Meet Our Teaching 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. Patrick began taking drum lessons at the age of 14 to learn to jam with his friends and play covers of their favorite rock songs together. After playing in his friends' bands throughout his high school years, he began wanting to pursue creating music of his own. Which led him to taking piano lessons, studying music theory, and teaching himself to play guitar. With only 3 months of playing guitar under his belt, he released his first solo EP in Dec of 2017, made using an old laptop and recording interface that was handed down from his older brother. 

Over the years since, Mr. Patrick has written, recorded, produced, and released 6 EPs of his own, and helped others with writing and recording records of their own. He has also enlisted the help of his friends to perform his songs live at DIY shows across the state of South Carolina.

Mr. Patricks’ passion and curiosity for music led him to studying music technology at Francis Marion University, where he expanded his abilities through one on one drum and guitar lessons, as well as many late nights at the FMU recording studio. During his time at FMU he also played in the FMU Jazz and Music industry ensembles, which gave him a deeper appreciation for all different genres of music.

Despite his more academic background, Mr. Patrick has maintained a love for the weird and wonderful sounds of DIY music, and strongly believes in empowering others to create and share their art, regardless of ability or tools at their disposal.

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. 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.

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. Jimmerson is a veteran music educator, consultant, and performing artist with nearly 30 years of experience directing instrumental music programs in Iowa and Minnesota, where he has led award-winning concert bands, jazz ensembles, marching bands, percussion ensembles, and chamber groups. Ensembles under his direction have earned numerous superior ratings and top honors at regional and national competitions, including recognition at Bands of America Marching Band Championships and Heart of America National Show Choir Festivals. Currently, he is the Adjunct Band Director at Coker University in Hartsville, South Carolina.

With an emphasis on lifelong music appreciation and a student-centered approach, Mr. Jimmerson’s experience includes audition preparation, festival adjudication, music arranging, marching band show design, and band lessons from beginners through high school. His students have received numerous honors such as All-State ensemble participation, Best Soloist awards, and college music scholarships.

Mr. Jimmerson is a native of Manson, Iowa, where his father was a successful band director for many years. He received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Simpson College (Indianola, IA), along with an additional secondary math teaching certification.  He has completed graduate-level coursework at Illinois State University (Normal, IL) and VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, IL), with an emphasis on pedagogy and instrumental program coordination. While at Simpson, he completed junior and senior recitals on trombone and piano, worked as a student tutor and accompanist, and performed in several instrumental and choral ensembles. Throughout his teaching career, he has continued to perform with multiple municipal bands, jazz ensembles, and theatrical productions. 

In his free time, he enjoys running, outdoor activities such kayaking and bicycling, and of course, attending live music and theater events. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Florence and have three sons and a rescue dog.