Richmond Music Center

Bradford Carson

Teaching music professionally at Prince Edward County High School, Richmond Music Center, and Buffalo Creek Guitar Company specializing in jazz, rock, blues, classical, and theory. Currently performing with High Street Jazz Band, The Mamajamuhs, Confirmation, solo jazz, and duo jazz with VCU’s own Mike Ess.

Guitar, Bass, Violin, Keyboard

Brady Cole

Brady has more than 22 years of playing experience, with 10+ years teaching and gigging in many styles.

He has a BM in jazz studies plus classical training.

Guitar

Chris Whiteman

Chris has been playing guitar for over 20 years. He studied both classical and jazz guitar at Virginia Commonwealth University before transferring to the University of Miami, where he recieved his Bachelor of Music in Studio Music & Jazz, and his Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy. While at the University of Miami, Chris was the graduate teaching assistant for jazz guitar and for two years held the position of guitarist for the Grammy nominated U.M. Concert Jazz Band. After graduation Chris was hired as full time faculty at the University of Miami and in 2007 was appointed the acting director of jazz guitar studies, a position he held until relocating to Richmond in 2008. Chris has been involved in many areas of the music industry, including: performing, composing and arranging for T.V., Film, other artists, and studio work for major label releases. Chris teaches all styles of guitar as well as music theory and sight reading.

Guitar

Bryan Stiglich

Bryan has been playing since he was 12, with nearly 20 years of experience in all genres ranging from jazz to metal. He teaches technique, sight-reading and theory in numerous styles.



Bryan performs regularly around the area - for more info check out myspace.com/lichaquatic

Drums

Chuck Harrell

Bass

John McCloud

John is a versatile musician, well accomplished in Piano, bass guitar, and woodwinds. John regularly performs around the area and can be found online at myspace.com/mccloudmusic

Piano, Bass, Sax

Josh Bryant

Mike Anderson

Mike is a bass player that has been teaching at Richmond Music Center for over 20 years. Starting off as an alto sax player and then moving on to finding a groove to becoming a bass player as well. He has studied Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University and then moved on to Computer Operations at J. Sargeant Reynolds, now combining his knowledge in digital recording and sound engineering. Over the years recording at The Platinum Factory in Brooklyn New York, WindMark Recording in Virginia Beach, In Your Ear, Sound of Music, and Ruff Productions in Richmond are some fantastic studios he has recorded at. Some of the great bands he has been a member of are the R&B group Richmond International, the jazz fusion group 4 to 1, and still a member of the classic rock band Plan B, Mike Gales & The Warriorz, and the group Nick Jazzy who has opened up shows many times for Little Feat. Other memorable gigs have been opening shows for 38. Special and The Little River Band in Norfolk. He also helps as the FOH sound engineer for the group Marvin Taylor Experience. Mikeʼs enthusiasm for bass has lead him to attend numerous “Bass Day” events over the years in New York City attending many clinics with professional bass players such as Victor Wooten, Oteil Burbridge, Steve Bailey, Andrew Gouché, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clarke, Jonas Hellborg, Victor Bailey, Gary Willis, Oscar Cartaya to name a few.

Bass

Mike Moran

Mike holds a Degree in music from VCU, enjoys teaching all ages and genres of music, specifically rock, bluegrass, country, jazz, hard rock, classical and fingerstyle.

Mike teaches beginner through advanced music theory.

Reggie Pace

Hailing from Hampton VA via Chicago IL, Reginald migrated to VA to study music/music education at VCU. He has been playing for over 15 years and has been teaching all brass instruments for nearly a decade. Reggie is classically trained, and also plays in several jazz, R&B and rock groups.

Reggie performs in many diverse styles from avante-garde rock to New Orleans brass to techno and funk. Reggie has performed onstage with Seamus Blake, Ray Anderson, Rex Richardson, Mulgrew Miller, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Karl Denson, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Richmond Symphony, Fighting Gravity and the Dave Matthews Band.

Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Tuba

Scott Cory

A native of Ft. Lauderdale, Scott has performed as a professional guitarist for over a decade in the Richmond area. Scott regularly performs for receptions, corporate functions and private parties throughout central VA. Scott has performed for non-profit organizations like the Virginia Museum, the Valentine Museum, Science Museum of Virginia, MCV, Johnston Willis hospital, United Way, Sierra Club and others.



