Helen Charuhas Gleason, a native of Washington, D.C., is currently adjunct instructor of piano at Belmont Academy, a division of Belmont University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior faculty appointments include full-time positions at Columbia State Community College, Columbia, Tennessee and Northern Virginia Community College, Sterling, Virginia. 

Helen is a noted teacher, pianist, and adjudicator for state and local affiliates of MTNA, National Federation of Music Clubs, and National Guild of Piano Teachers. From 1999-2010, she chaired the Nashville Piano Achievement Competition. Now she serves on Belmont Academy’s Steering Committee; the Nashville Symphony Council; and the board of the Nashville International Piano Competition of the Steinway Society of Nashville. The Nashville Area Music Teachers Association and Tennessee Music Teachers Association named her 2008 Teacher of the Year.

Helen’s current professional service also includes service on Tennessee Music Teacher’s Association’s Executive Board (Recording Secretary); Nashville Area Music Teacher’s Association’s Executive Board (Director of Public Relations); and Nashville Area chapter of the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda and continues alumna membership in Sigma Alpha Iota and in the Music Teachers National Association. She also oversees the Bellnote Junior Club, National Federation of Music Clubs. 

Consistently, Gleason students achieve highest rankings and earn scholarships. Recently, her students earned first place prizes in Tennessee Music Teachers Association performance auditions in solo and concerto categories, MTSU’s Clavierfest, NAMTA’s Young Artist Achievement Awards, Nashville Piano Achievement Competition, and scholarships from the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts, Nashville Symphony Orchestra League, Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, Lipscomb University’s Department of Music, and Belmont Academy.

In 2011, five Gleason students earned superior (highest) rankings at Tennessee Music Teachers Association’s statewide performance auditions, placing first in piano solo 11th grade division and runner-up in piano solo 12th grade division, both students being selected for TMTA masterclass participation; first place prize at MTSU’s regional Clavierfest competition; first place honors in 6th, 10th, and 11th grades at NAMTA’s Young Artist Achievement Awards; distinction marks from ABRSM; top awards at Nashville Piano Achievement Competition; superior marks at Winterfest, NAMTA performance auditions; NFMC’s Nashville festival; and Nashville’s NGPT (Guild) auditions.  At year end, one student was selected winner of a Belmont Academy scholarship and another, a senior, was awarded the largest music major tuition grant to Lipscomb University. Students participated in NAMTA and TMTA masterclasses and honors recitals, MTNA auditions, Clavierfest auditions and finals, Belmont Academy recitals, Tennessee Boys State Talent Show, and Belmont’s Young Artist Piano Invitational’s masterclasses and recitals.

Helen holds the B.M. in piano performance from East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, where she studied with Dr. Robert L. Carter and graduated magna cum laude.   She completed the M.M., piano performance, at George Peabody College for Teachers, Nashville, Tennessee, studying with Dr. Lucien Stark. Additional work included private studies with Elizabeth Travis, Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois, numerous piano seminars and workshops, and informal studies at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School.

Ms. Gleason is married to William H. Gleason, founder of the Vergers’ Guild of the Episcopal Church. Their daughter, Anna Kauderer, lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Dave and daughter, Eleni.  Additional to musical activities, Helen works with the Dean’s Office, Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Nashville, Tennessee.