Melissa Surman
Melissa Surman is a Kodály-certified music educator with a deep passion for fostering joyful music literacy in children. As the owner and instructor at Gloria Music Studio, she offers private and group piano lessons, as well as singing classes, designed to inspire students of all ages through engaging, developmentally appropriate instruction.
A lifelong musician, Melissa began her musical journey at the age of five and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music, summa cum laude, from the College of Mount Saint Joseph, with emphases in both voice and piano. She serves as the Music Director at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she leads liturgical music and supports a vibrant parish music program, and is also a pianist and choir director for Delhi Hills Baptist Church in Cincinnati.
Melissa is also a conductor with the Cincinnati Youth Choir, where she directs Vivo Coro and will be serving as Vivo Coro administrator and Piccolo Coro conductor, helping to nurture musical growth and community for young singers.
In 2019, Melissa self- published The Joyful Grammar of Music, a curriculum for home and private school instruction that introduces music literacy through singing, games, and discovery-based learning. Her Kodály certification from the Chenaniah Summer Music Institute has shaped her philosophy that the human voice is the first instrument, and that joyful, playful engagement is the best pathway to musical understanding.
At Gloria Music Studio, Melissa fosters an environment where students can develop confidence, musical skill, and a lifelong love of music through meaningful performance experiences and a fun, inclusive learning atmosphere.