Our Teachers

Meet Mary Shannon, a passionate and easy-going voice teacher with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the College of William and Mary. With two years of experience in both individual and classroom settings, Mary has honed her skills in bringing out the best in her students. She has performed as a soloist and choir member with organizations like the William & Mary Choir, the Accidentals a cappella, Christ United Methodist Church, and the Common Woman Chorus. Based in Chapel Hill, Mary loves to incorporate students' musical interests into her lessons, ensuring each session is as exciting and personalized as possible.

Christina Holloway is a violist & banjo player based in Durham. A native of Miami, FL, Christina grew up with a classical pianist mom and has spent most of her life surrounded by music. She enjoys playing many genres, from classical to folk. Christina currently plays viola with the Durham Medical Orchestra, and is a member of the indie-folk band Honey Magpie, where she plays violin, viola, banjo, and vocals. Christina's goal for her students is for them to have fun and discover the joy and love of music in a safe, encouraging, and creative environment. When Christina's not playing or teaching, she loves to paint and go on hikes with her husband and their dog, Grogu. She's also an avid fan of Star Wars and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Jay is a guitarist, bassist, composer, and educator. He has completed a B.M. in Classical Guitar Performance and Music Composition at East Carolina University, as well as an M.A. in Composition and Creative Music Practice from the University of Limerick in Ireland. Creativity and accessibility are Jay's most valued aspects of teaching music. His belief is that every student is capable of learning music and that the process of learning should be driven by fun, excitement, and community. Jay is currently working on multiple musical projects, both in the triangle and internationally.

Sarah Gooch is a drummer, educator, and composer. She currently tours with soul singer Morgan James and completed a national tour with social-media star MALINDA (Malinda Kathleen Reese), an Irish folk singer. She's performed at many prestigious venues around the world. Her versatile drumming as a recording artist can be heard on two records: Morgan James “Nobody’s Fool” and Alba Pujals “Apologia”. She is the first woman to graduate from The Juilliard School as a drummer (MM 21'). Prior to moving to New York City, Sarah studied jazz at the University of North Carolina Greensboro where she developed a love for teaching, doing masterclasses and workshops at schools around the state. Sarah is on faculty at NC State and a Maine native...

Robert has been playing, writing, and recording music for 30 years, with 15 years experience as an instructor and performer in the Raleigh area. He grew up on rock, pop-punk, and videogame music, and has developed a love for EDM, abstract hip-hop, classical, and especially jazz. Piano, guitar, bass, and drums are his primary instruments, but he also dabbles with many others such as saxophone, trumpet, flute, harmonica, cello, violin, handpan, and anything else he can get his hands on. He has written and recorded hundreds of songs, and produced many records for other artists as well. He is a patient and friendly teacher who loves to help students achieve deeper understanding and the joy of music.

Albert Ding is a dedicated piano teacher with five years of experience, based in Cary. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. Albert has rekindled his passion for performance, earning several 3rd place finishes at the Charleston International Music Competition since Summer 2024. With a love for classical music, Albert enjoys sharing fascinating stories about composers and their works with his students. He caters to a diverse age range, from early learners to adults, and is open to exploring any music curriculum that excites his students.