MUSIC ARTS ACADEMY
Piano, voice and drum/percussion lessons for kids, youth and adults
Rev. Patty Highland
Director of Music Ministries
Pastor of Worship,
Prayer & Care
512-417-4031
Music Arts Academy
at LTUMC
The Music Arts Academy (MAA) at Lake Travis United Methodist Church provides the opportunity for private music lessons in both piano and drums/percussion. Available to both children and adults, instruction is provided August-May and follows the Lake Travis Independent School Districts calendar. Lessons are conducted at the church.
Please contact Rev. Patty Highland for more information.
Music Arts Academy Instructors
Lesson lengths vary depending on age of the student and skill level. The instructor will call you directly to arrange your lesson time.
Barrett Hughes
Barrett was raised in Bryan, TX, where he started banging on things while still in diapers. In high school, he marched the tenor drums for the award winning Bryan High School Drumline, and joined every percussion group he could, including Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Symphonic Band. While attending Texas A&M, he was a member of Percussion Studio (a “STOMP”-like group.) Barrett taught private lessons for Bryan High School and Susan’s School of Music. He has been the drummer for multiple touring bands (rock and Texas country music) and recording studio albums. He currently plays with the Worship Team at Lake Travis UMC.
COST
$36 per 1/2 hour lesson
Longer lessons available as appropriate for the skill level.
Ross David Crutchlow
A California-born singer, Ross has been called “dazzling” and “larger than life” with “a strong, rich voice that confidently resonates across the stage.” A versatile performer in all areas, Ross’s career has spanned opera, operetta, musical theater, concert, the Shakespearean stage, film and TV. Ross received his vocal training at the University of Redlands. In 2001, Ross decided to relocate to NYC where he was cast in leading roles there and across the US. He sang Fred in Kiss Me, Kate, Vallon in Show Boat, Sir Sagramore in Camelot starring Robert Goulet, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, and appeared as the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance at City Center on Broadway starring Hal Linden. Ross was a District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a Best Actor Award Winner four years in a row in the Inland Theater League Awards, and has appeared on the Conan O’Brien Show. Ross has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Redlands. He is husband to soprano Jenny Millsap and father to their three amazing kids. After years on NYC stages and across the country, they've settled in Austin to raise their kids near family.
COST
$42 per 1/2 hour lesson
Longer lessons available as appropriate for the skill level.
Vakhtang Zaalishvili
(vakh-TANGH zah-lee-SHVEE-lee)
Piano Instructor
vakhtang.zaalishvili@ltumc.org
Vakhtang Zaalishvili
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Vakhtang (vakh-TANGH) is a pianist, collaborative pianist/opera coach and teacher. His journey in music commenced at the Tbilisi Zakaria Paliashvili Central Music School, where he dedicated his formative years under the guidance of Professors Nana Makharadze and Victoria Chaplinskaya (’09-’18). Continuing his pursuit of musical education, Vakhtang earned a Bachelor’s degree of “Performing Art” at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire (’18-’22), studying under distinguished professors Nino Katamadze, Nino Chirakadze, Lali Bakradze, and Tamar Licheli. Vakhtang’s education as an opera coach commenced with a traineeship at Conservatorio Arrigo Boito in Parma, Italy (’21-’22).
Vakhtang’s achievements extend to his participation in competitions, festivals, and opera productions, earning laureates and diplomas in events such as the Future Star 8th republic competition/festival – laureate and diploma “The Best Performing Skills” (Tbilisi, Georgia, 2015), “Music Without Limits XVI International Competition” – I place in category D (Druskininkai, Lithuania, ’16), 7th International Moritz Moskowski Piano Competition – Laureate Diploma (Kielce, Poland, ’17), 2nd National Melito Balanchivadze Piano Competition – Laureate and III place (Kutaisi, Georgia ’18). The Gradus piano Festival – (Denmark, Aarhus ’18), Notable highlights as an opera coach include the production opera “Falstaff” at Conservatorio di Musica Arrigo Boito in Italy (’22), productions such as “Le Nozze Di Figaro” (’23) and “Dido and Aeneas” (’23) in Tbilisi, Georgia.
He was the music director and chorus master of the opera “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” the Delaware Valley Opera Company (July-August ’24, Philadelphia, PA, USA). In terms of work experience, Vakhtang has served as a piano accompanist and opera coach at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire (’22-’23), a piano pedagogue at “Private Music Studio in Saguramo,” Georgia (’22-’23), a piano accompanist and music teacher at the Nelly Berman School of Music (Haverford, PA, USA) Oct ’23-July ’24, and a music teacher at Cunningham Music School (King of Prussia, PA, USA) Jan-July ’24. Vakhtang earned his Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked as an opera coach, and continues his doctoral studies at the same institution.
COST
$42 per 1/2 hour lesson
Longer lessons available as appropriate for the skill level.
Music Arts Academy Registration
Payments may be made online at ltumc.org/give using any of the online payment options
or in person (by check made payable to LTUMC) at the church office.
