The Playroom Academy of Music

	Eddie Z - Owner Born and raised in New York City, Eddie has been a professional musician since 1985. Eddie’s first exposure to Rock & Roll came at an early age, listening to his older brother’s band rehearsing in their parents’ basement. Eddie got his first guitar in high school, and within three years he found himself out on the road with Baretta Red, a top forty cover band. He then joined an all original metal band that went on to sign a recording contract with Metal Blade Records. It was during these recording sessions that Eddie found his affinity for engineering and producing. After everyone would leave the studio for the day, Eddie would sneak back in and rework the tracks himself. Since that experience, Eddie has played on, engineered or produced more than 500 recording projects. Eddie has owned and operated The Playroom, a full service recording and rehearsal studio in Charlotte, North Carolina, since 1994.

His clients have included 3 Doors Down, Jewel, Aaliyah, Buck Cherry, Kathy Matea, drummer Jim Brock and Smithereens sideman Jamie Hoover. He has also worked in various technical support roles for live shows with Kenny G, Phil Collins, Harry Connick Jr., Meatloaf, Metallica, Pantera, Smashing Pumpkins and Blues Traveler. Since 2000 until October 2009, Eddie was the Music Director and Lead Guitarist for Charity Case from the Ace & Tj show. The regional sensation sold out almost all of its 250 performances and donated $680,000 to terminally ill and chronically handicapped children. Eddie is completely excited to bring his experience and knowledge to the current and future musicians of South Carolina. A guitarist, bassist and mandolin player, Eddie Z resides in Tega Cay, South Carolina with son Alex and his significant other Vicki.



	Damon Stinson - Piano & Vocals Damon Stinson, Lyric Tenor, a former member of the Newark and Brooklyn Boys Chorus has performed throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Mr. Stinson has won many state, regional, and national vocal competitions, National winner of the Leontyne Price, National runner-up MTNA, and Federation of Music Clubs Vocal Competition as well as the recipient of the state Metropolitan Opera Encouragement Award. He has also won the American Opera Award and honorable mention in the Luciano Pavarotti Contest. A former recipient of the North Carolina Arts & Science Council Performing Artist Grant, Duke Power Grant (Brevard Music Center), and the Charlotte Opera Guild. Damon has performed under the baton of such well-known conductors as Robert Shaw, Pierre Boulez, Lukas Foss, Peter Schickele, Leonard Bernstein, James Levine and Michael Ching. Mr. Stinson has performed the role of Tamino in Die Zauberflote, Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Samuel in Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters, Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte, Mr. Scratch in The Devil & Daniel Webster, Camille in The Merry Widow, and Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore. Mr. Stinson has performed such oratorios as, Messiah (Handel), Judas Maccabeus (Handel), Saul (Handel), Elijah (Mendelssohn), St. Nicolai Mass (Haydn), Creation (Haydn), Le Petite Mass (Rossini), Maginifcat (Bach), and Requiem (Verdi). Mr. Stinson has studied voice with Mrs. Jane Dillard, Ms. Patrizia Cioffi and currently with Mr. John Fowler.



	Ali Simpson - Music Producer Ali Simpson is a Music Producer born and raised in N.Y.C. Ali started playing drums at the age of 8 and was a DJ at the early age of 13. As he continued to hear the different aspects of music, he realized that music was his love, regardless of genre. No matter if it was: Jazz, R&B, Hip-hop or Pop, Ali had the desire to learn more about the music industry. He began rapping and teaching himself how to make music and at the age of 18 he signed a recording contract. He produced music for Rap artist’s from Doug E Fresh to Benzino and mix tapes for Rockafella Records. Ali moved to Charlotte, NC and opened up his own Recording Studio (ATM Studio) located at The Playroom. At ATM, he engineers for local artists and recently assisted Usher in pre production for his One Night Stand Tour. Ali has such a love for music, he considers it an honor and pleasure to teach the younger generation all he knows about Producing and the Music Industry.



	Chris Brackett - Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Band Coach I believe it is important to teach an individual not a subject. In my experience I have seen great success in instructing to fit individual needs and wants. I feel it is important to use positive reinforcement rather than harp on what needs improvement. I believe it is a great benefit to get to know my students on a personal level, allowing them to easily understand and enabling me to use analogies that directly apply to their personal interest. I have seen my students grow not only as better players, but as wonderful individuals. I teach what I believe to be important (i.e. reading music, writing music and having a great meter) with a direct balance of what they wish to learn. I love to see smiles of success on faces that once looked bleak, the expression of “I did it” that in itself is a wonderful reward, as well as knowing I made a positive impression on someone's life through music.