Scott holds a Bachelor of Music as well as a Master of Music Degree in Guitar Performance from VCU. Mr. Cory has been an adjunct faculty member through VCU's Department of Music and Trinity Episcopal School.

Guitar

Tonya Cory

Tonya has been a voice and piano instructor in the Richmond area since 1996. She has studied voice and piano since the age of 6 with teachers such as Cynthia Donnell and Wayne Batty. Tonya is formally trained as well as being versed in multiple genres like pop, Broadway, rock, country, jazz and various classical styles. Tonya has performed both as a soloist and a vocalist in bands around the Richmond area. She has been an accompanist for the Brandermill church in Midlothian VA since 1997.

Voice, Piano

Andre LaBelle

With 30 years experience performing and recording, Andre teaches not only the mechanics of drumming but the ability to play with character and feeling within a band as well. Living ten years in Los Angeles as a session player, Andre has worked with such world-renowned artists as KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent and can be found in the KISS family tree, Buckcherry's Josh Todd, Richie Kotzen of Poison, and currently Robert Fleischman of Journey. He has also appeared in a variety of clinic and live settings including work on television and film. Andre's drumming is a blend of many musical styles and he believes one's growth as a artist never truly ends. http://www.myspace.com/andrelabelle

Drums

Lee Covington

Lee holds a degree in Jazz Performance from VCU and has been a working musician around the area for over 30 years. Lee teaches all styles from Jazz to Classical to Pop.

Piano, Keyboards

Dean Berry

Dean brings more than 28 years of playing experience, classical guitar training from Marshall University, and over 20 years professional teaching experience to Richmond Music. Dean basically started the guitar program at RMC nearly 20 years ago. Dean has performed with The Change, Stretch Tracy, Pug-N-Bones, Undone, Guff Tribe, Mad Marjorie, S.N.A.F.U., and Sin City Revival. Currently playing with the B-Side Electric Band among others. Dean offers all styles and levels to all ages of students.

Guitar

Mike Ess

Mike has a diverse career as a music educator and professional guitarist on call for many jazz and pop players in the Richmond and Washington D.C. areas. Mike has performed with such artists as Jimmy Bruno, John Scofield, Clark Terry, Barry Harris, George Coleman and John D'earth. Mike has perfomed as leader or sideman for many many groups in the area.

Mike has toured extensively throughout North America and Canada, performed on countless sessions including national ads for Crest Toothpaste and Redman chewing tobacco, among others.

Mike coordinated the Jazz guitar performance program at VCU in 1989 and created its very successful curriculum.

Guitar

Bryce McCormick

Bryce holds a Bachelor Degree in Jazz Piano Performance and is a Certified VA music teacher. He performed for 3 years on Spirit Cruise Lines and was the pianist for Ruths Chris Steakhouse.

Piano

Matt Goves

Percussionist and drum set artist Matt Goves has been active in the greater Richmond area as an educator, performer and clinician since moving to Richmond in 1990 to attend VCU’s School of Music. Matt has served as an instructor for many middle and high school ensembles and has spent the past 12 years as Percussion Coordinator for Douglass Freeman High School in Henrico County, where he oversees the marching percussion program and directs the percussion ensemble. Matt also currently serves as Instructor of Percussion at The Collegiate School. Since 1996, Matt has been teaching private percussion and drum set lessons at Southern Music and Richmond Music Center. He credits his refined teaching style to the late Don Bick, with whom he had the great fortune to study percussion while at VCU. Matt’s performing career has been very successful and quite diverse. He performed 200 concerts a year and recorded three full-length CDs with Universal Records artists, The Ernies, over the span of seven years. Matt has also been a member of well-known regional bands such as The Kyle Davis Band, The King Pins, Schwa, and Time and a Half. Currently, Matt can be found performing with the critically acclaimed country group, The River City Gang. In addition to his work with these popular bands, Matt’s work as a percussionist has allowed him to perform with The Richmond Symphony, The Commonwealth Winds and as a soloist with the VCU Orchestra. The latter was the result of winning the 1994 Virginia Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition in which he performed Toshiro Mayuzumi's Concertino for Xylophone & Orchestra. Matt brings a level of enthusiasm and appreciation for every student to each lesson. With his extensive background in so many different areas of percussion, Matt is able to connect with each student regardless of background or experience. In addition to Matt’s passion for percussion, he enjoys spending time with his family, especially his son, Evan.

