Dr. Paul Wirth is a prominent figure in our national piano teaching community. His unique combination of masterful performing and teaching, along with a sense of humor and unassuming personality have made him a much sought-after featured artist in concerts, master classes, fund raisers, conventions, special events, and lecture series.

With his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Temple University, and his Master and Doctorate degrees in Piano Performance from Indiana University, he co-founded and is now the Artistic Director of the Central Minnesota Music School in St. Cloud, MN, a bustling music learning center with over 300 students taught by a faculty of twenty-two.

Chosen as the 2004-05 Teacher of the Year by Thursday Musical , he has taught numerous first prize-winning students of regional, national and international competitions - with twenty two of his pre-college students having performed over sixty solo performances with orchestra. In addition to his appearances at conventions and conferences, including the 2007 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy and statewide conventions in Minnesota, Iowa and Texas, Dr. Wirth’s GRAVI-DVD - a cutting edge DVD on teaching piano technique to children - is now being distributed nationally. His masterclasses, most recently at the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Division, are always well received, and his presentations, drawing upon 27 years as a pre-college specialist teaching advanced concepts to 4 -18 year olds, often elicit further engagements. He is also an avid supporter of young performers, having co-founded the Salon se Lève concert series in Minneapolis and the nationally recognized Young Artist Piano Camp in Duluth, MN. Upcoming engagements include a workshop and masterclass for the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association (June 20, 2008) and the St. Thomas Summer Music Institute (June TBD, 2008)

Dr. Wirth maintains four studios: at the Central Minnesota Music School in St. Cloud, MN, at the Schmitt Music Center in Roseville, MN, at the Allen Organ Co. in New Hope, MN and at his home in St. Joseph, MN where he lives with his wife and greatest support, Kathy Wirth.

 

Dr. Wirth's Studio Policies

Dr. Wirth's Studio Competition Calendar

 

Jeanine Barrett, a native of St. Cloud , MN , has been the Assistant Artistic Director of the Central Minnesota Music School since the fall of 2006.  She has been teaching piano since 1999 when she began her teaching career as a Young Artist Affiliate for CMMS.  After college, she returned to her hometown and rejoined the faculty at CMMS.

Jeanine attended Concordia College in Moorhead , MN where she studied with Dr. David Worth.  In the spring of 2006, she received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance. A heavy supporter of music ensembles, Jeanne has participated in jazz groups, piano trios, four-hand work, orchestral ensembles (stage and pit) and has accompanied many young artists throughout her career.

Jeanine’s musicianship began when she studied for nine years at CMMS with Dr. Paul Wirth. During this time she placed first in the MMTA Senior Young Artist Division and performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra as the first place winner in their competition.

Jeanine is a member of MMTA, MTNA, and the National Federation Music Club. Mrs. Barrett resides in St. Cloud with her husband, Micah.

 

 

James Dennihan is a native of Kansas City, Missouri where he studied with Joanne Baker from the age of seven through his Bachelor’s degree. During that time, he was a national finalist in the MTNA High School Auditions and appeared as soloist with several Kansas City area orchestras, including the Kansas City Philharmonic. In New York and Boston,he studied with Martin Canin and Leonard Shure. He was pianist for the New Amsterdam Chamber Ensemble and a member of the faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. He received his doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music where his teachers were John Browning and Constance Keene.

Since moving to the St. Cloud area, Dr. Dennihan has appeared frequently in solo and chamber recitals and in concerto performances with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, the Heartland Symphony Orchestra and the Willmar Symphony Orchestra. In addition to teaching at the Central Minnesota Music School, Dr. Dennihan is an adjunct faculty member at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, St. Cloud State University and teaches music appreciation at the College of St. Scholastica/St. Cloud Campus.

Soprano Hillary Vermillion regularly performs as a soloist in Central Minnesota with such groups as the Minnesota Center Chorale, Calliope Women’s Chorus, and the St. Cloud State University Percussion Ensemble, performing repertoire that includes Faure’s Requiem, Mozart’s Mass in C , and Cirone’s Five Items for Soprano and Percussion. Ms. Vermillion was also featured on a 1997 Mexican National Radio broadcast as soloist with the St. Cloud State Wind Ensemble and has performed in Santa Prisca Church-Taxco (Mexico), St. Mary’s Basilica (St Cloud), and Ted Mann Concert Hall (Minneapolis).

Ms. Vermillion’s operatic performances with Duluth Festival Opera, Dorian Opera Theater, Quite Light Opera Company and The University of Minnesota Opera Theater have included the roles of Ms. Gleaton in Floyd’s Susannah, Sister Genevieve in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Adele in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, the Countess in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, and Baby Doe in Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe. She has also delighted audiences at the annual St. Cloud Symphony Ball singing operatic trios with fellow Divas Carolyn Finley and Catherine Verrilli.

