Coming home: A local business owners journey back to Zanesville

By Megan Groves

Many people dream of leaving their hometown and escaping their old lives, but what happens when things don’t go as planned and you must return home? Stacy Russell is one of those people. After years of living in Reno, she returned to her hometown of Zanesville, Ohio, and started her own business, Stacy’s Singing Studio.  

Stacy Russell / Photo provided by Russell

Russell’s story begins after she graduated from Muskingum University in 2014 and moved across the country to pursue her master’s degree in vocal performance at the University of Nevada in Reno. Reno was much different than her hometown, Zanesville.  

“I felt very much like an outsider there… I went from Appalachia, Ohio, to a more eccentric city,” Russell said. “The addiction culture was a lot more prevalent there... not that it’s not in Appalachia, but you’re a lot more exposed to people’s issues there. There was a lot more obvious homelessness because the weather’s warmer there. Gambling is interesting… walking into a grocery store and seeing slot machines… gambling is very much a part of the way of living there.”  

Russell graduated from the University of Nevada in 2018. Upon graduating, she worked in a preschool and assisted living facility until the world changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. During this time, Russell decided it would be best if she moved back in with her family in Zanesville.  

After returning home, Russell found the job market did not match her career plans. She decided she needed more training and took a yoga class to one day become a yoga trainer. While attending these classes, Russell was inspired to start her own business.  

“When I moved here, I decided to do yoga teacher training—the pandemic was still very much prevalent. We weren’t sure how things were shifting, so I thought maybe I should get some other training. The wild thing is that yoga teacher training that I did in 2021 essentially propelled me into opening up my own studio.” Russell said. “The woman, Rachel Matt, who runs Grass Roots… she is just very inspiring in the way that she’s lived her own life, very entrepreneurial and she’s just one of those women who’s here to support women and help them find strength and independence on their own… It was a big mindset shift going through that training not just a physical shift. So, it was definitely yoga teacher training that inspired me.” 

In the fall of 2021, Russell opened her private studio, Stacy’s Singing Studio, in Zanesville. In 2022, she returned to her alma mater and started teaching as an adjunct vocal professor at Muskingum University. Her goal with her students is to build confidence in their singing. She hopes her students like themselves more when they leave her room. According to her students, Russell is doing just that.  

“It’s [Russell’s teaching] really made me go out of my comfort zone, especially with voice lessons because I never thought I would’ve done this ever,” said Hannah Swingle, one of Russell’s private studio students.

Russell’s devotion to student success is apparent in the classroom.

“Stacy is a wonderful teacher for any age range coming into college… [she is] extremely accommodating to disabilities and takes you into consideration no matter who you are,” said Muskingum University senior Savannah Hurt.

As Russell continues to build up her business, she also advises those who may be looking to start a small business of their own. She recommends knowing where your services will be needed and what other businesses in the area also provide that service.  

“Consider the market you’re moving into. One thing that was pretty huge for my business being able to start the way it did was because there was no singing teacher at CA House. The music store in town didn’t have a singing teacher. Secondly, I was asking around and nobody could tell me who was a singing teacher around here so clearly if there are people teaching voice, they’re not advertising in a way to get new students… so when I started at CA House it was honestly very clear to me there was a need for a voice teacher in Zanesville,.” Russell said.  

Going forward, Russell plans on continuing her education by getting her doctorate and expanding her business. She can see herself becoming a full-time faculty member at a university while continuing to run her private studio.  

Coming back to her hometown opened doors for Russell, which led to the success of her business. She believes in giving back to her community and making a positive difference in the lives of others. 

“There is something to be said about leaving the town that helped create you and then coming back to that town to help make it better and I genuinely do feel like I’m offering something in Zanesville that not everyone can offer,” Russell said.

If you are interested in starting singing lessons, Stacy’s Singing Studio is located in CA House Music at 828 Market Street, Zanesville, Ohio 43701.