Bio: Annelinde Metzner studied music education at Furman University, then got a masters in Music Composition at the University of South Carolina, and did doctoral work at Florida State. She founded the community choir Womansong of Asheville in 1987, and now directs Sahara Peace Choir and the UUSV Choir in Black Mountain where she is music director. She has a small studio of piano students, and performs her compositions and arrangements regularly.

Email: annelinde@hotmail.com

Phone: 828-712-6745

Website: AnnelindesWorld.blogspot.com

Address: Black Mountain, NC

Bio: Timothy Shepard earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and a Master of Sacred Music degree from Emory University in Atlanta. Over four decades, he has served churches in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina. From 2008-2025, Tim served as Director of Music and Organist at First United Methodist Church in Brevard, North Carolina. During his time in Western North Carolina, he has presented many recitals at churches throughout the region. Notably, he performed the Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony with the Brevard Philharmonic and was a featured organist during the Brevard Music Center’s noon-time recital series at Brevard 1st UMC . Timothy Shepard is an arranger and composer of sacred music. In 2000, he developed and published his music on www.SacredMusicDownloads.com. He also has wide experience conducting community choruses, handbell groups, and workshops. Mr. Shepard is the second and fourth dean of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and was recently elected Southeast Regional Ambassador for the National Office. Tim lives in Mills River with his partner and enjoys exploring the beautiful mountains and waterfalls of WNC. He looks forward to supporting and collaborating with the musicians of the AAPF.

Email: TimShepardNC@gmail.com

Phone: 828-577-9900

Website: http://SacredMusicDownloads.com

Bio: I only have one student at this point, an adult student whose primary goal is to master hymn playing in order to accompany church services intermediate to early advanced classical solo piano I am preparing to tune and service pianos under the supervision of Keith Freeburg and hope to join his team by 6/1/26 Happily married with five adult children. Fell in love with piano early in life and completed an undergraduate degree in piano performance before deciding to pursue a career in healthcare. Now 26 years into nursing and 5 years into nurse practitioner work, I am responding to a heart tug back to music which in some ways I wish I had never left. I decided recently to learn the piano technician trade and to switch to this as my life work for the remainder of my working years. As an amateur pianist who is eagerly desiring to get back to some of what I meant to do in life, I am interested in opportunities to perform, both as a soloist and as a collaborator.

Email: caneybrook@hotmail.com

Phone:828-513-4240

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Hendersonville

Offering Piano Lessons for: Intermediate to Advanced

Teaching Styles: Classical

Bio: Ivan Seng is a performer, composer, teacher, and collaborative pianist based in the Asheville area. He holds degrees in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

He has performed with various ensembles throughout the region, including Pan Harmonia, the Dead Eduard’s Trio, and as a soloist with the Blue Ridge Orchestra. In addition to his solo and chamber work, he collaborates regularly with numerous Suzuki studios.

With over two decades of teaching experience, Ivan currently serves on the adjunct faculty at UNCA and maintains a private studio at the Asheville Music School.

Email: ivans112358@gmail.com

Phone: 828-713-9837

What age/level of piano student do I teach? Ages 10 and up

Where do I teach my students? My home or on Zoom

What genres of piano music do I teach? Classical

What other lessons do I offer? Theory, Electronic Composition

Address: Asheville

Bio: Monique is an instructor and the Assistant Director for Piano Lab of Asheville. With a passion for early childhood music education, she pursued her Kindermusik teaching license in 2019. She is currently teaching piano, voice, guitar, ukulele and Kindermusik classes.

Email: moniquemccreary1@gmail.com

Phone: 828-575-8055

Website Address: pianolabasheville.com

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville

Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Young Children, Elementary, Middle/High School, Adults, Lessons in your home (teacher will travel)

Teaching Styles: Classical, Jazz, Popular

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Voice, Guitar, ukulele ; Kindermusik

Address: Asheville

Bio: I am available for contract work as an accompanist for vocal or instrumental recitals and choirs. I am also available for weddings and as background music for private events. I have a keyboard and sound equipment. I can provide a two-hour set of classical and contemporary music.

BA Piano Performance, MM Piano Pedagogy, I have over 15 years of private instruction experience both in my own studio, as well as within colleges and established studios. I love to tap into what my students really want to learn, as well as finding ways to challenge them. I love to play piano and often perform with choral and instrumental groups. I teach contemporary (chord reading) and classical styles, as well as music theory and piano pedagogy.

Email: lpmusic85@gmail.com

Website: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenCasonPianoStudio

Phone: 803-640-2321

Offering Piano Lessons for: 8 through young adults; teach in the student’s home.

Teaching Styles: Classical, Contemporary (chord-reading)

Other Skills Taught: Music theory, and piano pedagogy.

