• Kaitlyn Nagy, ITA student 2015-2025 (graduate) (Theater, Piano, Etiquette, Personal Development)

 I’ve had the privilege of volunteering at the International Talent Academy (ITA) for the past few years. ITA is a Fine Arts Academy that teaches music and theatre classes in hopes of increasing the confidence of young children. I attended many classes when I was little and as I got older wanted to remain a part of the ITA community because I love working with the Academy director, Mrs. Tatyana. My time with ITA has made me feel like a valuable contributor and  I have learned leadership, resilience, discipline, and passion. I have also had a lot of fun helping and watching the children perform!

Tatyana has been my piano teacher since I was 6 years old. She has always believed in me and finds ways to challenge and develop me. I love learning piano, but around 7th grade, I started to get very nervous before my recitals and competitions.  I thought this meant I needed to quit piano, however, Tatyana had me continue with my lessons, and rather than perform at the recitals, she asked me to host them. Since then, I have been the MC for all spring and winter recitals, welcoming guests and announcing the performers as they go on stage.  I am also the videographer for her international piano competitions. I am grateful that she did not give up on me but rather found another way for me to contribute.  

I also serve as Tatyana’s assistant director for ITA’s Spring and Winter musicals. In this role, I attend rehearsals each week and help teach the children to memorize their lines and practice their acting and singing skills.  I love watching their confidence and skills grow throughout the session. Often they feel nervous like I used to feel, so I try to calm them down and encourage them to enjoy sharing what they have learned. I usually have a few speaking parts in the musicals too which is always fun!  

Being a part of the ITA community has allowed me to help others and also grow as a person. I am proud of my contributions to this organization and now that I am older, I realize the true significance of Tatyana’s commitment to her students. I admire all the hard work she puts into running ITA and the extra work she puts into making her students feel welcome and valued. I have learned a lot of important skills from her which I will carry through life. When I move to Boston, I hope to find a community where I can contribute and feel as supported as I did at ITA. Hopefully, it’s an opportunity to work with smaller children again because they are so humorous and I love helping them! 

• Sarah T. (mother of an 6 year old girl – Musical Theater)

This was my daughter’s 1st class of any kind. She is homeschooled and has high functioning autism, ADHD, generalized anxiety, and dyslexia. I had no clue how much this class (Musical Theater) would change her life!!! She went in shy and unsure. Opened up and blossomed within the 1st two classes! She loves to sing and thought she would give a solo a shot for the play. We started off with just singing in front of the teacher, then she had her try in front of a few of the other kids. 

The support and encouragement that is taught in this class is something she’ll never forget. By the time it was time to act and sing on the stage, she had an anxiety attack. The kids all came in to love and support her. She got up there and nailed it!! Even improvised! (Something Tatyana taught them to do). She sang her little heart out for the solo and the applause gave her a smile! I’ll never forget that she told me she wanted to cry from the pride when people clapped. She went in afraid and unsure and came out strong, confident, positive, and made friends and a theatre family for life! Can’t wait to go back! It’s all she talks about! Thank you so much to ITA you truly made a world of a difference in my daughter’s life!

• Rao X. (mother of an 11 year old – Public Speaking)

I highly recommend Tatyana’s Public Speaking course. I have a super shy girl who is usually quiet in the public. I wanted to help her build up more confidence and registered the course. It indeed worked! In each class, Tatyana taught some skills about speech, such as design hooks to attract audiences and how to manage the stress, and helped kids to prepare one part of their speech. At the end of the course, each kids gave their speech to the whole class and the invited parents. I was so impressed by how well they prepared and presented the speech. I was also surprised by my daughter, how well she can speech! She was super excited after she got so many compliments. I am so proud of her too. Tatyana taught more than just public speech, which the kids could benefit in their whole life. 