Her recital performances have included Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Arnold Schoenberg’s Vier Lieder, Op. 2., and most recently a study of Emily Dickinson poetry set to music in collaboration with famed Mezzo-soprano Glenda Maurice.

Pursuing a strong interest in contemporary music, Ms. Vermillion has worked with several composers to help promote their works. She has collaborated with Minnesota composers Scott Miller, Low Hangs The Moon; Amanda Albrecht, Fragmented; and Dorothy Williams, Positive, and premiered new works by Irish composer Mary McAuliffe and Korean Composer Yung Wha Son in Spring 2006.

A native of Colorado, Ms. Vermillion is currently completing a Doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota. She has been a voice instructor in Central Minnesota since 1990, serving on the faculties of Saint Cloud State University, Central Lakes College, Saint Francis Music Center, Central Minnesota Music School, and Great River Educational Arts Theatre.

Kathleen “Kathy” Kampa (Vilina) has been teaching young learners for over 25 years. She is in her second year of teaching for Central MN Music School and serves as the director of the Early Childhood Music Program and Dance Program.

Kathleen brings an eclectic approach to both her music and dance instruction. Her musical approach centers on Orff Schulwerk, allowing a child’s creative ideas to be developed through music. As a pianist, guitarist, and vocalist, bringing the music and dance of cultures from around the world has been one of her goals. Kathleen also brings a wide range of dance styles, such as creative , modern, folk, ballet, liturgical, and jazz, to the dance program. She is a member of DEC, Dance Educator’s Coalition, an organization for dance educators in Minnesota. Kathleen is also an active member of DaCi (Dance and the Child International), having attended and presented at conferences in Sydney, Australia; Kuopio, Finland; Regina, Canada; and The Hague, Netherlands.

While in Tokyo, Japan for 19 years, she taught music, dance, and English to both Japanese and international students, developing arts-based, child-friendly strategies for learning to promote success in all learners. Kathleen and her husband Charles Vilina are co-authors of "Magic Time," a starter-level English course for young learners published by Oxford University Press. Their teacher training programs across Asia focus on a "multiple intelligences" approach to learning which aids all students in finding success. Additionally, Kathleen has been a recording artist for children's CD's used in educational settings throughout Japan, and writes a quarterly column for TLC, a newsletter for teachers of young language learners.

Prior to living in Japan, Kathleen developed “Whims ‘n Wishes,” a children's entertainment service for special events and birthday parties. She also directed the Dance Program at St. Francis Music Center, Little Falls, and taught at St. Mary's Cathedral Grade School in St. Cloud.

Kathleen graduated from the College of St. Benedict with a BA in Elementary Education (K-6) and AA in Music. She has continued to pursue graduate studies in music through the University of St. Thomas and TESL(Teaching English as a Second Language) studies through SCSU. Her passion for improving learning for young children can be seen through the numerous workshops and courses she’s taken to integrate knowledge in new and unique ways.

Kathleen is the mother of two boys, John (18) and Chris (15). She is currently residing with her family in the St. Cloud area.

Mark Hasbrouck (Hazzy) was born in 1963, in Olivia, Minn. By the time he was seven he had lived in Marshall and Fargo before his family moved to Champlin in 1972. He graduated from Anoka High School in 1982.

Hazzy started playing music as a youngster on his grandmother's organ, sitting at the keyboard improvising. Around age 14, he started fooling around on his dad's four-string ukulele.  By the time he was 16, he finally took up the guitar.  His teacher, Randy Berg, got him excited about playing guitar which fueled the desire to learn and play well. Hazzy said that during those first months, he would go home after school, lock himself in his room and just play his dad's old Sear's classical guitar for five to six hours every day for the next five or six months.  His influences in those early days included the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Segovia, John McLaughlin and others.  

One of Hazzy's favorite things about teaching is when he sees the excitement on a student's face when they "get it" for the first time and realize at that very moment, they are learning something new and making progress. He also feels it's very important for a student to have fun while learning.  If they are only practicing because someone told them they have to, something is wrong.  Mark likes to figure out what the student’s musical influences and interests are and incorporate that into the learning experience making it "fun" for them.  He also integrates music theory and musical concepts that help them understand how the fretboard of a guitar works so that what they are doing makes sense to them. 

