Online Faculty

Laura Readyoff has been a music educator since 1986 in both the public schools and private sectors. Laura has been owner of The Music Loft since it’s opening in 2010.

Laura earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the prestigious Crane School of Music in New York. She received a Master’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Public School Administration for grades Kindergarten – 12th grade from The Long Island University in New York.

Laura has conducted award-winning orchestras both in New York and Virginia, served as an adjudicator for multiple solo and ensemble festivals in New York and Virginia, and has written music curriculum for Commack Middle School.

Laura’s style of teaching is always filled with creativity and fun. Her objectives are to give students confidence in their abilities, to see them flourish as musicians, inspire and challenge students, and to instill in them a love for music.

Because of her love of children and community, she has created various award-winning community programs such as Percussion works, NoVa Youth Ensembles, and Play it Forward Instrument Donation Drive.

For her work in the community, Laura and The Music Loft have been awarded numerous awards including the prestigious “Distinguished Volunteer” awarded by the mayor and Herndon town council, “Arts Leader” awarded by the Dulles regional chamber of commerce, and “The President’s Award” awarded by Arts Herndon for her work in the arts community.

Currently, Laura is engaged as a strings consultant, adjudicator, and clinician for both Fairfax and Loudoun Counties.
​Laura also performs locally with a band on electric bass and violin.
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Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and 4 children, scrapbooking, knitting, playing in a band, traveling, and anything that has to do with her hometown, New York.

Sharon is a graduate of Regent University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Organization, Leadership and Management and a minor in Piano. She is the CFO of The Music Loft. Sharon is also a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association, and the Virginia Music Teachers Association.

Her study of music began at the young age of six, and she cannot remember a time when she was not playing or teaching piano. At the age of twelve, Sharon was asked to accompany choirs and programs at school, and from there, her accompanying skills and opportunities continued to grow. With the encouragement of her parents and through continuous private lessons, Sharon competed in various fine arts competitions throughout middle and high school, culminating in the completion of her High School Diploma Certificate from the National Piano Guild. Sharon continued her piano studies at the collegiate level where she once again performed and was assessed by the National Piano Guild. She has since performed in multiple recitals and performances.

Sharon began her private piano studio while in college. Over the years, Sharon has had private students who have won piano competitions across the country, and she enjoys preparing students for college auditions and entrance exams. It has been a joy for Sharon to see some of these students graduate and complete their degrees in piano.

Her teaching experience extends to the classroom as well. She was previously the Music Director at Dominion Christian School where she developed the school’s music curriculum, was responsible for school-wide yearly performances encompassing multiple disciplines of music including choirs, hand bells, small ensembles, and recorders.

Sharon’s passion is to build a solid theory foundation and to then develop her students’ listening skills and musicianship so that they can hear and express the beauty in each piece. Each lesson is filled with kindness and encouragement.

When not at The Music Loft, Sharon enjoys spending time with her family (and her German Shepherd), watching any Boston sports’ team, or exploring Colonial Williamsburg.

Missy earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music and her Master’s degree in Educational School Leadership, Instruction and Curriculum from Concordia University.

Missy is an accomplished cellist and sought after music educator. She teaches private string lessons and performs on cello extensively in the Northern Virginia area. Previously, she was the Associate Director for the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra in Brunswick, Georgia. Missy currently serves as a Strings Teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools.

She has performed on cello with the Orchestra of Northern New York, the Manassas Symphony Orchestra, and the Amelia Island String Ensemble. Missy has taught students of all ages, conducted string ensembles, taught music theory and masterclasses, and coached small chamber groups.

Brittany Christian brings a wealth of professional experience as a music teacher, accompanist, church pianist, and classical pianist. Her teachers include Rumi Smith and Dr. Susan Kindall.

Brittany comes with a more than 12-year history of professional piano study, performance, and teaching. During high school she studied with concert artist, Rumi Smith. Brittany actively competed and placed in several local piano competitions, including the MTNA state competition.

Following high school, she was awarded both academic and merit scholarships at Oklahoma City University where she pursued a double major in piano performance and piano pedagogy. During her time at OCU, she competed in the annual OCU concerto competition and won a concert engagement for the following academic year.

