Straight Goes From Pageants To Pulpits

LITTLE ROCK — Stephanie Straight has never lacked for direction in her life.

Born and bred from deep Springdale roots - her family came to town in the 1930s and her parents have owned Straight’s Lawn & Garden since 1976 - the tiny blonde was gravitating toward every piano she saw from the time she could toddle.

“I never banged,” she remembered, chuckling. “And people noticed.”

By the age of 5, Straight was taking lessons with Anita Wagonor, then pianist for First Baptist Church in Springdale - “her fi ngers flew over the keys, and I wanted to play just like her; I was addicted!” - and at 13, she began studying with Dale Millen at the University of Arkansas. At 15, she began to compete in pageants with the stern guidance - and loving support - of the late DeanE Walker.

“I was at a very difficult age,” Straight recalled. “She helped to transform my life - gave me confidence in myself and in my abilities. I was blessed to hold two titles in the Miss America system, Miss Northwest 1989 and Miss University of Arkansas 1991. They both opened doors for me and gave me performance opportunities that I would not have had.”

While she worked hard for pageant gold, “music has always been my passion, and it is the way that I speak and reach out to others,” Straight said. “It has always been my desire to use my talents tobless and minister to others.”

To t h a t end, she began to teach piano 17 years ago, starting with seven students in her living room. Stephanie’s Musique opened in December 1994 and now has 160students and five instructors, including Straight.

“It is a place where a child finds acceptance along with being challenged to achieve,” she said.

Now, Straight wants to reach beyond her studio walls to share the gospel - and her life lessons - through music. In August, she spent two days recording at DigitalMaster Music studio in Nashville, Tenn., and her new CD, “We Bow Down,” has just become available. She already has her first booking, at a women’s conference March 9-10 at Lakeview Baptist Church in Cave Springs, where she’ll also speak on “the subject of beauty from the inside out,” she said.

“I do see churches as my primary venue, but in today’s world, with so much uncertainty, I feel this CD has a message for everyone,” she said. “We all have the same needs - peace and securityin the world we live in. This CD offers hope, encouragement and a path to a new life.”

More than once, Straight said, she’s had to find that road herself.

“I remember one of my teachers pointing out that some of the most successful people were those who faced the biggest challenges and who got back up and tried again until they reached their goals and potential,” she said. “Even though I have faced certain challenges in my life, I have always gotten back up, dusted myself off and started again.”

She was in that kind of recovery mode when the chance to record in Nashville came along.

“I have a friend, Dale Johnston, who is a gospel artist,” she said. Johnstonhas recorded extensively in Nashville and in 2011 won the Male Solo Artist at the Music City Gospel Showcase.

“He suggested to Frank Green of DigitalMaster(Music) that he listen to my first CD, ‘Sanctifi ed Refl ections,’ which was released in 2007,” Straight said. “Frank liked my talent and was eager to work with me, (and) I wanted to challenge myself to new heights.”

Straight recorded from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 9 - with no breaks, she pointed out - then finished the recording on Aug. 10.

“The experience was grueling, (but) after the recordingwas complete, I have never felt such a sense of accomplishment and achievement,” she said.

Green said he was intrigued by a gospel pianist who had spent time at the Juilliard School.

“Obviously, she could play,” he said. “I likened her to the big Christian piano player Dino Kartsonakis; she has that kind of style.

“But she’s also probably one of the easiest people I’veever worked with,” he added. “She takes direction well, and she understands music, so we could talk on musical terms. You can’t talk to Stephanie and not like her.”

Rex Grift n, pastor of First Baptist Church in Elkins, said he’s had the same experience working with her as church pianist over the past 2 1 /2 years - “never a day of tension or cross words.”

“Stephanie is one of the most positive people you’ll ever meet, and some people wonder if that can really be genuine,” he said. “It really is. She’s that way 24/7.

“She plays so beautifully, I don’t think people realize the amount of hard work and practice she puts in,” Grift n went on. “She is naturally talented, and it is a Godgiven gift, but she works very hard and is very thankful for the gift God has given her.”

Griftn has also been therewith Straight through that adversity she wants to put behind her.

“Trials push you away from God or closer to God,” he said. “With her job, everything is always on display when you’re hurt and you’re wounded. She doesn’t put up a false front, but at same time, she understands the Scripture that says count it all joy when you fall into trials.

“She’s never asked ‘Why, me?’ but ‘God, what can you teach me through this?’”

“I have been through valleys in my life and have come out on top due to the love of Jesus Christ,” Straight concluded. “I want to share that with others and let them know that no matter what life throws at them, if they have Jesus in their lives, they can and will come out on the other side a whole, complete and better person.”