Jeannie has recently come full circle. She was born and raised in Minnesota then moved to New York City where she had a successful career as a singer/actor. She then lived in Chicago for many years where she continued to act and serve as an acting coach. Now she has returned to her roots in the Twin Cities and we’re so happy that she’s come back home!

Jeannie received a double major in Music and Theater from The Collect of St Benedict and a Master of Music degree in opera from Wichita State University. She was a professional singer/actor in NYC for many years, appearing on Broadway, in touring Broadway shows, in many regional productions and in television shows, as well.

She was also a Music Together teacher for ten of her years in NYC and when I emailed her former Music Together director, Deanna de Campos, who is now the Head of Teachers for Music Together Worldwide, Deanna said, “I was sorry to lose Jeannie. She has rock-solid music skills, is a great mover and had a strong following of devoted families while she was here. if she ever moved back to New York, I’d hire her again in a heartbeat.” It doesn’t get much better than that!

Jeannie teaches in St Paul location, Chaska, Edina and SW Minneapolis.

Hillary’s love of music began when she was a very young child, tagging along with her parents to the various concerts and ceilidhs* of the Twin Cities folk music community.  She’d sing any chance she’d get and grew up participating in many choirs and music camps.

She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin in 2011. In her college years, she spent her summers and weekends teaching parent/child music classes and science education as a naturalist.  She especially enjoyed teaching the youngest children, admiring their enthusiasm for learning.  

Hillary taught as an elementary music teacher for Spring Lake Park Schools from 2013-2019, before transitioning to staying at home with her children Oscar, Louis, and Myla.  After experiencing the Music Together classes with her own children, Hillary is excited to return to teaching music in such a fun and fulfilling environment.  

*a ceilidh is a social event at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling.

Hillary teaches evening classes in Stillwater and Circle Pines

Angela graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.M. in Music Education and has taught instrumental music in both public and private schools and music studios. She frequently brings in various musical instruments to class to play for the families. She has played French horn in the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Lake Wobegon Brass Band, Minneapolis Civic and the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra. She currently sings in the Edina Chorale and recorded a CD with them. She is involved in song leading at her church and serves as orchestra director for its church musical. Angela has reached the coveted "Level One Certification" which is a hard-earned accomplishment. She and her husband, Bill, enjoy scuba diving, outdoor concerts, cheering for the Green Bay Packers and spending time with family and friends. They have two musical children who are now adults, Adrienne and Alec. 

Angela teaches in Plymouth, Edina, Hopkins and St Louis Park

Laura Betinis Healy is thrilled to join the Music Together in the Valley team, having taught Music Together for the past several years in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Laura grew up in a musical family in Amherst Junction, Wisconsin. From singing rounds around the campfire, to Suzuki piano lessons, to learning four-part arrangements on car trips, music and singing have always been a part of her soul.

As an active soloist in the Boston area, she has been featured with the Oriana Consort, King’s Chapel Choir, and Cappella Clausura, with whom she recorded 'The Complete Vespers of Cozzolani', and appeared as Anima (“the soul”) in the staged Hildegard von Bingen opera 'Ordo Virtutum'. Laura has premiered her sister Abbie Betinis’s annual new Christmas carol on Minnesota Public Radio for the past 5 years so my have already heard her voice! In 2016, Laura appeared on the Minnesota Orchestra’s 'Inside the Classics' program, and in 2019, she performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as a member of Audivi, and also served as soprano section leader for the Kalamazoo Bach Festival Chorus.

A graduate of Ithaca College, Laura now lives in White Bear Lake with her husband, Anthony, and their 3-year-old daughter, Odessa, whose favorite thing to do is flip through the Music Together songbooks, tapping along and singing each song with gusto. Plus, the family has a brand new addition, baby Audra.

Laura is endlessly inspired by the Music Together curriculum and can’t wait to sing, move, dance, play and be silly with new families this year.

Laura teaches in Stillwater and White Bear Lake.

Linda Brasaemle is one of Music Together Worldwide’s master teachers. She has completed advanced education through Music Together, achieving both Level I and Level II Certification, becoming one of a select group of highly trained Music Together teachers honored for excellence in articulation of program philosophy, assessment of children's music development, and teaching mastery. In addition to teaching classes at a local level, Linda also works for Music Together Worldwide as a Teacher Trainer and Workshop Leader. This work has taken her around the globe, training teachers in several countries as well as throughout the U.S and Canada. She is now one of their featured online trainers.