Brittany decided to complete her undergraduate studies with Dr. Susan Kindall at Bob Jones University where she earned the Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance with honors. A respected leader among her peers, she became a valued collaborative artist and solo pianist, even pursuing an advanced independent study in piano pedagogy. Following graduation, Brittany taught for two years in the largest Kindermusik program in the Southeast, while directing private piano studies at the prestigious Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, SC.

Since 2014 Brittany has operated a successful private piano studio of 30 students. She is excited to share her expertise with pianists all over the world as a member of TML Online. With each student Brittany encourages, guides, and directs according to the student’s individual learning style and personality. Learning piano, she believes, should never be a one-size-fits all approach. Each person has a uniquely special journey in learning to play piano. It is the teacher’s privilege to help the student find that path, joining and encouraging each one in musical discovery!

Brittany Christian resides in Montana with her husband and twins. She is an avid hiker and runner, having completed several half marathons and a full marathon. Brittany’s hobbies include gardening, reading, art, writing, and interior design. She enjoys homeschooling her twins while keeping everything organized and running as efficiently as possible.

Donna Crawford has passionately served in sacred music ministry all of her life. She is Associate Professor Emerita at Bob Jones University (BJU) where she taught applied organ, music technology, group piano, and applied piano while serving as an academic advisor for Keyboard Performance majors for over 20 years. Specializing in intermediate and early-advanced students, she now enjoys teaching piano as an adjunct music faculty member at BJU and organ privately.

Having previously taught for seventeen years in private schools throughout Ohio, Donna brings a lifetime of teaching and sacred performance experience. She holds the degrees Master of Music in Organ Performance from BJU, Master of Arts in Sacred Music from Pensacola Christian College, and Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Heritage Baptist University. She has served as an adjudicator for BJU High School Festival, South Carolina Federation events, South Carolina Association of Christian Schools, American Association of Christian Schools, and other music organizations. In the field of music technology. Donna presents workshops and is a professional music notation typesetter.

Professional memberships include Crescent Music Club (the National Federation of Music Clubs Greenville affiliate) and the American Guild of Organists. Donna presently serves as organist in several churches. As a ladies’ Christian speaker and teacher, she has conducted Bible studies and has spoken at conferences and special events.

Donna is married with four children and fourteen grandchildren. Her hobbies include working puzzles and reading.

Zhuo Diao is a graduate of The Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China with a Bachelor of Music in Performance, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She earned an Artist’s Diploma and a Master’s Degree in Viola Performance from Shenandoah University Conservatory in Virginia.

Zhuo’s performance history started at a young age, performing in orchestras for the following schools, October the First Middle School (Beijing), The High School Attached to Tsinghua University (Beijing), Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing), and Shenandoah Conservatory (Winchester,Virginia). Zhuo has traveled and performed all over the world with many famous composers including Seiji Ozama, Daniel Barenboim, Jan Wagner Yang, Werner Andreas Albert, Xincao Li, and Yongyan Hu.

In her fourteen years of teaching experience, she has trained award-winning musicians. Several of her students have won the American Protege International Piano and String Competition, as well as the Washington Universal Piano and String Competition. Other students have been accepted and have performed with the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. Zhuo has also prepared students to attend universities such as MIT, University of California, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech.
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Being bilingual in Chinese and English, Zhuo is sharing her passion and love for music with both Chinese and English speaking individuals.

Dr. Evan Duke is a consummate performer, business and arts manager, and teacher. Having performed on trumpet, cornet, and French horn, his past teachers include Jim Ruffaner, Bob Birch, Dan Kirsop, and Mark Clodfelter. As a university student, Evan performed in three operatic productions: Andrea Chenier, Elixir of Love, and Mefistofele. Evan continues to perform actively in both the operatic and music theater worlds, including recent performances of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story and Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury.

