Stephen M. Barnett
Stephen Matthew Barnett is a classically trained pianist and composer/songwriter who received his BA in Music Composition from Duke University, his MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is currently a member of ASCAP.
As an undergraduate, he studied under the tutelage of Stephen Jaffe and Scott Lindroth, and while pursuing his Master’s at NYU, his teachers included William Finn, Michael John LaChiusa and Mel Marvin. His thesis musical, Beautiful, received its Off-Broadway premiere as part of the New York International Fringe Festival, a production that starred David Anders, Rodney Hicks and Nikka Lanzarone.
An evening of Stephen’s work was showcased at the Triad Theatre, as ASTEP (Artists Struggling to End Poverty) launched its inaugural ArtCents Benefit Concert Series. With musical direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, the concert featured performances by Tituss Burgess, Joe Cassidy, Manoel Felciano, Elizabeth Stanley and Barbara Walsh. His music has also been featured at 54 Below.
Stephen has released three albums – Free Spirit, a collection of neo-classical piano works composed during his study at Duke; Beautiful, an original concept recording of his thesis musical; and Adultolescence, Vol. 1, the first installment from his chamber-pop art-song cycle. He is currently collaborating with bookwriter/lyricist Shannon Morrison on the cult rock musical, The Ascendants.