About

 About Joanna Burnside

Pianist and educator Joanna Burnside is a performer and music teacher in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. With a career spanning more than four decades, she inspires students of all ages and abilities through private piano instruction.

Born into a musical family, Joanna began studying piano and clarinet at age seven. Her mother was a successful piano teacher and one of the founding members of the Hattiesburg Music Teachers League. Her father served as a music education professor at the University of Southern Mississippi for 26 years. Today, she continues the family tradition alongside her husband, Biljac, a professional piano tuner and technician.

Joanna holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in piano performance from Louisiana State University, as well as Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in piano performance from the University of Southern Mississippi. From 1997 to 2020, she was a full-time faculty member at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where she taught private lessons, class piano, music theory, and music appreciation. She also performed frequently as a soloist and accompanist for college events, faculty, and student recitals.

A nationally certified teacher (NCTM) through the Music Teachers National Association, Joanna has been a leader in Mississippi’s music education community for many years. She served as President of the Mississippi Music Teachers Association (2004–2006) and has held numerous roles in the Hattiesburg Music Teachers League (HMTL) since joining in 1984, including President, Treasurer, and MMTA Pre-college Chair. She currently serves as HMTL Vice President for Membership, manages the League’s website, and co-chairs the biennial Composer Festival.