Get to know us
Our mission
Our mission is to provide a safe environment to educate students in the fundamentals of music and reach peoples' hearts through music performances. We teach traditional music theory methods with providing experiences of exploring different music genres, creativity, performance, composition, and ear training.
Our vision
Our vision is something that cannot be seen, but can be felt. Through our music academy and performances, we hope to create a better community and way of life in the Hannibal region.
Our Music Academy Team
Our strength lies in our individuality. Every music teacher at the Hannibal Music Academy is so talented and gifted in teaching. We want to share our gifts with students eager to learn the fundamentals of music education. Our team strives to provide the best music teaching environment for our students by giving them the opportunity to strengthen their skills and talents.
Carrie Griffen - Owner and Manager
Carrie has an Associates of Business degree from John Wood Community College, Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a vocal emphasis from Lindenwood University, and a Masters of Music Education from the University of Missouri St Louis. She has a Missouri Teaching Certification in Instrumental and Vocal Music. Carrie has taught private voice and piano lessons for over 25 years. She has led worship music in church, played weddings and funerals, accompanied vocalists, instrumentalists, and choirs, and conducted/lead/participated in choirs and bands throughout her life. Carrie has taught over 10,000 students throughout her teaching career. She has organized and conducted multiple children and adult performances and events.
Allen Means - Voice, Trombone, Tuba, and Euphonium Teacher
Allen is an Adjunct Professor and the band director at Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, MO (2023 – present) and is also the conductor of the Mark Twain Chorale, Hannibal’s community choir (2023 – present). He was an Assistant Professor of music, the director of choirs, and taught voice, low brass, and choral conducting at Quincy University in Quincy, IL from 2005 -2015. He taught Music Appreciation at John Wood Community College in Quincy, IL from 2015 – 2016. Allen has a Master of Arts degree in voice performance from Western Illinois University, a Bachelor of Arts in trombone performance from Quincy University, and a Bachelor of Music with teacher certification in choral conducting from Liberty University. As a singer, Allen has performed opera supporting principal roles with the Saint Martin Chamber Players in Peoria, IL and the Muddy River Opera Company in Quincy, IL. Allen has been a featured soloist with the Quincy Symphony Chorus, at Culver-Stockton College, and in the Quincy Sunday Music Series. He was Chorus Master for the Muddy River Opera Company from 2011 - 2015. Allen has also been music director and pit orchestra director for a number of musicals put on by Quincy University from2005 - 2015.
Jeana Mundle, Advanced Piano Teacher
My experience includes playing for church, weddings, accompanying various singers, soloist at contest, and the college choir. I have a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education, with K-12 Vocal/Instrumental certification from Hannibal LaGrange College. I was the Band Director at Mark Twain Jr. /Sr. High School in Center, MO, for 11 years, teaching grades 6-12 instrumental music. Most recently I worked as a Manager/Assistant Manager for several call centers during which time Icontinued my education and earned a Master’s in Leadership degree from Hannibal LaGrange University. I feel that all roads and experiences have lead me back to music. I am very excited to share my knowledge and experience teaching at the Hannibal Music Academy!
Adam Brown - Brass, Guitar, and Beginning Piano Teacher
Adam grew up in Macon, MO. He received his Masters in Music Education at Truman State University. Adam is teaching pre-k and elementary music, band, and choir at Marion County R-II in Philadelphia. His main instruments are trumpet, trombone, guitar, and ukulele.
Cathleen Olson - Violin & Fiddle, Mandolin, and Beginning Guitar Teacher
Cathleen has an extensive background in Bluegrass music and has taught beginners classical and fiddle on violin for many years. She also teaches the beginning the fundamentals of guitar.
Courtney Friday - Musical Theater, Acting, Voice, Piano, Guitar, Ukulele Teacher
Courtney has taught private voice, instrumental, and acting lessons for the past 10 years. She grew up playing music in her family's bluegrass band, and learned how to play several different instruments at an early age. Courtney fell in love with acting and musical theatre when she was a teenager and pursued further training when she graduated high school. She has appeared professionally in several plays and musicals in the St. Louis and Hannibal areas.
Chris Johnson, Percussion Teacher
Chris has been teaching drum lessons for 2 years. He has played in marching bands and now currently playing with a band called Staggard. Chris's music experience ranges from gospel to jazz, blues, pop, and rock. He will be teaching the basics of drumming. Eventually he plans to grow a drum line at the academy.
TC Pierceall, Guitar Teacher
TC is a Hannibal native who has been a musician for most of his life. While playing drums and singing with the local band Jukebox Reloaded, he also has taught guitar privately for almost a decade.