Teachers
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Simeon Kim recently graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with both a Master of Music degree and a Performer Diploma in Piano Performance. At the Jacobs School of Music, Mr. Kim studied with Karen Shaw under the auspices of the “Artistic Excellence Award.” He was also awarded with the position of Associate Instructor of Piano where he taught group and private piano classes to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Simeon received an apprenticeship/fellowship during the summer of 2010 to attend Casalmaggiore International Festival in Italy. Here he studied privately with Sedmara Rustein and chamber with Anne Shih. He performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the country. He was in-residence at the New York Summer Music Festival in Oneonta, New York as a staff pianist and teaching assistant from 2008-2009. At NYSMF, he taught the beginning piano class, and assisted with the piano ensemble, sight-reading, and accompanying classes. Simeon also studied with Peter Takacs at the Oberlin Conservatory where he was awarded the “Dean’s Talent Award,” and earned his Bachelor of Music. In high school, he studied with Teresa Falk in Yorktown, Va. Simeon has participated in master classes with Jon Nakamatsu, Ignat Solzhenitsyn, Andrew Willis, Lambert Orkis, Scott McBride Smith, and Jungeun Kim. |
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Tristi Chan graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance. Miss Chan studied with pianist Mrs. Reiko-Shigeoka Neriki as a recipient of the Artistic Excellence Award.
Tristi began studying piano at the age of three. She obtained ATCL (Associate of Trinity College, London), the piano performance diploma when she was fourteen and finished the Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in 2008. She pursued her undergraduate degree in piano performance at Cameron University where she studied with pianist, Dr. Hyunsoon Whang. During her college life, she has given many performances and recitals in universities in the United States. She was the winner of the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association Collegiate Division Piano Competition in 2009. She was also the recipient of the McMahon Scholarship, Aldine Cash Music Scholarship, Presser Scholarship, and the William Fletcher Memorial Piano Award several times. She is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, the international music honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda, the American music honor society, Phi Kappa Phi, an honor society that recognizes and promotes academic excellence in all fields. With her academic excellence, she was chosen to be on the Dean’s List and President’s Honor roll numerous times. Miss Chan is an experienced piano teacher and piano accompanist. |
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Pianist and Educator Tim Dail graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy where he was also a Graduate Teaching Assistant. As a student, Tim was awarded accolades at State and Regional Solo/Concerto competitions. He completed summer studies at London Master Classes, Oberlin Piano Festival, Las Vegas Music Festival and Meadowmount School of Music. He was also awarded Young Artist Fellowships to perform at Colorado College Chamber Music Festival and the Manchester Chamber Music Festival. Following music studies, Tim served as Staff Accompanist at Belhaven University as well as Piano Faculty at William Carey University. He also studied to become an Occupational Therapy practitioner following a keyboard injury in 2011. Tim works in the Hampton Roads area as a Music Educator and Hand Therapy practitioner. He is passionate about encouraging the development of musicianship in students of all ages.
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Kyle Kemps
Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet (BM) |
Kyle Kemps graduated from Ball State University in 2011 with a Music Performance degree, where he studied clarinet with Dr. Elizabeth Crawford and saxophone with Dr. George Wolfe, and earned a minor in piano. He started studying piano at the age of 5 and has been actively performing for the past 28 years. He has been studying clarinet and saxophone for the past 22 years, and has performed in ensembles and as a solo performer.
