ABOUT US
Contact us today
ABOUT US
OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE, NURTURE, AND EMPOWER.
Sing Sing Sing!® came to life when the stars aligned bringing kindred spirits together through the joy of singing. Recognizing and bonding over the empowering impacts singing had on our own lives, we formed a strong belief that everyone CAN and SHOULD sing. Why? Because everyone deserves to feel this kind of empowerment. It can be life changing!
This belief led to the creation of Sing Sing Sing!, a magical place that provides unique opportunities, experiences and education for everyone through singing and music. We invite you to join us and Grab Life By the Mic!®
Jacki Smathers
Co-Founder/CEO
MEET OUR TEAM
SAMANTHA BEACHAM
SING SING SING! Bakerstown STUDIO MANAGER
VOICE & ACTING
Samantha Beacham is a graduate from Slippery Rock University with a BA in Music with a specialization in vocal performance. She attended Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, PA where she studied musical theater. She has performed in musicals for Pittsburgh Savoyards, Comtra Theatre, and The Red Barn Players. Some of her musical theater credits include ‘Young Frankenstein’, ‘I Love You. You’re Perfect. Now Change,’ and ‘Pirates of Penzance.’ She has also had the opportunity to perform in several operas during her time at SRU. Her opera credits include ‘The Old Maid and the Thief,’ and ‘Dido and Aeneas.’
Sam has been sharing her passion and skillset with Sing Sing Sing! students since 2018!
MARA FLANNERY
SING SING SING PERFORMANCE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
VOICE
Mara Flannery was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area and has been involved in music based activities her entire life. She became involved in musical theater in middle school and high school, and decided to pursue music as a career. She attended Slippery Rock University as a Voice Major where she discovered Music Therapy. This new career path joined her two loves, music and helping others. Upon graduating from Slippery Rock University in 2017, she completed her music therapy internship at Johns Hopkin’s All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018 and soon after became a Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC). When Mara moved back to the Pittsburgh area, she found Sing Sing Sing! and immediately felt at home. She identifies very strongly with Sing Sing Sing’s message that music and singing are for everyone, and that it‘s purpose is to bring joy, expression, and release into our lives. Mara teaches private lessons for voice and is also the Performance Group Director at both the Bakerstown and Wexford locations. Whether in private lessons, performance group rehearsals, or at SSS Shows, Mara hopes to foster an atmosphere of community, joy and growth so that students feel that they can truly be themselves, and find their own unique sound. Keep singing!
Sandamini Sinley
Wexford Studio Manager
Sandamini Sinley (Suhn-duh-mini) was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado with her mother, little sister, and brother, before moving to Pittsburgh for undergrad at Point Park University. Growing up as a dancer, Sandamini grew a love for music, working with musicians, and educating the younger dancers to pursue their passions. Through her time at Point Park University, her focus on dancers switched to educating and working towards building their careers. During her time at Point Park University, Sandamini acted as the Manager and Director of Operations for Pioneer Records, LLC., an on-campus record label, conducted two live concerts at the Club at Stage AE, acted as a free-lance manager for a few local artists, and graduated with a degree in Arts and Entertainment Management.
Sandamini is excited to be a part of the Sing Sing Sing! Team and be a part of the ever growing community.
EMMELINE JONES
Performance Group Choreographer
VOICE, PIANO, ACTING & PERForMANCE GROUPS
Emmeline Jones is a graduate of Point Park University where she currently holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts with a minor in Musical Theatre. Originally from Southern Maryland, Emmeline moved to Pittsburgh in 2016 to attend college and has since made the city her new home. Aside from her background in theatre and dance, her love for music began as a young child when she began studying classical violin and piano. She has performed in Pittsburgh at The Pittsburgh Playhouse and with Stage 62, as well as with theatres in Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland. jkmj Emmeline is thrilled to be able to share her joy for music, dance, and theatre with the next generation at Sing Sing Sing! Emmeline teachers voice, piano and acting at SSS.
In addition to teaching private lessons, Emmeline teaches several of our Performance Groups and is responsible for the choreography across the Performance Group Program.
MICHAEL COOK
GUITAR, UKULELE, BASS, VOICE, & SONGWRITING
Michael Cook is a seasoned musician with professional guitar and vocal training and performance skills. Michael has been studying and performing music since the age of seven and has studied under many different private vocal and instrumental teachers, including the highly sought after vocal coach, Robert Fire.
