Our Team

Meet Our Team of Talented Teachers
    • Kevin Ray Lawson
      Founder / CEO

      Kevin Ray Lawson

      Founder / CEO
      • Education:
        Pepperdine University
      • Teaching:
        Artist Development, Piano, Guitar, Songwriting, Saxophone
      • Performed with:
        Joe Wooten, Ashley Cleveland, Pat Flynn, John Berry, Buddy Greene, Lulu Roman, Full Access, Merging Blue
      • Studio Credits:
        Pat Flynn, Merging Blue, Buddy Greene, Heather Lawson, Chance McKinney, Full Access
      • Songs Recorded by:
        Sandi Patti, Truth, Heather Lawson, Merging Blue, Acappella, Worship Together, Full Access, The Hoskins, Chance McKinney
      • Hobbies:
        Architecture, Construction, Writing and Illustrating Children’s Books
    • Steve Bishir
      Chief Audio Engineer / Recording Instructor

      Steve Bishir

      Chief Audio Engineer / Recording Instructor
      • Education:
        Belmont University
      • Teaching:
        Studio Production, Audio Engineering, Mix Engineering
      • Grammy Awards:
        Amy Grant, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, Cece Winans
      • Studio Credits:
        Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Steve Savage, Tin Cup Gypsy, 1000 Generations, Michael W. Smith
      • Hobbies:
        Horses Adoption
    • Jake Botts
      Saxophone / Piano Instructor

      Jake Botts

      Saxophone / Piano Instructor
      • Education:
        Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies, New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, NYC
      • Teaching:
        Piano, Saxophone
      • Performed With:
        Brett Eldridge, Meghan Trainor, Dynamo, Nashville Jazz Orchestra
      • Performed At:
        CMT Crossroads, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Franklin Theatre, City Winery, Mercy Lounge, Rudy’s Jazz Room
      • Hobbies:
        Basketball, Cooking, Hiking, Writing
    • Adam Davis
      Guitar / Bass / Lap Steel Instructor

      Adam Davis

      Guitar / Bass / Lap Steel Instructor
      • Education:
        B.S. Liberal Studies M.T.S.U.
      • Teaching:
        Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Lap Steel
      • Performed with:
        Amos Lee, Sturgill Simpson, Susan Werner
      • Hobbies:
        Cooking, Practicing Guitar, Being a Dad
    • Tabitha Fair
      Vocal Instructor / Performance Coach

      Tabitha Fair

      Vocal Instructor / Performance Coach
      • Teaches:
        Voice, Performance Artistry
      • Performed With:
        Lady Gaga, Sting, Rascal Flatts, Stevie Wonder, Sara Bareilles, Michael McDonald, Sam Moore, John Legend, Jimmy Fallon’s The Roots
      • Studio Credits:
        U2, Rosanne Cash, Bette Midler, Citizen Cope, Wynonna Judd, Faith Hill, Lee Ann Womack, Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant
      • Songs Recorded By:
        Carole King
      • Hobbies:
        Hiking, Jogging, Movies, Travel
    • Brenna Fitzgerald
      Violin / Multi-Instrumentalist / Voice Instructor

      Brenna Fitzgerald

      Violin / Multi-Instrumentalist / Voice Instructor
      • Education:
        Education: B.A. Music Education, Penn State University
      • Teaching:
        Violin, Voice, Ukulele, Banjo, Drums, Piano
      • Performed with:
        The Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute Band, Rainey Qualley, Presley & Taylor, Skunk Baxter, John Wetton
      • Festival Performances:
        CMA Fest, The Opry 90th Birthday, Lollapalooza, Carolina Country Music Fest, Tempe Music Fest
      • Hobbies:
        Gardening, Predictable TV Shows
    • Adam Fluhrer
      Guitar Instructor

