THE ACADEMY OF STRINGS FACULTY

Tim Barrett

Executive & Artistic Director

Tim Barrett started his violin studies at age 12 as a Suzuki student with Mr. Lacy McLarry, Concertmaster and Artist in Residence of the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Barrett then graduated from the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University with a Bachelors and a Masters Degree in violin performance. After completion of his graduate work, Tim Barrett studied with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki on a daily basis for 3 years and graduated from the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. Additionally, Mr. Barrett was invited to be a participant at the 2005 and 2007 Starling-DeLay Symposiums on violin studies at the Juilliard School in New York City and serves as Concertmaster of the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra. He has been a violin teacher for the Academy of Strings since 1991 and currently serves as the Executive and Artistic Director.

Kim Barrett

Violin Program Director

Kim Barrett began studying the violin at age 12 with Mrs. Linda Fiore in Pennsylvania. After graduating from West Chester University with Bachelor Degrees in Music Performance and Music Education, she went to Matsumoto, Japan to study personally with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki and other master teachers. During her 3 ½ years in Japan, Mrs. Barrett assisted in translating for Dr. Suzuki and his writings, and performed as an example of his teaching and method. After graduating from the Talent Education Institute, she returned to the United States in 1991 with her husband, Tim. Mrs. Barrett also holds a Masters Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Tennessee. Currently, she teaches and directs the violin program for the Academy of Strings.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Barrett have received Outstanding Teacher Awards from the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts, as well as the Forty Under Forty Award by the Business Journal of the Tri-Cities.