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Meet the Faculty
Music Academy South is blessed to have some of the most professional and knowledgeable instructors in the Triangle area. Read on to find out more about our faculty!
Rickey Dawson
Voice
Rickey Dawson is a young, hip vocalist with a flair for bringing excitement into every performance and lesson. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Religion at Campbell University in 2007. A student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, he is currently working toward a Masters in Church Music. Mr. Dawson is an active musician in the community where he is called upon to perform most every weekend. His impact on each student is decidedly special, well thought out, and insightful. Mr. Dawson's goal is to enrich the lives of others through education, creativity, and performance.
Daniel Day
Guitar & Bass
Daniel Day brings over twenty-five years of valued teaching experience to Music Academy South. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Classical Guitar from the Cornish Institute in Seattle, Washington and also studied overseas learning aspects of Eastern Indian Music (Sri Ram Bahartiya Laka Kendra School of Music in New Delhi, India). Active as a performer and teacher over the years, he has played solo and with various groups in the mid-west, north-west, and on the east coast. Mr. Day is a versatile guitarist, composer, and performer fluent in numerous genres of music. Students of all ages love making music with Mr. Day!
Jon Dobberstein
Percussion
With a family deeply involved in music, Jon Dobberstein has grown a love not only for the sound of music itself, but also for the profound impact it has on every person. He began playing drums around the age of ten, and began touring full time in his early twenties. While attending a small Bible college in Dallas, TX, Mr. Dobberstein studied drums and percussion under the instruction of Bart Elliot – drummer, percussionist, educator, and founder of drummercafe.com. In June 2012 he married Jenny Bailey, a graduate of The University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music. They relocated to Wake Forest, NC where Mr. Dobberstein currently attends The College at Southeastern, working towards a B.A. in Christian Studies and Music. He also travels with worship leader and recording artist, Matt Papa. Mr. Dobberstein and his wife regularly serve as musicians and church worship leaders in the Triangle area. His desire is to challenge students to be diligent in knowledge, excellent in performance, and good stewards of their instruments.
Margot Hafner
Piano & Voice
Margot Hafner holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. In addition to teaching at Music Academy South, she is a music instructor at West Oxford Elementary School in Granville County, NC. Mrs. Hafner is the director of the West Oxford Chorus, a 60-member first grade choir, and has directed Little Theater and Children's Theater musicals in Granville County. Mrs. Hafner is a dedicated member of the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association and brings over thirty-eight years of teaching experience to our studio!
Laura Jackson
Flute
Laura Jackson is a Wake Forest teacher who finds her musical fervor in private lessons with each of her flutists. In her studio, students learn a cross-section of skills and styles. Whether looking for help with competitions, beginner band or personal enjoyment, Mrs. Jackson believes that her students' hard work will be rewarded in all areas of performance that they may choose.
Ricardo James
Brass, Woodwinds, & M.A.S. Jam Band
A local graduate from North Carolina Central University, Ricardo James brings over fifteen years of musical experience to our studio! Born into a family of vocalists and the son of a pastor, Mr. James discovered music right from the pews of his father's church at a young age. This trumpet player carries a deep appreciation for jazz and seeks to enhance his love of music within a newer generation. Mr. James has shared the stage with a number of notable artists such as Bradford Marsalis and has recently completed his second Bachelor's degree in jazz studies. When not teaching, you can find him touring with the popular, Bull City Syndicates and performing regular concerts with local salsa bands. Mr. James is also a valued musician at his church located in Durham, North Carolina. In addition to teaching private lessons, he is also the instructor of both M.A.S. Jam Bands. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, students will enjoy making music with Mr. James!
Louis Landry
Group Piano
Louis Landry is a multi-instrumentalist who has recorded and toured extensively in Texas, the south-west, and the east coast. He holds a BA in Music Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Landry has been teaching music and other subjects since 2007, and has experience in public, special needs, faith-based, and Montessori schools. He currently specializes in Group Piano classes and lessons for younger students (ages 4-5) at MAS.
Mr. Landry is featured on a new recording of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" by The Invincible Czars, which can be streamed free at www.invincibleczars.com.
More original music and videos at www.LLmusic.net.
Ravonda Mormann
Piano
Ravonda Mormann has spent her career teaching music to all ages. She has been in the Triangle Area since 1989 when she began teaching piano and preschool music and movement. Mrs. Mormann began playing the piano by ear at age 4 and shortly after that began piano lessons. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from Asbury College and her Masters of Church Music degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, both in Kentucky. It is important to her to develop “functional” musicians that are well –rounded and diverse. Therefore, she often includes many types of music as well as harmonization, theory, composition, and transposition. In addition to spending her time teaching piano, Mrs. Mormann also is a wife, a mother to 2 teenagers and 1 college student, a High School Choir accompanist, church musician, and is an active member of the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association and MTNA.