As a veteran Music Together teacher, Linda loves her work with families, helping adults learn to play and facilitating community building through music. She finds joy in watching young children grow to fulfill their inborn potential to be music makers and is passionate about helping parents and caregivers learn how to support this growth.

Linda has played in bands, orchestras, and jazz groups throughout her high school and college years and discovered the joy of singing only later in life when she began participating in vocal ensembles and singing at church. Most recently, she has been seen leading worship and playing the guitar, bass, and percussion in a worship band at her church. Linda has a B.A. in Fitness, has several related certifications, and spent 15 years working for the YMCA as a personal trainer. She and her husband are passionate about their latest hobby: dog sports! They are looking forward to more dog sledding once they and their small pack of Huskies are settled in Duluth. More than anything in the world, Linda loves being a mom to two beautiful adult daughters.

Linda teaches in Duluth. She also teaches Rhythm Kids^® Online.

Myra J. Curry has been teaching Music Together since April 1999 and still loves it. In June 2004, Myra was awarded Music Together Teacher Certification Level I by the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ, which is quite an honor in the Music Together world. Besides teaching, Myra has an extensive background in Musical Theater and has performed professionally in Musical Theater shows for more than 20 years, touring nationally and internationally. In the Twin Cities area, audiences have seen Myra at the Guthrie, Mixed Blood, Ordway, and Children's Theaters. Myra also choreographs shows for local dance studios and community theaters. Myra became a Zumba instructor in 2012 and she loves being able to help others use dance as their exercise of choice. Myra and her husband, Sherman, have three sons: Sherman, III, Zacarias and Isaiah.

Myra teaches in North and Northeast Minneapolis.

My name is Tanya Eliason and I’m thrilled to be joining you in this Music Together journey! Music has been intertwined with my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I loved to listen and sing along with the songs my parents and grandparents taught me. We sang at home and at church; we sang in the car and every night before bed. I still cherish those songs and sing them often to my children.

At age six, I joined a children’s choir and also began taking piano lessons. At nine, I started the trumpet and flourished in the rich brass heritage at my church over the years, including many days and nights playing Christmas carols out at the Salvation Army kettle. Through high school, I continued to sing, take piano lessons, and play my trumpet in marching, concert, and jazz bands. It was no surprise to anyone that I chose to major in Music Education when I went off to college. It beautifully married my love of teaching children and my passion for music. As part of my music education training in college, I was able to explore and learn many different instruments, including the guitar. I had many opportunities to both teach and play music throughout college and in the years that followed—even as far away as China!  

I currently have three beautiful children who I’ve had the privilege of raising full time for nearly ten years now. Some of my sweetest memories of being a parent are singing to and with my children while rocking them or snuggling them before bed. Now that my youngest has started kindergarten and I have a little more time in my days, I’ve been asking myself what I’d like to do with it.

Last spring, I taught a five-session music class at my daughter’s preschool and it re-awakened and confirmed my joy in teaching music to little ones! I had heard of Music Together years ago from a friend and decided to explore it for myself. Joining this wonderful program and this wonderful group of people has further reinforced my desire to return to teaching. I’m so grateful to have found Music Together because I truly believe in its mission and purpose. Kids are my people and music is my heart, so I couldn’t think of a better place to be! 

Tanya teaches in New Brighton.

Nicole signed up for after-school choir in first grade and that was her first introduction to singing with a group. She discovered that it was not only fun but that she was good at it! She went on to perform in many productions throughout the Milwaukee theater scene and became known as “the little girl with the big voice.”

She considered pursuing a career in musical theater but decided to attend the University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point, and began working in early childhood education shortly after.  She was introduced to Music Together as a nanny and brought children to class for many years. At some point, she made the decision to combine her love of working with little ones with her love of singing and she took the Music Together teacher training—and found that she loved teaching classes as much as she loved participating in them.

Nicole stopped teaching when she had her own children (but brought them to Music Together classes, of course, and gave them their own private Music Together classes at home in the living room during the pandemic lock down) and is returning to teaching now that they are school age. When she’s not singing and dancing, you can find Nicole digging in her garden or crafting.  She lives in St. Louis Park with her two beautiful daughters, loving husband and assorted rescue dogs.

Nicole teaches in Edina

Music has always been a big part of Guthrie's life. He has loved listening to and sharing music with his parents and family and took piano lessons from the age of 5 into his college years. He also participated in choir, jazz band as a drummer, and musical theater up through high school. During those years, Guthrie also taught himself guitar, ukulele, bass, harmonica and a bit of saxophone. So these instruments may well make their way into his classes from time to time!

