Play Better

Mark Huff

30 Years Teaching Experience

Violin and Bass

Mark Huff was born in Ohio and has his Bachelors in Music from Miami University of Ohio, a Masters Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Doctorate from the University of Alabama

Dr. Huff is a member of the Huntsville Symphony and teaches bass at the University of Alabama Huntsville, University of North Alabama, Florence, and at the Huntsville Strings Shop where he also teaches violin. Dr. Huff also performs with the Moondust Big Band and has several compositions including his Christmas duet series.

EDUCATION

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL – DMA
Dissertation: Parable and Persichetti’s Concept of a Musical Parable
Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, OH – MM
Miami University, Oxford, OH – BM

CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE

Madison City Community Orchestra
Music Director
Select music, recruit members, plan rehearsals and performances

Toney United Methodist Church, Toney, AL
Music Director
Selected Hymns, plus choral and special music with the pastor for the service, recruited and rehearsed the choir and band or other groups as needed.

Hazel Green United Methodist Church, Hazel Green, AL
Director of Children’s Choirs
Selected music including annual musical, rehearsed and recruited members, and made arrangements of the instrumental parts for the musical.

Suzuki Strings of Cullman, Cullman, AL
String Ensemble Conductor
Selected music, rehearsed and conducted performances.

Madison Community Orchestra
Assistant Conductor

Lauren Clardy

8 Years Teaching Experience

Violin/Fiddle

Lauren Clardy is multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and vocalist. She began playing music at a young age, winning her first of many fiddle contests at just twelve years old, including titles in the Alabama State fiddle championship as well as finishing in the top ten at the Grand Master’s fiddle championship in Nashville, TN. At only twelve years old she was also featured on a local bluegrass television show filmed in Nashville, TN. More recently Lauren was featured on CMT’s “Empowering Education” tour as an opening act. Lauren has traveled with her family band since 2013 playing fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and singing as far west as Winslow, AZ, as far north as Nova Scotia, Canada, and as far south as Galveston, TX. She began teaching fiddle at 14 years old and continues to give private lessons for a variety of instruments. Lauren was given the “outstanding music student” award at her previously attended college, and most recently was awarded the “Songwriter’s Dream” scholarship as well as the “Music Scholar Award” for her leadership in the music program. Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Martin Methodist College.

Lydia Gregory

3 Years Teaching Experience

Piano and Violin

Miguel Ramirez

20+ Years Teaching Experience

Violin

Veronika Johnson

25 Years Teaching Experience

Violin and Viola

Veronika Johnson is a performing violinist and violin teacher whose musical education and professional career began in Russia and Ukraine. Her passion for music started at an early age. From the birthplace of P. I. Tchaikovsky, she was encouraged to pursue and develop her talent with the violin. A classically-trained musician, Veronika completed her education at the premier music conservatory in Ukraine – National Academy of Music (Tchaikovsky Conservatory) in the capital city of Kiev.

After graduating from the Conservatory with her teaching credential, Veronika taught violin at the State Music School in Sevastopol, Ukraine for 17 years. Veronika Johnson is the former Concertmaster and featured Soloist of the Allegro String Ensemble, performing with the well-known Crimean troupe for ten years before immigrating to the United States in 2008.

American academic pursuits & credits:

Violin Instructor – Oakwood University, Department of Fine Arts – 2012-Present
Violin Instructor – Smith String Studio (now Huntsville Strings Shop), Huntsville – 2012-Present
Violin Instructor – School of Fine Arts, Decatur – 2013-2014
Director of Strings Ensemble – A&M University, Department of Fine Arts – 2009-2011

Veronika is a very active performer. She performs regularly with different ensembles and churches in Huntsville and Tennessee Valley.

Veronika Johnson’s students have been winners and achieved Honorable Mention in the AMTA audition. This year her student was selected to participate at Carnegie Hall Performance Series, New York City.

Professional associations:

Member – Music Teachers National Organization (MTNA)

Professional accomplishments:

Veronika Johnson’s students have been winners and achieved Honorable Mention in state competition.
This year her student was selected to participate at Carnegie Hall Performance Series, New York.
Instructor of student selected for Carnegie Hall Performance Series for 2015

Kara Hurt

Piano

Kara Hurt earned her Bachelor’s in Music with an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. 

Kara grew up studying piano with Huntsville piano teacher Laura Rasnick for ten years. During Kara’s time at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, she studied piano under Dr. Melody Ng and Dr. Steven DiBlasi. Performing at the piano, Kara had the honor of performing in a masterclass with renowned performing artist Katherine Chi. Among her performance experiences, she performed for an audience in Beijing, China through the first ever trans-pacific performance on the Yamaha DCFX piano. During college, Kara served as president for the UAH’s Music Teachers National Association collegiate chapter. She also had the honor of presenting her ethnomusicology research at the Alabama Symposium for Young Music Professionals. In 2020 she was awarded by AMTA for her undergraduate research studying the eye saccade patterns during sight reading sheet music using advanced eye tracking software. 

Passing on to students a love for learning and a love for creating music through studying the piano is Kara’s passion. Kara has taught in the Huntsville area for six years. She strives to support a student’s individual musical interests while introducing them to a broad range of music styles and building up a solid musical foundation in music reading, technique, composition and theory, playing by ear, improvising, and performing.

Kara is an active member of the Alabama Music Teachers Association, volunteering at music competitions and teacher conferences. She enjoys serving as a judge for music competitions such as the Huntsville Music Study Club annual festival. Additionally, Kara has been playing for churches since she was young. She enjoys playing for weddings, choirs and performs original music at singer/songwriter events in Huntsville.

Oscar Newman

30 Years Teaching Experience

Violin , Cello, Guitar

Oscar Newman is a professional musician and dedicated teacher of strings. He has more than thirty years experience teaching music to students of all ages. He offers string instruction on a variety of string instruments as well as study in music theory, improvisation and composition. A graduate of the University of Alabama with a Bachelors degree in string bass performance, Oscar earned his Masters of Music Education degree from Alabama A&M University. He studied under renowned bassists, Jeff Bradetich, Eddie Gomez, Barry Green and Frank Proto while at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Oscar has played with numerous orchestras, including 12 years with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, several of those as principal bassist. He served as assistant conductor of the Metro Youth Orchestra and conductor of the Debut Orchestra for 15 years. Oscar retired from the Madison County Schools after twenty five years of teaching strings and general music. He maintains a private teaching studio. An accomplished bassist in both classical and jazz music including solo guitar, he has performed professionally with jazz groups for many years. In addition to bass and guitar, Oscar is an experienced teacher of cello, violin, mandolin and ukulele.

Gary Gilbertson

35 Years Teaching Experience

Guitar and Keyboard

Adrienne Tabor

12 Years Teaching Experience

Violin, Viola, Cello

B.A. in Instrumental Music Education from Tennessee Tech University

M.A in Music Education from the University of Tennessee