Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School - Advanced Piano Instructor

Advanced Piano Instructor at Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School Since 1996. Degree in music from The Catholic University of America with a major in Piano Performance. Private piano students adults & children since 1980. GMTA, GMEA, ACDA & AGO member for years. Mr. Hennessy has been the Advanced Piano instructor and the Davidson Chorale pianist at Davidson Fine Arts School since 1996. He also served as Director of Choral Activities at Aquinas High School from 2001 to 2010. Mr. Hennessy holds a Bachelor of Music with a major in piano performance from The Catholic University of America and is a graduate of Aquinas class of '74. Mr. Hennessy has performed as a soloist in Switzerland, Italy and various United States locations including The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Serving as pianist for the Davidson Chorale he performed on recordings winning invitations and performing for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Southern Division in Jacksonville 2015. In addition the Davidson Chorale won the 2012 American Prize in Choral Performance with Mr. Hennessy serving as pianist. Past events with Mr. Hennessy performing with the Davidson Chorale include the National Gallery of Art Concert Series in 2007 & '08, ACDA Southern Division in Nashville 2004, ACDA National Convention in Los Angeles 2005 and the 2003 Temple Square Concert Series in Salt Lake City. In addition Mr. Hennessy performed on the recordings winning the GRAMMY 2004 National Signature School award for Davidson, which is the top GRAMMY award with performances including "Salute to Classical Music" in Los Angeles GRAMMY week, and the GRAMMY 2005 Gold School award. Both GRAMMY awards beat over 20,000 high schools across the nation. While at Aquinas the Aquinas Chorale also performed each year at all the area Catholic Churches. The Aquinas Chorale performed 3 times at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah including a command performance by Bishop Boland for his 50th anniversary as a priest grand celebration. The Aquinas Chorale performed at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta where the Chorale received a standing ovation at the end of Mass and a written invitation to return to Atlanta any time. The Aquinas Chorale also performed twice at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Macon, an identical replica of our own Sacred Heart Cultural Center here in Augusta and a stunning venue for Choral music. Mr. Hennessy has served as music director/conductor/pianist for over 50 different musicals for the North Carolina School of the Arts, The Catholic University of America, Davidson Fine Arts School, Aquinas High School and The Augusta Players. After graduating The Catholic University of America in 1980 Mr. Hennessy worked as organist/choir director at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Augusta from 1983 to 1991. Mr. Hennessy then transferred to The Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Augusta where he served as organist/choir director from 1991 to 1996. Mr. Hennessy took the position of Advanced Piano Instructor at Davidson Fine Arts School in the summer of 1996 and is presently teaching his 22nd year at Davidson this year. Mr. Hennessy is a parishioner at St. Mary on the Hill and is happily married to Bernadette Hennessy. Bernadette runs her own business, Foxhall Services, which provides legal services for New York Supreme Court examiners. Mr. Hennessy has 6 children, 5 girls and Jack who is 6 years old. Mr. Hennessy plans on retiring when he is 92 - no sooner! Mr. Hennessy during the school year will be available for lessons from 10 AM to 11 AM, after 4 PM and Saturday mornings.

Working with adults or kids teaching how to play the piano well.