For three summers Evan traveled as a performing member of The Musical Mission Team, a combination choir and brass ensemble that toured Europe and gave nearly 100 concerts per summer. Countries that he has performed in include El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Poland, Russia, and Lithuania. In addition to playing principal trumpet for The Music Mission Team, Evan wrote several sacred arrangements and transcriptions for the group including “Lyons,” “Ein Feste Burg,” “O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” “Like a River Glorious,” and “Forest Green.” Some of Evan’s most significant performances include participating in the inaugural performance of the International Honors Wind Symphony at Avery Fisher Hall, as well as performing with the University of Kentucky Trumpet ensemble at the 2009 International Trumpet Guild conference in a concert which featured the New York Philharmonic Brass Quintet.

Currently, Evan serves as President of Foothills Philharmonic. He has been with the orchestra since 2010, serving as a board member for two years and subsequently becoming President. Evan has been a performing member of F.I.R.E. (Fountain Inn), the Fountain Inn Symphony Orchestra, and Greenville Light Opera Works. In addition to his playing duties with the Fountain Inn Symphony Orchestra, he served on their advisory board. Other groups that he has performed with include the Greenville Heritage Textile Band and the South Carolina Children’s Theater. In addition to these ensembles, Evan continues to freelance throughout the Southeast performing for weddings, churches, and other social occasions.

As a private teacher, Evan teaches students of all ages throughout Upstate South Carolina. He is honored to share his musical passion with students worldwide as a member of TML Online. Evan’s instrumental conducting and coaching experiences also include serving as Brass Coach for the Young Artists Orchestra in the Greenville County Youth Orchestra and as Director of Bands for the CHEE program in Easley for three years.

In addition to his teaching and performance career, Evan also has varied research interests. His doctoral dissertation studied the impact of language on trumpet performance. In addition to being a member of the Golden Key, he also was nominated for their ISLP program. Other professional experiences include serving as the Business and Operations Manager for Ye Olde Piano Shoppe and serving as a board member for the South Carolina Public Interest Foundation.

Evan Duke continues to perform on trumpet in recitals, concerts, and at other social occasions throughout the Southeast. He plays on Curry Mouthpieces and his primary instruments are B-flat Bach Stradivarius (model 43), C Yamaha, Eb/D Schilke, and a Yamaha piccolo. In addition to his teaching, performing, and arts management work, Evan is an avid hockey fan who also enjoys hiking and weightlifting.

Laurie is a recent transplant to Virginia, moving here from Austin, Texas. Her childhood curiosity of language led her to study both English and vocal music at the undergraduate level. She received a Bachelor’s in English and Music from Pacific Union College in California. Her graduate work was done in Vocal Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College in Princeton.

Her teaching career has spanned the gamut of English, ESL, choir, and drama at the K-12 and community college levels. In addition to her teaching career, Laurie has served as Director of Music for two Episcopal church communities and has also been part of Campus Ministries and liturgical teams as part of her teaching duties. She has conducted, sung, enjoyed various cuisines around the world, and is always looking for reasons to use her passport.

​Laurie’s main teaching philosophy for any subject is that learning is a joyful process. To facilitate that belief, her teaching style is eclectic, humorous, and individualized. She believes in teaching each student in the best manner suited to them. She adapts each session to fit with the student’s goals and learning styles.

Jacob Elliott is a guitar player and teacher from Northern Virginia. He is currently enrolled at George Mason University where he is majoring in music education and minoring in jazz studies. Jacob has been playing guitar for 15 years and has 4 years of formal teaching experience. He loves sharing his love of music with students of all ages. It is a wonderful feeling seeing the accomplishments of my students and how they grow in knowledge, confidence and skills.

When Jacob is not teaching, he enjoys playing out with his band, and performing with his jazz combo.

Born in Dallas, Texas, PATRICK FLYNN is presently an adjunct instructor at several institutions of higher education in South Carolina. In addition to Spartanburg Methodist College, he is also on the music faculties of Bob Jones University, Converse College, and University of South Carolina Upstate. He currently teaches courses in guitar performance, music history, theory, piano performance, and is the director of several instrumental ensembles of distinction. He also coaches tennis professionally and is an avid painter.

Dr. Patrick Flynn earned his Doctoral of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees at the University of Memphis, where he studied with the international recording artist Dr. Lily Afshar. As a student, he was awarded a full tuition scholarship and the prestigious Graduate Performance Award. He was the first recipient of a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in Classical Guitar Performance in 2005 from the University of Memphis. His Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is from Florida Atlantic University where he studied with Dr. Ken Keaton, a student of Pepe Romero and Juan Mercadal.

