TSM Instructors
Leslie Thurman, director
Leslie is a Dallas native who graduated from Highland Park High School, and then attended SMU. She graduated with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education with concentrations in both piano and voice. Leslie is a former member of the DMTA & MTNA.
For over 50 years, Leslie has worked with children in music. She has taught private piano and voice lessons and directed music education for numerous private schools and churches. The demand for her private piano teaching increased to the point that she began training other teachers in her approach. Leslie continues to direct the Thurman School of Music as she and her staff continually commit to providing quality music instruction for all ages.
Many of Leslie’s students have continued to study music at the collegiate level, graduating from such highly-regarded music schools as UNT and SMU.
Andrew Grein, assistant director
Andrew has been an instructor with the Thurman School of Music since 2003. His educational background includes a B.M. in Piano Performance from Oklahoma Baptist University and an M.M. in Piano Performance from the University of Oklahoma.
In addition to his TSM students, Andrew also teaches as an adjunct instructor of class piano at Richland College in Richardson and does vocal and instrumental accompanying throughout the area.
Chloe Ann Grein, assistant director
Chloe Ann has been with TSM as a student beginning in 1987, and a teacher beginning in 1995. She completed her B.M. in Piano Performance from Southern Methodist University in 2003 and an M.A. in Humanities from the University of Dallas in 2008. Chloe Ann has performed extensively throughout the area as an accompanist and as the pianist for the Plano Symphony Orchestra. She also co-directs Jubilate! Childrens Chorus, a choir for homeschool children located in the north Dallas area.
Chloe Ann stays busy by teaching and performing, homeschooling, and, along with her husband Andrew, taking care of their four children, Jonah, Leah, Bonnie, and Oscar.
Jessi Fraccaro
Jessi began studying piano in East Texas, where she has won numerous awards through the years at area piano competitions. As a junior in high school, Jessi was chosen to join the Kilgore College Keyboard Ensemble. During her time with this ensemble, Jessi performed at two MTNA conventions (2005 & 2006), and with Jackson Berkey, lead keyboardist for Mannheim Steamroller.
Jessi holds degrees in piano from Kilgore Junior College and Southern Methodist University. In 2013, Jessi received a masters degree in Christian Education from Dallas Seminary, and she served on staff at Grace Bible Church until 2016.
Since 2008, Jessi has served as a piano instructor with the Thurman School of Music and is a member of CMTA. In her spare time, Jessi enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband, three kids, and three dogs.
Sarah Shwe
Sarah has had a passion for the piano since starting at the young age of four years old. She grew up attending many competitions and festivals in the Dallas area with DMTA, earning many awards and high scores. She has been teaching piano since 2009 and loves each and every student that she has taught.
Sarah attended Baylor for four years, graduating with her B.M. in Piano Pedagogy in 2012. While studying at Baylor, she participated in piano ensembles, piano accompaniment, vocal training, choirs, teaching and musicianship skills as well as various piano teaching internships. She also received numerous invitations to join high academic collegiate societies and in Spring of 2012, she gave a recital at Baylor University in Roxy Grove Hall.
Sarah enjoys and encourages love of music in all forms whether it is composing, vocal work, or improvisation in her spare time.
Barbara Loest, associate director
Barbara has been a teacher with the Thurman School of Music since 1982. She received a B.M.E. from Midwestern State University, and continued her education at the graduate level at the University of North Texas.
In addition to her outstanding teaching abilities, Barbara is also a highly sought after accompanist in the Dallas area. She currently serves as Associate Director of Worship & Music and Director of Youth and Senior Adult Choirs at Park Cities Baptist Church where she has directed and accompanied numerous choral productions.
Many of Barbara’s students have continued their music studies at the master’s and doctoral level, graduating from such prestigious schools as Eastman, Yale, Baylor, and TCU.
Luke Van Vessem
Luke is a TSM alumnus and is in his second year of teaching with TSM. He is a talented pianist and vocalist and is currently in his Junior year at Dallas Baptist University. He has participated in different ensembles at DBU, including the Grand Chorus, the University Chorale, and the University Piano Ensemble. He plays piano and sings at his church in Arlington on Sunday mornings, and he plays at a youth group service on Wednesday evenings.
Lillian Paris
Lillian is a TSM alumnus, having studied piano since she was six years old. She has proven herself as a diligent pianist and she studied under Leslie Thurman. Her performance experience includes being a repeat winner in TSM’s Evaluation Workshop, playing in church and worship settings, and accompanying in various school ensembles.
Lillian graduated from Naaman Forest High School in 2019 and has been teaching with TSM for five years. She is passionate about music and loves using her gifts to inspire students.
Maddy Black
Maddy began playing piano at the age of five and has continued to be an active and passionate musician ever since. She participated and placed in numerous competitions throughout the country, served as principal pianist for her high school in Southern California during her four years there, and received the highest honors at the California Certificate of Merit program in every level.
Following moving to Texas in 2015, Maddy chose to study music professionally and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the University of North Texas, studying with Dr. Liudmila Georgievskaya. Maddy has taught piano privately since 2012, and she loves to help children discover their own passion for music!
A native of Kingman, KS, Patrick Orr began piano with local teacher Joan Robinson. At 15, Patrick began studying with Dr. Julie Bees at Wichita State University. In the past few years, he has won several awards including a gold medal at the International Keyboard Odyssiad and Festival, placing second in the Mu Phi Epsilon International Young Artist Competition, and has appeared as a semi finalist in both the Wideman and Dallas International Piano Competitions. Some of Patrick’s concerto appearances include performances with the Kansas City Symphony, the Wichita State University Symphony, and most recently with the Arapahoe Philharmonic.
Patrick has taught piano for seven years and is in his first year of teaching at the Thurman School of Music. His favorite part of teaching is watching a student’s personality shine in their performances! Aside from playing piano and teaching, Patrick also enjoys bullet journaling and drinking way too much coffee! Patrick is currently studying with Andrey Ponochevny at Southern Methodist University, where he will earn his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance.
Lily Wilson has studied piano with the Thurman School of Music since she was young student. She is a talented musician and has mastered both technically difficult pieces and music theory at an advanced level. Lily loves children and music, and now teaches beginning piano students as our new Student Teacher! Lily also loves math and reading, and she continues with her own personal music study.