Collaborative Pianist

Dr. Steven Taranto

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Originally from Chicago, Steven began his career as a church musician at age fourteen serving as a volunteer organist. After high school, he attended Elmhurst College from 1988 to 1992, receiving a Bachelor of Music in Music Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Church Music. Thereafter, Steven received his Master of Sacred Music in 1995 at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Upon graduating, he began as the Director of Music and Organist for First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Tennessee, and was the conductor of the Festival Singers, an inter-denominational community choir hosted by First Presbyterian Church. Steven also was musical director for the Jackson Theater Guild and served as primary accompanist for the Jackson Community Children’s Choir as part of the community music program at Union University. 2006 he moved to Oxford, Mississippi, completing his Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education at the University of Mississippi in 2010, working full-time as a financial aid administrator for the university and serving as Organist/Choirmaster for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, also accompanying the Oxford Civic Chorus. Steven has two great dogs, Sadie and Addie, loves gardening and musical theatre.