Meet Our Teachers

April Stewart serves as the director of the Fine Arts School of Music at First Presbyterian Church. Thrilled to join FPC and passionate about helping launch this ministry, she is excited to be a part of this faith-based program, where she oversees the school, teaches piano, and helps other teachers nurture a love of musical education for the purpose of glorifying God and serving others. Homeschooled and raised in Mississippi, April began playing piano at age 13 and studied music at Northwest Community College. Since 2001, she has been teaching piano to children and adults. She holds certifications from the University of Memphis in the Suzuki Method through Level 2 enabling her to emphasize ear training, repetition, and parental involvement in her repertoire. April and her husband married in 2006. Together they enjoy homeschooling and training their four children in guitar, piano, violin, and mandolin. April has served as a church pianist through the years, and as a family they have served in churches and performed publicly for events and weddings. April enjoys building homes with her husband, spending time with her kids, painting with acrylics, learning to play the ukulele, and baking sourdough bread. In everything- whether teaching, performing, or daily life April loves the salvation she has received from God and desires to live wholeheartedly for the glory of God. 

Barry Bouchillon, a dedicated music teacher and local minister, was born in Louisville, MS. Raised in a Christian home, loving and living for Jesus has been his greatest joy. Barry is proficient in multiple instruments, including guitar, ukulele, bass guitar, and banjo. He regularly praises the Lord for his musical abilities, especially considering a freak accident in high school that crushed his fingers. Despite a doctor’s recommendation to amputate them and a prognosis that he would never use his fingers again, his parents refused the doctor’s recommendation, and because of the Lord’s help, Barry regained function, giving glory to God every time he picks up an instrument or sings. He earned his degree in church music from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has been involved in full-time music ministry since 1999. His studies also include arranging at Berklee College of Music, coordinating praise teams at the Steve Hurst School of Music, choral conducting at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, and jazz music theory from a professional musician. His passion for music education spans over 50 years, during which he has taught various forms, breaking down complex concepts into simple, understandable steps to help students master the main skills needed for playing music in front of others. Married since 1973, Barry cherishes spending time with his wonderful wife, Nancy. 

Diane Remillard is a dedicated music teacher and performer of several instruments from the clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone, to the piano. Born in the suburbs of Chicago, Diane discovered her love for music when her parents provided her with the opportunity to learn piano at the age of 7 and later encouraged her to join the school band in the 4th grade. She cherishes memories of family  gatherings at her grandmother’s house where she and her aunt and cousins played the piano together. Diane earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Wheaton College in 1983 and began teaching private lessons in her home to children and adults, later serving as the band director for eight years at Downers Grove Christian School in Downers Grove, Illinois. She recently moved with her husband to Crossville, but she continues to travel to perform with the Dupage Symphony Orchestra. When she is not traveling, she plays with the ensemble at First Presbyterian Church and teaches at the Fine Arts School of Music. Success for Diane is enriching students’ lives through music and faith in God. Working with so many students at a variety of levels and ages, she understands the challenges they face and attempts to teach out of that awareness. Beyond music, Diane loves crafting, quilting, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. 

Ellen Tuuk was born and raised in the suburbs of Austin, TX. Because musical education was important to her parents, Ellen started piano lessons at the age of 6, and by her teenage years, had participated in music camps for piano, violin, harp, and choir. She studied under many private teachers, especially appreciating her final teacher in high school, making an hour drive one way a weekly commitment. Though initially not her love due to stage fright, Ellen participated in competitions and piano recitals and has continued to play in nursing homes or as a backup pianist in churches. Ellen has been teaching piano lessons since graduating high school, and her unique challenge of overcoming fear of performing has given her a gospel-shaped perspective about how she wants to teach. She hopes to communicate to each student that performing is about bringing glory to God, not ourselves, and yet God gifts us with a mind to be creative and also to delight in good music. To that end, she loves to arrange hymns into different styles and encourages her students to play hymns, learn the art of improvising, and find ways to share the beauty of music with others. Besides teaching and working to help a family-owned coffee shop, Ellen enjoys reading and quilting. She also spends time with her two dogs (taking them camping with her), tending her chickens, and building a homestead with the goal of raising her own nutritious food.

Annalise Aikens began learning to play the violin in 2019 at the age of 8, but music has always been a happy part of her life whether by listening to all kinds of music, singing, or playing instruments with her family. Her first violin instruction was in a small group setting taught by Crossville native, Zac Carpenter. Since those early years, Annalise has been classically trained by Ashlyn Yarborough and Sarah Howell from Peachtree Learning Center in Cookeville, where she also played in the Strings Orchestra for four years. After making progress with the violin and being inspired by Sierra Hull, Annalise decided she wanted to learn to play the mandolin. Sarah Howell was her first instructor, and Annalise very quickly jumped into the rhythm and bluegrass band at Peachtree. Currently, she studies violin with Dr. Chris Williams at TN Tech, participates in the TN Tech Strings Project, and is growing in her skill set on the mandolin by listening to the renowned musician Mike Marshall. A determined and driven individual, Annalise channels these qualities into her teaching. Just beginning her teaching career, she desires to create an environment where students feel encouraged to keep practicing and setting personal goals. She hopes her passion for a variety of genres will rub off on her students, and they will ultimately delight in God the true giver of music. When Annalise is not studying or playing music, you may find her reading, playing tennis, cooking bread, creating art, or following the Petersen’s online.

Lizzy Stewart’s love for music and teaching has been nurtured by her musician mom and aunt. At the young age of 5, she picked up her first violin, beginning her classical training with the Suzuki Method. Through the years she has competed in local music contests, once winning first place at the Jimmy Thompson Fiddling Competition in Granville, TN. Today she enjoys playing a variety of genres and regularly performs at local churches, weddings, and other venues across Middle Tennessee. Lizzy’s instructors have included Sarah McKelvie and Jimmy Bilbrey from the Stevens Street School of Performing Arts. Since 2023, she has been participating in the TN Tech Strings Project and private lessons, studying under the guidance of Dan Allcott, Mia Hagerty and currently Dr. Chris Williams. Lizzy started teaching when she was just 14 and truly desires for her students to understand music and to grow in their musical skills for the glory of God. Looking ahead to college at TN Tech, Lizzy plans to major in nursing, following in the steps of her dad, and minor in music performance. Besides playing and teaching the violin, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading good books, cooking, and hiking.