Welcome to Music On Wheels Academy

Educator—Piano

Akilah Parrish is an interdisciplinary creative, bringing diverse expertise to her work across music and the visual arts. As a recent college graduate from the University of Georgia, Akilah holds a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.A. in Music with a Film Studies minor, and a Film and Media Scoring certificate. This unique combination of rigorous analytical training and deep artistic expression allows her to approach music education with structural clarity, musical creativity, and a technological edge.

Her musical journey began at the age of seven when she became a piano student at Music on Wheels Academy of Performing Arts under the instruction of Sandrea Burroughs. After picking up the cello in middle school, she excelled musically and creatively, eventually growing into an accomplished pianist and cellist. While at the University of Georgia, she primarily studied piano under the instruction of Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s Associate Professor of Jazz Piano and African American Studies, James Weidman. She has also been taught by Alan Woo, Assistant Professor of Piano at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, and Cristina Frosini, General Director of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, during her study abroad program in Italy. Throughout her musical career, Akilah has performed solo piano recitals and in orchestral productions, giving her a firsthand understanding of stage presence and musicianship.

In addition, Akilah also served as the Lead Student Production Assistant for the UGA Performing Arts Center while in college, where she managed real-time live audio and event productions. As an emerging 2D visual artist and composer, she understands how to help students diversify their creative interests. Today, Akilah leverages her extensive classical training, technological edge, and multidisciplinary background to cultivate a well-rounded learning environment that inspires the next generation of musicians to discover their creative voice.