Hope Beason - Piano

 HOPE IS A HOMESCHOOL GRADUATE AND IS IN HER FINAL SEMESTER AT SNEAD STATE COLLEGE WHERE SHE RECEIVED A FULL MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP. SHE BEGAN MUSIC STUDIES AT THE AGE OF 9 MONTHS IN HER MOM'S KINDERMUSIK CLASS. SINCE THEN, SHE HAS BECOME AN ACCOMPLISHED PIANIST AND PLAYS SEVERAL OTHER INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING GUITAR, DRUMS, BASS, BANJO AND ACCORDION. 

A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE "HISTORIC NEELY THEATRE HOUSEBAND" AT THE HISTORIC NEELY THEATRE, HOPE HAS PLAYED A HOST OF INSTRUMENTS AND HAS BEEN A FEATURED VOCALIST IN "HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS", "SWEETS AND SERENADES" AND WILL PERFORM IN "A NEELY CABARET" AND "THE 80'S SHOW" THIS SUMMER.

SHE HAS ALSO BEEN IN COVERED BRIDGE PLAYERS "70'S SHOW" WHERE SHE SANG, PLAYED KEYBOARD AND THE DRUMS AS SHE REPRESENTED KAREN CARPENTER AND CAROLE KING. SHE ALSO PORTRAYED BOBBIE GENTRY DURING THE "60'S MUSIC HOUR". 

HOPE RECENTLY RECEIVED HER ASSOCIATES DEGREE FROM SNEAD STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHERE SHE WAS AWARDED A MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP. SHE WILL BEGIN UAB THIS FALL TO CONTINUE HER STUDIES.

 FAITH HAS BEEN TEACHING AT THE NEELY FOR THREE YEARS AS LITTLE MOZARTS PIANO CLASS ASSISTANT AND PRIVATE LESSON INSTRUCTOR. FAITH HAS STUDIED PIANO FOR 9 YEARS, CLARINET FOR TWO YEARS AND WAS A KINDERMUSIK STUDENT AT THE NEELY FOR 7 YEARS.

FOR TWO YEARS, SHE HELD THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE DECADES MUSIC SHOWS FOR COVERED BRIDGE PLAYERS AND LAST YEAR, SHE DECIDED TO TAKE THE STAGE PORTRAYING LORETTA LYNN AND DOLLY PARTON. 

FAITH IS NOW A PART OF HISTORIC NEELY THEATRE PRODUCTIONS AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSEBAND AS WELL AS A FEATURED VOCALIST. 

FAITH RECENTLY GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND WILL BEGIN PRE-NURSING STUDIES THIS FALL AT WALLACE STATE, WHERE SHE HAS BEEN AWARDED A FULL PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP.

FAITH LIVES IN ONEONTA AND ENJOYS HER CATS APOLLO, CHEDDAR, PENNY, EVE AND FRODO.

  THE NEELY IS EXCITED TO WELCOME MS. CAROLL BACK FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER AS A VOICE INSTRUCTOR. SHE JUST FINISHED HER FIRST YEAR AS THE NEW MUSIC AND DRAMA TEACHER AT ONEONTA MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. SHE IS A NATIVE OF ALBERTVILLE AND RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY. WHILE AT JSU, SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE A CAPPELLA CHOIR, CHAMBER SINGERS, SHOW CHOIR, MARCHING SOUTHERNERS, JAZZ BAND, CONTEMPORARY COMBO (VOCALIST), AND WAS THE STUDENT DIRECTOR OF THE JSU VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE. IN FEBRUARY OF 2023, ALLISON PLACED 3RD IN THE MUSICAL THEATRE CATEGORY AND 4TH IN THE CLASSICAL CATEGORY AT THE ALABAMA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS OF SINGING COMPETITION. SHE HAS THOROUGHLY ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HER SECOND YEAR AT OMS/OHS. 

  THE NEELY IS THRILLED TO HAVE MS. EGAN ON STAFF FOR HER SIXTH YEAR. SHE RECEIVED HER THEATER DEGREE FROM BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN COLLEGE WHERE SHE STUDIED VOICE FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS WITH JANE GLASER. MINDY HAS BEEN A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE BIRMINGHAM THEATER COMMUNITY FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS. SHE SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL THEATRE WHERE SHE HAS DESIGNED AND PERFORMED IN OVER 50 PRODUCTIONS.

