Mark Terenzi
Mark Terenzi
Piano & Voice
Dr. Mark Terenzi began studying piano at 9 years and after years of training and experience, is certainly considered a Master Educator of both piano and voice. Before starting his undergraduate program, Dr. Terenzi studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division and went on to win the NJ statewide Young Artists Competition of the South Orange Symphony, performing Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 with the orchestra. He went on to obtain a Bachelors of Music in Piano performance from Indiana University, as well as a Masters in Music in Choral Conducting along with a Masters Cognate in Voice. Finally, he earned his Doctorate of Music in Choral Conducting with a Doctoral Minor in both Music History and Music Education.
Dr. Terenzi, began teaching even before obtaining his first degree as piano faculty at Belvoir Terrace Fine Arts Center in Lenox, MA during his undergraduate program. Between his masters and doctorate he taught for five years in the public schools of Tuxedo, NY (K-12 Vocal Music) and Teaneck, NJ (K-4 vocal & General Music) followed by teaching engagements at Rutgers University/Newark and William Paterson University of NJ. His first full-time college position was at Blackburn College of Illinois where he led a well-established choral program that included Madrigal Dinners and tours all across the United States. During his time at Blackburn Terenzi also taught piano lessons. Notably, some students went on to win piano competitions and receive substantial scholarships to major universities.
Next, Dr. Terenzi became an Associate Professor at Kean University in Union, NJ, both as Director of Choral Activities and Music Dept. Chair. Under his direction the Kean Concert Choir quadrupled in size and performed many major works with orchestra. These included famous pieces such as Vivaldi Gloria, Orff’s Carmina Burana and Mozart’s Requiem as well as world music literature in different languages, madrigals and vocal jazz/contemporary pieces. During this time Dr. Terenzi was also the supervisor to the vocal faculty and taught many vocal coaching lessons preparing students for successful auditions. After being promoted to full professor, he stepped down from administration and focused on choral conducting, starting both a Men’s Choir and a Women’s Chorale to expand Kean’s choral offerings. As Kean’s representative for the National Association of Schools of Music, Dr. Terenzi also led the Kean Conservatory of Music to two ten-year periods of full accreditation, 2000-2010 and 2010 to 2020.
Playing and teaching piano continued to be a constant thread through Dr. Terenzi’s career as he taught piano students, accompanied singers and played for choirs at Kean. He adjudicated piano students at the New Jersey Music Teachers Association, coordinated National Guild Piano Auditions at Kean and was featured as a pianist for the Kean Musical Theater Review From Broadway to Beijing at Capital University in Beijing China. Since moving to Sarasota, Florida, Dr. Terenzi has been active in both piano and choral conducting, making a number of piano performance videos as well as being a valued instructor of piano and vocal arts at Elizabeth Farrell Music.
Dr. Mark Terenzi began studying piano at 9 years and after years of training and experience, is certainly considered a Master Educator of both piano and voice. Before starting his undergraduate program, Dr. Terenzi studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division and went on to win the NJ statewide Young Artists Competition of the South Orange Symphony, performing Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 with the orchestra. He went on to obtain a Bachelors of Music in Piano performance from Indiana University, as well as a Masters in Music in Choral Conducting along with a Masters Cognate in Voice. Finally, he earned his Doctorate of Music in Choral Conducting with a Doctoral Minor in both Music History and Music Education.
Dr. Terenzi, began teaching even before obtaining his first degree as piano faculty at Belvoir Terrace Fine Arts Center in Lenox, MA during his undergraduate program. Between his masters and doctorate he taught for five years in the public schools of Tuxedo, NY (K-12 Vocal Music) and Teaneck, NJ (K-4 vocal & General Music) followed by teaching engagements at Rutgers University/Newark and William Paterson University of NJ. His first full-time college position was at Blackburn College of Illinois where he led a well-established choral program that included Madrigal Dinners and tours all across the United States. During his time at Blackburn Terenzi also taught piano lessons. Notably, some students went on to win piano competitions and receive substantial scholarships to major universities.
Next, Dr. Terenzi became an Associate Professor at Kean University in Union, NJ, both as Director of Choral Activities and Music Dept. Chair. Under his direction the Kean Concert Choir quadrupled in size and performed many major works with orchestra. These included famous pieces such as Vivaldi Gloria, Orff’s Carmina Burana and Mozart’s Requiem as well as world music literature in different languages, madrigals and vocal jazz/contemporary pieces. During this time Dr. Terenzi was also the supervisor to the vocal faculty and taught many vocal coaching lessons preparing students for successful auditions. After being promoted to full professor, he stepped down from administration and focused on choral conducting, starting both a Men’s Choir and a Women’s Chorale to expand Kean’s choral offerings. As Kean’s representative for the National Association of Schools of Music, Dr. Terenzi also led the Kean Conservatory of Music to two ten-year periods of full accreditation, 2000-2010 and 2010 to 2020.
Playing and teaching piano continued to be a constant thread through Dr. Terenzi’s career as he taught piano students, accompanied singers and played for choirs at Kean. He adjudicated piano students at the New Jersey Music Teachers Association, coordinated National Guild Piano Auditions at Kean and was featured as a pianist for the Kean Musical Theater Review From Broadway to Beijing at Capital University in Beijing China. Since moving to Sarasota, Florida, Dr. Terenzi has been active in both piano and choral conducting, making a number of piano performance videos as well as being a valued instructor of piano and vocal arts at Elizabeth Farrell Music.
