About Our Staff

Andrew Hughes, B.M.

Andrew Hughes graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance, with the emphasis in piano, from Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, Georgia).  While at KSU, Andrew studied under Dr. Robert Henry, studying and performing pieces from many of the great composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin, and Liszt.  Andrew researched and prepared a paper on the "Performance Practices of Franz Liszt's 'Vallee d'Obermann'" and presented his findings at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

Andrew is a Nationally recognized performing artist by the Music Teachers National Association with over 5 years of experience teaching promising young musicians.  During his teaching tenure at the Vinings School of Art in Georgia.  Mr. Hughes gained extensive experience maximizing the potential of many beginning piano students, intermediate students, as well as students preparing for entrance to college.

Mr. Hughes currently studies under Dr. Baruch Meir at Arizona State University where he plans to pursue his Masters Degree in Piano Performance.  Andrew is a welcomed addition to the teaching staff for Vivace Music Academy

Sheryl Erickson, M.M.E

Sheryl Erickson has been teaching music for the past 40 years.  She has taught at the elementary and secondary levels.  She retired from Northshore School District in Bothell, Washington in 2017.  Under her leadership, the choirs at Bothell HIgh School received superior ratings at festivals and contests in the Northwest, New York, Washington D.C., and California.  

After retirement, Sheryl moved to Chandler, AZ and has continued to teach private voice and piano.  She also has taught at private schools in the East Valley area.  

Throughout her career, Mrs. Erickson has conducted various Community Children and Youth choirs.  She has performed with the Seattle Symphony Chorale, Northwest Chamber Choir, Arizona ProMusica, and Arizona Music Festival Choir.  She is a frequent adjudicator of choir and solo and ensemble festivals.  

Mrs. Erickson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.  

Her professional affiliations include, the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

Dr. Jeremy Isley, D.M.A.

Jeremy Isley, or "Dr. J," has over 25 years of experience in performing and teaching music.  He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music (Chicago, IL), a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX).

Dr. J is an ESA Approved Vendor in Arizona and holds a K-12 Teaching Certificate in Texas.  His fifteen years of public school education include teaching middle school and high school band and percussion, middle school orchestra, and college level percussion. 

During his teaching tenure, Dr. Jeremy Isley has produced award winning ensembles at the Texas University Interscholastic League Contest Sweepstakes Award, First Place Trophy Drumline and Front Ensemble performances, and Chamber Percussion Ensemble Champion at the Percussive Arts Society's International Convention.  In 2018, Jeremy's writing on the composer Carlos Chavez was published in the Percussive Notes magazine.

Dr. J and his wife Rachel homeschool their three boys and share a passion for teaching music to children.  In 2022, Jeremy and Rachel launched Vivace Music, LLC as a way to share their passion for music to the next generation of musicians.

Rachel Isley, M.M.

Rachel Isley is a vocal performer, certified music educator, and choral director.  Rachel holds a Bachelor Degree in Vocal Performance and Master of Music Degree in Vocal Pedagogy from Tech Tech University (Lubbock, TX).  Ms. Isley currently serves as K-3 Music Teacher at Christ Greenfield Lutheran School in Gilbert, AZ.  

Rachel has taught all ages spanning from Pre-K to College.  In 2021, she was an Arizona Commission on the Arts grant recipient.  Ms. Isley is a co-founder and director of Summer Music Camp in Houston, TX.  

Ms. Isley is a full-time homeschooling mom to her three sons.  In her spare time she enjoys playing board games, hiking, reading, traveling, and making music with her family.