Kori Barrentine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Thomas Edison State University and a Master of Arts and Teaching in Special Education from Georgia Southern University. As a student, Kori received outstanding performer and outstanding theorist honors from the Georgia Music Teachers’ Association. She also tied for first place in the Valley City State University Composer’s Competition.

Kori is joining the Academy of the Arts as a piano instructor beginning August 2024.

She has over 10 years of private piano teaching experience, encompassing students of many ages and abilities. She has also taught music in group preschool classes and summer camps.

Kori taught special education preschool for five years in the Georgia public school system, which allows her to blend an understanding of how students learn with musical knowledge to make music education accessible for all students. Additionally, Kori served as staff pianist at Liberty Baptist Church, Hartwell, GA, for 12 years, where she accompanied the church praise team, soloists, and instrumentalists, and served as assistant director and director of children’s musicals. She lives in Birmingham with her husband Josh.