From toddlers to adults, our lessons in Charlotte and Matthews, NC, nurture creativity and confidence that grow through music.
We inspire students to excel in exams and competitions through expert teaching and personal guidance.
Performance Academy of Music brings the spirit of joyful learning from the award-winning Pleasanton Academy of Music in California to the Charlotte area. For more than a decade, our West Coast school has inspired thousands of students to love music, grow in confidence, and celebrate their achievements on stage and in life.
Founded in 2024 by internationally trained Russian pianists Alexander Lazarev and Tatiana Kubatina, graduates of the renowned Saint Petersburg Conservatory, our academy blends classical excellence with a warm, modern approach.
From toddlers discovering their first notes to advanced students preparing for competitions, we nurture every musician’s passion, confidence, and lifelong love for music.
Read MoreHighly recommend!! Our 3-year-old daughter looks forward to every lesson — in fact, she asks us every single day if we can go to piano lessons! Mrs. Tatiana makes learning so much fun while building real musical skills, and it’s amazing to see how excited and confident our daughter has become. It’s the perfect blend of play and education, and we’re so grateful to have found a place where her love of music can truly grow and flourish!
My daughter has been taking violin lessons at Performance Academy of Music since January, and I can’t believe how much she has grown in such a short time. Her private violin teacher is patient, kind, and uses a beautiful mix of the traditional violin method, Suzuki method, and a combination Suzuki-traditional method that makes learning both fun and effective. She started with beginner violin lessons, and with the right violin size for kids plus encouragement in studio performance classes, her confidence has blossomed. The performance opportunities she’s had mean so much to us as a family—we’ve seen her shine on stage with a big smile. I’m so grateful we found these wonderful violin lessons in Mathews that truly care about children’s growth.
We have had an absolutely amazing experience with Ilya. Our 4yo is incredibly curious and bright, but also very active. Not only is Ilya able to keep her attention by incorporating age appropriate games and props/toys, but he is also instilling the love of music and introducing light music theory! Our girl can constantly be found playing on her piano at home and also sharing her love of music with her little sister. As a mom of 2 on occasion wild toddlers, I'm also incredibly impressed with Ilya's patience, ability to redirect her to refocus, and to do it all in such a light and fun way! We couldn't be happier with being students at Performance Academy of Music!
1. Caring, Inspiring Teachers
Our qualified instructors are not just great musicians — they’re passionate educators who connect with every student, motivate progress, and make learning joyful and encouraging.
2. A Fun and Effective Curriculum
We combine classical excellence with a creative, structured approach that helps students of all ages build strong musical foundations while having fun and feeling inspired.
3. Flexible and Family-Friendly Scheduling
With easy rescheduling, convenient lesson times, and multiple program options, we make music lessons fit smoothly into your busy family life.
4. World-Class Instruments and Opportunities
Each classroom features a Yamaha or Kawai grand piano, never low-cost keyboards. We provide instruments for trial lessons, ensuring every student starts strong. From academy recitals to international competitions, every child has a chance to shine and grow in confidence through the joy of music.
At Performance Academy of Music, our faculty is the heart of our success — a team of passionate educators and accomplished performers dedicated to inspiring every student.
Each instructor brings years of professional experience in performing, teaching, and mentoring young musicians. Many hold advanced degrees from world-renowned institutions such as the Manhattan School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Saint Petersburg Conservatory, National Odessa Music Academy, and the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy, and have appeared on prestigious stages across the U.S. and around the world.
Whether your child is learning piano, violin, voice, or any other instrument, they’ll be guided by teachers who combine classical excellence with modern teaching methods — helping students grow from their first notes to confident performances.
With a focus on musical mastery, creativity, and personal growth, our faculty is committed to making every lesson a joyful, meaningful step in your child’s musical journey.
If you are interested in our school or have any questions, please call us at (980) 446-8195, email us at or fill out our the contact form.
At Performance Academy of Music we are dedicated to ensuring you learn strings the right way. Our esteemed strings teachers are accomplished professional
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Piano Lessons can only be as effective as the individually tailored curricular, and our music instructors have a tremendous amount of experience.
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Our instructors, made up of skilled flute, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet and recorder teach students how to develop and master their musical skills
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Babies and young children learn best through play, and this methodology combines play-based and Montessori approaches. Implementing these approaches
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If you are interested in guitar lessons in Charlotte, NC, we’re happy that you’ve found us. Our instructors have earned advanced degrees in music.
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Even if you haven’t sung before, there’s no need to worry because we can assist you in discovering your singing ability. Our belief is that anyone can sing
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An exciting new curriculum that is now available!
Babies and young children learn best through play, and this methodology combines play-based and Montessori approaches. Implementing these approaches will introduce music to kids and develop their passion for music.
Our Early Childhood Music Lesson instructors aim to make learning enjoyable for our students. We are continually brainstorming ways to make the learning process both engaging and captivating. Our goal is to foster curiosity in children and cultivate a lasting love and interest in music that will span a lifetime.
Music ignites all areas of child development and skills for school readiness, including intellectual, social-emotional, motor, language, and overall literacy. It helps the body and the mind work together.
We are the only music school in the East Bay that works with 2- and 3-year-old children play music instruments. Your toddler will play piano or ukulele, a small guitar, in their first lesson. By the age when most kids typically start music lessons, your child will already be more advanced and experienced than others.
Alexander Lazarev is the founder of the Performance Academy of Music and the Music Through The Centuries International Music Competition and Festival.
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Tatiana Kubatina is a pianist and experienced piano instructor with a strong background in the performing arts industry.
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Valentyna Dorodko, born in Kyiv, Ukraine, graduated with honors in Piano from the Glier Kyiv Higher Music College.
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highly accomplished violin and piano instructor who combines the Suzuki and traditional methods to provide personalized, one-on-one violin lessons for children and adults. Her students have earned numerous awards and scholarships, gaining confidence and joy through music at Performance Academy of Music in Matthews, NC.
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Ilia Zhilkin is a versatile musician, composer, and arranger, born and raised in Siberia,Russia. His passion for music began at an early age
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Born and raised in Odesa, Ukraine, Natalia began playing the violin at the age of six. She graduated from the prestigious School of Stolyarsky.
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From the first time he picked up an instrument at age 14, Enrico Olos knew that music would shape his life. Today, as a respected instructor offering guitar lessons in Charlotte, drum lessons, and bass guitar instruction, Enrico brings over a decade of real-world performance experience and heartfelt teaching to every session at Performance Academy of Music.
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Born and raised in Minsk, Belarus, Jenna Shepiotkina began playing the cello at the age of 7.
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Oksana Kowcz is a vocal, acting and piano teacher with extensive experience in performance and teaching.
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