Our Instructors

Zach has taught a variety of different instruments for the past five years at KC Music Academy and he is our Executive Director of  Bands. He has a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies and has performed all over the world over the past 10 years. He is currently the head music arranger for the band Twice On Sunday, the two time winner of the Vendor's Choice Award's Band of the Year. Music is his passion in life and it has become his greatest joy to share that with his students while seeing them grow in ways that are unique to them.

Antwon has been the resident drum instructor at KC Music Academy for the past four years. He is a graduate of Sumner Academy of Arts & Science & UMKC Conservatory of Music. Antwon enjoys guiding his students and teaching them how to practice well to make the best progress. He wants all his students to be able to read, play together, actively listen to the music, productively practice the material, be able to count basic rhythms, and have a great time!

Therese has taught violin, viola, and beginning piano at KC Music for the past three years. She has her Master of Arts in violin performance. She strives to adapt her teaching to support the needs, goals, and personality of each student.  She loves celebrating even the smallest successes with her students and believes that all progress is good progress. When she's not teaching, Therese enjoys tending to her small "jungle" of 100+ houseplants and going on adventures with her beagle, Leela.

Ally teaches piano and voice at KC Music Academy. She has been teaching music for over ten years and wants every student to love their instrument and what they do.  Ally enjoys connecting with her students and she wants to build confidence in every student as they have fun with their instrument. She is also passionate about theatre and performs in and directs local theatre productions.

Julius has taught trumpet, trombone, guitar, and ukulele at KC Music Academy for the past three years. While attending Park Hill High school, he enjoyed regularly tutoring trombone and baritone players. He loves seeing kids’ faces light up when they finally get something down that they have been working toward. He wants his students to be challenged in every lesson but also develop the love for music that has kept him going on his musical journey.

Jennifer teaches a variety of instruments at KC Music Academy. She has a music and education degree from William Jewell College and has taught music for 25 years. She loves helping students reach milestones and wants to inspire a lifelong love for music in them, whether they aim to master an instrument or just play for enjoyment. She was a worship leader at a local church for 20 years and has performed at churches across the KC area. She currently leads music for a kids program at a church in KC.

Amanda teaches private vocal lessons at KC Music and is experienced in most genres: opera, musical theatre, jazz, and contemporary! She received her Bachelor of Music in music education at MU and currently performs with the Kansas City Chorale. She prioritizes making her studio a comfortable space where students are encouraged to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. She sees herself as a mentor for her students and her goal for them is to become independent musicians. She teaches technique for at-home practice, ensures students have strong music literacy skills, and engages students in reflection of what they are experiencing while singing. She most enjoys getting to observe the growth that happens in her students as a result of their combined hard work! 

Phoebe is talented in many areas as she plays piano, ukulele, guitar, and also sings. She is an accomplished dancer and has performed in musical theatre productions. Her main philosophy is to never teach two students the exact same way. She takes great joy and pride from finding the best way to teach each specific child, and not always using the same techniques to teach every person. She enjoys working with special needs students, helping them find their passion and succeed! Each student of Phoebe's will learn foundational technique, healthy singing, and musical skills, along with working on their personal goals.

Mario teaches drums and guitar at KC Music Academy. He has been an instructor for multiple instruments for 8 years and has been performing in bands for over 10 years. He loves seeing his students go above and beyond what they thought they were capable of and receive the reward for their time and effort. Music is an outlet for Mario and he loves passing that along to his students and helping them to fall in love with their craft. He is dedicated to finding how each student learns best and helping them to use that as a strength. When he's not jamming, Mario loves spending time with his wife, their child, and their dog.

John loves to come to KC Music and share his passion of playing guitar and bass as a "break" from teaching middle school all day! He has played in various bands with musical ranges from heavy metal to classic rock. Watching his students' excitement, love, and confidence for music grow is truly fulfilling to him. John believes that learning is constant - everyone is learning at their level. His goal as a teacher is to help each student understand the basic fundamentals of the instrument while introducing them to the many different roads a guitar can take them. Playing an instrument is something that the students can enjoy for years to come!

Brian directs the KC Music Choir. He is a Northland native since he was 5 who loves sharing his passion for vocal performance and voice health. He has his Masters Degree in Music Education. He has been leading championship caliber choirs across the Midwest and Europe for 30 years. When Brian is away from the academy, he enjoys sharing time with his family and singing with his brothers in the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Jacob teaches piano lessons at KC Music Academy. He is currently working on a Bachelor's in Worship Ministry with an emphasis on piano at Spurgeon College. Jacob enjoyed playing piano in a worship band and his school's stage band through high school and currently serves as a church pianist. Jacob Ioves being able to see the joy that students have as they are learning and understanding more about the piano. His goal is to develop in his students a passion for learning music and an eagerness to play their instrument. When he's not playing piano, Jacob enjoys running, hiking, camping, and ping pong.

Jesiah teaches many instruments at KC Music Academy. He is very naturally talented and was given instruction for several instruments through his life. Jesiah regularly leads worship at church and hopes he can bless those around him with his skills. He loves watching his students' hard work come to fruition as they grow in both their skill and love of music. He wants his students to practice the things they are learning diligently and above all, fall in love with what they are learning!

Lyla has been teaching piano as part of our Teacher Apprentice program for almost 2 years. As an upperclassman in high school Lyla is very involved in choir, leading worship at her church, and singing in the rock band at KC Music. She plans to major in music education in college and enjoys getting a head start on teaching at KC Music. Lyla is passionate about teaching her students theory and the "why" behind the skills they are learning. She is thrilled to see her students love music as they grow in their skills.

Mahlan teaches drums, guitar, and bass at KC Music Academy. He has played his instruments for 10 years with several worship bands. Mahlan is passionate about writing music as well as playing. He enjoys getting to see the progress of his students and the joy it brings them to comprehend new concepts. He would love for his students to surpass him in skill and talent! He is married to his wonderful wife Cat and when he isn't making music, you can find him doing an outdoor activity like fishing.

KC Music is creating not only the next generation of musicians, but also the next generation of music instructors. We work closely with student musicians and give them opportunities to teach with a paid apprenticeship program. These Teachers in Training observe lessons given by our seasoned teachers and spend time learning pedagogy and good business practices. They receive their training from us for free and are paid for the classes/lessons they teach. Because they are not paid at the same rate as our expert instructors, their lessons are offered at a slightly lower price.