Brighter Minds Music-MENDOTA HEIGHTS Location

Alex Rack is currently enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a masters candidate in choral conducting under Dr. Kathy Romey and Dr. Matthew Mehaffey. Rack is the co-director and teaching assistant for the forty voice University Gospel Choir and the seventy voice Campus Singers Maroon. This year Rack founded the Minneapolis Madrigal Singers— a chamber ensemble singing renaissance madrigals and new works.

As a Pennsylvania native, Rack moved to Minnesota to attend Macalester College where he received a bachelor of arts in music with a minor in psychology and was the recipient of the Zenas Taylor Endowed Prize in Music. After graduation, Rack worked as the assistant conductor of the Macalester Chorale under the direction of Micheal McGaghie.

As a baritone, Rack has been active in the Minnesota choral community performing with Singers in Accord, Border CrosSing, Minnesota Renaissance Choir, Byzantine Choral Festival of Minnesota, and as bass section leader of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church and the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale.  Rack is a passionate educator and has worked as a co-teacher in the after school program ComMUSICation, a tutor in the Minneapolis Public School system, and a private lesson instructor at Brighter Minds Music.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Amanda began learning to play the guitar when she was 12 years old. She switched to bass guitar a few years later, and began playing the violin when she was 17. After studying Psychology, she did a Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Performing Arts, specializing in Music, followed by a diploma in Western Classical Music, both at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. She moved to Duluth in 2016 to pursue a Master of Music in Music Education at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and moved to the Twin Cities in 2018 to teach general music. 

Amanda has studied chamber and solo music at several music festivals in England and Canada. Most of her playing experience has been in orchestras, rock bands, and accompanying indie singer/songwriters. She has taught many violin students between the ages of 4 and 70, and has been teaching individual and group lessons for the past 8 years. Apart from teaching and playing music, Amanda enjoys doing yoga, calligraphy, reading, and roller derby.

Emily Ireland has helped hundreds of families discover the joy of playing and sharing music. She has been a full-time piano and early childhood music teacher since 2002, and delights in bringing new and familiar musical experiences to students. Ms Ireland has been trained in the Kindermusik, MacPhail Center for Music and Musikgarten curriculum, and has received training in Kodaly and Dalcroze.

With a a master's degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas, and a bachelor's degree in music and German from Gustavus Adolphus College, Ms Ireland's educational background will ensure that you receive the best in music education.

In classes with Emily, you and your loved ones will create special friendships and have fun learning and making music together. In piano lessons with Emily, you or your loved one will learn to play quickly - and more importantly, correctly – with her guidance. Emily is committed to making sure her students discover the joy that comes with making music.

Ms Ireland is actively involved in the music community, a member of music teacher organizations such as Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA), St. Paul Piano Teachers Association (SPPTA), and Association of Professional Piano Teachers (APPI).

Please contact Emily to discuss how she can help you or someone you care about discover the joy of making music.