Meet Our Staff:

Ms. Tabitha was surrounded by music and musicians from birth, and growing up a love and appreciation for music of all kinds was instilled in her, starting piano lessons at 5 years old, and writing simple songs and melodies soon after. Ms. Tabitha was fortunate to have a music major father who led a local kids concert band that she joined in early elementary school to play xylophone, the chimes, and handheld percussion instruments. 

After participating in many church music programs, bands, and choirs throughout middle and high school, Ms. Tabitha began teaching in 2019 while attending Francis Marion University where she received her degree in Music Industry, drawing from over a decade of piano experience to teach kids and adults alike how to find joy through music. 

Having lived all around the US growing up, Ms. Tabitha has studied under many different styles of pedagogy throughout the years from teachers including world-class musicians such as Dr. Paolo Andre Gualdi at Francis Marion University, . 

After growing her own studio for multiple years, Ms. Tabitha founded the Florence Music Academy to give a wider access of quality music lessons to the community, and to help create access for musicians to build careers in music.

Mrs. Christy started taking piano lessons at age four and has grown to love music ever since! She is a pianist with a passion for educating the next generation of music students, collaborating with singers and instrumentalists, and performing classical and sacred works. She believes that music is for everyone, as it creates joy, brings people together, and teaches important life skills. 

While growing up in Florida, Mrs. Christy sang in elementary and middle school choirs, where other kids inspired her to keep making music. She also studied with a particularly amazing piano teacher who taught improvisation (especially with hymns) and piano ensemble skills. She continued her musical pursuits at an arts magnet high school that provided exciting opportunities, like playing in piano festivals in France and Belgium. 

Mrs. Christy is the piano teacher and collaborative pianist for the choir program at South Florence High School. She serves as the lead musician for a morning service at St. John’s Anglican Church, collaborates with musicians throughout the community, and adjudicates for piano festivals. She earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy at Florida State University, where she got to study with incredible professors and make lifelong friends. She is so thrilled to be joining the team at Florence Music Academy!

Mrs. Angela has had a love for music since early childhood. Her earliest musical memories are of listening to her mother practice and play the organ and piano in her small hometown church in rural South Carolina. She was thrilled to begin piano lessons at age 8 and has played regularly ever since. Her lifelong love of music continued through middle and high school where she expanded her music endeavors to include singing in various choirs at school and at church and playing saxophone in the school band. 

She attended Francis Marion University to pursue a degree in Elementary Education where she continued to take music classes as part of her college classes which included music teaching classes and voice lessons. 

After graduation, she began teaching in Florence Schools where she taught for 38 years before her recent retirement. 

During those years, music continued to play an important role in her life as she played piano and sang in various choirs and ensembles. 

She also inspired her own three children to learn to play piano and other instruments during their childhood, and adult years. 

Mrs. Angela is excited to combine her knowledge and love of music and teaching in her role as piano instructor at The Florence Music Academy where she hopes to inspire more young musicians to pursue a lifelong interest in music.

Mr. Tanner was immersed in music from a young age. Throughout middle and high school, he learned to play the viola, was in the percussion section in band, and performed many times within his school, church, and the local community.  

After moving to Pamplico in 2013, Mr. Tanner was a part of the Hannah-Pamplico High School Chorus Ensemble and the school’s theatrical performances, as well as being involved in the choir at Union Baptist church.   

In 2019 Mr. Tanner moved to Florence to attend Francis Marion University where he  received his bachelors degree in Computer Science. He  is involved in Ebenezer Baptist Church's adult choir, Christmas plays, and is a volunteer with their children’s ministry! 

Mr. Tanner's love for music was rekindled post-college, he began taking advanced piano lessons, and now is so excited to be able to share that love of music with beginners here at the Academy!

Mr. Griffin attended Francis Marion University where he studied Music Business and Theatre. Mr. Griffin has played drums in many bands throughout the years including concert band, marching band, pop rock bands, the FMU jazz ensemble, and at church. He is proficient in many different styles of playing including bossa nova, slow jazz (brushes), punk, rock and roll, country, and gospel, as well as various pop genres. Mr. Griffin has had the pleasure of playing drums with several different professors during his time at FMU such as Dr. Shane Reeves, Dr. Paolo Andre Gualdi and Dr. Brandon Goff. 

Mr. Griffin has been playing music since he was 3 years old, and has been playing the piano since around the age of 12, ultimately taking classes with piano professors at FMU. 

