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

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!

Mars Licciardi
Mars Licciardi Portrait

Meet Mars Licciardi!

I have them very blessed to have had a 30+ year career Music performing teaching writing. One of my expectations for myself is to pass the torch to the new generation of musicians teaching is a very big part of who I am as a man and as a mentor and artist.

Why I Became A Musician

I came up in the Chicago music scene in the early 90s when there were thousands of bands and I remember being nine years old and watching a Rush video and wanting to be that good.

My Memorable Musical Experience

I’m blessed to still have a lot of musical memories with current gigs performing around the Pacific Northwest with some of the finest venues, but some of the most incredible musicians and people.

A fun fact about me is...

My first band I played in was a hair metal band and have the pictures to prove it!

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

If it is truly in your heart, never quit!!!

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!

Chloe James
Chloe James Portrait

Meet Chloe James!

I first started playing guitar when I was 8 years old after being exposed to music through my parents and guitar hero and rockband. Music is an outlet that has provided me with so many opportunities such as traveling, meeting lifelong friends, and making art that can be shared with people.

Why I Became A Musician

Hearing bands like Pink Floyd, The Cure, and I enjoy a variety of musical styles such as alternative rock, punk, shoegaze, electronic, jazz, classical, and more!

My Memorable Musical Experience

Touring the east coast with my band True Lilith in 2023.

A fun fact about me is...

I have a band named True Lilith!

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

Be, patient, stay dedicated, and always look for inspiration!

JT Sutek
JT Sutek Portrait

Meet JT Sutek!

JT is a musician and teacher with a deep passion for anything musical. He first picked up guitar at age seven, and throughout the years has added a variety of instruments into his musical portfolio. He has eight years of experience recording, performing, and teaching music across North Carolina and beyond. You can often find him performing with one of his bands, investigating the local record shops, or enjoying the weather with a book and a cup of tea.

Why I Became A Musician

My parents took me to my first concert, and the rest is history.

My Memorable Musical Experience

The first time I got to see one of my students perform with a band they started. I felt so proud getting to see someone else find their passion for music, and knowing I had even a small part in that!

A fun fact about me is...

My socks never match, but there’s always a theme!

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

You become a real musician the second you pick up an instrument. There is no magical moment where you suddenly become “good enough” to have music be a part of your life - you did that just by starting!

Domenice Elcock
Domenice Elcock Portrait

Meet Domenice Elcock!

Charlotte based singer/songwriter, producer, and teacher – Domenice Elcock has been teaching piano, holistic vocal training, vocal therapy, songwriting, production, and artist development for 10 years. With experience ranging from theatre/musicals, choir directing, composing, live shows, studio recording to doing one on one sessions, she has created and contributed to forming safe spaces for others to explore a vast musical landscape and learn about themselves in the process.

Why I Became A Musician

I remember at the age of six my father came home with a huge bag of cassette tapes. There were Spanish songs, opera, instrumental tracks from India, and even indigenous music from aboriginal tribes in Australia! We would listen to, and sing with them in the car everyday. I fell in love with the language of music. No matter where it came from or how different it was…it all told these beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking stories. I wanted to be able to communicate that way too and so I asked for a keyboard for Christmas!

My Memorable Musical Experience

My very first show that I performed under my artist name. My husband and I did a song that we wrote together. And hearing everyone in the room singing it with us was just pure magic!

A fun fact about me is...

I loooove anime!!! I am currently learning Japanese and Korean so I can watch my favorite shows without subtitles.

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

Keep an open mind. Be kind to yourself while you are learning, and acknowledge that growth doesn’t happen without struggle. Some days will feel better than others but each day you work at it, remember that it’s worth it!

James Nunn
James Nunn Portrait

Meet James Nunn!

I have been a full time musician for the past several years, writing, recording, and touring with various acts across the Carolinas. I currently perform with traditional country group Jason Moss & The Hosses and a rock n roll band The Girls.

Why I Became A Musician

Watching The Eagles on video made me really get into music. Watching Led Zeppelin on DVD made me want to get a guitar.

My Memorable Musical Experience

Playing to a packed club in Atlanta, Georgia opening for some of my favorite rock bands.

A fun fact about me is...

I love to cook!

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

Practice, practice, practice.

Miasol Yara
Miasol Yara Portrait

Meet Miasol Yara!

