Meet our teachers…

Executive Director of Spotlight Performance Academy, Director of Bel Canto Choir Program

Bel Canto Youth Choir / Bel Canto Concert Choir / Bel Canto Community Choir

Carrie Bonanotte serves as the 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. In 2025, she received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Eastern Illinois University for the work she does in her community. Carrie takes pride in connecting with her students while creating an atmosphere of compassion and excitement for every class.

Nail Your Audition

William Akins is a versatile and down-to-earth performer whose larger-than-life personality is complemented by heartfelt emotion, allowing him to connect deeply with audiences through music and stage performances. Born and raised in Northwest Indiana, Will is the eldest of his siblings and grew up in a Baptist church environment where his extraordinary talent was recognized early on. His upbringing included playing football, which instilled a strong work ethic and the importance of teamwork. The lessons learned from his coaches, including his father, fostered endurance and self-motivation—values that Will carries into every project he undertakes.

Will's passion for performance ignited during his freshman year of high school when he starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, earning a supporting lead role alongside upperclassmen. This production not only garnered local attention but was also a test run for community theaters. Following this success, he performed in Les Misérables. By the time he graduated high school in 2014, Will had participated in nearly 25 productions, many directed by Michael J. and Melinda Reinhart, whom he considers his extra parents. Their mentorship provided him with invaluable theatrical lessons that he applies in his career today.

During college, Will transitioned from performance to education (while adding another 20 shows to his repertoire). He studied under Dr. Dan and Lisa Miller and Dr. Mathew Latta, who helped him refine his performance technique. Additionally, Dr. Scott Buchanan and Dr. Yana Weinstein contributed to his musical education technique and pedagogy. Since 2017, Will has been teaching voice privately, starting at the Community School of the Arts. His engaging teaching style has made him a favorite among students, leading to meaningful contributions to their aspirations in the performing arts.

Currently, Will performs under the stage name “Uncle Willy,” a name given to him by friends in college to reflect his supportive and fun-loving spirit. As Uncle Willy, he performs regularly at one of Chicago’s oldest bars and participates in various open mics and comedy clubs. Beyond performing, Will enjoys golfing, bowling, and amateur photography. He also loves watching movies and episodes of Criminal Minds. A devoted individual, Will cherishes his relationship with God and remains grateful for his blessings, always reminding himself and others, “Don’t suck; it’s easy to do. You just don’t do it.” Uncle Willy is eager to collaborate on future projects and share his passion for performance with audiences.

Intro to Hoop Dance for Grades 5-8 /

Intro to Hoop Dance for Adults

Aurora Anaya is a hoop instructor, dance enthusiast, and prior performer who has dabbled in hip hop, ballet, bellydance, tap, and tango. She has taught hoop classes at Room to Move Studio in Steger as well as performed at a variety events from birthday parties to special business events to festivals. She has performed with fire hula hoops for large crowds and has mastered up to 3 regular hoops on the body. She also had a hula hoop business where she sold custom beginner, intermediate, and advanced hula hoops as well as fire hula hoops. She is looking forward to teaching adults and children what she knows best - using your hula hoop as a dance partner!

Bel Canto Accompanist

3 Minutes in the Spotlight

Jeff Hamrick has worked as an accompanist, singer, and diction coach in the Chicago area since 1990. He is a former member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus; His Majestie’s Clerkes (now Bella Voce); the Scholars of Cambrai; the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter’s in the Loop; Music of the Baroque, under Thomas Wikman; and Cantate, for which he also accompanied and occasionally assisted director Benjamin Rivera with rehearsals. He was a professional chorister and soloist at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, St. James Cathedral, Holy Name Cathedral, St. Wenceslaus Church, St. Chrysostom Church, and St. John Cantius Church. He served as pianist at Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist in Palatine from 2003 to 2014 and also as music director beginning in 2005. He joined the staff at First Unitarian Church of Chicago as collaborative keyboardist in 2014 and served as music director and keyboardist from 2015 to 2021. He was pianist and organist at Flossmoor Community Church from 2021 to 2024. Jeff also serves as the accompanist for the Bel Canto choirs.

Jeff was invited by founding director Margaret Hillis to coach the Chicago Symphony Chorus in Russian (and later other Slavic languages) beginning in 1993 and served in the same role for the Grant Park Chorus beginning in 1995 and the Lyric Opera Chorus beginning in 2014.

As a student at Emory University, Jeff sang in the Glee Club, Chamber Choir, and Men’s Quartet beginning as a freshman. He also accompanied numerous students in the studio of his voice teacher, Mac Morgan, and accompanied school musicals as well. He music directed Baby (Emory, 1989) and Cabaret (University of Chicago, 1991). He studied conducting under Dr. Ann Howard Jones and was privileged to sing in the first season of the Robert Shaw Festival Singers in Souillac, France, in 1988.

