Infinity Visual and Performing Arts welcomed two new instructors recently: Chris Cotter and Diane Barton.
Cotter is originally from the Jamestown area. From 1985 to 1991, he studied privately, learning rock, blues, and jazz styles as well as theory, sight reading, and improvisation. In 1989 he began studies in music composition and education at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
In 1994 Cotter moved to Charlotte, N.C., where he worked in stage production until 1996, when he began his studies and apprenticeship in lutherie, the art and science of guitar making. In 1997, he opened Chris Cotter Custom Guitarworks, a full-service guitar shop specializing in vintage guitar restoration, repair and custom design. Cotter remains active in the field of lutherie.
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Chris Cotter
He has played in several performing and recording projects and now brings 27 years of experience on the guitar to offer complete professional guitar tutoring to students of all levels.
Barton was raised in Tennessee and started her career in Nashville, where she sang professionally in the country and gospel field. She joined a national tour to sing for Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Va., as a performer and singer in the country and Italian shows. She received her Bachelor of Music in voice performance at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va., and maintained a private voice studio there for more than 12 years.
Barton has performed throughout the United States and Europe. She has performed the title roles in several operas and has had the opportunity to work with leading conductors and singers from The Rome Festival in Rome, Italy, Operesque Opera in New York City, Amici Opera in Philadelphia, Virginia Opera, Lyric Opera of Virginia and Opera in the Heights in Houston.
She was selected as an emerging artist for The Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Wagnerian Program in Washington, D.C. and received the Meistersinger Award from The National Wagner Society of Washington, D.C.
Barton recently moved to Frewsburg with her family and is enjoying her new home.
She enjoys working with children and adults and teaching all styles of music to her students.
Both Cotter and Barton are currently accepting new students at Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Inc.
Infinity is an after-school music and arts education program that offers various art, dance and theater classes throughout the year and music lessons in voice, guitar, piano, bass guitar, drums, hand drums, steel drums, saxophone, flute, and violin.