Katie O'Dea- Director: "I fell in love!"

Katie's musical journey started in school where she gained the love of the performing arts. She performed in musicals as well as several choirs. Katie has also performed at Little Colonels Playhouse, and attended The Ursuline School of Music and Drama where she was inspired by her drama coach. She then studied Business Management at IWU. 

Katie's true love for music came full circle, when she came to Heartland Music Together classes with her own two girls. Soon, she became an early childhood music specialist, and the owner/director of Heartland Music Together!

Since, Katie has continued her studies in: Voice and Music Therapy for Nervous System Regulation, Mental Health Disorders in Infancy and Early Childhood, Social and Emotional Development; as well as holding accredited certifications in Special Education Needs and Special Education Therapy in Early Education.

Katie also works for "the mothership", Music Together Worldwide, in the Music Together In-School curriculum department. Ask her how your school can participate!

Katie adds this about her first experience with us: "As soon as I started the classes I fell in love. I immediately knew that being a teacher was something I wanted to pursue. I not only loved being in class with my own children, but watching all the other caregivers interact with their own children. The energy and the magic that is created in these classes, is an experience that you can't get anywhere else. Helping other families bond with their children through music is so fulfilling!"

Contact Katie O'Dea

Lorna Dries -  A love of music and language: an ear for a song

Lorna's father loved to sing, and he shared this love for singing and music with all of his children. Lorna says, "We sang in the car, in amateur talent shows, in the shower. I took voice lessons and sang in my school's choir in high school. When my sister had her four children, I made up a personalized song for each of them."

Lorna pursued her love of music and language with dual degrees in Music History and English, followed by a Master's Degree in Creative Writing. Shortly after her own son was born, Lorna discovered Music Together. She became an enthusiastic  parent in our classes, sharing her love of music with her own child, and when an opening appeared for a Music Together teacher, Lorna jumped at the chance. She has been part of our Heartland community for over a decade. 

Lorna finds fun ways to be creative with a range of ages in the classroom. She also has an delightful wit, and an amazing talent for barnyard animal sounds - both excellent skills for a Music Together teacher! 

Lorna has received her Certification Level 1 status for outstanding achievement in teaching, musicianship, program philosophy, and parent education. 

Contact Lorna Dries

Katie Duvall: "The Heartland Music Together family feels like home!"

Katie developed a love for music and singing before she can remember, listening to stories sung by her mom in the car as a toddler, singing My Old Kentucky Home by age 3, and beginning Suzuki piano lessons at age 4. She continued piano lessons through college, sang with Presentation Academy’s Prezettes, performed in musicals in high school and college, and earned her BA in Vocal Performance from Bellarmine University. After college, Katie performed with: the Blue Apple Players touring company, Stephen Foster productions in Bardstown, CenterStage at the JCC, and the church where she grew up, Epiphany. With encouragement from her husband, Travis, she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching,15 post grad hours in Literacy Instruction, and went on to teach K-2 in JCPS for 5 years. She has since joined the stay at home mom force!

Katie joined the HMT gang as a mom in class with her son in 2014, but it was her sister who initially suggested she consider Music Together teacher training. Katie treasures being able to provide the space in which children and their care givers can bond through musical experiences, and loves that her mom and daughter can join her in the process. The presence of all three generations of music makers within this journey brings everything into a big beautiful circle!

Katie says, "Becoming a Music Together teacher has filled a space in my heart that had been somewhat lonely in recent years, perfectly blending my past loves: music and early childhood education. The Heartland Music Together teachers and families immediately felt like home, and I just wish I'd found them earlier!

Contact Katie Duvall

Sandy Sumpter- "Just sing, be silly, and have fun!"

Sandy’s earliest musical memories are of her grandmother playing the piano and
everyone singing Christmas carols. She took jazz and tap dance lessons from age 8 to
18 and remembers playing her first musical instrument as a kid, a Magnus Chord
Organ. In middle school, Sandy learned to play the flute and went on to play in her high
school Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Marching Band. Sandy learned to play
the fiddle, the mbira, and African drums at the Louisville Folk School. 

Sandy is currently a K-12 teacher. She found Music Together while looking into
becoming a music therapist. Sandy says, “I’ve always known that music has the power
to invoke memories and change your mood, but when I saw how my mom’s spirits were
lifted any time I played her favorite ‘oldies’, it really hit me about how much healing
power music has. I just knew that I wanted to do something to share that power.” She
signed up for Music Together classes with her granddaughter and was immediately
hooked. “I love the time we spend singing and just being silly, both in class and outside
of class. It has been a great experience!”
In the future, Sandy would like to teach the Music Together Generations classes and
bring the joy of music-making and community to our elderly population. 

Magda Peña: A love for Latin music!

Magda is a Cuban singer-songwriter who has spent the last six years residing in Louisville, Kentucky. Magda completed her professional music studies, in opera performance, in Cuba, and received a degree in science as well in 2022. Magda speaks Spanish and English and she loves interacting with children as well as having basic knowledge of piano, guitar and ukelele.  Magda has won many awards including, Winner for Best Female Artist at the Latin Music Awards Ky. and she participates in the World Fest with the “Milenio Salsa” Orchestra as well as in different salsa festivals and venues in Kentucky! We are so happy to have Magda as part of our Heartland Music Together family! 

Miriam Klein - Cheers for our founder!

Miriam Klein is the founder and former director of Heartland Music Together. After more than a decade of singing and playing with children, families, and colleagues, she is now pursuing other adventures. If you listen carefully, you might hear her yodeling off in the distance. Helloooo everybody….

Miriam says, "The most important thing I've learned in my amazing journey is that music is for everyone! Music is one of the ways in which all of us - babies, children, and grownups alike - get to enjoy being human beings. Everyone can make music!"

You make the magic happen! 

You may wonder if you can help your child musically, especially if you don't feel that you yourself are musical. Our experience has been that parents and other caregivers are the most essential influences in a young child's musical life. You don't have to be an expert to help your child develop a love for music! If you're having fun playing and making music, chances are your child will too. Enjoy this special time to explore music together, build his/her brain, and find new ways to incorporate music into your daily life. Your gift may last your child's whole life!

"The only thing better than singing is more singing!" -  Ella Fitzgerald