Bryan Hicks was introduced to music in high school, where he played cello, bass, and sang. After only one year of college as a cello major, he became a full time professional at the age of 20. He started his career with the Inner-City Orchestra, an 18-piece big band...
Joe Pickett is a passionate and versatile mandolin instructor with a deep love for music and a dedication to sharing his knowledge with students of all ages and ability levels. Joe believes that music is a universal language that has the power to connect...
Brandon Jones is a percussionist residing in Lawrence, KS. While pursuing a B.A. in Music at Fort Hays State University (2015-2020), Brandon performed often with the FHSU Jazz I Ensemble on drum set and vibraphone as well as...
Natalee Thomas started playing piano at age five and violin at age nine. She earned her degree in Violin Performance at Fort Hays State University. She currently plays with the Lawrence Community Orchestra. Her previous ensembles include the Hays Symphony Orchestra,...
Holly O. Taylor is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, with an emphasis in both music therapy and percussion performance. She has maintained her board-certification in music therapy forover 20 years, serving in schools, private...
Joseph has been playing guitar professionally for many years, in New York, Montana, Missouri and Colorado. For over 30 years he has been performing, recording, arranging, teaching, studying and composing. He has also composed for television, radio, stage and small...
Martin Farrell Jr. is a musician, songwriter and producer living in Lawrence, KS who has been working on his craft for over 30 years. He plays guitar, piano, pedal steel, banjo, bass, mandolin, harmonica and several other instruments playing with bands spanning from...
Cristina has been playing the piano since first grade. Thanks to the patience and grace of her piano teachers, she slowly discovered her love for playing the piano, and eventually even majored in music in college (BA in Music Ministry from the University of Sioux...
Rachel Allai moved to Kansas from St. Louis to study wildlife biology at Baker University. She studied classical violin with the Suzuki method during school and found bluegrass fiddle while attending university. She is continuously inspired by the natural world...
Kenji is a guitar player and producer from Garden City, Kansas pursuing a degree in music production at the University of Kansas. Kenji first picked up the guitar at the beginning of COVID-19, being self-taught until taking lessons while attending the University of...
Music is a wonderful thing to have in our lives, and it has always been my biggest passion. Working with beginners is one of my favorite things because I love sharing the gift of music and introducing others to the thing that has brought so much joy to my life. I...
José is a multi-instrumentalist from Salina, KS, pursuing degrees in Music and Exercise Science at the University of Kansas. He's part of KU’s Jazz One Ensemble and often plays with the Wind Ensemble. José began playing piano at age 7 and picked up the trombone around...
Lance Fahy has been a working musician in the Lawrence area since 1997. He has composed and recorded several albums of original songs on guitar and vocals as well as percussion and diatonic button accordion. He performs live regularly both as a solo artist...
Anna Patterson is a Lawrence local. After starting her musical studies on piano and french horn, she was quickly enthralled by the combination of words and music through song and theatre. Anna received a Master of Arts in Voice with Distinction from the Royal Academy...
Meet Alison! We are so excited to welcome this accomplished voice, piano and early childhood music education dynamo to our teaching ranks at Americana Music Academy. Alison has experience both in the public education classroom and teaching private, one-on-one lessons...
Vineel is an award winning actor, singer and professional performer with appearances at opera houses and theaters from Hong Kong to New York to Cincinatti to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Trained at NYU and with experience teaching at that prestigious university in New...
Kendra Switzer is a coloratura soprano from Joplin, MO. She is pursuing her PhD in Musicology at the University of Kansas and is also a GTA in the Musicology Department. Kendra also teaches music appreciation courses for Highland Community College. Her first masters...
Allen Macfarlane started playing the lap dulcimer in 1980 and the hammered dulcimer in 1997. He’s been giving workshops to beginner through advanced players since the mid 1980s at music festivals, club meetings, and other events across the Midwest. He’s recorded two...
A lifelong musician, Ven grew up in Huntington, IN and has been teaching piano and horn since 2000. Since then they have had the opportunity to work with students of all ages in individual and group settings. Ven studied composition at Oberlin Conservatory, jazz piano...
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