Our Staff
Nick & Sara Michalski
Nick and his wife Sara founded Music Greenhouse in 2015. Nick has a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in Worship Leadership, from Oral Roberts University. He has led worship and played guitar with multiple worship teams since 1999. He has taught private and group voice and guitar in many different settings. He is passionate about raising up worshipers of all ages and helping his students find their voice!
Sara studied music/worship leadership at Oral Roberts University and Nazarene Bible College. She has played classical piano and sang since childhood, and began leading worship and playing keyboards for worship in her teens. She has taught private piano and voice for over 25 years, and is the author of Keys in Worship - a curriculum to teach worship-style piano. She leads worship regularly in many different contexts, and is an ordained minister providing Biblical trauma counseling. She is passionate about seeing Music Greenhouse’s students and teachers become all that God made them to be!
Rachel Schaefer
Music School Director
Rachel is gifted in organization and streamlining behind the scenes, which along with a lifelong enjoyment of music give her the background to help Music Greenhouse run smoothly. She has been married to her engineer/pianist husband for 20+ years and they have three teenage and up daughters who have all inherited a love of music. She is a former voice student at Music Greenhouse herself and some of her family members are current students on multiple instruments. Her family keeps her life filled with music and she loves helping Music Greenhouse families keep music in their busy lives as well!
Vickie Burke
Violin/Guitar/Woodwinds/Traditional Piano/Admin Staff
Vickie started her music journey at 7 with violin, began playing acoustic guitar at 9, flute at 11, and oboe at 14. She also played electric guitar and bass in worship band and marching/jazz band. She received a full ride scholarship to CSU-Pueblo for oboe. While in college, she also began teaching piano. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball though, and bi-lateral carpel tunnel prevented her from completing her degree. Vickie’s obvious love for music throughout her life continues however, and she is excited and honored to teach! Vickie is married with 2 young boys, and she runs two in home businesses when she is not teaching, helping Music Greenhouse with admin work, or momming - Vickie’s Sweet Tooth (we have already benefitted from her cookie baking skills!) and Mary Kay.
Lucy Combs
Piano/Ukulele/Voice/Admin Staff
Lucy is passionate about music and kids, so teaching for Music Greenhouse is her dream job! She has played the piano almost every day since age six, and she loves music in any form; listening, playing, composing, learning, singing… the list goes on. She serves on the music team at Front Range Alliance Church, helping lead worship regularly. She enjoys applying skills learned as a former voice student at Music Greenhouse. Lucy also aids with the homeschooling of her eight younger siblings, and it is her joy to help others glorify the Lord through music.
Craig Jones
Piano/Voice/Theory
Craig Jones has been a church organist for 45 years and has arranged numerous hymns and anthems. He was music director at Christ the King Lutheran Church leading a choir of 25 members for 16 years. He has performed on the East and West coasts with a jazz trio, toured for 2 years with the Symphonic Jazz Concert Orchestra as pianist and arranger. He also toured Europe performing in Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Austria. Craig taught jazz studies at Reed College, Portland State University, Lewis and Clark College and Multnomah University. Credentials include a B.A. in Psychology with an emphasis in chemical dependency, a B.M. in Jazz Performance, and an M.M. in Classical Performance.
Jonathan Henderson
Piano/Voice/Guitar/Brass
Mr. J has a wonderful wife, 5 sons and a grandson. He has played piano and trombone since age 9. For more fun after 50, he learned euphonium, trumpet, and guitar (acoustic and electric). Although he has lived in Russia, Ukraine, Germany and Japan, he likes to remember, "My citizenship is in heaven". A favorite food is his colorful Colorado pizza!
Joel Clay
Acoustic and Electric Guitar/Bass/Piano/Voice/Songwriting/Composition/Mandolin
Joel has always had a DIY mindset. At age 12, he began teaching himself to play bass guitar, and soon after began performing in garage rock, jazz, and worship bands. His continued performance experience throughout high school soon expanded to an interest in composition and songwriting, and in 2021, Joel graduated from Colorado Christian University, earning a B.A. in Music with an emphasis in composition. Joel’s personal interests include cooking, comedy, working out, and planning his next DIY project!
