Instructors
Ashley Finkelstein
Ashley Finkelstein has been playing music since she was 5 years old! She started taking music lessons with the flute, then quickly moved onto the oboe, where she found her true love for music. She was apart of her middle school and high school band in Southern California. She carried her love for music to college at Cal State Long Beach, where she majored in music education and played for the University's orchestra. After moving to Florence, Alabama, she got her masters at University of North Alabama in music education, while working at Richland Elementary, teaching music! Ashley also played oboe in the Shoals Symphony.
Beginning piano, band instruments.
stephanie hayes
Ms. Hayes is a native of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee and began her career as a music educator in 1992 teaching at Flintville Jr High School in Flintville, Tennessee for two years. She retired in 2019 after 25 years at Colbert Heights High School in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Stephanie assists many bands in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee. She is a drill writer specializing in small bands, a marching and concert band clinician, teaches band leadership training, and is currently teaching privately at Fink’s Music School in Florence, Alabama.
She received her Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education and her Master’s of Arts in Education from the University of North Alabama. As an undergraduate she was an active member of the Pride of Dixie Marching Band, pep band, jazz band, brass choir, percussion ensemble, Collegiate Singers, and was a founding member of the UNA Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Ms. Hayes remains an active professional trumpet and low brass player, clinician, conductor, and church instrumentalist. In her free time she enjoys band instrument repair, playing ukulele, and teaching private lessons. She is a member of The National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Shoals Area Band Directors Association, and an Alumni of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. She currently lives in Florence, Alabama with her two college age children, Logan and Morgan and their dachshund, Shoeshine. If your instrument is not playing well, let Ms Hayes look at your instrument and give you an estimate on your repair.
Band Instruments, Piano, Ukulele
idorenyin parson
Idorenyin is a senior at the University of North Alabama studying Instrumental and Piano Performance. While pursing her undergraduate degree, she also teaches group class violin and beginning orchestra with FAFA within Florence Public School System. She also plays as a church pianist for FBC in Tuscumbia. Idorenyin has taught students in AL and TN for the past 5 years. I love to teach violin and piano to all age groups! My goal is to help my students of all ages learn how to play music on piano and violin whether it's classical or modern, or even something in between!
Violin, Piano
alexa cortes
I am a piano and clarinet instructor here at Fink's Music. I've been teaching for almost a year. I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music and am now starting my Master of Arts in Education. Clarinet is my primary instrument as I've been playing it for about 12 years. In that time, I've also played other harmony clarinets in the University of North Alabama's clarinet ensemble, wind ensemble, and symphonic band. Teaching music has been a passion of mine since sophomore year of high school and I cannot wait to share this passion with your child(ren)!
Clarinet, Piano
henley phillips
Piano, Guitar, Bass, and Ukulele
Henley Phillips is a multi-instrumentalist from Florence, Alabama. He has been teaching at Fink’s Music for almost 3 years. He plays with a local Florence pop-rock band called Victoria. He enjoys learning video game music, movie soundtracks and rock music.
jessica bailey
Voice Instructor
chase strachan
Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Rock Band Instructor
paige abbott
Violin, Viola
alex dilley
Cello Instructor
andrew garner
Kevin Lay
Cello
Kevin Lay is a musician from the Huntsville Alabama area and has been performing, composing and teaching for over 40 years. In addition to cello and classical guitar, Kevin has spent a lot of time learning the performance practices of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, playing the instruments of the viola da gamba family and receiving a masters degree in historical performance from Indiana University. Kevin’s recent projects include founding and leading the group Rocket City Viols, the Madison Early Music Project, and the Indy-Folk band Luna Koi.
Cade Garcia
Violin
Cade Garcia is a violinist from Gadsden, AL. He has played with many ensembles such as the Gadsden Symphony Orchestra, Decatur Orchestra Sul Ponticello, and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. Cade is currently working on getting his Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance at UNA.
Hope Aldridge
Voice & Piano
Hello! I am a piano and voice instructor here at Finks Music. I’ve been teaching for almost 4 years and absolutely love it. I am finishing my bachelor’s degree in Music Education at The University of North Alabama. I sing in Chamber choir, Collegiate Singers, and Una Voce at UNA. My primary instrument is my voice. I’ve played piano for years but have loved singing my entire life. Music and teaching are two huge passions of mine and I love being able to share it with kids!
Holden Law
Chase Strachan
Hunter Lee
Mr. Lee is currently the band director and choir director at East Lawrence. instrumental music education at the University of North Alabama. Hunter is originally from Decatur, AL. From a young age he studied piano, voice, and percussion. Hunter is actively involved in church music including being a part time music minister. Hunter during his time in undergrad has performed with the UNA Marching Pride, the UNA Symphonic Band and the Wind Ensemble, the UNA Percussion Ensemble and Percussion Group, the UNA Studio Lab Band, and the UNA Choirs. Hunter has worked with and arranged percussion and wind parts for schools including: Russellville High, Decatur HIgh, Spainpark High, Florence High, and Priceville High.
His teachers have Included Dr. Tracy Wiggins, Dr. Yun-Ju Pan, AJ Covery, Dr. Tyler Tolles, Lauren Teel, Tiffany Bostic-Brown, and Terrance Brown. He has studied general percussion as well as Jazz Vibraphone and Marimba singing. He was a guest performer at the Alabama State Day of Percussion with his professor Dr. Yun-Ju Pan accompanying her on a vocal piece. He has performed many works by composers including: John Cage, Josh Gottry, Ivan Trevino, Mark Ford, David Maslanka, Pius Cheung, Molly Herron, Dave Hollinden, Jefferey Peyton, and many other great composers. Hunter during his time in undergrad has performed with the UNA Marching Pride, the UNA Symphonic Band and the Wind Ensemble, the UNA Percussion Ensemble and Percussion Group, the UNA Studio Lab Band, and the UNA Choirs. Hunter has worked with and arranged percussion and wind parts for schools including: Russellville High, Decatur HIgh, Spainpark High, Florence High, and Priceville High.