Percussion, Drum Set

Peter Sims

Teaching professionally for five years. Peter has studied privately with the best local musicians in jazz, classical, and music theory. Specializes in teaching students a broad range of playing styles, from metal to blues to jazz and classical. Plays with a national recording/touring group and has placed former and current students in different bands in the state. Teaches bass, guitar, and beginner/intermediate upright bass. -Ages 6 and up.

Bass, Guitar

Heidi Csallner

Tony Ruiz

Guitar

Tommy Daughtrey

Tommy has been playing professionally for 20 years. A 1983 graduate of Virginia Tech, he has taught saxophone and clarinet for 15 years at Richmond Music Center. In 1989, Tommy moved to Athens, Georgia to play in one of Athens first bands, Love Tractor. Love Tractor enjoyed success as a headliner as well as a back-up band to groups such as REM, the B-52's and Widespread Panic. Tommy returned to Richmond in 1994 and played with several local bands before heading to the Caribbean to play in the big band aboard Royal Caribbean's S.S. Monarch. After several months in the Caribbean, Tommy began studying with Gunnar Mossblad, Professor of Jazz at James Madison University. Since Mossblad's relocation to Philadelphia, PA, Tommy has continued a more comprehensive study of horn and baritone sax under his tutelage. Tommy is the tenor saxophonist for Richmond based funk band Soulercoaster, formerly known as Phat Albert. Tommy cites his influences as Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz and Miles Davis. Check out Tommy at: www.therhythmasters.com

Clarinet, Saxophone

Jason Scott

Jason is professional musician and educator living in Richmond, Va. Jason received a M.A. from New York University in Jazz Performance and Composition and a B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Music Education. While attending NYU, Jason was the recipient of Charles Mcghee Scholarship for Musical Excellence and the Barney Josephson Award for Outstanding Leadership in Jazz/Contemporary Music Studies. His education has included opportunities to study under world renowned musicians including Jim Mcneely, George Garzone, Ralph Lalama, Jon Gordon, Tony Moreno, Mike Richmond, Tony Malaby, Ed Freidrich, Doug Richards, Skip Gailes, Don Friedman, and Bob Halahan. In his 16 years of experience, Jason has performed with a variety of nationally and internationally recognized artist such as Chris Potter, Dave Binney, Ken Vandermark, Devils Workshop, Dave Holland, Barry Harris, George Coleman, Jim Mcneely, Hilton Ruiz, Christian Mcbride, Mulgrew Miller, Grady Tate, and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Kings of Swing, Ed Palermo Big Band, Upper East Side Big Band, Fight the Big Bull, Steve Bernstein, David Karsten Daniels, and Karl Blau. Currently Jason teaches woodwinds for Richmond Music Center, Director of bands for Richmond Academy k-12 school, and saxophone instructor at University of Richmond. Jason performs regularly with internationally acclaimed and Richmond born, “Fight the Big Bull” as well as his own ensembles.

Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute

Josh Gramling

Josh Gramling is an experienced professional both as a performer and educator.He spent 4 years studying classical and jazz guitar at Virginia Commonwealth University.Where he also gained valuable training in Piano,Theory,Aural skills,Vocals and Pedagogy. Josh has studied and or taken lessons with Mike Ess,Anthony Wilson,Adam Lorrabee,and Dave Tousaint.As a performer Josh is versed in many styles including -Country,Blues,Rock/Metal,Funk,Pop,Jazz and Classical. Currently plays throughout the state of Virginia,D.C,Maryland and North Carolina with his bands.DB Band (Country),Southern Ground(Blues,Classic and Southern Rock) and with his own Josh Gramling Trio. Josh also performs solo gigs for weddings and private events.Josh brings his love for Music, the Guitar and Teaching to Richmond Music.

Guitar

James Oyan

James Oyan has been a percussionist in the Richmond area for the past 15 years. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University. As a performer, James plays regularly as a member of Quux Collective, alongside saxophonists Sheri Oyan and Michael Straus, and clarinetist Roland Karnatz. He has also played drums in musicals for the Swift Creek Mill Theatre, percussion for the Richmond Philharmonic, and is the drummer for the local Richmond group The Hadron Delay. As a teacher, James has been the drumline instructor at Nottoway High School, and most recently at L.C. Bird High School. In addition, he has taught several clinics as a solo marimba artist at several schools in the area. He has been teaching private lessons since 2004.

Drums, Percussion