Natalie Jensen
Voice/Piano/Acoustic Guitar/Bass/Ukulele/Mandolin/Songwriting
Natalie has been leading worship at her church for 5 years playing the keys, guitar, and singing. Her passion for music began at the age of 3, and developed her skills through professional choir, musical theater, jazz ensemble, songwriting, and worship music. She is passionate about helping others grow in their talents. She has toured in Hiroshima, Japan, San Francisco, and all over Colorado! Natalie will be graduating with a B.A. in vocal performance in December 2023.
Audrey Michalski
Guitar/Piano/Ukulele
Audrey grew up surrounded by music lessons as daughter of owners, Nick & Sara Michalski. She took lessons for guitar, piano, voice, and drums while a Music Greenhouse student. She also participated in several worship band camps and has been a student leader for Summer Funner Theater VBS in Colorado Springs. She is a senior at Bay Area Homeschool Academy in Friendswood, TX and is serving on the One Life Church Youth Worship Team in Webster, TX. Audrey loves personalizing her lessons to each student’s unique learning style, interests, and talents. She teaches in-person and online from Texas.
Stephanie Milano
Violin/Drums/Percussion/Guitar/Mandolin/Voice
Stephanie has a love of music and the arts. She has enjoyed making music for many years. In addition to her primary instruments, she also plays the bass guitar and ukulele. Ms. Milano has played in various settings and has an eclectic style. She has taught through private lessons, group classes, and in the general music classroom.
Music and the arts are very important. They help us to express our feelings/emotions, share of ourselves, enrich the lives of others as well as our own lives. The arts also help us to experience new things and learn from our history. The goal for her students is to spark a love and appreciation of the arts.
Nate Knitter
Drums
Nate is a classically trained orchestral percussionist who found his way to the drum set. He likes to lean on his classical background to be as versatile a drummer as possible and has performed in various Rock, Blues, Polka, Jazz, Alternative, and Pop groups, as well as Symphony Orchestras, Wind Ensembles, and Brass Bands all throughout Colorado. Some of the groups he currently plays with include Ozonic Band, The Shrikes, Dream Fugitive, Pikes Peak Brass Band, Rocky Mountain Wind Symphony, and the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra. He’s also a Colorado Springs native who loves to share his knowledge of drumming with his students and hopes to see the music scene in the city grow and flourish!
Brent Law
Drums/Guitar/Vocals
Brent started his music journey at six years old when his dad bought him an electric drum kit to start playing on. He started a band with his dad and his brother and jammed along to classic rock songs in the evenings. Since then, he moved on to pick up the guitar at 14, and the piano and singing at 16. Aside from spending most of his time on a guitar or a drum kit, Brent also spends a lot of time on a dirt bike, snowboard, or climbing rocks.
Zoe Bruce
French Horn/Trumpet
Zoe is a teacher at heart who loves to work with students of all abilities in a fun and encouraging environment. Originally from Ohio, Zoe went to Wright State University where she received her Bachelors Degree in Music Education. She played in various ensembles including the Ohio Valley British Brass Band and the Springboro Wind Symphony while also teaching private lessons, marching band, and gymnastics! When Zoe is not teaching she loves to hang out with her bearded dragon, participate in axe throwing leagues, and do anything active or artsy! Growth is a key focus in Zoe’s life and lessons - every step forward no matter how small is improvement and should be celebrated! Through music she empowers students to see growth not only in their musical ability - but also in their mindset and confidence.
Jadzia Blackshore
Cello
Jadzia is a homeschool graduate and is currently studying Music Theory in college. From a young age, she tried several different instruments until she discovered the cello. She loved the sound and turned all her focus to mastering the cello.
She enjoys sharing music with others, and wants to see them grow in confidence with their musical skills. When she’s not playing cello, her other interests include: swing dancing, reading, drawing, acting, and hanging out with friends. She is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering and hopes to show others how music and math compliment each other.
Abigail Tiffany
Abigail had dreamed of being a teacher since she was in first grade and playing school in the basement with her younger siblings. Currently a high school senior, she plans to pursue a degree in elementary education with an emphasis in Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys all things outdoors, crafting, and playing games with her family. She has loved playing piano since she began lessons at age six, and she hopes to teach students the same love for piano she has while helping them grow in their music journey.