Justin Harms
Justin Harms is a pianist and chess enthusiast who is in his third year at Belmont University. He grew up in Greenville, SC and now studies classical piano performance with Nashville Symphony pianist Robert Marler. Currently, Justin teaches piano lessons at the W. O. Smith Music School, and in the past, he tutored students in subjects such as math and music theory.
Justin discovered chess in early 2021 during the chess boom, with his main source of growth stemming from content creators like GM Daniel Naroditsky, IM Levy Rozman, and Hanging Pawns, among others. Studying chess has been an invaluable experience for him, particularly in the areas of focus and memory. Justin wants to be an inspiration for adult learners who might feel intimidated by the hurdles that come with age. Justin would describe his teaching style as encouraging, patient, and goal-oriented, with strengths in game review and puzzle solving.
To contact Justin: justin@harmsfamily.net
JOSH CAMPBELL
Hi I’m Josh. Born in Australia I moved to Nashville when I was young and was raised here ever since. I learned chess at 5 and played my first tournament at 8. Since then I was a very consistent player in the Nashville scholastic chess scene and won the City Championship 5 yrs straight in Jr high and high school. I was also Team Captain for the chess team Campbell Homeschool that won multiple State Championships and had many top 5 finishes at Nationals.
Outside of chess I enjoy reading, piano, researching the financial markets, and going on adventure’s.
You can contact me about private lessons at
Kayla grew up in East Tennessee before moving to Nashville about 15 years ago. Kayla and her two younger siblings (Luke Weishaar and Rachel Weishaar) were homeschooled through high school and played chess competitively in tournaments for about 5 years. Kayla reached a peak USCF chess rating of 1650. She also helped run a homeschool chess club in Crossville, TN for several years. Currently, she just plays chess for fun and enjoys teaching kids who are new to the game
Kayla’s other hobbies include playing ping pong and hiking. Kayla has an associate degree in business and currently works for Southeast Financial specializing in recreational lending for boats and RVs.
You can contact her about private lessons at kayla@sefinancial.com
ALEXANDER MORENO
Hello! My name is Alexander Moreno, and I am a graduate student working on my master’s degree in vocal pedagogy at Belmont University.
I taught myself how to play chess when I was in the 6th grade, and it very quickly became one of my absolute favorite things to do. I entered my very first scholastic tournament in 2012, and I won first place without knowing much anything about the game. After that, I became fascinated with studying chess, especially positional play and the classical games of the great masters of the past, and that is still a favorite pastime of mine. The highlight of my chess career was getting to represent my home state of South Carolina at the 2018 Denker Tournament of High School Champions.
I am a very happy, friendly, easy-going guy who loves working with people, and I get along great with kids. I am very passionate about chess, and I would love to share that passion with you. Please contact me if you are interested in private lessons!
Email: alexander.moreno@bruins.belmont.edu
Phone: (864)-609-7583
Rory Wasiolek
THE NASHVILLE CHESS CENTER GROUND STAFF
Call Ricardo Angeles for any of your landscaping and gardening needs. He has done a great job for the NCC the past few years!
Ricardo: (615) 586-2350 or (615) 586-2256
RETIRED INSTRUCTORS
Tiffany Elliott
Tiffany Elliott grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and learned chess growing up with her brother, Todd Andrews. He taught her how to play at a very young age, and the two made up their own variations of the game as well. Tiffany enjoyed attending tournaments all across the United States with her family, but never competed. Tiffany entered into the child care field while working her way through college. In 2007, she joined her brother, Todd, in instructing their first Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Chess Camp at NCC. These camps have grown into a big success!
In 2009, Tiffany earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education, Summa Cum Laude. In May of 2010, she earned the Tennessee Early Childhood Program Administrator Credential from Tennessee State University. Tiffany uses her training and experience in child development to teach and encourage children as young as three years old to play and enjoy chess using developmentally appropriate methods and strategies. She coaches chess programs at multiple Nashville area schools and works as a tournament director. Tiffany has volunteered on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Chess Association since 2013 and became the NCC's first-ever Assistant Director in 2017.
She also enjoys music, crafts, gardening and organizing community environmental projects, and being mom to her sons, Kyler and Kasen and wife to her husband, Eric.
To contact Tiffany email: tiffany.elliott@comcast.net
Peter Lahde
My interest in chess began while still a teenager in Germany. In 1950 I moved from Chicago to Nashville, Tennessee. I played in my first Tennessee Open in 1956. Shortly after that I became interested in organized chess. With this I started the Tennessee Chess News in 1959 and was its editor for the next 18 years. After I let other players take it over I continued my involvement as TCA as President and Vice-President for the next 20 years or so. But I also directed many tournaments including the Tennessee Open and organized and directed the Music City chess tournaments.
But I was also active as a player. I made good scores in several Tennessee Open and the Mid-South events that were held and still are run in Memphis. I also made contributions to the Nashville team in matches with Memphis and Knoxville playing as high as board one. But I consider having won the Nashville Championship on three occasions my greatest accomplishment. One of my best scores was in the Sportsfest held in Nashville in 1990 were I scored three wins and two draws.
In the early nineties I started teaching chess in schools. This I have continued to the present. I have enjoyed this as much as the students I was instructing not just in the basics but also in advanced tactics and strategy. Several of the schools scored well in the state individual and team competitions.
In 1989, the officers of the Tennessee Chess Association recognized my achievement as an organizer to recommend me to the US Chess Federation. This honor I received from USCF was the "Outstanding Career Achievement" award in the form of a beautiful chess set.
In 1990 the Tennessee Hall of Fame was established. Along with six others I was inducted as a charter member along with the following: Tom Finucane, Robert Scrivener, Hunter Weaks, Jerry Sullivan, Robert Coveyou and Martin Southern.
In 1996 I wrote the book entitled A History of Tennessee Chess. The book was also dedicated to the first Tennessee Champion, Robert Coveyou, who won it in 1947 and seven more times after that. He passed away in the year the book was published. In addition this also marked the 50th time the Tennessee Open was held.
My interest in writing about chess history actually started already in 1992 with a book on the games by Alekhine. In 2009 my eighth book was published about the American Grandmaster Isaac Kashdan.
A quote about Peter and his career:
Peter Lahde is known throughout the chess world as a fair-minded, honest, dignified gentleman. In a quiet and methodical manner, he has brought the gift of chess to young and old alike for more years than most of today's players can remember. He has been a role model for generations of young players, as well as a model of sportsmanship and courtesy for all who come in contact with him.