Rachel Teigen Brackett is the K-5 General Music Teacher and Choir Director at Lakeview Elementary in Kirkland. She also teaches education and arts integration courses at Northwest University and Seattle University. In addition to these assignments Rachel has instructed private voice, piano, guitar and ukulele.She received her Bachelor of Music Education from Pacific Lutheran University in 2002 and her Master’s in Creative Arts and Learning from Lesley University in 2005.  She received her National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood Music in 2009.  She has been singing and performing all her life and has immense passion and enthusiasm for bringing the joy of music to children!  Rachel plays the music teacher “Miss Melody” in the children’s music curriculum “First Note” and frequently performs at preschools and birthday parties as a musical entertainer.  She lives in Seattle with her husband and daughter.

Olga Melnik is a seasoned and passionate children’s choir conductor with experience in leading and nurturing young voices. She began studying music at the age of 4 and has carried her love for singing throughout her formative years, spanning school, college, university, and her professional career. She holds a B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) in Music, specializing in choir conducting. Her educational background also includes Master of Education studies at St. Petersburg Pedagogical University. Olga is known for creating an engaging environment for music enthusiasts that fosters musical growth, self-expression, and a love for singing. Prior to joining Columbia, Olga served as a conductor and music teacher in several music schools and children’s academies in the Seattle area. She founded and served as the artistic conductor of the Confetti choir, which aims to broaden children’s horizons through songs and stories from various countries and continents, presented in their native languages. They also discover the joy of making music as one team. In addition, Olga was a member of the Seattle Symphony Chorale, performing at the Benaroya Hall and contributing to the rendition of monumental music by composers such as Handel, Beethoven, and Orff.