One of the highlights of Mark’s summers for the past three years has been working as an instructor at the School of Rock camp sponsored by the Central Minnesota Music School in cooperation with District 742 Community Education, Hazzy plays in a few local bands such as Blimp (a tribute to the music of Led Zeppelin), & Stearns County Pachanga Society.  He graduated from St. Cloud State in the spring of 2007 with a degree in Elective Studies, with an emphasis on Music and Special Education.   In addition to teaching guitar at CMMS and playing in gigs around town, he works at the St. Cloud Children’s Home as a counselor. 

Expert at fiddling and jazz improvisation, Cristina holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in jazz violin performance from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a Masters in Conducting for Orchestra, from St. Cloud State University. She has produced an instructional video for fiddling through Mel Bay’s entitled “Anyone Can Play Country Fiddle,” CDs entitled “Inside the Heart of a Musician” and “Spirit Wind,” and many arrangements for string orchestra of fiddle music, jazz, Celtic, Scandinavian, Cajun, and original works.

Cristina is a violinist and fiddler with over thirty years of experience. In symphonies, quartets, jazz ensembles, and folk/rock bands, her musical background includes influences in classical, jazz, Celtic, bluegrass, and Texas swing fiddle.

Previous performance groups include:

• Fullerton Symphony & Ketchikan Symphony (Concert Master)	• Black Hills Symphony & Juneau Symphony
• St. Cloud Symphony	• Windy Ridge (bluegrass fiddle)
• á la Modal (ethnic & jazz)	• Underground Jazz String Quartet (viola)
• Temple of Rhythm (reggae keyboards)	• South Plains Playboys (Texas swing)
• Flying T Chuckwagon (country)	• the CounterPlayers, (original, folk, rock, jazz, blues, reggae, bluegrass, new age)
• Fort Hays Wranglers (Western)	• Chinook (folk)
• The Sweet Potato (jazz string quartet on viola)	• Ring of Kerry (Celtic)

 

Kara Schillerstrom started her B.A. in Music at St. Olaf College and is currently finishing her B.S. in Music Education at St. Cloud State University.  She has studied violin with Carol Ferkalo in Westland, Michigan, James Berg of G.T.C.Y.S. in Minnesota, Lucinda Marvin at St. Olaf College and, most recently, with Dr. Marion Judish at St. Cloud State University, where she has been the recipient of numerous music scholarships.  Kara has been playing violin with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra since 2001 and has held principal chairs with the St. Cloud State University Orchestra since 2003.  Along with being the founder and conductor of the Monticello Community Strings Orchestra, a fifty-member string orchestra that just finished their sixth season, Kara also is the Assistant Director of the St. Cloud Symphony Youth Orchestra.   She has been teaching privately and free-lancing for the past twelve years, working with students of all musical abilities and ages and had the recent honor of interning at the 2007 Upper Midwest String and Chamber Music Conference.  In her free time, Kara enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, fishing, reading, and attending concerts. 

 

 

 

 

 Brian Heying is a percussionist who has over twenty five years of experience studying, performing, and recording music. He has played drums in various bands including Surahoolies and Stearns County Pachanga Society. Brian has also played percussion in the St. Cloud Civic Orchestra, the SCSU Concert Band, SCSU Marching Band, as well as the SCSU Jazz Ensemble. Additionally, he has had extensive experience writing, recording, and producing both acoustic and electronic music.

Brian’s teaching philosophy centers on giving students the kind of skills that other musicians look for when hiring a drummer. This is done through the development of technique, while also building an awareness of how drums support and color various kinds of music. Brian believes this kind of approach can help bring in to the lesson, each student’s individual interests and creativity. Brian stresses that playing music should be just that; play. “Becoming a good drummer is challenging, but it is also rewarding and fun.”

 

 

 

 

Kristi Padron has been playing the guitar for 18 years.  She has written her own music almost from the beginning.  One of her first performances of an original song was at Clearview Elementary for her sixth grade graduation.  She performed on an electric guitar given to her by her sixth grade teacher, Peggy Lodewyk.

In junior high and high school, she played in a band with her three sisters and recorded an album of original songs under the direction of her guitar teacher, Paul Cofell.  In May 2003, she graduated with a B.A. in guitar performance from Greenville College, Greenville, Illinois.  During her college years, she began to teach at Swing City Music in Illinois.  She then taught at Miller Music and eventually she moved to St. Louis, Missouri where she taught at McMurray Music Center for four years.

Upon moving back to Clear Lake, Minnesota, she joined the faculty at Central Minnesota Music School.  She is the first CMMS teacher to participate in the Clearview Cougar Community Class after school program, teaching guitar on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Clearview Elementary School.  She regularly performs at church and plays guitar for a gospel music group.

