Melissa feels extremely honored to have the privilege of teaching music to students of all ages and levels since 2012 and is incredibly passionate about guiding musicians to their healthiest and most natural sound, while creating well-rounded and confident performers. Melissa has been an active performer & educator throughout the KC area since 2014. She first fell in love with the city of Lee's Summit after teaching music at Highland Park Elementary School where she directed over 20  grade level productions and led a choir that was focused on community outreach. Soon after joining the LSR7 team, Melissa made LS her home and settled into Lakewood with her wife Tabitha and son Harrison! Melissa has experience with teaching all ages. Her professional credits include adjuct professor of Music Education at Graceland Univeristy, K-12 Department head of the music program at North Platte R-1 school district where she led many groups and individuals to the State Contest where many received Superior ratings in performance. While at NPHS, Melissa directed the musical Hello, Dolly with screaming success! Melissa has also worked as a section leader for a community choir where she led many rehearsals to adults of all ages. Melissa also has a large adult private enrollment. Music is for everyone- It's never too late!

Melissa attended The University of Missouri, Columbia where she is grateful to have studied with renowned sopranos JoElla Todd and Ann Harrell. Melissa credits much of her inspiration and philosophy to professors Dr. Wendy Sims, Dr. R Paul Crabb, and Dr Marcie Major. While at Mizzou, she sang several roles in various productions and recitals, working with coaches and conductors from around the world. She also had the incredible opportunity to perform throughout Europe in 2014 and was selected to study abroad where she taught English and Music for two consecutive summers to students in Italy (2012-2013).

An incredibly skilled and passionate music educator, Melissa focuses on building each individual instrument with a solid foundation on the technical aspects. She gives particular attention to healthy breath function and vocal placement and specializes in working with female voices. She teaches with an emphasis on blending registers and creating a unified, single instrument. With a love for the nuances of language, Melissa and students in her studio work to perfect diction and linguistic style. Melissa views her students as artistic collaborators and also spends time coaching and empowering them to make deliberate choices that convey poetic and emotional depth. It is her ultimate goal to help students gain the confidence to be independent, thinking artists, and to equip each student with the tools necessary to accomplish their unique goals and access their potential. It is also imperative that her students feel accomplished after every lesson and excited to go home and show off what they've learned! Melissa believes in the power that belonging to a community of like-minded people has on a person. She hopes that the vision for her studio manifests as a safe and positive place for each of her students to explore their passions and thrive. 

Many of her students have gone on to study music in college, receiving talent scholarships, even a  few have even become music educators, themselves! Her students routinely receive high ratings at the Missouri District and State contests and NATS competitions. They are regular participants in Missouri All-State and All-District choirs, ACDA and MCDA honor choirs, and often play leading roles in high school and community musical productions. She has guided students through full solo recitals and roles in musicals. 

Melissa enjoys performing- after all that’s how her love started. She advocates for everyone to continue to explore their passions and talents throughout life, not just while you’re in school! She loves to audition for productions in the area and is passionate about practicing mindfulness and breath work to manage her own performance anxiety! Recent local noted roles include Marian, The Music Man. with RAC & Irene, Hello Dolly! with BSST. Melissa is an active performer and frequently sings for weddings and private events. She has also performed for many fundraising galas assiting in cultivating funds for community theaters and arts in the KC Metro area. She is thrilled to open an entertainment booking and placement sector of the performing arts, where people can book live entertainment for events. Keep an eye out for more exciting information.