After falling in love with music and the piano, Melia earned her degree in Applied Music and History from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2015.  While living in Kansas City, MO, Melia served as the Manager of Education at Wonderscope Children's Museum and ran weekly music, art, storytime, and activity classes. After moving back to Grand Rapids in 2018, she worked as a Montessori classroom teacher, tutor, and choral accompanist. In 2019, Melia and her husband Justin started Yellow Door Music Studio out of their Westside GR home. Melia completed Music Together^®'s pilot virtual training program in December 2020 and has taught for Joyful Sounds since 2021. In June 2023, Melia and Justin became Co-Directors of Joyful Sounds! In addition to directing and teaching, she also serves as the accompanist for Mayflower Congregation Church's children's choirs. Melia lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and two young children.

Justin began playing the piano at age four and has enjoyed making music as a soloist, collaborative pianist, conductor, and church musician ever since. A native of central Indiana, he has performed as a soloist with the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra (2014; Marion, IN), won the collegiate division of the 2016 Indiana Music Teachers Association Hoosier Audition, and appeared in master classes with renowned domestic and international artists. Justin completed his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Honors Humanities from Indiana Wesleyan University. He is a member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

Justin has previously served as a dance accompanist at Hope College (Holland, MI) and a choral accompanist at Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI) and Jenison High School (Jenison, MI). He currently serves as the Music Director for All Souls Community Church (Grand Rapids, MI). He is a cofounder and teacher at Yellow Door Music Studio and co-director of Joyful Sounds Music Studio (Grand Rapids, MI). He has also served as an adjunct faculty member for group piano at Grand Valley State University and previously taught group and applied piano as a graduate assistant at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Justin completed his Music Together training in August 2023.

Sonja Noykos has truly loved teaching Music Together since she was trained in 2010.  She has taught at Joyful Sounds since 2014, having previously taught and directed Music Together in Raleigh, NC.  Sonja and her husband Matthew are the music directors at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Matt co-owns Grand Rapids Violins.  So yes, Sonja is part of a musical family!  Sonja also grew up in a musical family, and besides singing at home, she sang in many choirs and learned to play piano and flute.  As she got older she became more serious about being a flutist and received her Bachelor’s of Music in Flute Performance in 2005 from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.  Sonja has placed in or won many local and national flute competitions.  Although currently not playing her flute as much or teaching flute lessons due to a busy life with two young children, she hopes to play her flute more again in the future!  It is her love for music and children that makes teaching Music Together a natural fit for Sonja.

Over the past fifteen years, Joshua Dunigan has used his love of world music to teach and perform Afro-Cuban and Latin percussion with adult classes and public school students. As the percussionist for Latin-Rock band Cabildo and Afrobeat band AfroZuma, Josh places traditional Cuban, Brazilian, and Andean rhythms in a contemporary setting for live shows in Grand Rapids. Josh has also been an instructor at The Cook Arts Center in Grand Rapids for the past 10 years. He uses a curriculum with emphasis placed on understanding the fundamentals of rhythm, practicing proper playing technique, and having fun with world music in an ensemble. As an instructor for Artists Creating Together (ACT), Josh works with cognitively disabled students using world percussion instruments to learn communication, expression, group play and the science of sound. Through ACT,  Josh directs The Action Drummers an inclusive group of cognitively disabled musicians. The goal of this group is to perform at community events to promote the work of ACT and disabled people in the community. At the fantastic Arts In Motion Studio, Josh teaches private lessons and provides small group activities for students of all abilities. Working every day to ensure equal arts opportunities for all, Josh teaches afterschool at all Grand Rapids Boys and Girls Clubs locations.

Melissa has been making music for as long as she can remember, her earliest memories being of her mom singing lullabies as a part of bedtime. From early experiences singing in church, school, and family gatherings to taking piano and dance lessons to hearing jaw dropping performances, musical expression is a love that she carried through to adulthood. Melissa graduated from Westminster College with a degree in music education in 2008 and taught high school choir for six years in Virginia. Her husband’s job brought them to Grand Rapids in 2014 and they celebrated the birth of their son in 2016. Melissa found Music Together classes when she was looking for more enrichment opportunities for their son and she fell in love with the program. “I am excited to bring the joy of making music together that I experience in my own family to yours.” Melissa completed her Music Together teacher training with Music Together's CEO Susan Darrow in June 2022. We're happy to add her to the teaching team at Joyful Sounds!

Eric attended DePaul University in Chicago, IL and studied Music (vocal performance) and Religious Studies.  He has been teaching guitar, ukulele, banjo, mandolin, voice, drum and piano lessons professionally for six years at Firehouse Music in Grandville, MI, and privately through takelessons.com, at Charter Schools, Churches, and in his home.  He also has experience working with children as a counselor and program director for Camp Michi-Lu-Ca in Fairview, MI, the lead teacher at the YMCA's Before-And-After-School program in Comstock Park, MI, a facilitator at the Youth and Education at Peace Lutheran Church in Sparta, MI.  Eric has also been performing his original music and children's music at venues all over the state of Michigan since 2005.  He completed his Music Together training October 2018 and is excited to bring his experience teaching music lessons, working with children and families, and performing to Joyful Sounds.

Carter holds a degree in Music Education from Michigan State University and taught for several years as an early childhood and elementary music educator here in west Michigan. She currently works in the nonprofit sector, advancing initiatives that serve young children and their families throughout the state. In her spare time, she sings with and serves on the board of the Grand Rapids Womens' Chorus. Carter is excited to be a part of the Joyful Sounds team and provide fun, accessible musical experiences to kids and their families here in Grand Rapids!