Dr. Megan Wallace, a native of Butte, Montana, received her Bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Dr. Nelita True. She earned both her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Minnesota, where she studied with pianist Lydia Artymiw. She has performed, taught, and adjudicated in the Twin Cities as well as Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Michigan, Goshen College Piano Workshop, Indiana and Musicfest Northwest, Spokane, WA.   In 1999, Megan produced and performed a concert version of Robert Schumann’s opera, Genoveva, in cooperation with many Twin Cities’ musicians in a performance at Sundin Hall, Hamline University. More recently, she has performed Beethoven’s third, fourth and fifth piano concerti with the Mayo Clinic Chamber Symphony, Rochester, Minnesota. Megan also enjoys performing with her husband, pianist and organist Christopher Wallace. She is an accompanist for the studio of Dr. Paul Wirth, teaches piano and music theory through Central Minnesota Music School, and since 1997, has been on the piano faculty at MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she teaches piano and chamber music.  Her most recent study has been with Dr. Paul Wirth.

Brenda Handel-Johnson believes that all children and adults are capable of learning how to participate and enjoy music.  The journey into the world of music can be filled with joy, excitement, beauty, hard work and challenges, but mostly great satisfaction.  She has been passing on this teaching philosophy to students at the Central Minnesota Music School for the past five years.  Brenda teaches both piano and voice.

Brenda began her career as a piano teacher 24 years ago.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Augustana College and a Masters of Music Education at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  She is a member of the MMTA, the American Choral Directors Association and the National Federation of Music Clubs.  In addition to her teaching schedule, Brenda is the organist and pianist at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and a member of the Great River Chorale.  She was awarded Teacher of the Year for the Campbell County School District, Wyoming, and the Outstanding Young Woman Award-Wyoming.

“I truly enjoy observing students when the light bulb clicks on and they “get it”.  I also love to see students make music really become their own vehicle for expressing themselves,” Brenda muses when reflecting on the joys of teaching.  Her goal in working with each student is to identify what the music requires of the student, and to help that person answer the challenge with skills and techniques that help him/her perform each piece musically.  

Brenda resides in St. Cloud with her husband and daughter where they are often very busy laughing and making music together.

Donald Droegemueller recently relocated with his family from Mesa, Arizona , and is looking forward to becoming a member of and contributing to our vibrant community of musicians and artists.  Fifteen years ago, Don was an aspiring young student of Dr. Paul Wirth’s.  After graduating from CMMS, he continued his piano studies earning Bachelors of Music and Masters of Music degrees in Piano Performance from Concordia College ( Moorhead , MN ) and Arizona State University ( Tempe , AZ ) respectively.  While living in Arizona , he was an active member of the Arizona Chapter of MTNA from 1999-2006.  Don served on the AZMTA State Board as Honors Recital Chair, developed a full studio of prize-winning young artists, adjudicated annually, taught master classes, and performed regularly in recitals across the country. Don will be focusing his teaching efforts in the southwest suburbs of the Twin Cities as an Associate Teacher of Young Artists and is currently interviewing students of all ages and abilities.

“To pass on the musical world to someone is amazing!”

Becky Kuschel grew up in St. Cloud alongside her big sister, Jeanine Barrett and her younger brother.  She began piano lessons at a young age but in second grade discovered the violin and has studied this instrument for the past 15 years.

When asked what she enjoys most about music, Becky replied, “I love the whole new world it opens up.  The many people you meet, the experiences you'd never have the opportunity for without music.  Music has helped me in life.  I was very shy and introverted when young.  I would not be who I am today without music.  Music helps build confidence, stage presence, people and communication skills.  Music helps build character.” 

Her musical experience includes being a member of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Amadeas Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Center Choral Orchestra, and various ensemble groups.  She has helped teach an after-school string program in Albany and has taught privately for the last six years.  Currently she attends St. Cloud State for Mass Communications.

 

 

Erin has been teaching piano lessons at the Central Minnesota Music School since November, 2006.  She has had a passion for the piano for the past 14 years.  Erin studied for nine years under our own Dr. James Dennihan before attending Concordia College in Moorhead, where she studied with Dr. David Worth for two years. 

In 2003, she was honored to perform Grieg’s “Concerto in A minor” with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra as the winner of their Concerto Competition.  In addition to solo work, she has engaged in four-hand piano performance, accompanying, and has been a member of several pit orchestras.  She now attends St. Cloud State University and is pursuing degrees in art history and music.  In her free time or between teaching, Erin and her good friend, Jeanine Barrett often fill the halls of the music school with their fun and musically skillful duets.

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher Goering received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota.  His studies are currently in progress for graduation from SCSU with a Master of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy in May 2008.  He is continuously composing new solo and duet music for the piano.  He encourages musical experimentation and creativity in his students and often incorporates composition and improvisation in the lessons.

