Music on Brawley 

Joseph Rincón has been honing his abilities on the guitar for over eighteen years and has performed extensively throughout the United States and in Spain. He earned his B.M. in Performance degree from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as well as receiving a formal recognition as “Outstanding Performer” by the faculty of the department of music. He also received two additional recognition and scholarships from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke for his exceptional skill in music performance. In 2017, he completed the Máster en Interpretación de Guitarra Clásica program at the Universitat d'Alacant, in Alicante, Spain. During his time in Spain, he studied closely with world-renowned guitarists such as Manuel Barrueco, Xavier Díaz-Latorre, Pepe Romero, Fabio Zanon, and Grammy-Award winning guitarist David Russell. Over the years, he has been recognized for his outstanding musicality and his passionate performances. His guitar playing and musicianship has been described as “a combination of deep and moving musical ideas with beautiful sound and refined technique”. His performances are energetic and highly expressive, whether he is performing for a large audience or a small and intimate gathering. In addition to frequently performing in the Charlotte, Lake Norman, and surrounding areas, he is also an inspired music teacher. He teaches various styles of guitar, including electric and steel-string acoustic guitar, as well as different musical genres such as rock, blues, and folk. As an instructor, he wants to share his love of music with his students, and his goal is to awaken the musical potential in them. He is a highly dedicated professional with a desire to not only teach students how to play the guitar but to learn how to use the guitar as a vehicle of musical expression.

Music has been a huge passion of CJ's for as long as he can remember. He's been playing drums for 11 years and is coming up on 12 years of experience! He also play bass guitar, which he taught himself during the pandemic. Music has always been a big part of his life, and he loves continuing to grow, learn, and develop his skills as a musician. His goal is to share his passion for music with others and help students build confidence, develop their skills, and discover the joy of playing an instrument. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your drumming, CJ is excited to help you along your musical journey!

Melanie Catherine Stokes began playing violin at the age of eight. She studied Music Performance at State University of New York (SUNY) Empire State College, Albany, and also studied privately with prominent violin teachers in the Northeast. Melanie was the Principal First Violinist and Concertmaster for the Lake Norman Orchestra in Mooresville, NC, and a member of the Board of Directors. She also volunteered for the orchestra as Music Librarian. Melanie has performed in professional ensembles as a soloist and orchestra member for The Mid- Hudson Community Orchestra, The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, Newburgh Symphony Orchestra, SUNY Orange Community Orchestra, the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra, and the Cortlandt Chamber Orchestra, all of New York. Most recently, Melanie was the Concertmaster of Lake Norman Orchestra of Mooresville, NC, from 2018 – 2022. Melanie truly enjoys performing at weddings and for all types of special celebrations. She takes great pride in ensuring that all attention to detail is met to clients’ satisfaction. Melanie will incorporate your song requests and make your special day one that you will remember for years to come.

Matt began studying the guitar at age 14, inspired by artists like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jimi Hendrix. Studying with longtime session guitarist John Parks during his academic tenure at Queen’s University of Charlotte, he would go on to earn his Master’s in Music Education at Bard College in Cambridge, MA.

Preston Washburn is an active and experienced multi-instrumentalist in Mooresville and the Lake Norman area. He is proficient in a variety of different styles of music, from jazz, funk, and pop to rock and classical. His main instrument is the bass, whether electric or upright bass, but he's also highly skilled at drums, guitar, and some piano as well. Suffice it to say, we are beyond thrilled to have Preston teaching with us at Music on Brawley. Parents who have worked with Preston always have nothing but positive things to say about him!

Our youngest teacher, Emily is 16 years old! Instruments have always played a huge role in her life, and she loves helping others discover their passion for music, sports and academics. Emily focuses on creating a supportive, encouraging environment where students can learn at their own pace and reach their goals. She's so excited to share her personal experiences with her students and help them build confidence in their playing!

Chelsie is thrilled to help bring music education to the Lake Norman community. At a young age, she decided she wanted to be a music teacher; she poured myself into every music class she could during her school years and managed to earn several leadership titles and ensemble awards. From there, Chelsie continued her dedication through performing arts groups and courses at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she earned an education degree with a concentration in visual and performing arts. She absolutely loves the joy that music brings to people’s lives, making it the core of her teaching style, and she looks forward to helping others cultivate their skills in whichever instruments bring them the most joy!

