About our instructors

Vocal, Oboe & Piano Instructor

Originally from the Midlands, Leigh Ann is excited to be back in South Carolina after spending some time in the midwest and the northeast. She spent several years in upstate SC while attending The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities for high school and while pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Converse College. Leigh Ann received her Master of a Music degree in Opera/Musical Theatre Performance from SIU Carbondale.

Growing up in musical family, Leigh Ann was surrounded by all genres of music including Jazz, Pop, Rock, Country, Theater, Classical, Sacred, and many others. Her command of these diverse musical styles allows her to mentor students with wide and varied interests. She has been teaching private lessons in voice, piano, and oboe for over 10 years and enjoys working with students of all ages.

Along with her educational ventures, Leigh Ann has considerable performance experience, including roles with the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble and Hudson Theatre Ensemble in NYC. Favorite roles include Lily from The Secret Garden as well as Lauretta from Gianni Schicchi.

In November of 2017, Leigh Ann made her directing debut with Spartanburg Repertory Company, with” You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

Piano, Vocal & Flute Instructor

Brittani has been teaching music since the age of 13. She is a classically trained vocalist and pianist with a passion to see others reach their musical goals! Over the years she has had the privilege of being a lead singer and keyboardist for a few worship bands, and a music and drama coach for a children's ministry. As a teenager, she competed in Fine Arts Festivals for singing, writing, and drama. As her student, you will be equipped to read, write, play, and compose music that suits your own unique style.

Vocal & Acting Instructor

Miss Oksana was born in the city of Lviv, Ukraine, considered to be the cultural capital of Eastern Europe. She was accepted to the Regional School of Music and Arts at the age of 7, where she fell in love with the violin. She graduated from the Music School at the age of 14 and shortly thereafter became a vocal soloist in a vocal ensemble.

She went on to pursue her passion for music and graduated with her bachelor's degree in Classic Voice and a master's degree in Theater!

Miss Oksana is most satisfied when she is helping children and adults develop their acting and vocal skills and witnessing her students achieve new heights with every performance.

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In her own words: "Being an actress and singer is more than just a profession. It is a destiny, a way of life. It involves constant self-improvement, a perpetual honing of skills. But the greatest miracle and satisfaction is to live the lives of others, their destinies on stage, to communicate the deepest meanings, subtexts, which the author or composer had in mind … and if one is really lucky, achieve true happiness!"

Guitar, Bass & Piano Instructor

Mister Steven is a classical guitarist who began learning music in his mid-teenage years. He quickly aligned himself with a music school for music lessons where he was eventually able to become a teacher. After teaching for a few years he decided to pursue his Bachelor’s Degree in the performing arts. During his time pursuing his undergraduate degree, he was able to travel the caribbean performing in both classical & contemporary settings like jazz, latin, reggae and rock. As a caribbean-born musician, he has had the privilege of being exposed to many different styles of music through the very busy and vibrant tourist industry throughout the islands of the caribbean.

Steven, eventually moved to the US to pursue his Master's Degree in classical guitar performance at Florida International University which he completed in the spring of 2019. There, he was exposed to many prominent classical and latin guitarists from around the world through master classes and interactive concerts put on by the School of Music at FIU. This exposure has allowed him to become very familiar with both the artists as well as the genres of South America and other styles from around the world. 

After completing his degree, Steven stayed in Miami and was able to perform with a few local bands while affiliating himself with a few music schools to teach guitar. He currently resides in Charlotte N.C. 

Violin Instructor

Dr. Athena has played the violin since the age of 5. She is the Chemistry Instrumentation Manager and Instructor at Winthrop University, and also a passionate violin teacher with Creative Melodies. She received her triple-major undergraduate B.S. degrees in molecular biology, zoology, and violin performance from University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX. She gave her first solo violin recital at 15 and has played in the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, Stevens Point, WI; Madison Symphony Orchestra, Madison, WI; Waupaca Civic Orchestra, Waupaca, WI; Brazos Chamber Orchestra, Fort Worth, TX; and various chamber ensembles over the past years. She has given lessons privately in students' homes, at the Madison School of Music, Madison WI, Texas Christian University Community Outreach String Department, Fort Worth, TX; and Drake University Community School of Music, Des Moines, IA. Her hobbies are cooking, baking, hiking, and reading.

