top of page
Meet our Qualified Instructors
Jessica Harper Laing
​
Jessica has played piano since age six, has played for churches since age fifteen, and graduated from ULM with a Bachelor's degree in Piano Pedagogy. She is also Music Garden certified. During her schooling there she taught piano at Irena's Music Academy in Monroe. Mrs. Irena Jones was her neighbor, piano teacher, and dear friend. During Mrs. Irena's last months she wished for Jessica to continue her academy, and Jessica has done so. Thus Jess & Irena's Music Academy was born. Jessica will always be thankful and grateful for Mrs. Irena. She would not be where she is today without her.
Jessica and her husband Zach have two children, Mary and William, dogs, cats and countless chickens. She enjoys playing outside with her family, tending to her garden, reading books and composing.
​
​
​
Elijah Asmussen
​
Elijah has been playing piano for ten years and is a classically trained pianist. He is currently finishing a degree in Piano Performance at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and plans to continue his studies in graduate school. Elijah was awarded first place in the 2025 Marjorie Stricken Emerging Artist Competition, sponsored by the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, and will perform a full concerto with the orchestra in April 2026. He has also earned several top placements in several Louisiana Music Teachers Association piano rallies, including first place at the state level in 2019.
Elijah is currently living at home with his parents, two younger siblings, and one dog. He enjoys being active, going to the gym, playing the piano, and playing games with his younger siblings.
​
Angela Asmussen
​
Angela took formal piano lessons for ten years and has played piano for thirty nine years. She played in band a total of eight years when she attended West Monroe High School and Northeast Louisiana University. She has been a Registered Nurse since 2008. Angela has been married to her husband, John, for twenty eight years. They have three children: Elijah, Ella, and Elliot. Elijah is currently a Piano Performance major at ULM, and Ella and Elliot are still being homeschooled by Angela. Her home is ruled by her ten pound ShiChi dog, Bitsy.
Naomi Kilpatrick
​
Naomi Kilpatrick graduated with a Bachelors degree in Vocal Music Education from ULM in 2023 and is currently getting her Masters degree from ULM's Summer Masters Program. She is currently teaching choir at Calhoun Middle School and hopes to one day teach at the collegiate level. She sings regularly at Northminster Baptist Church where she serves as a choir member, soloist, and Choral Intern. She has a kitty cat named Grapes that she adores and she loves to try new crafts in her spare time. She enjoys crocheting, sewing, reading and drawing. She is currently engaged to Brandon Hale and they are hoping to be married next Fall. After marriage, she hopes to continue to further her education and pursue her doctorate degree in Vocal Music Education.
Madison Cherry
​
Madison Cherry is a sophomore Music major at Louisiana Tech University, concentrating in Piano Pedagogy. She has been playing for fifteen years and was taught under Irena Jones and Jessica Harper Laing. Madison has competed in numerous piano competitions , earning awards both at the local and state levels, along with many superior ratings at festivals across and beyond Louisiana. She is the current recipient of the Irena Jones Music Scholarship for piano.
​
In addition to her pedagogical studies, Madison plans to explore audio engineering for music production during her time at Louisiana Tech. She has already begun her career as a piano teacher for beginners and is enthusiastic about sharing her love of music with new students.
Outside of music, Madison enjoys reading, watching sitcoms, spending time with her family and friends, and playing with her dog Baxter.
​
Emily Quigley
​
Emily Quigley has played since the age of four and has been teaching since 2020. She has performed in countless music festivals, concerts, recitals, bands and worship services. In the David Karl Festival at Kilgore College, she won first place in both the soloist and duet divisions. The Bach Festival at Kilgore College and the Skills Festival at the University of Texas at Tyler were also a regular part of her musical training. She earned her music degree from East Baptist university in Marshall, Texas in 2018, making memories and friends along with being active in the Symphonic, Jazz and Chapel bands. Those were her favorite classes along with Choir and Marching Band.
​
Since her college days, Emily has served as pianist and participated in Christmas and Easter musicals. Having taught a wide range of students from five to seventy, she knows how to approach each differently in her own unique way. Teaching not just repertoire but also technique, theory, and piano exercises for training. If a student desires to learn a particular song or style, Emily helps each student to achieve their own personal goals. Emily looks forward to teaching you and joining you on your musical journey!
bottom of page