Teacher Profile: Jillian Grace

About Jillian Grace

Raised in a family of musicians, Jillian Grace developed a lifelong passion for music from an early age. With both parents teaching piano and her father also teaching voice, music was woven into her daily life. She began performing in annual piano recitals at the age of five and continued through age nineteen, gaining valuable performance experience while growing up in a thriving teaching studio.

As an educator, Jillian strives to create a positive and encouraging learning environment where students build confidence, develop strong musical foundations, and discover the joy of making music. Whether teaching piano, voice, or violin, she is passionate about helping each student cultivate their unique talents while fostering a lifelong love of music.

Jillian earned a Bachelor of Music in Voice and a Bachelor of Arts in Piano from Ouachita Baptist University before completing her Master of Music in Opera Performance at Texas Christian University. Throughout her education, she developed a deep appreciation for music theory—a subject she has loved since childhood—and excelled in both academic and performance settings.

Growing up in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, Jillian's musical training extended beyond piano and voice. As a violinist, she performed for several years with the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, experiences that strengthened her musicianship and deepened her appreciation for ensemble performance and collaboration. She also competed in TPSMEA competitions throughout middle and high school, earning a soprano chair in the choral category multiple times. Her accomplishments have been recognized with numerous honors, including First Place in the NATS Texoma and South Texas Senior Women divisions, First Place in the Virginia Queen Piano Competition during her undergraduate studies, and Semi-Finalist in the Meistersinger Vocal Competition in Graz, Austria.

Some of Jillian's favorite musical theatre roles include Ariel in *The Little Mermaid*, Fiona in *Shrek the Musical*, Glinda/Aunt Em in *The Wizard of Oz*, and Katherine in *Newsies*. Her operatic credits include Gretel in *Hansel and Gretel* with the Fort Worth Opera Young Artists Program, Zerbinetta in *Ariadne auf Naxos* at the Trentino Music Festival in Italy, Nannetta in *Falstaff* and Tytania in *A Midsummer Night's Dream*, both at Texas Christian University.

Since relocating to Seattle in 2021, Jillian has grown to love the beauty and culture of the Pacific Northwest. She has extensive teaching experience with students ranging in age from 4 to 65 and enjoys working with both neurotypical and neurodiverse learners. She is committed to meeting each student where they are, creating individualized lessons that inspire confidence, creativity, and a lasting appreciation for music. Jillian looks forward to welcoming new students and partnering with families as they begin and continue their musical journeys.