About Us
MKS Studio began as a private music lessons studio founded by homeschool mom and musician Monica Koffi, where she offered private instruction for piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, and choirs. 5 years later, the studio grew beyond capacity and MKS was birthed. Established in 2021, our goal is to offer the best fine arts classes to homeschools and area youth in the metro area and beyond. We foster a love of learning, and love of music, and a love of the arts from a Christian perspective.
Our Staff
Monica Koffi -
Owner and Operator
Hi, my name is Monica Koffi, and I am a Christian, a mother, and a musician. After deciding to homeschool full time in 2012, my entire understanding of education changed. As my family and I traveled through this learning process, I fell in love with learning. In 2015, I was inspired to start a private music lesson studio to share this love of learning with others through private instruction, teaching classes, and conducting choirs. Since then, I’ve had the honor of meeting and sharing my teaching with adults and kids all across the country. I love to push others and pour into them my knowledge and passion for music, fine arts, and education.
Marianne Toovey -
Teacher
Marianne has always known there was a future for her in acting and she pursued stage and film with a fiery passion for many years - including attending and graduating from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles!
As well as a brief stint stretching those acting muscles as a Haunted Mansion Maid and Jungle Cruise Skipper in the Magic Kingdom Park of Walt Disney World in Orlando!
Then, after marrying her husband in 2007 and having her first (and ultimately only) child in 2009, focuses shifted to family and education. Homeschooling was never the plan. Marianne wanted to be a teacher at a private school so she went and got a degree in education, but that never happened after all.
Homeschooling fell into her lap and she faced it with the same determination and passion with which she pursued acting!
Now, getting to teach theater to various age groups of homeschooled kids is the perfect combination of both passions, and Marianne truly believes she is right where God wants her to be. He has been preparing her for this her whole life, and she's THRILLED to be able to do this for Him!
Ryan and Darcy Witt -
Choir Conductors
Ryan Witt is married to Darcy and homeschool dad of four children. They have been homeschooling for over 16 years. Ryan has been a Pastor for over 18 years, pastoring in Iowa and Illinois before accepting a call to pastor a church here in Omaha where he currently serves. His ministry has included over 15 years of working with children, teens, and college and career students.
From a young age, Ryan has had a rich musical upbringing. He has played violin in orchestra and currently plays guitar through worship at his church and various ministry events. However, vocal performance and participation in choirs has been his greatest enjoyment that began in Junior High. By his High School years he was involved in choir, select ensembles, musicals, vocal performance, and many years of voice lessons. By college, he participated in a 50 voice chorus for several years and traveled the country for 30 weeks on a small ensemble of 8 voices for three consecutive summers. Since college he has utilized his abilities in the church through solo, groups, and directing adult and kid’s choirs and musicals.
Ryan’s wife, Darcy, also has a love for music and a heart for young people. Darcy has a passion for Christ, has been homeschooling for more than 16 years, and married for 19 years. She has always enjoyed working with teenagers and has a bachelors degree in secondary education with an emphasis on English. She loves working with young people, especially teen girls, and encouraging them in their walks with the Lord and pursuing God through all of their interests. She has been involved in music, choir, band, and drama throughout high school and college. she has continue to be involved in music throughout their different ministries as well.
Ryan & Darcy are so thankful that God continues to bless and bring opportunities in the area of music. Music is a powerful tool and its greatest climax is when we can utilize it to exalt our Lord and Savior and share truth through its message.
Mike Grimes -
Choir Conductor
Mike is an accomplished musician with extensive experience in performing, conducting, teaching, and private lessons. Mike received a B.M. in Church Music with an emphasis in Classical Voice from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Mike studied voice under Dr. Ted Wylie, was trained in vocal pedagogy, conducting, and choral methods.
As a performer, Mike has been a featured tenor soloist in numerous performances in Nashville, TN including a nationally televised production.
As an educator Mike has taught music classes, private lessons, and has conducted choirs for both children and adults.
Mike has also been a respected worship leader for over 20 years, traveling the US and overseas leading worship for various events. Mike has been a worship pastor in the local church for 17 years and currently is an Assistant Pastor at Omaha Bible Church where he leads the music ministry. He is also the co-producer of The Pactum Podcast.
