The Team
musical beginnings music instructors
Brittney Cowart
Founder & CEO
of musical beginnings baldwin county
Brittney is a native of Spanish Fort. She began taking piano lessons at the age of six from Margaret Guenther.
Through her years of training and music education, Brittney participated in Sonata Contests and State competitions from 1997 - 2008, placing in the Top 3 contestants every year in both competitions.
Upon her graduation from Spanish Fort High School, Brittney pursued a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama where she studied English, Music Education, and Music Administration. She continued her studies with Dr. Noel Engebretson throughout her college career.
She joined Musical Beginnings in Tuscaloosa as an instructor in 2012, and was offered the opportunity to bring the program to Baldwin County in 2013. She acted as Assistant Director of Musical Beginnings Baldwin County, until she became
Director in 2015.
Brittney received the Steinway Piano Gallery Top Teacher Award for 2017-2022. She is an active member of the MTNA (Mobile and Baldwin Branches) and ALMTA.
She believes that all children should have the opportunity for music education, and that encouraging students to dream will result in their success. Brittney resides in Fairhope, and may be reached at MusicalBeginningsBC@Outlook.com.
christopher
beaudette
director of musical beginnings baldwin county
Christopher was born in Montana and lived all over the States and Europe, including Germany, as a child of an Air Force Officer. As a teenager, Christopher became fascinated by teaching himself how to play piano at age sixteen using whatever resources were available at his fingertips,
such as Wikipedia articles and YouTube videos.
He was self-driven to teach himself.
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Christopher received a full-ride music scholarship at Coastal Alabama, after the music instructors walked by, and overheard him playing piano in a practice room only a few days before classes started. Although Christopher wasn't signed up to study music, they immediately recruited him into the music department, and offered him
a full-ride scholarship, because his talent, devotion and commitment to perfecting his craftsmanship as as a musician was obvious. Call it perfect timing, and perfect alignment. This is what sparked Christopher to begin his career as a professional musician.
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Christopher's specialties are jazz-improv piano, performance standards, and teaching music theory to students of all ages.
He is a well-rounded multi-instrumentalist, as our lead guitar instructor, lead drum instructor, and bass-guitar player.
Having experienced the difficulties of learning on his own, he understands the importance of having a professional and encouraging music tutor to help students develop quickly and enjoy the experience.
He has been teaching private lessons for over half a decade, specializing in piano while offering guitar and bass as well. Since then, he has mentored other students of Musical Beginnings towards receiving the same music scholarship.
He believes that music is a gift and he strives to pass that skill on to as many students as possible.
He has been playing at Resurrection Church in Daphne for 3 years, along with playing in wedding bands and
accompanying on piano for special events.
savannah
rhodes
ceo & Founder of musical beginnings
mobile county
Savannah Rhodes started out as a new instructor in Baldwin County, under the mentorship of her best friend and colleague, Brittney Cowart. She studied classical piano under the same sweet piano teacher for 20 years, until she studied music shortly under Dr. Robert Holm at the University of South Alabama. Because she was lucky to have the same piano teacher into her early twenties, she understands the devotion and bonds with her musical family are unbreakable.
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She is also a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and very tech savvy with her own home music studio. Alongside her sweetheart, Mr. Christopher Beaudette, they have completely transformed our group piano technology to make it sleek, modern, and easily accessible online to parents.
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After five years of training with Brittney Cowart as assistant director, Savannah has started her own passion project of expanding Musical Beginnings into Mobile County. She believes in the heart of Musical Beginnings, making a positive impact and long-lasting memories, in the lives of children and the entire community. She loves Musical Beginnings so much that she is bringing the program back to her hometown.
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Musical Beginnings Mobile will promote the same affordable, low-cost group piano lessons in the Mobile County School System. Musical Beginnings Mobile is our sister company and will bridge the gap between Mobile and Baldwin County creating opportunities for our students in both cities. How exciting to broaden our horizons across the bay!
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Savannah has a heart for teamwork, creative collaboration,
and guiding both her students, and new teachers
to confidence and success.
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Although she is no longer available for any new students in Baldwin County, you can follow along with her new endeavors over at Musical Beginnings Mobile.
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She will still be at every recital, and act as Mr. Beaudette's assistant director.
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251-622-6988
phyllis
demetropoulos
opera & voice instructor -
world famous soprano
The beautiful and gifted American soprano, Phyllis Demetropoulos, has performed extensively throughout Europe. After returning to the U.S. to perform some of her signature roles, Miss Demetropoulos made a highly acclaimed debut with Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre at the Palace of Congresses in the Kremlin to which she later returned to sing Madama Butterfly and Violeta with Bolshoi costars. She made an auspicious debut at the Kirov Opera in St. Petersburg and has since returned to Europe for extensive engagements with the state theaters of Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lativa, the Ukraine, Estonia, Georgia, and Russia.
