FACULTY
MIRIAM MORALES
Executive Director
Miriam Morales has been teaching for 10 years and truly loves working with all students and encouraging them to develop... Read More
ANGELIA GARRARD
Programs Coordinator
Angelia is a native of Mississippi but has spent over the last thirty years near the surrounding areas of New Orleans... Read More
KARA SMITH
Operations & Hiring Coordinator
Kara grew up learning music all across the United States, studying under many instructors across the country... Read More
CANDICE KINGSMAN
Voice & Piano Instructor
Candice attended the University of Denver Lamont Conservatory for jazz and commercial music studies in vocal performance. Read More
SANDRA ANDARI
Piano & Voice Instructor
By joining the New Song Music Academy, Sandra brings in a multitude of assets and skills which... Read More
SHAUN YU
Violin, Piano & Harp Instructor
Shaun has experience playing
in orchestras as a violinist and is now currently learning the Harp in University of Texas. Read More
RICHARD MCBAIN
Piano
Rich has been studying, performing and teaching classical piano for more than 26 years...Read More
JUAN DURAN CHANG
Artist in Residence
Juan began studying piano and viola at the age of 4. He continued his piano studies at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory. Read More
KEVIN HAWKINS
Performance Coach
Kevin Hawkins studied music education and vocal performance at the prestigious University of North Texas college... Read More
JOSIAH TECK TIE
Piano & Voice Instructor
Josiah is currently finishing his masters degree at Dallas Theological Seminary with a degree in Media Arts...Read More
BRAULIO GRANADO
Guitar & Piano Instructor
Braulio Granado was interested in music from a very young age. He started playing guitar at the age of 13... Read More
MELANIE COLON
Guitar, Piano & Voice Instructor
Melanie is from Puerto Rico where she studied and graduated with a bachelors in Music Education...Read More
VICTOR PIANTANIDA
Drums, Piano & Guitar
Victor Piantanida started playing drums at age 11 and quickly progressed in skill throughout his early years... Read More
Interested in joining the team? Apply here.
Miriam Morales
executive director
Piano, Voice & Guitar
Miriam Morales has been playing the piano for over 25 years and enjoys playing other instruments as well. Miriam started studying piano with Rebekah Branham at an early age who saw a deep love of music in Miriam and recommended she study further.
She attended W. E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy in middle school and continued on to become a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. During this time she studied classical piano under the direction of Eva Flowers, Gabriel Sanchez and jazz piano from Kent Ellingson & Roger Boykin.
She holds a Bachelor of Music Media with an emphasis in Piano Performance from the University of Texas at Arlington. Miriam also holds a Masters Degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in Biblical and Theological Studies where she also enjoyed classes in the Media Arts & Worship department.
Miriam has been teaching music for 10 years in both group and one-on-one settings. She has taught for multiple music studios and non-profit organizations in the DFW area including the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas, Big Thought, Junior Players and Arts Net.
She has served as the pianist for several churches in the DFW area and continues to perform for weddings, corporate events and private parties. She enjoys writing worship songs and playing solo jazz piano and singing.
Currently she is the Executive Director for New Song Music Academy which has equipped over 200 students to play music they truly enjoy. She believes that anyone can become a lifelong musician regardless of their profession.
Juan Duran CHaNG
artist in residencE
PIANO, VIOLA & VIOLIN
Juan Felipe Duran Chang was born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. His parents had a high standard of promoting knowledge in science, art and music from an early age.
He began studying piano and viola under the direction of Blanca Pulido, at the age of 4. He continued his piano studies at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory of Music where he studied piano with Maestro Omar Gómez,Dr. Alejandra Sánchez and privately with Ingrid Algarra.
In addition, he was learning viola under the guidance of Professor Mari Gil, Maestro Pedro Vargas and Maestro José Guillermo Fuentes. He entered El Sistema, a national music education program, where he performed Gustav Mahler's second symphony under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. He has participated in multiple master classes to develop his orchestral skills.
He is a graduate of the U. E. N. San Francisco Javier and the U. E. Colegio Ilustre Americano in science. He holds bachelors degrees in Mathematics from the Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado and Music from the Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory of Music.
