MEET THE TEAM
Our own resident experts in Early Childhood Music Education, Miss Hillary and Miss Halley, have been busy writing songs and planning fun musical activities using bubbles, egg shakers, floaty movement scarves, and a big booming gathering drum!
HILLARY THOMAS
B.M. CalArts
M.M. University of Southern California
Hillary’s enthusiasm for music dates back to age three, when she began studying the violin in her home town of Manassas, Virginia. Her passion for music only intensified as she grew older and also began studying the piano and viola. As a teenager her family moved to Columbus, Ohio where she became a member of the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra. It was there that one of her private instructors suggested that she become Suzuki Certified and also start teaching music. During high school she studied composition at the prestigious, Interlochen Academy of the Arts and The Ohio State University. It was not long before Hillary’s distinctive works became recognized, as she won awards across the state for her original compositions.
After graduating from high school, Hillary moved to Los Angeles where she attended the California Institute of the Arts. After graduation, Hillary was accepted to The University of Southern California Scoring for Motion Picture and Television Program. Since that time she has performed on and composed the music for many Hollywood Film Scores.
Along with teaching Violin, Viola and Piano, Hillary enjoys spending her time swimming on a masters team, working in her vegetable garden or hanging out with her two dogs.
HALLEY FEASTER
B.M. Berklee College of Music
In addition to being the owner of Music Lab Woodland Hills, Halley is a Contemporary and Classical Acoustic and Electric Cellist, with a dual Bachelor’s Degree from Berklee College of Music in Performance and Professional Music. She has extensive experience both on stage and in the studio, and loves collaboration and creating great things with others.
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One of those great things is First Step Music, where she gets to share her love and joy of music with bright new spongy minds, and through it, hopefully, make the world a better place.
