Tamilisa Wood Miner

Tamilisa Wood Miner grew up in Utah and began acting at an early age. Her first television commercial was when she was 6 years old. Her family performed in plays together at the Hale Center Theatre, City Repertory Theatre "City Rep," and the Triad Center. She also performed with the "Wood Family Band" playing the fiddle, singing, and playing the upright bass (sometimes standing on a chair to reach the neck of the bass). The band performed for events such as the Utah State Fair, corporate and church parties, Utah Talent Showcase, and the Eugene Jelesnik Show.

In high school she was part of the A cappella choir and show choir (Madrigals) under the directon of Tom Waldon. She also participated in various plays and drama club, and was the President of the Freedom Club. She lettered in choral performance and 3 times in Aeronautics. Participating as "an astronaut" in the famed StarLab (under the direction of John Barainca) for multiple weekend "shuttle trips" in a school simulator was the most unique experience. Also, she served on student government councils as a Junior Senator. But she prides herself the most on having been the Assemblies Director for Seminary Council her senior year. The task required writing and producing monthly assemblies for the entire seminary student body - putting on the assembly 7 times in a row on assembly day (5 class periods plus early morning and after school). The preparation for each assembly (script writing and distribution, props, guest speakers, video creation, etc), chairing two rotating committees, and having focused rehearsals took most of her time that senior year. Much to her dismay, AP History got left in the dust and she did not pass the final exam! Oops.

Years of acting in front of a camera peeked her interest in being behind the camera as well. So time with friends was often spent creating fun music videos, and documentaries. After high school she attended Brigham Young University and received a bachelors degree from the TMA (Theatre/Media Arts) Department, in Media Arts. Areas of study emphasized were Documentary Filmmaking, Unit Production Managing, and Live Multi-camera Production (Broadcast). She received a minor in Music, emphasizing choral performance and bluegrass performance groups (mandolin, fiddle). Working at KBYU Production (Ironton Blvd), KBYU Newsnet, the LDS Motion Picture Studio, the Instructional Technology Center (ITC), performing in the BYU Woman's Chorus, a BYU Orchestra, traveling with the BYU Folk Dance Ensemble (mandolin), being a judge for the Arlene R. and William P. Lewis Playwriting Contest for Women, and speaking at her graduation were college highlights.

Tamilisa served an LDS mission to Milan, Italy for 1 1/2 years. She and her companions dedicated themselves to learning the Italian language so that they could most effectively teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and be of service to the Italian people in any ways needed. They assisted with the cleanup from the flooding of the Po River in Turin in 2000.

Immediately after college graduation, she began working for the Education in Zion Exhibition Project on BYU campus, under the direction of professor and author Dr. C. Terry Warner (Bonds That Make Us Free). She helped the now-permanent exhibit (in the JFSB) get on its feet in various administrative ways, and assisted with the media creation process with the incredibly talented Ben Unguren.

After working for BYU for four years, she was hired as an Associate Film/Video Producer for the Audiovisual Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now-called PSD Dept). She became a full-time Broadcast Producer supporting various departments with streaming and broadcast needs. In 2008 she volunteered to be the first producer to take on the task of creating a new Church radio station called The Mormon Channel. Under the direction of Rob Boshard, she worked to establish budgets for radio programs, hire a team, establish workflow, etc., while creating and producing each of the assigned radio program episodes. On the side, she gathered in music (along with all of its paperwork) that would work for the new channel's music stream. After four years she returned to producing other LDS Church Broadcasts. For a list of programs produced see page: tamilisa.com/producing.

Tamilisa began playing with "Miles to Go" (a bluegrass band), during her college years and soon after met Craig Miner, multi-instrumentalist and luthier. Craig and Tamilisa were playing for the same event at which Tamilisa happened to be trying out performing on the banjo with Miles to Go. This caught Craig's attention. They dated for a time and then were married in the LDS Oquirrh Mountain Temple.

Craig and Tamilisa own and operate Limelight Window Cleaning while pursuing their creative music and film endeavors. They have 3 children and a dog named Banjo. The Miners perform together and have a website for bookings: "www.LoveAndBanjos.com."