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Piano Teachers
Connie Beach
Bachelor of Music, University of
Memphis Professional Memberships: Music Teachers National Association, Mid South Flute Society (lifetime member), Charlotte Flute Association, National Federation of Music Clubs With over 35 years of teaching experience, Connie is well-qualified to teach students of all ages and levels of advancement. Connie has taught piano lessons for nearly 40 years. She has served as an instructor with the University of Memphis Suzuki Piano School, and is the past president of the Germantown Collierville Piano Teachers Association. In addition to being a fine teacher, Connie is also an active performer, with extensive experience performing in solo, chamber, theater, orchestral, and jazz/pop venues. Before coming to Charlotte in 2001, she performed and taught in Memphis, Tennessee, having performed live and in the studio with Isaac Hayes, Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, and numerous area church and free-lance orchestras, and with the chamber groups Pyramid Winds, Trio Classique and the Lorelei Duo. She was a featured soloist with the Germantown Symphony, performing the Nielsen Concerto and the Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp with Carrol McLaughlin. In Memphis, she was co-founder and past president of the Memphis Flute Society and past president of the Germantown Collierville Area Piano Teachers Association. Here in Charlotte, Connie serves as associate director of the Charlotte Flute Choir, Junior Flute Choir, and is actively performing in numerous other local chamber groups, as well as New Age/Jazz groups. Connie is also the director of the Academy's Chamber Ensemble.
Heather Brunner
Bachelor of Music, Piano Pedagogy,
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Heather’s BM and MM in Piano Pedagogy have prepared her to teach students of all levels, from beginners to advanced, and all ages. She has experience teaching both private and group piano, and was one of the first instructors of the Piano Wizard Academy program. Heather studied piano with Judith Fairchild, Dr. Patricia Walston, Dr. Angela Willoughby, Dr. Heidi Louise Williams, and Donald Beattie. In addition to being a fine pianist, Heather is also an accomplished oboist and vocalist. She had classical voice training for 10 years, and studied with Dr. Viola Dacus and Clarence Carter. Whether teaching piano, voice or oboe, Heather works diligently to find the best method that is the right fit for each student.
Tracy Davis Davenport Voice, Piano Bachelor of Arts, Music, Anderson University Masters of Music, Musical Theatre, University of Montana
Tracy began her own study of voice and piano at a young age and loves to share her knowledge with her students. After begging, her parents enrolled her in private piano lessons at age 7 and then private voice lessons at age 9.
Tracy majored in music at Anderson University with an emphasis in voice and a minor in piano. While at Anderson, Tracy participated in many of the vocal ensembles and opera workshop in which she played the role of “Miss Pinkerton” in Menotti’s opera, The Old Maid and the Thief. After teaching general music for a year in Anderson, Tracy then moved to Missoula, MT to pursue her Master’s degree concentrating on musical theatre.
An avid musical theatre performer, Tracy has appeared in many musical productions. Her favorites include roles in Seussical, Gypsy, The Music Man, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Jesus Christ Superstar, Bye Bye Birdie, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, with her most favorite being the role of “Lizzie” in the musical Baby.
While studying at the University of Montana, Tracy won the College Women’s Musical Theatre division at the National Association of Teacher’s of Singing competition both years of her study. A prominent belter, Tracy began to conduct research on the physiological aspects of belting while obtaining her degree, a study she continues to this day. Furthermore, Tracy gave many lectures to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as high school students. In the spring of 2009, Tracy presented her own graduate recital featuring scenes from Little Women, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Beauty and the Beast, and more.
In 2008, Tracy received her certification in Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method at the Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute at The Shenandoah Conservatory, a method that focuses on teaching and singing Contemporary Commercial Music.
Tracy has had successful voice and piano studios in both Missoula and Anderson. Her students have won superior ratings in festivals and performed in recitals. Tracy believes that no matter what genre of music you sing or play, the basics of music, such as history and theory, are vital to success.
A native of Columbia, SC, Tracy is excited to be close to her family, especially her nephews, again after living in Montana. After getting married in October of 2009, she and her husband moved to the Charlotte area where she teaches musical theatre and acting classes at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. She is excited to be on faculty at Charlotte Academy of Music!
Manana Restiano
Bachelor of Arts, Meliton
Balanchivadze College of Music, Republic of Georgia Manana has a passion for music. Known as Mrs. Gigi to her students, she is a Russian-trained pianist. Growing up in the Republic of Georgia, Manana was able to study with many fine pianists such as L. Abashidze and E. Arutunova. In college she won the Silver Medal in the Tchaikovsky Competition. Manana is a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers and the American College of Musicians. Her students have performed at the District, State and National levels in the National Piano Guild Auditions. Manana enjoys finding just the right music to inspire her students. She is also a gifted artist, having studied at the Institute of Fine Arts in Moscow where she learned to paint in oils, watercolors, and acrylics. She also learned the art of Gobelin, and her work has been displayed in the former Soviet Union, Iran, Eastern Europe and The United States. Manana recently completed the illustrations for a new children's book as well. Manana’s students are active participants in recitals, the NFMC Music Festival and the National Piano Guild Auditions.
