Janelle Tibbetts is the Owner and Director of Spark! School of Performing Arts where she also teaches woodwinds, piano, voice, and general music. She received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, summa cum laude, from Florida International University and received a Master of Science in Education specialising in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University. She taught music at Clifton Hunter High School between 2011-2015, serving as Subject Leader during her last academic year there, and has also taught at many private schools within the Cayman Islands. Currently, along with her classes at Spark!, she teaches general music and choir at Triple C School and general music at Village Montessori Elementary.

​

Janelle is a passionate advocate for arts education in the Cayman Islands and participates in many events and programmes that include the youth and the arts year round. Janelle served as Vice President from 2011-2012 for the non-profit organisation Creative Music Project, Inc. and from 2014-2015 she served as Founder and Director of Spark! Music Initiative, both of which were organisations that advocated for well-balanced music education for all and promote balanced student-based musical experiences.

​

In July 2016, Janelle worked as musical director for the Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s Young at Arts Summer Intensive Programme where she arranged and taught the musical works for local play “Isabel”, written by Patricia Bent. Janelle has served as the musical director for several years for the Cayman Islands Folks Singers, a company of amateur singers and musicians dedicated primarily to preserving, celebrating and propagating the musical traditions of the Cayman Islands. At the 2017 National Arts & Culture Awards, she was a recipient of the Silver Star for Creativity in the Arts Award from the Cayman National Cultural Foundation.

 

Lastly, she is an active member of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman, and engages in many service projects to support and serve the Grand Cayman community.

Jared Tibbetts received his first pair of drum sticks at the tender age of 5, instigating his love and passion for music. This began his musical journey and drove him to undertake formal training by taking lessons in rhythm notation, learning rudiments and songs.

​

Having taught himself how to play the drum-kit by listening and playing to different styles of music, he furthered his knowledge by taking music theory and private instruction classes from an early age up to high school. During that period, he began playing in school and local bands including national bands for concert, big band and jazz, performing at gigs, events and national festivals and winning many awards.

 

Tibbetts has continued to grow and network within the local Caymanian music industry both as a drummer and audio engineer by taking part in several recording projects as a session drummer and assistant engineer.

​

Tibbetts was later accepted and awarded to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where he completed his Bachelor of Music degree majoring in Professional Music, becoming the first person from the Cayman Islands to do so. With the drum set as his principal instrument at Berklee, he has studied with several prominent faculty members in the school's percussion department, Mike Mangini, Rod Morgenstein, Terri Lyne Carrington, Larry Finn and Skip Hadden, as well as various world renown faculty from other departments within the school.

​

After graduating Berklee, he made the move to New York City with a thirst to continue his education and self-development. Not long after he moved, he enrolled at the SAE Institute of Technology to receive a diploma in Audio Technology. At SAE he studied and worked closely with faculty and instructors on a long list of recording/mixing consoles, digital audio workstations, outboard gear, microphones and speakers’ systems for recording, mixing, mastering and postproduction, as well as live sound.

​

Following his time in New York, Jared returned home to the Cayman Islands and aided in the opening of ‘Spark! School of Performing Arts’. At Spark!, he delved into the world of music education by teaching drum kit and music technology instruction to students of all ages, whilst giving a helping hand with maintaining the daily operation of the business. When outside the classroom, Tibbetts continued to work on projects in the studio as an audio engineer and simultaneously worked as an audio-visual technician for many events around the island, gaining a wealth of experience.

​

After three years back at home, Jared decided to venture further by undertaking a Master of Music in Music Production, Technology and Innovation at his alma mater, Berklee College of Music. Studying at the campus in Valencia, Spain, has allowed him to encounter new styles of music and experience working internationally. During his time back at Berklee, Jared dedicated his time to continue to perfect his craft as a recording and mixing engineer by creating an extensive audio portfolio.

​

Tibbetts also takes pride in being an ambassador and representing the Cayman Islands, and is known to encourage other Caymanians to follow their dreams and is active in helping the youth to develop their talents. His fierce passion for music and audio

technology is rivaled by his desire to share this knowledge with others.

Brianna Rodriguez began her musical journey at 3 years old, when she first began singing in public. Over time, she gained experience with various classical instruments, including piano, violin and clarinet. She studied piano, with a strong focus on the classical and baroque genres, for 13 years and has completed Trinity College music exams in piano, achieving the 8th grade level with Distinction. She’s also received various awards over the years for vocal and instrumental performances, including the Suggested Artist recognition for one of her compositions that was entered in the Song of the Year songwriting competition.

​

Brianna holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Harvard University and has also completed a Specialist Certificate in Music Business from Berklee College of Music. During her 3 years’ experience in piano education, Brianna has tutored students from grades Initial to 6 in preparation for Trinity examinations, with a 100% pass rate. 90% of her students received Distinction or Merit. While most of her training and background is in classical music, Brianna has branched out and is an aspiring singer-songwriter. Though she endeavours to make music that transcends the archetypal boundaries of genres, classical music has always been a source of inspiration and creativity.

Sophie Nevin is a new team member of Spark! School of Performing Arts. Sophie grew up in a very musical household, singing from the time she could talk. She started violin lessons at the age of four and piano lessons at seven years of age. She holds both her Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees from the University of Hull. Sophie was actively involved in the Music department for the duration of her time at Hull being apart of both Contemporary Choir and University Orchestra. In her third year Sophie was also given the opportunity to be apart of the Czech Opera, Hry o Marii.

