ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

EVENT COORDINATOR

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

GREENVILLE STUDIO MANAGER

ANDERSON STUDIO MANAGER

SCHEDULE COORDINATOR

TEACHER SERVICES

SCHEDULE COORDINATOR

Piano; Anderson Studio

Abigail Locke is a junior at Anderson University, working toward a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with a concentration in Piano Pedagogy under Dr. Howard Kim. Her love of piano took root at age five, sparked by hearing Beethoven's "Für Elise," and she's been drawn to the instrument ever since. In high school, she pursued every musical opportunity she could find — accompanying her younger brother's violin recitals, playing keys in her church's worship band, and competing regularly.

For the past seven years, Abigail has taught piano to students spanning elementary school through high school. She's especially motivated by moments when a student moves beyond just hitting the right notes and starts to develop real technical command and their own musical voice.

Abigail stays just as active on stage as she is in the teaching studio. She currently serves as pianist at Nell Townsend Church, plays regularly with Anderson University's Piano Ensemble, and performs solo repertoire each semester. Whether she's teaching or performing, her goal is the same: to help cultivate musical excellence and a genuine, lasting love of music in everyone she works with.

Cello & Piano; Greenville Studio

Beebe Griner picked up the cello at age eight, and it's remained a constant thread through her life ever since. Along the way, she's earned spots in all-county and regional orchestras, spent time honing her craft at Berklee's summer institute, and performed with the Greenville County Youth Orchestra. She's currently continuing that growth as a Cello Performance major at North Greenville University.

For Beebe, teaching is about more than technique — she loves helping students uncover everything the cello can express, and believes musicality develops right alongside skill, not after it. Watching students gain confidence and grow into their own as musicians is one of her favorite parts of teaching.

Beebe brings that same dedication from the practice room into the studio, blending her performance background with a genuine passion for teaching. Her goal is simple: create a space where students feel supported, encouraged, and inspired to keep growing, both as musicians and as people.

Drum Set, & Piano; Anderson Studio

Carlton L. Jamison, Jr. is an accomplished, dedicated professional musician who studied music performance at Lander University, and music has always been an important part of his life. Over more than 20 years, he has performed in front of live audiences as part of theater productions, festivals, weddings, and concerts, traveling throughout the Carolinas, the Southern U.S., and even overseas for performances.

Carlton especially enjoys sharing his experience with students, drawing on decades of performance across a wide range of settings and audiences. He finds great joy in helping students build confidence and skill while discovering their own connection to music.

With a passion for both performance and teaching, Carlton is excited to bring his training and experience into the studio. Outside of music, he enjoys football, basketball, video gaming, cooking, and spending time with friends and family, relaxing in the mountains or at the beach. He strives to create a positive, encouraging environment where students feel supported, motivated, and inspired to grow as musicians and learners.

Viola & Violin; Greenville Studio

Based in Greenville, violist Emily Tardiff dedicates herself to a wide range of genres, from the Classical period to contemporary music, including opera, musical theater, and film scores. With over 13 years of musical training, she studied at The Fine Arts Center and participated in the Greenville County Youth Orchestra from 2016 to 2019. She attended music festivals such as Chamber Music on the Hill and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, and played in concerts with the Furman University Symphony Orchestra under the private instruction of Dr. Anna Joiner. In 2018, Emily was honored with the Music Club of Greenville's Beverly Henderson Music Education Scholarship.

Under the coaching of Dr. Daniel Sweaney, Emily earned her B.M. in Viola Performance with a minor in Creative Writing from the University of South Carolina in 2024. She believes that, like a good book, music has the power to tell stories, and she enjoys merging the two as both a composer and performer — playing with artistic expression and intention. In her teaching, she is committed to helping students discover the story behind the pieces they learn, while fostering both curiosity and confidence in their playing.

Emily went on to earn her M.M. from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2026, studying under Rictor Noren and collaborating with film scoring students as a studio session violist. Some of her favorite moments there include playing in the opera pit as section leader and performing in celebrated venues such as Tanglewood and Carnegie Hall.