• Kaleigh Calisto. (mother of Ellis, 6 yo – Musical Theater & Theater Ensemble)

Ellis was lucky enough to receive a scholarship and be a part of the performance in the International Talent Academy’s “The Magic of Christmas Spirit” and through the practices and support she received, she transformed from a shy, scared six-year-old to a confident, LOUD, and brave actress. Leading up to the big show Ellis’ anxiety was in overdrive, but with the support of her fellow castmates and their director, Ellis braved her fears and found her own kind of magic. She found the magic of theater. She found the magic of embodying the person you wish to be, a brave and confident girl, I mean elf, that grows and helps save the Christmas season.

This toe-dip into theater gave Ellis more than I could ever have imagined. It has armed her with skills she can use across all aspects of life, and it has breathed a passion for the arts into my daughter. Watching her perform so bravely and receive the “most improved actor” award, was a core-memory for both of us. It was truly the magic of childhood being played out on stage and I am so grateful Ellis was able to be a part of it.

• Samantha W. (grandmother of 2 kids – Musical Theater, Public Speaking, Etiquette)

ITA has great programming for kids of all ages! My granddaughter (12) and grandson (8) were both so shy. Tatyana is so kind, understanding, knowledgeable, and patient with children. The kids did several Theater shows and had so much fun! They have also taken the Public Speaking and the Etiquette classes, which helped them enhance their social skills and confidence. We love ITA, I highly recommend them!

• Kristina W. (mother of 7 year old – Etiquette)

My 1st grade daughter just loved the Etiquette class! Especially the tea party at the end. The teachers were very kind and helpful with corrections. I especially liked how they started off at the beginning, saying hello WITH eye contact. I recommend this specific program and the Talent Academy as a whole 100%! We start the Musical Theater class soon! 

• Kristina M. (mother of 3 kids – Musical Theater, Public Speaking, Etiquette)

The International Talent Academy is such a great benefit for our family! Without the gift of a scholarship our family would not be able to afford any classes.  The International Talent Academy has come along side my kids to help them grow their social and public speaking skills as well as strengthen their acting dreams. My children are gaining lots of life experiences that I could not be able to do without their help!  We are only one family, of MANY, that The International Talent Academy has been able to bless because they have scholarships available.

• Candice W. (mother of twins – Musical Theater)

I have very expressive twins who wanted to join a theater program. Finding one in Hamilton County for 5yr olds has been extremely difficult. We found a one day International Talent Academy workshop for 5 year olds advertised through the Carmel Parks Department and were so glad it led us to Tatyana. My children loved it so much they couldn’t wait to sign up for a show. We just completed our first production and my husband, and I are amazed at the confidence both girls gained. I recommend this program to anyone who has little ones aspiring to get away from their screens and try something new. 

• Liza F. (12-year old Public Speaking student)

Hello, my name is Liza and today I will be talking about how public speaking benefited me and why you should join this class! You should join public speaking because you will learn how to speak louder, what to do before a speech, like tongue twisters, face exercises, relaxation methods, and your posture. We all have to admit that we have always ended a speech with “so…yeah”. In this class, you will learn how to make a good, strong speech. Sometimes, I want to say, “for my presentation today,

I’ll be reading the PowerPoint slides word for word.” In this public speaking class you also learn how to make slides and what to put on your slides. You should join this public speaking class because it will help you with school presentations and other presentations in the future!

• Pam G. (mother of 6 y.o girl – Musical Theater)

My daughter has participated in two plays through International Talent Academy and loves it!! All the kids get plenty of speaking parts, regardless of their age. My daughter also loved that she got to help determine what the play was about, what character in the play she wanted to be, and what her characters name was. Great program that I would recommend for any kiddos interested in acting!

• Katherine N. (Mother of 3 kids, 10, 9, 4 years old. ITA students since 2016 – Musical Theater, Public Speaking, Etiquette, piano, etc)

My three children have participated in programs at ITA for the last 4 years. The programs are challenging and the teachers are very supportive making for a wonderful environment for children to surpass their own expectations. My two older children have taken private piano and music theory from Mrs.Tatyana and I have been so impressed with their performance progress and music theory & history knowledge.  They are performing at a higher level than many of their peers due to the programing at ITA. 

