“Music is for everyone”
Kasie Shelnutt is known for her emotional musicality and wide range of experiences across the industry. Never willing to be put inside a box, her professional background includes 13+ years of performance and direction through musical theater, weddings, piano teaching, arranging, studio sessions, worship leading, ensemble directing, accompanying, and more!
Music was always a huge part of Kasie’s education and childhood. Her parents were both musicians and valued the arts so much that two years of piano lessons became the family requirement. Kasie started at age 6, and although she has added other instruments to her repertiore since, piano remains her first love. It was her primary instrument when she joined her first worship band at age 9, and again as a teenager when she began writing and performing for weddings and with her family band.
When she was 17 years old Kasie took on her first piano student and became passionate about private music education. Believing that “music is for everyone,” Kasie prioritizes real world experiences for her students, and makes music accessible to those who - like her - don’t fit into the classical musician mold. Her teaching technique provides a blend of the tried and true rote reading along with modern styles of improvisation, arranging, and “playing by ear.” Kasie teaches over 40 students each week.
As a teenager, Kasie became involved in the production side of musical theater. After years of being on the stage as a singer/actor/dancer, she transitioned into music and played piano for her debut musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Kasie continues to play for, music direct or write for musical theater, some of her favorite shows being “Into the Woods,” “Mamma Mia!” And “The Sound of Music.”
After quietly building her music career and raising a family for over ten years, Kasie considers herself blessed to be able to work full time doing what she loves, and is excited to expand and reach her next goals. She maintains a vibrant social media life with innovative content and enjoys gigging with Amy, working with students, and performing. One of Kasie’s long term dreams is to compose custom piano arrangements for clients in her very own home studio.
Kasie has been married to her highschool sweetheart Josiah for over eleven years, and together they live in East TN with their two children and family dog. She enjoys hiking, water coloring, anything outdoors, spending time with her family, and will never say no to a Lord of the Rings marathon or dirty chai latte with oat milk.
Get to know Kasie
Are You a Classical Pianist?
No. I can PLAY classical music, but I’m not a classical pianist in the same sense that I can PLAY jazz but I’m not a jazz pianist. My personal style falls more into the categories of neo-classical, modern piano, singer/songwriter, and emotional piano..
Where are you originally from?
I grew up in New York State til I was 16 when my family and I moved to East TN (been here ever since!) Surprisingly, I hardly ever visited NYC when I lived there, and only began working in musical theater after moving south. I love visiting whenever I can though and especially going to see a Broadway show!
Have you always wanted to be a musician?
Pretty much, yes! (Although there was a brief phase when I was also torn between dolphin trainer and costume designer…) I explored so many interests in my youth including ASL interpreting, horse training and more, but music was always the constant.
How many instruments do you play?”
Depends on your definition of the word “play”! I will figure out Mary Had a Little Lamb on any instrument you put into my hands, but that’s not the same thing as proficiency if you know what I mean. Piano is my primary instrument, and I also enjoy playing violin, cello, tin whistle, electric bass, and percussion. I seem to keep collecting more instruments, so if anyone has any donations to make to my studio, I’m all ears!
Favorite music artists?
Okay this is going too be a LONG list cause I listen to a lot… I’m a big fan of classic rock songs from bands like Journey, ABBA and AC/DC; film composers like Hans Zimmer and John Williams, I listen to Broadway musical soundtracks and all manner of performing artists like Ben Rector, Jordy Searcy, Swtichfoot and Jon Foreman, Ellie Holcomb, JVKE, The Band Lawrence, Joy Williams, Kyndal Inskeep, PEABOD, Coldplay, Gable Price, Ruelle, Lindsey Stirling, and several Christian artists including Need to Breathe, We Are Messengers, and Stephany Gretzinger.
(Told you it was a long list…)
portfolio And credits
~notable music projects over the years…
~concert in the park series, 2011
2025: more than 49 paid gigs including weddings, churches, solo performances and private parties plus…| Hannah’s wedding, Kasie and Amy (piano) | Warner Cocktail Hour, solo piano | Morgan’s Wedding, Kasie and Amy (piano) | Sweeney Todd, stage production; sub keyboards player | Jessica and Caleb’s Wedding, Kasie and Amy (piano) | Madison and Dakota’s Wedding, Kasie and Amy (piano) | The Drowsy Chaperone stage production; music director | Sha Von’s Wedding, Kasie and Amy (piano) | Shea and Timothy’s Wedding, Kasie and Amy (piano) | 2024: Ketri’s Wedding, Kasie and Amy (piano) | Elizabeth’s and Jacob’s Wedding, The Willi Sisters (violin) | Kariana and Noah’s Wedding, solo pianist, | Liv and Nic’s Wedding, pianist | A Decade in Downtown stage production music director, pit conductor, pianist | The Sound of Music stage production; music director, sound operator 2023: Reverent Worship EP recording project, arranging and recording for “All I Sing” “Troubled Waters,” and “So Much Power” | Kayla and Mason’s Wedding, violinist | 2022: Into the Woods stage production; pit conductor, pianist | Erica and Chase’s Wedding, violinist | Andrew’s and Kensley’s Wedding, The Willi Sisters (violin) | Company! Music director, pianist | 2021: David and Bathsheba (original ballet stage production by Elizabeth Ruggiero Sparks) songwriting, arranging for main theme and four pieces; dancer | Mamma Mia! stage production, music director, pit conductor, pianist | 2020: Godspell, music director, pit conductor, pianist | 2019: Broadway Comes to Greeneville, rehearsal accompanist/children’s music director | Little Shop of Horrors, music director, pit conductor, pianist | Lenora and Daniel’s Wedding, The Willi Sisters (violin) | Bright Star, music director | Matilda stage production, music director, pit conductor, piano/accordion 2018: James and the Giant Peach stage production, music director, pit conductor, pianist | Tarzan stage production, music director/pit conductor/pianist | 2017: Broadway Comes to Greeneville, rehearsal accompanist, children’s music director | My Son, Pinocchio JR ,stage production, music director/pianist | Urinetown the Musical, stage production music director, pit conductor, pianist | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, stage production, pianist | Oliver! rehearsal accompanist, performance pianist | 2016: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum stage production, rehearsal accompanist/performance pianist | The Willi Sisters EP recording project, songwriter, singer, keys/mandolin/cello | 2015: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! stage production, pianist and rehearsal accompanist | 2014: Sarah’s Wedding, solo piano | Hope’s Wedding, piano | Fall Festival of Nations, vocals, piano, violin, mandolin | My Dream is You recording project songwriting, piano, violin, | 2013: Country Band music tour, vocals/keys/mandolin/violin | A Christmas Carol stage production, actress “Belle” | 2012: The Willi CD recording project, songwriting, arranging, keys/violin/vocals/mandolin | Seussical the Musical, stage production, rehearsal accompanist, performance pianist | You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown stage production rehearsal accompanist, pit conductor, pianist | 2011: Woods wedding, violinist | 2010 - The King and I stage production, actress/singer “Tuptim” | The Willi CD recording project, songwriting, arranging, keys/violin/vocals/cello | 2009: Beauty and the Beast stage production, singer/dancer
*Not a complete list