UNCSA alumna Diana LeGrand. During her elementary years she participated in numerous Suzuki violin summer programs in Virginia, working with several different violin instructors. When she was accepted into Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts in the eighth grade, she resumed private lessons with Ms. LeGrand. Kennedy has performed in master classes given by Midori Gotō and Hillary Hahn. She participated in the Ohio Music Education Association’s annual competition, earning the highest rating each year for five consecutive years, won the prestigious Corbett Mayerson Competition, and served as the concertmaster of the state ranked SCPA Chamber Orchestra. This past summer she toured the Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. region as a member of the Pan American Chamber Orchestra, performing with Ms. LeGrand. Kennedy has greatly enjoyed playing chamber music as a member of several string quartets over the past several years. She is extremely grateful to all of the violin teachers who have helped shape her musical growth.

Jake Anderson is a third-year undergraduate cellist at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). Originally from Idaho, Jake's musical interest began in the Boise High School Chamber Orchestra and Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He has been fortunate to have many mentors share their time and talent with him, including Dr. Brooks Whitehouse, Dr. Brian Hodges, Laurel Talley, and conductors Robert Franz and Jen Drake. 

Jake is a chamber music enthusiast, and most recently, participated in the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. In the summer of 2020, Jake performed in a string quartet benefit concert for the Sphinx Organization and Equal Justice Initiative. He has been in multiple UNCSA productions including The Nutcracker and La Clemenza di Tito, and has taken master classes from Matt Haimovitz, Stéphane Tétreault and Raman Ramakrishnan. 

At UNCSA, Jake serves as a resident assistant in the college dorms and a teaching assistant for the second-year music history course. When Jake's away from school, you can find him whitewater kayaking, skiing, mountain biking or trail running.

Debbie graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music from Piedmont Bible College. She has been teaching piano for about 40 years. Around 1/3 of the years have also been with Separk Music. Some of her students have performed in the North Carolina Federation Music Clubs Festival. Debbie is a member of the Winston-Salem Piano Teachers Association.

Coming Soon!