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Alivia is a violinist from Utah, who started classical training at the age of eight years old, through the Suzuki Method. She has years of experience performing solos, duets, quartets, and orchestral music. Some of the venues she has performed at include, Abravanel Hall, BYU-I, FSC Branscomb Auditorium, and the Mormon Tabernacle. During her high school years, she was enrolled in the Lyceum Philharmonic Orchestra where she had the honor of recording Laura Osnes' single "My Favorite Things." Prior to the Lyceum Orchestra, Alivia performed with the Utah Allstate Orchestra, and more recently has had the pleasure of being concertmaster of the FSC Orchestra, and performing with the FSC Opera Orchestra. In addition to her violin performing skills, she has also taken multiple years of private piano lessons, and is gifted in teaching both piano and violin to students of all ages and skill levels.

Born in the UK, Carol moved to Canada as a teen with her family. She has recently moved to Lakeland after owning a successful music studio in Cobourg, Ontario for the last 35 years. Carol has prepared students of all ages for competitions, festivals, recitals, musical and college auditions and Royal Conservatory of Music examinations. Carol has been a member of the Concert Band of Cobourg since 2011 where she plays flute and provides vocals for concerts and clarinet and saxophone for the marching band in parades.

Carol is a graduate of Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC and received a bachelor’s and master's in music with a piano and voice proficiency. Secondary proficiencies include clarinet, flute, saxophone and oboe. Currently Carol leads worship and directs the choir as music director at Light and Life FMC in Lakeland. Carol is able to teach a variety of styles from classical, pop and contemporary worship and is comfortable teaching all age groups and levels. She is eager to share her love for music with her students and considers it a privilege to be a part of the student’s journey.

Diana is a gifted musician, born in Venezuela to a mother and father who were both seasoned musicians.  She began her music education very early in life, and studied with the National System of Children's and Youth Orchestras of Venezuela, an internationally recognized music institution. She learned and performed there for five years, representing her home city. At the age of 14, she began studying Musical Language at the Music Conservatory of Venezuela, graduating at age 19.

Diana has performed on many different stages as a singer, dancer and lead guitarist for ten years. She has had comprehensive musical and artistic training throughout her life in theater, staging, expression, modeling, as well as her main instrument, the guitar. She is fluent in Spanish, and is continually expanding her English vocabulary which is a second language.  Diana has been teaching private lessons since 2018, and is excited to share her love for music to beginners and more advanced players alike, including music theory, ear training, technique, and repertoire.

Hannah started her journey in piano at the age of 7. She has a Bachelor's degree and two Master's degrees in Piano Performance, and she is deeply committed to the art form. Specializing in classical music, she finds great fulfillment in both performing and imparting her expertise through teaching, an endeavor she has diligently pursued for the past 6 years, catering to students of all ages and proficiency levels.

Ian is originally from Jacksonville Florida and has been a resident of Lakeland since 2003. He has a BM in Jazz Studies from UNF and a MM in Jazz Studies from USF. Ian has been performing on drum-set and percussion for over 30 years and has toured the U.S. and abroad with multiple Grammy award winning artists.  In addition to his long-standing career in performing with nationally recognized jazz bands, international worship artists, and major theater productions, Ian has also enjoyed teaching over the last 25 years at multiple state universities, private colleges, high schools , middle schools, and private students. He has a deep love for music, and takes great pride in sharing it with students of all ages and skill levels. 

Parent Google Review ​​​​​​​- Jason ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
"Jimmy the guitar teacher is great!"

Jimmie has been a professional musician for over 25 years and has travelled internationally performing and recording his music. He has performed live on stage with music greats such as Kirk Franklin, Gregg Allman, Brian McKnight, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Loretta Lynn and Patti LaBelle just to name a few.  His passion for music is contagious and he loves working with students of all ages and skill levels on guitar, piano, and voice.  In addition to teaching private music lessons, Jimmie has also led worship at various churches around the country, and has experience directing choirs and worship teams.

John is a multi-instrumentalist originally from Arkansas. He has been playing violin for
27 years, guitar for 20, is an accomplished baritone vocalist, and holds a BM and an MM in
Composition. He earned his undergraduate at Henderson State University, and his
Masters at Oklahoma City University. He has appeared in many orchestral, choral,
operatic, chamber, and solo concerts, including Brahms 4, Sibelius 2, Handel’s
Messiah, Faure’s Requiem, and Bernstein’s Candide. He has written over 25 works, and
was the Orchestra Director for Jones High School from 2016-2019. He is available for
all levels of violin and voice, beginner to intermediate guitar, and composition/theory.  John currently has full availablity on Mondays, and plans to open more days in the very near future, when he isn't pastoring at Hebron Church in Plant City or spending time with his wife and children.

Judy is a highly trained and experienced voice and piano instructor who has taught private lessons in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida since 1977.  She has extensive experience with preparing students for school competitions, and both theater and college auditions. Her students have scored a 95%+ superior rating at both district and state level school competitions in the Indiana State School Music Association yearly festivals for more than eight years (both voice and piano), with many students earning full scholarships to various music programs. 

