Bio: Classical. Oberlin. U. Illinois, Peabody. Chamber music, sometimes lounge lizard.
Email: christineaclark@me.com
Phone: 904-910-2632
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: Diane has served as piano teacher for 10+ years in both Virginia and SD & as both traditional church pianist & worship team keyboardist for 40+ years in Kentucky, Virginia, S. Dakota & N. Carolina. Performances include: Buncombe Baptist Assoc. Choir Christmas performances at Biltmore & Grove Park, accompanying the AC Reynolds Middle School choir & bell soloist Christine Anderson. Diane earned a Bachelor of Music Education, majoring in piano, from Georgetown College, Kentucky, & Master of Rehabilitation Counseling from University of Kentucky. Not currently teaching. Interested in church piano sub.
Email: dianecoombs7@gmail.com
Phone: 828-280-5035
Address: Asheville
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
Bio: Degrees from Oberlin Conservatory (Bach. of Music), Columbia University Teachers College (Master of Arts) with 2 years additional study at Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Career includes lecture-recitals, articles on piano pedagogy in leading music journals and competition adjudication.
Performer Details: I like the challenge of learning new repertoire, particularly 4 hand literature with fellow Piano Forum members. I also sub as a church pianist and am available to perform as a cocktail pianist.
Email: pollyfeitzinger@gmail.com
Phone: 828-676-0766
Studio/Store Location, Serving: Hendersonville
Offering Piano Lessons for: Teenagers, Adults
Teaching Styles: Classical
Offering Other Music Lessons for: Piano, Theory
Address: Hendersonville
Bio: VICTORIA FISCHER FAW, NCTM, D.M.A., Professor Emerita at Elon University, is a pianist, teacher, and scholar whose musical passions include the full range of piano solo and collaborative repertoire, teaching young teachers to teach piano, and mentoring undergraduate musical research. Recent honors include being named 2021 North Carolina Music Teachers Association Teacher of the Year, MTNA 2022 National Teacher of the Year, and MTNA Foundation Fellow for 2022. Her scholarship and performance activity includes a specialty in the music of Béla Bartók. She won first prize at the 1990 Bartók-Kabalevsky International Piano Competition and has published and presented many articles and programs to local, state and national music teachers on Bartók and other musical topics. Dr. Fischer studied at Centenary College of Louisiana, UNC-Chapel Hill, UT Austin, and the Vienna Conservatory. Her teachers include Constance Knox Carroll, Danielle Martin, David Renner, Amanda Vick Lethco, Martha Hilley and Elliott Antokoletz. She is active in NCMTA and MTNA, and lives on a Christmas tree farm in Sparta, NC with her husband, Steve.
Phone: 336-263-7013
Email: fischer@elon.edu
Studio/Store Location, Serving: All of Western NC, Alleghany County
Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Elementary, Middle/High School, College, Adults
Teaching Styles: Classical
Offering Other Lessons for: group, virtual
Other Musical Related Services: Performances, presentations, masterclasses, consulting
Address: Sparta
Bio: Eric Fricke is a concert organist and pianist, improviser, composer, and collaborative musician. He has appeared on the national stage as an organist since 2007, with notable appearances at Entertainment Gathering 2008 (later broadcast on TEDTalks), on NPR’s From The Top, and Carnegie Hall. From 2017 to 2019, Eric was the Principal Organist of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, NM and organist for the Santa Fe Symphony. As a pianist, Eric performed with the Santa Fe Opera for their 2017 production of Stephen Paulus’ Shoes for the Santo Niño. Eric began his musical studies at the age of 5. He studied organ with Cameron Carpenter and Lew Williams, piano with celebrated ballet pianist Miles Fusco, and voice with Joan Jacobowsky, Professor Emerita of Salem College. He holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from St. John’s College of Santa Fe, NM, and a Graduate Certificate in Injury-Preventive Keyboard Technique from Salem College. He has taught piano and voice for over a decade in his private studio and at numerous schools and musical organizations.