Amy Nunamaker -
Teacher and Piano Accompanist
Hi! My name is Amy Nunamaker, and I’m the current accompanist for Allegro Concert a choir. I am also the founder and director of Overflow Music Studio. I am a wife, mom, worship leader, and teacher. Growing up around music, from an early age I knew I wanted to be a music teacher. That dream became a reality in 2002 as I became the vocal music teacher at a middle school in Millard. While there I also began teaching private voice and piano lessons.
Shortly thereafter, I became a mom! I wanted to stay home so I transitioned out of the classroom but continued teaching private lessons in voice and piano. While homeschooling our own children for 8 years, I was experiencing a growing passion for the homeschool community and the needs specifically for Christian music education. In 2019, I had the privilege of being back in the classroom at A Latere Academy where I taught for 4 years until stepping away in May of 2023 to fully devote my time to OMS. Since then I have continued to grow the studio to add instrument offerings and nearly 50 students! I feel so blessed to get the opportunity to invest one-on-one in so many young lives!
Emily Perina -
Teaching Assistant
Emily Perina has grown up in choir, participating in 4 different choirs throughout middle and high school. She has a deep love of singing, music, and serving others. Emily is a Vivace alumnus, having participated for 3 consecutive seasons before graduating from the program. She then served as a Student Conductor for the 2021-2022 season. As a homeschool graduate, she loves helping others grow in music and growing her own knowledge too, and being involved in choir is the perfect opportunity for that!
Outside of MKS, Emily also serves on her church worship team through piano and vocals on Sunday mornings. You can also finder her performing with her local band called Turnbridge Collective, where she plays as the band’s keyboardist and a vocalist.
When she isn’t involved in music, Emily enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family.
Sue McDonald -
Piano Accompanist
Sue loves kids and she loves music, so she is glad to be joining the MKS studio family.
Sue is enjoying retirement in Omaha, after serving with her husband for 45 years with the Evangelical Free Church. She has taught piano lessons in her home all these years, served in various church music positions and served as a Music Educator in the Public Schools for 24 years in Virginia. The McDonalds have 3 married children and 11 grandchildren.
Stephanie Strautmann-
Piano Accompanist
Stephanie is a Christian, wife to Andrew, and homeschooling mother of twins. Stephanie grew up playing the piano through private lessons. Stephanie loves listening to, singing, and playing music. In Junior High and High School she began splitting her time between singing and accompanying for the school choirs, ensembles, and soloists. During college, Stephanie taught private piano lessons while pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Nursing. She still works part-time as a clinic nurse, but her primary role is homeschooling her children. Stephanie still enjoys teaching piano to her children, however her first love is playing music. She is a piano accompanist for her local church, and loves playing sacred hymns and arrangements in her free time. Stephanie's heart's desire with music is to point others to the Savior. As she plays "songs, hymns, and spiritual songs," may others sing along in their hearts and be drawn to Him.
Rachel Liekhus -
Head of Costumes
Rachel is a Christian, a wife to Robert, and a mother of five. She has homeschooled her children for the past 9 years. She is an organizer of events and field trips in the Lincoln area for other homeschool families.
In 2019, she began her journey as a seamstress, with the goal of learning to sew in 2020. When the pandemic hit, she began sewing masks, and grew from there.
Currently, she works as a seamstress testing clothing patterns for six different pattern companies. In her spare time, you can find her in the garden, on a stand-up paddle board, and embroidery.
Heather Alston-
Scenic Artist
Hello, my name is Heather Alston, and I am a Christian, wife, and mother of two girls. I am currently teaching the lead art teacher at Trinity Classical Acadamy in Waterloo, Nebraska. My school is a collaborative school where teachers partner with parents to teach students in a classical model. I create and maintain the art curriculum for all grades. I have been teaching art in the public and private setting for 9 years and creating art personally for over 35. I have taught everything from pottery and drawing to embroidery and digital design.
I hold a Bachelor of arts is History and Studio Art from Peru State College. I hold a Masters of Arts in Teaching from College of Saint Mary and am currently enrolled in the Masters program from the Art of Education University where I am pursuing a Masters in Art Education.
God has gifted me with a passion for sharing his beauty of creation to anyone who is willing to listen and learn. I love all forms of visual arts! At home I mainly focus on oil paintings, drawing, and watercolors.
“A creative education has the power to catapult anyone into a new journey of expression and growth.”
— Monica Koffi, Founder of MKS Studio