In 2015 he served as the conductor of the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra and an orchestral and viola coach. He currently studies viola under Ellen Rose (principal violist for the Dallas Symphony 25+ years) and serves as the Artist in Residence for New Song Music Academy where he teaches piano, viola, violin and cello including group ensembles. While in this role, Juan has supported faculty and students by playing accompaniment on the viola, violin, and piano, as well as performed masterpieces by Bach, Glazunov, and Hoffmeister.
Angelia Garrard
Programs Coordinator
Angelia is a native of Mississippi but has spent over the last thirty years near the surrounding areas of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Her education includes an Associate of Arts degree in church music from Clarke College and a Bachelor of Music Degree from William Carey University where she studied music therapy under the direction of Carylee Hammons, voice under the direction of Josephine De arpa and classical piano under the direction of Dr. Jeff McLelland.
While pursuing her studies, Angelia served as Minister of Music at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Union, MS and directed children church choirs at Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, MS.
Angelia became a board certified Music Therapist in 1989 and has a plethora of experience with early childhood music programs. She served in children’s ministry for eighteen years as director, coordinator of volunteers and other roles at Church of the King in Mandeville, LA.
She brought her passion for music and children together by serving as a Vocal & Piano Instructor at the Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts. Most recently Angelia has joined New Song Music Academy as Programs Coordinator and is excited to serve NSMA's students and community in Dallas, Texas.
She is happily married to her husband Jim and they have three children: Jon, Grace and Joy.
Kevin hawkins
Performance coach
PIANO & VOice
North Texas native Kevin Hawkins is a singer, songwriter and musician born and raised in the city of Lancaster, just outside of Dallas.
Kevin studied music education and vocal performance at the prestigious University of North Texas college of music. He studied under Dr. Stephen Morscheck and Alan McClung and performed repertoire such as Giuseppe Giordani’s Caro mio ben, Christoph Willibald Gluck’s O del mio dolce, Franz Schubert’s The Erlkönig, and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Vagabond.
He has also sung background for artists such as KeKe Wyatt and Mario and has opened for Dallas legend Erykah Badu as well as K. Michelle. Kevin has been featured in D Magazine, Dallas Observer, LA Times, E News, and NBC Insider just to name a few. In 2017 Kevin was the featured artist in Klyde Warren Park’s Summer Artists Series and headlined the 44th Harambee Festival. Kevin has also had the privilege of being on tour with Oprah Winfrey in 2020 and now he is currently on season 22 of THE VOICE.
Kevin still has a love and passion for teaching as he continues it to this day, in addition to performing. What keeps him coming back to teaching music is the light in his students’ eyes when they have enjoyed learning something new and want to continue growing as a musician. His motto is no student is too young or too old to learn; he teaches from the age of 2 to 92!
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KARA Smith
Operations & Hiring Coordinator
Kara Smith grew up learning music all across the United States, studying under many instructors across the country including Michael Johnson, Jason Roy and cellist Lindsey Smith-Trostle. She has performed with the Sparkling Keys and Strings orchestra under the direction of Simone Parker and has served in worship as the pianist and cellist for numerous churches.
Kara has a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with a Piano Performance focus from Thomas Edison State University where she studied under Sheila Threlfall and performed Mozart’s Sonata K. 283, Bach’s Praeludium VI, BWV 875 and Rachmaninoff’s Elegie, Op. 3, No. 1. She has performed at venues such as APSU Mabry Concert Hall, as well as for private parties and special events.
She graduated with a Masters of Arts in Media Arts and Worship from Dallas Theological Seminary with an emphasis in culture and theology.
Kara has over twenty years of experience in piano and has taught piano, ukulele, and beginner cello with music studios in Washington D.C., Dallas, TX., and Fayetteville, N.C. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and delights to watch students grow in their skill and enjoyment of their instrument.
Candice kingsman
voice & piano
Candice attended the University of Denver Lamont Conservatory for jazz and commercial music studies in vocal performance. She has taught privately as well as consulted for theater companies, school districts and chorales.