My youngest has participated in music, reading Toddler Fundamentals and I have always been very happy with the classroom content and how much fun my daughter had learning her letters, numbers, early music concepts and manners.  We also have participated in musical theatre & etiquette classes which are unique and very important!  My husband and I contribute personally to support the wonderful and unique programming provided at ITA and will continue to do so.  Our children have broadened their minds, met knew international friends, learned discipline & appropriate behavior, improved confidence and  stage presence & have incredible music knowledge all while having lots of fun!

• Carlo R. (13-year old Public Speaking student)

During my time in this class, I have been affected a lot by it including when gaining confidence, learning exercises like tong twisters, sirens and making weird faces to loosen up your face. We also learned many aspects of how to present like eye contact, good posture, hand motions and so much more. Overall, I truly suggest that you go to this class. Its soo FUN!!

• Sophia R. (9-year old Public Speaking student)

Public speaking is an amazing experience and it benefited me so much especially when it comes to homework presentations, speeches, work presentations, persuasive writing, ect.! I also think that the exercises really help, and they are so fun! I also got to meet new people and learn a lot of cool new facts! Overall, I suggest that you should take this class!

• Ellen V. (Student of Tatyana for 10 years – Musical Theater, music)

Tatyana Komarova is the first and remains the best teacher that I have ever had. She taught me theater and music from the ages of 4-14. Due to being taught by Tatyana at a young age, she instilled confidence within me that continues to carry on into my college and professional life today. Her multilingualism and multicultural background allows her to connect with her students by having a unique perspective. Her high expectations taught my fellow students and me to set high goals and to achieve them. As a child, I was doing full-length plays and musicals directed by Tatyana. As a result, I developed comfort with public speaking, which has benefitted me incredibly. Tatyana taught me how to be mindful and thoughtful. 

My experiences in Tatyana’s classes continue to be my favorite childhood memories. I was fortunate enough to work with Tatyana during the inception of the International Talent Academy. Her ability to teach students and share her passion for the arts is unparalleled. I was able to teach alongside her and fully experience her teaching from the perspective of a colleague. She shapes young minds to appreciate the importance of arts and thus creates a holistic point of view of the world within the students. Not only did she prepare me to perform on the stage, but she prepared me to excel in the world stage. I consider myself very lucky to call Tatyana a friend. I carry the lessons she taught me every day. She embodies the Youth Inspire Award with her determination, enthusiasm for learning and teaching, creativity, and ability to identify with and inspire any and all individuals.

• Christina S. (mother of 2 boys, 5 and 6 year old – piano)

Tatyana Komarova has been giving both of my sons, ages 5 and 6, piano lessons for little over a year. Besides being introduced to the gift of music, she has inspired them to work hard and practice. She has been able to instill in them the importance of daily practice in their quest to learn to play songs on the piano. It is a process for sure! Her motto, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” are words to live by. If they learn nothing else, let that lesson lead them through life. Ms. Komarova’s determination and dedication to the education of music is inspiring in itself. How she is able to motivate my sons is near a miracle and quite inspiring to watch!

• Katerina F. (Tatyana’s daughter – ALL ITA programs)

My mom has been an incredible inspiration to me. When I was just 2 years old, she founded the International Talent Academy (ITA) to provide me with a wealth of opportunities to learn and grow. Through ITA, I participated in many valuable programs and classes that I deeply appreciate. My mom personally taught me music, dance, etiquette, theater, singing, public speaking, Russian, and much more. Initially, I was very shy, but thanks to her guidance, I’ve gained confidence and presentation skills that will be invaluable in the future.

These programs have had a profound impact on my life. I now apply the knowledge and skills I’ve gained not only in high school but also in my professional life. Beyond academic lessons, my mom pushed me to always strive for excellence and reach my full potential. She has also instilled in me important life skills, and I’m currently working on improving my organizational and time management abilities. I owe so much of my growth and potential to my wonderful mom!

• Wendy and Jeremy R. (Parents of 3 kids – Train The Brain program (reading/writing/math/logic, theater, music, etiquette, public speaking))

We care about our children’s education and are firm believers the only way to achieve high-level thinking is to teach them at a young age. We found that Miss Tatyana shares those same values. We have known Miss Tatyana now for a couple years and she has been a big part of our children’s growth and development.

