COLLABORATIVE PIANISTS
Cooper Voice Studio is honored to work with so many brilliantly skilled collaborative pianists. These ivory ticklers are the foundational glue for each vocalist who participates in rehearsals, master classes, workshops, recitals, showcases, and so on. They provide the sonorous landscape upon which singers may soar on a swath of text, melody, rhythm, phrasing, and storytelling, all sound-tracked for, and co-interpreted with, each other. It's a fascinating dance requiring organic extrasensory perception between to musical souls navigating their way through the story journey on two different and intimately beloved instruments.
It's quite magical.
And we'd like to introduce you to some of these magic makers...
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ROBERT HAYES
Robert comes from a musical family and was started in piano at the tender age of four. He began formal lessons at five with Shirley Denmark (who had taught his mother and aunts) and made his recital debut at age six. He continued his musical development by participating in middle school band and singing in church choir, but his main instrument remained the piano. After high school, his life took a detour when he joined the Air Force, remaining there for about six years but never giving up his musical passion entirely. After his term of service ended, he enrolled at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, initially as a Computer Science major. However, he quickly realized that the lucrative outcome (or at least the appearance of one) isn’t always the best and switched to music in Spring 2015 and resumed piano lessons, this time with Eliza Garth. In time, he distinguished himself in the SMCM Music Department through his solo piano performances, collaborative accompanying, and singing in both Chamber Singers and Ping. Currently, he is the pianist at Trinity Episcopal Church and provides accompaniment for vocalists and other instrumentalists at SMCM and throughout the community.
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ELIZABETH LAWLIN
Elizabeth Lawlin is a senior piano performance major studying under Dr. Volchok. Prior to attending UMD as a BM student, she studied for 11 years under the instruction of Patricia Blanchard. Elizabeth accompanied Deo Adoramus Youth Choir and Cooper Voice Studio in high school. During summers, she played in the pits for St. Mary’s Summerstock’s productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Little Mermaid, and Newsies. She has taken lessons and masterclasses from pianists Brian Ganz and Audrey Andrist. Elizabeth has also been teaching piano for 5 years.
She is the recipient of numerous honors and awards to include 1st place in Southern Maryland’s Got Talent where she performed a backwards piano duet, and 1st place in several MSMTA and MTASM competitions and scholarship competitions.
During her time at UMD, she has been invited to perform at the Piano Division Showcase for the past two semesters. Additionally, she played keyboard in a student-run production of the Off-Broadway musical Heathers. Her goal is to be a collaborative pianist, specifically by playing in Broadway pits.
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ERIN TENNYSON
Erin Tennyson was born and raised in St. Mary's County. She graduated from Leonardtown High School in 2004, then received her Bachelors Degree in Music Education with a concentration in piano from Lebanon Valley College. After graduation, Erin worked at Banneker Elementary School from 2008-2012 teaching K-5 general music and chorus. While working, she earned her Masters Degree in Leadership in Teaching from the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore. Erin is now the music director at Lexington Park Methodist Church and continues to play piano throughout the county for many schools and colleges and studios. Her favorite job of all is being a wife, and a mother to her four beautiful children.
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MELEAH SHROUT
From the age of three through her college years Meleah sang in a number of choirs. She and her sisters would often make up songs of their own, making music a constant backdrop in their lives. At the age of 8 she began piano lessons with an amazing teacher who encouraged her love of music.
Through the years she practiced, performed and even taught lessons of her own by the age of 13. The piano became a steady source of joy and the highest form of expression in her life. When she was upset, she played the piano. When there was something to celebrate, she went to the piano. She could always be sure her hard work would pay off. Dedicated practice sessions produced quality performances. And so she found what she wanted in life; to make music and share it with others.
Near the end of high school Meleah began composing music of her own, performing it for local recitals and events and continued to compose in college. After graduating she collected all of her music and recorded her first album, Awake in 2013.
She received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano. Her focus began to shift from hours alone in a practice room to collaborating with other musicians. Meleah is an extrovert who loves people. The collaborative piano lifestyle allows for plenty of interaction with others.
In graduate school Meleah began to fall in love with vocal repertoire. She had the opportunity to work with talented soloists of all ages and abilities. Choral experience came a few years later, reinforcing her certainty that vocalists were her favorite musicians to work with.
Through the years she has met and worked with a wide variety of talented artists, composers, conductors and performers. She has worked with NATS Regional Winners, accompanied concerts with composers Joel Raney and Joseph Martin, and even accompanied a TEDx Talk on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Any opportunity to meet and perform with talented musicians is a reminder that this job is the best job for her.
She now runs a private studio from the Historic Lowe Mill located in Huntsville, AL while working as a staff accompanist for The University of Alabama, Huntsville. In addition she is the Collaborative Pianist / Assistant Director for the Huntsville Community Chorus Association’s Youth Chorus. She enjoys freelance accompanying, and will always make time for a talented vocalist.
Currently Working
University of Alabama, Huntsville, Accompanist
Huntsville Community Chorus Association Youth Chorus, Collaborative Pianist / Assistant Director
Private Lessons Instructor, Historic Lowe Mill Studio 1036
Freelance Accompanist Specializing in Choral and Vocal Rep