Instructors

She is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Vocal Performance where she studied voice with Richard Anderson, Richard Miller, Carol Webber; organ and piano. She is a 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. Mrs. Mitchell has been teaching privately for the past seventeen years and is a member of Music Teachers National Association, American Guild of Organists, The Choristers' Guild, and Music Educators' National Association. Founder of the Music Academy in Crossville, TN August 1998 – a non-profit school of music. Her vision is to expand The Music Academy into a leading Community School of the Arts and completed the AMICI (Arts Management in Community Institutions) training with the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts in June 2005. She has been the music educator at the Crossville Christian School and is presently the organist and Children's Choir Coordinator at Central Baptist Church and is a member of the Tennessee Ladies Chorus, the performing ladies chorus of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Mrs. Mitchell was privileged to sing a duet with Mr. Larnelle Harris in concert at Central Baptist Church in October 2005. 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. Mitchell was on staff at the 2008 Fine Arts Summer Academy (FASA) with the Annie Moses Band in Raleigh, NC and Memphis, TN and the 2009 FASA in Nashville TN teaching the upper division vocal students. She enjoys walking in the 3 day 60 mile walk for the Susan G Komen Foundation to benefit breast cancer research.

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.

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 Dr. Falko Steinbach. Mrs. Deck received her Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern New Mexico University where she studied with Dr. John Olsen and Dr. Paul Murphy. She is a member of the MTNA and served as secretary for the Albuquerque Music Teacher’s Association from 2002-2005 as well as serving as a judge for 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.

Mrs. Barbara Daugherty graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in physical education and dance. She has been a performing member of the cello section of the San Diego University Symphony and the Bryan Symphony at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. Mrs. Daugherty is a frequent guest cellist at area churches as both soloist and orchestra member. She is a former board member of the Academy and has taught privately in Cumberland County for the past five years.

Instructors

at The Music Academy

Mrs. Jacquie Mitchell, Executive Director and Principal Instructor of Voice, Children’s Choir and Kindermusik Educator

Mr. Francis Elliott, Principal Instructor of Violin