Meet Our Team
Ariana Ollendick
CEO & Founder
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Voice, Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Music Exploration, Art Club, Piano Lab
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Ariana has been playing and studying music for most of her life. From performing in front of empty rooms to stadiums filled with people, music has become her way of life. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology with an emphasis in child development and a minor in music from University of Missouri- St. Louis. She attended graduate school at University of San Diego with a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and took many courses and classes focusing on the healing power of music and art.
Ariana began teaching private lessons in 2010 from her grandparent’s basement and quickly grew to a full studio. In 2020, Ariana founded Pave Creative and opened her first commercial space dedicated to children who love all things creative.
Pave Creative quickly grew and she added new wonderful teachers to her team that were dedicated to furthering passions for music and arts to the Overland Park area.
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Ariana is available by waitlist only. Join in on one of her classes to wait for a private lesson spot to become available.
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The most important thing you can know about Ariana is her love for Taylor Swift! When she’s not listening to Taylor Swift, she is spending time with her wonderful husband, their son and their three fur babies. Her favorite part of teaching is when her students show her new music, gain confidence on stage and watching her students try something new for the first time.
Maddie Smith
Lesson Instructor
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Violin
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Maddie has deep love and passion for music, a is very exited to joining the Pave team! She is currently a full time student with 11 years experiencparticipating in contest, symphonies, concerts and orchestras. She is currently involve with the orchesa JCCC!
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Maddie is available by appointment Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
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Coming soon!
Jacob Souders
Lesson Instructor
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Piano, Percussion, Guitar, Music Composition, Cello, Music Production & Sound Engineering
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Jacob Souders is a composer, sound designer, performer, arranger and record producer from Kansas City. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition and a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, and has studied with world-renowned composers Paul Rudy, Chen Yi, Yotam Haber and Zhou Long. He is currently working towards a Master of Fine Arts in Sound Design at UMKC. Jacob has worked on a number of collaborative projects, creating music for a video game, short films, ensemble concert music and a number of pop records. He also works as the current music director at Camp IHC and held the same position at Camp Echo Lake in 2022.
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Jacob is available by waitlist only. Join in on one of our classes while you wait for a private lesson spot to become available.
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As a multi-instrumentalist, teaching is another integral part of Jacob's musical world. He teaches guitar, cello, music composition and songwriting. His favorite part of teaching is seeing others succeed, especially when those "lightbulb moments" occur, and a once difficult concept finally makes sense to a student. Jacob loves working at Pave Creative, and loves to be the teacher that sparks a lifetime of music and creativity for someone.
ERIN GILMORE
Lesson Instructor
Lesson Instructor
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Voice, Piano
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Erin Gilmore is a passionate music educator and performer with a love for helping students find their voice—literally! With two master’s degrees, one in Musicology from UMKC and another in Vocal Performance from Emporia State, Erin brings a blend of historical insight and vocal technique to her teaching. Her research dives into the fascinating lives of early theater icons, and she’s excited to share her knowledge of music history, theory, and opera with her students.
Erin has taught voice and piano to students of all ages since 2011. She’s also worked as a choir director, musical director, and vocal coach for a range of productions, most recently directing Chess: A Musical in Overland Park.
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Erin is available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays by appointment only.
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Erin enjoys working with groups and individuals alike, whether in the studio or as a guest clinician for school choirs. Additionally, she is active performer around the metro and a principal soprano for The American Opera Studio.
When she’s not teaching, Erin loves spending time with her family in Overland Park. She’s the proud mom of an energic 5-year-old son and a fun-loving 3-year-old daughter. Together with her husband, they enjoy local adventures and family time. Erin also finds joy in creative hobbies like painting, baking, and photography. So whether she’s mixing paint colors, experimenting with new recipes, or capturing a beautiful moment on camera, Erin’s love for the arts keeps her inspired in and out of the classroom.
Ryan HArvey
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Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Piano, Drums
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Ryan grew up in New England where his parents owned an operated a radio station. He was always emerged in studio sessions and music production, even doing voiceovers in commercials as a child. He then attended Berklee college of music, in Boston Massachusetts, and graduated with a degree in music business and management. After college he toured the US playing bass for a reggae rock band, that worked with the producer for Sublime and the Dirty Heads. Ryan got burned out from this lifestyle and shifted his focus to working with kids and adults on the autism spectrum and that has always been a population he very much enjoys working with. Ryan is a bass player first, but enjoys teaching guitar, ukulele and piano as well as songwriting and composition. 🤙
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Ryan is available Wednesdays and Thursdays by appointment only.
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Coming soon!