Julie joined the Beck Center team in September 2018. She has a BS in theater from Texas Woman’s University. Prior to moving to Cleveland she worked at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts for nine years, first on the resident theatre company side which was awarded the 1998 Regional Theater Tony Award®, then the Broadway touring division, launching national tours such as The Lion King. In Northeast Ohio she has worked for Playhouse Square, The Cleveland Orchestra, and spent ten years with Cleveland Play House, during which they were awarded the 2015 Regional Theater Tony Award®. She is a member of the Cleveland Bridge Builders’ Class of 2013, PRSA (Public Relations Society of America), AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals), and the Arts & Culture Levy 2024 Marketing Committee. She is on the board of Art Possible Ohio, and enjoys volunteering with area non-profits, including College Now Greater Cleveland as a mentor, and Habitat for Humanity in Medina County.

Melinda is a Cleveland artist, educator, and arts administrator. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Cleveland Institute of Art, and Master of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with a focus on public and collaborative art. For over 15 years, she served as a teaching artist in the Cleveland area, partnering with Art House, Boys and Girls Club, and the Center for Arts Inspired Learning while creating collaborative murals in many of Cleveland’s schools and libraries. She was senior faculty with the Cleveland Print Room, and managed a city-wide photo mentoring program for teens. She currently maintains her studio at the Hildebrandt Artist Collective in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood, where she paints and plays piano. She knows creative outlets save lives, and takes great pride in encouraging creativity in her hometown.

Sarah is a native Clevelander who holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Dance from Baldwin Wallace University and is currently working towards her Master's as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a Specialization in Dance/Movement Therapy at Lesley University. Sarah has been trained in multiple dance forms for the past seventeen years and loves to share her passion with others. Sarah also choreographs at local community theaters and well as St. Edward High School, while still finding time to perform for herself.

Melissa Yarur taught ballet technique and pointe for 15 years at North Carolina Dance Institute, a non-recital, non-competition studio. She also choreographed and produced several ballet concerts with Carolyn Ghezzi (PA Ballet, Geneva Ballet, NC Dance Theater). She moved to Cleveland in 2022.

Melissa studied ballet at the Academy of the Dance in Wilmington, DE, with Arthur Hutchinson, Victor Wesley, and Susan Lawrence. She performed various roles in the Nutcracker, including the Snow Queen, Chocolate, Candy Cane, Marzipan, the Toy Soldier, and Waltz of the Flowers. She has also performed in Les Sylphide, as the White Cat from Sleeping Beauty, and the Polovtsian maiden in the ballet from Prince Igor. Melissa went on to dance with Margot Parsons while getting her degree in Education at Boston University.

Sarah has a Bachelor’s degree in Dramatic Arts from Cleveland State University with an emphasis on performance and directing. In addition she has a RESA teaching license in Integrated Language Arts for grades 7-12. In addition to her role at Beck Center for the Arts, Sarah the resident choreographer and co-director for Rocky River Middle School’s spring musical. She has worked throughout the Cleveland area as a performer, director, choreographer, costumer, and teacher.

Kelsey Heichel earned her Bachelor Degree in Arts Management with a Minor in Theater from Baldwin Wallace University. In addition to administrative duties in expanding in expanding Beck Center’s reach into the community, she has served as a choreographer as well as a faculty member in dance and theater. Prior to her time at Beck Center she completed internships at Academy for Dramatic Arts, Lutheran Memorial School, and Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Dance Marathon. Through these roles, she has developed and honed her skills in arts education, event planning, and community engagement. In the community, she has served as choreographer for Lakewood Congregational Church musicals including Shrek the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Godspell, and Wizard of OZ as well as serving in a leadership position with WE Lakewood

Susan holds a BA in Art History from Ohio University and longtime pottery instructor at Beck Center and other community education programs in the Cleveland area. Her pottery pieces have been exhibited in the Beck Center annual Faculty Exhibition.

