Tallahassee, Florida, United States
I’m Chima Enwere, a Nigerian-American pianist born in California and raised in North Carolina. I began formal piano lessons on my eighth birthday after telling my mother that all I wanted was piano lessons. From that first lesson I was hooked. At 13 I started playing keyboard and Hammond organ at my church, and by 15 I had my first piano student. In high school I played piano and percussion in band and briefly studied alto saxophone. Those years confirmed my decision to pursue music. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Music Industry Emphasis—Jazz & Commercial Track) and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). As a senior I won the UNCP Concerto Competition and performed with the UNCP Wind Ensemble. I hold a Master of Music in Keyboard Performance Specialist & Pedagogy from East Carolina University (ECU), where I studied collaborative piano, piano performance, and organ and completed a pedagogy practicum. I was a four-time recipient of the Live Más Scholarship from The Taco Bell Foundation, which supported my studies and led to performances at several corporate events, including opening for Katy Perry at the 2021 Taco Bell FRANMAC Convention. Over the past 20+ years I’ve performed as a solo and collaborative pianist, pit musician, church organist, and chamber musician across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Europe, including appearances at Disney World and Carowinds. In 2023 I received Honorable Mention in the Graduate & Professional Division of the Puerto Rico Center for Collaborative Piano International Competition, and in 2024 I served as a collaborative pianist at the Ávila International Music Festival in Ávila, Spain. In 2025 I received an Arts Council of Fayetteville grant for my project “An Evening of Music with Chima & Friends—A Candlelight Experience.” As a teacher, I’m proud that 100% of my students who participated in the former ACSI Piano Festival earned 'Superior' ratings. My studio has consistently maintained a high retention rate, reflecting the positive learning environment I strive to create. I’ve served as a college adjunct professor, graduate teaching assistant, church music director, and university collaborative pianist. I was a longtime member of the Fayetteville Piano Teachers’ Association and the Music Teachers National Association and served on the board of the Cumberland County Chapter of the North Carolina Symphony. I also previously served as CEO and Director of Music Together of Fayetteville LLC, an early childhood music program.
Role Summary: Serve as a collaborative pianist and graduate assistant supporting applied lessons, rehearsals, performances, and academic programming within the FSU College of Music’s Collaborative Piano and Keyboard area. Graduate assistants support faculty, coach students, and contribute to artistic and administrative aspects of the program as part of a structured assistantship that includes tuition support and a stipend.  Key Responsibilities: ● Perform as collaborative pianist for student lessons, rehearsals, juries, and recitals. ● Accompany and coach singers, instrumentalists, and ensembles in preparation for performances and examinations. ● Assist faculty in scheduling, organizing, and preparing collaborative piano class material and performance logistics. ● Provide administrative support for class communications, music uploads, and recital planning. ● Maintain effective communication with students, faculty, and staff regarding rehearsals, performances, and collaborative activities. ● Contribute to a supportive learning environment that enhances the educational mission of the College of Music.
● Freelance collaborative pianist with Florida State University’s College of Music, one of the top music schools in the nation. ● Collaborate with instrumentalists, vocalists, and faculty across diverse repertoire, providing piano support for lessons, rehearsals, juries, studio classes, and performances. ● Prepare and perform repertoire independently under professional timelines, demonstrating stylistic versatility and musical leadership in an academic performance setting.
● Evaluated and scored student assessment responses using standardized scoring rubrics to ensure accuracy, consistency, and reliability. ● Completed paid project-specific training to apply scoring criteria in alignment with established assessment standards. ● Maintained strict confidentiality and test security while working with sensitive educational materials. ● Demonstrated strong attention to detail while performing high-volume, repetitive scoring tasks in a remote environment. ● Met productivity and quality benchmarks while adhering to project timelines and guidelines.
● Collaborate with students, faculty, and ensembles across a wide range of repertoire, providing piano support for lessons, rehearsals, juries, studio classes, and performances. ● Independently prepare and perform repertoire under professional timelines, demonstrating stylistic versatility, musical leadership, and adaptability in an academic performance setting within a historically Black college/university environment.
● Serve as the musical lead for weekly worship services, translating worship vision into cohesive, high-quality musical experiences ● Lead and direct band rehearsals and live services, providing real-time musical cues and transitions via in-ear monitor systems ● Collaborate with the Experience Team on song selection, arrangements, keys, and flow, using the Nashville Number System ● Facilitate efficient rehearsals with clear agendas focused on new material, transitions, and technical refinement ● Manage multitracks, stems, click tracks, and backing tracks; coordinate closely with audio engineers to ensure balanced mixes ● Oversee setup, use, and basic maintenance of worship technology and keyboard systems (including Nord) ● Identify, recruit, audition, and develop musicians across ministries and age groups, creating pathways for musical and leadership growth ● Mentor musicians in both musical excellence and spiritual development, fostering a culture of discipleship and teamwork ● Schedule band members and substitutes using church management software (e.g., Planning Center) ● Participate in worship planning meetings and contribute to the broader vision and direction of the worship ministry