During the week, Jeff is typically fixing commas and reworking unclear sentences in his job as a manuscript editor at the University of Chicago Press. In his spare time, he can be found making similar refinements to the extensive gardens he lovingly tends with his partner Chris Ball at their Flossmoor home.

Through his thoughtful and supportive musical collaboration, Jeff has always aspired to help his fellow musicians, whether amateur or professional, rise to any challenge and perform with grace, ease, and confidence.

Nail Your Audition

Meg has been active in community theatre in Northwest Indiana for nearly three years, directing and contributing to productions across the region and into Illinois. Before relocating to Indiana, she performed as an actor in community theatre in New Jersey. Her recent directing credits include Pippin, Young Frankenstein, and Ordinary Days.

Meg is passionate about fostering a theatrical environment rooted in inclusivity, acceptance, and diversity. She aims to help performers of all ages build confidence and shine by celebrating their unique talents. In addition to creating a supportive artistic space, Meg believes deeply in the importance of lifelong learning. She encourages continued education in the arts, regardless of age or background, and strives to make theatre a place where personal and creative growth are always possible.

Musical Theater Dance

Jennifer realized at an early age that she loves to move, and has been dancing and performing since age 5!  Her first job at 13 was an assistant dance teacher and her second job at 15 was a gymnastics/tumbling teacher!  She participated in theatre, dance, gymnastics and choir throughout her childhood and as a young adult.  In addition to dance and gymnastics, she's taught swimming, self-defense (as a for-credit class at DePaul University), group fitness classes, lifeguard training, CPR, First Aid, teambuilding, Pilates and GYROTONIC exercise.  She has taught Pilates since 2006 and the GYROTONIC® Method since 2016 (mostly at the East Bank Club in Chicago, where she was a Senior Instructor) and opened her home studio (Pulley and Spring) in 2022, where she sees weekly private clients.   She has a bachelor's degree in Leisure Studies/Program Management and a master's degree in Higher Education Administration, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  She took performing arts classes all throughout her college career, including ballet, modern dance, jazz, theatre dance, choir, acting, directing and improv. 

All of her three children have participated in musical theatre.  While helping her kids learn material and prepare for auditions, she realized how much she missed the performing arts and started performing and teaching dance again in 2022.  She has choreographed three musicals for Joliet Central High School (. . . Spelling Bee, Little Shop of Horrors, and Six) and contributed to Spotlight Performance Academy's Haunting in Homewood (2024), and The Drama Group's 2024 production of Hair.  She has recently performed in shows with Spotlight Performance Academy, The Drama Group and Spotlight Arts Collective.  She also directed and choreographed the 2023 "mini musical" version of Matilda for Infant Jesus of Prague school.  

Most recently, she offered pop-up musical theatre dance classes for the Spotlight Performance Academy, and is thrilled to turn this class into a weekly course where we can develop skills and learn more complicated choreography while still getting a great workout!  

Storytelling for All

Richard Pniewski is a retired CPS English and Drama teacher, having prepared and sent students, over the years, to competitions such as the August Wilson Monologue Competition, the ISHA Group Interpretation and Drama Competitions, and the Chicago Student Showcase. He has directed plays for Artcraft Theatre in the Beverly neighborhood, Evergreen Park's Candlelight Theatre, 23 Miles South, and Spotlight Performance Academy. As a storyteller he has appeared at Do Not Submit, This Much is True, Homewood Stories, Life out Loud, as well as other venues, and is a Moth winner. He believes personal storytelling is a way to connect with others and realize our experiences are universal.

Miss Angie’s Music Makers / Children’s Choir

Angie Pope has been teaching early childhood family music classes since 2010, when she became a certified Musikgarten educator. In 2012 she founded "Miss Angie's Music" and currently teaches toddler and preschool level classes at various locations in the south suburbs. In addition to directing the Bel Canto Children's Choir, she also directs the Cherub Choir at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Palos Heights. She has run successful music programs at several Montessori schools in the area, and continues to entertain children and their families at countless farmers markets, libraries, school functions, Girl Scout gatherings, and mom group meetings. Since 2020 she has volunteered at Gigi's Playhouse in Tinley Park, where she teaches the monthly "Music in Motion" program. Angie is also a professional vocalist with Beatmix Music, leading and performing with the band “BPM” most weekends at private events. She was a member of TheatreBAM! Chicago for 16 years, with whom she performed several educational musicals including "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" at theaters and elementary schools throughout the country. Angie is extremely passionate about music and feels blessed to be able to share her love of music with people of all ages!

Click HERE to learn more about Miss Angie’s Music!

Find her on FaceBook and Instagram under “Miss Angie’s Music LLC”.