Address: Columbus, NC

Phone: 345-521-3739

Email: wbares@unca.edu

Web Site: baresmusic.com

Studio/Store Location, Serving: UNC-Asheville

Offering Piano Lessons for: College Students

Teaching Styles: Jazz

Performers’ Occasions: Recitals, Jazz Events

Address: Asheville

Bio: More of a teacher than performer, I have over a half century (1971 – present!!) of experience: piano lessons, classroom teaching (Pre k -  6th ), church organist/pianist.   References available upon request. 

Email: frank_argento@hotmail.com

Phone: 828-280-1307

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Serving South Asheville, Fletcher area

Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner to Advanced, all ages. 

Teaching Styles: Classical, Popular, Religious, Lead Sheet reading (chords, accompanying), classical improvisation, sight reading skills. 

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory

Other Music Related Services: Play piano for special occasions

Address: Asheville

Bio: Will Baunach is a past President of the Asheville Area Piano Forum. He has been a dedicated pianist since childhood. After a career in high-tech, in the 1990s he took further music studies at Portland State University where he subsequently taught piano. Today he teaches using an innovative lab-based approach combining computers, keyboards, and pianos.

Email: willbaunach@yahoo.com

Phone: 828-687-9075

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville, Arden

Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Middle/High School, College, Adults

Teaching Styles: Classical

Address: Arden

Bio: Dr. Deborah Belcher holds degrees in piano from Winthrop University, Indiana University and Michigan State University, and has performed as recitalist and collaborative pianist throughout the Eastern U.S. and in Canada. She has appeared as soloist with the Blue Ridge Symphony, the Converse College Chamber Orchestra, the Elmhurst Symphony, the Sammartini Chamber Orchestra and the Windermere Chamber Orchestra. Her solo & chamber music performances have been heard in public radio broadcasts throughout the Midwest and the Southeast. She is a member of the music faculty of UNC Asheville and is in demand throughout the Southeastern states as facilitator of the “Instant (Pop) Piano for Hopelessly Busy People” seminar. Dr. Belcher developed an affinity for the music of Latin composers including Astor Piazzolla, became an aficionado of Argentine tango and sometimes performs tangos joined by dancers on stage.

Email: deborah.belcher@icloud.com

Phone: 828-230-7343

Website Address: deborahbelcher.com &/or https://www.facebook.com/AshevillePianoExperience/?ref=bookmarks

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville, Hendersonville, Weaverville, Black Mountain, Canton, All of Western NC, WNC & upper SC

Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Young Children, Elementary, Middle/High School, College, Adults

Teaching Styles: Classical, Popular

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory, Music History. Piano Pedagogy.

Address: Asheville

Bio: Matt Blanks originally hails from Olney, Maryland, and taught and performed in the Chicagoland area for the last 10 years. A graduate of Peabody Conservatory and Baldwin-Wallace University, he has appeared as a young artist with Opera Southwest, Tri-Cities Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Chicago Opera Theater. Most recently, he held positions as Director of Music/Organist at Calvary Episcopal Church in Batavia and Adjunct Professor of Music at both North Park and Dominican Universities.

Phone: 301-221-0068

Email: matt.blanks.tenor@gmail.com

Web Site: SoaringSounds.as.me

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville, Weaverville, Marshall

Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Adults

Offering Other Lessons for: Voice

Teaching Styles: Classical, Jazz, Popular, Religious

Performers’ Occasions: Accompanist, arranger-for-hire

Address: Alexander

Bio: A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory(B.M.), West Chester University (M.M.), with post- graduate performance studies at Rutgers University, Ms. Boyd has almost fifty years of teaching experience. Her students have won numerous competitions and many have continued music study at major universities. She is a founding member of AAPF, and is its president for 2020-21. Karen is also a member of NCMTA.

Email: karenpianoboyd@gmail.com

Phone: (828)669-4869 or (828)782-0502

Teaching Locations: at student homes, Black Mountain, Montreat, Swannanoa, East Asheville

Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginners through Advanced, ages 5-90.

Teaching Styles: Classical

Address: Black Mountain

Bio: Kimberly is a mother of two toddlers; wife of a double bassist & self-taught master of many trades; Eastman-trained professional concert pianist; sister of concert pianist Michelle Cann; director of Piano Lab Studios; and President of the AAPF 2012-2014 and 2017-2018. She loves Asheville and plans to retire here...but that's a long time from now. :)

Email: kcann98@gmail.com

Website Address: PianoLabAsheville.com

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville, Hendersonville, Weaverville, Black Mountain, Canton, All of Western NC, Fletcher

Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Young Children, Elementary, Middle/High School, College, Adults

Teaching Styles: Classical, Jazz, Popular, Religious

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory, Composition, Voice, Strings, Percussion

Bio: Emeritus Professor Benjamin D Caton taught for 46 years in the Department or Music at East Tennessee State University. He earned these degrees: BSME, ETSU; MA and PhD, The Ohio State University. Caton served as President of Music Teachers National Association from 2011-2013. Awards include MTNA Foundation Fellow, MTNA Distinguished Service Award, MTNA Teacher of the Year Award, ETSU Distinguished Service Award, Phi Mu Alpha Signature Sinfonian Award. Currently teaches piano in the ETSU Pre-College Program and is adjunct professor of piano and piano pedagogy at ETSU.