SHE IS ALSO CO-FOUNDER AND BOARD MEMBER FOR COVERED BRIDGE PLAYERS IN ONEONTA. MINDY IS CONTINUING FOR HER SECOND YEAR AS TECHNICAL STAGE MANAGER AT VESTAVIA HIGH SCHOOL SHE IS MARRIED TO LT. DAVID EGAN OF THE ONEONTA POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY RESIDE IN ONEONTA WITH THEIR SON GLENO. THEIR SON, LOGAN IS A FRESHMAN AT UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE.

 ZACHARY HORN IS A 2025 GRADUATE OF LOCUST FORK HIGH SCHOOL.

HIS JOURNEY WITH MUSIC BEGAN IN MRS. DEBORAH'S KINDERMUSIK CLASS, WHERE HE LEARNED THE FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC. HE CONTINUED HIS PIANO STUDIES FOR TEN YEARS AND, AS A RESULT, PLAYING THE PIANO HAS BECOME A HUGE PART OF ZACH'S LIFE. HE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL AND PERFORM WITH THE PRAISE BAND AT SOLID ROCK CHURCH. IN 2018, ZACH WAS HONORED TO BE CHOSEN AS A WINNER AT THE STATE PIANO COMPETITION OF THE ALABAMA MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. ZACHARY HAS ALSO BEEN ASKED TO PLAY FOR CIVIC EVENTS, AND SCHOOL AND CHURCH ACTIVITIES. HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE MARCHING BAND AT LOCUST FORK THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS AWARDED A PIANO SCHOLARSHIP TO SNEAD STATE WHERE IS STUDYING WITH DR, MONICA BAKER. NOW, HE IS EXCITED TO SHARE WHAT HE HAS LEARNED AND IS THRILLED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHERS GET STARTED ON THEIR OWN MUSICAL JOURNEY AND HELP TO DISCOVER THE SAME PASSION FOR MUSIC THAT HAS MEANT SO MUCH IN HIS LIFE.

 J. Cody Hunt is an actor, teaching artist, and fight director with an MFA in Acting from Northern Illinois University and a passion for helping performers grow in confidence, technique, and storytelling. With professional experience in acting, audition preparation, and stage combat, 

Cody brings a supportive, personalized approach to private coaching for actors of all ages and experience levels. His recent performance credits include productions at Homewood Theatre, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre, and Sight & Sound Theatres, with roles ranging from Macbeth to Jesus to Father Christmas. Whether preparing for auditions, developing monologues, or building foundational acting skills, Cody’s lessons focus on helping each student connect authentically, take creative risks, and shine both onstage and in the audition room.

  MUSIC HAS BEEN A LIFELONG PASSION FOR MS. MEGAN AND

SHE IS THRILLED TO BE SHARING IT AS PART OF THE NEELY FAMILY! SHE BEGAN HER JOURNEY STUDYING MUSIC AND LIBERAL ARTS AT JEFFERSON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON A CHORAL SCHOLARSHIP. SINCE 2019, MEGAN HAS HAD THE JOY OF TEACHING BEGINNER AND INTERMEDIATE PIANO TO BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS THROUGH MUSICALITY STUDIOS

MEGAN IS A PROUD MOM OF TWO AND BONUS MOM TO THREE.

SHE IS FINALLY LIVING HER DREAM TO LIVE IN THE CHARMING CITY OF ONEONTA. MEGAN CONSIDERS HELPING STUDENTS DISCOVER THEIR OWN LOVE FOR MUSIC IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BLESSINGS IN LIFE, AND SHE IS EXCITED TO MEET YOU ALL! WELCOME TO THE NEELY AND ONEONTA, MEGAN KELLER!|

    ISAIAH IS A GRADUATE OF SPRINGVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AND AN ALUMNI OF GADSDEN STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE HE STUDIED MUSIC. ISAIAH STARTED SERIOUSLY PURSUING MUSIC AT THE AGE OF 13 WHEN HE FIRST STARTED LEADING WORSHIP. AT THE AGE OF 15 HE STARTED PLAYING GIGS IN RESTAURANTS.

HE WORKED HARD MUSICALLY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL BAND. HE WAS FIRST CHAIR TRUMPET MY SOPHOMORE-SENIOR YEARS.

ISAIAH RECEIVED A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO GADSDEN STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE HE PERFORMED IN THE GADSDEN STATE SHOW BAND, AND GADSDEN STATE ACAPELLA CHOIR FOR 2 YEARS.