	Laurian Graham-Zimmerman - Piano Since 1985, when she first heard a cassette tape of George Winston’s music, Laurian has had a strong connection with music and the piano. Her mother, a pianist herself, and her father an artist, her parents gladly obliged her request for a piano and lessons at the age of 11. She continued piano lessons throughout her middle and high school years, as well as the clarinet, which she started at age 9, and the violin since age 12. She later went on to place second in two separate competitions with the Georgia State Music Teachers Association. She also remained active in her school as a performer on clarinet and piano, as well as being on a music scholarship with St. Andrews School in Savannah Georgia. At the age of 19, Laurian was accepted into Georgia College and State University as a Music Major, where she was awarded a 4 year Performance Grant. She studied Music Therapy as her major for 2 years before deciding to later change to an Instrumental Music Major with an emphasis on Classical Piano Performance.

She became a member of the women’s music fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota Beta Rho Chapter in 1995. She was also a performing member in the Georgia College & State University Concert Band with clarinet, the Women’s Concert Choir, as well as several instrumental ensemble groups. While a member with the GCSU Concert Band, she traveled to middle and high schools in Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, and Virginia to perform while on tour. While at GCSU, she studied education in Conducting, Theory, Elementary Education, and Music Therapy. In connection with a Music Instrumental major, she continued her study of piano as well as brass, string, percussion, and woodwind instruments. She began to teach piano privately in 2001, and has since continued. She has taught students ranging in ages from 4 to 64 in Charlotte, Lancaster, and presently in Tega Cay. She revels in teaching and cultivating the fascination and pride a student feels when their dreams become a reality in music; as her mother, Lynda Piver, would say about her daughter, “Tiny hands making such beautiful big music”. She is currently studying the works of George Winston as well as Beethoven, Mozart, and other classical repertoire. She has an application pending for membership with the South Carolina Music Teachers Association. She is also currently working with several artists in the development of an Arts Council of Tega Cay, in hopes of connecting the vast amount of talented persons in the area. She is honored and excited to be a part of the opening of The Playroom Music Academy, and is looking forward to nourishing our communities’ love of music. Her motto in teaching is simply ‘You are never too old to learn because Music is ageless’. ~ If Music be the Food of Love, play on. - William Shakespeare



	Michael Kenney - Guitar, Violin, Banjo, Bass Guitar Guitarist, Michael Kenney began his musical studies at age 8 with the violin followed by piano studies in his early teens. At 16 he received his first guitar as a Christmas present and settled on it as his primary instrument. Influenced at first by classic and hard rock Michael’s studies veered towards classical music. He went on to major in guitar performance at the University of Memphis. Michael was awarded a performance scholarship in 1985 and graduated in 1988 cum laude. That same year he was invited to join the teaching staff at the Howard Vance Guitar Academy. Michael enjoyed a 3 year tenure at the academy teaching both class and private guitar lessons. In 1990 Michael placed first in the Beethoven Young Artists Competition, an annual tri state event held in Memphis. Michael had placed second the previous year. Through years of teaching he has developed facility teaching a variety of styles from Bach to Rock and most points in between. Since settling in the Carolinas in 1992, Michael has continued to teach and perform throughout North and South Carolina. Presently, he is the on call guitarist for two local country clubs.



	John Shaughnessy - Bass Guitar John Shaughnessy has an extensive performing an teaching resume. He has A.S. in Electric Bass Performance from Villa Maria College where he studied with former Spyro Gyra bassist Jim Kurzdorfer; a B.A. in Music from SUNY Buffalo; and Jazz theory and improv studies with Frank Gerard. He was also the winner of the Audrey Schillo Performance Scholarship in 1990. John has played all over Charlotte and the Northeastern US, and toured Alaska, Canada, South America and the Caribbean. He has played virtually every style of popular music from heavy metal to big band and all points in between. He has also played with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, does studio session work as a performer and producer/engineer, and composes music for his own bands. John has been teaching bass and piano for over 20 years, teaching 4,5,6 string bass, fretless bass, and upright bass to hundreds of students. His philosophy is to train students to handle the rigors of the professional music world. Many of his students have gone to study music in college and become professional musicians themselves. He also specializes in helping new and experienced players to perform with their church's Gospel or Contemporary Christian groups. John is the author of two instruction books "Extreme Slap Bass" and "The Beginners Guide To Slap Bass".