Emily is a 24 year old musician who started playing violin in 6th grade orchestra and fell in love with music. She played in her high school’s Honors Chamber Orchestra and during that time, organized and performed in string quartets for community events. During her time at the Western Piedmont Youth Symphony, she was approached with the opportunity to learn viola in order to be in their String Quartet. Emily studied both violin and viola in college, where she was able to be in Meredith College’s Sinfonietta, UNCG’s Sinfonia, and the Triangle Community Orchestra. Her interest is in teaching and nurturing a positive approach, cultivating a lifelong love of music and the process of learning. In her free time, she enjoy gardening, hiking with her doting fiancé, and hanging with her cats, Icarus and Oswald.

Gary Eason has been passionate about drumming since the age of one, discovering his love for music through the special bond he shared with his uncle. Since the age of 10, Gary has been an active part of church worship teams, developing his skills and gaining years of experience playing alongside other musicians. During high school, he participated in drumline and an elite-level winter drumline program, further strengthening his technique, discipline, and musicality. He also attended Oak Ridge Military Academy. Gary began teaching drums in 2021 and has since found a deep passion for helping students discover their own love for music. He believes drumming is about more than learning rhythms and techniques; it’s about building confidence, developing discipline, expressing creativity, and giving students a positive outlet to grow. His goal is to help every student develop their skills, discover their potential, and experience the same joy and purpose that drumming has brought to his own life.

Monica Yi has a busy career in music performance and teaching in-person and online. Her schedule during the year is quite busy, so students would see her partly in person and partly online when shes traveling. She is a distinguished member of our staff and we are beyond excited to have her! Coloratura soprano, musical-theatre performer (The Phantom of the Opera), and band lead vocalist with 10+ years of stage performance in China and the United States. Has taught voice to 26+ private students and instructs Zumba, Bachata, and Salsa, with a creative, passionate, and encouraging teaching style for all ages and skill levels. Design and implement engaging voice lessons tailored to individual students' and groups' needs, skill levels, and musical interests. Provide constructive feedback to help students improve their vocal tone, pitch, diction, and stage presence.

Brandon Essick has been playing guitar for 25 years. Graduating with a Masters in Degree in classical guitar from East Carolina University, Brandon has also been teaching private and group lessons for 17 years. While currently being a music instructor at Surry Community College, Brandon also plays and teaches styles such as Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country, Bluegrass, Reggae, Pop and more. Whether it be restaurants, weddings, private events, or the Biltmore estate, Brandon has performed with bands, acoustic duos, and as an acoustic fingerstyle soloist. Although teaches guitar primarily, he also teaches bass guitar, and piano.

Nick has built a twenty-eight-year musical life that started in church at fifteen and never really stopped. That foundation in congregational music shaped everything that followed — the discipline of serving a room, the instinct for dynamics, the sense that a song should move people somewhere. He carried that into formal study at Southeastern University, where he honed his craft as a music student while immersing himself in the band scene. On the harder end of the spectrum, Nick played nu metal and hardcore with Inkblot, straight-up metal with Board the Windows, and metal again with Flawed by Design — music built for impact, heavy riffs, and full-throttle energy. Hooks for Ladders was his contrast: a solo acoustic project leaning into the milder side, with prettier guitar work and a more intimate feel. Across all of it, the thread is the same — hard-hitting music delivered with intention. Beyond the bands, Nick spent thirteen years as a worship leader, bringing that church-rooted foundation full circle. He also put in three years at Guitar Center, where the daily grind of demos, setups, and troubleshooting gave him a deep, practical understanding of what live sound and production equipment can actually do. That range — from sanctuary to mosh pit to retail floor — is what defines his approach: versatile, grounded, and always about the music. Hooks For Ladders (Guitar, Bass, Piano, Vocals}: https://soundcloud.com/hooksforladders Flawed By Design (Vocals): https://open.spotify.com/artist/5fjHvAEKEyXrSTr3CpFtje