      Adam Fluhrer

      Guitar Instructor
      • Education:
        University of Southern California
      • Teaching:
        Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
      • Performed with:
        Lady Antebellum, Lee Roy Parnell, Will Hoge, Bryan Clark, Avett Brothers, Jason Isbell
      • Studio Credits:
        Will Hoge, Bryan Clark, Diana DeGarmo, Ace Young, Jennifer Paige, Bo Bice, Danny Flowers
      • Hobbies:
        Dog Rescue Adoption
    • Jim Frazier
      Multi-Instrument Instructor / Studio Production Coach

      Jim Frazier

      Multi-Instrument Instructor / Studio Production Coach
      • Education:
        North Texas State University
      • Teaching:
        Studio Production, Engineering, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Keyboard
      • Performed with:
        Phil Keaggy, Wild Cherry, Christopher Cross, Billy Gaines
      • Studio Credits:
        Brad Paisley, SheDaisy, 4 Him, Bebo Norman, Phil Keaggy
      • Hobbies:
        Painting, Home Improvement Projects
    • Adam Griffith
      Guitar Instructor

      Adam Griffith

      Guitar Instructor
      • Education:
        B.A. Guitar Performance Belmont University
      • Teaching:
        Guitar
      • Performed with:
        Rayvon Owen, Fiona Culley, Clark Beckham, Griffin Peterson
      • Hobbies:
        Traveling, Movies, Spending time with family
    • Jesse Isley
      Guitar Instructor

      Jesse Isley

      Guitar Instructor
      • Education:
        Bachelor of Arts in music, Presbyterian College
      • Teaching:
        Guitar
      • Performed With:
        Mark Collie, High Valley, Lee Brice, Eastland, Will Hoge, Charlie Peacock, Ricky Skaggs, Bryan White, Andrew Peterson, Scott Mulvahill, Billy Bob Thornton, Marie Miller, Lee Roy Parnell, Tokens, Settles Connection
      • Performed At:
        Grand Ole Opry, Late Show with David Letterman, Today in Nashville, Opry at the Ryman
      • Hobbies:
        Any live music in Nashville, Homemade taco creations, Golf, Presidential History
    • Brian Kilian
      Drums, Percussion

      Brian Kilian

      Drums, Percussion
      • Education:
        The University of the Arts
      • Teaching:
        Drums, Percussion
      • Performing With:
        Will Hoge, Carbon Leaf, Lee Roy Parnell, Natalie Stovall, Tara Thompson, Mark Collie, Automatic Fire

      • Studio Credits:
        Will Hoge, Automatic Fire, Jesse Isley, Dave Pittenger
      • Hobbies:
        Travel, cooking, Yoga
    • Heather Lawson
      Performing Coach / Vocal Instructor

      Heather Lawson

      Performing Coach / Vocal Instructor
      • Teaching:
        Voice, Performance Artistry
      • Opened for:
        Wynonna, Taylor Swift
      • Performed with:
        Merging Blue, Pat Flynn, Marty Rowe, John Berry, Geoff Thurman.
      • Studio Credits:
        Merging Blue, John Cowan, Acappella, Pat Flynn
      • Hobbies:
        Animals, Gardening, Cooking
    • Jordan Lawson
      Violin, Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar

      Jordan Lawson

      Violin, Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar
      • Education:
        Northern Arizona University
      • Teaching:
        Violin, Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar
      • Performed with:
        Josh Turner, Sara Evans, The Railers,
        Hunter Hayes, Dan & Shay, Carly Pearce, Bret Eldredge, Carrie Underwood, Corey Smith, Orla Fallon, Hunter Hayes, Dwight Yoakam
      • Studio Credits:
        The Railers, Hunter Hayes, Aaron Watson
      • Performed on:
        The Grand Ole Opry, The Today Show, CMA Fest, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Martha Stewart Show, Emeril Live
      • Hobbies:
        Fly Fishing, Kayaking, Hiking, Coral Reefing
    • Maureen Murphy
      Voice, Performance Coaching

      Maureen Murphy

      Voice, Performance Coaching
      • Education:
        Berklee College of Music
      • Teaching:
        Voice, Performance Coaching
      • Studio Credits:
        BioShock Infinite soundtrack, TNT’s television mini-series “Mob City”, “Need For Speed” soundtrack
      • Performed With:
        Zac Brown Band, STS9, Will Hoge, Greg Allman, Shawn Mullins, The Wood Brothers
    • Jake Ohlbaum
      Piano / Guitar / Bass / Drums / Voice

