Meet the Staff
Our staff is highly trained in music reading, playing, performing, and teaching. We have a passion working with children and sharing our love of music with them. We believe that students learn best from teachers who are passionate about what they are teaching.
Michaela Woods
Michaela is the owner and founder of North Woods Music Studio. She earned her Bachelors degree in Music Education from Harding University in 2018. Before opening North Woods Music Studio in 2018, Michaela taught at the Searcy Community School of Music in Arkansas for four years where she discovered her love of working one-on-one with students. She is the primary piano and percussion teacher.
Along with teaching, Michaela loves performing. She has been a part of the Sheldon Theatre Brass Band since 2012 and also actively participates in musicals with the Phoenix Theatre.
When she's not teaching or performing, you can find Michaela at a coffee shop or spending time with her family.
Nathan Stout
Nathan Stout earned his Bachelors degree in Music Education from Harding University in 2018. Before joining the North Woods Music Studio staff in 2022, he taught K-12 music at Mobile Christian School in Mobile, Alabama. Nathan teaches brass instruments (though trombone is his favorite!).
When he's not teaching, you can find Nathan working in the IT department for the Red Wing Schools. In his free time, he likes to play board games and spend time with his wife, daughter, and dog.
Derek Braend
Derek earned his Bachelors degree in Music from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire in 2024, where he studied classical guitar, jazz guitar, and bassoon. Derek is the primary guitar, bass, and woodwind teacher. He enjoys playing in musical pits, big bands, and orchestras. When he’s not teaching, Derek likes to read. He aims to read 50 books this year!
Ari Bruhnkeschmidt
Ari Bruhnkeschmidt earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2022. She is also working on a Master’s degree in Music Education with an Orff-Schulwerk emphasis at University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis.
Before joining the North Woods Music Studio Staff in 2025, Ari worked for 3 years as a preK-8 general music teacher in Goodhue, MN. Ari also owns her own studio in Plainview, MN! She teaches piano, guitar, ukulele, banjo, brass instruments, and beginning band instruments.
When she isn’t teaching, Ari loves spending time crocheting and knitting. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and their four pets; Lance, Lady, Lucas, and Leo. Lance and Lady are cats and Lucas and Leo are dogs.
