Our Staff

Allison is the director of Tenn Little Birds and a Level 1 Certified Music Together teacher.  She was born and raised in the rural farmlands of Boyertown, Pennsylvania.  As a little girl, she would walk around singing to everyone because she thought it was the same as talking.  Due to this confusion, she began singing in choir at the age of 3, and has been in the theater since she was 13.  Allison holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from Westminster Choir College.  Post-graduation, Allison moved to the concrete jungle of NYC.  There she studied acting at Matthew Corozine Studios, furthered her passion for theater, and had the opportunity to travel and perform on stages around the world.  In 2016, she and her husband relocated to Nashville, and by 2017, she accidentally began directing Tenn Little Birds after losing her car keys, getting a drive home from a dear friend, and being convinced Music Together NEEDED to be in East Nashville!  She could not be more grateful for their beautiful home, the lack of snow in Southern winters, their two rescue pups Bodhi and CoCo, and their beautiful boys Edison and Finnegan.  Allison studied Music Therapy at Belmont University and looks forward to the day she can bring music therapy practices to Tenn Little Birds.  

Jodie has recently relocated to the Nashville area from northern Minnesota where she was director and teacher of Music Together of Cloquet. Since the fall of 2019 she has simply loved serving families and bringing music into their lives through each and every semester of Music Together. Her teaching has been a natural extension of her years of teaching piano and working with children of all abilities through music therapy in IA, CO, TX and MN. She is passionate about helping families share precious moments together through music! Jodie and her husband, along with their four grown kids (and now spouses), share the special bond of music making. Jodie enjoys cooking/baking, scrapbooking, serving in her faith community and looks forward to exploring the beauty of the outdoors in TN!
 

Jen and her sons began attending classes at Tenn Little Birds after moving to East Nashville in 2020. Her young family was previously a dedicated participant of Music Together, based in Joshua Tree, California. Music, creativity, and community quickly became essentials for her growing boys, Cosmo and Wylie. You'll see Jen around the front desk making everything happen! Noticing a need for encouraging children’s interests and creativity programming in East Nashville, Jen is passionate about bringing new experiences and opportunities to families. Her events offer hands on exploration through art, play, and social interaction. Jen has had success in fashion merchandising, hospitality, and management.

As of 2026, Jen is now our General Manager of both Tenn Little Birds and East Collective!

Tessa Bryant is a Nashville-born and raised theatre artist and educator-turned-birth and postpartum doula. Tenn Little Birds is a natural intersection of her creative and performing arts background and her current work supporting families during their childbirth and early parenting years. Tessa has taught in both college and preschool classrooms and currently teaches childbirth and newborn care classes to new parents throughout the Nashville area. Tessa is also mama to Murphy, wife to Michael, and dog-mom to Pippa.

Kendall Hoefler is a dedicated music educator passionate about inspiring children of all ages. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Kendall's love for the performing arts blossomed early through theatre and choir. In 2020, she relocated to Nashville to pursue a music education degree focusing on classical voice at Belmont University. 
During her time at Belmont, Kendall actively participated in various musical ensembles, including the Chorale and Opera Theatre, and had the honor of conducting a piece for the Bel Canto treble ensemble. She was selected to perform at the Keith B. Moore Classical Singers Recital in both 2022 and 2023, and she was recognized with The Presser Scholarship and The Music Education Scholarship, awarded by the Belmont School of Music Faculty.  Since graduating in 2024, Kendall has taken on the choir director and general music teacher role at White House Middle School in Sumner County. While she cherishes her work with older students, she holds a special passion for early childhood music. Through her involvement with Tenn Little Birds, Kendall is delighted to create joyful experiences in singing, dancing, and playing as she nurtures the musical journeys of young children.

Austin Raabe is a Nashville-based vocalist, songwriter, composer, and music educator with a passion for making music fun, welcoming, and accessible for everyone. A graduate of Belmont University’s Honors Program with a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music (Voice), with a concentration in Music Business, he has performed across classical, pop, rock, jazz, musical theater, gospel, and contemporary music. Austin has been performing for children and families since he was five years old as a member of Mama Pajama’s Playhouse, a children’s entertainment company based in his home state of New York. He continues to compose music and programming for the Playhouse, creating interactive experiences that combine music, movement, storytelling, and play.As a performer, Austin has developed a diverse musical background through years of choral, classical, contemporary, jazz, and theatrical performance. His experience includes performances at Carnegie Hall, All-State ensembles, vocal jazz, collegiate commercial music ensembles, church music, and professional work in Nashville. He currently performs throughout Nashville as a vocalist and musician while continuing to develop his work as an artist, songwriter, composer, and educator. He has also been teaching music since 2017, working with students of all ages in voice, music theory, ear training, piano, guitar, and upright bass. Whether he’s singing, playing an instrument, leading a game, or helping a student discover something new, Austin loves creating joyful spaces where kids can be curious, creative, and confident to be full and true in all they do!