About

Pianist Joanna Burnside is a music teacher and performer in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area.  She began teaching as an independent piano teacher in 1980, and teaches students of all ages and abilities. 

She is a nationally certified teacher (NCTM) through the Music Teachers National Association in piano and music theory and is a member of the Mississippi Music Teachers Association, serving as MMTA president from 2004-2006.  She has been a member of the Hattiesburg Music Teachers League since 1984 and has held many positions in the League, including president, treasurer, and MMTA pre-college chair. She currently serves as Vice President for Membership and is manager of the HMTL website.

Joanna began piano and clarinet study at the age of 7 and comes from a musical family. Her mother was a successful piano teacher and one of the founding members of the Hattiesburg Music Teachers League.  Her father was a music education professor at the University of Southern Mississippi for 26 years. Her husband, Biljac, is a piano tuner and technician.

She received her D.M.A. in piano performance from Louisiana State University, and the B.M. and M.M. degrees in piano performance from the University of Southern Mississippi.  She was full-time faculty at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College from 1997 to 2020, where her teaching included private lessons, class piano, music theory, and music appreciation courses. Her work also included performing and accompanying for college events, faculty, and students.