	Adam Jennings - Acting Instructor Adam Jennings was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and began performing on stage and television before the age of ten. Following a run of exciting and diverse roles in musicals and plays for Burlingame High School and other community productions, Adam studied as a Theatre major at CSU Northridge. His professional acting career officially started in Los Angeles in 2004, and after an obscure audition one year later, he booked a unique job as a motion capture performer which has led to more than five years of steady work as the "face" of video game development company Neversoft Entertainment. Adam's facial expressions and lip-synching talents bring to life every speaking and singing character in some of the most recent TONY HAWK skateboarding games, the western epic GUN, and each title in the GUITAR HERO franchise since LEGENDS OF ROCK. He has recorded movements for several thousand lines of dialogue, over 500 songs, and in 7 different languages, including German, French, Italian, and Native American Apache. Additionally, Adam helped guide Steven Tyler through facial motion capture sessions so they could share the virtual stage in GUITAR HERO: AEROSMITH. Some other celebrity collaborations include Metallica, Sting, Van Halen, and Taylor Swift. He also created alien characters for the big screen in Disney's MARS NEEDS MOMS, a movie produced by Robert Zemeckis which is set to release in 2011. Credits outside of mo-cap include TV shows SAMANTHA WHO? and SO NOTORIOUS, and short films CONVINCING BENNY and DHARINI. And recently, Adam finished shooting the first season of MURDER SQUAD, the smash-hit comedy webseries about a federal crime office in which he plays a leading role. All six episodes can be found at www.murdersquad.net - Pow! Currently studying improvisation with an award-winning director from Second City, Adam is excited to bring his experience and love for the arts to students at the Playroom Academy. www.murdersquad.net www.adamjenningsacting.com



	Adrian Crutchfield - Saxophone, Flute Adrian Crutchfield is known around the world for his neosoul sound. His silky smooth timbre creates music in a variety of genres such as jazz, funk, hip-hop, rock, and more. Adrian's star began shining at the age of four when he received his first saxophone during a concert in Roanoke, VA from acclaimed jazz artist Kenny G; who noticed Adrian's interest from the audience, stopped the show, and invited him to the stage, playing a childish melody, and finally bestowing the sax to young Adrian. Twenty years later in 2009, the charismatic and passionate Crutchfield released his debut compact disc entitled, "Private Party"; which highlights his diverse musical interests with songs covering the styles of jazz, neo-soul, hip hop and more. A 2008 graduate of Florida State University (B.A. in Music with a concentration in jazz, contemporary media and commercial music); Adrian has had the priviledge of performing with some of today's brightest stars such as R&B icons Anthony Hamilton, Fantasia Barrino, KC and JoJo, Adina Howard, Regina Belle, and with hip hop superstar Young Jeezy. In jazz Mr. Crutchfield has been featured by names such as Kim Waters, Alex Bugnon, and Branford Marsalis; and with legendary groups such as Fourplay and The Gap Band. Only in his twenties, this saxophone aficionado is poised and ready to become one of his generation's most prolific and successful professional musicians.



	Boo English - Guitar, Recording Engineer Charlotte native, Boo English, has been playing guitar since receiving his first guitar for Christmas at the age of 10. He received formal guitar instruction throughout middle and high school at the Griffin Music Academy in Charlotte. He joined his first band at 11 years old. He also began recording his own music at about the same time. Boo has been a member of various Top 40 cover bands and original rock bands in the Charlotte area over the years. For the last 19 years he has played guitar with SpiritSong, band for contemporary worship at Christ Lutheran Church. He received basic audio training at CPCC, and shortly after was hired as a staff engineer at Sound Choice Studios in Charlotte. Boo worked there for thirteen years and is now owner of his own recording studio. He has also writes and records his own original songs. Boo has given guitar instruction to students from 8 years old through adult. Each student has their own unique learning style and Boo tailors lessons to best meet the needs of his students, whether you are picking up your first guitar or someone looking to take their playing to the next level.



	Jennifer Moss - Voice, Piano Jennifer grew up in a family of musicians. As a young girl, she sang in children’s choir and sat through countless rehearsals for programs her parents were involved in. She was known for memorizing the songs before they did. She went to Mauldin High School and was also accepted to the Fine Arts Center where she studied voice and music theory. Studying under Michael Rice helped her to take her voice from a “girl” voice to a “woman” voice. This transformation was the key to her earning a music scholarship in college. She studied voice and piano in college, and also sang with a couple of traveling music teams. She sang in every ensemble that Winthrop University had to offer, including auditioned groups such as the Jazz Voices. In 2001 she attained a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. After college she spent 4 years in full time ministry. Two of those years she traveled with a revival ministry called “Life Action” where she had the opportunity to sing all across the nationwith a 12 person ensemble. Jennifer is currently a music teacher at Orchard Park and Pleasant Knoll Elementary schools, and has previously taught music at Riverview and Fort Mill Elementary schools. She is also the assistant music director at her church. In her free time she works with chorus and drama clubs at school, as well as teaching private voice and piano.



