Triumph Music Academy is a musical collective. Our teachers, each professional musicians in their own right, teach you how to make music a part of your life.
James Hughes
Studio Director & Owner
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Piano, Songwriting, Recording, Artist Development, Live Sound, & Student Bands
Drawing from his own experience touring, recording, and songwriting, he started teaching his students not just how to play music, but how to do music—how to balance a group, how to engineer sound, how to prepare a performance. Before long, he had amassed a following.
Sierra Piersma
Piano, Voice, Guitar, and Ukulele
Studio Manager
JOhn Gist
Saxophone & Electronic Wind Instrument & Clarinet & Flute
John Gist, born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI. Mr. Gist is an alto, tenor, and soprano, saxophonist who has mastered a wide variety of musical styles which include Jazz, Funk, Blues, R&B, Gospel.
Carsten Forester
Guitar, Songwriting, Ukulele, Theory
Elise Endres
Piano & Voice
Matt Marquez
Drums and Recording
AV Team
Joshua Usadel
Trombone & Trumpet
Josh Usadel plays trombone, tuba, acoustic bass, electric bass (right and left handed!) and knows a bit of piano. He has been in four Grand Rapids bands and played shows with many more. Josh’s teaching style draws on the strengths of written music and memorized music. Josh’s music career has taken him to many music types: hip hop, indie pop, afrobeat, Latin, rock and more. During the fall of 2025 Josh was an interim band director for four GRPS schools. He is grateful to be sharing his diverse musical experiences with students who are looking to broaden their musical horizons.
Keala venema
Violin & Fiddle