Hill City Music offers music lessons for a variety of instruments and for all skill levels.  Lessons are offered at our studios in Lynchburg, and all of our instructors are degreed professional teachers. Lessons are offered weekly in half-hour ($24) or full-hour ($42) increments.  Read about our teachers below, or click "More Information" to request that a teacher contact you.

TRUMPET-Tyler has been playing music around the Central Virginia area for over a decade. He is currently receiving a Bachelors of Music in Performance from Longwood University. He studies classical trumpet under Mr. George Tuckwiller and jazz studies with Dr. Charlie Kinzer. He is now the assistant band director at Fuqua School in Farmville. Tyler has performed with groups such as; The Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra, and tours with his New Orleans style brass band.

TYLER GAGE

PERCUSSION-Born and raised in Eatontown, New Jersey, Kenneth Brand is a professional musician and music educator residing in Lynchburg, Virginia. Kenneth’s formal music education started in 2005 at New Jersey City University. There, he studied under international percussion recording artists Greg Giannascoli and Broadway performer/conductor Nick Cerrato. During the summer of 2007, Kenneth transferred to Lynchburg College (now University of Lynchburg) to focus his studies on music education. He has served on the instructional staffs of the Monmouth Regional High School marching band (Tinton Falls, NJ), Liberty University Indoor Percussion, Brookville High School marching band and indoor percussion, and the Heritage High School marching band (where he currently serves as assistant director). Kenneth is currently the band director at Sandusky Middle School, where he is in his third year teaching. Kenneth currently performs around Virginia in a variety of performance ensembles including music theater productions, the University of Lynchburg Wind Ensemble, and Flat Five Jazz.

KEN BRAND

OBOE & BASSOON- Heather Sumner earned her Instrumental Education Bachelors degree from Lynchburg College in 2010, and her Instrumental Conducting Masters from Lynchburg College in 2012. Throughout her education at Lynchburg College Heather has performed in numerous ensembles, including the Wind Symphony, Orchestra, pit orchestra, Jazz Band, Handbell Choir, Woodwind Quintet, and Concert Choir. She has also played at Schonbrunn palace in Austria, and performed as an oboe soloist in Tianjin, China. Heather currently serves as an adjunct professor at Lynchburg College, teaching chamber music.

HEATHER SUMNER

FLUTE- Medley Lovelace pursues two major passions in her career: creating music and encouraging others to develop a love for the art. She earned a Bachelor’s of Music in Flute Performance from Liberty University in 2014 and will soon graduate with a Master’s of Arts in Music Education. During her time at Liberty she studied with Alycia Hugo, won the concerto competition in 2013, performed on flute and piccolo in the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, various chamber ensembles, theater and opera productions, and had original musical compositions premiered. She enjoys playing in Lynchburg and has performed with the Lynchburg Symphony, in recital with Forte Chamber Music, and other ensembles in many musical and church settings. Her pedagogical interests include ear training, music theory, music history, improvisation, and musical collaboration.

MEDLEY LOVELACE

CLASSICAL GUITAR/ UKULELE- Josi Emery began playing electric guitar when she was 11 years old. She studied classical guitar at the collegiate level and fell in love with it. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Liberty University in May of 2015. Josi enjoys playing and teaching fingerstyle jazz and classical guitar. Josi also performs in local venues and for special events in the Lynchburg area.

JOSI EMERY

VIOLIN - Sara Edwards started playing violin at the age of 8, which sparked a love for music, and led her to pick up several more instruments. Sara is a singer/songwriter who has been performing in Virginia, professionally, since 2015.  She enjoys teaching all ages to have an appreciation and curiosity for music, while catering to each individual’s specific needs and enhancing their playing and expression.  Sara studied Wildlife Biology at Liberty University and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in 2018.  While in college, she studied music and took private lessons to improve her skills. She has experience in the education field and is familiar with a multitude of strategies for approaching teaching and inspiring creativity.

SARA EDWARDS

HARP – Kristin Quint has been playing the harp for 15 years, obtaining her M.M. in Harp Performance from the University of Michigan (2018) and her B.M. in Artist Development from Liberty University (2016). She is an engaging soloist, as well as an active ensemble musician with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and surrounding groups. In addition to performing, Ms. Quint enjoys collaborating with composers writing new music for the harp, and has premiered works including a one-act opera and several chamber pieces. Believing in the unique sound qualities of the harp and the healing power of music, Ms. Quint is certified as a therapeutic musician through the Music for Healing and Transition Program, in order to provide live therapeutic music at the bedside of patients in all healthcare situations. As a harp teacher, Ms. Quint’s aims for relaxed playing stemming from good technique, and adapts instruction according to each student’s goals and abilities.

KRISTIN QUINT

CLARINET & SAXOPHONE -Jacob Elder earned his Instrumental Music Education Degree from Lynchburg College in 2018.Throughout his time at Lynchburg College Jacob played in several different ensembles including the LC Jazz Band, Handbell Choir, Clarinet Choir, Cibo Saxophone Quartet, Pit Orchestra,Concert Choir, and served as principle clarinet for LC’s Wind Symphony for his junior and senior years. Jacob currently serves as a woodwind coach for William Campbell combined school.

JACOB ELDER

F HORN/ PIANO-Leray S. Wingo is a recent graduate of the University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg College) where she earned highest honors in instrumental music education.

Leray specializes in high brass, and currently teaches music for Amherst County Public Schools.

LERAY WINGO

PETER GIL

ACOUSTIC/ CLASSICAL GUITAR - Bio Coming Soon!

WALKER PENNOCK

BRASS/BEGINNING BAND INSTRUMENTS-Bio Coming Soon!