Having a passion for the classical guitar, Patrick Flynn has had the great opportunity to attend and participate in numerous master classes held by many of the leading guitarists around the world, including David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Eliot Fisk, Christopher Parkening, and The Romeros. Patrick Flynn is an active performer of solo and chamber works throughout the continental USA.

When not performing or teaching, he enjoys playing tennis, reading, painting, as well as studying and investing in the financial markets. Patrick resides in Spartanburg, South Carolina with his two sons.

Andrew received his Master’s degree in Voice Pedagogy, Bachelor’s in Music Education, and certification from the Contemporary Commercial Music Institute at Shenandoah Conservatory.

Andrew is an active singer and teacher in the Northern Virginia area. This past year, he sang in the chorus of the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center and with the Maryland Lyric Opera. He has also performed as a soloist and in operas in Italy, Michigan, Illinois, and more.

Andrew has taught K-12 general music, band, and chorus in both Fairfax and Loudoun County public schools, and teaches piano, voice, and saxophone privately in Ashburn, Herndon, and online.

Under the direction of Grammy award-winning conductor Robert Shafer, Andrew sang with Shenandoah’s Conservatory and Chamber Choir in Rome, Venice, Florence, and Assisi, Italy, as well as at the Strathmore Performing Arts Center in Maryland. Originally a saxophone player, he was featured in Shenandoah Conservatory’s wind ensemble’s performance at the Virginia Music Education Association conference.

Rebecca Grove holds the degrees Master of Education and Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Bob Jones University. She served as a BJU string faculty member for 26 years teaching string pedagogy classes, chamber groups, and private lessons in violin, viola, and cello. Becca also supervised the String Instrument Repair Shop.

Becca began teaching private violin lessons in high school. She enjoys seeing the small weekly successes of her students—whether they are playing “The Snake Charmer” or the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. She has also operated a successful private studio.

As a conductor, Becca has directed the Bob Jones Middle School Orchestra, which receives Superior ratings in the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Concert Festival, and the BJU Junior Music Camp Orchestra. She currently directs the Youth String Ensemble at her church. Becca has mentored and coached many future string teachers as conductor.

As adjudicator, Becca has judged both locally and nationally in MENC Solo and Ensemble Festivals, MTNA High School Scholarship Contests, and American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Competitions. She remains active professionally, having participated in the Starling-DeLay Symposium on Violin Studies at Julliard, and attended master classes with David Kim (concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra) and Brian Lewis (David and Mary Winton Green Chair in String Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin). Becca is a lifelong learner, eager to share new insights with her students.

As a performer, Becca has appeared regularly as orchestral violinist and violist with the BJU Symphony Orchestra. Having performed many of the major orchestral works, including symphonies, operas, and oratorios, she is equally at home in solo violin and chamber repertoire. Becca’s recordings as orchestral performer appear on The Wilds, BJU, Sacred Music Services, Lorenz, and Pinner Publications labels. Her published sacred arrangements for violin and piano, and string quartet are available from Lorenz and Pinner Publications. She enjoys sharing sacred music in her church as violinist.

Nikole James earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Having performed in many different venues across the United States, including The Kennedy Center with the Washington National Opera Institute, as well as Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic, she is most recognized for her artistry and captivating stage presence. Her operatic roles include Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring, and opera scene programs as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Miss Silverpeal in The Impresario, Aunt Bea in Bolcom’s A Wedding, and Lucy in Pasatieri’s The Hotel Casablanca. In addition to her wide variety of operatic roles, Nikole has also performed the role of Julie Jordan in Carousel.

She was the Southern Division winner and national finalist for the MTNA Competition, held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, she received first place in the Senior Division for the NVMTA Competition, first place in the Regional Level at the Bland Music Competition, and was named “Most Outstanding Vocalist” and “Broadway Bound” at the William Schmidt Vocal Competition. Currently, Nikole is a judge and member of the National Federation of Music Clubs, which provides a wide range of performance opportunities to music students of all skill levels. Ms. James understands the importance of healthy vocal technique, and through her teaching, hopes to inspire her students and share her passion for music with others.

