Private Lessons

Christie Conaway is a Sunnyvale native that has been teaching flute for over 25 years. She has a Bachelor of Music from Stephen F. Austin State University with an All Level Teaching Certification. She is a prior Elementary Music Specialist and is a member of the Texas Music Educator Association. Christie opened a Kindermusik Studio in Forney in 2006 and has enjoyed making music with little ones and their families ever since.  She lives in Historic Downtown Forney with her husband, Mark, and their twin 17 year old boys, Grant and Preston who are members of the Raider Pride Band.  Christie serves as Performing Arts Director for the Forney Arts Council and hosts Singer/Songwriter House Concerts in her historic home that was built 1895.  In her spare time she enjoys traveling, gardening and spending time with family and friends.  

Bridget Nance is an oboist from Rochester, NY. She recently graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, where she studied Oboe Performance under Cynthia DeAlmeida and pursued a double major in Cognitive Neuroscience. She is currently a first year master’s student at Southern Methodist University, studying with Erin Hannigan. Ms. Nance has performed on oboe and english horn with the Pittsburgh Symphony, soloed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra alongside her parents, Shannon and Wesley Nance, and is currently an associate member with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. During her undergraduate degree, she served as principal oboe on major programs such as Beethoven 7, Mahler 9, and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. In past summers, she has attended the Masterworks Summer Music Festival, Orford Musique, and Credo National Festival. Ms. Nance has performed in masterclasses with Richard Woodhams, Cynthia DeAlmeida, Kyle Mustain, and Corbin Stair. She enjoys playing oboe and english horn in the community and has performed with various local choirs and ensembles.

Robbie Harter, a professional bassoonist in the DFW area, currently serves as the second bassoonist with the Allen Philharmonic. He's appeared with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of Northwest Arkansas. Additionally, he's a member of the Ordell Winds Woodwind Quintet, maintains a thriving teaching studio, and runs the reed business Harter Reed Co. Robbie's musical education includes studying under Ted Soluri, Tom Fleming, and Gabriel Beavers. Mr. Harter holds degrees from the University of Miami and Southern Methodist University. 

I am currently attending Southern Methodist University for my Masters degree in Music Performance, and I am coming in from the University of North Texas where I received my Bachelors degree in Music Performance. I love collaborating with people in music whether it's with other teachers, performers, or students; I believe there is a lot to learn from each other and one never stops learning! My approach to teaching is based on working with your student on listening and finding their voice on the instrument, my end goal is to give students the fundamental tips and tricks to begin teaching themselves.

Adolfo Peña, a proud Mexican American from Brownsville Texas, has been dedicated to classical music from an early age. Despite being the only musician in his family, his passion for the French horn was ignited in middle school, setting his heart on becoming a professional musician. In high school, Adolfo’s talent earned him a spot in the prestigious National Youth Orchestra (NYO2) of the United States for three consecutive years (2017, 2018, and 2019). During this time, he performed alongside members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and New World Symphony, culminating in breathtaking performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Adolfo continued his musical journey at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he earned his Bachelor's of Music in 2023, studying under Robert Ward, Principal Horn of the San Francisco Symphony. While in California, he was a dedicated member of the renowned San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and built a reputation as a talented freelancer in the local music scene.

Now pursuing a Master’s in Music at Southern Methodist University Meadows School of Music in Dallas, Texas, Adolfo is on track to graduate in 2025, furthering his commitment to his lifelong passion for music.

Dr. Joyce Hsu is an in-demand trombonist, clinician, and teacher in the DFW area. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from Texas Tech University, a master’s degree in Trombone Performance and Pedagogy from Oklahoma State University. A native of Taiwan, she also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the oldest and most prestigious art college in her country, National Taiwan University of Arts.

Dr. Hsu is currently a freelance trombonist and teacher. She is currently serving as the principal trombonist for the Dallas Asian Wind Ensemble, as well as the Online Journal Manager for the International Trombone Association since 2018, and one of the Chinese Ambassadors of 2021 International Trombone Festival. Dr. Hsu is active with various online forums to better serve the trombone community, she is also a strong advocate for diversity and equality in the music industry. Her students often range from elementary school through university, where she maintains competitive piano and trombone studios. Dr. Hsu’s students are consistently ranked among the most proficient of their peers; they are performance scholarship recipients and are active participants in TMEA All-Region bands and State Solo and Ensemble Contests.