Music Therapy
Cheryl Stephenson, MM, MT-BC
Oboe, Music Therapy
My favorite place to travel is: "Europe or the Carribbean"
Cheryl and her husband Michael founded the Music Academy in 1997. Cheryl received her Bachelor in Music Therapy and Music Education from East Carolina University and her Master in Music Therapy from Michigan State University. She studied oboe performance at Brevard Music Center, and was the past president of Southeast Region of the America Music Therapy Association. She has been an oboe instructor and music therapist for over 25 years. Her most influential music teachers were Hollis Ulaky of the Charlotte Symphony, David Hawkins at ECU, and Dan Stolper at MSU. She has studied at the Brevard Music Center and enjoyed her time in the NC mountains. She performs with Harmonious Camaradiere, the Lee County Symphony Orchestra, the Tar River
Wind Ensemble and many others! You can also find her performing mulitple woodwind instruments in musical theratre pit orchestras! She greatly admires her students' joy when playing music. When she's not at the MAEC, you can find her with her family, performing somewhere, or wanting to be on the beach! People would be surprised to know that her daughters were adopted from Russia. She has a dog, Nadejda, and two cats, Rimsky and Korsakov. Cheryl's favorite movie is Heaven is For Real, and her favorite restaurants include Dale's, Japan Inn, and Mi Cabana!
Gina Gerard
Music Therapy
Gina completed Bachelor's degree with East Carolina University her music therapy clinical internship with the Music Academy. She is preparing for the national certification exam at this time. Gina enjoys interacting with students of all abilities and makes their personal interests shine through each session. She is skilled with students of all ages and abilities. Gina is equally comfortable with incorporating drumming, singing, songwriting and more into her work. She also enjoys cooking, playing her flute and saxophone and learning new songs on guitar, ukulele, autoharp and piano!