In college at Hamline University, Guthrie hosted an open mic night for singer/songwriters once a month. Often he would perform with others who didn't feel confident performing alone, as well as MC the events. He graduated from Hamline with a BA in Religious Studies. Since that time, he has performed with his brother in a band as well as performing at wedding ceremonies.

These days, Guthrie works as a wedding DJ on the weekends and is a full-time stay-at-home dad during the week for his 3 young children. He first became aware of Music Together when he started bringing his children to classes. Guthrie has known the value of sharing music his whole life, and is very excited to be a part of Music Together!

Guthrie teaches in Blaine, Lino Lakes and  Shoreview.

KT (she/they) is our first second generation Music Together teacher! Growing up in Connecticut, her Woodbury born and raised mother, Jane. was a Music Together teacher/director, and KT a frequent guest/assistant big kid in class. As a member of a large and distinctly musical extended family, K.T.'s childhood was filled with singing and dancing, as well as the Music Together repertoire and its philosophy.

KT first completed teacher's training in 2012, and then took it again in 2018 post graduation from Luther College. After teaching with East Bay Music Together in Oakland, CA for three joyful years, KT took time off in 2023 following the birth of her first children, twins Cam & Cass. Then in the fall of 2024, KT and her spouse, Branch, returned to his hometown of St. Louis Park, where KT is a stay-at-home mom, substitute special education aide, and freelance neurodiversity consultant. After taking a year to settle in and bring her own children to class with teacher Angela, KT is ready to sing and play with families from the position of teacher once more, and couldn't be more delighted to join this vibrant Twin Cities community of music makers!

Tibbe Luell was the owner and head teacher at Valley Dance and Fitness in Stillwater for many years which is where Clarice began Music Together in the Valley. Tibbe listened in on the classes the first semester and was so drawn by the irresistible music and the wonderful energy of the participants that she decided to go through the Music Together teacher training herself. She has taught ever since—nineteen years!—and has also completed her Level I Certification through the Music Together Worldwide which is a significant milestone for any Music Together teacher.

Her son, Trex, loves music, piano and drumming and Tibbe ties this directly to his music education in early childhood. She sees Music Together as a great beginning in the arts, an excellent foundation for future training in dance, instrumental and vocal music, as well as all other creative endeavors.

Tibbe recently resigned from her day job to be able to teach Music Together six days a week (she loves it that much!) and to work at Vera Fitness, the new studio she and her business partner have created. Tibbe’s specialty is working with individuals with special needs and seniors to bring more music and movement into their lives and to help them create a healthier, more joyful lifestyle. "I feel blessed every day that my jobs never feel like 'work'!"

Tibbe teaches in Shoreview, St Paul and Woodbury.

Robin’s father was a band director, her mother was a music teacher, and her sister (who is also a Music Together teacher!) played both the piano and the violin. So, music is and has always been a huge part of her life. Robin began piano lesson when she was quite young, added flute lessons a few years later, took up the autoharp as an adult, and recently took on the challenge of the ukulele—and is proud to announce that she already knows three chords!

Robin’s husband plays the trombone, as does her daughter, Maeve. Her son, Miles, is the singer in the family, and her dog, Otto, howls along with them all.

Robin has a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota. She conducts the Cherub Choir at her church, teaches at her church’s music and drama camp each summer, and does the music portion of the weekly Parents’ Day Out that the church sponsors. Robin also serves as a worship arts leader at her church. One of Robin’s passions is children’s books and she has an extensive collection. She also thrives on gardening and being outdoors. And she LOVES teaching Music Together.

Robin teaches in Lakeville. 

Kari has B.A. Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, and a second B.A. in Vocal Music Education from Mankato State University and she taught music in the public elementary school system for fifteen years before discovering Music Together.  

Kari was first exposed to Music Together as a parent when she brought her then 6-month-old daughter to a class. Kari was struck by the excellent quality of the program and by the joy that Music Together brought to her family. So, she completed the Music Together training and decided to make teaching Music Together classes her career. She is delighted to be able to share the joy of music with other families.

Director's note: Kari has completed Certification Level I which is a major milestone for Music Together teachers. Congratulations Kari!

Kari teaches in Apple Valley, Prior Lake and Savage.

Music has led Bethany through life and around the world. It all started with 4-part rounds in the car as a child, and continued with nine years of piano, voice lessons, choir tours in Ireland and Tanzania, and singing professionally in choirs and as a church soloist. If not for MN All-State Choir, Bethany would have a very different life, since it was there that she decided to become a music educator and where she met her husband.