Regina Ziliani Bachelor of Arts, Music and Sociology, Converse College, Petrie School of Music Professional Memberships: Music Teachers National Association, NC Music Teachers Association, National Guild of Piano Teachers, American College of Musicians, Charlotte Piano Teachers Forum, National Federation of Music Clubs This year marks 21 years of piano teaching for Regina Ziliani. In 1988 she accepted her first piano student while still in high school. She maintained a studio of no less than 30 students throughout college. Regina was named Daniel Music Scholar at Converse College, receiving the school's highest music scholarship. While a student at Converse, Regina also continued her violin study, performing with the Converse Chamber Ensemble and the Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic. In 2001 Regina moved to San Jose, CA and taught a large studio of students at a local music school. Then in 2004 she and her husband, Jeff, moved to Charlotte. Regina never expected her studio in Charlotte to grow so quickly, but soon she would hire an assistant teacher and grow to 84 piano students. It became evident that southeast Charlotte needed more music teachers, and needed a professional music school...Charlotte Academy of Music. Regina Ziliani is the Executive Director of Charlotte Academy of Music, and a faculty member. She also serves as an adjudicator for the National Federation of Music Clubs as well as the National Guild of Piano Teachers. Regina's students have actively participated as State, National and International Winners at the National Piano Guild Playing Auditions for the past 15 years. She has also had numerous students awarded the honor of "Best Performer" at the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival. In February 2008 one of her students was named "District Winner" for Charlotte in the NFMC Scholarship Division, and went on to achieve a "Superior" rating at the State Piano Festival. Several of Mrs. Ziliani's students have gone on to major colleges and universities to pursue music-related careers. Regina Ziliani has studied with wonderful teachers and performers such as Dr. Hao Huang, Dr. George Lucktenburg, Lera Borden, and Dr. Henry Janiec, former conductor of the Charlotte Symphony.
Rita
Mabes Bachelor of Music, Music Education and Piano Pedagogy Professional Memberships: Charlotte Piano Teachers Forum, National Federation of Music Clubs Rita Mabes, a native of Charlotte, received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Queens College in Charlotte where she majored in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy. Rita not only teaches piano, she is the Organist and Children’s Music Coordinator at Blair Road United Methodist Church in Mint Hill, where she has directed the Children’s Choir and Chimes Choir. She has been the musical director for several Arts Camps, where the children learn and perform a mini-musical in one short week! As a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Charlotte Piano Teachers Forum, Rita’s students are eligible to participate in special festivals and auditions. These events give her students many performance and evaluation opportunities, which are great goals to work toward throughout the year. Rita has taught piano lessons to students of all ages, but especially loves working with children and teenagers. She believes in teaching the classics, but also likes to give students the opportunity to play other music that is important to them. Her own two children play piano, cello, trumpet and accordion between the two of them! Rita has a personal goal of some day learning to play the harmonica. Rebekah (Becky) Prain Bachelor of Science, Music, Vocal Performance, Marantha Baptist Bible College, Watertown, WI Becky's love for music began very early in life and was encourages by her parents who enrolled her in private music lessons. Although not musical themselves, her parents saw her gift and invested in develong her skills. For 22 years Becky has been a student of music and is now beginning her 9th year of teaching. Many of Becky's students are active participants in the NFMC Music Festival. In 2003 Becky graduated with a B.S. in Vocal Performance. During her undergraduate years, Becky studied with Charissa York, Carlene McMonagle, who served as the State President of the Wisconsin chapter of NATS. BEcky most recently had the privilege of studying under world-renowned opera singer and teacher, Dr. Joan Metelli. While earning her degree, Becky was a member of a touring Madrigal and Handbell Choir, where she was often featured as a soprano soloist. Becky has a gentle way with her students and loves teaching all ages and levels. In fact, in 2004 Watertown Memorial Hospital contracted Becky to develop and implement a Music Enrichment program for their Adult Day Care. This facilitated the elderly and those who suffer from strokes and other debilitating health issues. Becky was married in May of 2008 to her husband Kent, who is a counselor. In addition to music, Becky enjoys fitness, the outdoors, reading, knitting and organic cooking.
Kristen M. Johnson Piano, Voice Bachelor of Music, Music Education, Meredith College, Raleigh, NC Singing has been Kristen’s passion since she was a child growing up in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System. She always knew she wanted to teach music and started taking piano lessons while in high school to prepare to be a chorus teacher. Kristen holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Meredith College where she studied voice under Lisbeth Carter and Dr. Lisa Fredenburgh. For seven years Kristen taught middle and high school chorus in Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s arts magnet, Northwest School of the Arts. She also taught piano and musical theatre in her tenure at Northwest and was the musical director for all middle school musicals. Her students consistently scored superior ratings in sight-reading and performance and were often chosen for North Carolina Honors Chorus, All-State Chorus and All-County Chorus. Kristen also has much musical theatre experience having taught musical theatre classes at Northwest School of the Arts and directing Annie Jr., The Music Man Jr., The Me Nobody Knows, Cinderella and other productions. After seven years at Northwest, Kristen decided to stay home with her baby boy but is thrilled to be teaching privately now. She firmly believes in learning to read music and proper technique for the voice and piano. She encourages all students to sing in a choir in addition to studying privately. |
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