Her love of people and community led her to develop an early childhood neurologically based foundational music program with the local health and human services department. She has shared the stage with world-renowned musicians such as Bobby McFerrin, Tan Dun, Eric Whitacre, Peter Eldrige, and a capella group M-Pact. Her jazz career gave her the fortune to receive mentorship and education from many artists such as Britt Quentin, Sunny Wilkinson, Paul Falk, Kate McGarry, Greg Jasperse and more. Guest director for musical theater, Candice has led productions with Magic Circle Players, Wright Opera House, Sherbino Theater, Weehawken Arts, Montrose High School and Valley Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Bands.
Candice has been a member of the worship team at Grace Community Church in her hometown, Ridgway Community Church and Parker Bible Church for vocals and keys. In 2012, Candice led Montrose High School to the ICHSA nationals competition for a capella in Flower Mound, Texas. In her free time, Candice loves to be outdoors with her daughter and their border collie. She has recently relocated from beautiful Colorado to the Dallas area and is looking forward to sharing her musical knowledge with her students.
BRAULIO GRANADO
GUITAR, VOICE, piANO, BASS
Braulio Granado was interested in music from a very young age. He started playing guitar and singing at the age of 13. Braulio is a native of Dallas and quickly started performing as a rock guitarist and vocalist, playing with several groups as well as opening for international groups, playing music festivals, and recording music.
In the last several years, he has performed in a wide variety of bands from Mariachi to Rock to Heavy Metal. Currently he is the group director and lead vocalist for Granado Mariachi.
Braulio is a graduate of Dallas College with an Associates of Music where he studied a variety of instruments and genres including classical piano, classical/spanish guitar, pop and jazz. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor's of Music in Guitar at the University of Texas At Arlington. Some of Braulio’s most influential instructors include Sebastian Ruzycki (guitar), Tom Burchill (guitar), Taiko Pelick (piano), and Jackson Yandell (Dallas College).
He has taught for Academia Musical Valero and privately for the last 7 years including but not limited to a variety of instruments such as piano, electric bass, ukulele, vihuela and vocals. Braulio’s favorite thing about teaching is reviving a love for acoustic instruments and live performances in this digital age.
Josiah Teck Tie
piANO
Josiah Tie was born and raised in Malaysia and speaks three different languages: English, Mandarin, and Malay. He has been playing the piano for over 20 years. He studied with the Trinity College London Classical Program at the age of 5 and by the age of 13 had completed the Grade 8 examinations. During this time, repertoire he played included: Bach’s Prelude in G from Partita No. 5, Debussy’s children’s Corner Dr Gradus ad Parnassum, and Prokofiev’s Visions Fugitives. From this foundation in classical music, Josiah began branching out into contemporary music.
As he developed a passion for music, he learned to sing from various vocal coaches and also taught himself the acoustic guitar, especially enjoying Contemporary R&B music such as Daniel Caeser’s Best Part and Tamia’s Officially Missing You. His love for music continued to expand through performing and singing for weddings, events, competitions, and festivals. He posts covers and original songs on social media to reach different audiences from all over the world.
Josiah graduated with a Magna Cum Laude in his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond, OK) and is currently finishing his master's degree in Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary.
As a worship leader, Josiah is deeply committed to teaching and equipping church members in worship. In his free time, he enjoys writing music and winning at the ping pong table.
SANDRA ANDARI
VOICE & PIANO
By joining the New Song Music Academy, Sandra brings in a multitude of assets and skills which were acquired through her international and diversified upbringing. Born in France, educated in Lebanon, and well-acquainted with multi-cultural settings, she sets her mission to give back to the next generation and help form new musicians.
From an early age, her pianist mother instilled in her and her four siblings a passion for music. Sandra took piano and solfege lessons at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music for 7 years, which she followed up with 3 years of church choir experience. Her performances ranged vastly from classical piano to contemporary vocal pieces including repertoire such as Beethoven's Piano Sonata in C sharp minor, op. 27 no. 2 'Moonlight', Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier Prelude and Fugue no. 1 in C major, Bruno Mars' When I was Your Man, and Gnarls Barkley's Crazy.
Sandra's love for music, coupled with her passion for teaching, have inspired her to embark on a journey of giving back in the form of private piano lessons in Richardson and Dallas, which she enjoys tremendously. Sandra teaches from a belief that music is an important means of expression that goes beyond any culture or language differences. Her ultimate goal is to shape educationally well-rounded individuals so that they can easily express themselves through music.