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Phyllis Demetropoulos sang a critically acclaimed La Traviata with the Nevada Opera Company in Las Vegas, Nevada and received their first standing ovation. She inaugurated the Natchez Opera Festival with Madama Butterfly. The soprano made her debut with the Memphis, Syracuse and Indianapolis operas, singing Alice Ford, and sang the Merry Widow with the Mobile Opera in her native city.
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Miss Demetropoulos first attracted international attention when she made her European debut as Lisa in La Sonnambula at the International Festival in Corfu. She returned to Corfu to sing Ariadne, and made her debut with a Greek National Opera in Athens as Mimi in a gala new production of La Boheme.
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Active on the concert stage as well, the soprano made her New York debut at Lincoln Center performing Rossini‘s Sabat Mater and the premiere of Dino Constantinides’ Lament of Antigone. Miss Demetropoulos earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Florida State University, and later graduated from the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
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Professional Performances in Opera include:
The National Opera of Greece in Athens, Greece (where she performed as House Soprano from 1981-1989)
The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Russia
Kremlin, Palace of Congresses, Moscow, Russia
Kirov Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia
National Theatre in Warsaw, Poland
Prague State Opera in Prague, Czechoslovakia
Odessa National Academic Theatre in Odessa, Ukraine
The Estonia National Opera in Tallinn Estonia
Tbilisi Opera in Tbilisi, Georgia
Riga Opera House in Riga, Latvia
Sofia National Opera in Sofia, Bulgaria
Hungarian State Opera in Budapest, Hungary
Mobile Opera in Mobile, Alabama
Indianapolis Opera in Indianapolis, Indiana
Memphis Opera in Memphis, Tennessee
Syracuse Opera in Syracuse, New York
Las Vegas Opera in Las Vegas, Nevada
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Professional Performances include the roles of:
MIMI - LA BOHEME (Professional Debut)
CIO-CIO SAN - MADAMA BUTTERFLY
ELENA - MEFISTOFELE*
ANNA - ANNA BOLENA*
MARIA - MARIA STUARDA*
DONNA ELVIRA - DON GIOVANNI*
ELLETRA - IDOMENEO*
COUNTESS - MARRIAGE OF FIGARO
TOSCA - TOSCA*
LIU - TURANDOT*
ELVIRA - ERNANI*
LUISA - LUISA MILLER*
LADY MACBETH - MACBETH*
LEONORA - IL TROVATORE*
VIOLETTA - LA TRAVIATA
HANNA - DIE LUSTIGE WITWE (THE MERRY WIDOW)
ALICE FORD - FALSTAFF (Under the direction of Robert Driver)
*in preparation
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From 1995-1997 she toured with the Broadway show of Phantom of the Opera as cast voice teacher and coach, and has taught privately in Mobile from 2002-2007. She is thrilled to be teaching again for students that are interested in vocal studies.
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Agents include:
Kritas Productions - Europe
Columbia Artists Management (Cami) - North America
Richard Realmuto - North America
sharon martin
classical pianist, violin instructor & multi-instrumentalist
Sharon has an extensive background in music and has been performing since she put on her first show for her friends at age 6. With a passion for singing, she could always be found playing the piano, haven taken lessons since the age of 9, singing for her church and other events.
At her University she studied music education for nearly 2 years, continuing her voice and piano instruction. While studying music there, she joined and performed with a contemporary Christian Band as the lead singer and was invited to perform at the prestigious talent show for the area.
She especially loves to sing and teach harmony to others as it comes natural to her ear. Immediately out of University, for many years she was a worship leader and led worship from the piano, with back-up vocalists, violin, banjo and drums. It was during this time that she became interested in studying the drums with a local instructor as she was inspired by a drummer on her team.
Since that time she has been involved in the music ministry at the many churches she has attended over the years as soloist, back-up vocalist, piano and keys.
Sharon homeschooled her twin sons for their entire education. Along with her private studio for piano, she taught them piano until they went to University. It was during this time she studied violin with a local instructor so she could play along with her sons who also played violin in the 84 piece Orchestra in one of the largest churches in the nation, where she played for many years.
It was wonderful to share and pass on her love of music to her sons and see them excel and use their gifts to the glory of God. They both graduated summa cum laude with degrees in music––piano performance and violin performance. One of her sons won numerous awards as a composer and had one of his pieces performed by the Boston Brass.