​

Throughout her Master’s Degree, Sophie gained extensive knowledge in song writing and studio production. Sophie majored in Performance and Composition, creating her own E.P., establishing her own band and creating a portfolio of compositions transforming a bicycle into a musical instrument. In addition to her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Sophie has also received Grade 8 for both Musical Theatre and Classical Voice and Grade 8 Ballet from the Royal Academy of Music.

​

Over the years, Sophie has taken part in many music festivals, competitions and performances for Drama, Dance, and Music across Ireland, including playing with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and performing with Riverside Youth Theatre. Sophie has also worked as a session singer in England during her time at University. Originally from Northern Ireland, she also enjoys taking time out to sing with the Limavady Big Band, playing at the internationally renowned Cork Jazz and Blues festival. In 2011, Sophie was given the opportunity to play violin in the National Scout and Guide Youth Orchestra based in Berkshire England.

Heidi Ordaz-Nyack, began piano lessons at 7 years old, and was a part of choirs all her life. She now plays the organ, directs choirs and is a songwriter.

 

In December 2009, the Piano Bank Program supported by the Steinway Society of Central Florida awarded Ordaz an upright piano. Created to give talented young students in Central Florida the opportunity to develop their talents, the Piano Bank provides deserving pianists with an instrument. She was also a recipient of the William E. Duckwitz Talent Scholarship at Stetson University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. She continued her studies at Georgia Southern University, where she was the Graduate Piano Assistant and completed a Master of Music in Piano Performance. Mrs. Nyack continued her music studies at Andrews University in where she completed a second Master of Music specializing in Music Ministry with organ emphasis. 

 

An active performer, Mrs. Nyack has presented solo recitals in the USA and Grand Cayman. She has worked with many vocalists and instrumentalists in lessons, recitals, competitions, and master classes. For a while, she was the assistant organist and choir accompanist at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist of Savannah, GA. 

 

Her teachers have included Dr. Kenneth Logan, organ; Dr. David Murray, piano; Dr. Pierce Dickens, organ. She also studied with Steinway Artist, Dr. Michael Rickman, Lina Maria Pooler; organ and harpsichord with Dr. Boyd Jones and collaborative piano with Tammy Miller & Dr. Karla Rocker. Mrs. Nyack is a member of AGO, MTNA, and Pi Kappa Lambda. She enjoys sharing her musical heritage with young musicians. 

Music has always been a part of Beneil Miller’s life. Coming from a musical family his journey started when he would strum the guitar strings as his father held the chords. Beneil began formal training at age 8 when he started taking piano lessons. In the years to follow he learned to play other instruments by ear through playing in church, school and in different bands on Grand Cayman.

 

In 2015 Beneil Miller graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree majoring in Professional Music. While in College he focused on studying jazz piano as well developing his song writing skills.

 

Beneil Miller is involved in all facets of the Cayman Islands music scene. In addition to being an educator he is a recording artist, band leader, recording engineer and songwriter. He has a keen interest in developing the Cayman Islands music industry and hopes to inspire his students through his passion for music. 

Amelia Matos started her music studies at the age of 6 in the School of Arts of her home country, Cuba. At 14 years old, she was selected to enroll in the Conservatory of Music “Esteban Salas” where she graduated in 2007 as Choir Conductor, Singer and Teacher. Amelia continued her studies and was accepted into the University of Arts in Havana, Cuba, where she graduated with honors and received a Bachelor of Music in Composition. During this time, she created an extensive portfolio with her compositions, exploring nontraditional music formats and dissimilar classical-contemporary music styles.

 

Amelia was also part of the Professional Choir of Camaguey, Cuba. Where she had the opportunity to participate in national and international festivals and concerts around the Island, not only as a singer, but as the conductor. With over 15 years of teaching experience, Amelia has worked with children of all ages empowering them with confidence and skills through education in music. She taught music in the Conservatory of Music “Jose White” in Camaguey, where she was the Subject Leader and taught general music, trained choir conductors and created the Female Choir.

 

After moving to Cayman, she was part of the team that founded Jubilate Programme in 2016, a non-profit afterschool music programme inspired by “El Sistema”. There she served as choir and orchestra conductor, piano accompanist, and general music teacher.

 

Currently, she is the music teacher at Calvary Baptist Christian Academy and teaches at Kornerstone Akademy and Musik, a program for homeschool students. Through Spark!, Mrs. Amelia teaches elementary music at Triple C School and private lessons on various instruments at the Spark! studio.

Lían Ebanks has recently joined Spark! School of Performing Arts upon her return from studying in the United States. Lían became involved in the local performing arts community when starting dance classes with Ms. Susan Barnes at age three. Throughout her youth, she went on to participate in various dance schools around the island, and also learn several instruments. Her love for acting started in primary school when joining an after-school drama club. She went on to complete her IGCSE in Drama. Additionally in high school, she participated in her school’s concert band, steelpan club, and worked backstage at her school’s rendition of The Wizard of Oz. 

​

With a passion for education, she recently obtained a Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, in Elementary Education with an Academic Concentration in the Arts from Appalachian State University. Lían chose to concentrate in the arts to gain more experience in dance, music theory, fine arts, and try a hand at new instruments - such as the African djembé. Additionally, she will begin a Master of Science in Reading and Mathematics with Walden University in the upcoming academic year.​​ Lían has come to thoroughly enjoy all aspects of musical theatre, from set design to backstage crew, and onstage performance, and looks forward to being involved and learning from other staff members at Spark! School of Performing Arts.