Summerville - Cane Bay Location
Meet our instructors
Joel Gunter - Specializing in guitar, drums and piano
Joel Gunter started playing guitar at the age of 12. He has spent most of his life living in the Charleston area where he has pursued his passion for music and education. He has extensive experience with touring and performing his instrument on a professional level, as well as composing, arranging, and recording original songs.
Joel joined the band 'Hundredth' in 2007 and was signed to Media Skare Records in 2008. Hundredth has since released 3 EP's, 3 full length CD's (available on iTunes) and was signed onto Hopeless Records (North Hollywood, California) in 2014. In those years he toured all over the world including Russia, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK.
Whenever Joel wasn't on tour, he worked as an after-school counselor/supervisor at Westview Primary School in Goose Creek, SC where he organized and engaged in recreational activities, as well as established a safe playing environment for children. He was also a teacher assistant in their Head Start program where he was in charge of implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum.
Joel lives in Summerville, SC with his fiancée and son Noah.
Joel joined the band 'Hundredth' in 2007 and was signed to Media Skare Records in 2008. Hundredth has since released 3 EP's, 3 full length CD's (available on iTunes) and was signed onto Hopeless Records (North Hollywood, California) in 2014. In those years he toured all over the world including Russia, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK.
Whenever Joel wasn't on tour, he worked as an after-school counselor/supervisor at Westview Primary School in Goose Creek, SC where he organized and engaged in recreational activities, as well as established a safe playing environment for children. He was also a teacher assistant in their Head Start program where he was in charge of implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum.
Joel lives in Summerville, SC with his fiancée and son Noah.
Mitch Goodwin - Specializing in strings and voice
Mitch Goodwin is an active double bassist in the music community. He studied at UNCSA, and also received a full scholarship to Carnegie Mellon for his Masters. As a performer, his career in music has taken him across the globe, playing with many professional orchestras. As an educator, Mr. Goodwin has 2 years of orchestral teaching experience at several Title 1 middle-schools, along with many years of private instruction. He enjoys teaching all strings, along with several other instruments.
Rachel DePriest - Specializing in strings
Rachel DePriest is the orchestra director at Sangaree Middle School. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio, where she studied violin with Dr. Julian Ross and Annie Fullard. Rachel conducted both of Baldwin Wallace’s Outreach Youth Orchestras and worked with the New Horizons Orchestra, which is an ensemble for adults wanting to learn string instruments.
At Baldwin Wallace University, Rachel performed in the Baldwin Wallace Symphony Orchestra, the Bach Festival Chamber Orchestra, and in opera pits for Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Puccini’s La Bohème. Rachel has performed in master classes for Takako Masame, Annie Fullard and the Cavani Quartet, and has been coached by Daniel McKelway and Regina Mushabac.
Rachel previously taught strings and was an orchestra director with the Charleston County School District. When she is not teaching, she enjoys watching hockey, boating, fishing, and exercising. Rachel lives in North Charleston with her husband Jonathan, and dog, Jack.
At Baldwin Wallace University, Rachel performed in the Baldwin Wallace Symphony Orchestra, the Bach Festival Chamber Orchestra, and in opera pits for Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Puccini’s La Bohème. Rachel has performed in master classes for Takako Masame, Annie Fullard and the Cavani Quartet, and has been coached by Daniel McKelway and Regina Mushabac.
Rachel previously taught strings and was an orchestra director with the Charleston County School District. When she is not teaching, she enjoys watching hockey, boating, fishing, and exercising. Rachel lives in North Charleston with her husband Jonathan, and dog, Jack.
Raymond Santiago-Specializing in guitar, bass, uke and piano
Born and raised right here in the Lowcountry, Raymond Santiago is a well known musician and teacher around the Charleston area. He has been quite the prolific performer for the better part of the past 20 years as a studio session musician as well as a live performer. Raymond has chalked up over 2,500 live shows to date with many well known local acts – most notably with Weird Science, TrickKnee, Sugar High, and Pastor of Muppets (a Metallica tribute band). Having performed at North Charleston Coliseum, Gaillard Auditorium, The Windjammer, The Music Farm, and for the Spoleto Festival Block Party Kickoff at the Customs House downtown for crowds topping 7,000, he is well versed and well capable of instructing any students who aspire to such.
He is also a veteran instructor of 25 years experience specializing in guitar, bass, ukulele, and piano. When it comes to private instruction, Raymond always focuses on understanding over memorization, and tries to figure out which method(s) will work for each individual student, as he believes that everyone is different, but no one is unteachable!
Raymond has been named “Best Guitarist in the Lowcountry” by Guitar Center and Q104.5 upon entering and winning a live performance competition, and was also nominated by the readers of the Charleston City Paper for “Guitarist of the Year” in the annual music awards edition. But the thing that makes him most proud is seeing his students develop into great musicians! With that in mind, Raymond Santiago is proud to be a member of the Black Tie Music Academy’s team of expert instructors and looks forward to doing great things within the community!
He is also a veteran instructor of 25 years experience specializing in guitar, bass, ukulele, and piano. When it comes to private instruction, Raymond always focuses on understanding over memorization, and tries to figure out which method(s) will work for each individual student, as he believes that everyone is different, but no one is unteachable!
Raymond has been named “Best Guitarist in the Lowcountry” by Guitar Center and Q104.5 upon entering and winning a live performance competition, and was also nominated by the readers of the Charleston City Paper for “Guitarist of the Year” in the annual music awards edition. But the thing that makes him most proud is seeing his students develop into great musicians! With that in mind, Raymond Santiago is proud to be a member of the Black Tie Music Academy’s team of expert instructors and looks forward to doing great things within the community!
Vincent Mignon-Specializing in piano and guitar
Vincent Mignon is a retired businessman who before embarking on his business career was a
classical pianist, conductor, church choir director and accompanist. In addition, he was a rock n’
roll pianist/guitarist under contract with Electra Records. He has performed in such venues as
Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and work as an assistant conductor at the Brooklyn Academy
of Music preparing choirs for such pieces as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Dvorak and Verdi
Requiems.
Mr. Mignon began his college career at Syracuse University and ended with his acceptance at
the Manhattan School of Music in New York City as a conducting/piano major.
Mr. Mignon believes that while most students will not become concert artists, the study of a
musical instrument strengthens self-discipline, memory, develops coordination and allows the
student to find true self-expression.
classical pianist, conductor, church choir director and accompanist. In addition, he was a rock n’
roll pianist/guitarist under contract with Electra Records. He has performed in such venues as
Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and work as an assistant conductor at the Brooklyn Academy
of Music preparing choirs for such pieces as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Dvorak and Verdi
Requiems.
Mr. Mignon began his college career at Syracuse University and ended with his acceptance at
the Manhattan School of Music in New York City as a conducting/piano major.
Mr. Mignon believes that while most students will not become concert artists, the study of a
musical instrument strengthens self-discipline, memory, develops coordination and allows the
student to find true self-expression.
Tierrhane Huff-Specializing in voice and piano
Tierrhane Huff is a recent graduate from Charleston Southern University with a Choral Music Education degree. She is from Inman, SC and is a staff singer at The Church of the Holy Communion. During her time at CSU she performed in many of the productions and was active in the choirs. In May 2017 she was a featured soloist in the Piccolo Spoleto show Take Me to Church. In August, she will join William Reeves Elementary School in Summerville S.C. as a music teacher.