	Heather Kicklighter - Beginner Piano, Voice, General Music Heather is currently a senior Music Education major at Winthrop University, specializing in Voice. She has participated in ensembles at Winthrop including the Chorale, Chamber Singers and Jazz Voices. She has also participated onstage with roles in Winthrop’s productions of Once Upon a Mattress and Die Zaberflote. She is currently assisting at Gold Hill Elementary School in the music classroom to fulfill her education degree requirements.



	John Brooks - Trumpet John Brooks has been playing trumpet for 15 years and performs extensively throughout the Carolinas. He grew up in Rockwell, North Carolina, acquiring an ardent passion for music from his parents, who perform on guitar and piano. In 2002, John enrolled at Winthrop University to study trumpet with Dr. Ian Pearson, graduating in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance. After college, John performed in North and South Carolina as a freelance musician and was even a grocery manager. In 2009 John returned to Winthrop to study trumpet with Dr. Mark Dulin and graduated in 2011 with a Master’s Degree in Trumpet Performance. During this time, John was principal trumpet in Winthrop’s Wind Symphony and Brass Quintet. In January 2011, John also won principal trumpet for the South Carolina Collegiate Honor Band. He has also performed with the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra and the Charlotte Civic Orchestra under conductor Alan Yamamoto. John began teaching trumpet in his undergraduate college years and has had students win seats in SC region and all-state bands. During the summer, he also teaches trumpet at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan. He currently performs in the Carolinas Wind Orchestra and at the NC Renaissance Festival in Charlotte. John resides in Rock Hill with his wife Jill and dog Jack.



	Christopher Morgan - Piano, Beginner Guitar Having always been inspired by music, Christopher chose to begin studying guitar at the age of 16. His dedication and commitment to master this art form led him to audition for acceptance into the music program at Winthrop University. Upon enrolling in the program, Christopher began studying classical and jazz guitar with Dr. L.H Dickert and piano, as a secondary instrument, with Dr. Eugene Barban. He soon joined Winthrop’s Jazz Guitar Ensemble performing in biannual concerts at the University, recruitment events at regional high schools, and at modern music festivals comprised of original compositions by local composers. In addition to his guitar courses, Christopher also studied conducting, music history, music theory, and various composition methods. He is a member of the oldest professional music fraternity in the United States, Phi Mu Alpha. With a further interest in composition and arranging, Christopher was led to focus more of his time on the art of playing piano. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Winthrop University in 2004. After graduating, Christopher spent time performing with various bands along the East coast. The genres he performed included, beach music, oldies, classic rock, jazz, and classical. In addition to performing, he also gave private piano and guitar lessons. In 2008, Christopher decided to further his education by returning to his alma mater and enrolling in the Master’s of Art in Teaching Music program. His coursework included assessment strategies, educational technology, classroom management, and music pedagogy, comprised of: percussion, brass, woodwinds, strings, and vocal methods. Christopher also continued studying the piano with private lessons from Dr. Matthew Manwarren. He graduated and obtained his state certification as a K-12 music teacher in May of 2011. Christopher continues to study compositions by masters such as, Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Debussy, Gershwin, Chopin, Granados, and Brahms. He enjoys teaching all aspects of music through piano and guitar instruction to students of all ages. He promotes dedication, creativity, and versatility with his students. Which he feels is an important characteristic for students within field of music and other aspects of life in general. His creed for art is the discovery of one’s self through patience, passion, and discipline with music, which one might not have discovered otherwise.



	Zachary Miller - Drums, Percussion Zachary Miller is a native of Anderson, South Carolina. He has many diverse performing and teaching experiences including performing with the GAMAC Orchestra and serving as the principle percussionist of the Anderson Symphony Orchestra. He also performed with several West African Drumming Ensembles and is an active member of Mbira Monday. In addition to his classical training and world music experiences he has performed with several worship, country, jazz and rock bands in the upstate. As an educator he has instructed several award winning drumlines including the 2010 State Marching Band Champion, Pendleton High School. Miller has received a Bachelor's of Music Education from Anderson University and is currently earning a Master's Degree from Winthrop University in Percussion Performance.




	Brandi Morris, Office Manager brandi@theplayroomacademy.com