Growing up in the foothills region of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Brian played music alongside his cousin Andy and his grandfather Paul Birchfield, better known as “Grampsy.” With Brian on fiddle, Andy on mandolin, and Grampsy on guitar, people knew to call "The Mountain Musicians" if they were in need of some good ole time toe-tappin’ music. Brian developed these musical roots deep in the Appalachian soil and now shares his talents with audiences on some of the most impressive stages a musician could hope to play.

Brian grew up in Marion, North Carolina. Under the guidance of Grampsy, Brian competed at fiddlers conventions throughout the Southeast. He first won the top title in a competition while participating in a contest in Mooresville, North Carolina and went on to earn additional titles of public recognition, including the Fiddler of the Festival at Union Grove and later the three-time Georgia Mountain Fiddle King in Hiawassee....

I am a Juilliard-trained violist teaching violin and viola. No matter what your goals are (be it for yourself or for your child) violin lessons provide a solid musical foundation for any future instrument(s) and styles.

I have a degree in Music Performance concentrating on viola. I have mainly studied classically and performed in many different ensembles including string quartet, orchestra and a rock band for a little while. I have lots of experience teaching and can help you learn your favorite song by ear, or teach you the notes and the theory! I have performed on violin too and I teach both instruments with the same passion. Also, I am learning how to fiddle too! It's important to keep challenging yourself, even as a teacher!

A versatile musician and teacher, Nashville-born musician James is dedicated to music through education, performance and personal growth. James has a diverse background in the musical arts. He has served as violinist and principal violist in many orchestras and ensembles. As a vocalist, James has sung in opera, oratorio, master-classes and recitals as a countertenor soloist. He has served as director of the Clarksville Youth Orchestra at Austin Peay State University and currently serves as the Director of Music Ministries for Cloyd's Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Mt. Juliet, TN. He maintains a private studio in Nashville, TN and is on the faculty of the Allegro School of Music.

James has studied with many experts in vocal science and pedagogy and has had the wonderful opportunity to study with Linda Ferrara, D. Lance Respess, Richard Miller, world-class early music expert Nancy Zylstra and twentieth-century vocal music expert Sharon Mabry. He has had masterclasses with...