Mr. Griffin also plays piano for the choir, special singers, and youth at his church. 

Ms. Anna has always loved music. She began singing and performing at three years old, and at ten she took an interest in guitar. Ms. Anna began her study of guitar under Benjamin Scott, touring pianist with NewSong and The JJ Weeks Band. 

After moving to Florence in 2021, Ms. Anna continued her study under Bethel Music College graduate Daniel Watkins who she continues to perform with today. Ms. Anna has played guitar and sang at many events including women’s conferences, youth events, and local charity gatherings. She also plays on her church worship team. 

Ms. Anna began teaching beginner guitar lessons in 2023. She is passionate about the joy found in music and performance. She is excited about sharing that joy and passion at Florence Music Academy.

Mr. Shammond began playing the guitar at the age of 14 after being inspired by rock bands from the 90's and 2000's. After graduating from Hannah Pamplico High School, he began attending Francis Marion University where he recieved his Bachelor's degree in Music Technology with a minor in business. He studies under the guitarist and professor John Ware (BAMM), anlongside others such as Dr. Paolo Andre Gualdi and Dr. Brandon Goff. 

During his time at Francis Marion University, Shammond has played shows with many ensembles including the FMU Music Industry Ensemble and the FMU Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Shammond is dedicated to spreading the joy of guitar playing to people of all ages and is happy to teach at the Florence Music Academy.

Ms. Emilierose has an extensive repertoire of varying vocal styles from contemporary, musical theatre and classical—as well as being a diligent song writer herself!

Ms. Emilierose has been singing since she could talk, beginning her studies in Coventry, RI, under Berkeley College of Music graduate Stan Mundslow from the age of 6 until the age of 15. During this time, she was accepted into the High school all-state choir and performed for Berkeley College of Music professors for judgment and critiques. 

Once she moved to Florence, SC, she began vocal training under Dr. Fran Coleman  at Francis Marion University, where she received her BSc in Music Industry. While studying at FMU, Ms. Emilierose participated in the FMU choir, FMU Select Choir, and FMU Music Industry Ensemble, where she is a lead vocalist and the FMU Percussion ensemble. Ms. Emilierose is a studio recording artist and released an album with the FMU Music Industry Ensemble. 

She performed Handel's Messiah with the Florence Symphony Orchestra, and travelled to New York and performed under conductor Sonja Sepulveda at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Emilierose also spent a year as a lead soprano for St. Mathews’s Apostolic church.

Outside of Music, Ms. Emilierose has extensive experience in child care. She worked for five years in children’s physical, mental and social development at the Little Gym of Florence. She has spent time working with and teaching children of all ages, as well as those with learning disabilities.

Ms. Emilierose is currently pursuing a Master’s of Music from Coastal Carolina University. 

Mr. Curtis is a musician originally from the foothills of North Carolina near Asheville. He began developing his musical abilities at a young age, playing piano by ear and later expanding to studying woodwinds, drawing inspiration from the sounds of Pete Fountain and Artie Shaw. 

By age 15, he was composing music, studying theory, and learning multiple instruments, including clarinet, flute, and saxophone.

During high school, he earned the John Philip Sousa Award twice, the first in East Rutherford High School’s history, and served as Drum Major while performing with the Jazz Ensemble. He later attended Gardner-Webb University, continuing to teach and perform music while pursuing studies in both music and business.

Over the years, Mr. Curtis has performed in churches, local ensembles, and even on cruise liners.

Now based in Florence, SC, Mr. Curtis remains dedicated to sharing his love of music. He teaches clarinet, flute, and saxophone, emphasizing both technical skills and the joy of learning improvisation, the same way his own musical journey began. 

Ms. Hanna graduated from Anderson University with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy, with a minor in Theatre. She has earned honors through the National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions. She qualified for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Student Auditions in both Musical Theatre and Classical in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and qualified for the National Student Auditions in Classical in 2020, in the Hall Johnson category in 2022, and in the Musical Theatre and Spiritual categories in 2023. She was also a finalist in the John Alexander National Vocal Competition in Musical theatre in 2022. 

She has participated in Opera Workshop productions, various choirs, and performed with the Jazz Band while at Anderson University. She was also a soloist with the Anderson Symphony Orchestra in 2022. She has also participated in Florence Little Theatre Productions. In the Summer of 2022, she studied with the International Performing Arts Institute in Germany. She continues her vocal studies under Deirdre Welborn, M.M, and is attending The Peabody Institute for her Masters in Music.