In addition to his guitar and vocal skills, Mike is skilled at playing many other instruments, including brass, woodwinds, percussion, and various string instruments. He has appeared in many stage productions and musicals, and also sings professionally with the The Gibbons Big Band and leads a band called The Forest Floor. With the Forest Floor, Mike has been working on a full-length album of his original music, with two singles already released on streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Pandora, YouTube and more.
In his lessons Mike hopes to inspire a love of music, through creating a relaxed, fun, and open environment that leads all students to experience confidence, successful progress, and joyful self-expression.
ZACH STADTLANDER
Adjunct Recording specialist
Zach Stadtlander is an experienced musician with years of training in guitar, bass, singing, and music technology. He has studied and performed music since the age of eleven. Zach joined his first band, Nox Boys, playing bass guitar at age sixteen and began performing professionally, which led to invaluable experience in live performance and in the process of writing, arranging, recording, and publishing full quality studio recordings. As a young musician, Zach worked to provide all-ages spaces to share the talents of other musicians in his age group. Zach was twice certified in the "Tuff Sound Apprenticeship" program, which teaches students about the process of recording, mixing, live sound reinforcement, and electronic composition. He also studied music technology, guitar performance, and choir at Duquesne University. With his lessons, Zach aims to inspire passion for music and performance by working with students to discover the scope of their musical interests. With a relaxed yet engaging style, Zach will have students looking forward to lessons and ready to rock!
Kaitlynn Sinclair
Director of Piano Curriculum
PIANO
Kaitlynn Sinclair has a BA in Music and an MA in Performance: Piano Pedagogy. She plans to pursue a Doctorate in Vocal Coaching! Her solo performances include degree recitals, seminars, piano festivals, and charity concerts she has organized. Kait also loves accompanying voice students and musicals. She has been teaching for over 10 years and welcomes all ages and abilities.
Rachel Pekor
VOICE, PIANO & GUITAR
Rachel grew up in Southern Ontario just outside of Toronto in a very musical family. Rachel's musical journey began at the age of six when she started cello lessons. Shortly after, she started singing in choirs where her love of music continued. She began taking voice lessons in middle school and then began studying guitar and piano in high school. Rachel participated in many musicals, choirs, bands and even conducted two choirs while still in high school. She continued to pursue her passion for music in college at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario Canada. While in college, Rachel began teaching piano lessons and discovered her passion for teaching and helping people through music. This led her to receive her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy, specializing in vocal performance and she became a licensed Music Therapist.
Rachel loves teaching music and is very passionate about connecting with students. She loves helping them grow to reach their goals while instilling a love and joy for music.
Whitney hayes
adjunct VOICE & ACTING teacher
WHITNEY HAYES is a graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Musical Theatre and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association*. Her favorite performance credits include, performing in the inaugural cast of Another Rose as the Chanteuse, on board Richard Branson’s Scarlet Lady with Virgin Voyages. She was also in The Happenings Cast as The Hostess, on the Scarlet Lady and the Valiant Lady. Elf the Musical! National Tour as Deb, Menopause the Musical National Tour as Power Woman. Regional credits include, Ain’t Misbehavin’ * as Armelia McQueen, Chicago as Matron Mama Morton, and Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle. Whitney loves singing in concerts such as 54 Below and The House of Yes in New York City. When she is not on stage, Whitney can be heard as a vocalist on back ground vocal recordings and voice over tracks in theme parks, cheerleading competitions and various commercials (RWS Entertainment Group/Cheer America/ Nickelodeon Hotels& Resorts Riviera Maya). She has taught many Musical Theatre Workshops (Vincentian Academy/ North Hills High School/ Ocean City Theatre Company) and loves coaching students of all ages and abilities. Whitney can also be found working as the Production Coordinator for theme park entertainment installations around the United States (RWS Entertainment Group) as well as ringing in the new year in Times Square as the Production Coordinator (Countdown Entertainment) for New Years Rockin’ Eve. Whitney is honored to be a part of the team at Sing Sing Sing and cannot wait to empower young vocalists with the tools to succeed!
RICHARD BRESENHAN
VOICE & PERFROMANCE GROUPS
Richard Bresenhan has always had a love for singing and for the awesomeness of vocal harmonies. His love and passion for music led him to attend Edinboro University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance.
