Instructors
Austin Weyand | Guitar Instructor
Austin Weyand is a passionate musician who is sought after as a performer, composer, arranger, and educator. He holds a masters degree in guitar from Northern Illinois University, where he studied classical, jazz, and world music. For undergraduate studies, Austin received a baccalaureate degree in guitar performance from Utah State University, where he received the “Outstanding Guitarist” award and was the two-time winner of the USU Concerto Competition. He is now an adjunct professor of guitar at Utah State University.
Austin is the two-time winner of the State of Utah Fingerstyle Guitar Competition, and he holds the same title in Wyoming. He has two solo-guitar albums, “Too Much Information,” and “They Call Me Dad.”
Gregory Blunt | Trumpet, Music Composition, and Theatre Instructor
Gregory Blunt is a current composer, trumpet player, and substitute teacher with over 14 years of experience in the music industry and over 5 years of experience in music instruction. He brings a fine-tuned knowledge of music theory, composition for media and art music, conducting, trumpet performance, sight singing, and rhythm studies.
Amy Thacker | Violin Instructor
Amy Thacker Anderson began her study of the violin at the age of 3. Throughout her youth, she participated in many performing groups including Rocky Mountain Strings, the Boston Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Utah State University Symphony. She has traveled to Argentina, the Netherlands, Italy, and Brazil as a member of these ensembles. In 2018 she was the winner of the USU concerto competition and made her debut as a soloist with orchestra. She enjoys performing as a soloist and playing chamber music with her friends the most. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University in Violin Performance where she studied with the Fry Street Quartet with Robert Waters as her violin instructor.
Amy has been teaching private music lessons for the last eight years and has been an orchestra teacher for the last three years. She enjoys watching her students grow and helping them to develop their sense of musicality. She hopes all her students will develop a lifelong love for music.
Courtney Fairbourn | Children's Choir, Youth Ensemble, Aspire Audition Choir
Courtney completed her BFA in Vocal Performance and French at USU. She is an active performer in both classical and popular genres. Classes focus on achieving students’ goals in a variety of styles through effective and efficient voice use. Choir classes will also teach basic music theory, harmony and how to work together to achieve the piece. Currently Courtney teaches private lessons in pop, musical theatre, classical, folk, and rock genres. She is always seeking to expand her own training to better serve her students musical goals and preferences.
Casey Turner | Aspire Memorial Handbell Choir
Casey was born and raised right here in Brigham City. With inspiration from his aunt Breann, Casey began playing violin in the sixth grade under the direction of Dr. John Findlay. Later in life, using YouTube videos and an electric keyboard, he taught himself how to play the piano. During his high school years, Casey took private violin lessons from Amanda Kippen and later took private piano lessons from Utah State University graduate students. In 2011, Casey joined the Memorial Handbell Choir under the direction of Catherine Olds where he remained a close, faithful ringer for several years.
In 2017, Casey was blessed with his daughter Melody Grace. Casey spent the next few years making sure that he could provide and be a good father to Melody. When he was invited to come direct at Aspire, he was filled with joy. Teaching music something he always longed to do, and now he has the opportunity to do it on the same bells he grew up playing.
After feeling a calling from God for many years, Casey enrolled at Colorado Christian University in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry. He is currently two years into this calling and will regularly sub for Rev. Laura Stellmon at Community Presbyterian Church in delivering the message. While not completely sure where this will lead him exactly, Casey’s only hope is to remain faithful to God’s path for him.
Carrie Hansen | Gymnastics Coach
Carrie Hansen has loved Gymnastics since Mary Lou Retton’s perfect 10! Carrie began competing gymnastics in middle school and was able to balance gymnastics and cheerleading in high school. She was named an NCA All-American Cheerleader in 1994, as well as Virginia All-Region Gymnast in 1995. She continues to study technique, spotting, progressions, and best safety practices. Carrie has been a United States Association of Gymnastics (USAG) professional member since 2004. She has been a Northern Atlantic Women’s Gymnastics Judge (NAWGJ) since 2014. Carrie has coached for the past 17 years in Box Elder County and is happy sharing her knowledge at her new home; Aspire Performance Academy of the Arts.
Kayla Bingham | Gymnastics Coach
Kayla has a desire to increase her knowledge in her fields of study and share that knowledge with her students in age appropriate ways. Kayla is a United States Association of Gymnastics Safety Certified and Professional Coach. Kayla has also become a Dance Competition Judge in the state of Utah. Certifying with these organizations has afforded her continuing education opportunities. These opportunities manifest themselves in her lesson plans.
Being a mother of two, Kayla has a clear sense of child/adolescent development and behavior. Kayla understands the challenges facing her students in both dance and tumbling, as she competed both as a youth. She has a tenderness for their concerns and addresses them in a timely manner. Kayla has the unique ability of maintaining a high level of expectation while her students feel her care for them, one of
our favorite aspects of Kayla’s character.
MaKayla Norton | Gymnastics Coach - Tumbling
MaKayla has joined the Aspire Team as a tumbling instructor. Growing up, she was a tumbling/cheer student. MaKayla has completed the Safe Sport, Instructor 110 and Safety Certification Courses through the United States Association of Gymnastics (USAG) and continues to learn all she can about coaching. She is currently a student at USU, majoring in education.
Kambree Bess | Gymnastics Coach - Rhythmic / Tumbling
Kambree is a former power tumbling and dance competitor. She has completed 3 months of training and is working on her safety certification through the United States Association of Gymnastics. Kambree enjoys working with all ages and levels. She loves to help them reach their goals. Kambree continues to train and develop her teaching ability in the Rhythmic program in addition to the tumbling program.
Lauren Watkins | Art
Lauren Watkins was born and raised in Willard, Utah. Her mom jokes that she was born with a crayon and paintbrush in each hand.
Her main interests after graduating from Box Elder High were in art and teaching children. She went on to Utah State and earned her Child Development Associates and a Bachelors degrees in Family Consumer and Human Development. During that time, she worked as a preschool teacher. After she started having children of her own, she began focusing on her art; eventually, becoming a full-time watercolor and soft pastel artist. She loves teaching art to others and helping them build confidence in being creative.