Instructors

at The Music Academy


Mrs. Jacquie Mitchell, Executive Director and Principal Instructor of Voice and Kindermusik Educator

Founder of the Music Academy August 1998. She is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Vocal Performance. She studied with Richard Anderson, Richard Miller, Carol Webber. Certified Piano Teacher of the Mayron Cole Group Piano Method. Certified Kindermusik® Educator since 1998. She has sung with the Knoxville Opera Chorus and is an accomplished pianist specializing in accompanying. She has often been the guest pianist, vocalist and organist for area churches.  She has been teaching privately for the past sixteen years and is a member of Music Teachers National Association, American Guild of Organists, The Choristers' Guild, The National Piano Guild, and Music Educators' National Association.  Her vision is to expand The Music Academy into a leading Community School of the Arts.  She completed the AMICI (Arts Management in Community Institutions) training with the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts in June 2005. She is presently the music educator at the Crossville Christian School and the organist and Children's Choir Coordinator at Central Baptist Church.  Mrs. Mitchell's vocal students have been awarded vocal scholarships to private high schools, colleges and the Tennessee Governor's School of the Arts.  

 

Mrs. Diedre Davis, Principal Instructor of Piano

Joined the Faculty in February 2002 as Instructor of  intermediate to advanced piano.  She earned her B.A. in Music Commerce at Blue Mountain College, MS and her M.A. in Piano Performance at The University of Iowa. Her studies also include the Music Institute in Piano Pedagogy with Dr. Robert Pace on a Baldwin Scholarship. She was the Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Virginia College at Wise, VA, and Piano Associate at Emory & Henry College 1978-1997. She was the accompanist for the Bristol TN-VA Concert Choir 1975-1997, and Emory & Henry Concert Choir 1975-1996. She is the recipient of the Rosa Mae Kennedy Piano Award, the Linda Berry Music Award, and included in the Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
 

Mr. Francis Elliott, Principal Instructor of Violin

 Mr. Francis Elliott is instructor of violin and viola at the Academy.  He holds a Master's Degree from Colorado University and has been active for over four decades as a performer and teacher.  He retired as the violin professor from Tennessee Tech University and was given the title of Professor Emeritus from the state of Tennessee for that institution.  Before coming to Tennessee Tech in 1971, he was teaching at New Mexico Highlands University.  He has been active as a performer and string educator throughout his career. He served on the administrative staff at the Aspen Music Festival 1971-1978. Besides teaching at the Academy, Mr. Elliott conducts string clinics in the schools of Tennessee and is scheduled to do a clinic and performance in Montreal, Canada and Boston in June of this year.  His work has taken him to Canada, Mexico, and throughout the United States from North Dakota and throughout Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.  He has given presentations in New York, Indiana and Michigan.  Mr. Elliott has served two terms as President of the Tennessee Chapter of the American String Teacher Association where he received a Certificate for Outstanding Service for the State of Tennessee for 50 years of string education. He has been elected for a third term which begins in 2008.  Mr. Elliott often adjudicates orchestra competitions and festivals in Tennessee and surrounding states and is a frequent clinician at String workshops for both students and faculty. The Music Academy is very fortunate to have Mr. Elliott on faculty with his vast teaching background, experience and a lifelong dedication to young people.

 

Mrs. Annetta Brewster-Deck, Instructor of Piano

A graduate of University of New Mexico where she received her Master’s Degree in Piano Performance/Pedagogy, studied under Arlette Felberg, Rita Angel and Falko Steinbach.  Annetta received her Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern New Mexico University where she studied with John Olsen and Paul Murphy.  She served as secretary for the Albuquerque Music Teacher’s Association from 2002-2005 as well as help judge several piano performance competitions.  She has served as an accompanist for various programs and events and enjoys teaching piano to people of all ages who are eager to learn and appreciate the art of piano performance.

 

Mr. Scott York, Principal Instructor of Trumpet

Joined the Academy in 2002 as instructor of trumpet. His education includes a B.S. in Music Education from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga in 1986. He also has a Master of Music with trumpet emphasis from the Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in 1989. He has served as the Music Minister at First Baptist Church in Lindale, Georgia, 1990-1999. While in Georgia - taught private lessons for 6 years.  Have also taught privately in Tennessee, prior to moving to Georgia. He was a member of the Rome (GA) symphony for 5 years. Co-Principal Trumpet with the Northwest GA Winds for 7 years, a regional community band with 50+ members, many of which were professional musicians. Has also performed with the Clock Tower Jazz Band in Rome, Georgia.  An 18 piece big band, consisting mainly of professional musicians in the Northwest Georgia region. Served as Minister of Music, Belmont Baptist Church, Tampa, Florida, 1999-2001. Currently Minister of Music at Central Baptist Church, Crossville, Tennessee.

 

Mrs. Florence Knapp, Principal Instructor of Organ

Joined the Faculty in August  2000 as instructor of  organ studies.  Graduate of Northeastern Bible College in  Essex Fells, N.J.  Sacred Music Curriculum.  Studied for two years with Margery (Davis) Gumpy who was the head recitalist for the Allen Organ Company in Macungie, Pa. Organist for 17 years at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Was guest organist for Handel's Messiah with 150 voice community choir with soloists from the N.Y. Oratorio Society.

 

 


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Revised: May 05, 2006 .