A.J. Collins began her piano studies at age 7. Under both academic and music scholarships A.J. studied under Eastman graduate Dr. Carolyn True at Trinity University. At Trinity A.J. worked with Eastman’s Dr. Jean Barr on vocal and instrumental accompanying and music for four hands. During this time Ms. Collins also started her teaching career, was an active soloist and accompanist, and volunteered for the Symphony Docents program. In addition to piano, A.J. gained experience conducting the Parker Chapel Handbell Choir, teaching ballroom dance, and earned a minor in Psychology.

After graduating Magna cum Laude Ms. Collins served as the Chapel pianist for Brooks Air Force Base. She began studying privately with Dr. Kasandra Keeling at UTSA. Although accepted to several top music therapy programs A.J. developed a love of teaching. She earned her Masters in Piano Performance with a 4.0 from Texas State University under the tutelage of Dr. Timothy Woolsey. Since starting her professional teaching career A.J. has become one of the top teachers in Texas.

 Ms. Collins’ students have been recognized from the local to national level. In competitions, students have placed in rigorous state events such as Texas Music Teachers Association Performance Contests (Solo, Concerto, Duet and Ensemble divisions), Texas State Young Artist, McLennan, McKinney Wysong Joplin, Petroff, and Hodges Contemporary Piano competitions as well as the Baylor 5 State Competition. Nationally her students have placed in the DeBose Competition, been a Music Teachers National Association finalist and earned high honors in the Frederick Chopin Society Competition which allowed them to play in Carnegie Hall.

In 2018 Texas Music Educators Association named 2 of her students in its top 3 “All State Pianists” for Texas. A.J.’s students have been recognized in the Sounds Like KPAC competition which included performances on Texas Public Radio. San Antonio and Austin symphonies have awarded A.J.’s students top prizes and her students have performed with orchestras around South Texas and in New York. They have been accepted to summer music and college degree programs with scholarships in both the US and the UK. The Gurwitz Competition (formerly San Antonio International Piano Competition) has acknowledged Ms. Collins’ students as Music Ambassadors, Junior Jurors and selected them for masterclasses with international judges.

A.J. is among the youngest to receive multiple awards. Texas Music Teachers Association presented her with the Outstanding Pre-College Teaching Achievement Award in 2012. Soon after she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Music Education by Musical Bridges Around the World.

Most recently, Steinway and Sons named her as a Steinway Top Teacher in both 2016 and 2018. She has given presentations from the local to the state level on topics such as Learning Styles, Performance Anxiety in the Developing Pianist, American Women Composers and how to be successful in a college music program. Universities around Texas have required that pedagogy students observe her teaching and she was a case study for a recent Masters thesis regarding long term effective teaching. A.J. is also sought after to adjudicate competitions and festivals in every major city in Texas.

Her greatest “achievement” however is her son who she loves spending time with and homeschools. She has studied international culinary arts, has a motorcycle license and enjoys being outdoors in nature.