Teachers

Lauren Sonder

Lauren Sonder teaches Sondermusic's PianoPlus! and theory/composition/songwriting lessons. She received her Bachelors of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1999, where she first studied Piano and then majored in Music History. She is currently finishing her Masters of Music degree in Composition at the University of Oklahoma School of Music, where she has studied with Marvin Lamb and Roland Barrett. Lauren began teaching piano in 1993 and has held piano studios in both Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. She is currently a member of the University of Oklahoma New Improv! Century Ensemble and frequently collaborates with modern dance choreographer Shannon Cuykendall, who leads Sondermusic's creative movement workshops.

Shannon Cuykendall

Shannon Cuykendall leads Sondermusic's creative movement workshops, for students ages 3-6. She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Ballet Pedagogy from University of Oklahoma School of Dance in 2006. There she received a broad range of training, studying under Director Mary Margaret Holt (formerly with San-Fransico Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Houston Ballet), Denise Vale (formerly with Martha Graham Company) and Austin Hartel (formerly with Pilobolus Dance Company). Shannon has also trained at Tulsa Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Nutmeg Ballet. In the summer of 2006, Shannon worked with Burklyn Ballet Theatre in Vermont as resident choreographer. She currently teaches and choreographs at Fort Wayne Ballet in Indiana and was recently invited by Perpetual Motion to choreograph for the 2008 Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival.