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, Mettalica, 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.
 
 
Woodwind artist John Alexander, a native of Gastonia, NC, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Erskine College, and his Master of Music degree in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Miami (FL). His military service includes tours of duty with the 282nd Army Band at Fort Jackson, SC, and the 8th Army Band in Seoul, South Korea. 

John has performed with Ira Sullivan, Louis Bellson, Curtis Fuller, Gap Mangione, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Jack Jones, Woody Herman, Eddie Higgins, Astrud Gilberto, The Spinners, The Four Tops, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, and Lou Rawls. He has appeared at the North Carolina Jazz Showcase on two occasions, the Mammoth (CA) Jazz Festival with vocalist Beth Chorneau, the 2000 Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the 2002 Pawley’s Island Festival of Music and Art, as the season opener for the Gastonia Community Concerts Association, Jazz Charlotte, the Charlotte Symphony, in Okinawa, Japan, and in Gotha, Germany. He is the recipient of two Regional Artist Grants from the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte, NC, one on 2000 and the other in 2006. He has been a
contributor of transcriptions and articles to Jazz Improv magazine since 2004.

John’s recording credits include contributing his original composition “Stargazer” to drummer Les Demerle’s On Fire recording for Pablo Records; the title tune for the south Florida big band Atlantean Driftwood’s Melts In Your Mouth recording; compositions, arrangements, and performance on Ira Sullivan: With Strings Attached; Atlantic Blue for Earth Songs; Out Of Nowhere by vocalist Toshiko Watabe; and Brothers with pianist Gary Marcus; You Need ‘Dis, released in December of 2001 and including all original compositions; and Debt To Heaven, including jazz arrangements of traditional hymns. His latest release, Big Octave with the bassist Ron Brendle and drummer Chris Garges is an adventurous collection of original compositions, jam tunes, and works by Ornette Coleman and the Beatles.

John and his family make their home in Gastonia, NC.

 
 
Joelle Kitrell has been singing since a young child and had her first recording experience at age six. She has been vocally trained throughout her secondary education and continued her music career with a crazy eighties cover band during her senior year of college. She has experience with many different types of jobs from working with children, working with animals, to working in offices, restaurants, and even fronting a few bands. She attended a private college where she received her Bachelor's of science in Interdisciplinary studies of Psychology and Education with a minor in Art. She recently finished a worship leading program with Elevation church that allowed her to gain even more life skills enabling her to be an even more well-rounded individual that proves capable of accomplishing anything she puts her mind to.

She can also leap tall buildings in a single bound. Figuratively speaking of course.
 
 
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
 
 
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.
 
 
Justin is a native of Rock Hill, SC and has been playing music since the age of 8. He grew up listening to his father play in a bluegrass band and was exposed to many musical genres.

Justin has studied jazz, guitar and voice at Winthrop University and has won several banjo and guitar competitions throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He currently teaches banjo, mandolin and guitar in styles including bluegrass, country, rock, blues, worship and jazz. Justin plays in several wedding, country and bluegrass bands. Justin also plays at North Rock Hill Church.

   
   
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 DougE 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.
   
   
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.
   
   
Jason Scavone has 17 years experience on the piano and guitar, both in study and as a professional musician. His experience as a teacher ranges from teaching music classes and workshops at Countryside Montessori and Charlotte Montessori Schools, as well as 9 years experience teaching private lessons.

Jason is a professional musician and songwriter who has significant experience playing in touring bands and working in recording studios. His teaching style not only lays the foundation for a fundamental understanding of the instrument and of music theory, but also focuses on shaping the type of musicians who can write and produce their own music, as well as develop the ability to work and interact successfully with other musicians in a band setting.
   
   
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.

Michael, his wife and three kids currently reside in Fort Mill, SC.
   
   
Alasondro “Fonz” Linney has been surrounded by music his entire life. As a child he grew up listening to his mother play piano in the church and at home. Over time he became actively involved with the music programs at his church in voice as well as piano. In the 4th grade, along with sports and friends, he decided to learn music. After playing the trumpet for awhile, he began the violin, which was to be his instrument of choice. Through his middle and high school years, he continued the violin as well as the viola. His primary instructor was Vartan Mamoogian and he also was coached under Eleane Richey. After attending several summer camps and music building classes, he decided to pursue the violin as a college major. He would later graduate with a Performing Arts Degree in Violin from The North Carolina School of the Arts. While earning his degree, he toured with the NC School of the Arts Orchestra through Europe and the United States from 1977 till 1979. After graduation, Alasondro joined the Alabama Symphony as a full time performer from 1980 to 1981. In 1981, he moved to Charlotte, NC and became a full time member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, where he was from 1981 until 2004.
 
With over 25 yrs experience in performance with regional symphonies as well as here in Charlotte, he is a wealth of knowledge. His teaching experience includes not only 20+ yrs of private teaching, but also with Mecklenburg County Schools and various music stores. His teaching styles include Suzuki as well as traditional methods. He is joining the Playroom Academy staff as instructor in Violin, Viola, and Cello.
 
 
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 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
 
 
David Hodges is a teacher and performer on trumpet in Charlotte, NC and the surrounding areas. He grew up in the small town of Ware Shoals, SC where his high school band director, Richard Powell had a big influence on him pursuing a career in music. After high school David earned a BM in music education and performance from the University of South Carolina. He more recently earned his master’s degree in trumpet performance from Winthrop University. In 2009 David began coursework toward his doctoral degree in music.

As a performer David was principal trumpet for the 1998 National Intercollegiate Band in St. Louis, MO. From 1998 to 2002 David performed with the Fatback Band in Columbia, SC. He is recorded on their 2002 CD, The Next Best Thing. He has also recorded with the children’s music band Lunch Money on their 2005 recording, Silly Reflections. Additionally, David can be heard on the Winthrop University Jazz Ensemble’s 2008 recording, Joyous Reunion. Since 2004 David has been a member of the Palmetto Concert Band in
Columbia, SC. He has also performed with the Charlotte Civic Orchestra for the 2007 season and as principal trumpet during the 2008 season. In 2007 David performed with the SC Collegiate Honor Band.

David began teaching privately in 2004. His students have consistently earned seats in the SC Region and All-State bands, as well as superior ratings at the SC Solo and Ensemble Festivals. In addition to working as a freelance trumpeter in the Charlotte area, he is also the Music Director at Trinity United Methodist Church in York, SC. He resides in Rock Hill with his wife Carrie. They are expecting their first child in April.