ANNOUNCING THE WOMAN OF THE MONTH

Meet September’s Woman of the Month, Kristi Judd! Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Kristi graduated as a Spivey Hall Music Scholarship recipient at Clayton State University. She “studied classical, contemporary, and belting techniques with Dr. Shaun Amos and Dr. Christina Howell while studying piano with Dr. Michiko Otaki.” After working professionally in a variety of musical environments in Georgia, Kristi and her husband planted roots here in Fort Worth about five years ago. Two years ago, the couple welcomed their sweet son, Oliver, into the world. Although Oliver is her son by birth, her other baby is her business – Music Junkie Studios, which opened in 2015.

“I served as Worship Leader at a church in Atlanta, Georgia for three years where my duties included teaching and directing traditional hymns, southern and black gospel, contemporary praise music and world songs in other languages as well as working closely with young children in Children’s Choir. My other professional music experience includes coordinating worship services, private venue gigging, wedding music, directing summer camps, directing musicals, secular adult and youth choir direction, judging talent competitions, and private lessons.” Amid job searching as she prepared to move to Texas, Kristi couldn’t find studios that met her “admittedly high” standards given her past experiences. Overall she was looking for a combination of traits in her new employer: staffing only qualified musicians with experience in education, paying staff a fair wage, offering fair & flexible policies to their student base, and giving students regularly occurring & FREE opportunities to perform.

This is where this ‘difference maker’ made her mark. She decided right then and there that she would have to create her new job in Fort Worth. “It had always been my dream to own my own studio so I could employ other local musicians to enable more musicians to be able to work full time in music, freeing them from the obligation of working a ‘day job’ they have no passion for.” Since 2015 Kristi has been offering just that. As the Founder and CEO, Kristi serves the Fort Worth community by offering private instruction for piano, voice, violin, guitar, bass, drums, ukulele, songwriting, and home recording nearby on Park Place Avenue. Her team is known for fostering “an environment that promotes music literacy, creativity, freedom of expression, and sound technique creating enriched musicianship through student-led customization” for all ages.

Like all small businesses in Fort Worth amidst the current COVID environment, Kristi has had to adjust accordingly. As quickly as Stay-At-Home orders were announced, she shifted her in-person classes online. She spent her time on social media encouraging parents to not only keep their children safe, but to use this time of insecurity and uncertainty at home to lead by example. With her students moved online, Kristi decided to remodel the studio and currently Music Junkie Studios is open for both in-person and online lessons for students little to big.

When asked what she loves most about Fort Worth, Kristi gushed, “I’ve got to say the sweet members of the community living, working, and contributing to life in and around the Near Southside area is my absolute favorite part,” she said, “I have been immeasurably blessed to know and live in close community with such amazing human beings. I know we have each other’s back and that is a priceless and rare gift to find.”

Her impact as a businesswoman in Fort Worth could be wrapped up as “adaptable.” She is genuinely interested in offering this city the music services it needs through every season; and in order to do that, she’s “put my ear to the ground and listened.” I’ve pivoted in my policies, offerings, and enrollment methods over and over in my business in order to best accommodate the needs expressed by our community and I honestly believe that’s played a huge part in our ongoing success,” Kristi said.  

To get involved in the exciting things Kristi has going on at MJS, you can check out the info page on their website at musicjunkiestudios.com/info/. Music Junkie Studio offers courses like “General Music”, but their most popular course offering is “Audition Prep,” which many enroll in order to prepare for auditions into Fine Arts schools like FWAFA or TeSA.

 You can contact the studio by filling out the form here musicjunkiestudios.com/contact/ or by calling our front desk, (817) 919-0761, to learn about their offerings and speak to someone about how we can work to accommodate your specific needs.