Christopher began piano lessons at age 6 with his mother, Maria Goering.  He has also studied with Ann DuHamel, and is presently studying with Dr. James Dennihan and Dr. Paul Wirth.  Christopher and his wife, Jacinta, currently live in their hometown, St. Cloud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Julia Tehven-Sutton, recently re-located from Minneapolis, brings her experience of dance to Central Minnesota . At the age of 7, Julia began training with Loyce Houlton's Minnesota Dance Theatre, a company and school rooted in classical and contemporary dance. There she studied with world renowned teachers in the Russian Vaganova Technique, Bournonville, RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) technique and  modern dance based on the technique of Martha Graham.   

Julia went on to pursue a professional dance career with Minneapolis’ leading dance companies including the Minnesota Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet and Ballet of the Dolls as well as working with independent choreographers.  She has performed acting roles at the Jungle Theater, sang at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater and has danced for the Minnesota Opera and The Children's Theater as a featured dancer.  In 2004, Julia received the McKnight Fellowship for Dancers.

Since 1995, Julia has taught ballet at Zenon Dance School, Ballet of the Dolls, Dance Spectrum, Larkin School of Dance and Summit School of Dance before joining the faculty at the Central Minnesota Music School in 2007.  As a teacher, she hopes to bring the love of music and the gift of dance to her students.

 

 

 

Raised in a family who values and surrounds themselves in music, Angela began taking piano lessons at age 7. Her musical aptitude was quickly evident and she began taking lessons with Dr. Paul Wirth, co-founder and Artistic Director of the Central Minnesota Music School at age 12. Three years later, she had her first encounter with Dr. Wirth's Piano Camp. Angela fell in love with the camaraderie and support of being surrounded by music-making peers. She attended the camp through age 18, and the following two summers, helped run the camp as they transitioned to a new location at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. In the summer of 2008, Angela returned to camp as a counselor to a new generation of musicians and found much joy in this experience.

Angela also enjoyed participating in the Music Listening Contest, put on by Minnesota Public Radio, for three years in high school. Her team advanced to the state level each year, winning second place in 2000. She participated in various piano performance competitions, winning the St Cloud Symphony Orchestra's competition and playing the 2nd and 3rd movements of Grieg's Piano Concerto with the orchestra. Angela served as a piano teacher at CMMS from 2000-2002, and again since January 2008. While living and working in Ecuador during the 2005-2006 school year, she taught music and keyboarding skills to students. Angela is (again) studying with Dr. Wirth and finding an ever-increasing appreciation for his passion and skill in music. She has a passion for working with young musicians, and hopes to instill in them a love for music and a firm grounding in technique and music-making ability.

 

In December, 2005, Lori McNamara agreed to assist the school with payroll and accounting for a few months while the school looked for a permanent bookkeeper.  Those few months have turned into a few years after she was invited to stay on and serve as Executive Director in March, 2006.  Lori enjoys working with the dedicated and professional faculty and managing the many aspects of the business side of the school as well as meeting the wonderful families that form the larger “CMMS family”.

Lori attended the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire where she graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a comprehensive accounting major.  She passed the CPA exam on her first time and worked in public accounting for three years in St. Paul, Minnesota and Atlanta, Georgia.  In 1986, she accepted a position as Controller of a retail music store chain with 60 stores located in 3 states in the southeastern United States.  After five years of expansive growth to 120 stores in six states, Lori retired to stay home after the birth of her second child.

In 1991, with four children in tow, the McNamaras decided to relocate to Minnesota to be near Lori’s family.  In addition to her work with the music school, Lori is treasurer for her church, leads an adult Bible study on Sunday mornings and attends a Women’s Bible Study group.  She is also active at school where she volunteers in classrooms, was treasurer of the 2007 Senior Class Party and has committed to be treasurer for the Spartan Parents’ Association for the 2008-09 school year.  Lori also serves as the Executive Director of the Young Artist Piano Camp, the prestigious summer camp for talented young artists founded by Dr. Paul Wirth and sponsored by CMMS.

“When my son began taking lessons with Dr. Wirth in 2004, I never realized the depth and breadth of the offerings at CMMS.  From our exciting Early Childhood Music and Movement programs led by the energetic Kathy Kampa, to classic ballet with Julia Tehven-Sutton, and our many dedicated and professional private music instructors to the top-notch summer camps of both the School of Rock and the Young Artist Piano Camp, and our fabulous concert series, Salon se Lève, this school definitely adds to the cultural fabric of the central Minnesota region and beyond!”