Bethany has a BA in Music Education and taught elementary music for 5 years before starting her family. Through her graduate work at Temple University in vocal performance, Bethany also has experience teaching voice lessons. Her passion, however, lies with making music with young ones and believes that the best way to learn and love music is through play and loads of FUN! Since the birth of her four children, Bethany is drawn more than ever to teaching music to little ones and finds each stage of their music development even more awe-inspiring than ever. Bethany is excited to witness magical musical moments with you through Music Together.

Bethany earned the coveted Level I Music Together Certification in 2019 which involves a rigorous process and is quite an achievement that certifies that she meets the highest standards set for a Music Together teacher.

Bethany teaches in Eden Prairie.

Maggie has been immersed in music from infancy. Her mother tells stories of dancing with her as a baby to drum music and singing to her for hours. Maggie has clear memories of dancing wildly to all types of music as a very young child and singing along at the top of her lungs. Music was her joy and her mode of self expression. She went on to take ballet classes for twelve years, piano lessons for fourteen years, to study a variety of dance forms and physical theatre in college, and to graduate with a BFA in Acting.

Maggie was introduced to Music Together when she was a nanny and ended up coming to classes for almost three years. She had such a wonderful experience in class with her nanny child that she decided to explore the possibility of teaching Music Together herself and we're so glad that she did! It’s turned out to be the perfect fit for her passion for music and movement and for her commitment to building community through the arts.

Maggie knows that music has the capacity to bring people together and believes strongly that everyone deserves the opportunity to express themselves musically, no matter their skill level. She has been moved in class to see children's innate abilities blossom and loves that the Music Together program meets each child where they are developmentally and supports their journey on the way to basic music competence, the ability to sing in tune and move and sing with rhythmic accuracy.

Maggie loves the outdoors and just spent the summer leading multi-day wilderness trips in Wyoming. These days Maggie is active in the local theatre scene and is busy writing stories for children’s books. 

Maggie teaches in Little Canada and St Paul

Jackie has been teaching the Music Together program since 1999. However, if you ask her directly, Jackie might say she has actually been “LEARNING" about music from children since 1999.  Jackie has a degree in Theatre Arts from St. Mary’s University.  Locally, Jackie has been on stage at The Brave New Workshop, Mystery Café Theatre, and Small Change Original Theatre. Jackie brings her dramatic flair and creative sense of fun to every class experience. She says she loves her job because of stories like the one told in this note from a mom in one of her classes. “Thank you for three wonderful years of music classes. I can tell the effect they’ve had on my son. I’ve now got a kid who is proud of himself and not afraid to sing all the words at his preschool sing-a-long. You’ve also helped me to lose my own inhibitions about singing with other people. And you helped me to not pass that fear on to my child. Thank You!” Jackie and her husband, Dean, have 3 adult children–Otto, Gabrielle, and Owen.

Jackie teaches in Edina, Golden Valley, and Maple Grove.

Clarice Wilson, center director and teacher for the past nineteen years, has a Ph.D. in Community Development from the University of Minnesota and sees Music Together as an ideal vehicle for building strong communities. Music Together is her third career, started after first teaching at the U of M for many years then doing hands-on community development in a village in rural India where she helped the local women start a preschool and a high school for girls. It was teaching songs to the children in the village preschool that started Clarice on the path toward Music Together. She discovered that for her, the combination of music and children is irresistible.

Clarice remembers the annual family road trips when she was growing up as one long sing-along featuring the world's longest versions of She's Been Comin' Round the Mountain, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and I've Been Workin' on the Railroad. In addition to living in a household where music was a part of everyday life, Clarice sang in a children's choir from the age of three and continued in choirs until she completed her undergraduate degree. Then for years, she lost track of singing with a group and didn't return to it until her days in the village preschool when she realized how much she'd missed it. These days, Clarice sings with the North Celebrarion Choir, the Capril Glee Choir and the Mill City Singers, all gospel choirs. She is loving learning how to sing in this rich tradition.

Clarice taught violin in her own studio, Stillwater Suzuki Strings, for many years. She found that teaching violin to children who experienced Music Together classes in early childhood was pure joy because they had such a solid foundation on which to build; music was a part of them.

Clarice thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to sing and dance with others during Music Together classes and displays a very high “S.Q.” or “Silliness Quotient” (a vital asset for a Music Together teacher!). Clarice has earned the coveted "Level I" and "Level II" Certifications from Music Together Worldwide and she ranks these up there with her graduate degrees in terms of accomplishments that have given her the most satisfaction.