      Jake Ohlbaum

      Piano / Guitar / Bass / Drums / Voice
      • Education:
        Education: Bachelor of Music, Berklee College of Music
      • Teaching:
        Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Voice
      • Performed with:
        The Foxies (full-time member), Molly Rocket, Amy Allen, J.Marco, Jordy Shulman, and more.
      • Studio Credits:
        Southern Call, Jordy Shulman, Emily Desmond, and more.
      • Hobbies:
        Sports, Live Music, Movies, Theater
    • George Pendergrass
      Performing Coach / Vocal Instructor

      George Pendergrass

      Performing Coach / Vocal Instructor
      • Education:
        Masters in Community Development
      • Teaching:
        Voice, Performance Artistry
      • Performed with:
        U2, Amy Grant, Acappella, Merging Blue, Buddy Greene, Pat Flynn
      • Studio Credits:
        U2, Faith Hill, Billy Preston, Prince of Egypt soundtrack, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith
      • Hobbies:
        Gardening, Flying, Camping, Fishing
    • Michael Pichette
      Brass / Multi-Instrumentalist Instructor

      Michael Pichette

      Brass / Multi-Instrumentalist Instructor
      • Education:
        B.A Music Southern Adventist University 
      • Teaching:
        Brass, Percussion, Piano, Guitar
      • Hobbies:
        Woodworking, Camping, Canoeing, Rock Climbing
    • Chris Szalaj
      Cello

      Chris Szalaj

      Cello
      • Teaching:
        Cello
      • Performed With:
        LeAnn Rimes &
        The Nashville Symphony
      • Hobbies:
        Cooking,
        Building things, Running, Archery, Spending time with my family
    • Aaron Trimble

      Aaron Trimble

      • Education:
        Education: Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory and Composition,  MTSU, Master of Arts in Recording Arts and Technologies, MTSU
      • Teaching:
        Piano, Audio Engineering, Soundtrack Design/Film Scoring 
      • Credits/Awards:
        Short film, “Look Up” (2016): Won Best Student Film and nominated for Best Sound Design in 2016 at TN 54-Hour Film Festival
      • Hobbies:
        Composing Soundtrack Music, Martial Arts, Video Games, Travel
    • Greg Upchurch
      Drums, percussion

      Greg Upchurch

      Drums, percussion
      • Education:
        University of Central Oklahoma
      • Teaching:
        Drums and percussion
      • Performed with:
        3 Doors Down, Puddle of Mudd, Chris Cornell, Heart, Eleven, Blues Saraceno, Clark Terry
      • Awards:
        Grammy with 3 Doors Down, 4 Billboard Music Awards with Puddle of Mudd
      • Studio Credit:
        3 Doors Down, Puddle of Mudd, Chris Cornell, Eleven, Tantric, Candlebox
      • Hobbies:
        Golf, cooking and writing music
    • Michael Valeras
      Guitar Instructor

      Michael Valeras

      Guitar Instructor
      • Education:
        Masters in Guitar Performance, B.A. Music Education
      • Teaching:
        Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
      • Performed with:
        Larry Coryell, The Platters, The Coasters, Kelly Lang
      • Hobbies:
        Fitness, Movies
    • Lucy White
      Voice / Multi-Instrumentalist Instructor

      Lucy White

      Voice / Multi-Instrumentalist Instructor
      • Education:
        B.A. Voice/Music Education Tennessee Tech
      • Teaching:
        Voice, Piano, Flute, Ukulele
      • Performed with:
        Tenn Tech Chorale, Soloist with ACDA Collegiate Choir/Jacksonville Orchestra, Franco American Vocal Academy in Salzburg, Austria
      • Published:
        National Association for Music Education Educators Journal and Website
      • Hobbies:
        Travel, Cooking, and Hiking
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