ONLINE Piano Instructor

Miss Rebecca grew up in Orlando, FL, where she began singing and playing the piano and violin at a young age. She earned a Bachelor's degree in music from Southern Adventist University near Chattanooga, TN in 2003. Later, she received a Master's degree in music from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, with an emphasis of Piano Pedagogy. Rebecca is thankful to be part of Creative Melodies and brings with her a true love of music and a desire to help foster that in students' lives. Miss Rebecca's students know that she cares for them and is enthusiastic to see them on lesson days--teaching them to play the piano, as well as other life lessons that come with learning to play an instrument. When she's not singing or playing a song, Ms. Murphy enjoys exercising outdoors with friends, participating in church activities, and enjoying quiet evenings at home with her cat, Winston.

Vocal & Piano Instructor

Miss Annalise grew up loving music-from musical theatre to church band practice! She has been singing most of her life. She attended Forerunner Music Academy in Kansas City, MO and received a completion degree in Music Ministry. Her focus was vocal performance and worship leading. She has taught at music summer camps both domestically and internationally. Music is her passion! She can't wait to spark that passion in her students. When Miss Annalise is not teaching music, she is enjoying her cat Blue and working as an assistant director for a non-profit organization.

Violin Instructor

Dylin began playing violin at the age of 8. He has extensive classical performance experience including, but not limited to, sitting on the prestigious Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra and playing with the Asbury University Orchestra in Wilmore, KY for two years. He has performed in a number of music school sponsored recitals and events as well. Dylin enjoys many musical styles and has performed with a variety of bands for community events, weddings, funerals, church worship, and more. He is currently enrolled at Morning Star University to study Worship Ministry under the instruction of Leonard Jones. Dylin has worked with a number of students throughout the years to help them improve their musical ability and enjoys teaching all ages, especially young children. His goal is to not only help students to play music, but also to help them find their unique musical voice as he did. He makes learning music fun!

Vocal & Songwriting Instructor

Elizabeth is a singer, song-writer, worship leader and vocal instructor in the Charlotte Metropolitan area. She has recorded with artists of all different genres and performed live for crowds from an intimate few to crowds of millions. While she has studied classical voice, her expertise is in commercial voice, including pop, R&B, hip-hop, jazz, country, blues, indie and folk. Elizabeth lives with her husband and child in SC and attends Morningstar Fellowship Church. 

Vocal, Songwriting & Piano lnstructor

Nikki is a singer, songwriter, and worship leader. By vocation, Nikki worked in the Music field for several years where she taught children's choir as well as adult singing groups. Being a musician, Nikki plays keys and has led children's band and dance teams. As a youth, she was part of a singing group that won 1st place in a Teen Talent competition. She has also been on several small albums both as a soloist and background vocalist. Nikki has a passion to see students of all ages multiply their talents and fulfill their creative potential. She and her husband enjoy family time, the outdoors, and helping others.

Music Therapy, Piano, Vocal & Flute Instructor

Amy and has a passion for teaching music education and music therapy! She began studying piano at the age of 9 and continued taking lessons for almost nine years. She also studied voice, flute and theatre dance at Stetson University in Florida. She obtained a B.A.S. degree in 2008 at Daytona State that focussed on marketing and musical arts. Her passion for music continued to grow as she began teaching students in their own homes and in studios in 2003. She now lives in Charlotte , North Carolina and is looking forward to meeting wonderful new musical talents 