Josh Preslar
Guitar & Bass
Josh Preslar is an accomplished performer and seasoned teacher. His early guitar study with his father fostered the love of music and fine guitar playing. Currently, Mr. Preslar hosts a local talent showcase and jam session in downtown Raleigh. He is a member of Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy, an internationally touring blues band based out of Houston, TX. Mr. Preslar has a deep passion for the blues and also enjoys teaching a variety of other musical genres. Mr. Preslar loves to see students reach the point of being able to play pieces that they love.
Lafrida Preston
Piano
Lafrida Preston, pianist, comes to Music Academy South with a myriad of musical experiences and training both domestically and internationally. Trained by her mom (a student of the Leipzig Music School in Germany) in her formative years, Mrs. Preston earned her BA in Piano Performance at Newberry College, Newberry, SC and studied in Vienna, Austria her junior year. Later in life, she earned an MBA at Georgia Southern University.
Throughout the years, Mrs. Preston has accompanied numerous violinists, singers, and choral ensembles in each community to which she belonged. She taught and played collaboratively in Heidelberg, Germany. One of her true joys was accompanying flutist, Susanne Krumstroh Kalb and cellist, Holgar Kampffmeyer while in Germany.
Mrs. Preston and her family, three daughters and husband, moved to Raleigh in 2002 where she is very involved with her local church. In addition to accompanying, teaching, and being a mom, she performs with not only two sopranos, but also violinist, Dr. Susan Wallace. Their duo is named “The Recitalists” and performs frequently in the Triangle area.
Mrs. Preston is currently the new Second Vice-President of the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association and past Treasurer for 3 years. She is also a member of NCMTA and MTNA.
Emily Rudolph
Piano & Voice
Emily Rudolph holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. She has participated in several vocal teams and choirs touring in both the United States and overseas. Mrs. Rudolph has taught voice and piano in Ohio and North Carolina, as well as been active in musical theatre productions. She has recorded two solo CD projects, as well as three others with her church praise team. Currently, Mrs. Rudolph serves as the choir director and music assistant at Faith Baptist Church in Youngsville and is a guest vocalist and speaker at various church, conferences, and events.
Anne Scoggin
Piano
Anne Scoggin holds a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Piano Performance from the University of Tennessee/Chattanooga and a Master's degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Meredith College. She has been a long-time independent teacher in Louisburg, taught at Campbell University for five years, and at Raleigh Conservatory of Music for twenty years. Her teaching experience includes working with students of all ages and levels of piano study. Fulfilling the standards of the Music Teachers National Association Professional Certification Program, Mrs. Scoggin holds the designation of a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. She is a member of the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association and the North Carolina Music Teachers Association, which she presently serves as Piano Contest Co-Director. She has presented programs to area piano teachers organizations, judged in piano competitions, directed master classes, performed in duo recitals, and accompanied vocalists and instrumentalists. Mrs. Scoggin is also the organist/choir director at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Louisburg.
Jeanine Skinner
Piano
Dr. Jeanine Skinner earned an AA in Music (Anderson College), BM in Piano Performance (Furman University), MM in Piano Performance (Florida State University), DMA in Piano Pedagogy and Performance (University of South Carolina). She has served on the faculties of various colleges and universities throughout the south-east. Teacher, church musician, professional accompanist, adjudicator, and clinician for the past forty years, Dr. Skinner was recently presented the 2005 Achievement Award from Anderson College. Dr. Skinner is also the organist at Wake Forest Baptist Church. In addition to teaching piano, Dr. Skinner is also Director and owner of Music Academy South.
Kevin Yen
Cello, Violin, Viola, & M.A.S. String Ensemble
Kevin Yen holds his Bachelor's degree of Music in Violin Performance from Pennsylvania State University. He also holds a Master's degree of Music in Performance with Suzuki Pedagogy emphasis from East Carolina University. Mr. Yen taught in Greenville, NC while completing his studies at East Carolina University gaining broad experience through group and private instruction. He was a member of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra and currently performs with the Beyond String Quartet. In addition to private lessons, he is also the instructor of the M.A.S. String Ensemble. Mr. Yen is in great demand as a teacher and performer throughout the triangle area.