Piano; Greenville Studio

Hannah Bowen is a multi-instrumentalist who loves walking alongside people on their musical journeys, with a particular passion for teaching piano and songwriting. She holds a Bachelor's of Music from Anderson University, backed by 23 years at the piano and 16 years of songwriting experience. Over the years, she's played in multiple bands, written hundreds of songs, and now releases her own music as solo artist Hannah Plum.

In the studio, Hannah is all about helping students find their own musical voice — she believes creativity and technical skill are most powerful when they grow together. She finds real joy watching students gain confidence, develop as musicians, and figure out what they actually want to say through their music.

Hannah brings her full range of experience into her teaching, splitting her time between the studio and her work as a producer and engineer at Lost Stone Studios in Greenville. Whatever the setting, her goal stays the same: create a space where students feel supported, motivated, and inspired to keep growing as musicians and learners.

Drum Set, Electric Bass, Guitar, Piano, & Ukulele; Anderson & Greenville Studios

Harry got his start in bands at just 11 years old, cutting his teeth in youth groups, church bands, and his friends' garages. By the time he made it through his teens, he'd picked up keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, mandolin, and vocals along the way — and music has stuck with him ever since. Songwriting followed almost as soon as he started playing, and today his adult career centers heavily on Columbia rock band Harry & the Hootenannies (worth a listen on any streaming platform to get a feel for his style). He's also spent time in various tribute bands, tackling everything from Nirvana and Led Zeppelin to deeper cuts like They Might Be Giants and Neutral Milk Hotel.

For Harry, teaching is all about helping students tap into the sheer fun of making music — he's convinced that joy is what keeps people practicing for a lifetime. He gets real satisfaction from watching students build skill and confidence, whether they're headed toward playing solo or with a group.

With over a decade of experience teaching and hosting open mics, Harry brings that same energy into every lesson. His philosophy is simple: if you aren't having fun, you're doing it wrong — which is exactly why it's called "playing" music. He strives to create a positive, encouraging environment where students feel supported, motivated, and inspired to grow as musicians and learners.

Piano; Anderson Studio

Music has been part of Jordan's life since childhood, when he took lessons in violin, guitar, drums and percussion, piano, and composition. In high school, he attended Artios Academies, a fine arts conservatory, where his studies expanded into music theory and composition, musical theatre, choir, and choreography. He carried that broad foundation into college at Anderson University, where he studied Commercial Music with a focus in piano performance under Dr. Howard Kim.

Since then, Jordan has led worship at church, served as musical director for shows around the upstate, worked as a piano accompanist, and collaborated as a musician on both drums and piano. At the heart of it all is his belief that music should be fun — and that fun is what teaches lasting skills like creative thinking and persistence.

Drawing on his background across so many instruments and disciplines, Jordan especially enjoys helping students build a well-rounded musical foundation. Watching students grow in confidence and find their own creative voice is one of his favorite parts of teaching.

Jordan brings that same passion for performance and teaching into every lesson, eager to share what he's learned along the way. His goal is to create a positive, encouraging environment where students feel supported, motivated, and inspired to grow as musicians and learners.

Cello, Piano, & Voice; Anderson Studio

Katelyn Cohee is a cellist and mezzo-soprano pursuing a bachelor's degree in Choral Music Education at Anderson University. With experience in both choral and instrumental music, she has performed extensively in ensembles and as a soloist, and music has always been an important part of her life.

Katelyn is passionate about fostering musical growth and creativity in students of all ages. She especially enjoys helping students build confidence and artistry, believing that both voice and instrument offer unique paths to musical expression and lifelong learning.

Katelyn is dedicated to creating engaging and supportive learning environments where students feel inspired to grow, explore, and develop a lifelong love of music. She looks forward to bringing her dual background in voice and strings into the studio, helping students find their own path into music.

Piano; Greenville Studio

Kelly Ward earned her Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from Azusa Pacific University in Southern California and has spent over 20 years since building a career as a musician, composer, and teacher. Her compositions have been featured in productions at the Warehouse Theater and the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, and she's released two full-length albums, available on iTunes and Amazon. She's also taken her original music on the road, performing throughout the Greenville and Asheville areas.

