Meet Our Instructors – Front Range Academy of Music

Dr. Maria Kurchevskaya Currey

Pianist Maria Kurchevskaya Currey holds a doctoral degree in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She received her master’s degree with Nancy Weems at the University of Houston, subsequent to studies at the Russian Gnesin’s Academy of Music in Moscow. During her studies, she was honored by the Russian government with the Scholarship for Excellence in Academic Achievement, as well as the full scholarship for her doctoral studies here in Colorado. A native of Russia, Maria studied with legendary teacher Maria Gambarian, a protégé of Konstantin Igumnov and Heinrich Neuhaus and one of the few remaining descendants of the Old Russian School. Maria is a strong proponent of classical music with a special fondness for the works of Sergei Rachmaninoff and Nicolai Medtner, the subject of her doctoral thesis.

In addition to being an active solo and chamber performer, Maria has also taught in Youth Piano and Continuing Education Programs at the University of Colorado in Boulder. As a teacher, Maria embraces the piano method developed by the Russian pianist and teacher Anna Schmidt-Schklovskaya. The main strength of the method is in understanding the anatomical and physiological structure of the human body, its function and effective usage. The deep understanding of science and musical language enables Maria to apply Schmidt-Schklovskaya’s principles to the standards of the Russian Piano School, thereby enhancing its pursuit of the beautiful sound produced by effortless and natural technique.

Mr. Thomas Currey, Esq.

Thomas is a freelance trumpet player and private instructor. He graduated from Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, where he was named Outstanding Male Musician of his graduating class. As a two-time winner of the Hillsdale College Concerto/Aria Competition, Thomas performed with Hillsdale’s orchestra on the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto and Tartini’s Trumpet Concerto in D. Locally, he has performed with Colorado Swing, the Colorado Brass Company, the Larimer Chorale, the Fort Collins Wind Symphony, Midtown Arts Center, the Loveland Concert Band, and Candlelight Dinner Theater.

Thomas is also a practicing attorney. The list of composers with a “law connection” is surprisingly long: At some point in their lives, Telemann, Handel, C. P. E. Bach, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Schumann all studied law. Thankfully, all of those people abandoned their legal pursuits to focus on writing music! Thomas, however, continues to balance music with his legal vocation. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado, clerked for a trial court judge in Jefferson County, and now works at Dolan & Associates, P.C. in Brighton.

Dr. Katarina M. Pliego

Katarina M. Pliego completed her doctorate in Cello Performance at the University of Northern Colorado, her MM in Cello Performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (UK), and her BA in Music at Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge (UK). She studied with Dr. Gal Faganel, Rudi de Groote, and Caroline Bosanquet, respectively. Katarina has participated in various masterclasses and was the recipient of numerous awards, scholarships, and distinctions at both UNC and in the UK.

As a soloist Katarina has performed with UNC Wind Ensemble, Anglia Ruskin University Orchestra, K239 Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of Music School Žalec, and Nottingham Youth Orchestra. As an orchestral player she has performed with the Fort Collins Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra (UK) and Orion Orchestra (UK). She has also performed at the Royal Festival Hall (under the baton of Marin Alsop), for the British Royal Family in Cadogan Hall, as principal cellist in the Shen Yun Performing Arts, and in noteworthy venues such as Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Kennedy Center, Renee and Henry Segerstrom Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, Place des Arts and Sony Centre. Outside of the classical world, Katarina has toured and recorded an album with the All Angles Jazz Orchestra, and a soul band The Burroughs. Highlights include performing at the Greeley Jazz Festival with Grammy award winning Randy Brecker and Bob Sheppard, New York Voices, and at Red Rocks with Father John Misty, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Kygo and Michael Buble.

Katarina is also an enthusiastic teacher. Her recent Colorado students have successfully auditioned for All State Symphony Orchestra and Western States Honor Orchestra and have received generous music scholarships to continue their studies at UNC. During her time at UNC, she was Dr. Faganel’s teaching assistant for three years, and also his sabbatical replacement in Spring 2017, while also maintaining a position as adjunct professor of music history at Front Range Community College.

In her free time, Katarina likes to spend time with her family, husband Juan, daughter Emilia and dog Tosca, as well as train and teach Muay Thai.

Dr. Kellan Toohey

Kellan Toohey is an avid performer whose varied career includes recitals and solo appearances, chamber music, teaching, and orchestral playing. He holds a DMA from the University of Colorado and his teachers include Daniel Silver, Bil Jackson, Jon Manasse, and Yehuda Gilad.

An active orchestral player, Dr. Toohey currently holds the positions of Principal clarinetist in the Boulder Chamber Orchestra and Fort Collins Symphony, and Associate Principal Clarinetist in the Wyoming Symphony and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra. He has performed across the US, Europe, and in Asia, and recently recorded his first solo cd, entitled Scenes from Home, premiere recordings of new music by Colorado composers.

Kellan has received numerous awards, including winning 2nd Prize in the International Clarinet Association’s Young Artist Competition (2013 Assisi, Italy), 1st Prize and audience choice award in the University of Colorado Ekstrand Graduate Performance competition, 1st Prize in the University of Northern Colorado Concerto competition and Angie Southard Performance Competition, and was also the winner of the Colorado College Summer Festival and Greeley Chamber Orchestra concerto competitions. In November 2016 he made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall in New York City.

In addition to his performing and teaching work, Kellan enjoys active involvement in his church, composing music, reading, hiking, and spending time outdoors.