Karen Kuehmann began piano lessons at age five. When in fifth grade Karen’s elementary school offered beginning band instruction. Her mother brought an old brown case out of her closet and told her she could begin to learn to play the flute. Unbeknownst to Karen, her mother had been a band director and flutist before marrying and having children.

Karen continued to learn flute and piano throughout her school years. She attended Bob Jones University, earning her undergraduate degree in music education and master’s degree in flute performance. She accepted a position teaching flute and music education at BJU, a position she held for 30 years.

During that time she earned a doctorate in secondary education with a music concentration from Arizona State University, wrote music textbooks for BJU Press, and directed the work of SoundForth, the BJU Press music publishing house. In 2008 she returned home to Arizona and has taught general music, choir, and world music in the Tempe Elementary District for the last 12 years, also teaching private flute students at several schools.

Karen enjoys travel, watercolor, and good ice cream. She believes every student can succeed, and music can be a lifelong pursuit and joy.

Dr. Yoon Nam has directed or performed music at churches for most of the past decade. She has directed adult choirs, youth choirs, children’s choirs, hand bell choirs, and orchestras. She has also sung regularly and accompanied others on the piano and organ. Yoon has studied music most of her life, first studying piano at age of five, voice at thirteen, and attending the prestigious Seoul Arts and Music High School as a voice major. She continued studying voice in college for her undergraduate and master’s degree. During this time she began teaching voice as an adjunct faculty member at Sookmyung Women’s University in Seoul. She also served as a soloist and assistant director at Young Nak Presbyterian Church in Seoul. Yoon came to the United States for the advanced study of music in 1996, earning her second master’s degree and a Doctor of Music in music conducting at Indiana University. After graduating, Yoon found her calling as a full time music minister, serving at Richmond Hill United Methodist Church in Georgia. In 2010, Yoon joined Floris United Methodist Church as a traditional music director. She directs the Sanctuary Choir, Chamber Choir, brass and Cantata orchestras.

She has two beautiful daughters, Christine and Joanne.

Bridget Olson teaches private piano, viola, violin, and ukulele lessons, with an emphasis on the whole musician. She assigns materials catered to each student to help them reach their greatest potential. Students study scales, left and right hand technique, rhythm, theory, aural training, and repertoire at every level. Bridget encourages upper level thinking and mindfulness in each lesson. Her greatest joy is watching her students grow as both musicians and people.

Students of Bridget have successfully completed examinations through the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) and Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). She continues to offer RCM lessons through The Music Loft.

Bridget studied viola under Doris Lederer while pursuing her Music Education degree at Shenandoah Conservatory. In addition to teaching her private studio, she is the Music Specialist at Montessori Country School in Herndon, VA and enjoys working in the public schools as a guest clinician.

Haden is a musician, audio engineer, producer and sound designer. He holds a Bachelors of Music in Music Production and Recording Technology from Shenandoah Conservatory, graduating in 2013.

As a classically trained and accomplished musician, Haden has studied with renowned guitarists such as Rick Whitehead and Glen Clauda. He is fluent in many musical styles including rock, blues, jazz, country, classical, pop and r&b.

As a songwriter, Haden founded the band Father’s Honor, and served as lead songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. Father’s Honor released their first album, You’re Welcome in 2015. Additionally, Haden and his wife Caroline make up the group known as Sempre, a singer-songwriter collaboration.

Haden is a Washington DC area native, having performed at many of the area’s prominent venues, including The DC9, Epicure Cafe, The Bright Box and others. Haden has also lived and worked in Nashville TN, as well as Connecticut.

Currently, Haden writes, produces and teaches music, as well as works as a freelance audio engineer and sound designer. He lives with his wife Caroline and dog Rae Two-Spot.”

Joan Parker was born and reared in Jamaica, the daughter of missionary parents. She holds both the BS in Music Education and MA in Piano degrees from Bob Jones University as a student of Alice Gingery. She also pursued postgraduate studies at the University of North Texas.

