My name is Ellie Reich, and I am the Director and Community Arts Integrator for Music Art & Movement. I am a mother, educator, and lifelong learner with a deep passion for integrated, experiential education. Over the past several years, I have curated a rich liberal arts experience for my children and their peers—rooted in literature, process art, and play-based learning. This approach did not evolve by chance, but was shaped by a lifetime of meaningful experiences in the arts and sciences.

A defining influence in my early life was my decade-long involvement with the Children’s Dance Theatre (2000–2010), part of the Tanner Dance Program at the University of Utah. This unique program nurtures children’s development through creative movement, poetry, literature, and nature-based themes, giving young artists time and space to explore and create. As a member of the company, I had the opportunity to perform annually at Capitol Theater, represent the program in lecture demonstrations across Utah, perform in the 2002 Winter Olympics, and collaborate with Repertory Dance Theatre. I consider this one of the greatest gifts of my childhood.

My love for the sciences—particularly plant sciences—was cultivated alongside the arts. Raised by a horticulturist mother, I spent countless hours in greenhouses and gardens, experiences that blossomed into a passion for scientific inquiry. I competed in school science fairs throughout middle and high school, ultimately becoming a finalist at the International Science and Engineering Fair in 2007 (Albuquerque, NM), 2008 (Atlanta, GA), and 2010 (San Jose, CA). These projects honed my ability to think critically, analyze data, and communicate complex ideas clearly and visually.

I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Public Health at Westminster College, a liberal arts institution where my interests in science, literature, and the performing arts continued to intertwine. After graduating, I chose to stay home with my children—an experience that became an unexpected deep dive into education. I immersed myself in research on educational philosophies and approaches, discovering the power of language-rich, arts-integrated, and kinesthetic learning.

Music Art & Movement was born from this journey. Through it, I aim to provide children with the kind of rich, interdisciplinary education that shaped me—one that feeds the mind, body, and spirit. My mission is to nurture children not only as artists, but as whole, intellectually curious individuals. I look forward to welcoming your children into our vibrant learning community.