Biography

Melody Stroth received her Master of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.  While at the Conservatory Ms. Stroth studied with Richard Cass and served as accompanist for the Opera Workshop/Musical Theatre class (chosen by audition).  Ms. Stroth is former president of the Conservatory Alumni Board.

Melody received her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance (magna cum laude) from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  Studying with Charlotte Martin, Ms. Stroth received the Marion Elbert Patterson Piano Award, the Bisonette Glee Club Gold Award, was a member of the American Guild of Organists, SAI, and was elected to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. 

An established professional pianist, organist and piano teacher, Melody Stroth is a member of Kansas City Music Teachers Association (where she currently serves as president), a member of  Kansas Music Teachers Association and Music Teachers National Association.  She is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM).  She is also a member (and Past President) of the Federated Teachers of Music and Fine Arts of Greater Kansas City.  This organization is associated with the National Federation of Music Clubs.  It was through this national organization that Ms. Stroth received the first ever Ouida Keck Award for private piano teachers in 2004.  This national award is given to teachers who demonstrate superior teaching in the private studio and wish to further enhance their teaching skills.  Her most recent award is from the Kawai Piano organization and comes with the use of a grand piano in her studio.  She already owned one grand piano, so now she has two grands, side by side.  In August of 2021, she was featured in a television news story about this award.

Ms. Stroth has also had many student winners on the local, state and national level.  Her students are often chosen to play for visiting master teachers.

As a performer, Ms. Stroth is currently pianist/organist at Prairie Baptist Church.  She is frequently called upon for weddings, funerals, church programs, and accompanying all over the metropolitan area.  She is a part of the eclectic group called Vivant and is a member of the cello/piano duo of Ad Adstra with her cellist partner Eman Chalshotori.  They recorded a CD called Winterlude in 2020.