• Ada Y. (Mother of a 4 year old girl – Train The Brain program (reading/writing/math/logic, theater, music, etiquette, public speaking)

Prudence has been taking classes from Ms. Tatyana for over a year. During this year, Prudence has learned not only how to write, read, do math, and play piano but also how to play well with other kids. Ms. Tatyana makes learning fun, easy, and encouraging. Prudence is only 4 and she can do first-grade math and second-grade reading. E-mail on 02/07/ “Hi, Tatyana, I want to share the great progress with you and also thank you for being part of Prudence’s healthy and happy growth as you have taught her and guided her for over a year! She is doing so well at school and at home – most importantly, she is super happy!”

I now can comfortably say that she is a fast learner who is full of curiosity with very long attention spans. She now thinks Math is easy and her latest favorite is to find out what “x” is when x plus another number equals to 10. She has recently started to enjoy spelling words as she realizes she can put the words she knows together to make “stories” (actually they are simple sentences). Her new hobby now is to write lots of simple sentences, cut them out by scissors, and then tap them on the wall. Putting words together is her new fun game! Learning is fun for her and I will continue to support that.

• Lemita S. (Mother of 3-year-old Benjamin – Train the Brain program)

After living in New York City for almost ten years, I was envious of the young people who at the tender age of four and five could use chopsticks, eat at elegant restaurants with poise and interact with adults as easily as their own peers. ‘How did these little human beings do it?’ They were walking, talking, tiny adults and to be quite frank, not only was I envious, I was determined to give my kids that upper edge too.

When our family moved to Westfield, Indiana, a few years ago, I wanted the best of both worlds, a great place for my kids to grow, as well as the educational tools to not only give them an edge in Indiana and New York City but the World. I knew instilling concepts in a child was important at an early age, and similar to good schools, good music, I knew the earlier you introduced them, the more likely they would adapt. Therefore, the International Talent Academy caught my eye at first glance.

My three-year-old son Benjamin is an extremely jubilant little boy. He enjoys meeting new people and trying new things. My challenge as a parent was to find a place that would be amenable to his needs at such a young age while having fun. He started with the Language Enrichment program, which let him be with kids age three to five. These young minds put words together, created a story and presented a play for their parents. I was quite proud to attend his first play at only age 3! Benjamin asked to do more, so, I enrolled him in Logic class. When I arrived to pick him up one evening after class, he extended his hand to shake my hand, looked me in the eye, and said “Good Evening, Mommy. How are you?” Such a pleasant evening gesture prompted me to take him to dinner right then and there!

Benjamin continues to take classes with The International Talent Academy. He’s having a fabulous experience, writing his letters, and putting letters together to make words, while at the same time learning life skills.
Feeling comfortable among peers, among adults in a variety of situations is a learned behavior for some children and I realize this takes time but I am glad that Benjamin has a jump start with these programs. It’s never too early to equip him with tools for success as he grows. I look forward to him continuing a variety of classes at The International Talent Academy, because regardless of if we live a small town or a big city, one constant that is guaranteed, is proper etiquette is always in style.

• Angie M. (Mother of Presley, 5-year-old – piano)

Presley was two and a half when Ms. Tatyana accepted her early into the piano program. Presley loved the performing arts at an early age and so I thought we would give the trial lesson a try. I was thrilled when she enjoyed the lesson. Now that she is five we have continued piano and branched out to show choir and theater. These are her favorite things to do and I believe she has improved her math and writing skills because of the early lessons. Ms. Tatyana had her holding a pencil, clapping rhythms and learning keys, notes and sounds early on. I learned that my child could do much more than I had ever expected and the sense of accomplishment she felt was heartwarming. When Ms. Tatyana brought an expert on early childhood learning to town I was THERE. It was fascinating what children can do and enjoy doing. And how easy it is to find a teachable moment!