As a composer herself, Kelly brings a unique perspective to teaching, encouraging students to explore curiosity and original thinking right alongside their piano technique. She loves nothing more than watching students build real skill while uncovering their own musical voice along the way.

Kelly's years of experience as both a performer and composer shape the way she teaches, and she's excited to bring that full range into the studio. Her hope is to build a space where students feel encouraged to experiment, take risks, and grow into confident, expressive musicians in their own right.

Violin; Anderson Studio

Lauren Bleuel began her musical journey at the age of 9, and music has been part of her life ever since. Over the years, she has exhibited her ability performing in all-county, all-region, and all-state orchestras, and performed at Carnegie Hall with the Carolina Youth Symphony. She also attended the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities and performed in multiple summer music festivals, including PointCounterPoint and the Eastern Music Festival.

Lauren especially enjoys helping students build a strong technical foundation, as she believes solid fundamentals are essential for growing as a confident and expressive musician. She finds great joy in guiding students as they develop their skills and discover their own creativity.

Lauren recently graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor's degree in Violin Performance, and she is excited to share her experience with others to help them grow and expand their creativity. She strives to create a positive, loving, supportive environment where students feel confident, supported, motivated, and inspired to learn and progress as musicians.

Piano; Anderson Studio

Lydia Langley's musical journey began at age five and has never really stopped since. Along the way, she had the good fortune of studying under a string of exceptional piano teachers, both as a child and later in her undergraduate studies — instructors whose influence inspired her to pursue teaching herself. Their guidance, paired with plenty of hard work on her end, earned Lydia numerous awards, scholarships, and performance opportunities throughout high school and college, ultimately leading to her degree in Piano Performance with a concentration in Pedagogy from Anderson University.

Beyond the piano bench, Lydia has worn many musical hats: church musician, choral accompanist, musical theatre keyboardist, and collaborative pianist working alongside vocalists, instrumentalists, and fellow pianists. What she loves most, though, is helping students uncover the beauty in music for themselves, guiding them toward stronger technique, greater confidence, and a lasting connection to what they play.

Lydia's own love of music runs deep, and she's eager to pass that passion on to as many students as possible. She works to create a space where every student feels supported and motivated, free to grow into the musician — and learner — they're capable of becoming.

Piano, Viola, & Violin; Anderson Studio

Maren Dameron Reaves studied violin under R. Alexander Spainhour and continued her training at Wake Forest University, building a lifelong relationship with music along the way. She's completed training in the Suzuki method through Books 1–3 and brings over ten years of teaching experience in violin and viola, including five years as the Strings teacher at the Montessori School of Anderson. On the performance side, she's played with the Anderson Symphony Orchestra, the GAMAC Chamber Orchestra, the Spartanburg Philharmonic, and various bluegrass groups around Anderson.

Maren loves working with students of every age, from adult beginners to more advanced players, using the Suzuki method as her foundation while also introducing interested students to bluegrass fiddle. Watching students develop technical skill, build confidence, and fall in love with playing is what keeps her passionate about teaching.

Maren's background spans both the concert stage and the bluegrass circuit, and she's eager to bring that full range of experience into the studio. Her goal is simple: help students feel supported and motivated as they grow into confident, capable musicians.

Electric Bass & Guitar; Greenville Studio

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Mason has been surrounded by music his entire life, and music has always been an important part of who he is. Whether it was The Beatles' "1" CD in his mom's car or a cappella church services, he always gravitated toward the sound and feel of music. After his dad taught him his first guitar chords at age 9, he hit the ground running, learning his favorite songs and writing tunes of his own. In middle school, Mason got a bass for Christmas and immediately joined a band with his neighborhood best friend. Fifteen years later, he has toured the United States, Canada, and Europe, recorded on multiple projects, and has no plans of stopping.

Mason especially enjoys helping students become the musicians they want to be, drawing on his own love of music across the spectrum, from 80s new wave punk to 2000s neo-soul and beyond — he just loves a good song. He finds great joy in guiding students toward their goals, while also learning a thing or two from each of them along the way.

