Posts in Spec: Composition
Kimberly Cann

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

John Cobb

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

Jenna Jaffe

Bio: Jenna Jaffe graduated cum laude from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a Music Degree in Vocal Performance in 1992. She was also accepted into two Masters of Music programs at the renowned New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Jenna has been teaching private piano, voice, and general music for over 28 years. She specializes in teaching beginning to advanced voice and beginning to intermediate piano students. She is currently accepting new students in her private studio in East Asheville. Jenna is also a passionate performer of dance, performance art, singing in most genres, as well as playing several different instruments. In addition, she is a certified teacher of ESL at Asheville Buncombe Community College and regularly studies languages in her spare time.

Email: jenna.jaffe@gmail.com

Phone: 828-273-2605

Website Addresses:

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Studio: All of Asheville and online lessons

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

Teaching Styles: Classical, Popular, Jazz, Improvisation

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory, Composition, Voice, Percussion, Music History, Improvisation, Recorder, Composition Arrangements, Diction, Drama Coaching, Energy Healing with Voice

Other Music Related Services: Vocal and Piano Performance for any Events

Address: Asheville

Music Academy of WNC

Bio: The piano faculty at the Music Academy of WNC is comprised of experienced artist-teachers whose careers represent a diversity of backgrounds. Their comprehensive approach to education encourages students to cultivate their own voices and musical values. The Music Academy piano faculty consists of Dr. Laura Thiel; Dr. Elizabeth Churchya, and Dr. Kevin Ayesh. Please visit the Music Academy website at https://wncmusicacademy.com for more information and to register for piano lessons.


Email: mike@wncmusicacademy.com

Phone: 828-693-3726

Web Site: http://wncmusicacademy.com

Teaching Locations: Hendersonville

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

Other Music Lessons Offered: Voice, Strings, Winds, Brass, Percussion, guitar, ukulele, bass, drums, piano, voice, violin, viola, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, songwriting

Other Musical Services Offered: Music classes and ensembles. Band/orchestra instrument rental as an NEMC affiliate. Piano rental/purchase program through Steinway Piano Gallery

Address: 1430 Asheville Highway; Hendersonville, NC 28791

Stephanie Quinn

Bio: I am a concert pianist & violinist and conservatory trained teacher for over 40 years, 15 of which included online lessons. I was educated by professors at the Eastman School of Music, Juilliard & Northwestern University. Visit my website and YouTube channels. I currently perform in local orchestras, churches & special events.  

Email: QuinnMusic@StephanieQuinn.com

Phone: 828-222-3324

For lessons, contact Ms. Quinn through her website.

Website Addresses:

Stephanie Quinn Website

Student Progress Videos

Masterclass / Tutorial Videos

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Globally. YouTube tutorials also available.

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

Teaching Styles: Traditional and Suzuki

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Ear-training, Solfege, Theory, Composition, Singing. 

Other Music Related Services: Skilled accompanist and chamber musician.

Address: P.O. Box 8932, Asheville, NC 28804

Marilynn Seits

Bio: B.S. Music Ed. piano major, U of Illinois; In New York City: Jazz piano and composition studies with Sir Roland Hanna & Jimmy Guiffre; Electronic music studies with Steve Reich & Philip Glass in Steve Reich's NYC studio and on original Moog module synthesizers in Gershon Kinglsey's studio in NYC; Jazz pianist; composer; BMI Publisher & writer; Church organist; 12 jazz and New Age recordings on the CMR Records label; Currently an Adjunct Teaching Faculty member at Mars Hill University working as collaborative pianist in the Vocal Department and with jazz instrumentalists.

Email: marilynnseits@mac.com

Phone: 561-719-4106

Website Address: mseitsmusic.com

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

Offering Jazz Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Young Children

Teaching Styles: Jazz, Popular, Reading Big Band Charts and Lead Sheets

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory and Composition

Other Music Related Services: Jazz Duo or trio available for parties and events; Church organist; BMI Publisher; original music, original children's songs; recording demos; making CD copies & CD graphics

Address: Asheville

Nathan Shirley

Bio: Composer & pianist Nathan Shirley has received over half a dozen national and international awards for his solo, chamber and orchestral compositions since age 21. He is heavily self-taught, but as a teenager was mentored in composition by Olga Harris, the last student of Khachaturian. Mr. Shirley's music has been performed in over a dozen countries around the world. He lives in Western North Carolina with his wife and children.

Email: music@nathanshirley.com

Phone: 828.659.8737

Website: www.NathanShirley.com

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Composition

Address: Marion

Richard Shulman

Bio: Keyboardist/composer Richard Shulman creates music as a positive influence for himself, audiences and society. -- Richard has recorded 28 of his own albums and collaborated on dozens more. Trained in the classical and jazz fields, he has developed a heartfelt language in these genres while focussing much of his output on music for meditation, healing and inspiration. Shulman has performed at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the UN, and numerous venues in North America and Europe. Shulman has composed for jazz groups, chamber ensembles, choir, and symphony orchestra and creates Musical Soul Portrait recordings for individuals, couples and groups.  

Read the full bio at https://richheartmusic.com/about/richard-shulman

Email: richheartmusic@frontier.com

Phone: 828-658-9604

Website: https://richheartmusic.com

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Weaverville

Offering Piano Lessons for: Intermediate, Advanced, College, Adults

Teaching Styles: Classical, Jazz

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory, Composition

Other Music Related Services: Musical Soul Portraits, Jazz performances, composing, arranging, recording

Address: Asheville

Michael Jefry Stevens

Bio: Pianist, Composer and “Steinway Artist,” Michael Jefry Stevens is currently on the music faculty of ETSU and the Asheville Music School. He has released over 100 cds and has performed and/or recorded extensively with many of the top names in Jazz, including Dave Liebman, Oliver Lake, Dave Douglas, Matt Wilson, Han Bennink, Mark Feldman and many others. He was the “Margaret Lee Crofts Fellow” for 2000-2001 at the MacDowell Colony, was a Centrum Arts composer fellow (2004) and is currently on the Virginia Museum of Fine Art’s Touring Artist Roster. 

Email: mjsjazz@mac.com

Phone: 917-916-1363

Website: www.michaeljefrystevens.com

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville, Black Mountain

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

Teaching Styles: Jazz, Popular

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory, Composition, improvisation

Address: Black Mountain

Judy Sullivan

Bio: Dr. Judy Sullivan is an active piano teacher and accompanist in the Asheville area. Joining the AAPF in the fall of 1994, Judy has served on the Board of Directors for five years, as President for three years and Member Activities Chair for two years. She currently works with membership for the Forum. Judy's education degrees are from James Madison University, the University of Virginia, and The College of William and Mary.

Email: jsullivanpiano@gmail.com

Phone: 828.298.8037

Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville, Weaverville, Black Mountain, Canton

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

Teaching Styles: Classical, Jazz, Popular, Religious

Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory, Composition

Address: Asheville