Before moving to Central Florida in 2021, Keith spent 20 years as an active performer, private
instructor, and clinician in Southwest Michigan.

Originally from Sykesville, Maryland, Keith’s musical career began when he started playing the
trumpet in the 4th grade. By the age of twelve, he had already decided that he wanted to
become a professional musician. Keith went on to earned his bachelor of music education from
Towson University and his master’s in music performance from Western Michigan University.
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As a performer, Keith holds the position of 2nd trumpet with the Battle Creek Symphony
Orchestra, 3rd trumpet with the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra and, from
2009–2011 served as principal trumpet of the Northwest Indiana Symphony. Keith is a
passionate and highly committed music educator and looks forward to working with students at
the Lakeland School of Music.

Matthew, a violinist, studied at the Konservatorium Luzern in Switzerland, and graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has performed recitals in various venues in New England and Switzerland as well as chamber music for the Manchester Chamber Players in New Hampshire. He has done recordings, tours, and numerous concerts with Collegium Musicum Zurich under the baton of the illustrious Dr. Paul Sacher, in collaboration with top international artists. He has performed with legends such as Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, The Irish Tenors, Donna Summer, Marvin Hamlisch, and others. He is the founder and leader of Ensemble Aevia and the inventor of the C-Clip®, an accessory to protect the violin.

Jonathan Harper was born into a musical family. At home and in church, Jonathan was inclined towards his father's mandolin and guitar skills and began playing his mother's guitar at the age of five. He took lessons at the local Carlton's Music Center in Winter Haven, Florida in his teenage years where he would later teach. After graduating high school, Jonathan studied classical guitar at Florida Southern College and at Austin Peay State University where he earned a Master's of Music Performance in 2021. Jonathan has performed solo and with classical ensembles such as the Austin Peay Graduate Guitar Quartet and musical theatre ensembles with Florida Southern College and Lakeland Community Theatre. In addition to classical guitar, Jonathan enjoys playing and teaching a wide array of styles and genres including, folk, blues, soul, jazz, funk, and rock. He's been teaching guitar full-time since 2019, and enjoys working with students of all ages and skill levels. He likes to cultivate a new appreciation for guitar and music by bringing out favorite interests in the instrument. Gauging our lessons, he will help you succeed in jamming to your favorite tunes making sure to reinforce music fundamentals and develop a facility of playing guitar unique to your interests. Jonathan looks forward to sharing the kinship of guitar playing with everyone who's eager to learn!  Jonathon currently has full availibilty on Tuesdays and Fridays so don't miss this opportunity to reserve an after school or early evening lesson time with one of Lakeland's best guitar instructors!

May Anne is a passionate musician who specializes  in teaching both voice and piano.  She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with an emphasis in Vocal Performance from the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, Manila Philippines. As a student, she was a constant Dean's lister and a recipient of Rector's scholarship in her years at the Conservatory of Music. She participated in opera productions such as Alexander Pushkin's Eugene Onegin, Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata and has performed as part of the chorus in Karl Jenkin's Requiem and Ludwig Van Bethoven's Symphony no. 9 Movement IV. During her graduating years, she auditioned to be a member of the world renowned University of Santo Tomas Singers, a mixed choral ensemble handled by their world class choral conductor Professor Fidel Calalang Jr. She joined the group in 6 international concert tours and competitions in Europe, US and Asia. She was also part of the winning batch that won the most coveted “Choir of the World” title at the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, United Kingdom.

​​​​​​​Her love for music continues as she shares her passion through teaching. She has been conducting individual and group lessons for more than 10 years now and has trained a wide array of students for recitals, competitions, recordings and auditions. 
 

Paloma has been playing the cello consistently for 10 years. She has learned how to play the piano and viola from professors at Florida Southern College. Having a family from Mexico, she is able to speak Spanish fluently. Being first chair in the Polk All-County orchestra and receiving a superior with distinction in Solo & Ensemble, are just a couple of her achievements. Continually being the first chair cellist at FSC, from her freshman year, showcases her talent. She has played in a variety of groups, such as with the maracas in a percussion ensemble or the cello in a jazz band. Paloma has the experience of teaching the cello to beginners and retired players. She has taught Taekwondo to people of many ages, including 4 year olds and beyond. Music and martial arts are similar in their growth towards a skill, and her teaching style can guide people to that growth. She loves showing how fun music can be through her own passion for playing. Whether it be cello, piano, or viola, Paloma can set people on the right path.

Ryan is a passionate guitar teacher who enjoys teaching all styles of electric and acoustic guitar, as well as classical guitar, electric bass, and ukulele. His love for music began as a young boy when he first started taking private piano lessons.  After three years of piano lessons, and when a solid foundation had been formed, he began studying guitar at Victory Christian Academy, with worship leader Scott Taylor.  Throughout the years Ryan has performed professionally in a wide variety of showcases and venues throughout all of Florida; from worship services, to rock concerts, to musical theater productions.  In addition to teaching music at LSM, Ryan also writes, produces, and records his own music at his home studio.  He enjoys sharing the gift of music with students of all ages and skill level.  