HE PLAYS GUITAR, TRUMPET, PIANO, AND HARMONICA, AND ALSO SINGS. HE WAS A CONTESTANT ON AMERICAN IDOL THIS PAST SEASON, WHERE HE MADE IT TO THE TOP 50. ISAIAH IS LOOKING FORWARD TO TEACHING GUITAR THIS YEAR. HE PLANS TO FINISH HIS DEGREE IN MUSIC EDUCATION AND TEACH MUSIC FOR YEARS TO COME.

   BORN IN SENEGAL, WEST AFRICA, AND NOW LIVING IN ONEONTA, ALABAMA, EDOUARD NDECKY IS A FATHER TO AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY AND A PASSIONATE FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST. HE IS AN ATHLETE, TRAINER, WORSHIPER, AND SPEAKER, WHOSE LOVE FOR MUSIC-ESPECIALLY PERCUSSION-HAS BEEN A CONSTANT SINCE CHILDHOOD.

FROM USING PLASTIC BOTTLES AS DRUMS AS A YOUNG BOY TO NOW PLAYING IN CHURCH AND WITH BANDS, MUSIC HAS SHAPED HIS JOURNEY. A GIFTED MUSICIAN WITH A HEART FOR THE NATIONS, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, EDOUARD IS COMMITTED TO TEACHING OTHERS HOW TO USE THEIR TALENTS AND GOD'S GIFTS TO IMPACT THE WORLD.

   THE NEELY WELCOMES MS. ELENA BACK FOR HER SECOND YEAR AS PIANO AND SAXOPHONE INSTRUCTOR. SHE IS ORIGINALLY FROM NEDERLAND, TEXAS AND HAS AN EXTENSIVE MUSICAL BACKGROUND. ELENA HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED HER BACHELOR'S IN MUSIC EDUCATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. MS. ELENA BEGAN HER MUSICAL JOURNEY AS A PIANO STUDENT AT THE AGE OF 4. WHILE GROWING UP, SHE PERFORMED IN TALENT SHOWS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WON BEST PERFORMANCE AT A YOUNG AGE. DURING HER HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, SHE WAS IN THE NEDERLAND GOLDEN PRIDE MARCHING BAND WHERE SHE PLAYED SAXOPHONE AND ALSO PERFORMED AS COLOR GUARD, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHOSEN AS CAPTAIN HER SENIOR YEAR.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, ELENA STUDIED COMMERCIAL MUSIC AT LAMAR STATE COLLEGE PORT ARTHUR. SHE PERFORMED IN THEIR BAND CALLED SECTION 51 TOURING BAND ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS IN HER COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

ELENA WAS A SAXOPHONIST, KEYBOARDIST, AND SINGER IN THE COMMERCIAL MUSIC PROGRAM UNTIL 2019 WHEN SHE TRANSFERRED TO LAMAR UNIVERSITY TO STUDY MUSIC EDUCATION. WHILE THERE, SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM AT THE MARDI GRAS PARADE IN NEW ORLEANS IN 2020 AND ALSO AT THE NRG STADIUM IN HOUSTON, TX. WHILE STUDYING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, SHE STUDIED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DR. JONATHAN NOFFSINGER. HER EDUCATION IN MUSIC THEORY, EAR TRAINING, CONDUCTING, AND INSTRUMENTS HAS EXPANDED AND SHE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING HER KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE OF MUSIC TO HER STUDENTS!

   THE NEELY WELCOMES TALMADGE TO THE LINEUP OF INSTRUCTORS AT THE NEELY SCHOOL OF MUSIC. 

TALMADGE HAS 11 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PLAYING GUITAR . 

HE ALSO HAS MULTIPLE YEARS OF WORKING WITH STUDENTS IN A MINISTRY SETTING.

   NO STRANGER TO MUSIC OR THE NEELY, MELANIE IS HONORED TO SERVE AS THE WEBSITE MANAGER AND CONTENT CREATOR FOR THE NEELY SCHOOL OF MUSIC. 

SHE HAS BEEN PLAYING DRUMS SINCE SHE WAS 13 AND HAS SERVED IN VARIOUS WAYS IN MUSIC MINISTRY, CURRENTLY IN THE CHANCEL CHOIR AT LESTER MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH. 

MELANIE IS ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF THE RECENTLY FOUNDED NEELY PRODUCTIONS HOUSE BAND AS DRUMMER.