Carrie Pine Wechsler, Center Director

Carrie has been teaching the Music Together program for over 20 years, first in Fairfield County, and then in Hartford County. In 2016, she became the owner and director of Harmony Village LLC, offering Music Together classes in Wethersfield and South Glastonbury.

ABOUT CARRIE: Music has always been a source of passion and joy for Carrie. She is a professional actor, singer, and theatre director.  She has performed in New York, London, Los Angeles and throughout the U.S. Additionally, she has written and recorded jingles for radio commercials. She is a true lover of harmonies, having sung in an all-women's a cappella group in college (think "Pitch Perfect!") and in NYC.

Carrie has worked with children of all ages for much of her career. As a performer, she toured the United States in a children's theatre adaptation of the classic children's book The Poky Little Puppy for which she also wrote the book and music. From directing children's theatre, to costume character gigs (she once played Peter Cottontail, the Easter Bunny, at the White House!) to birthday party entertainment, she has always loved helping children discover their own musical and creative voice.

Carrie's first love is musical theatre, and you'll often hear tunes from her favorite shows interspersed in class. As an actor, Carrie continues to perform regionally, most often with Connecticut's Theatre Artists Workshop. As a singer and keyboard player, she is a founding member of  The Band Ned, which performs throughout New England.  Carrie also directs children's theatre.  A particular favorite was an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz at Buttonball Lane School in Glastonbury, where she penned all-new music, including the rousing Munchkin Rap! She currently serves as co-director of the Gideon Wells Middle School Drama Club. 

Carrie discovered the Music Together program after moving to Connecticut from NYC with her growing family. She is the proud mother of three singing and dancing children - two boys and a girl.  All three have continued to pursue music and the arts, participating in local and school productions and programs. Her oldest son, Colin, currently sings in college with the Georgetown Chimes...and it all started as a baby in MT class! 

MUSIC TOGETHER CLASSES: Carrie's favorite moments in class are watching children connect with their parents or caregivers through music. When children first match a pitch in class, or share something musical they've discovered at home - these are such exciting moments for everyone. Her classes are truly communities where all participants support each other. She especially loves when a grown-up or child jumps in with a pitch, a beat, or even an improvised lyric, and the look of amazement from both caregiver and child!  This is music development in action...and Carrie considers it a privilege to be a part of this incredibly special time in a child (and family's) life

Jessica Nevins, Teacher

Harmony Village is THRILLED to welcome back veteran Music Together director and master teacher Jessica Nevins!  Jessica was the center director for Music Together in South Glastonbury for many years.  She has missed teaching in our beautiful village and we are so excited to have her back, bringing her colorful, nurturing expertise to our Music Together curriculum. 

Jessica discovered Music Together in Brooklyn with her then four month old son Henry in 1995. As a professional singer, she recognized the thoughtfulness of this curriculum. As a new mom, the philosophy shaped her parenting. She trained to be an instructor and eventually owned Music Together of Park Slope and served on the Music Together Editorial Review Committee in Princeton, New Jersey. She and her husband Joe added another son, Jack to the family and came home to Chester, CT in 2000 where she has been teaching Music Together ever since.

Jessica studied opera at Conservatorio Cherubini in Florence, Italy and Boston Conservatory. Professionally, she has sung in some very exciting places with New York Choral Artists, shared an elevator with Zubin Mehta at Carnegie Hall and the stage with Bobby McFerrin. She served as a translator for Pat Metheny in Carrara, Italy. She was a member of CONCORA, Connecticut’s premier professional group, for fifteen years.

Music is a pure source of joy, harkening back to a time when she danced in her father’s arms as a young child. She has loved singing in large groups with orchestra, soloing in cathedrals, and fronting jazz bands both here and in Italy but is most grounded and satisfied sitting crossed legged on the floor with a room full of people who are discovering the joy of family music making in a Music Together class.

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ABOUT HARMONY VILLAGE LLC: From its' beginnings , Harmony Village has recognized the power of a positive community to nurture and teach every child.  We strive to offer classes that focus on community support. All classes offer a safe, non-judgemental, village-like atmosphere where artists (young and young-at-heart) can experiment and learn alongside both peer and instructor support.  We are a proud, inclusive community that welcomes families of all kinds and abilities. 

Come and play in our village!