SCH Musicians Inspired by Acclaimed Folk Duo

The Magnolia Janes, the dynamic duo of singer-songwriters Ashley Riley and Sarah Bonsignore, captivated Middle and Upper School student musicians with a day of inspiring workshops, performances, and artist talks on Friday, thanks to the Springside Class of 1954 Composition Workshop Fund.

In addition to performing, the duo shared insights into their songwriting process, recording journey, and the music industry. Upper School Songwriting students even gained hands-on audio engineering experience recording The Magnolia Janes in SCH’s renowned Jamie Bell Recording Studio.

Riley and Bonsignore recently released their album, The Light Years, which hit No. 1 on the folk charts. “Ashley and Sarah’s stunning harmonies, and gift for storytelling shine through in every song,” says Megan Monaghan, director of Arts at SCH. “We’re incredibly grateful to have such talent on campus, inspiring our student musicians.”

Bonsignore is a classically-trained pianist from South Africa with a background in opera and musical theatre, and Riley is a folk-inspired guitarist from rural Illinois who are well-respected artists in their own right. Their collaboration—sparked at a songwriting retreat in the Poconos—has proven to be a powerful fit, blending their diverse musical influences into a unique sound.

"A special thank you to Rebekah Zelman P’26 for connecting SCH with this incredible duo. As always, our heartfelt gratitude goes to the Class of 1954 for making many truly inspiring moments like this possible for our students!" says Monaghan. 

Watch our Upper School Songwriting students in action here!