As teacher and performer, Mrs. Parker is a successful university studio and classroom teacher. She served for 42 years as a distinguished member of the Bob Jones University music faculty in Greenville, SC. There Mrs. Parker taught both group and private piano, piano pedagogy courses, and supervised the piano minor and senior pedagogy internship programs. Having founded professional private piano studios, both in the United States and abroad, she adjudicates regularly for local and regional music organizations and festivals. Joan Parker remains actively engaged in a wide variety of professional collaborative performance ventures.

Mrs. Parker is also a published sacred arranger. Her piano and instrumental arrangements are available from C & L Enterprises and Pinner Publications. She serves as pianist in her church, where she and her husband, Mark, are active in the music program. One of her great joys has been to take musical mission trips with the entire family back to the Caribbean, and to Europe and Canada, performing both classical and sacred concerts in a variety of venues. Joan Parker is delighted to serve as a valued member of the TML Online faculty.

Following piano studies at the Clarkston Conservatory of Music and music camp at Michigan State University, Dr. Mark Parker enrolled in Bob Jones University (BJU), graduating with a degree in piano performance under the direction of Laurence Morton. Continuing studies at the Eastman School of Music, he was taught by Douglass Green, David Beach, David Russell Williams, Robert Gauldin, Dorothy Payne, and Blair Cosman (piano and composition).

His masters’ thesis on three compositions of Howard Hanson formed the basis of a paper later presented at the Music Theory Society of the Mid-Atlantic States on March 21, 2014. After Eastman, Mark returned to BJU, continued piano studies with Morton, and taught piano lessons and theory classes. Further study at the University of North Texas with Cecil Adkins, Benito Rivera, Robert Wason, Edward Latham, Thomas Clark, Gene Cho, Lester Brothers, and Fred Kern, led to the Ph. D. in music theory. He prepared a piano recital under Steven Harlos and studied treatises of the French Baroque theorists in preparation of his dissertation.

Upon his return to BJU, Dr. Parker initiated computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in music with the adoption of ear-training software. Several generations of CAI software were implemented in the theory curriculum (GUIDO, Music Lab, Practica Musica). These greatly enhanced students’ grasp of aural skills. Mark also developed programmed ear-training assessment drills which were used briefly but were superseded by computer-based platforms.

For many years, Mark supervised group piano instruction and maintained the equipment of the piano lab. Following this, he oversaw the design and equipping of the new music technology lab. He served as Chair of the Department of Music Technology until this discipline was absorbed into the Department of Music Theory, Composition, and Music Technology.

Dr. Parker taught core music theory courses, piano lessons to music majors and minors, post-tonal compositional techniques, two courses in Schenkerian analysis, and Stylistic Analysis I and II. Following the Fourth International Schenker Symposium at Mannes College in 2006, Mark studied with Edward Laufer, a leading Schenkerian analyst. Mark compiled numerous ear-training drills into an Aural Skills Syllabus, which formerly was a required text in the basic aural skills curriculum. He has authored a text for his graduate courses in Stylistic Analysis, The Analysis of Western Musical Styles in Historical Context. Current research areas include counterpoint, Schenker, and post-tonal techniques.

Mark and his wife, Joan (pianist), remain actively engaged in directing the music of their church and ministering to Christians worldwide through a variety of musical missionary endeavors. Both gifted pianists, they often perform professionally as a classical duo. Mark and Joan bring years of experience to The Music Loft Online faculty and are eager to minister through Sacred Music Institute. As beloved members of their local community, they train service dogs and greatly enjoy their German Shepherd, Ula.

Duane Ream is Chair of the Music Department at Ambassador Baptist College in Lattimore, NC where he teaches music theory and hymn improvisation, and serves as a sacred artistic ambassador leading ministry teams in churches throughout the nation. Duane served as Assistant Professor of Music at Bob Jones University (BJU) for many years, where he was Program Director of Hymn Improvisation. There he taught applied piano, music theory, and sacred improvisation.

Duane holds the degrees Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music in Church Music from BJU. He is active as a solo performer, but primarily works as a collaborative artist—serving as accompanist for numerous recitals and concerts each year. Duane served as rehearsal pianist and vocal coach for opera workshops, and as part of the award-winning BJU Opera Association’s annual productions of grand opera. In addition, he has accompanied for many professional singers, and is the collaborative pianist of choice for maestro Edvard Tchivzhel, Music Director of the Greenville Symphony.

