Staff
Brigitte Mena, Founder
Voice, Piano, Guitar
Brigitte Mena is a professional musician, songwriter, and performing artist from Dallas, Texas. She graduated magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music (vocal concentration) and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology under an artistic scholarship. While attending Southern Methodist University, Brigitte studied voice with Clifton Forbis and performed in the Meadows Choirs. Brigitte went on to further her education by graduating in 2017 with a Master of Education degree.
She has performed at the State Fair of Texas, Magnolia’s Silobration, Dallas Arboretum, Fair Park, Klyde Warren Park, Six Flags Over Texas, Dallas Museum of Art, and the Box Garden at Legacy Hall. Additionally, she performs regularly around the DFW metroplex as a singer/songwriter and has released three albums available on all streaming platforms. Her original music has been featured on KXT 91.7, ALT 103.7, WFAA Channel 8, and in American Songwriter, Dallas Observer, and Guitar Girl Magazine.
Brigitte merges her love of music and teaching by maintaining an active private lesson studio in Dallas since 2013. She teaches voice, guitar, and piano lessons. Her teaching style stems from the “whole child” approach in which the social and emotional side of learning become valuable tools in a well rounded music education. Brigitte’s lessons are rooted in the “Love & Logic” philosophy in which students are given choices over their learning ultimately helping in behavior, motivation, and relationship building. She utilizes visual and extension activities including songwriting, age appropriate projects, and musical games to keep lessons fun and hands-on. Her goal is to help students understand the essential connection between their instrument and music theory, while creating an environment that is safe, nurturing, and student centered.
Jasmine Xavier, Instructor
Voice & Piano
Jasmine Xavier holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she focused on Vocal Performance, Music Media, and Production. Her passion for teaching began early, and she has spent more than 20 years working in early childhood music education, teaching students from Pre-K through 6th grade. In addition to classroom teaching, she also offers private piano and voice lessons for students of all ages.
Beyond teaching, she is an active professional music artist in the DFW area, where she writes and produces original music. She loves performing everything from classical and opera repertoire to modern pop ballads, and you can often find her singing at local venues and supporting the performing arts community. She is currently producing her first children’s album in collaboration with notable musicians, producers, and songwriters in the music industry, an exciting project that reflects her deep commitment to young learners.
She strongly believes in the power of early childhood music education. As Maria Montessori noted, music is a vital component in a child’s development, helping nurture essential life skills. Her goal is to inspire students, spark creativity, and help them discover the joy and confidence that music can bring.
Lauren Samonte, Instructor
Piano
Lauren Samonte is a Filipino-American pianist, keyboardist, accompanist, and music educator based in Dallas, Texas. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Lauren's earliest opportunities playing music began at age 6 when she started taking piano lessons. She later attended El Paso High School, where she became their choir’s piano accompanist at 16 years old. Lauren moved to Denton, Texas in 2017 to attend the University of North Texas College of Music, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in classical piano. She met many of her current collaborators during her time there, and her training eventually led her to the exploration of other genres like rock, R&B, pop, musical theater, and jazz. Lauren took classical piano lessons with Altynay Karsakpayeva and jazz piano lessons with Michael Clement, former pianist for the Grammy-winning UNT One O’Clock Jazz Band.
After graduating from UNT in 2021, she performed on tour with then-solo artist Xavier Bernazard in October 2022. It was on this tour that the two formed their band, The Deadly Beloved, as they toured through the USA. They have since performed in places like Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, Houston, and New York City. Lauren also joined the cumbia band Yolanda Cruz & the Daydreamers in the summer of 2023, with whom she has performed all over Texas. Their most notable performances were recently at the 2026 South by Southwest Music Festival and the State Fair of Texas. Some other artists Lauren has performed with include Rosy L, Deya’Soul, and Loners Club.
Lauren obtained her first private piano teaching position in 2018 and has been working with young musicians ever since. She served as a staff pianist for the Irving ISD Choral Department for 3 years, in which she played piano for Irving High School’s choirs and those of its surrounding middle schools. She continues to serve as a freelance accompanist around DFW, having performed with both instrumentalists and vocalists alike. As a teacher, she combines her past performance experiences, her love for differing musical styles, and a nurturing teaching style to help young musicians seek out their unique personal goals.