Canija Shults
Hi! I’m Canija Shults. I am a former student of the choir. I graduated from Highschool in
2024! Through the choir I had many amazing opportunities to learn music and put it into
practice!
Throughout my Highschool years I was given the opportunity to be the accompanist
for both Sonshine and Jubilee choirs! For the last 4 years of my time as a student in the
choir I had Mrs. Mungons as my director! She was always so helpful to me as a student
and I can’t wait to work with her as my mentor!
The choir helped me grow in my knowledge and love for music, and I look forward to
sharing and teaching that love and knowledge to the next generation of kids that come
through!
Leah Smith
Leah Smith is the Jubilee choir director. The homeschool choir is near and dear to her heart, as
she was a member for 14 years. As a student, she got to participate in many solo & ensemble
competitions, ILMEA district and All-State, as well as accompany for 5 years.
Leah attended Millikin University where she earned bachelor’s degrees in vocal music education
and piano performance. Under the instruction of Dr. Silvan Negrutiu, she won the MDSO
Concerto Competition, ISMTA South Piano Competition, was a finalist in the Hollis Prize
competition, and was a Presser Scholar.
After college, Leah was a public school music teacher for 5 years, teaching everything from
elementary general music to high school choir, band, and music history. She is a member of the
Peoria Area Civic Choral. She is an active accompanist in the Peoria area, and she teaches
private piano lessons.
Leah and her husband, Ethan, met as students in the homeschool choir. They now live in East
Peoria with their son. In her free time, Leah enjoys baking, board games, and cross stitching.
She thanks God for all His many blessings that have brought her here, and is so excited to
share His gift of music with the students. Psalm 100.
Anna Synnott
Anna Synnott has directed Celebration since 2019 and is passionate about nurturing
music and faith in the next generation. A 2006 graduate of Bradley University with a
Bachelor of Music degree, she has served as accompanist for the Peoria Area Civic
Chorale Youth Chorus, taught Kindermusik, directed children’s choir at Trinity Lutheran
Church, and now accompanies the PACC Prep-Chorus. As an accompanist she has
had the privilege of working with many excellent children’s choir directors in the Peoria
area and is delighted to be able to share what she has learned with the Celebration
students at HHC. Her greatest joy is homeschooling her six children, ages 11 to 1,
alongside her husband, Pastor Matt Synnott.
Emily Mungons
Emily Mungons is our Hallelujah (teen choir) director. Emily has always enjoyed learning
new choral music, both as a singer and a director. Her love for the choir atmosphere
began when she was 11 years old and joined the Hosanna Homeschool Choir (then, the
Apache Homeschool Choir).
Emily was homeschooled all the way through high school and decided to go on to
college to pursue a music education degree. She graduated from Faith Baptist Bible
College in 2016, earning their Excellence in Music award. During her time at college,
she toured with their chorale, orchestra, and handbell choir, while also being a member
of a string quartet.
She has taught music in public, and private Christian schools, in addition to teaching for
Hosanna Homeschool Choir since 2019. Emily, her husband, and two daughters live in
Wyoming, IL where she is a member of Wyoming First Baptist Church. She enjoys
gardening, knitting, and reading. Emily feels immensely blessed to be able to contribute
back into the homeschooling community that fostered her love of music.