eric vaughn
Eric fell in love with music at an early age, receiving his first drum set at age 3. In high school, he performed nationally and internationally with both choral and band ensembles at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Giants Stadium. In his summers, he toured 3 years with the DCI (Drum Corps International) Circuit, serving as a drum major for Carolina Crown and winning the World Championship with the Cadets in 2000. He received a Bachelor's in Music Education from USC where he specialized in trumpet and instrumental music. Eric has worked extensively as both an instructor and consultant to high school marching bands such as Irmo, Sumter, and Gilbert. Over the last 13 years, he has worked as a performing drummer, guitarist, and trumpet player. He has 14 years of private teaching experience and can play every instrument. Eric is also a SC state-certified music educator and currently is the Academy Director of the West Ashley branch of BTMA. He teaches on DI on Mondays.
Mike Greeley
Michael began playing guitar at a very early age. His first guitar teacher was his Father, who would play for weekly church services. As his love for music progressed, he attended private lessons focusing on areas ranging from classical to jazz, blues and rock. He went on to study at Mesa Community College, majoring in music theory and theater and then on to Arizona State University where he continued his studies. Michael spent years playing and touring with groups while honing his skills both in live situations as well as in recording arts. He has experience in recording production, artist development, orchestral and group arrangement, as well as electronic and synthesized music production. He has taught a wide range of students from teenagers to adults. He loves to share his passion for music with anyone who wants to learn and help them explore and cultivate a creative and artistic style all their own.
Heidi Blanc-blum
Heidi was born and raised in southern Wisconsin, where she got a very early start to her musical pursuits, thanks to her wonderful musician mother. She started piano lessons at age four, and voice at age six. Her fondest young musical memories are of choirs, musical theatre productions and performing traditional Swiss songs at festivals. In fourth grade she picked up the flute, in seventh she switched to oboe, picked up several miscellaneous instruments in between, and as a Sophomore she found her favorite: the bassoon. The bassoon took her all sorts of great places, including pit orchestras, concerto competitions, youth orchestras, and eventually to Chicago to attend DePaul University School of Music. There, she studied with musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and other world-renowned musicologists. Her studies at DePaul include extensive music theory and history, music education with a concentration in instrumental pedagogy, and performance in wind bands and orchestras. Though teaching private lessons has always been her joy in life, she has also had the privilege of directing children's choirs, being a clinician at high schools, selling handmade bassoon reeds, and all sorts of other performance gigs. She is very excited to bring her diverse musical experiences to BTMA!
sam cooper
Sam is a graduate from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. He as an extremely diverse musician offering lessons covering a wide range of styles including pop, rock, country, jazz, classical and world; Sam’s got you covered! Sam teaches guitar, bass, ukelele and piano. Be sure to ask him about the piece he composed for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra!
Celeste markey
Originally from southern California, clarinetist Celeste Markey holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of California, Irvine. Celeste has collaborated with conductors Matthias Barnert, Keith Lockhart, JoAnn Falletta, Grant Llwewllyn, Ken Lam, and Carlos Migues Prieto. She was previously the bass clarinet fellow for the Brevard Music Center faculty and student orchestras, and for the 2014 YOA Caribbean Tour.
Celeste maintains an active teaching studio and has taught masterclasses across the United States, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. She has performed on both clarinet and bass clarinet with a varity of orchestras, including the Charleston Symphony, Fayetteville Symphony, Georgia Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, and the Ft. Collins Symphony Orchestra.
Celeste maintains an active teaching studio and has taught masterclasses across the United States, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. She has performed on both clarinet and bass clarinet with a varity of orchestras, including the Charleston Symphony, Fayetteville Symphony, Georgia Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, and the Ft. Collins Symphony Orchestra.