Duane has produced many arrangements of hymns and gospel songs for multiple genres and his works are currently in the catalogues of six publishers and on numerous recordings. He is Assistant Pastor, Music Director, and adult Sunday-school teacher at his local church. Summers are spent serving as Assistant Program Director at Camp Joy in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

The workshops Duane conducts develop the abilities of pianists in the areas of improvisation and technique. Many of his students have graduated to become leaders in church music programs, both in the United States and on mission fields around the world. For over 25 years, Duane supervised the music for BJU’s annual week-long Bible Conference, featuring over 300 performers participating in the ministry of music each year.

As clinician and adjudicator, Duane has served for various auditions, conventions, and festivals, including the National Federation of Music Clubs, Mobile (AL) MTA and the Family Educators Alliance of South Texas. He enjoys a good reputation as a judge for the National Guild of Piano Teachers auditions and has served as a piano judge for the American Association of Christian Schools national competitions annually for over 25 years. He regularly seeks opportunities for continuing education. Recent sessions attended include Music Theory Southeast annual meetings, piano pedagogy workshops at Furman University, University of Georgia (Athens), and Shorter University, and church music conferences at Pine Lake Music Company, Mikado Baptist Church (Macon), and The WILDS.

Duane Ream is teaching classes for our Sacred Music Institute, a division of The Music Loft Online based near Washington, D. C., where his online students span the globe.

W. Robnett Schoolfield is a former Associate Professor of Music at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina where he served as Program Director of Percussion Studies. He holds the degrees Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Tennessee Technological University, Master of Music in Percussion Performance from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Educational Specialist from Bob Jones University. His former teachers are Charles Hiebert, the late Joseph Rasmussen, Dr. Monty Coulter III, and James Hall.

Professor Schoolfield founded the percussion program at Bob Jones University in 1986 and served as Director of Percussion Studies for over 31 years. He oversaw all aspects of percussion at BJU including private lessons, logistics, and performance from pre-college at Bob Jones Academy through university percussion majors. Mr. Schoolfield was also the founder and conductor of the Bob Jones University Percussion Ensemble and assistant conductor of the University Symphonic Wind Band. He currently serves as percussionist with the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

He has served as timpanist for the award winning Bob Jones University Opera Association for over 30 years. His opera experience has included multiple productions of the following operas: Verdi’s Aida, Il Trovatore, and Rigoletto; Gounod’s Faust; Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Don Pasquale; Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Il barbiere di Siviglia; Boito’s Mephistopheles; Puccini’sTosca and La bohème; Saint-Saens’s Samson and Delilah; Strauss’s Die Fledermaus; and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Rob has also served as percussionist with musical productions including Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors and Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.

Prior to his years of service with the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, Rob was Principal Percussion with the Greater Anderson Music and Arts Consortium Chamber Orchestra. While in graduate school at UT Chattanooga, he served as Principal Percussion and Timpanist with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, and as Assistant Timpanist for the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra. Since 1986 Rob has served on occasion as substitute Principal and section percussion for the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, as substitute Principal Timpani for the Spartanburg Philharmonic, and Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.

He has further shared his performance expertise through clinics, articles, and recordings. His numerous recording credits include projects for Sacred Music Services, SoundForth, The Greenville Textile Heritage Society, and Majesty Music. Most recently Rob provided percussion for the sound track of the film Milltown Pride, and solo xylophone pieces for a CD titled Textile Tunes.

Rob is an active writer, clinician, and adjudicator. His articles on various aspects of percussion performance have been published in Percussive Notes the Journal of the Percussive Arts Society. He has also presented clinics at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, The National Council for Percussion Pedagogy, the Bob Jones University Fine Arts Competition, and local high schools and colleges. He serves as chief adjudicator for the National Association of Christian Schools (AACS) Solo Percussion Competition, and adjudicates the AACS National Band Competition.

Currently serving as an adjunct member of the BJU music faculty, Rob is also a successful private studio and community music school instructor. He is delighted to serve the global community of The Music Loft Online and to minister through Sacred Music Institute.