ONLINE Piano, Music Theory & Composition Instructor

Mister Jim grew up as the son of a musician. He lives and performs in Chicago. Mister Jim started taking private lessons in middle school before earning his BA in Music at Pitt and MA in Jazz Performance at DePaul. He has two albums under the prestigious Delmark Label. Jim has performed and recorded with jazz greats such as Ira Sullivan, Roger Humphries, and Richie Cole. His music has been heard in a wide variety of settings and ranges a broad spectrum of styles. Jim particularly enjoys improvising and composing. His influences include: Herbie Hancock, Al Haig, Brad Mehldau, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Ives, The Beatles, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, The Dirty Projectors, TMBG, Stevie Wonder, Moondog, and MF Doom.

As a teacher he strives to help his students fully activate their passion for music, regardless of age, experience or genre. His hope is for his students to become empowered to take personal and creative control of their musical pursuits.

Piano & Vocal Instructor

Caitlin has been living in the Carolinas for most of her life. She is a new mom to her baby girl, Riley, and married to her love, who is from Mozambique, Africa. Caitlin has been singing and playing piano since she was 8 years old. She holds an Associate of Arts Degree and enjoys teaching the skills she has learned from years of training in piano and voice!

Guitar, Piano & Violin Instructor

Mister Pete is a multi-talented music teacher! He started playing violin at age 7, guitar at age 12, the stand-up bass at age 16, and the piano at age 18.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from UNCG in 1999. Some musical highlights of his career are playing bass in the UNCG symphony orchestra and in several bands through the years, all the while teaching others.  Pete loves music and has an extensive collection of different instruments. He loves playing his banjo, harmonica, ukulele, saxophone, trumpet, bugle, clarinet, drums, and autoharp.  Pete also enjoys creating electronic music and recording mixes. 

Music Therapy, Piano, Vocal & Flute Instructor

Miss Amber has a love for music that began at age 6 when she began taking piano lessons! That love of music continued to grow with the subsequent vocal, flute, and french horn lessons that followed. She had the opportunity to participate in both marching band and orchestra in high school, which led her to pursue music in college!

Amber studied at Stetson University in DeLand Florida, a private music school. She went on to study music therapy, music theory and performance at Daytona State College.

Amber has performed in various jazz choirs, has sang and danced in show ensembles, and has played piano for many concerts/recitals in Florida and North Carolina. She can teach piano and voice for classical, Broadway, pop and various other genres. She has 10+ years of experience with elementary, middle and high school students- helping them get lead roles in school productions, prepping them for auditions and talent shows at their school or local communities.
 

Amber instructs piano, voice, flute, and music theory at Creative Melodies. She also provides music therapy to children with autism or other learning needs. Her creative teaching methods and lively personality make learning music fun for every age!

 “Music is at the heart of the creative. You can build, express and have fun with your music. We are a team and it’s about growing all around and I’m happy I get to witness it. With music you can be yourself. You can create anything.”

Piano Instructor

Gunel started playing classical piano and singing at age 5! She was involved in the children's music group “Sayyah” growing up and was inspired by my dedicated teachers to continue pursuing music. For 5 years she was part of the State Music Academy Youth Choir and continues to sing today! Gunel graduated from the Special Music School of Baku and State Music Academy of Azerbaijan with her BA and MD in Choir Conducting and Piano. She has also worked as a site manager and music instructor at Gymboree Play&Music. Gunel is originally from from Baku, Azerbaijan, but has lived in Charlotte since 2011. She has a beautiful family which she loves with her whole heart- her husband and two amazing boys (3 and 6 years old). She cannot wait to meet you all and help you develop a deeper passion for music!

Vocal & Piano Instructor

Jennifer is a classically trained vocalist who has been singing/performing since she was 14. She has spent her adult life singing with worship bands and community select groups across the country. She loves working with young singers and coaching them on how to best utilize their talent.  Jennifer hopes to inspire young singers to express themselves through music and to become even better vocalists. She looks forward to working with you!