THE MUSIC STUDIO - Key Persons
Michael Barren is a pianist and vocalist from Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Barren received his bachelor's degree in music from Birmingham-Southern University, with honors in piano performance and minors in Greek and Roman studies and mathematics. At Youngstown State University, while pursuing his master's degree in music performance (piano), he became an integral part of the music community both on and off campus, as a graduate teaching assistant, accompanist, choir member and substitute cantor, music librarian, and, most notably, a teacher. Mr. Barren has taught piano and music theory to students of all ages, as well as guitar, ukulele, voice, and percussion. (And swimming!) He is the recipient of many awards, including the Dana Young Scholars Diversity in Research Award, the Elisabeth Tillman Piano Award, the John Perry Piano Award, the McDonough Honors Recital, and the Whittington Aria and Concerto Competition. He is also an Eagle Scout.
A long-standing member of The Music Studio faculty, Nina Vepritskaya studied at the Municipal Music School in St. Petersburg, Russia. She then continued on to the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where she studied piano with Professor N.P. Korihalova. Deciding against a career as a professional pianist, Ms. Vepritskaya was awarded a Master's Degree in Science from St. Petersburg University. While at the University, she resumed her study of music, taking voice lessons from Maestro Donat Donatov. As an opera singer she has performed in Russia, Japan, Canada, Germany, and the United States. Ms. Vepritskaya has also taught piano privately for many years.
Job Titles:
- When Founder and Director
When founder and director Noel Liberty established The Music Studio, she was determined to teach music differently. She believed that children have not only an innate love of music, but also an incredible capacity to learn. So she developed a curriculum that tapped into both, using fun, high-energy musical activities to teach skills and concepts fundamental to making and understanding music. She wrote textbooks appropriate for students beginning as young as age 4, added grand and digital pianos and myriad other instruments, and hired more teachers, expanding the school to the celebrated Capital Region institution it is today.