For many years in Atlanta she was blessed to attend the Orchestra Performances by the Cobb Symphony and Atlanta symphony and enjoy the power of all instruments working together to create such a glorious and complex sound. With this background she believes in exposing her students to great work and composers, while also encouraging their own talent and dreams.
kawanis
johnson
group piano instructor
& Multi-instrumentalist
Like every other band kid in the county, his journey with music started in the sixth grade. He originally wanted to play percussion, but the last spot was filled right before him, and he picked the euphonium. Because it wasn’t his initial pick, he hated it at first, but by the end of the first semester, he was having a blast.
Fast forward to his seventh grade year and he was fully confident that he wanted to pursue this for the rest of his life, and he began the process that year. From that moment, he taught himself how to read music in the treble clef, as well as teaching himself clarinet, alto saxophone, flute, and their corresponding scales, transposing whatever baritone music he had to fit whatever instrument he was learning that day to give himself more music to play.
In high school he joined the marching band where he served as low brass drill sergeant for two years, and baritone section leader in his senior year. While in college marching band, he served as baritone section leader for two years, assistant drum major for one year, and head drum major for another two years until he eventually left school. Also in that time, he joined the Phi Boota Roota Percussion Fraternity, where he expanded his musical knowledge and learned to read percussion music and learned mallet instruments.
123-456-7890
tucker
mckee
lead guitar instructor &
local musician
Prior to studying under nationally-recognized classical guitarist Dr. Robert Gibson at Troy University, Tucker McKee earned his foundational music chops across Clarke County, Alabama.
While procuring his Bachelor of Science in Music degree, McKee was not only part of the college’s Guitar Studio ensemble, but he also started including titles like producer, songwriter, and composer to his résumé.
Among other clef-shaped feathers in his cap, Tucker’s original compositions were featured by Gibson’s Duo R2 during his collegiate years, and his work has been commissioned by the Baldwin Fretted Instrument Youth Orchestra.
Nowadays you can find McKee sharing his ever-expanding repertoire of music theory and guitar technique tips on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where he has collectively gained 200,000 followers, and counting.
Tucker’s eclectic educational content pieces have landed him collaborations with both Fender and Cort Guitars. His artist discography is available across all major streaming platforms; look for releases like “Pictures” and “Sunflower Days”.
Now residing in Mobile, Alabama, McKee continues to share his love of music through his work as a freelance guitarist and online content creator.
jennifer
felicelli
group piano instructor
& Multi-instrumentalist
Jennifer Felicelli was raised mostly in the Midwest and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in French and Psychology while playing volleyball at Marietta College in Ohio. She earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a PhD in Psychology at Capella University.
She began taking piano lessons at the age of 9 and has always enjoyed music in all forms. She is fluent in French, Spanish and Italian and believes music is another language in which to communicate.
Jennifer has a long history of working with children in many settings, most recently in education settings and sports. She especially enjoys watching children learn a new skill and the pride you can see on their faces.
She believes music students are a special treat because of their ability to share their talents with others.
kathy
johansen
group piano instructor & voice coach
Kathy Johansen has been studying piano since the age of four. At the age of 17 she achieved the honor of completing an international piano performance requirement.
With degrees in both vocal and piano performance, Kathy has successfully played and sung with her husband in their variety band.
Pensacola Little theater offered the opportunity to act as music director for a number of their professionally produced musicals.
In addition, the decades, long career of directing and accompanying church choirs has been constant in her life since high school.
Emily
Stuckey
Sellers
Singer-songwriter Voice and Guitar instructor
Emily Stuckey Sellers is a singer-songwriter from Fairhope, AL. Her songwriting is characterized by her vocal abilities and melodic sensibilities. Emily has released one solo, self-titled EP and is a two-time IMA Song of the Year winner in both the Folk and Alt Country categories with her Americana band, The Krickets.Mrs. Sellers has enjoyed 15 years of singing, recording, and playing acoustic guitar along the Gulf Coast.She is passionate about teaching students who are eager to develop their musical interests.
Trevor
Perez
Drum and Percussion Instructor
Trevor Perez is a percussionist and educator in the Baldwin County area. He recently moved back into the area from Jacksonville, FL and while he was there, he was an active educator, teaching percussion at Yulee High School and Allen D. Nease High School.
He graduated with his Master's degree in Music from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL studying under Dr. Andrea Venet and Mr. Kevin Garry. While attending USA, Trevor performed with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. He additionally performed with Drum Corps International's Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps Front Ensemble in 2018.
