Sheri Stoner-Harris has been an active prize-winning private studio teacher for over 30 years.  Her pedagogical ideas have helped numerous pre-collegiate students excel and realize their natural talents and gifts.  Sheri received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Centenary College of Louisiana on full scholarship, where she won the Aria/Concerto competition, and received both the Outstanding Junior Music Major and Outstanding Senior Music Major awards. After being accepted as a graduate assistant to teach piano class at Louisiana State University, she earned her Master of Music in Piano Performance and graduated Summa Cum Laude.  She was primarily a student of Constance Knox Carroll but also studied with Jack Guerry.  

 

Upon graduating, Sheri was hired at Centenary College of Louisiana’s pre-collegiate piano department, where she developed new offerings that enhanced the program and assisted the school financially.  When she moved to St. Louis, MO, Sheri continued to teach in the private studio setting as well as studio piano classes and continued to be active in local organizations.  After moving to Murfreesboro, TN ten years ago, Sheri began teaching at MTSU as adjunct piano faculty and continued her private studio.  She has been a frequent adjudicator for festivals and competitions, including the Alabama Music Teachers Association  state adjudicator as well as a presenter, masterclass technician,  and guest lecturer for area organizations.  She received the Tennessee Music Teachers Association prestigious Teacher of the Year Award for the year 2023. 

 

Sheri has been an active member of MTNA and NFMC  for over 25 years. She has served as Auditions chair in her local MTMTA for 10 years, Vice-President for several years, and was President for 2022-2024.  She began the annual PianoFest festival for MTMTA ten  years ago to cater to all students, as well as raise funds for the local chapter. 

 

Her students have received awards such as MTNA State level winners, runners-up and honorable mentions in Louisiana, Missouri and Tennessee.  She has had Tennessee area piano competition winners, acceptance to Governor’s school of Tennessee and invitational piano camps, and several scholarship recipients for collegiate piano study. Most recently at the 2022 TMTA State competition she had the Runner-up in the K-1 division, runner up in the 10th grade division, and winner of the 12th grade division, the Honorable Mention in the 7th grade division 2024, and the Honorable Mention in the 3rd grade division 2025.  She had the grand cup recipient for NFMC 2024.