While still in high school, Regina welcomed her first piano student. Throughout college, she maintained a thriving studio, teaching at Oakbrook Preparatory School, Case Brothers, and from her own home. At Converse College, she was named a Daniel Music Scholar and continued her violin studies, performing with the Converse Chamber Ensemble and the Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic.
Regina and her husband Jeff lived several years in the San Jose area, where Regina served on the piano faculty at Campbell Music School. Upon their move to Charlotte, Regina started a home studio quickly grew to 84 students, leading Regina to hire an assistant teacher and recognize a greater need in southeast Charlotte for a professional music school. In August 2008, she opened the doors to Charlotte Academy of Music, fulfilling her lifelong dream of creating a school where students of all ages and instruments could study with accomplished teachers and participate in enriching classes, ensembles, workshops, summer camps, and musical theatre productions.
Over her 37 year teaching career, Regina’s piano students have been active participants in the Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Examinations, NCMTA; the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival in SC, NC, and CA; and have earned state, national, and international honors through the National Piano Guild. Many have gone on to pursue music degrees and careers. Regina attributes her own success to her parents and to the mentorship of distinguished pedagogues and performers including Dr. Hao Huang, Dr. George Lucktenburg, Lera Borden, Elizabeth Jennings, and Dr. Henry Janiec, former conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
Regina holds professional memberships with Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), NC Music Teachers Association, National Guild of Piano Teachers, Charlotte Piano Teachers Forum, and the National Federation of Music Clubs. She has served as an adjudicator for both the National Piano Guild and the National Federation of Music Clubs Festival. For seven consecutive years, Regina has been honored with the Steinway & Sons Top Educator Award.
Regina and Jeff share a love of music, often performing piano duets together. They are proud parents to their 13-year-old son, who began his musical journey in the Academy’s early childhood and piano classes and now studies drums and voice while performing in the Academy’s SHINE Musical Theatre Program.