In 2013, Kyle joined the United States Marine Corps and served as a Marine Musician until May 2022, retiring as a Staff Sergeant. After basic training, he was sent to the Naval School of Music in Virginia Beach, VA, where he graduated as the Honor Graduate in March of 2014. Following this, he was stationed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. While there, he performed in 562 ceremonies with the concert band and marching band on clarinet, and 89 performances on saxophone with the jazz band and the brass band. In 2016, Kyle was stationed at the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band in San Diego, California. He served as the Music Library Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Sergeant of the Guard, and Platoon Sergeant. On clarinet, he was named the Concertmaster of the band and was also the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Woodwind Quintet, performing in 496 total ceremonies in his time there. In 2019, Kyle headed back to the Naval School of Music where he completed the Unit Leader Course in 2020. After the completion of the course, he stayed on staff at the Naval School of Music where he served as the Supply Chief, Unit Training Manager, and performed in multiple ensembles in clarinet, saxophone, and piano. In May 2022, Kyle retired from the service as a Staff Sergeant. Kyle currently resides in Virginia Beach, VA with his wife, Nylah, and their four children. |
Jessica E. Sammataro
Piano and Flute (BM and MA) |
Jessica has over 10 years of experience teaching music privately as well as in Primary, Secondary and Collegiate level schools to children and adults of all ages and abilities. She has taught in the classroom as a Preschool Music Teacher (ages 2-6), Elementary School Music Teacher (grades K-5), High School Choral, Class Piano and non-performance (Music Appreciation) Teacher (grades 9-12), and Chamber Orchestra Professor at the university level. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts Degree in Music Education from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts.
Her major instruments of study are piano and flute and she enjoys teaching general music studies and music theory as well. As a military wife, Jessica has had the privilege to teach all over the country to include Maryland, California, Virginia, New York and South Carolina. This has allowed her to teach a variety of students of many different ages and abilities to include students with physical and mental disabilities. With these experiences, Jessica brings a unique flare that is both motivating and highly successful in helping all of her students achieve their goals. As a professional music educator, she feels that good, helpful and creative interaction between student and teacher is of utmost importance so that the love and joy of music instills the desire to learn. Jessica is passionate about sharing her musical knowledge and love of music by incorporating all genres to include classical, blues, jazz and modern music into her lessons. |
Olivia O'Byrne
Piano (BM) |
Olivia O’Byrne is a passionate pianist and dedicated music educator. She graduated cum laude from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor’s in Arts degree in Music with a focus in Music History and Music Theory. She studied under musicians such as organist and historian Jim Kosnik, jazz pianist John Toomey, and choral director Nancy Klein.
Olivia O’Byrne began piano lessons when she was three and continued lessons for twenty years. She competed in regional competitions in both piano and choral groups throughout middle and high school. During her college career, she performed in numerous piano performances or with various choirs, and a senior piano recital. Since 2014, Olivia has performed for events, was a church pianist for over a decade, and participated in a church choir. Choral music, hymnody, and other various genres of music has enriched her expertise in different musical genres. As a music educator since 2015, Olivia enjoys integrating creativity, individuality, and excitement in her piano lessons. She not only imparts technical skills but also highlights the importance of the history of music and it’s composers, as well as the many developments in music theory which makes learning the piano a truly transformative and enriching experience. |
Austin Adams
Guitar, Bass, Piano (BM) |
Austin started playing both acoustic and electric guitar around age 10, and ever since then he's been playing everything from rock, blues, metal, jazz, classical, and all sorts of things in between. In 2020 He graduated from VCU with a B.A. in music, with my primary focus being jazz/classical guitar and a minor in piano. I've performed both as a soloist and in various groups over the years, as well as taught younger musicians one-on-one and in group settings. I'm comfortable teaching anyone of any age; whether they're a complete beginner or just looking to gain a better understanding of their instrument and music in general!
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Rita Williams
Piano, Cello (BM, MM) |
My name is Rita Williams, I was born in Taiwan and am fluent in Mandarin and English. I’ve been teaching the Piano and Cello for over 10 years, I’ve been playing the Piano since I was 6, and Cello since I was 10 years old. I have both a Bachelor's and Master’s Degree in Fine Arts in Music. I've performed extensively both in the US and in Taiwan.
I’ve trained under Kodály, Dalcroze, and Orff in music education for children. My teaching is very versatile and I tailor the private lesson to each student’s needs. My students have been the receipients of many accolades. I teach students of all ages and my priority is helping my students find joy in learning music as well as the skills needed to be successful at the piano and cello. |