Email: caton@etsu.edu

Phone: 423-612-5677

Studio/Store Location, Serving: ETSU at Johnson City, TN

Offering Piano Lessons for: College and Pre-College

Teaching Styles: Classical

Address: Johnson City, TN

Bio: Elizabeth Child holds a DMA in piano performance from The Juilliard School.  She teaches classical piano and theory to all levels at her studio in Tryon NC, and often performs in the Asheville area.  You can contact her through her website at www.elizabethchildpianist.com.

Email: mechild@windstream.net

Phone: 828-817-4627

Website Address: www.elizabethchildpianist.com

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Tryon, NC and Landrum, SC

Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Elementary, Middle/High School, Adults

Teaching Styles: Classical

Address: Tryon

Bio: An international performer and recording artist, Dr. Cobb did post-doctoral study with legendary pianist Claudio Arrau. The New York Times praised his "solid technique, bronze tone and flexibility of interpretive style." While completing a Doctor of Music degree at Northwestern University, Dr. Cobb held a fellowship at the University of Chicago, where he pursued doctoral studies in musicology. He performs a broad repertoire of solo and chamber music, is a frequent performer on the Piano Forte series at the Asheville Art Museum and appeared as soloist with the Asheville Symphony, performing the Samuel Barber Piano Concerto. Dr. Cobb frequently serves as an adjudicator for competitions and music festivals.

Email: jcobbpiano@gmail.com

Phone: 828-551-3810

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Greater Asheville, Fairview, and Hendersonville

Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginners through Advanced, ages 10 through Adult; coaching for professionals

Teaching Styles: Classical

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory, Composition, Voice, Mrs. Cobb (Gwenn) is a singer/voice teacher

Other Music Related Services: Arrau Technique training: using relaxation and body leverage in playing.

Address: Fairview

Bio: Dr. Jason DeCristofaro is the Director of Creative Arts & Events and Music Faculty at Warren Wilson. An active music educator, multi-instrumentalist and composer/arranger based in Asheville, NC. Jason has performed nationally and internationally at many jazz festivals, and is in demand as a clinician, having presented clincis, masterclasses and performances on jazz improvisation at many colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Email: jdecristofaro@warren-wilson.edu

Website: www.youtube.com/jasondecristofaro

Phone: 828-273-8254

Bio: Dr. Leslie Downs is active as both a solo and collaborative pianist. He has performed in solo, lieder, chamber and choral concerts throughout the United States and in Canada. He has served as music director for regional musical theatre productions. For 16 years he worked as a freelance pianist/teacher/vocal coach in New York City. He currently serves as the Music Director for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. He holds degrees from Centenary College of Louisiana, Yale University, and University of Oklahoma.

Email: lgdowns721@gmail.com

Phone: (828) 775-3539

Website Address: LeslieDowns.com

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville, Black Mountain

Offering Piano Lessons for: Intermediate, Advanced, Middle/High School, College, Adults, Lessons in your home

Teaching Styles: Classical, Popular, Religious

Other Music Related Services: Vocal Coaching

Address: Asheville

Bio:  Pianist Sharyn Edwards has concertized throughout the southeastern United States and in Russia. She has been soloist with the Charlotte, Charleston, Fayetteville, Wilmington and Charlotte Repertoire Symphonies and was an Artist with the N.C Touring Artists Roster. Dr. Edwards made her New York debut at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall and has recorded a Classic CD for the Musikus Label. Dr. Edwards is a native of Asheville and her formative training was with Dorothy Krauss.  Other teachers include Dr. John P. Adams, Canadian Pianist, Raymond Dudley, John Quincy Bass, James Bonn and coaching with Madame Lili Krauss among others.  Currently she is Director of the Dr. Sharyn Edwards 46th Piano Festival and Competition.

Email: sharynedwards14@gmail.com

Offering Piano Lessons for: All ages.

Teaching Styles: Classical

Address: Leicester

Phone: 828-777-0061

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville

Offering Piano Lessons for: Intermediate, Advanced, Elementary

Teaching Styles: Classical, Religious

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory

Address: Asheville