Our Instructors are the best!

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We ensure that only the best instructors become Bold Music instructors by thoroughly vetting every candidate against our core values and their music ability, guaranteeing that they are an excellent fit for our Bold families.

Our white-glove matching process ensures that we match you and your family with the best instructor for your goals and schedule.

Take a look at all our instructors and if you’re ready to get started simply click below!

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The Hiring Process

  1. Application Review/Screening
  2. Core Values Exercise
  3. Live Interview with Bold Management Team
  4. Performance/Proficiency Review
  5. Mock Lesson
  6. Reference Reach Out
  7. Background Check
  8. Final Review and Offer!

Meet Our Instructors

Yuxin Chen
Yuxin Chen Portrait

Meet Yuxin Chen!

I’m currently pursuing my DMA degree at UNCG! I have 10 years k-12 piano teaching experience.

Why I Became A Musician

Saw someone play on the stage and loved how inspired they looked performing!

My Memorable Musical Experience

My last recitals final moments. The experience of finishing something you’ve been preparing for a long time.

A fun fact about me is...

I still get nervous when I on the stage.

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Listen, sing and enjoy it!

Madison Lucas
Madison Lucas Portrait

Meet Madison Lucas!

I have been a performing indie rock musician and band leader in Charlotte for over 10+ years. In my band I play guitar, synthesizer and piano. I’m also the vocalist and main songwriter. I’m classically trained on piano and trumpet.

Why I Became A Musician

Watching videos of The Beatles, David Bowie, Fiona Apple (to name a few) over and over.

My Memorable Musical Experience

My band opened for a sold out Echo and the Bunnymen show at The Filmore. Highlight of my life!

A fun fact about me is...

My love of music began in the marching band (7 years experience).

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Your only goal is to be a little bit better than you were the week before. That’s all you ever have to focus on and you’ll always be growing!

Benjamin Pearson
Benjamin Pearson Portrait

Meet Benjamin Pearson!

I am a seasoned multi-instrumentalist with over 16 years of piano experience, alongside guitar and bass expertise. My repertoire spans classical, jazz, hymns, and contemporary Christian music, shaped by years of performing for local churches, gospel choirs, and live shows across Charlotte, NC and Williamsburg, VA. I majored in music at the College of William & Mary and love to share my love for music through teaching, conversation, and demonstration.

Why I Became A Musician

My mom inspired me. She grew up playing the bagpipes and piano and initially taught me piano.

My Memorable Musical Experience

In high school I sang Wellerman with two of my best friends for a talent show. We walked off the stage thinking we bombed and were pretty hard on ourselves but when the awards were being announced, we received 2nd place. It's memorable because it taught me not to be too critical of my own ability and skillset; if I work hard, practice, and pour myself into a performance, it will be evident.

A fun fact about me is...

I know Morse code!

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

You are not bad, you're inexperienced. Even the best musicians started as beginners. Time + practice = skill.

Melody Jackson
Melody Jackson Portrait

Meet Melody Jackson!

I have over 25 years of experience with piano and voice. I’ve taught music for over 5 years.

Why I Became A Musician

I’ve been a musician my whole life. That’s how God made me! My parents are artists as well, so they encouraged that gift too.

My Memorable Musical Experience

Working on music at my church has been a joy. We’ve written many songs, released an album, and a few singles so far!

A fun fact about me is...

I love the color orange.

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Stay consistent and have fun! Explore to find what works for you, but know that skill come with discipline.

Anthony Winkelman
Anthony Winkelman Portrait

Meet Anthony Winkelman!

Musician for 20 years, classically and jazz trained on keyboards, specializing in rock, blues and jazz on guitar and bass with experience on brass and percussion in wind and jazz bands.

Why I Became A Musician

Passion is my biggest drive to be a musician. Figuring out a new song/piece and hearing a song come together is my favorite part of music, and seeing others find it as well fills me with joy.

My Memorable Musical Experience

My most memorable music moment was playing bass at a summer camp when I was 9-ish, it was my first time really playing live. The set list included everything from funk to three days grace.

A fun fact about me is...

I spent six years in the Army doing cybersecurity.

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Stick with it and make practice a regular part of your routine.

Frances Nieves
Frances Nieves Portrait

Meet Frances Nieves!

I have been playing instruments for over 20 years and spent more than half of that time studying classically. I have worked in Music Supervision (Soundtracking) and scored for a short film. I have been a part of many ensembles including youth orchestra. During my time in University I studied Viola under Leilehua Lanzilotti and released music independently as part of a band. I have been teaching privately since college and love to help others find the joy that music brings.

Why I Became A Musician

I've been playing since I was so young that I'm not sure there is one thing exactly. My dad used to play guitar to my mom when she was pregnant of me and then I had one in my hands by age 7. I've just always known that no matter what I did for the rest of my life, music had to be a part of it... Also Continuum by John Mayer 🙂

My Memorable Musical Experience

When I was at NYU my band was asked to play for the next freshmen class of Steinhardt Students and their parents. We played a venue called Kimmel and there were almost a thousand people there. It was electric and we felt so cool. It was also the biggest crowed I've played for.