• Adilet-Sultan M. (Father of a 7-year-old – piano, music, theater, etiquette, etc)

Our daughter Aksedep has had a very positive and enriching experience with ITA. Since she was 3 years old, she was involved in and enjoyed many of the ITA great programs: piano lessons, logic games, Etiquette, Music for Little Mozarts, Show Choir, and Stage Adventures. Aksedep had a lot of fun, made new friends, and was able to test her interests and talents. ITA has helped her develop her special talent in music. Most recently, she won an Honorable Mention award at the Young Performer’s Showcase sponsored by Piano Solutions. We are very thankful to ITA for the excellent high-level child development and talent development programs it offers to our children!

• Mrs. Sherry K. (Mother of 5-year-old twins – piano)

International Talent Academy is one of the few Performing Arts Schools that allow children to begin piano lessons at the age of three. Our twins, Luke and Sophia, have been taking piano lessons for two years at International Talent Academy. They are currently able to read, play, and memorize music at the age of five! Ms. Tatyana Komarova, executive director, and her staff are committed to programs that enhance early brain development in children. It has been amazing to see the impact ITA has had on our children! They truly are a loving, supportive, and dedicated staff who clearly loves teaching children.

•  Julia J. B., Owner. Primrose School at WestClay and Bridgewater

The Primrose School at WestClay and Brigewater has had a strong relationship with the International Talent Academy for several years. This relationship has continued to grow due to the positive impact the program has had on our students. Parents are happy to have their children receiving quality piano lessons while at preschool and are even more pleased with the results. The piano teachers have always been dedicated and educationally appropriate for preschool students. It is our hope that we can continue to offer this program to our families through the International Talent Academy.

•  Ingrid (Mother – Etiquette and Personal development)

“ITA’s American Girl program has been an incredible experience for my daughter and I feel so fortunate that such an opportunity is available. The content of the program is unlike any class available elsewhere, teaching the girls excellent core values, how to make good choices in day to day situations and how to treat themselves and others with respect. My daughter came home from every class having learned something very valuable in everyday life and feeling so good inside. The instructor, Miss Joni, has an ability with young girls like no other and my daughter looks forward to more classes in the future.”

•  Lulu W. (Mother of Jewel W (8 yo) – piano)

We chose Tatyana Komarova of ITA as our then 6-year-old daughter’s piano teacher after carefully interviewed 2 other piano teachers. The main reason is that unlike other piano teachers, who teaches piano only, she also teaches children music and the love of music through piano. In addition to piano, my child is learning about composers, music history and music appreciation. Ms. Tatyana is a very serious piano teacher. She has high standards for students yet she is careful not to bore them or scare them to lose interest. Our society surrounds our children with endless blind compliments. Ms. Tatyana is not afraid to give an honest opinion and to constantly push students to do better. My daughter learned how to work hard, how not to give up and most importantly, the joy of accomplishing a challenge. Now, at age 8, she sets her alarm and gets up early every morning to practice piano on her own and has been asking us to let her pick up a second instrument.

• Jamie (Mother of Emma (6-year-old). – Etiquette.

Emma loved learning the proper way to conduct herself at meals. She taught the rest of the family about “crumb catchers” and how to hold a cracker while eating. I was so impressed by what she learned from the class that I wanted to take the class for myself! We returned to the class simply as a refresher. I think there is a benefit to periodically revisiting these types of lessons.
– I am not sure what was different about today’s class, but Emma came home excited about what she had learned! She surprised us by setting the table, complete with bread plates, and dessert and salad forks.
– One more follow up: I was thrilled to hear Emma at dinner last night telling me about how nice it is to send a thank you note for a present, that it is polite to keep your other arm on your lap while eating, and how to wipe her mouth with the napkin. She is implementing the skills being taught in the class in a meaningful way. Thanks again for the excellent programming!

•  Lili (Cody’s mom). Etiquette.

My son really enjoys the Etiquette kingdom program at the Monon center. The staff is nice and the way she teaches is very attractive to my son. (Food and games! Not just lecture). My son learned a lot from the program, like how to use fork and knife at the table, talking politely on the phone, eye contacts when talking to people… The program really changed my son’s daily life. I really appreciate it