Email: ericfricative@gmail.com
Phone: 480-734-3714
Web Site: https://ericfricke.com/
Bio: Avid chamber music player, New York native recently relocated to Hendersonville, NC, graduate of Brooklyn College (CUNY), 1st-time recipient of prestigious Charles Ives Award for Excellence in Musical Performance, studied graduate level piano accompaniment (vocal & instrumental) at Manhattan School of Music, holds M.M. (A.B.D), has assisted at the Metropolitan Opera House studios, has performed regularly in New York, Europe, Israel and currently in Western North Carolina. Was founder and co-founder of several chamber music ensembles, including The Soiree Sisters, The Urban Stress Trio, and co-founder & Musical Director of Handel With Care. Currently seeking piano students, teach out of my music studio/home.
Email: smgruenhut@yahoo.com
Phone: 646-413-1294
Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville, Hendersonville
Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Young Children, Elementary, Middle/High School, College, Adults, Lessons in your home
Teaching Styles: Classical
Offering Other Music Lessons for: vocal coaching/accompanist
Address: Hendersonville
Bio: Hayward, Anna Haun was Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Piano Pedagogy Program at Georgia State University. Dr. Hayward has also served on summer music festival faculties for the U. of Illinois, the Breckenridge Colorado Music Festival, and the Musique Session Internationale in Grenoble, France. Sponsored by Alfred Music, she has given piano pedagogy workshops in the US, England, Malaysia, and Australia, and has also performed throughout the US, Micronesia, England, Germany, France, and Austria. She was awarded the "Master Teacher Certificate" in Piano by MTNA (1995). She enjoys preparing students for a career in piano performance and/or piano pedagogy as well as teaching students wanting to pursue their passion for learning.
Email: annahayward1011@gmail.com
Phone: 828-225-3801
Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville
Offering Piano Lessons for: Advanced, College, Adults, Lessons in your home
Teaching Styles: Classical
Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory
Address: Asheville
Bio: Mary Holmes is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University (B. Music - Piano Performance) and The University of Michigan (M. Music). She attended Oakland University in Michigan (M. Music – Piano Performance) while raising her children.
She has taught piano at all levels for over 45 years. In addition, she taught in Detroit at Wayne State University for several years, and has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition to membership in AAPF, she is on the board of the Asheville Chamber Music Series.
Email: 312mesh@gmail.com
Phone: Home – (828) 505.7008 or Cellphone – (828) 707-6353
Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville, Lessons in your home (teacher will travel)
Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Elementary, Middle/High School, College, Adults
Teaching Styles: Classical
Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory
Address: Asheville
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
Bio: Classical piano — the foundation of music — for all ages and levels, from beginners to advanced pianists. Instruction is available at a home studio in [City/Area] or online via Zoom. Areas of expertise include classical piano performance, music theory, music literature, chamber music, and professional coaching for piano teachers. With over 35 years of university-level teaching experience, Dr. Kim is dedicated to fostering strong musicianship, artistry, and a lifelong love of music." "Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim — Concert Pianist
Performs solo and chamber music with a focus on classical repertoire. Available year-round by pre-arrangement for recitals and special events, offering programs from 30 minutes to two hours. Requires a well-maintained grand piano; additional technical needs arranged in advance." "Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim is a concert pianist and dedicated music educator with over 35 years of higher education teaching experience at the Manhattan School of Music, Brown University, and the University of North Carolina at Asheville. A full-scholarship graduate of Seoul National University, she earned both her Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where she later joined the faculty.
Recognized for her creative and engaging teaching, she has inspired students from young beginners to advanced musicians and received the Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Award in 2023 and 2024.
Beyond teaching, Dr. Kim directs a successful Summer Piano Camp, adjudicates competitions, and performs with orchestras and chamber ensembles. In July 2025, Dr. Kim launched Sonare Music Academy, a local and global center for musical excellence and community engagement, and published You Are Slightly Very Late.
