Carrie Bonanotte is the founder and Executive Director of the Spotlight Performance Academy, where she executes the mission of the organization by curating programming and teaching high quality performing arts classes. Carrie holds a Bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University and Master's Degree from VanderCook College of Music, both in Music Education with vocal emphasis. Carrie has been directing award winning Children’s Choirs, Show Choirs, and Musicals since 2002. She has been a sought after adjudicator and clinician for the Illinois Grade School Music Association since 2008. Carrie is the founder of the Bel Canto Children’s Choir which has grown to be the largest community children’s choir in the south suburbs of Chicago. Carrie takes pride in connecting with her students while creating an atmosphere of compassion and excitement for every class.

Joey Bonanotte is a Homewood resident and serves as the Beginning Band Director for Darien Public School District 61. Joey currently performs in the Sounds of Illinois Brass Choir, teaches private trumpet lessons, and assists with music and marching band instruction at Homewood Flossmoor High School.

Amabel Crawford is a Flossmoor resident and serves as the Director of Learning and Instruction for Flossmoor School District 161. Amabel also serves on the Board of Directors for the South Cook Regional Office of Education.

Patricia DeBoer is one of the newer members of the Spotlight Performance Academy’s Fundraising Board. She has resided in Homewood for the past eight years with her husband Jason and 13-year-old son Jaxson. She is currently a Reading Interventionist at Willow School. Prior to singing with the Bel Canto Choir, Patricia sang as a lead singer in Bloom High School Jazz Band as well as the St. Xavier University Jazz Band. Patricia has a degree in Early Childhood Special Education as well as a Masters in Reading as a Reading Specialist.

Katharine Herrman worked in public libraries for almost twenty years with a specialty in library services for children and families. Before taking a professional hiatus to raise her own family, Katharine served as the Project Manager for the Kraft Great Kids Read program at the Chicago Public Library, where she had the privilege to manage the museum passport program and to work with families in twenty-four diverse neighborhoods throughout Chicago.

In addition to her library work, Katharine has written several articles for the Louisa May Alcott Encyclopedia and self published a chapbook of poetry. Since 2019, she has written and shared a short story nearly every day. She has been homeschooling her son and daughter since 2017 and is grateful for public libraries and local arts organizations.

Katharine believes that the arts should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, socio-economic status, or ability. Her own children have participated in programs through Spotlight Performance Academy since January 2019 and she is delighted to have joined the Community Choir this past summer.

Renee Miller is a Homewood resident and a Professional Development Facilitator and Coach for Erikson Institute. A lifelong musical theater lover, she believes in the power of music to create positive and empowering experiences for children.

Business owner, Wife, and Mother. Monica operates Grand Memorials, working with people at what most would consider the most sensitive times of their lives. Compassion, integrity, and professionalism are required and the cornerstone of her business. She runs her business from her home, giving her the opportunity to be very present in her 6th graders life. Monica has a B.A. in Marketing and a B.A. in Advertising from Bradley University and has had a range of job experience within the advertising industry and sales industry. In her later years in the workforce, she had a desire to have a more meaningful impact through work, and she dedicated nine years to a not-for-profit organization working with high-school girls on the south side of Chicago. Monica lives in Olympia Fields and is a newer resident of the south suburbs and appreciative of the opportunity to get involved. She first learned of the Spotlight Performance Academy after moving into the area and searching for summer camps and was pleasantly surprised to learn about their Bel Canto children’s choir program.

Amanda grew up singing, dancing, and playing instruments. In high school, she was a part of choir, jazz choir, show choir, musicals, and was a frequent National Anthem singer for sports events. At NIU she studied Vocal Performance and was a part of their Jazz Choir, Northern Lights. She came home from college to get married and starts a family. She teaches fastpitch softball part time in Mokena. She has 8 children and 3 grandchildren. All of her kids are involved in music. She has homeschooled 21 years and enjoys spending time with her family and singing in the Adult Community Choir. She really looks forward to helping this program grow. It has already done so much good in this community.

Where words fail, music speaks….

Hans Christian Andersen

Leah Sauvage is an English teacher and librarian at Homewood Flossmoor High School where she has served the students of this community for the past 20 years.

Leah and her husband, originally from Park Forest, live in Homewood with their two daughters, both of whom have been members of the Bel Canto choir from a young age. Leah has always had an affinity for jazz music, and plays saxophone in the community band.

Leah earned her BA from DePaul University, her MA from Concordia University Chicago, and her MS from the University of Illinois. She is a passionate and experienced educator committed to the south suburbs and the educational opportunities of its children. She will be assisting the Spotlight Performance Academy’s community engagement efforts.

Andrea grew up in Flossmoor, and now lives in Homewood as a mom of 3 musically talented children. She excitedly joined the BelCanto Community Choir on Day One, and has been a proud participant ever since. With a professional background in event planning and non-profit arts organization support, she brings experience and enthusiasm to the Spotlight board, and is dedicated to helping shine the community spotlight back on our organization to share with the community all the wonderful things Spotlight Performance Academy brings to the lives of our neighbors.

Sarah Whitlock received her Bachelor of Music Education Degree at Illinois State University. At ISU, Mrs. Whitlock was active in many groups such as the Symphonic Winds, Chamber Winds, and the Big Red Marching Machine. She was also president of the Delta Omicron Professional Music Fraternity. Upon graduation, Mrs. Whitlock taught Band and Choir at Bloom Township High School from 1999-2005. In 2005 she left Bloom to pursue her Masters in Wind Band Conducting from Central Michigan University. While at CMU, Mrs. Whitlock was a graduate teaching assistant and studied with Jack Williamson, formerly of Wheeling High School. There she taught undergraduate conducting, assisted with the Marching Chips, and conducted the Symphony and University Bands, and developed the Graduate Chamber Winds Program. During her time at CMU, Mrs. Whitlock was awarded the College Band Directors Association Gender and Ethics Scholarship at the Hart School of Music Conducting Symposium. Since Graduate School Mrs. Whitlock returned to Bloom Township District 206 as well as Argo Community High School. In addition, she has conducted several clinics in Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois. She has been a guest conductor for the South Suburban College Symphonic Band and the South Inter-Conference Association Honor Band. Mrs. Whitlock marched with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps for eight years. She has instructed the Pioneer, Phantom Regiment brass lines and was Brass Caption head for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. In the summer of 2021, Mrs Whitlock was awarded the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award. Mrs. Whitlock is in her 24th year of teaching and has been the Director of Bands at Homewood-Flossmoor High School since 2009.