Joanna Reeder-Mbasogo, NCTM, is a pianist and music educator based in Houston, Texas. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, her love of music began at an early age. Performing alongside her musical family, singing in choir, and playing with the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras were all experiences that shaped her musicianship and love for making music with others.
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Joanna earned her bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Furman University in South Carolina, where she studied with Dr. Ruby Morgan and Dr. David Gross. A formative study-abroad semester in Arezzo, Italy sparked her passion for music education and solidified her commitment to continuing the classical arts tradition. Following a summer at Brevard Music Center, she pursued graduate study focused on both performance and education.
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She completed her master’s degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Houston, studying with Nancy Weems and receiving extensive training in music pedagogy under Dr. Courtney Crappell. In 2018, Joanna earned certification as a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM).
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Joanna has taught students of all ages in universities, community colleges, K–12 schools, community arts programs, and private studios. A believer in music education for every age and stage of life, she holds professional certification in Musikgarten and has facilitated Recreational Music Making. She brings extensive experience in group-based music instruction across diverse educational settings, ranging from early childhood to collegiate and retired-adult piano programs. Directing piano camps and creating arts-outreach experiences for her students and community mark unique priorities of her work.
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As an educator, Joanna has presented at the Texas Music Teachers Association Annual Conventions, the Graduate Association of Musicologists and Theorists conference, and the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Chapters Pedagogy Symposium. An active member of the Houston teaching community, Joanna serves as Vice President of the Forum Music Teachers Association, a local chapter of the Music Teachers National Association. She has previously served as Performance Contest Coordinator for the Student Affiliate Committee and currently serves as a Division Editor on the theory team.
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