Email: hwajinkimdma@gmail.com
Website Address: Hwa-Jin Kim, PianowithDrKim(YouTube)
Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Young Children, Elementary, Middle/High School, College, Adults
Teaching Styles: Classical
Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory
Address: Asheville
Bio: Principal keyboardist at Greenville Symphony orchestra
Email: lisakiser11@gmail.com
Phone:864-908-4428
Web Site: Kiserpiano.com
Teaching Locations: Greenville, SC
Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Young Children, Elementary, Middle/High School, College, Lessons in your home (teacher will travel)
Teaching Styles: Classical
Offering Other Music Lessons for: Theory
Address: Greenville, SC
Bio: Dr. Leonidas Lagrimas, NCTM serves as Associate Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at Western Carolina University. His duties include coordinating the Class Piano program and teaching Applied Piano. He has presented his research at numerous local, state, and national conferences.
Dr. Lagrimas’ performance experience includes multiple collaborative piano appearances at Carnegie Hall, and guest artist recitals at numerous universities throughout the East Coast. He is active as a musical theatre accompanist/keyboardist as well as a choral/church accompanist. He holds National Certification (NCTM) in piano from MTNA, and a Ph.D. in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from Florida State University.
Email: a.lagrimas@gmail.com
Phone: 850-443-2940
Web Site: www.wcu.edu/faculty/llagrimas.aspx
Styles: Classical, Religious
Specializations: Music History, Pedagogy, Theory, Virtual
Address: Sylva
Bio: Rita E. Landrum holds a Bachelor of Music degree in music theory from Furman University where she presented Furman’s first composition recital her senior year. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree in music composition from the University of Georgia where she was a student of John Corina. She is a former faculty member of the Brevard Music Center in Brevard NC. Commissions have included works for organ, piano, solo voice, choral groups, and chamber ensembles.
Email: rlandrum@windstream.net
Phone: 828-859-6508
Address: Tryon
Bio: Born in Asheville, I lived here for the first ten years of my life. My family moved to Columbia, SC. In 1963 I graduated from the University of South Carolina, majored in music (piano performance, pedagogy) and member of Delta Omicron. Taught piano and was an organist and choir director at Episcopal churches in Columbia and Cincinnati, substitute organist in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for 29 years in many different churches, accompanied my husband, cellist, in recitals in Cincinnati, member of a choir that toured Italy, Ireland and Canada, travelled extensively in Europe with my husband every year for 42 years.
Email: elenlunn@gmail.com
Phone: 828-301-0917
Bio: Virginia McKnight has degrees from Stetson University and Florida State University as well as a Certificate from the Neuchatel Conservatory in Neuchatel, Switzerland. She has made a career of collaborative piano including work at Yale University. Ithaca College, Cornell University and in New York City. Before moving to Asheville, Virginia taught and accompanied at Stetson University. In Asheville, She has worked as pianist at the Asheville Community Theater, Haywood Arts Repertory Theater, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theater, Mars Hill University, UNC Asheville, and Reynold’s High School. Virginia has recently retired from her position of Organist and Music Director at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
Email: charlesvirginia@bellsouth.net
Phone: 828-301-7378
Other Music Related Services: Accompanying/coaching; Church Organist
Address: Asheville
Bio: Dan Mozen is a serious hobby pianist trained in both classical and jazz piano traditions. His repertoire spans from composers like Beethoven and Bach to complex jazz transcriptions that honor the original improvisations. He also explores rock piano, bringing a wide stylistic range to his playing. In addition to performing, Dan has experience teaching piano and enjoys sharing his knowledge. He looks forward to connecting with the local music community and contributing to a vibrant, collaborative musical environment.
Performer Info: Play classical piano mostly. Also key in rock band.
Email: platzomat@gmail.com
Address: Asheville