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
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: 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.
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
Teacher Specializations: Music History, Classical
Email: 312mesh@gmail.com
Phone: Home: (828) 505-7008 or Cellphone: (828) 707-6353
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: Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim is a concert pianist, educator, author, and founder and artistic director of Sonare Music Academy. A graduate of Seoul National University, she earned her Doctor of Musical Arts from Manhattan School of Music, where she also served on the faculty. She taught for over 22 years at the University of North Carolina Asheville and is a two-time recipient of the Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Award. In 2026, Dr. Kim created The Beethoven 32, a week-long celebration of Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas. She is currently organizing Chopin Festival 2027, celebrating Chopin through performance, education, and community engagement.
Email: hwajinkimdma@gmail.com
Website(s): sonaremusicacademy.com, YouTube channel
Teacher Specializations: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Classical, Music History, Theory, Pedagogy, Virtual, Young Children
Performance Styles: Classical
Address: Asheville
Bio: Principal keyboardist at Greenville Symphony orchestra
Email: lisakiser11@gmail.com
Phone: 864-908-4428
Web Site: Kiserpiano.com
Offering Piano Lessons for: Intermediate, Advanced
Teaching Styles: Classical
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: 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.
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
Email Address: rreeves123@aol.com
Address: Asheville
Bio: After completing a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in piano performance from Texas Christian University, Cynthia received a bachelor of science in nursing. In Texas, she performed chamber music and with orchestra. Cynthia was a contestant in two of the Cliburn International Piano Competitions for Outstanding Amateurs and was a semifinalist in the Rocky Mountain Amateur Piano Competition. She also studied and performed in Spain.
Since moving to North Carolina in 2006, she has given house concerts and performances in retirement homes, country clubs and restaurants. She also has done benefits for the Hendersonville and Asheville Symphonies.
Cynthia recently joined Sue Baker, flutest, to form the Baker Riley Duo. They perform classical and jazz and are available for private parties and local venues.
Performance Styles: Classical, Jazz
Email: cynthiarileypianist@gmail.com
Website: https://www.youtube.com/@cynthiariley4033
Phone: 828-447-8886
Address: Lake Lure
Bio: Teaches at Piano Lab in Mills River. I have graduates from a music school in Minsk Belarus. During my college years in the US I have taken lessons from Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim at UNCA. I have taught piano for 18 years, beginner through advanced levels.
Email: elena1apc@yahoo.com
Phone: (863) 398-1988
Teaching Locations: Piano Lab, Mills River, NC
Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginners through Advanced
Teaching Styles: Classical
Address: Mills River
Bio: Susie Shaw teaches piano to ages 4 and up in the West Asheville area. She holds the Master of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees in piano performance from the University of Georgia. She is organist at Grace Baptist Church.
Email: srwshaw@gmail.com
Phone: 828-337-2094
Studio/Store Location, Serving: Asheville
Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Young Children, Elementary, Middle/High School, Adults
Teaching Styles: Classical
Address: Asheville
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
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
Bio: I'm a retired amateur who studied piano for many years in school. I haven't kept up my skills as much as I would have liked over the years, but recently started playing more seriously again. I enjoy many types of music -- classical, jazz, old standards, show tunes, and more.
Phone: 202-256-0225
Email: masmithcae@gmail.com
Address: Asheville
Bio: Wayne Smith, DMA is a retired solo pianist, accompanist, teacher and church organist, having moved to Asheville in 2016 from a long musical career in Kansas City, MO. With the AAPF, Dr. Smith is a board member and a frequently heard pianist on Benefit Concerts and Performance Group gatherings. He is active as a substitute organist/pianist for many churches in Asheville and surrounding towns.
Email: owaynesmith@att.net
Phone: 816-522-5317
Performers’ Occasions: Classical Solo Pianist, Church Musician
Address: Swannanoa
Bio: Eunice Wonderly Stackhouse holds piano performance degrees from the University of Kansas (D.M.A.) and Indiana University (M.M.) and a B.M.E. degree from Grace College (IN). She was elected to lifetime membership in Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society by the Indiana University chapter. Her career began in Indianapolis as an independent piano instructor, where for 13 years she taught 30-45 students. Prior to her move to NC, she taught at several colleges in adjunct or FT sabbatical replacement position;: including the University of Indianapolis, Tabor & Bethel Colleges (KS), Grove City College (PA), and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has been active in various music organizations and served for several years as a state officer for NCMTA. She has performed extensively in solo and chamber recital settings, including solo recitals recorded and broadcast by WQED Pittsburgh and Radio Kansas. Her article on Louise Talma’s Soundshots was published by Clavier in November 2002, and she edited the first publication of Talma’s Three Bagatelles in 2003 for Hildegard Publishing Co. As Professor of Music at Montreat College, she taught all of the Piano, Music Theory, and Keyboard Pedagogy courses there from 1996-2019. She now continues to teach piano privately in Black Mountain, to adjudicate piano competitions and festivals, and to perform in various settings.
Email: eunice.w.stackhouse@outlook.com
Phone: (828) 669-5479
Website: https://ews-piano-studio.com/
Studio/Store Location, Serving: Black Mountain
Offering Piano Lessons for: Beginning through Advanced
Specialties: Classical, Sacred, Piano Pedagogy, Theory
Address: Black Mountain