Richard Payne is an accomplished pianist/composer with over 20 years experience in the music industry. Mr. Payne also brings to the School a solid management background having worked in the private sector at a senior management level within the last 10 years. He is a graduate of Florida International University. As Co-founder and Bandleader of BLUEMANGO (a regional Jazz Ensemble), Mr. Payne has performed extensively at local and overseas Jazz festivals including Paris, the French Antilles, and Trinidad. He is the recipient of a number of music awards including two M&C Fine Arts awards.

Natalie McAllister-Chakhalashvili is a native of the Republic of Georgia, former Soviet Union. Her music education began at the age of six, studying piano in the Tbilisi Music School for Gifted Children. She received a Bachelor Degree from Tbilisi Music College specializing in piano as teacher and accompanist. She joined the Tbilisi Conservatoire in 1975 and in 1980 received a Masters Degree in Piano. She has worked as a piano teacher in the Republic of Georgia, and has done research work at the Institute of Psychiatry in the field of Music therapy. She also performed part-time as an accompanist in the Georgia Philharmonic Society.

(1990) 'Adventure in Music'. Advanced Certificate in School music, St. Lucia School of Music. Musicgarten Certificate, USA. Many years as a qualified Infant School teacher and music specialist.

(1991) ‘Adventure in Music’ at Vieux-Fort Centre. Certificate in School Music, Saint Lucia School of Music. Musicgarten Certificate, USA. Infant School teacher of many years standing. Bursar Vieux-Fort Centre since 1997.

(1993) Over Ten Years as a drummer with local bands including Amate. Since 1999, teaching music to differently-able children at the School for the Blind, and Dunottar.

Part-time tutor in both the Castries and Vieux-Fort Centres. Attained Grade 8 in Guitar with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

Advanced Certificate in School Music, Saint Lucia School of Music. Musicgarten Certificate, USA. Over ten years as a qualified primary school teacher and music specialist.

Marie Medina learned to play violin at the age of nine in the public school music program in El Paso, Texas in the rich, multicultural environment of her Mexican-American family and surroundings. She studied Music at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in Stockton, CA and at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She has enjoyed a varied career as private teacher and orchestra conductor of the YOURS Project, a Venezuelan- inspired social inclusion music program known as “El Sistema”. She also ran a private studio and served as a violin instructor for Chicago area private and public schools.

(1990) Tutor, Early Childhood Music Programme 'Adventure in Music'. Certificate in Teaching of School Music, St. Lucia School of Music; Musicgarten Certificate, USA. Over ten years as a qualified infant school teacher and music specialist.

(1991) BMus., University of Manitoba, Canada, Certificate in Teaching School Music, Jamaica School of Music. Over fourteen years teaching in at a secondary school and piano, singing and general musicianship at the St. Lucia School of Music.

Born in St. Lucia in the year 1990, Chris Raveneau started his musical journey at the tender age of eight (8). He was guided by his father who is a well known guitarist who has played abroad and at many major events around the island. Plagued by other academic endeavors, it was only at the age of 18 that he really decided to take piano seriously. Starting at level two (2) and quickly excelling to level eight (8) in a matter of two years. Apart from playing the piano, Chris Raveneau is also known for his poetic capabilities. He is becoming increasingly ambitious as time elapses and has set his goals on being a singer and song writer as well as broadening his range of instruments. Chris secretly has a desire to become better versed in the field of Information Technology (I.T.). Chris believes in music’s ability, not solely as a financial source, or as a way to allow his heart, soul and mind to escape but to also promote patience and discipline, traits which better the individuals in our society. He dreams and hopes one day that the standards for music education will be elevated. He also hopes that others will have an understanding for the need to play and listen to various genres of music particularly the more traditional forms in order to broaden their technical and intellectual capabilities.

Lena Taupier was born in France, where she spent the prime years of her life, before moving to St. Lucia. Although she developed a keen interest in the arts from an early age, taking part in singing, drawing, acting and dancing it was not until secondary school that she began to take music lessons. She soon became very passionate about piano and music, teaching herself to play by ear, while continuing to take classical piano lessons. Her enthusiasm and love for the instrument allowed her to progress quickly, letting her do the 8th and final grade of the Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music Exam 5 years later. Lena has been part of the Piano department at the St. Lucia School of Music since 2010, teaching individual piano classes to students of all ages. In addition, she teaches interactive group lessons designed to introduce the basic musical, rhythmic and aural concepts as well as basic piano skills to younger students wishing to play an instrument.

(1991) BMus., University of Manitoba, Canada, Certificate in Teaching School Music, Jamaica School of Music. Over fourteen years teaching in at a secondary school and piano, singing and general musicianship at the St. Lucia School of Music.

Tony Wilkinson is a graduate of the Barbados Community College where he attained an Associate Degree in Applied Arts – Music. His major instrument is the clarinet. Tony, inspired by his musical family, started his musical career by attending the St. Lucia School of Music on its initial opening. He later joined the ranks of the highly acclaimed and treasured, Royal St. Lucia Police Band in 1991 and retired in 2011.He has written and arranged for several St. Lucian Calypsonians, in both the Calypso Monarch and Party/Soca Monarch categories. His songs have competed in the O.E.C.S / Barbados Soca Monarch Finals several times including 2000 “Dick Paka Tan” and 2001 “Talk a Lot.”

David Bode is a saxophonist, composer, vocalist, and teacher from New Orleans, LA.  He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Loyola University New Orleans where he studied with Tony Dagradi and his Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans where he studied with Ed Petersen.  David has released two albums on his own label and has composed music for a wide variety of ensembles including Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Big Band, and Jazz Combos.  He has performed at music venues around the world and at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival several times and will perform at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival in May 2012.