With a passion for both performance and teaching, Mason is excited to bring his training and experience into the studio. He strives to create a positive, encouraging environment where students feel supported, motivated, and inspired to grow as musicians and learners.

Guitar & Ukulele; Anderson Studio

Mike Cannon has been playing and writing music for as long as he can remember, with a love for styles ranging from pop and country to bluegrass and Americana. His path wasn't a typical musician's route, though — he graduated from Clemson University with a BSEE in Computer Engineering and spent 32 years as the Design Engineering Manager for NCR Corporation.

After retiring from NCR in 2013, Mike traded the corporate world for something closer to home: his own music recording studio on his lakeside property in Townville, SC, where he lives and writes music alongside his wife, Rosalinda. These days, he's especially drawn to working with beginning musicians, convinced that a strong, encouraging start on guitar lays the groundwork for a lifetime of playing.

Mike's winding path from engineering to music gives him a unique perspective as a teacher, and he's glad to bring that experience into the studio. His aim is to build a space where students feel supported and motivated, growing steadily as musicians along the way.

Voice; Greenville Studio

Nicklaus Porter, tenor, is an active operatic performer from Georgia. In pursuit of furthering his music education, he attended Georgia Southern University, where he earned a "double eagle" of three degrees: a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and two Bachelor of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education.

Nicklaus finds great joy in guiding students on their vocal journeys, drawing on years of teaching experience in academia at both the K–12 and collegiate levels, including roles as elementary music teacher, opera scenes director, chorus director, aural skills teacher, and voice teacher. Whether a student has been singing for years or is just starting out, he is committed to helping them fall in love with their voice, build proper technique, and gain confidence.

Nicklaus remains an active performer, with roles including Siegmund (Die Walküre), Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), and The Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance), along with several appearances in the Improv Opera series. Since 2024, he has been invited to Reno, Nevada to participate in the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices and the American Wagner Project, where he has studied under mentors including Dolora Zajick, Luana Devol, and John Trelevan, and coaches from opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala.

Piano, Viola, Violin; Greenville Studio

Olivia Massey was born and raised in Greenville, SC and has studied viola and piano since the third grade, and music has always been an important part of her life. In high school, she attended the Fine Arts Center of Greenville, where she studied chamber music and music theory. In college, she studied Music Education, graduating with a Bachelor of Music with a primary focus on viola, while also spending time in marching band and concert band to expand her experience with percussion.

Since graduating, Olivia has regularly performed as a violist in local theaters, including the Greenville Theatre, Mill Town Players, and Spartanburg Little Theatre, and has served as a recording artist for Mountain Theatre Company in Highlands, NC. She also performs at local churches and weddings, and plays with her violin, viola, and piano trio, Sonorité Trio.

As a teacher, Olivia's goal is to share her love for music while meeting the needs of each student, creating an environment where practice is never about the pursuit of perfection, but the pursuit of permanence. She strives to create a positive, encouraging environment where students feel supported, motivated, and inspired to grow as musicians and learners.

Drum set, Guitar, & Piano; Anderson Studio

Richie Blanton is a multi-instrumentalist teaching guitar, piano, drums, and live performance at the Sounds of Carolina Anderson location. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Worship Leadership from Anderson University, with a focus in guitar. His musical journey started at twelve in church, then branched out into rock bands, pop bands, marching band, live events, and studio production — and it's stuck with him ever since.

Over the past decade, Richie has led worship, coached and trained fellow musicians, run his own live event band and DJ business, and produced music for both artists and churches. That wide-ranging background is exactly what fuels his teaching — he loves helping the next generation of musicians build confidence, skill, and creativity across styles and settings.

Richie's varied experience on stage and behind the scenes shapes the way he teaches, and he's excited to bring that full range into the studio. His goal is to create a space where students feel genuinely supported and motivated, growing with confidence as they develop their own musical path.