A fun fact about me is...

My high school orchestra played Beethoven's 5th when I was 17 in the original arrangement.

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Follow your heart and your ears. Trust that you will learn what you need to know so long as you are in line with what you want to get out of playing and also what sounds good to you. Technique can be learned but true music is made with feeling. Dedicate how you can but do so with consistency. Be patient. Trust the process.

Melissanthi Guthold
Melissanthi Guthold Portrait

Meet Melissanthi Guthold!

I am a Greek-American classical soprano with a B.A. of Music, and I have been involved in many opera productions throughout the years, the most recent of which was the Berlin Opera Academy’s Cendrillon. I love nurturing young minds and watching students explore their own musicality. My approach to vocal technique relies on proprioception and experimentation, so I will use these concepts to tailor lessons to fit each individual singer’s instrument.

Why I Became A Musician

In short, the feelings that music elicits. There is something indescribable about the human condition that can only be expressed with music, and I knew I needed to dedicate my life to that thing. I have never felt so emotional, thoughtful, and enraptured as when I listen to a powerful piece of music.

My Memorable Musical Experience

In Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor I had to honor of performing the title role Madame Herz, A.K.A. the most flamboyant diva of all time. The role was just so pompous and joyful. This was also the role that encouraged me to lean into the acting side of opera.

A fun fact about me is...

I can teach you how to make tiny origami stars.

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

It’s okay to sound really terrible. It can be discouraging when you cannot immediately see progress, but you cannot make a beautiful sound without many, many ugly sounds preceding it. I had to practice for 10 years before I ever liked the way I sounded. My advice is to never give up. Even if progress is slow, the value of being immersed in music is immeasurable, nonetheless.

Ethan Ricks
Ethan Ricks Portrait

Meet Ethan Ricks!

Taken by music and creativity from a young age, I’ve been fortunate to be a professional touring, gigging and studio musician for over 20 years. Music has brought me on stage at some of the biggest festivals in the world, to the corner of tiny bowling alleys…sometimes in the same weekend.

Why I Became A Musician

Music on the radio in the mid 90s and my parent’s record collection - plus the idea of being in a band.

My Memorable Musical Experience

Hard to pick just one. Getting the call is always a great moment - the fact that someone trusts me with their music on a record or gig, or to be their instructor, never gets old to me.

A fun fact about me is...

I’m something of a unicorn in that I’m a native Charlottean!

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Follow what really grabs you, be patient with yourself and be persistent. This is a journey that can last a lifetime, which can be amazing and intimidating at once.

Harry Charles
Harry Charles Portrait

Meet Harry Charles!

Harry Charles is a multi-instrumentalist from Rock Hill, South Carolina. He began playing piano in his early teens and has developed a high musical proficiency and repertoire spanning many genres and styles. He has performed extensively throughout the southeast with his award-winning musical variety show “Harry & Harrison.” Harry believes that with the right instruction, anyone can become a musician and unlock their own potential.

Why I Became A Musician

There's always something so magical about watching somebody operate a musical instrument with precision & passion. I can remember as a kid having countless experiences of seeing live musicians in restaurants or busking on the streets and knowing that if it was possible for me to find a way to do that for the rest of my life, I was going to find that way.

My Memorable Musical Experience

When I learned my first song on the piano and played it over and over again because of how proud I was!

A fun fact about me is...

I love cooking!

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Don't be afraid to mess up! To be a great musician you have to be patient with yourself and with the process; learning to command rhythm melody & harmony is like learning a new language and no one can do that in a day, it takes time. Remember this because it's important- 10 minutes of practice every day is far more beneficial to your learning than cramming for an hour once a week.

Chris Mont
Chris Mont Portrait

Meet Chris Mont!

I am a musician who has gained experience in almost every corner of the industry. From beginning with “garage band” roots as a teenager, to playing in marching band, to studying music formally in a conservatory style university, to playing with orchestras, to playing with wedding bands, to composing for musical theatre, to recording in studios, to teaching K-12 students, to providing music therapy for seniors in nursing homes… I have always kept music in my life and I will always keep exploring more. Come join me for private lessons and we can continue the exploration together!

Why I Became A Musician

I was raised in a family that had many different examples of showcasing their love of music. My mother played the piano and gave me an introduction at an early age. Her uncle was a member of a musical group called the Happy Boombadears Club, and he showed me their percussion instruments when I was very young. My older brothers played music in the house all the time, and I used to love going to see the marching band performances. And, then... I heard Rush's song "Tom Sawyer" for the first time. After that I knew I was meant to be a drummer.

My Memorable Musical Experience

Winning my high school talent show and being asked to provide the musical entertainment for our graduation picnic.

A fun fact about me is...

I have seen my favorite band in concert almost 100 times! Can you guess what band it is?

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Be patient, and understand that failure is a normal and necessary part of the growth process. But also never forget that music should be fun!