I grew up in a musical family taking lessons in cello, violin, and piano as well as participating in musical theater and choir. I picked up guitar and ukulele when I was around 9 years old, the same time I joined my first pop/rock band. During middle school I started teaching music, and I later was a member of a funk band and another rock band. During college, I joined and music directed an a capella group and continued to teach music.

Why I Became A Musician

My parents are musicians and filled our lives with music as children, so it has always been a natural part of my life. I found a particular love for singing to the point where I feel I can't go without it, and a lot of my motivation to grow my instrumental skills is to accompany that love.

My Memorable Musical Experience

Getting to play Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with Legacy Theater!

A fun fact about me is...

I have lots of other interests including art, creative writing, and animals- I even have a pet snake!

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

The more tools you have to work with, the more you can create. So many of my skills have come not just from lessons, but from expanding my listening and personal practice into a huge variety of music. Even more importantly, you have to consistently use the tools you have so they don't get rusty. Figure out what kind or what part of music draws you in the most, and create your own standards. Nobody is born a musician, and anyone can become one.

Carrie Sutton
Carrie Sutton Portrait

Meet Carrie Sutton!

I have loved music for as far back as I can remember! I have had the opportunity to learn to play many different instruments which has led me to be able to compete on many different stages (instrumental and vocal categories) starting when I was only four years old. I was able to grasp opportunities that I never thought was possible while also being able to do what I love. I have many different styles of music in my background from classical to bluegrass, and I am thrilled to be able to pass along my love of music to anyone who is interested in learning!

Why I Became A Musician

My grandfather and grandmother traveled and sang to anyone who would listen with just the two of them and a guitar. They used to bring me with them to their shows when I was as young as two years old. Growing up seeing their love of music gave me a passion to follow in their footsteps, and that's why I have never turned down the opportunity to pick up another instrument or pursue another dream in music.

My Memorable Musical Experience

When I was 18, the vocal ensemble I was privileged enough to be a part of won second place in the nation. I will never forget the excitement that experience brought to me, and I will always be thankful that I was given that opportunity.

A fun fact about me is...

I have LOTS of different kinds of animals! :).

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

It's so worth it! Music is so much fun, and there is always something new to explore. The doors that pursuing music can open will amaze you. Never give up until you reach your goal!

Joseph Conde
Joseph Conde Portrait

Meet Joseph Conde!

Music has been a part of my life since I can remember. It’s the biggest part of my life and I hope to share that magic with every one of my students. As a multi-instrumentalist I offer a tailored approach to the needs and goals of all of my students regardless of instrument!

Why I Became A Musician

The magic it invokes and the happiness it brings me.

My Memorable Musical Experience

Playing for a crowd of 700 people, all excited to hear my music.

A fun fact about me is...

I can juggle.

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

Keep going and don’t give up. Music can be difficult but incredibly rewarding. Take breaks but always keep pushing.

Erick Esparza
Erick Esparza Portrait

Meet Erick Esparza!

I love sharing my creativity through music for the community. It’s always fun to get great music organized and ready to perform for others. Music makes a moment deeply rich and tasteful.

Why I Became A Musician

I started learning guitar at the age of 13 and every year after I kept getting more and more interested in music. That I realized I wanted to pursue it professionally. I wanted the Guitar to be a part of me. I wanted to have the ability to express myself freely on my instrument.

My Memorable Musical Experience

When I heard a band play music all together for the first time. It created a spark in me that inspired me to learn how to play music. I was in 4th or 5th grade and I believe they played something from Star Wars and other arrangements.

A fun fact about me is...

I have a kitten named Lila.

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

It takes a long time to really understand and apply music on your instrument. Don’t let yourself get discouraged easily.

Joseph “Jay” Riedel
Joseph “Jay” Riedel Portrait

Meet Joseph “Jay” Riedel!

Jay Rydel has been a freelance musician since 2015. Often playing over 100 gigs a year, he performs pop, rock, blues, jazz, R&B, country, folk, funk, soul, hip-hop, and more. Today he focuses on writing, recording, and producing his original music as well as collaborating with other artists and musicians. He started releasing his own music in 2020.

Why I Became A Musician

Feeling the excitement and nerves of performing as a young kid on piano. Jamming with my friends as a teenager (one of them being Bold Music’s co-founder George Ramsay). The process of creating and writing music is my favorite thing in the world.

My Memorable Musical Experience

Seeing D’angelo and the Vanguard at the Ogden Theater in Denver.

