Our Teachers
Director: Jean McEntire
Assistant Director: Jeremy McEntire
Administrative Assistant: Kristen McEntire
Administrative Assistant: JoAnne Whitlow
Music for Young Children™ Teachers:
Lane England
Jean McEntire
Jeremy McEntire
Flute Teacher: Jeremy McEntire
Piano Teachers:
Lane England
Sarah Lapallo
Jean McEntire
Jeremy McEntire
David Zaronas, student teacher
Strings Teachers:
Dennis McEntire
JoAnne Whitlow
Voice Teacher: Jean McEntire
Meet Our Teachers
Jean McEntire has taught music lessons and classes since she was 16 years old in Virginia, Texas, Kentucky, and Paraguay. She has a passion for helping others experience the joy of music, both as performers and active listeners.
Jean has studied music since she was six years old and holds the following degrees and certifications:
- B.S in Music Education, Univ. of Richmond, 1966
- Certificate in Voice Pedagogy, Studio of Pura Agüero Vera, by el Departamento de Educación del Paraguay, 1990
- M.M. in Music Education, Virginia Commonwealth Univ., 1997
- Certification, Level 3, by the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association, 2002-‘
She is a member of Music Teachers National Association, Richmond Music Study Club (the local chapter of the National Federation of Music Study Clubs), American College of Musicians, and Early Childhood Music and Movement Association.
Jean and her husband Dennis are the parents of three musicians: Ann-Janette McEntire Lacatell, David McEntire, and Jeremy McEntire and grandparents of six budding musicians: Noah and Sophie Lacatell, Abby and Elijah McEntire, and Lucas and Joshua McEntire.
At The TDS, Jean teaches MYC™, Voice, The TDS Singers, Piano, and Spanish.
Jeremy McEntire, Assistant Director and Teacher
Jeremy McEntire began piano lessons when he was three years old. Growing up in Paraguay, he also learned to play the guitar and flute. He played handbells with his family and sang in community and church ensembles.
Jeremy holds the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance, VCU, 1997
- M.M. in Flute Performance, New England Conservatory, 1999
After graduation from New England Conservatory, Jeremy worked for six months for Nagahara Flutes. Then he spent two years as Principal Flute in the Orquesta Sinfónica de la U.A.N.L. in Monterrey, Mexico. He has also served a piccoloist in the Richmond Symphony. Currently he regularly performs with the Roanoke Symphony. Jeremy is an Adjunct Flute Instructor at the University of Richmond and at Randolph Macon College.
Jeremy and Kristen have two children: Abby and Elijah.
At The TDS, Jeremy teaches flute, piano and MYC™
Lane England, Teacher (update coming soon)
photo by Steven Turner Sarah Lapallo, Teacher
Sarah took private piano lessons for 12 years, including lessons from professors at VCU through the School of Music. She's been teaching piano lessons since 2004. In 2008 she started teaching piano lessons at the Talent Developing Studio. She also teaches private beginning guitar, guitar classes, and all levels of group art classes. Along with piano and guitar, she's dabbled with flute, violin, trumpet, drums, and voice. She's been the Youth Band Director at Shady Grove United Methodist Church since 2009. She's had number gigs for weddings, luncheons, receptions, etc. Sarah holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from VCU.
Sarah teaches piano, beginning guitar (private and group), and group art classes.
Dennis McEntire, Teacher
Dennis McEntire, when he was a third-grader, began his violin studies with Michael Laguta and continued studying with him for ten years. From 1961-1965 while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Richmond, Dennis studied with Dr. Frederick Neumann. In 1968 Dennis graduated from Southwestern Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree; in 1970, from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology degree. In Paraguay he had some violin lessons with Miguel Angel Echeverría, director of the Orquesta de Cámara Municipal de Asunción. In 1992 he studied Suzuki violin with Suzanne Schreck. Dennis has completed four Suzuki Teacher Training Courses.
At The TDS, Dennis teaches violin.
JoAnne Whitlow, Teacher
Mrs. Whitlow is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she began playing the violin at the age of seven. She attended the Governor's Magnet School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia. Mrs. Whitlow studied violin at Virginia Commonwealth University where she received a Bachelors of Music degree, with a minor in general business. She was awarded a teacher assistantship with the VCU Orchestra in coordination with her Masters Degree in Music. She began teaching orchestra in Hanover County in 2001. She was the guest conductor of the 2005 Chesterfield All-County 7th grade orchestra and has attended conducting workshops with Sandra Dackow.
JoAnne and Jake are the proud parents of Cordelia Whitlow. Currently, Mrs. Whitlow is teaching violin lessons, both private and group, at the Talent Developing Studio.
David Zaronas, Student Teacher
David Zaronas began teaching piano lessons at The TDS in September 2011. After more than thirteen years under the instruction of Jean McEntire, David is pleased with this opportunity. As a student, David has received superior ratings in the NFMSC Piano Festival and the National Piano Guild Auditions for ten years. In addition to teaching, he is the pianist/organist at Mount Hope United Methodist Church, in Doswell, VA. David plays keyboard in a praise band for the Richmond North Student Community Bible Study.
David is doing an internship as a piano teacher at The TDS.
Kristen McEntire, Administrative Assistant
Kristen McEntire officially joined the McEntire family in 1997 when she married Jeremy. After working as a public and private elementary school teacher for seven years, Kristen settled into her profession of mother and homeschool teacher to their two children.
Kristen is an administrative assistant at The TDS.