Our Team
We believe in strong foundations and playful learning.
Rebecca Honett, MA
A soprano, Rebecca earned her Master of Music degree in early music performance from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, specializing in voice, and her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Music from Mount Union College. She has taught voice privately as well as in her role as faculty with the Harlem School of the Arts, where she coached young professional stage and Broadway performers. She has also coached acting, both privately as well as in the classroom setting.
Rebecca has performed professionally in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. As a professional church musician, Rebecca worked with The Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Boston) and St. Ann and the Holy Trinity (Brooklyn). She was a founding member of Boston-based early music ensembles Magnificat and Cappella Clausura, and has sung with New York Continuo Collective, among others. While in New York, Rebecca studied movement-based acting and was a member of the American Mime Theatre. As an actor, she has been involved with an array of film and theater projects, including stage and film premieres through the Hollywood Fringe Festival in LA (“The Singing School”, “The Dogs of War”, “Tomahawk”, and “Tute Voller Kinder.”)
Rebecca's interest in experimental and new music has also led her to collaborate with a variety of artists, including LA-based composer/author James Domine as well as her husband, composer Christopher Jon Honett (PhD Harvard). Her vocals can be heard on the scores of "No Candles" and "Taking the Lead." Rebecca is a member of SAG/AFTRA.
Voice, Piano
Abigail Olson, MA
Abigail is a versatile musician and educator whose work spans teaching young beginners, coaching advancing students, and leading eurythmics and early-childhood music classes. She also performs regularly in chamber ensembles, solo recitals, and choral settings. Abigail loves creating music with others and helping students grow, balancing creativity and careful listening with the technical skills needed for real progress. She holds advanced degrees in performance, pedagogy, and collaborative keyboard, plus certifications from The Royal Conservatory of Music and the Institute for Jacques-Dalcroze Education. Outside of music, she enjoys cooking, swimming, learning languages, reading, and exploring new coffee shops.
Piano, Group Classes
Alyssa, originally from Belle, WV, has been singing since age two and studied piano and voice throughout her youth before earning her BA in Music Education from Marshall University, where she received the Turley Award for Outstanding Musicianship. She later earned a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Arts from the University of Rio Grande and a master’s certificate in Leadership Studies from Marshall University. Alyssa taught choir and music in public schools for 20 years and has performed in more than 30 productions, including favorite roles with the Actors Guild of Parkersburg and Riverby Theater Guild. She has also appeared as a soprano soloist and directed numerous stage productions and revues.
Voice, PianoAlyssa Otey-Russell, MA
Shannon Gwiazda, AA
Shannon is originally from Maryland and has studied music for over a decade. She began with classical piano training and later spent three years studying jazz. While living in Maryland, she regularly performed jazz and served as an accompanist for choirs, individual musicians, and a professional theater company.
Shannon studied music at the College of Southern Maryland and mentored under Jonny May, a well-known jazz musician, teacher, performer, and composer. She has taught piano to students of many ages and also served as a music theory tutor at the college.
With a deep appreciation for a wide range of musical styles, Shannon encourages students to explore the music that inspires them. She believes every student learns differently and focuses on cultivating a genuine love for music rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all teaching approach. Her goal is to help students develop both strong musical skills and a lifelong appreciation for the piano.
Piano
Chris has taught at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels, including English Language Arts, Philosophy, Music History, Music Theory, and Film. He earned his PhD in Music Composition from Harvard in 2007 and has been playing guitar since the age of 16. In addition to his work as an educator, he is also an artist and entrepreneur. More at honettworks.com.
Guitar, Literacy, Music Theory