Piano & Voice; Anderson & Greenville Studios

Shaya Greathouse wears many hats — mezzo-soprano, educator, and arts administrator — with over a decade of experience in voice instruction and performance behind her. She holds degrees in Vocal Performance from the Eastman School of Music (M.M.) and Biola University (B.M.), and has taught students of all ages through her private studio as well as organizations like American Seekers Academy.

On the performance side, Shaya has appeared with companies including Eastman Opera Theater, Rochester Lyric Opera, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. That dual background as performer and educator gives her a distinct approach in the studio, where she especially loves helping voice students uncover their own unique sound with confidence and care.

Beyond teaching and performing, Shaya serves as Music Director at John Calvin Presbyterian Church and works as an administrator at the Eastman Community Music School — a busy schedule that keeps her deeply connected to music in every direction. Her goal in the studio remains the same throughout: creating a space where students feel supported, motivated, and inspired to grow as musicians and learners.

Banjo, Cello, Electric Bass, Guitar, Piano, Viola, & Violin; Greenville Studio

Wayne Mason's path started in Freehold, New Jersey, before a move to South Carolina at age 16 set the stage for the rest of his musical journey. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from North Greenville University, with a concentration in strings.

These days, Wayne stays active on the Greenville performance scene and plays guitar and bass as a regular member of the worship team at Elevation. He's particularly drawn to music technology and how it shapes modern performance, and he loves helping students build confidence and skill whether they're leaning traditional or exploring newer approaches.

Wayne's blend of performance experience and interest in music technology gives him a well-rounded perspective to bring into the studio. His hope is to create a space where students feel supported and motivated, growing steadily as musicians in their own right.

Drum Set, Classical Percussion, Electric Bass, & Piano; Greenville Studio

William Cline grew up in Greenville, SC and picked up drums at age 8, kicking off a lifelong relationship with music. His high school years included time at the Fine Arts Center, where he took part in the Young Artist Orchestra and the FAC Jazz Combo. He went on to graduate from Belmont University in Nashville, TN in 2022 with a degree in Commercial Percussion, having also picked up piano and electric bass guitar along the way.

For William, music and building others up go hand in hand — and teaching gives him the chance to do both at once. He especially enjoys helping students develop technical skill and confidence behind the kit, all while nurturing a genuine love for playing.

William's own path from student to performer shapes how he teaches, and he's excited to bring that experience into the studio. His goal is to create a space where students feel supported and motivated, growing steadily as musicians in their own right.

Piano; Substitute Instructor

Josie has loved music for about as long as she can remember. Her piano journey began in 2013 at age eight, and she was mostly self-taught until 2017, when she started lessons with a private instructor in Kentucky. A move to Georgia followed in 2018, and by 2020 she had begun studying with Jordan Evans at Sounds of Carolina — a relationship that's remained central to her musical growth ever since.

Piano holds a special place in Josie's heart, and she's grateful for the role music has played in her life. She especially loves teaching, working with students from as young as four all the way up to adults, and finds real joy in helping them grow in confidence and love for playing — all while continuing to develop her own skills through private lessons.

Josie brings that same enthusiasm for both performance and teaching into the studio. She lives with her family in Honea Path, South Carolina, and stays musically active outside of lessons too, performing with her brothers once a month at a nursing home, occasionally at a local church's music night, and now and then at their home church.

Guitar & Piano; Substitute Instructor

Josie has loved music for about as long as she can remember. Her piano journey began in 2013 at age eight, and she was mostly self-taught until 2017, when she started lessons with a private instructor in Kentucky. A move to Georgia followed in 2018, and by 2020 she had begun studying with Jordan Evans at Sounds of Carolina — a relationship that's remained central to her musical growth ever since.

Piano holds a special place in Josie's heart, and she's grateful for the role music has played in her life. She especially loves teaching, working with students from as young as four all the way up to adults, and finds real joy in helping them grow in confidence and love for playing — all while continuing to develop her own skills through private lessons.

Josie brings that same enthusiasm for both performance and teaching into the studio. She lives with her family in Honea Path, South Carolina, and stays musically active outside of lessons too, performing with her brothers once a month at a nursing home, occasionally at a local church's music night, and now and then at their home church.