Cellist Jonathan Simmons holds the degree Master of Music in Cello Performance from Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music where he served as graduate assistant for Orchestral Activities and studied with Wendy Warner. Jonathan also holds the degree Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance summa cum laude from Bob Jones University where he studied with Dr. Yuriy Leonovich. While at BJU he served as co-principal cellist of the BJU Symphony Orchestra and was twice awarded the William McEver String Scholarship.

As a soloist, Jonathan has performed with orchestras in Tennessee and South Carolina, including a performance of David Popper’s Hungarian Rhapsody at the Peace Center in Greenville, and multiple performances of Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D Major. As a competition laureate, he won second prize in the 2016 Tennessee Cello Workshop Competition at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and also won the 45th Annual Ruth Kern Young Artists Concerto Competition in Atlanta.

Jonathan has participated in the Cincinnati Young Artists (CYA) Cello Academy and Chamber Music Festival as a Conservatory Fellow, as well as the Masterworks Festival. He has performed in recital at Greenville’s Buncombe Street United Methodist Church and War Memorial Chapel. Jonathan continues to give back to the community with performances in schools and art galleries, including the Bo Bartlett Center and the Rainey McCuller’s Center in Columbus, GA. He has collaborated in recital with pianists Alexey Trushechkin and Jacob Bernhardt, cellist Wendy Warner, and organist Catie Moyer. Concert series performances include appearances on the Salon at 6 Series, the Festiva Concert Series, the Cincinnati Young Artists Solo Showcase, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center’s Music Under the Dome series.

Conductors with whom Jonathan has worked include Steven White, George del Gobbo, and Paul Hostetter. His former teachers include Dr. Christopher Hutton, Martha Brons, and Sharon Mulfinger Gerber. He has received lessons and master classes with Zuil Bailey, Melissa Kraut, Alan Rafferty, Steven Balderston, Richard Weiss, David Kim, Peter Stumpf, Leo Altino, Wesley Baldwin, Brooks Whitehouse, Lawrence Stomberg, Greg Sauer, Robert Jesselson, Kim Cook, Miles Hoffman, the American Chamber Players, the Calidore String Quartet, the Parker String Quartet, and the Rawlins Piano Trio. He has also learned from musicians Natasha Brofsky, Andrée Martin, and Sergiu Schwartz.

As orchestral cellist, Jonathan has served as principal cellist of the Greenville County Youth Orchestras, the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra, and the Fountain Inn Symphony Orchestra. He has a broad range of teaching experience, including having served instructor in the A. R. M. E. S. chamber music program for talented string players at The Fine Arts Center and private teaching. Jonathan performs with the Columbus (GA) Symphony and the LaGrange Symphony, and has served on the faculties of many community music schools, the Orion Chamber Music Society, the summer BJU Educamps, and the Schwob School of Music Preparatory Division. His broad teaching experience includes teaching live online lessons to students as far away as Australia.

Kyla Wilcox received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Therapy from Shenandoah Conservatory with an emphasis in bass clarinet. While attending Shenandoah, Kyla studied under the gifted clarinetist Garrick Zoeter.

Kyla is also an accomplished pianist and guitarist. Coming from a musical background, she was encouraged to start learning and mastering multiple instruments at a young age.

During her years at Shenandoah, Kyla performed on clarinet, bass clarinet, and saxophone in the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, the Shenandoah Conservatory Wind Ensemble, the Atlas Quartet, EDGE Ensemble, Clarinet Choir, and the Buzzin’ Dozen Pep Band under the direction of Dr. Damon Talley, Jan Wagner, Dr. Timothy Robblee, and Garrick Zoeter.

Kyla completed her Music Therapy internship at A Place To Be in Middleburg, Virginia. She has clinical experience working with individuals with unique needs, disabilities, and backgrounds. Drawing upon her experiences as a music therapist, Kyla enjoys assessing her students’ needs and tailoring her teaching style to provide individualized support.

In addition to her music career, Kyla is currently pursuing her Masters in Education at George Mason University to become an Elementary School Counselor.

Hobbies: cooking vegan treats, teaching her dog Luna new tricks, and playing video games with her husband
Favorites: vegan chocolate chip cookies, early morning walks, and The Legend of Zelda