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Bel Canto Studios

Jeanie Carter never thought she would become so invested in the Barrington area when she began teaching there years ago—yet here she is—the owner and director of Bel Canto Studios on Park Avenue.

Although Carter started out working in the area part time, she found her business growing rapidly in Barrington. The community had really responded to the classes she was offering in voice and piano. “My classes just started taking off, so I decided to move down here,” she says.

At first Carter was concerned that she would not be able to find a good spot to open a studio that was still convenient for residents in the area. She says, “Then I found the perfect little place, and I was delighted that I could find something so affordable in the main area of Barrington.” Carter says that her location downtown and near the train is perfect for her business and convenient for her students. “It’s a great space, and I actually have students that come from as far as Wood Dale and Grayslake,” she says.

Although the studio started out with only voice and piano lessons, Carter has expanded her offerings as she observed the desire for additional classes within the community. Now one can also find things such as theatre and Kindermusik® on the schedule. She says that being able to update her classes based on the needs of the residents is something that is very important to her. “We always ask parents and older students for feedback, and we really listen to them,” she says. Carter remains excited about the fact that she can offer classes to a wide range of people and says, “The studio is really a place that people can ‘belong’ to, and we are able to offer music to whole families, which I really like.”

Things have taken off so fast for the studio that Carter is still catching her breath a bit, but she says that next on the list is deepening the relationships that she has begun with schools and businesses in the community. “I go to Chamber events and network there and am actively looking to be more involved,” she says. Carter has reached out to some of the teachers at area schools and is a fine arts booster at the high school. She has also volunteered as a judge for a speech tournament in Barrington and says, “Not only was it fun, but it’s a great way to give a little something back to the community.”

Her desire to give something back is genuine, as she says that the people in the Barrington area have really been supportive of her studio over the years. “The parents have been great and the businesses in town really help one another,” she says. Recitals for the studio are always packed, and Carter mentions that she gets a lot of referrals from other businesses in town.

Moving to the Barrington area has proved to be an easy transition for Jeanie Carter after all; even though it wasn’t what she was originally planning. “I never thought I’d leave the area I lived in before, but the tree-lined streets, rolling hills and beauty down here is so peaceful that it really won me over,” she says. Add that to the fact that her studio has done so well, and it seems safe to say that Bel Canto Studios is here to stay.

For more information about classes offered at Bel Canto Studios, please call 847-382-2560, or visit them on the Web at www.belcantostudios.com. The studio is located at 217 Park Avenue.