A fun fact about me is...

I have chickens.

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

Have fun. Play through mistakes. Rhythm is the most important thing. Understand the difference between practicing and learning. Play music with others.

Alex McKeel
Alex McKeel Portrait

Meet Alex McKeel!

I grew up playing and studying classical music in South Carolina, performing in a variety of ensembles and orchestras, both professional and amateur. In college I began studying jazz and improvisation performing both solo and in Clemson’s jazz ensembles, as well as forming a few informal groups with other students. I now live in Atlanta, teaching private lessons and performing and recording as much as I can!

Why I Became A Musician

When I was younger, playing music in my local community, I found it brought everyone a lot closer together. I look at music as a community building tool, and that is why I will always keep it in my life.

My Memorable Musical Experience

I had a regular gig in college playing long solo piano sets in this historic dinner club in Aiken’s horse district. It was a very great experience as a young person to play for an older crowd like this who had lived through the eras I was playing music from. I learned a lot from their stories and their connection to jazz from the 40s, 50s and 60s.

A fun fact about me is...

I love to cook.

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

Get to your instrument every single day, even if just for a minute or two!

Jennifer Jess
Jennifer Jess Portrait

Meet Jennifer Jess!

I’ve been regularly teaching for about 3 years and off and on for a decade. I originally went to school for opera and left early to pursue my own music career. I later trained with Jan Smith Studios and discovered my true pop voice there.

Why I Became A Musician

My mother and my grandmother who were also singers.

My Memorable Musical Experience

In my early twenties I was a part of a local competition. At the time, I was dealing with daily anxiety and I was doubting whether I should continue to pursue a music career. I told myself that if I could get up in front of this crowd of 5,000 people and feel at peace on stage, then I was meant to do this. I stepped up on the stage and I felt nothing but an overwhelming peace. I knew I would never question my pursuit in music after that.

A fun fact about me is...

I sang live in front of an audience for the first time when I was 10 years old--all a cappella.

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

Consider the genre of music you're interested in learning and also what your specific goals are. Know that it takes time, patience and dedication to get really good at your craft.

Mckeila Ortiz Glaum
Mckeila Ortiz Glaum Portrait

Meet Mckeila Ortiz Glaum!

Mckeila Ortiz Glaum is a passionate singer and music educator who brings over ten years of piano experience, five years of classical vocal training, and active performance work to her teaching. She specializes in piano and voice and loves building a warm, student-centered space where musicians can grow with confidence.

Why I Became A Musician

I grew up surrounded by music, from choir rehearsals to playing piano at home, and over time, I realized how deeply it connects people and how meaningful it felt to be part of that experience. That blend of expression, community, and purpose is what inspired me to make music-making a meaningful part of my everyday life.

My Memorable Musical Experience

One of my most memorable moments was performing with Opera Carolina for the first time and seeing students’ faces light up during the show. It reminded me how powerful and joyful music becomes when it’s share, and why music education matters so deeply.

A fun fact about me is...

I have performed in 8 operas.

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

Give yourself permission to grow at your own pace and enjoy the process. The small, consistent steps matter more than perfection.

Jackson Harden
Jackson Harden Portrait

Meet Jackson Harden!

Jackson Harden is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer from Utah and now residing in Concord. He got his start in music at the age of eight when he started taking private lessons for guitar, now his primary instrument, specializing in fingerstyle picking and folk & rock music. Over the twenty years since then he has picked up the piano, bass, banjo, harmonica, and lap steel guitar as well. He attended Snow College for music and graduated with a Bachelors of Commercial Music degree in 2019 which provided him with a thorough education of music theory, technique, ear training, composition and wide range of genres and musical styles. Some of his favorite artists include Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Arctic Monkeys.

Why I Became A Musician

When I was seven years old my childhood friend gave me several burned Green Day CDs and it rocked my world. I wanted to be just like Billie Joe Armstrong and begged my parents to get me a guitar. On my eighth birthday they got me on and signed me up for guitar lessons and the rest is history!

My Memorable Musical Experience

Seeing my first real concert when I was 12 years old. I saw Jack Johnson in Salt Lake City and I remember thinking that that's what I want to do when I grow up.

A fun fact about me is...

I was an extra in High School Musical 3.

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

Don't get discouraged if it doesn't come naturally right away. Practice a little bit every single day rather than letting days go by without practicing. Eventually it will click and then it starts to get really fun!

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