Pianist and Instructor Joy Yates Joins Live Oak Conservatory


Live Oak Theatre is particularly pleased to announce that Joy Yates has joined Live Oak Conservatory. Ms. Yates will be offering private lessons in all levels of piano.

She began showing a strong aptitude for music from the age of three which led to her first piano “performance” at her Pre-K graduation ceremony. “Church and school music and drama were a large part of my life throughout the years and have provided me with endless opportunities to use my gifts and talents,” says Joy.

She has been trained by some of the most well-known musicians in New York and New Jersey. Joy studied piano with the director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and with the father of renowned pianist and choir director Ted Cornell of the Ted Cornell Chorale. She studied organ and musical performance with the celebrated organist at Radio City Music Hall, Mr. George Wesner.

After attending Bible College, where she majored in music, Joy went on to teach private piano and organ lessons for fifteen years. She taught piano, voice, organ, guitar, recorder, clarinet and flute in several Christian schools. She was on the faculty of Love Christian Academy in Nanuet, NY where she taught music and art/appreciation classes to grades K - 8. There she developed a 5-year progressive music program to be instituted as part of the academic curriculum. Joy also taught sign language to be used in school-wide choir performances.

In addition to her accomplishments as a music teacher, she also has an accomplished resume as a performer, which includes:

  • Traveling with a touring summer Cammarata choir as accompanist

  • Playing lead musical role as Amahl in the musical stage operetta “Amahl and the Night Visitors”

  • Performing the musical role of Mary, mother of Jesus in a televised Christmas production

  • Serving as a host for a Catholic cable television show

  • On staff as pianist and organist with numerous church music programs

In addition, Joy enjoys working with Live Oak Theatre Company as its Costume Coordinator and is pleased to join the faculty of the Conservatory.

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