Trumpet teacher Warren Clark, left, and student Michael Johnston, a junior at Oak Ridge High School, practice at Music Arts’ new studio space at Robertsville Baptist Church.
Music Arts, a longtime Oak Ridge music school, has moved across town to a larger space at Robertsville Baptist Church.
Its two dozen professional instructors continue to offer top-quality instruction at competitive prices. They offer private lessons on all instruments and also teach voice lessons, jazz improvisation, and music theory and composition.
Music Arts moved to Robertsville Baptist Church in October. The school had been at Oak Ridge Alliance Church. Lessons are offered Monday through Saturday.
“We offer instruction in a wide variety of instruments,” Music Arts says. “Our faculty have been educated at such schools as the University of Tennessee, Peabody, Indiana University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and Hartt School of Music.”
The nonprofit school has student recitals about once a month, and it has a music library.
Cello student Bonnie Moon, left, an ORHS sophomore, and cello teacher Andy Bryenton practice together at Music Arts.
Many Music Arts faculty members are professional musicians, performing with ensembles that include Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Opera Studio and Opera Co., Lawrence Welk Orchestra, and Pride of the Southland Band.
In addition to teaching at Music Arts, some faculty members also teach at local schools, colleges, and universities such as the University of Tennessee, Roane State Community College, Pellissippi State Community College, Maryville College, Carson-Newman College, Lincoln Memorial University, and Maryville City Schools.
Many teach Music Arts students at home studios, while others, including out-of-town instructors, use space leased by the school. Lesson referrals come through Music Arts.
There are scholarships available for those who can’t afford lessons, which start at $15 for a 30-minute lesson. Longer lessons are available. Music Arts offers monthly or quarterly tuition payment options.
Pictured above are Jodi Harbin—who teaches several instruments, including guitar—and guitar student Joseph Duhamel.
The 200 or so Music Arts students come from across the region, traveling from as far away as Knoxville, Oneida, Rockwood, and Wartburg. They can study instruments ranging from cello and clarinet to flute and guitar to piano and violin. Students can study a range of music styles.
Instructors are invited to join the faculty only after a thorough background check, interviews with the advisory board, and the approval of other instructors in that instrument.
Music Arts says many of its students play for their own enjoyment and personal fulfillment. But others have gone on to study music at colleges and universities that include the University of Tennessee, Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, and Manhattan School of Music. Music Arts students have used their training to receive degrees in music therapy, speech therapy, musical theater, and vocal performance.
Music Arts was originally founded as the Oak Ridge School of Music in 1981 by Nancy England and Christine Witschi. That partnership dissolved in 1983, and England and husband Brandt Kuperstock founded Music Arts.
Pictured above are cello teacher Jeanine Wilkinson, right, and student Daniel LaClair, an ORHS junior.
Music Arts incorporated on Dec. 8, 2000. England remained the Music Arts director until her retirement in November 2010. Since then, the school has been run by a board of directors and employs a part-time assistant.
Music Arts is a member of the Arts Council and has fundraisers about once a year.
For more information, visit www.musicartsschool.org or send an e-mail to musicartsoakridge@gmail.com. You can also visit the school’s Facebook page at MusicArts Oak Ridge or call (865) 482-5614.
Robertsville Baptist Church is at 251 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge.
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