Business Details
24 Years
experience
Omaha's Premier Performing Arts Education Since 2002
Founded in 2002 by professional opera singer Sharon North Jones, SNJ Studio of Music has grown from a single room in Omaha's Center Mall to become one of Nebraska's largest private performing arts schools. Our mission remains rooted in nurturing the next generation of musicians and music lovers through top-tier education. With over 625 students and facilities in Millard, Elkhorn, and Fremont, we combine experienced faculty with diverse programs to create a supportive community for all ages and skill levels. Our instructors are degreed music educators and performing artists who bring real-world expertise to personalized lessons in voice, piano, guitar, and more.We emphasize performance opportunities through recitals, cabarets, and collaborations with institutions like the Omaha Symphony. Our programs extend beyond technical training to cultivate lifelong appreciation for the performing arts. From beginners to professionals, we tailor instruction to individual goals while fostering creativity and artistic expression. Our track record of excellence has earned recognition as a Best of Omaha winner for over a decade. We remain committed to making music education accessible through flexible scheduling, competitive pricing, and community engagement initiatives.
Services
Private Music Lessons
Show Choir Training
Musical Theater Programs
Rock Band Ensembles
Audition Preparation
Details
- Year established: 2002
Highlights and features
- Our faculty includes degreed music educators and professional performers
- We offer personalized instruction tailored to individual learning goals
- Performance opportunities include recitals, cabarets, and Omaha Symphony collaborations
- We serve students from beginner to professional levels across all ages
- Proven track record with over 625 students and 20+ years in operation
What people say
Outstanding faculty
Experienced instructors
Performance opportunities
Supportive community
Student growth
Services
Private Music Lessons
Personalized one-on-one lessons in voice, piano, guitar, strings, brass, and woodwinds. Our degreed instructors tailor sessions to individual goals, from beginner basics to advanced techniques. Students gain performance experience through recitals, master classes, and our annual solo competition.
Show Choir Training
High-energy vocal groups combining singing with choreography for grades 6-12. Spotlight Show Choir develops stage presence, harmonization, and performance skills. Regular appearances at community events and competitions help students build confidence and teamwork abilities.
Musical Theater Programs
Comprehensive training in singing, acting, and dancing for stage productions. Students learn audition techniques, character development, and performance skills through workshops and full-scale productions. Programs available for children through adults with varying experience levels.
Blackbird Rock Co.
Competitive rock ensemble for grades 9-12 focusing on modern repertoire and live performance. Members develop stagecraft, improvisation, and band collaboration skills. Regular auditions maintain high performance standards while providing professional-grade experience for aspiring musicians.
Audition Preparation
Specialized training for school musicals, college applications, or professional opportunities. Instructors provide repertoire selection, technique refinement, and confidence-building exercises. Students receive personalized feedback to excel in competitive audition environments.
People
Sharon North Jones
Executive Director
Founder and artistic director with professional opera background. Combines performance expertise with educational leadership to shape curriculum and faculty development. Maintains active performance schedule while overseeing studio operations.
Jennifer Grenier
Fremont Manager
Voice and piano instructor managing Fremont location operations. Directs Spotlight Show Choir while coordinating local program development. Brings performance experience from regional theater and choral productions.
Kelly Whisinnand
Choral Director
Experienced director of Center Stage and Musical Theatre Kids Troupe. Specializes in youth vocal development and stage production. Creates age-appropriate curricula that balance technical training with creative expression.
Emily Boganowski
Rock Band Director
Blackbird Rock Co. director with contemporary music expertise. Develops modern repertoire and performance techniques for advanced students. Maintains industry connections for professional development opportunities.
Tom Miller
Strings Department Chair
Bass instructor and strings program coordinator. Combines classical training with diverse performance experience. Focuses on technical mastery while fostering musical creativity across multiple genres.
Questions
What age groups do you serve?
We offer programs for students from kindergarten through adult learners in both private lessons and ensemble settings.
Do you offer trial lessons?
Yes, we provide a single 30-minute introductory lesson for $42 to help you experience our teaching approach.
What performance opportunities exist?
Students participate in semi-annual recitals, summer cabarets, solo competitions, and community performances throughout the year.
Are there ensemble options available?
We offer multiple ensembles including show choirs, rock bands, and musical theater groups at various skill levels.
How do I schedule lessons?
Contact our administrative office to arrange private lessons at any of our three locations during flexible scheduling options.
What instruments do you teach?
We offer instruction in voice, piano, guitar, strings, brass, woodwinds, and acting with specialized faculty for each discipline.
Reviews (6)
Suzane Winkler
Apr 04, 2021
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My daughter has participated in numerous groups at SNJ as well as private voice lessons. She has gained so much through these opportunities! Highly recommend Sharon's Team for professional training with a very personal touch.
Lance F.
Jan 26, 2021
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We love SNJ Studios. What a great place. I believe it is open to students of any age but I've mostly seen middle school and high school aged kids going in for lessons of all kinds. Voice lessons, piano, guitar, pretty much any musical instrument. If your child needs audition help for a big musical coming up, they can help you out at SNJ. If it is a musical art of some sort, you can find an instructor to help your child.
Our son has been doing voice lessons and the guy teaching him is very flexible and willing to work with our schedule if something comes up. Terry is a good guy and our son has certainly improved working with him. I don't have anything but good things to say about SNJ. If you have a creative child or are a creative child at heart, it might be worth checking out.
Our son has been doing voice lessons and the guy teaching him is very flexible and willing to work with our schedule if something comes up. Terry is a good guy and our son has certainly improved working with him. I don't have anything but good things to say about SNJ. If you have a creative child or are a creative child at heart, it might be worth checking out.
Evan Wohlers
May 31, 2019
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SNJ is one of the finest facilities of music teaching in Nebraska. I personally took voice lessons there for many years and was also in SNJ Singers for a couple years, and I found both to be wonderful experiences. The voice faculty is so talented and they really care about each of their students. SNJ Singers is one of the best high school choral ensembles around and it was one of the most valuable experiences of my time in high school. I would highly recommend SNJ to anyone.
Kassie Tighe
May 12, 2019
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It started out great. But the owner has gotten really bad at focusing on her students and business. The staff is great, but they're so busy practically running the studios that it's hard to stay on track with lessons both group and solo. I don't know what went wrong.
Scott Jones
Apr 13, 2019
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SNJ studios is fantastic! The one on one lessons are designed to help you reach your goals, not someone else's! They also feature summer camps that help your child have fun while learning as well as award winning show choirs! And the faculty is well educated and experienced. Truly the best in Omaha!
Abby Pearson
Dec 22, 2018
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I took vocal lessons with a private teacher for a few months here and I couldn't be happier with how I've grown as a musician. Everyone from the staff to the owner herself is incredibly kind, patient, and attentive to each student's needs. Overall, it's an amazing facility with top-notch rehearsal spaces and talented, competent staff.