Caroline Belk
Caroline Belk Portrait

Meet Caroline Belk!

I’ve been playing and writing music since I was 10 years old. I’ve played and toured in bands and also write, record and produce my own solo music. I have a BA degree from Berklee College of music in Songwriting and Producing Music with Summa Cum Laude honors. It is such a joy for me that I now get to teach music!

Why I Became A Musician

My older brother teaching me Nirvana songs on the guitar when I was 10.

My Memorable Musical Experience

Going on tour in Europe last minute for 3 weeks with an old band I was in many years ago.

A fun fact about me is...

I love analog synthesizers!🎹

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Be patient with the journey and don’t forget to have fun all along the way. Music has a place for everyone.

Jacin Prevatte
Jacin Prevatte Portrait

Meet Jacin Prevatte!

I have a degree in music from Winthrop University where I focused on voice, piano, and audio production. I was classically trained for opera all 4 years of college as well as for musical theatre and jazz. I’ve been singing and performing musical theatre for over 10 years. I have also been teaching private lessons and performing in gigs around Charlotte for the last 4 years, both of which include a variety of repertoire from the 50s to today.

Why I Became A Musician

I come from a family of musicians and I always gravitated towards performing. I love singing and making music, and I’ve loved it for as long as I can remember!

My Memorable Musical Experience

My senior recital for college was pretty memorable! I spent all year preparing for it and it included a variety of songs from Handel to Ella Fitzgerald to Sarah Bareilles. I even included one of my original songs, “Swap Keys”.

A fun fact about me is...

I love to help my students with songwriting!

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

We will always have more to learn, so it’s never too late to start learning! Practice makes progress, and everyone is capable of getting better!

Chris Jones
Chris Jones Portrait

Meet Chris Jones!

I’ve been a guitar player for 32 years. I started later the most (at age 19) and for the last 23 years I have been a teacher. My main area of study has been in jazz and improvisation. I have been performing for about 24 years. I have a BA in Music Therapy.

Why I Became A Musician

I love music! Pretty simple.

My Memorable Musical Experience

One of the first bands I ever played in was a 60s rock cover band called Indian Joe and the Indian Indians. We used to wear face paint and Indian headdresses.

A fun fact about me is...

I was born in England.

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Be patient with yourself and know that any skill takes time.

Jeffrey Foster
Jeffrey Foster Portrait

Meet Jeffrey Foster!

Combining my expertise as a multi-instrumentalist with my professional background in educational research and leadership, I offer a unique and holistic approach to teaching music. I view music as a powerful gift that inspires excellence, and I am dedicated to helping every student experience that magic. I am passionate about using my diverse skills to foster a lifelong love for the arts.

Why I Became A Musician

I come from a family of musicians; it was in my blood and all around me.

My Memorable Musical Experience

My most memorable musical moment was performing a duet with the best Grandma in the world.

A fun fact about me is...

In addition to my work in music and leadership, I am a published author with a PhD focused on urban education. I love finding the parallels between the structured world of writing and the creative flow of a musical performance.

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Trust the process, have fun, and tap into creativity.

Joel Desjardins
Joel Desjardins Portrait

Meet Joel Desjardins!

I’ve been playing since 13, music is truly my passion in life. Guitar is my main instrument and I enjoy playing music of all genres – I believe music is the language of the world. I got my start playing in alternative bands and have grown to love playing rock and roll, blues, jazz, pop, soul, the list goes on. Most recently, I’ve played in a wedding and events band. Anytime I have an instrument in hand is a great day!

Why I Became A Musician

Freedom of expression through self and feeling part of a community, leaning on a team to create something bigger than oneself.

My Memorable Musical Experience

What comes to mind is my first band in high school was on a bill with other bands at a VFW hall. The place was fully packed out and it was my first time seeing strangers dance and have fun from music I created. That’s when I knew I was hooked.

A fun fact about me is...

I once played guitar with Ace Frehley from KISS.

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Learning to play music is a long term investment your older self will be incredibly thankful you started. It isn’t always easy and it’s a discipline that you choose every day, but you can choose to make it fun. It’s so worth sticking with it!

Elliot Shaw
Elliot Shaw Portrait

Meet Elliot Shaw!

I have been playing drums and guitar for over 20 years, playing in multiple bands and in lots of settings. My influences include Danny Carey, John Bonham and Chad Smith on the drums. I can play/teach most styles including rock, pop, jazz, hip hop and more.

Why I Became A Musician

My parents are both musicians and had their own band when I was growing up. Once I started playing drums at 13 years old, they even had me play some shows with them!

My Memorable Musical Experience

Playing in front of 5,000 people for St. Patrick’s Day a few years ago.

A fun fact about me is...

I got to play impromptu shows with a lead singer of Trans Siberian Orchestra and a former bassist of Stevie Wonder.

My advice to someone starting to learn music is...

Take it slow and have fun. Don’t get frustrated if something is hard. You’ll look back in a year or two and be amazed at how far you’ve come.

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