Across nearly four decades of dedication to her craft and her students, Michelle Allen McIntire has established a distinguished career in music education and performance. She opened her own company, McIntire Studios LLC, in 1997. Since then, Ms. McIntire has guided students in their musical journeys, emphasizing achievement and mastery while helping them bring music to life and communicate its meaning to audiences. She has become widely recognized for her expertise in fostering high levels of artistry among her students.
Concurrently with her work at McIntire Studios, in 2012, Ms. McIntire held the position of director of choirs at Ward Parkway Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Missouri, where she led choral ensembles and the church’s vibrant musical programming. She also spent a year teaching kindergarten and first-grade general music at Académie Lafayette.
Ms. McIntire also flourished as the artistic director for several prominent organizations affiliated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City, including Canta Filia and the Kansas City Children’s Choir. She was the artistic director for the GALA Choruses Youth Member Choir as part of PerformOUTKC, where she championed LGBTQ+ youth engagement in choral music. As director of music at St. Teresa’s Academy, Ms. McIntire shaped the school’s music curriculum. Earlier in her career, she spent time as artistic director of Crescendo: The Tampa Bay Women’s Choir, leading the ensemble through numerous successful performances.
Throughout her professional journey, Ms. McIntire has performed extensively in concerts and on stages across Missouri and upstate New York. She has been a music director and keyboard player for high school and community musical theater productions, collaborating with organizations such as City Theatre of Independence, The Barn Players Community Theatre and Summit Theatre Group.
During a major turning point in her life, Ms. McIntire suffered a stroke in late 2019. As part of her recovery process, she had to relearn how to walk, play piano and sing. Driven by her love of music and care for her students, Ms. McIntire rebuilt those essential skills over five years. Hers is a powerfully inspiring story of resilience and an unyielding dedication to her love of musical performance.
Owning an impressive academic history, Ms. McIntire received a Bachelor of Music in voice from Florida Southern College followed by a Master of Music in choral conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She then earned a second Master of Music in voice performance from Ithaca College. Further, Ms. McIntire holds professional teaching certifications in music education for kindergarten through 12th grade in both Florida and Missouri.
Committed to ongoing professional development, Ms. McIntire maintains membership in the Rochester Piano Teachers Guild. Moreover, she is a former president of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Since 1993, Ms. McIntire has volunteered as a church choir director or musician in multiple congregations, including Methodist, Presbyterian, African Methodist Episcopal, Unitarian, Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopalian and Catholic churches, along with staying active in community projects.
Beyond the music, Ms. McIntire has been happily married to David D. McIntire since 1997 and is a proud mother to twins Owen and Lance. In her personal time, she enjoys reading and listening to audiobooks, is an avid fan of Terry Pratchett, and appreciates pysanky, a traditional Ukrainian method of decorating Easter eggs.