Our Team

Erica Fedor, PhD—Piano, Music Theory

Erica is an experienced educator who has been teaching piano, music theory, music history, and cello for over 12 years. She holds a PhD in Musicology from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she studied music history pedagogy, wrote a dissertation about music and international diplomacy, and taught varied courses in the Department of Music. Erica is a classically trained pianist and cellist who has worked as a professional accompanist, string quartet cellist, and pit orchestra musician. Eager to guide students on their musical journeys with support and enthusiasm, Erica takes a collaborative, student-centered approach to lessons. She happily works with students of all ages and excels in customizing lessons to students’ individual goals and interests. Erica encourages the development of well-rounded musicians by promoting healthy technical foundations, fostering artistic expression, and discussing music’s historical and cultural contexts. Her teaching style is influenced by her own incredible teachers and mentors, particularly Kathy Hansen’s use of game-based learning and Dr. Louis Goldstein’s intellectual curiosity. She loves celebrating her students’ accomplishments and sharing the joys of music and creative expression with others. Erica remains active as a solo and collaborative pianist and directs music at the Episcopal Church of the Advocate in Chapel Hill.

Milton Fernández Peña, PhD—Piano, Music Theory (English and Spanish)

Originally from the Dominican Republic, pianist Milton Fernández Peña began his musical studies at an early age at the Dina Music Academy in his home country. He holds a BM in Piano Performance summa cum laude from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, an M.M. and Performance Artist Certificate from Stephen F. Austin State University, an M.M. in Arts administration, and a D.M.A. in Piano Performance from The University of Oregon.

Fernández Peña keeps an active career performing on national and international stages and has served as a soloist with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Santo Domingo, the Camerata Washington Heights, and the Camerata Mozart Caribe. In 2015, he was accepted as a member of the American Association of Musicians of Honor. His teachers include Andrew Parr, Claire Wachter, and Dean Kramer, the last student of Vladimir Horowitz.

Thomas Davis—Piano, Music Theory (online only)

Thomas is a pianist, singer/songwriter, composer/improviser, and educator who specializes in Jazz, Classical, and Contemporary styles of music.

Lessons with Thomas depend on each student’s musical interests, but will include injury-preventative technique, the intersection of ear training and theory, sight singing/reading, and artistry (vision & phrasing). Whether focusing on written music or improvised music, lessons will explore what it means to be a creative musician with a unique voice. Thomas has experience working with both beginners and advanced students, with ages ranging from 6 to 60.

In 2013 Thomas received UNC Chapel Hill’s highest compositional honor (the Thelma Thompson Composition Award) for his setting of Walt Whitman’s Whispers of Heavenly Death, and in 2014 he was published via NoteNova Choral Music Publishing in Manhattan, NYC.

Notable performances include representing the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) at Leonard Bernstein’s 2019 Centennial Celebration (showcasing an improvisation on themes from Bernstein’s Spring Will Come Again), and being chosen to represent NEC’s Contemporary Improvisation Department at the 2019 Spring Commencement Ceremony with his original composition Zen and the Art of Buttering Bread.

Since receiving his Graduate Diploma in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2019 Thomas has spent the majority of his time performing original works and hymns, working with his students, and developing his artistic voice.

Sandra Stott Benavides—Piano, Music Theory (English and Spanish)

Sandra Stott Benavides has worked as an educator and tutor for over 25 years. Sandra taught overseas in Bogota, Colombia for 14 years, first as a grade-school teacher and then as a music teacher and high-school chorus director. After returning to the US, she taught public elementary school music, utilizing her Spanish skills as a translator and interpreter. She has also tutored high-school students in Intermediate level Spanish. She currently holds a state teaching license in NC in music education (K–12) and ESL.

Sandra has a Bachelor's degree in Applied Music—Piano & Voice from UNC Greensboro. She has taught private piano for 30 years, and currently is the music minister, choral director, and accompanist at a church in Chapel Hill.

Joe Wilson—Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute

Joe is a passionate and dedicated musician and educator, with over a decade of professional experience in New York City, Houston, as well as international touring.   He teaches piano/keyboard, woodwinds, and improv/composition/theory, customizing lessons to guide each student’s individual “artist’s journey”, learning to practice the fundamentals of music via deep study of songs they already know and love.   

As a bandleader, sideman, and as a soundtrack composer, Joe has created and released music in many genres to success on major streaming platforms. He has performed and had works featured in concert halls, clubs, festivals, cinemas, and theaters, including Lincoln Center, Cannes Film Festival, The Jazz Standard, and many others.   

Joe received music and merit scholarships to attend NYU, where he studied film, music, and anthropology.  

Jay Killman—Guitar, Music Theory, Composition

Jay is a passionate composer and performing musician. He has professionally released two albums of original music: the concept album Cycles by Jay Killman and Nice Sounds Collection no. 1 by Rene & Jay. Jay holds a B.A. in Music from the UNC Wilmington and currently attends North Carolina Central University pursuing a Master's in Jazz Composition. He has many musical influences, comprising R&B, jazz, blues, rock, folk, hip hop, and indie.

Jay takes an individualized method with his students. Being self-taught until attending university at the age of 26, Jay understands the imperative relationship between the student and the music and uses this to cater to each student's personality, skill level, and taste. Jay teaches the basics of technique related to the guitar, advanced concepts, musicality, music theory, creativity, the tradition of idioms, improvisation, playing with other instruments, and much more. 

Mary Shannon—Voice, Music Theory

Originally from Charlotte, NC, Mary Shannon is a lifelong lover of music and learning. Mary is passionate about sharing her love of vocal performance with a new generation of musicians. She believes in encouraging and fostering a joy of music and an excitement for musical growth.

Mary holds a double B.A. in Music and Linguistics from the College of William and Mary, where she graduated summa cum laude. She is now a doctoral student in Musicology at UNC Chapel Hill. With a varied musical background, Mary has experience performing in a wide range of genres, including choral, musical theater, light opera, and contemporary pop a cappella. While at William & Mary, she served as Assistant Director of The Accidentals a cappella group and Soprano Section Leader of the W&M Choir. She currently works as the Music Intern at Christ United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, where she is an active solo vocalist and choir member, in addition to assisting with the children’s choir and playing handbells.