Mr. Byron is the Asbury School of Music's guitar instructor. He is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, a school renowned for its jazz and modern music studies. He plays solo jazz guitar at various venues throughout the Triangle area.

Mr. Byron teaches many styles of guitar playing - from classical to country and bluegrass to rock and jazz. He welcomes every level of student from beginner to advanced--both acoustic and electric guitar players as well as students wishing to learn the bass guitar.

To see what times are still available see the schedule page

A native of Durham, North Carolina, Ernest Turner has been an active member of the New Orleans and North Carolina music scenes since 1999. Starting with classical piano at the age of 4 Ernest's youth was always centered in music, including membership in The N.C. Boys Choir and playing trumpet and tuba in middle, high school and collegiate bands. He received his M.M in Jazz Studies from University of New Orleans ('06) and his B.M. in Jazz Piano Performance from Loyola University, New Orleans ('03). While in New Orleans Ernest had the pleasure of playing and befriending many great jazz musicians, including Delfeayo, Jason and Ellis Marsalis, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Adonis Rose, Ed Peterson, Harold Batiste, Steve Masakowski, Tony Dagradi, Johnny Vidacovich, Brice Winston, John Mahoney and Michael Pellera. Ernest is a former member of the Jazz faculty at East Carolina University and is also involved in various musical endeavors in the North Carolina area, including, most recently, an international tour with North Carolina saxophonist Brian Horton and recording as a sideman on Steeplechase Records with Stephen Riley, Jason Marsalis and Neal Caine

One of Ms. Wickliffe's greatest joys is helping students who love music grow in their musical abilities. Charity is a graduate magna cum lauda of Campbell University with a degree in Piano Pedagogy. She is a member of the Raleigh Piano Teacher's Associaton, the North Carolina Music Teacher's Associaton, the National Music Teacher's Association, and the American College of Musicians. Her musical experience includes accompanying a college choir and solo musicians, directing a church choir and children's choir, and playing for weddings and Broadway musicals. She seeks continually to enlarge her musical experience with musical literature, lectures, and concerts.

Todd Proctor Percussion

Percussion

Mr. Proctor completed his bachelor's degree in Music Business at East Carolina University.  He has over 20 years teaching experience in public and private schools. Mr. Proctor does professional work as a recording studio percussionist and performs regularly in various groups throughout the area. He can be heard regularly on Sunday mornings playing drums for the Asbury United Methodist Church worship band.

While attending East Carolina University, Mr. Proctor had the fortunate opportunity to play with some of the world’s finest Jazz musicians: Mulgrew Miller, Christian McBride, Grady Tate, and Maceo Parker. 

He has opened for many popular artists such as Edwin McCain, The Wailers, Yellowman,
Third World, The Derrick Truck’s Band, and Bobby Watson and the New Horizon. I have
also shared the stage with The Hartford Symphony, Triangle Chamber Orchestra, Gogi Grant, Amy Grant and Vince Gill (Duke Children’s Classic pit-ensemble), The John Brown Quintet, and The Duke Chorale.

His recordings are best represented on the following: Mother Nature, Mother Nature (1995), East Carolina Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Directions 2 (1997), Armand & Bluesology, Everything I Need (1997), Rusty Adams, Windows to the Soul (1997), The Crooked Smile Band, Debut (2000), Van Zant/Palmer, Sessions (2001), Laura Ridgeway, Triple Dog Dare Ya (2002), Dave Youngman Quartet, Usual Suspects (2002), Jim Crew, Shimmy Shack (2002), House Arrest, House Arrest (2002), and Mark Williams, Hold On (2002), Mark Williams, Rainbows: single (2004), Mark Williams, Soldier (2004), Lola Youngman with the Dave Youngman Quartet, This Can't be Love (2005), James Dunn, Lonely American Dream (2006),and Mark Williams, Freedom (2007).

Larry James teaches flute, saxophone and clarinet at the Asbury School of Music. He attended North Texas State University, Asbury College and received his bachelor of music degree from the Berklee College of Music.

Mr. James has performed with such notables as Natalie Cole, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Bob Hope, Mel Torme and the North Carolina Symphony, the North Carolina Theater, Leon Jordan's Continentals, Artie Barsamian's Boston Big Band, and the Ron Rudkin Big Band. He has recorded with Leon Jordan's Continentals, Artie Barsamian's Boston Big Band, the Dave Coate Group, and the Asbury College Brass Choir and Stage Band. He appears on the soundtrack of the United Artists Motion Picture "Once Around" starring Richard Dreyfuss, Danny Aiello and Holly Hunter.

He performed for 14 years at the New Year's Eve Ball with Leon Jordan's Continentals at the Radisson Governor's Inn (RTP) and performed for 12 years at the North Carolina Symphony's New Years Ball. He has been in performances for Senator Jesse Helms and has performed in inaugurations for Governors Holhouser, Martin and Easley.Mr. James is currently the director of the Asbury United Methodist Church Orchestra. His students have won scholarships to Appalachian State University, NC School of the Arts and the Berklee College of Music.

Mary Deans Romero Violin

Ms.  Romero teaches individual violin lessons here at Asbury School of Music. She has her bachelors degree in music education from UNC Greensboro. Additionally she has a masters in education  from Loyola College, a graduate certificate from Johns Hopkins, a diploma from the Montessori Association and Musikgarten certification. Ms. Deans is flexible with curriculum and can tailor the lessons to students experience, skill and age. She is a great teacher for beginners and is also great with adults who want to pick up the violin for the first time or pick it back up after not playing for a while.