About Us
“To provide educational and charitable opportunities for Western North Carolina piano teachers, their students and their communities.
To enhance the appreciation of piano & keyboard music, pedagogy, and performance in Western North Carolina.”
The 100-plus members of the Asheville Area Piano Forum have one thing in common: we all love the piano and its music. Our membership is comprised of professional performers, teachers, store owners, tuners, technicians and piano movers. The membership also includes school-aged and adult students, amateurs, afficionados, and businesses that support the arts.
Beginning in the winter of 1992, a small group of pianists met informally for camaraderie and to share ideas about piano teaching. From that point the AAPF membership grew rapidly, along with the number of sponsored activities. In 2002 a more formal structure was developed to coordinate the events held each year, and today’s 501(C)(3) non profit organization was established.
AAPF holds four Meetings with Presentations each season which are given by professional pianists and are open to the public. The tradition of sharing ideas among colleagues continues with Teacher Roundtable Discussion Groups. The Piano Forum is perhaps best known for its two annual Benefit Concerts which present our performing members to the greater Asheville community, with the purpose of raising funds for Student Assistance Awards, helping families in need subsidize piano lessons.
Members of AAPF also have the opportunity to share their favorite piano music during the Performance Groups held throughout the year. Our teachers may have their students perform in Student Recitals, and the annual Asheville Piano Competition is open to any student age 18 or under who lives and studies in the greater Asheville area.
The Piano Forum’s Board of Directors and I invite you to join our activities, and to become a part of our Piano-Loving Community!
Karen Boyd, AAPF Treasurer for 2026-27, and former President
Board of Directors 2026-27
Leonidas Lagrimas, President llagrimas@email.wcu.edu
Douglas Weeks, Vice President doug.weeks@converse.edu
Wayne Smith, Corresponding & Recording Secretary owaynesmith@att.net
Karen Boyd, Treasurer karenpianoboyd@gmail.com
Nolan Adcock, Board Member
Sharyn Edwards, Board Member
Dominic Rajagopal, Board Member
Randolph Reeves, Board Member
Yelena Saladukha, Board Member
Did you know October 2nd was declared “Asheville Area Piano Forum Day”? By Asheville Mayor Esther E Manheimer in 2022
Minutes for AAPF’s first meeting!