Carter Moore Columbia Guitar, Piano, Bass, Voice, Ear Training, Music Theory.

Carter Moore was born into a very musical family and has been singing and playing instruments for most of his 26 years. He received his vocal training from Nollie Moore, and while getting his Bachelor of Arts in Music at Columbia College, he performed in various productions, including playing the role of Dickon in the college’s production of The Secret Garden, Fagin in Oliver!, as well as Jack in Into the Woods, and the role of Jesus in Godspell. Carter has performed in over 30 staged shows during his time in musical theater, starting from age 7 and continuing to this day.

While at Columbia College, he also advanced to the national round of the singing competition NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and placed 2nd in the musical theater category, while placing 1st in musical theater and 2nd in classical at the annual Mid-Mo NATS.

Moore plans to continue his education with a master’s degree in vocal performance and conducting. Carter also performs live around Columbia with the local band Outermind, where he is the lead guitarist, keyboardist, and a singer-songwriter for the group.

Chris Stephens Columbia Banjo, Music Theory, Improvisation, Sitar, Oud, Shamisen.

Connor Leib Columbia Guitar, Bass, Drums, Arranging, Music Theory, Improvisation, Song Writing.

Connor is a multi-instrumentalist based out of St. Louis, Missouri, who, at a young age, “caught the bug” (a musical awakening) after hearing Nirvana for the first time. At that moment, he devoted his life to listening, playing, and writing music. Connor got started right away with music lessons and also did the School of Rock as a young teen, learning how to be a musician, mastering his instruments, as well as learning about live performance. He loved it so much that, during the summers, he would help teach the summer camps there.

Connor used to admire musicians from afar, believing he could never be one himself. However, after taking lessons, he discovered that anyone can become a musician with dedication and practice. Through hard work, he developed his musical skills, which some might mistakenly perceive as “a knack” for music. Once he mastered his first instrument, he found that picking up additional ones became much easier, fueling his passion and growth as a musician.

Josh Golden Columbia Guitar, Bass, Drums, Ear Training, Music Theory, Song Writing, Ukulele, Mandolin.

Josh is a guitar player from O’Fallon, Missouri. He currently resides in Columbia and is working towards his Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology at Mizzou. He has been playing guitar, drums, and bass for over 8 years. After starting his musical journey in 6th grade, Josh fell deeper into his love for music and played in bands throughout high school. This experience gave him what he needed to expand his taste and musical abilities.

Josh enjoys playing, writing, and listening to as many genres of music as possible. He's an expert finger picker! These genres range from Bluegrass, to Indie, to Metal, and everything in between. Josh is experienced in playing rhythm and lead guitars, as well as writing original pieces. He is always looking to refine his musical skills and knowledge. No matter the taste in music, Josh is sure to be able to assist students on their musical journey.

In addition to guitar, drums, and bass, Josh has taught himself to play banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and piano.

Kaitlin Arellano Columbia Piano, Voice, Ukulele, Ear Training, Music Theory, Improvisation, Song Writing, Conducting.

Kaitlin is a classically trained musician from rural southwest Kansas. Although it was a challenge to pursue music education in an agricultural environment, Kaitlin and her parents were determined to find opportunities for musical growth wherever they could. Weekly hour-long drives for piano lessons, trips across the state for weekend performances and collegiate music workshops, along with daily in-home musical immersion, have all shaped Kaitlin into the musician she is today.

Kaitlin received her degree in Music from Emporia State University, where she minored in Psychology, sparked by her interest in Music Therapy. She understands the intrinsic motivation required to continue pursuing music education and works hard to instill confidence in her students by fostering a positive, healthy learning environment.

With eight years of teaching experience, Kaitlin has positively impacted many students and is passionate about how music can shape us into better individuals. In her free time, she enjoys crafting and creating, traveling back to Kansas to visit family, learning Spanish, and advocating for causes like environmental sustainability within her local community.

Madison Peters Columbia Guitar, Bass, Voice, Ear Training, Music Theory, Song Writing.

At the age of 10, Madison received her very first acoustic guitar, but without any guidance or instruction, it sat untouched in the corner of her room for two years. At 12 years old, she finally began taking lessons, and with the help of experienced musicians, she learned the basics and discovered her passion for playing. With this newfound support, she picked up that guitar and never looked back.

Learning to play guitar transformed Madison’s personality. Once the quietest kid in class, who avoided speaking in front of others, she blossomed into an outgoing extrovert who thrived in the spotlight. Gaining confidence with each performance, she grew into a skilled and self-assured musician. Madison has played across St. Louis, from Busch Stadium and Blueberry Hill to intimate backyards and vibrant skateparks. Today, she loves sharing her music live and spends much of her time writing original material.

Mikayla Fender Columbia Piano, Voice, Ear Training, Music Theory.

Mikayla, a recent music graduate from Central Methodist University, has been singing since she was 10 years old. Throughout middle school and high school, she continued to participate in the worship team at her church, knowing she wanted to pursue music as a career. Mikayla picked up the piano the summer before attending college, and went on to study both voice and piano as part of her degree.

While in school, she participated in the Worship Band, Jazz Band, Conservatory Choir, and maintained a 4.0 GPA for all four years of study. Due to her dedicated work ethic, she was able to graduate a semester early in December of 2022.

Mikayla focused on music ministry in college and has applied those skills in various aspects of her life. She consistently plays, sings, and leads contemporary worship music at local churches in Columbia. Beyond her primary involvement in the church, she regularly performs as the lead singer and keys player for her cover band, which she started with her husband.

Mikayla enjoys teaching students who may be new to music, looking to learn, and practice basic knowledge and skills. While Contemporary Worship is where her greatest passion lies, she also has a deep appreciation for Musical Theater and Pop.

Phiya Kushi Columbia Guitar, Piano, Ear Training, Arranging, Music Theory, Improvisation, Song Writing.

At an early age his older musical sister taught him to read music and he was immediately hooked. By age 11 he spent hours on the piano learning every song and style he heard and loved. In his teens, he was gifted a classical guitar and quickly developed the ability to learn songs and complex chord arrangements by ear on the guitar. Although he loves playing and teaching all different genres, his forte is classical and finger styles.

Professionally, Phiya is a macrobiotic educator and has worked in the natural and organic foods industry his entire life. Through the years, in his spare time and as a hobby, he strove to advance his musical skills whenever he could, focusing more recently on jazz piano improvisation and expanding his Brazilian, Spanish and classical guitar. Through the years he has met and been inspired by many musicians who sees music as the universal language that brings people together.