Kristyn Van Cleave

A proud California Bay Area native now based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dr. Kristyn Van Cleave received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano and Pedagogy at Louisiana State University and Master of Music in Collaborative Piano from New York University. At LSU, Kristyn held a graduate assistantship in the School of Music as a pianist and coach, accompanying voice lessons, masterclasses, lyric diction, acting and conducting classes for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as teaching keyboard skills classes for undergraduates. She also served as assistant music director and lead vocal coach for The Turner-Fischer Center for Opera's production of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music". While at NYU, Kristyn served as music director for Classical Voice Collective’s “French Cabaret” series, “Songs About Love” at 54 Below, and as the assistant music director for “New Student Spotlight” and the Opera Theatre’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. She also held an adjunct faculty position teaching Keyboard Skills classes and private piano lessons, in addition to being a staff accompanist for the Vocal Performance department. 

 

Outside of NYU, Kristyn has played in masterclasses for renowned collaborative pianists such as Martin Katz, Margo Garrett, and Jonathan Feldman. In addition, she recently completed an operatic vocal coaching apprenticeship in Dijon, France with Académie de la Roche d’Hys. She is the founder of BRAVA Music Camp and resident pianist and coach for Building Voices of the Future - an online voice intensive created by NYU alumni for high school students, focused on developing well rounded and impactful artists. She is a sought after church musician and currently holds a position as pianist and organist at Blackwater United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge.

 

Kristyn has a deep passion for teaching and mentoring young musicians, with over 15  years of experience teaching all ages and skill levels. She has maintained a private piano studio of up to 40 students, with select students receiving high marks and honors in the Royal Conservatory Music Development program, as well as regional awards through Music Teachers Association of California’s Certificate of Merit program. Kristyn has held positions teaching general music for elementary school students, in addition to 3 years of teaching at a private high school in San Jose, California. During that time, she held a position as a staff accompanist for the school’s musical theatre department and jazz vocal ensembles, while also substitute-teaching various art and social studies classes and long-term substitute teaching musical theatre repertoire and acting classes. She has a soft spot for educating junior high and high school aged students and finds great joy in meaningful connection with them. Her goal is to cultivate the next generation of impactful musicians by creating a warm and welcoming environment where students feel the freedom to express themselves through music. 

 

When not sitting at a piano or teaching, Kristyn can be found wandering the French Impressionist collection of an art museum or trying a new restaurant with friends!