Parent Google Review - Monica M​​​​​​​ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ (5 Star)
"My son took violin lessons for about 10 months to prepare for Harrison School of the Arts auditions. Emily was very knowledgeable in what was needed and expected for the Harrison program. She really helped my son excel in his audition and we just received notice he was accepted. Highly recommend Lakeland School of Music."

Emily is a Florida Southern graduate with a BA in Music.  She teaches violin, viola, and cello, and has performed as a member of the FSC Orchestra as well as the FSC Opera Orchestra. She is passionate about teaching music and likes to use a variety of resources to help structure lessons to best suit her students' individual needs.  In addition to teaching private lessons she also enjoys  working with students in group settings; leading small ensembles, group workshops, and masterclasses.  Emily works well with students of all ages and skill levels from beginner to advanced. 
 

Nikki was born and raised in Azerbaijan, at that time a part of the USSR, in a family of talented and dedicated musicians. Her father taught clarinet and her mother taught Kamancha, a traditional string instrument. Immersed in music from an early age, Nikkie loved listening to classical music on vinyl records. She began studying piano at the age of 7 at a music school for children. After seven years, she was promoted to a music academy in the same year Azerbaijan became an independent country. After completing her high school music studies, she played in the church worship band for 13 years while teaching piano lessons to children and adults from different countries around the world! In 2011, she graduated from Baku Music Academy with a Bachelor's degree in Organ Performance. She also completed her Suzuki Teacher Training with the Suzuki Association of the Americas in Colorado. The same year she began her work at an International School in Northern Iraq teaching local children piano using the Suzuki Method. In 2013, she moved to the USA where she currently works with children in a preschool as well as teaching piano using the Suzuki Method at Lakeland School of Music. The Suzuki Method is an internationally known music curriculum and teaching philosophy dating from the mid-20th century, created by Japanese violinist and pedagogue Shinichi Suzuki. The Suzuki Method allows children to start as early as 3 years old and offers children and adults of all ages the opportunity to develop their ear, while simultaneously learning the skills needed to efficiently play their instrument before ever starting to read music. As students progress through the curriculum, they will also learn and master the skill of reading music. You can read more about the Suzuki Method at https://suzukiassociation.org/about/suzuki-method/

Barbara has been teaching piano, general music, and special education in the public school system for over 20 years. She has a bachelor’s in music education and a master’s degree in special education.  She's gifted and experienced in working with children and adults of all ages and skill levels, and accepts students as young as 4 years old for piano.  Barbara provides the love, kindness, encouragment, and patience that students need to grow and achieve their goals in music.  

Bill is a multi instrumentalist who plays and teaches drums, piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and bass guitar.  Born into a very musical family, he took after his two older brothers and began playing piano as a young boy.  Throughout his childhood and into his teens he took private instruction for piano, guitar, and drums, and began gigging professionally with local bands while he was still in middle school.  In 1976 he graduated from Berkley College of Music with a BA in Music Composition.  One of his most memorable career highlights is performing with singer songwriter legend Bruce Hornsby.  When Bill's not playing or teaching music you can find him on any given sunday morning teaching sermons at Faith Lutheran Church in Winter Haven where he faithfully serves as the Pastor.

Reaching for the piano keys above is among the earliest of memories for Ms. Rhonda, who began piano lessons at the age of 8. She practiced every day for more than eight years while studying with private tutors. Primary studies included John W. Schaum Books A-F, Six, Seven and Repertoire. She also enjoyed being accompanist to her brother and father who would sing in their local church.

Ms. Rhonda enjoys teaching piano and encouraging students throughout the entire process.  She is open to all types of music and encourages students to learn songs they enjoy, in addition to the student curriculum.  Ms. Rhonda is also a bit computer savvy and will generate videos with sheet music and keyboard combination to support students during their practice times. She is also very colorful, especially with beginners, to assist in making those initial musical connections!

As a piano teacher, passing along the knowledge of how to read music is considered an honor & reward by Ms. Rhonda.  She truly embraces the arts and believes we should always share our gifts, especially with the children.

Elisabeth is a graduate of The New England Conservatory of Music and The Interlochen Arts Academy. She holds certification from Illinois State University as a McClosky Voice Therapist, specializing in keeping voices healthy, as well as Kodaly Certification as a music educator. A classically- trained coloratura soprano, Elisabeth has performed many musical theatre roles and enjoys singing and teaching a variety of styles including jazz, pop, and opera. She has conducted numerous ensembles including bands, orchestras, choruses of all ages and award-winning show choirs.

Elisabeth has taught both voice and piano for 30 years and has had the honor of teaching students as young as three years old and elementary, middle school, high school, and college students, as well as many adults. She has experience with both gifted and talented students as well as students with disabilities. Elisabeth has prepared many students for competitions, and auditions for collegiate music programs. She is certified as a music educator in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Florida and has taught at International schools in Dalian and Shanghai, China.