Inga Agrest started playing piano when she was four years old under the supervision of her mother, Marina Agrest. At age 5, Ms. Agrest was accepted to the St. Petersburg’s School of Music (St. Petersburg, Russia). Upon immigrating to the US at age 13, she continued to pursue piano with her mother and participated in many recitals and competitions in the area including as a soloist with the Long Bay Youth Orchestra of Myrtle Beach. Ms. Agrest started teaching piano at age 15 by occasionally substituting for her mother and then officially taking a teaching position at a local music school at age 17 upon starting her undergraduate studies at the College of Charleston.

Ms. Agrest has a BA degree in Piano Performance & Composition from the College of Charleston, and MM degree in Opera/Theater Directing from the University of South Carolina. She also studied voice and participated in all the Vocal and Opera ensembles during both undergraduate and graduate studies. Ms. Agrest had worked as a Director, Assistant Director and Stage Manager for shows and operas in Charleston and Columbia, SC, Los Angeles and Italy. Ms. Agrest has taught general music at schools in Los Angeles, CA as well as private piano and voice lessons after finishing her degrees. She has also spent time teaching in Minnesota for about a year. However, she keeps coming back to Charleston where the majority of her family lives. Ms. Agrest teaches private piano, voice, composition and Musical Theatre Classes in the Charleston area. She has been the Musical Director with SPROUTS Children Theatre and in local Theaters, as well as, at the College of Charleston. Ms. Agrest has sung with local Opera Companies, and has been singing with choirs her entire life ranging in locations from St. Petersburg, Russia to Charleston, SC. Locally, she has sung with Taylor Festival Choir, CofC Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, CSOC and CSO Chamber as well as several church choirs, synagogues and at the Spoleto Festival USA.

Ms. Agrest has been an active member of the MTNA, SCMTA and CMTA for about 25 years and has been an active board member both at local and state levels serving in a variety of positions. Throughout her extensive career, Ms. Agrest came to the realization that all arts are so multifaceted it is crucial to develop students from every direction in order to achieve greater understanding, perspective and results. And after many years of work the idea of the Multicultural Academy for the Creative Arts was born.

Dru Blair grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, and began studying medicine at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. During his undergraduate studies he discovered his artistic ability and switched majors to fine arts in his senior year, graduating with a BA in fine arts. He later found employment in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as an airbrush artist painting shirts. His rapid success inspired him to continue his education in art at the University of South Carolina in Columbia where he earned an MFA and went on to begin his career in commercial illustration. Dru won the National Airbrush Excellence Award in 1998, which ushered in a wave of commercial opportunities. The following year he produced his first aviation painting, “Power”, which became the first of three Air Force Magazine covers and remains the number one selling aviation print in existence. In 1997, he founded the Blair School of Art in Raleigh, North Carolina which evolved into the Blair School of Realism in his ancestral hometown of Blair, South Carolina. Dru is an Air Force Association Life Member, Army Aviation Association of America Life Member, member of the North Carolina Association of Designers and Illustrators, member of the Graphic Artists Guild, Artist Fellow member of the American Society of Aviation Artists, and board member of the International Airbrush Association. Some of Dru’s work includes poplar themes, such as the Budweiser Bullfrogs. He was the official artist for Star Trek: Voyager book covers, as well as several of the other Star Trek licensees. He has worked for some of America’s most recognized companies including Coca-Cola, Nabisco and Proctor and Gamble, to name just a few.

From an early age Jessica’s niche for music was evident, and fostered by her mother at home. She started formal lessons at the age of 9 under Beth Fox, and began composing and arranging on the piano at the age of fifteen. She was an active participant classical and composition competitions and festivals, receiving a variety of recognitions and awards on a state and National level.

After high school she continued her pursuits in piano pedagogy under the instruction of Dr. Jon Ensminger, and eventually earned a piano performance certification through the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto, Canada under Olivia Val Cresswell. Her keen ear and love for variety expand her musical skills into many genres, with a niche for modern classical. She has studied under and collaborated with many influential music producers and professors in Charleston, SC, gaining experience and knowledge in a variety of musical settings. Her album “Grace Notes” (2016) is a culmination of her musical influences for the first twenty-five years of her life.

Tom Noren is a highly experienced guitar teacher with a passion for nurturing musical talent in students of all ages. With over 30 years of dedicated teaching experience, Tom has honed his craft in instructing young children as young as 5 years old to adults, imparting his knowledge and love for music through private and group guitar lessons.

Tom holds certifications in music education, mathematics, and English Language Learning (ELL), reflecting his commitment to providing well-rounded and inclusive instruction to his students. His expertise extends beyond the realm of music, allowing him to tailor his teaching methods to suit individual learning styles and needs.