Monnette Sudler-Honesty

Monnette is a jazz guitarist, composer, producer and vocalist. She has maintained a continued presence as a bandleader, performer, and recording artist in Philadelphia and internationally. Monnette has produced her own CDs and recordings for educational, emotional, spiritual and moral development. Her art-for-social change is reflected in her music, both lyrically and stylistically, and expressed in compositions, performances, collaborations, and through the instruction of youth and seniors.  Monnette’s music targets issues of prominence for young people on social and emotional levels—such as the need for a father; running away from love that goes awry; surviving the social stigmas of living among poverty, drugs, murder, and incest; African American struggles and triumphs; as well as women’s issues. More importantly, Monnette gives positive reinforcement and encouragement throughout her students’ creative and learning process. Her writing also reflects what she hears from young people, so that they understand that their feelings, ideas, and thoughts matter. Monnette developed the program Mend the Mind, Free the Soul in order to incorporate music and music education into the C.A.R.E (Children Achieving through Re-education) model for therapeutic classrooms. She was also one of four composers chosen by the Philadelphia Opera Company to compose music based on poems written by students at Art Sanctuary with final performances by students, opera singers, and a string quartet.  This collaborative project highlighted the creative link between hip-hop literature and classical vocal music. Monnette is also the founder/producer of the Philadelphia Guitar Summit going into it's 4th year. The 2012 workshops so far will be String and Roots Folklore and Women Behind the Guitar.