Rich loves to sing and continues to do so whenever he can. He has performed with the Voices of Liberty and the Dapper Dans at Walt Disney World in Florida. He was also the lead singer for the national touring Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Tribute Band, where he wrote the vocal arrangements and also coached the group. For the past 15 years Rich has been the Vocal Director and Worship Leader at the University Carillon Church in Oviedo, Florida, where he utilized his skills as a performer to help train singers to lead worship and provide harmonies for services. When not performing or vocal coaching, Rich enjoys arranging music for contemporary worship singers, vocal groups, and other ensembles.
In addition to teaching voice at Sing Sing Sing!, Rich is also the Director of SSS’s adult performance groups, the YOLOS and Dudes That Sing (DTS).
Megan pennington
guitar, songwriting, beginner piano and group class instruction
Megan Pennington has lived a life submerged in the world of music. She graduated from Shaler Area High School and earned her Associate's Degree in music at the Community College of Allegheny County. During her time in school, Megan participated in marching band, various choirs, theater and live performance. College also allowed Megan to obtain knowledge on music production. In addition to an education in music, Megan has spent the last 10 years performing live music in bands and as a solo artist. She has released 4 singles and a 6-track LP. Her singles "Free" and "Big Ball of Crazy" hit #1 in Indie Nashville, and songs "Whole Lotta Trouble" "Nowhere, Ohio" and "Let's Make a Date" have hit various independent charts from around the world. In her current life, Megan is the frontman of Bluesy Folk band, Moonshine Jasmine. She also owns and runs ScarFire Radio, and works with Shady Lady Productions. Megan takes pride in her musical experience, and she hopes to be able to share her wealth of knowledge with her own children, and those around our beautiful community.
ALYSON Blackburn
voice
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Alyson Blackburn is a classically trained vocalist with a lifelong passion for music and the arts. She began her musical journey in childhood under the instruction of her grandfather, developing a foundation that inspired her pursuit of a career in music and performance. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a media emphasis from Norfolk State University, a distinguished HBCU in Virginia, where she studied vocal performance, live sound recording, and stage management.
Alyson’s experience spans a wide range of musical styles, including opera, jazz, pop, R&B, musical theatre, and gospel. She has performed extensively in various capacities, from choral and jazz ensembles to gospel choirs and even as a member of her HBCU’s marching band drumline!
In addition to her work as a vocalist, she has experience in live theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes. Alyson has worked with FAME Academy, where she mentored aspiring student teachers, and she is also the owner of Kolor-N-Kiln Pottery Studio, where she fosters creativity through visual arts.
Alyson is a charter member of the Lambda Rho Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and an alumna of the Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc. A recognized leader in the Pittsburgh community, Alyson was honored as a 2023 Pittsburgh Courier 40 Under 40 award recipient. She was also recognized by the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Pittsburgh with the 2018 Excellence in Service Award through her membership in Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Alyson is passionate about helping students discover the uniqueness of their voices and have a blast while unleashing the music within.
Tara Leisie
piano
Rachel Huff MM, MT-BC
Voice, Guitar & Piano
Rachel has an undergraduate degree in Voice from Ithaca College and a Master's Degree in Music Therapy from Colorado State University and is currently a Board Certified Music Therapist with UPMC. She is from Connecticut and has been in Pittsburgh for about a year and a half! She loves to watch youtube and scroll on tik tok and snuggle with her cat while reading a good book. Her primary is voice and her most comfortable secondary is guitar, but she also plays piano.
Zach Lay
Piano & Drums
Zach Lay graduated from West Virginia University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in music education. Zach took private piano lessons for 9 years, and studied piano and organ while in college. After graduating, he taught general music and chorus in Germantown Maryland, before moving to Pittsburgh. Besides piano, Zach also has experience playing piano/percussion in community concert bands, singing in college choirs, and playing in community/college steel drum bands.
Zach believes that music is for everyone, and that every student can be a great musician through effective effort. He believes that in addition to hard work, it’s just as important to have fun! For students to excel, it’s important that they find joy in learning their instrument. He values learning more about what students expect and love about music, to better motivate and support them. Zach works with students to set goals for how they want to grow as a musician.
Grace Campbell
Voice, Guitar & Songwriting
Hailing from West Virginia, Grace Campbell brings her unique charm to the music scene. Her captivating songwriting and magnetic personality have garnered her a dedicated fan base both locally and on social media.
Grace has transcended the Appalachian region with her music. She continues to grow her regional fanbase through live appearances, a strong social media presence, and the genuine connection she makes with her audience. Her live appearances have included working with notable artists such as: Kathy Mattea, Kidd G, Avery Anna, Philip Bowen, Kassi Valazza, The Plain White T’s, and Melissa Etheridge.
