The remarkable staff at the Joy of Music School dedicates their time and energy to carrying out the artistic and societal goals of this organization. They manage and administer time, talents and resources in order to get quality music instruction and instruments into the lives of children who would otherwise do without. Lives are improved, children are mentored and the world is a better place. That’s a mission they are proud to support.

Francis Graffeo – Executive Director

Francis Graffeo was appointed Executive Director in 2005, bringing to the organization a distinguished list of accomplishments in the non-profit arena. In his first two years at the helm he has led the School to two fiscal surpluses, reversing the trend of the prior two years. His work has dramatically increased the School’s community contacts and visibility, boosting many areas of support, all the while maintaining or increasing in-house and outreach services and staff.

He first came to Knoxville as general director of Knoxville Opera from 2000 to 2005, during which time he was consistently recognized for his innovative, artistically significant productions, as well as his leading role in the cultural life of the region. Mr. Graffeo is the creator of Knoxville’s popular Rossini Festival, which is still going strong. He continues to seek means by which he can apply his talents to enrich the arts and education in the region.

Mr. Graffeo has served as grants panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington. His in-school education programs have taken music to thousands of students in Tennessee, Colorado and Oregon. He also maintains an accomplished career as a conductor of opera, symphony and ballet, enjoying engagements with Atlanta Ballet, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Oregon Mozart Players, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Filarmonica de Lima – Peru, Nashville Opera, Opera Theater of Lucca – Italy, The Symphony of the Mountains, AIMS Orchestra, Graz – Austria, Opera Delaware, Arizona Opera, San Antonio Opera, Orquesta Clasica de Guatemala, the Oberlin Conservatory Opera and many others.

Mr. Graffeo was educated at Texas Tech University, The New England Conservatory of Music and Centro Linguistico Sperimentale in Italy. He is also a graduate of Leadership Knoxville, 2004. Mr. Graffeo’s community service activities include the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Music Director Search Committee, as well as the Tennessee Theatre Grand Re-opening Committee. Mr. Graffeo was also a member of H.A.B.I.T., the Human Animal Bond in Tennessee, visiting schools, care facilities and hospitals with his wife Christy and their therapy dogs. The couple lives in Knoxville with their young son Enzo.

Julie Carter – Director of Music Education

Julie Charisse Carter holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Tennessee with additional studies at the Juilliard School and Stetson University. She joined the School in October 2005 after having served 10 years at the National Music Conservatory (NMC)/Noor Al-Hussein Foundation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan where she was Associate Director of Development, Principal Flute of the NMC Orchestra, and Instructor of flute and saxophone.

Ms. Carter co-authored the Music Textbooks Project for the Ministry of Education of Jordan in addition to teaching and developing curriculum for NMC music courses. Previous experience includes work as instructor of general classroom music at the Amman Academy, flute instructor at High Wycombe Abbey School, England, and extensive experience in recording studio management.

Russell Fuquay – Office Manager

Born in Big Spring Texas, Mr. Fuquay started singing at age three and playing guitar at age five. In high school he studied with jazz pianist and composer, Gene Curry. Working for a local radio station provided Mr. Fuquay even more exposure to new artists and musical styles. He was the #1 All-State Choir Bass in 1978 and earned his place in the Texas All-State Choir three consecutive years.

He was awarded a scholarship to study voice at Texas Christian University. While at TCU he sang with the Dallas Symphony Chorus, taught guitar at a local music store and studied classical guitar with instructors from North Texas State University.

In 1983 Mr. Fuquay joined the Air Force. During his 16 years of military service he accumulated a wide array of management training including extensive medical and logistics skills.  He achieved multiple Associate Degrees in the various fields of Science.

In 1999 he left the military and moved to Knoxville, TN, where he completed his BA in Business Management and was hired as Contemporary Music Director at a mid-sized Methodist church. Home schooling his special needs child soon became the top priority.

Mr. Fuquay’s truly diverse background in business management, logistics, and music coupled with understanding the needs of special needs children and nonprofit agencies make him a perfect fit for his work at The Joy of Music School.

Jackie Travis – Manager of Volunteer Resources

Ms. Travis has more than ten years of experience in development and non-profit management, having embarked upon her career path while still a student at St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD.  She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Rhode Island.

She worked in the Annual Fund offices of Brown University, Harvard Medical School and the University of the South.  Ms Travis also served as the Director of Resource Development for Lighthouse Central Florida, a small non-profit organization serving the blind and visually impaired in the greater Orlando area.

She moved with her husband, an Episcopal priest, to Knoxville in 2008 and soon became acquainted with the Joy of Music School and joined the staff in 2010.  When she is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her three small children, writing and volunteering her time at the Knoxville Montessori School.