Sandra holds a Degree in Dental Surgery as well as in Orthodontics and Epidemiology. She likes to spend her spare time reading, exploring new scientific topics, and contributing to the community through volunteering. She strives to continuously offer her best in everything she endeavors.
Melanie colon
guitar, piano & Voice
Melanie was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She studied and graduated with a bachelors in Music Education with a minor in English as a second language at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, San German Campus. She studied under the care of Dr. Jacques Landry, director of the Guitar program in the Interamerican. Under his hand, she played many recitals playing pieces by Leo Brouwer (Un dia de Noviembre), Heitor Villa-Lobos (Prelude No.3), and Antonio Lauro (La Gatica). She has also sang in the University Choir, directed by Dr. Raquel Montalvo, and in the Concert Choir of the Department of Music, directed by Prof. Ricardo Cabrera Rios.
Before graduating from her bachelors, she was required to complete a full semester of teacher practice. She chose to complete these hours in the Music School Ernesto Ramos Antonini in Mayaguez, PR. (Escuela Libre de Música Ernesto Ramos Antonini), a public school focused on music and fine arts, where she trained with Prof. Alberto Baez, Director of the Guitar program.
Melanie has over 5 years of teaching experience and she is currently a Bilingual teacher for 4th and 5th grade in Garland ISD. Her favorite thing about teaching music is watching beginner students develop a love for music as they learn the basics and blossom as musicians and individuals.
SHAUN YU
Piano, VIOLIN AND HARP
Shaun Yu is a pianist who is interested in a variety of musical instruments. He enjoys small group musical settings such as chamber music, piano duets, and instrumental accompaniment. He has experience playing in orchestras as a violinist, is currently learning Harp at the University of Texas at Dallas and has experience in piano accompaniment for the violin, viola, flute, and voice.
Shaun is currently completing his undergraduate studies in Information Technology with a music minor concentrating in Piano. While studying under Dr. Domi Oh for solo piano performance, Dr. Catherine Parsoneault for Collaborative Piano, and Dr. Allison Read for Harp, Shaun is focusing on repertoire such as Chopin’s Ballade Op. 23 No. 1 in G minor, Joaquin Turina’s Le Cirque Op. 68 3rd movement, and Dussek’s Harp Sonata no. 3 in C minor.
Though Shaun has a history in classical repertoire such as Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata, Rachmanionoff’s C# minor Prelude Op 3. No. 2, and Chopin’s Etude Op. 10 No. 12, combined with his interest in playing video games, he enjoys exploring different kinds of music.
His passion for teaching is rooted in inspiring his students to let music be a part of their walk as they journey through life.
VICTOR Piantanida
Piano & Drums
Victor Piantanida started playing drums at age 11 and quickly progressed in skill throughout his early years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance from Belhaven University (Jackson, MS). Victor has experience in traditional jazz, be-bop, fusion, pop, funk, rock, country, and is most known for his modern worship drumming.
He has played with Thomas “Tiger” Rogers, Michael Adkins, Jacob Lowery, and many others. He is currently the drummer for the worship group, “CHANEY”, and independent artist, “Tyler Hook”.
Along with drumming, Victor is also an accomplished soundtrack composer. He is known for his original music on PBS Artbound’s episode, “Deitch”, and the Emmy award winning documentary, “Fertile Ground”.
Victor has been teaching for over 9 years. He delights in sharing the enjoyment of music with others, especially getting to watch them understand concepts and grow as musicians in their own right. Though he would enjoy spending all his time on something musical, his other hobbies include playing with his dog, Charlie, or working outdoors.
Richard McBain
Piano
Rich has been studying, performing and teaching classical piano for more than 26 years. Born in Dallas, Rich studied locally at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual arts while simultaneously studying privately at Southern Methodist University under the tutelage of Dr. Dravis A. Karp. He then furthered his training at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with the chair of the piano department, Paul Schenly and critically acclaimed concert pianist, Sergei Babayan.
Rich has appeared as recitalist, concerto soloist and collaboratively as a chamber musician and accompanist. His range of teaching experience includes children with special needs, competition level musicians and adults just looking to fulfill life long dreams of learning to play the piano for pleasure.