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Our Teachers
Meet our joyful teachers!
Ms. Clara
Owner and Director
As the daughter of two symphony musicians and a fifth-generation musician, music has always held a deep and profound place in Clara D’Onofrio’s heart. Her lifelong musical training, along with her background as a musical theatre performer, gave “Ms. Clara” a natural understanding of the joy, connection, and confidence that music can inspire.
Clara also earned her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northwestern University, where her studies focused heavily on child development. Drawing upon both her musical heritage and her understanding of how young children learn, grow, and connect, she created the complete Mini Musicians curriculum- an extensive collection of nearly 200 songs, rhymes, and musical activities designed to support children’s language, movement, rhythm, creativity, attention, self-regulation, and social development.
She feels incredibly blessed to have created a career that allows her to combine her passion for music with her love and knowledge of early childhood development. Above all, Ms. Clara is dedicated to living a life filled with joy, laughter, love, connection, and fun!
Ms. Nina
Nina is so excited to be able to pursue her passions of music, children, and teaching at the Brookfield Academy of Mini Musicians! She has taught preschool, nannied for children, and has two young children of her own with whom she has loved sharing the joy of music.
Nina has enjoyed singing in different Chicagoland choirs and performing with many different theatre companies. She received her degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in music from Concordia University in River Forest. She loves to share her love of music with little ones!
Ms. Nina teaches all classes on Sundays (AM), Mondays (PM), and Wednesdays (AM & PM) as well as offsite classes in local preschools and libraries. Ms. Nina also serves as our Director of Operations.
Ms. Camryn
Coming from a long line of performers, Camryn carries on her family’s love and passion for the performing arts. Camryn has always loved anything to do with singing, dancing, and musical theatre. Just recently, she earned her Bachelor of Arts from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, in May 2023 with a double major in Theatre Arts Musical Theatre Concentration and Multimedia Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC). Some of her all time favorite musicals she's been a part of have been Annie where she played Annie, the Midwest Premiere of Be More Chill, and Cabaret where she played the lead role of Sally Bowles.
Ms. Camryn loves working with children and has worked as a guest dance teacher at Maywood Fine Arts for children 8+, nannied for several families with children 3 months and older, and serves as Child Care Manager for Sunday services at The First Congregational Church of Western Springs. She is excited to work with the students at BAMM!
Ms. Camryn teaches all classes on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday afternoons as well as offsite classes at local preschools and daycares.
Ms. Shelby
Shelby Marie Edwards is a teacher, actor, solo performer, and poet born and raised in Charlottesville, VA. She is excited to work with the students at BAMM!
Shelby has taught at companies like the Auditorium Theatre, Chicago Poetry Center and Live Arts. Chicago Theatre Credits include The Wedding Singer (Surging Films and Theatrics), Liberators: An American Musical, Lucky: A Musical (Chicago Musical Theatre Festival); Monger (Her Story Theatre); Holly’s Ivy, Lost Home Win Home (Lifeline Theatre). Regional credits include Chicken & Biscuits (Virginia Repertory Theatre), Little Women (Virginia Theatre Festival. Film Credits include HBO’s Lovecraft Country.
Shelby received her Masters from the University of Chicago and her Bachelors from Virginia Commonwealth University.
In her free time, Shelby enjoys the simple pleasures of life, like walking along the lakefront, going to a farmers market and walking her dog, Mr. Ashe.
Ms. Shelby teaches all classes on Saturday mornings.
Ms. Kya
Kya is thrilled to be part of the Brookfield Academy of Mini Musicians team! As singer-songwriter and infant/toddler nanny from Florida, Kya is passionate about encouraging children’s development through music.
She earned her Bachelor of Science from Florida A&M University, using her interdisciplinary degree to study psychobiology, development, and health in 2025. During her studies, Kya tutored peers on campus and elementary students in an after-school program.
Outside of the classroom, Kya has been performing her original music at local venues for the last 5 years. She often brings her ukulele along to work and performs silly songs and classic children’s favorites for her nanny kids. Kya enjoys an active lifestyle, adventuring with her nanny kids at work and participating in intramural sports in her free time. Ms. Kya is excited to share her infectious positive energy and love of music and children during her classes!
Ms. Kya teaches all classes on Friday mornings as well as offsite classes at local preschools and daycares.
Mr. X (Xavier) Chicago Mini Musicians
Mr. X Is a Chicago transplant from Maryland with a passion for music, art and community. He is ecstatic to bring his passion and energy to Chicago Mini Musicians. His experiences in hospitality, nannying, and performing as a singer songwriter have motivated him to cultivate spaces that encourage self expression and inspire young creative minds to move through life creative-foot first!
Although coming from an a capella background, you can hear Mr. X around the city performing with his guitar or at a community jam session. When babysitting, the guitar is always in tow and you can expect a collaborative songwriting session or beatboxing lesson with the little ones!
Mr. X teaches in our Irving Park location (Chicago Mini Musicians) on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Ms. Mardi (sub)
Mardi is so excited about the opportunity to teach with the Brookfield Academy of Mini Musicians! As a Brookfield native herself, she grew up playing music with her dad. In fact, her earliest memory is bouncing up and down on his knee as he played his fiddle during band practice.
Mardi received a bachelor of science in Psychology from the University of Evansville, with a minor in music. During her time there, she was music director of the a cappella group, helped develop a local after-school program, and used music therapy as a tool to support the emotional
needs of young children at a psychiatric facility.
Most recently, she led and taught music rehearsals at Take the Stage camp in Highland Park to over 30 elementary-aged campers in the musicals: Giants in The Sky and The Journey of the Noble Gnarble. Mardi is also a songwriter
and can often be seen playing her ukulele and singing with her friends at different open mics, shops, and farmers markets.
Mardi is passionate about community, and feels eager to create a space where children and their caregivers feel inspired, connected, and at ease!
Ms. Mardi subs as needed.
