Music Greeks Under 40 Society Committee
Curtis Tarver
has served on the MUSIC GREEKS, INC. Board of Directors since February 2022. He is an initiate of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc. through the Iota Epsilon chapter at UNC Greensboro, where he currently serves as Associate Director for Fraternity & Sorority Life. Curtis holds a Master of Education degree in College Student Affairs from the University of South Florida, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Music from UMBC, where he performed with the pep band, big band, and UMBC Camerata. He is the founder of 80minutesofregulation.com, which covers marching/athletic music and sports. Originally from Wilmington, DE, Curtis currently resides in Greensboro, NC with his wife and two kids.
Nealie Ra’Shel Greely
A native of the Village of Angie, Louisiana, Nealie Greely’s music career began at a very young age while singing in the Greater Center Baptist Church Youth Choir and the Greely, Thompson, and Mingo family choirs.
At seven years of age, Nealie learned the piano under the instruction of Mrs. Juanita Magee, the founder of B Sharp Piano Studio in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Nealie would continue on the path of song when she enrolled as a vocal performance student at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She began with the intent of pursuing piano, but fell in love with the art of vocalization, choral music and the portrayal of the African American spiritual. Her voice is classified as a Lyric soprano.
Over the years, she was also a member of multiple ensembles of the Southern University Music Department. Professionally, Nealie has lent her craft of singing in various bands on the gospel, jazz and soul arenas and has shared the stage with the likes of Esperanza Spalding, Patti Austin, B.B. King, Etta James and McCoy Tyner.
While she is an engaging and expressive force on the stage, she is equally enthralled with teaching. In 2021 she alongside her friend, Marcella Ratcliff opened N&M Music Studios, LLC. Through their studio they are helping to develop some of the up and coming young musicians of the Baton Rouge area. The studio also has online students across the nation. Nealie is also the choral director of the “Melodious Madison Chorus” of Madison Preparatory Academy located in Baton Rouge, LA and the elementary music teacher of CSAL Elementary of Baton Rouge, LA.
Nealie was initiated into the Kappa Kappa Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity in the Spring of 2006.
Tara Cuffee
is a native of Chesapeake, VA and a Spring 2011 initiate of Sigma Alpha Iota by way of the Gamma Zeta chapter at Old DOminion University. After a program transfer, Mrs. Cuffee became a two time graduate of THEE Norfolk State University with a Bachelors of Science in Music Media and a masters in Music Education and Administration. Tara has worked in many capacities with media brands such as Sirius Radio, iHeart Radio and more! In conjunction with her love and passion for media and marketing she found herself returning to education as well as launching her own Public Relations Firm in 2015 Prime Time Ent. LLC and string studio Zamar Studios in 2018.
Being a violist for 20+ years, Tara has played for various artists such as the Clark Sisters, Peggy Britt, The Fuzz Band, Usher, Wu Tang and many more. Currently Mrs. Cuffee is an Elementary School Music teacher in Portsmouth, VA where she teaches general music, chorus and orchestra to over 700 AMAZING students in seven different grade levels and was just recently named the 2022- 2023 City-wide Teacher of the year.
Tiffney Chaney
Earned a bachelor of music in music education from Central State University and is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon International Professional Music Fraternity Inc Gamma Eta chapter. She earned a masters of music from Boston University. She was made an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority Inc in spring of 2020. She currently serves as Director of Bands at Prairie Hills Middle School and Hillcrest High School. She is also a doctoral candidate at Liberty University studying educational leadership.
