Dr. Paul Wirth – Artistic Director
Dr. Paul Wirth is a prominent figure in our national piano teaching community. With his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Temple University, and his Master and Doctorate degrees in Piano Performance from Indiana University, he co-founded and is now the Artistic Director of the Wirth Center for the Performing Arts in St. Cloud, MN, a bustling performing arts center with 300 students taught by a faculty of twenty. He has also been on the faculty of the University of Northwestern, MN as Artist in Residence. Chosen as the 2004-05 Teacher of the Year by Thursday Musical, and inducted into the Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame, Dr. Wirth has taught numerous first prize-winning students of regional, national and international competitions – with thirty-eight of his pre-college students having performed over eighty solo performances with orchestra, including appearances with the Minnesota and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestras. In addition to his presentations at conventions and conferences, Dr. Wirth’s GRAVI-DVD – a cutting edge DVD on teaching piano technique to children – is available on Youtube, with the long awaited Gravi-DVD II now being distributed everywhere. His masterclasses, most recently at the Suzuki Music School of Westport Connecticut, the Northern Ohio Music Teachers Association, and the Minnesota Music Teachers Association 2019 Convention are always well received, and his presentations, drawing upon 38 years as a pre-college specialist teaching advanced concepts to 4 -18 year olds, often elicit further engagements. This past January, he was featured in a guest artist tutorial on the wildly popular ProPractice YouTube channel of Dr. Josh Wright. Wirth is also an avid supporter of young performers, having co-founded the Salon se Lève concert series in Minneapolis and the internationally recognized Young Artist Piano Camp, summers in Minnesota. Wirth devotes his time to teaching young artists, presenting at conventions, conferences and piano teacher organizations, giving masterclasses, teaching teachers, publishing pedagogical materials, and practicing! Dr. Wirth maintains three studios: at the Wirth Center for the Performing Arts in St. Cloud, MN, at the Schmitt Music Center in Brooklyn Center, MN, and at his home in St. Joseph, MN where he lives with his wife and greatest support, Kathy.
James Newman – Executive Director
James Newman is the Executive Director at the Wirth Center. Since completing his MBA from St. Cloud State University in 2010, James has held positions at the SCSU School of Education, Wolters Kluwer Financial, and Coldspring Granite. Most recently, James was involved in the startup and launch of Lakeside Health Services. He has been a board member for the Children’s Day Montessori since 2014 and served as treasurer since 2015. Outside of work, James enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah, daughter Willa, and son Aksel. As a family, they love to travel, spend time on the water, or play with their two large dogs.
Libby Bell – Assistant Director
Libby is a Wirth Center Alumni and former piano student of Dr. Paul Wirth. She is passionate about all students having access to arts education and is thrilled to be helping the Wirth Center grow. She enjoys promoting WCPA through photography, video, & marketing. Outside of the Wirth Center, Libby most enjoys spending time with her 3 kids and husband, reading, being outdoors, and a good cup of coffee.