Lou Torchio has been interested in music his whole life. Being the son of a drummer, he began playing percussion in the school band at age 10. He began to play guitar at age 12 and started to play drums and guitar in his church youth band.

At 13, he was diagnosed with a germinoma brain tumor and went through chemotherapy and radiation. During this time, music became even more a focus of his world. His teachers got him an ipod and every minute of hospital or home time was spent listening or playing music. “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain” was a line that stuck with him from then on. He healed and continued to play guitar, write songs, record, and do school band. Lou was also the recipient of a custom Maryland Drum Company drum set via the Make-a-Wish foundation.

He began teaching lessons as a junior in 2008 and has continued on ever since. After graduating high school, he attended Chesapeake College where he recieved an Associates degree in Liberal arts. While there, he took every music and art class there was.

In 2012, he attended Montreat College and studied Music Business with a focus in Audio Production. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2014 and returned to Maryland where he resumed teaching lessons, taught music and math in schools, and produced an audio tour app of his hometown, Centreville MD.

At home, he also began leading the youth band at his church, Centreville United Methodist and had a band for the Torch School of Music, the Band of Fire.

2015 was a big year for him. He met the love of his life, sweet Peggy Sue, and was diagnosed with a second tumor (believed to be a result of radiation therapy). He underwent brain surgery and had a full recovery. He began his graduate studies in Elementary ed. about a year later, as well as moving back to the WNC area to be closer to Margaret. Lou and Margaret were married in 2017.

He completed is Masters of Art in Teaching with a focus on Elementary Education in 2018 and began teaching in the classroom soon after. While being a classroom teacher, private lessons were intermittent but he used his music any way he could. Rapping math lessons, singing to get the class’s attention, and always having an instrument on hand. He taught Pre k- 4th grade music at Immaculata Catholic school (as well as being a classroom teacher) and led the music for mass.

He did not return to ICS after the 2024 school year and instead decided to focus on his health, his family, and his business.

Located in Hendersonville (just off the Spartanburg highway, near ingles and the Co-op), the Torch School of Music provides individualized music instruction for students of all ages and abilities. It is aiming to “Spread the love of music like a fire.” It just takes that first leap of faith to try something new, or step outside of your musical comfort zone, and you’ll start to feel the warmth.

“Hit me with music, Hit me with Music”

• Bob Marley - Trenchtown Rock