Today we’d like to introduce you to Kailey Rice.
Hi Kailey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
At the end of 2020, after moving to Pilot Point, I was commuting nearly 40 minutes to teach at a music school in another city. Around that time, I joined my first community theatre show at the Pilot Point Community Opera House. My fellow cast members and the local theatre leadership encouraged me to bring my love of teaching and the performing arts right here to Pilot Point—and that’s exactly what I did!
In January 2021, I opened Starbright Music & Performing Arts inside the historic Opera House, offering group musical theatre classes and private music lessons. What began as a small dream has now grown into a thriving program with over 40 private lesson students each week and around 30 students in our musical theatre classes.
Recently, my husband and I purchased the entire Opera House building and are rebranding it as Starbright Center for the Arts. The Center will serve as a creative home for our performing arts school, provide short-term event rentals, and continue to host the Pilot Point Players, our community’s beloved theatre troupe.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Starting a new business during a pandemic came with plenty of uncertainty. Building a program from scratch in a small town meant taking a leap of faith and trusting that families would see the value in what we were offering.
There were times early on when I was teaching classes with just a handful of students, juggling everything from lesson scheduling to marketing to cleaning up the studio myself. As the program grew, balancing the demands of running a business, teaching full time, and continuing to perform was a challenge—but one I was grateful for.
The community has been supportive every step of the way and that has made every challenge worth it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My name is Kailey Rice, founder and director of Starbright Center for the Arts in Pilot Point, Texas. I’m a music and theatre educator passionate about helping students discover confidence and creativity through performance.
I specialize in musical theatre and voice. I’m known for creating kid-friendly, imaginative productions that bring out the best in every performer—whether it’s their first time on stage or their fiftieth. I love taking big, recognizable shows and adapting them for young performers, making sure every student has a moment to shine.
I’m most proud of the joy and confidence our students find on stage—and of turning my dream of bringing the arts home to Pilot Point into a reality.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Lately, I’ve been using TikTok and other social media sites to find fun theatre and vocal exercises for my students. I love how generous people are with sharing their skills online, and it’s been so much fun learning new ideas and bringing them into class.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.starbrightmpa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starbrightmpa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starbrightmpa
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@starbrightmpa