Ryan Finley is a professional sketch card artist, published illustrator, freelance illustrator, visual arts instructor, girl dad, husband and nerd from Northeast Ohio. He currently creates Star Wars sketch cards for Topps and Marvel sketch cards for Upper Deck. Throughout his career he has also worked on other titles such as TMNT, Scooby-Doo, Stranger Things, Aliens, Predator and X-Files. His love for pop culture/comics shows through in his work along with his classroom projects. Ryan travels to comic conventions selling his original art, prints and sketch cards. His art has been published in art books, raised money for local charities, and has been displayed in several local galleries. He has also painted numerous murals in the Northeast Ohio area. Learn more about Ryan Finley’s work at ArtByRyanFinley.com

Cassandra attended Indiana University Bloomington where she holds aa Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art, and also a Bachelors in East Asian Language and Culture with a Minor in Linguistics. She is an artist, designer, and performer freelancing in illustration, design, graphics, video, & content creation. She also tells compelling stories through comics and publications. Cassandra has taught across Northeast Ohio in the areas of drawing, comics, and pastel portraits. In addition to teaching, she has held the positions of Lead Screen Printer at Hip Hues, and also Lead Portrait Artist at Kaman Art Shoppes. Follow her @charnerart on Instagram.

Jennifer is a distinguished musician and educator whose career spans over four decades. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music, along with a secondary degree in Theater from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University. Her extensive teaching career includes roles as the Director of Performing Arts at Trinity High School and as a music and theater teacher and director at Hathaway Brown School and the Cuyahoga Board of Developmental Disabilities, showcasing her dedication to arts education and inclusivity. She enjoyed an impressive 40-year tenure as an associate director and soloist at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, further demonstrating her commitment to music and the arts. Jennifer has made significant contributions to the arts community in Cleveland. As a singer, actress, director, conductor, and flutist, she has become a versatile and influential figure. Her talents have been recognized nationally—she was a semi-finalist and prize winner in the Savannah American Traditions vocal competition and had the honor of being invited to perform at the White House. Today, Jennifer continues to share her passion for music through performances with the Gateway Jazz Band and as a lobby instrumentalist on the flute at Playhouse Square. She is thrilled to be joining Beck Center for the Arts as a new adaptive theater teacher.

Tanya Anne Long is a ceramicist and sculptor originally from New York and currently residing in Cleveland, Ohio. She received her MFA in ceramics from Cranbrook Academy of Art and her BFA from Pratt Institute. In 2017 she was awarded a U.S. Fulbright Grant, which enabled her to travel to Hungary for one year to pursue independent research in visual arts and design. Her work with ceramics has taken her abroad numerous times, including participation in artist residencies at the European Ceramic Work Centre (EKWC) in the Netherlands, the Guldagergaard Ceramic Research Center in Denmark, and the International Ceramic Studio in Hungary. She has held teaching positions at the University of Akron, University of Pécs in Hungary, and ceramics classes for youth and adults at several community art centers across the Midwest. Learn more at www.tanyaannelong.com

Linda holds an M.S. in Special Education from National University and a B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Chinese from Youngstown State University. With a focus on historical and archaeological research, Linda dedicates herself to learning and teaching traditional painting techniques, including pigment-making, spinning with drop spindle and spinning wheel, weaving, inkle loom, card weaving, lucet, calligraphy and illumination. Her paintings have won many Best in Show awards, and she has also exhibited in national juried shows. She teaches throughout Northeast Ohio at many arts centers and is also Beck Center’s Gallery Coordinator. Learn more about Linda’s work at www.lamgallery.com

Mr. Passano holds a BFA from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a Teaching Certification from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. He has been a classroom teacher where the history and practice of art were always features of his classes. He continued his artistic training through studies with several successful Cleveland area artists, including John Carlson, Patricia Sigmier, and Richard Treaster. He is inspired by the works of Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Jackson Pollock, Andrew Wyeth, and Vermeer. His artwork has been exhibited in shows in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and especially Maryland where he spent a great deal of time drawing inspiration from sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. Although he primarily works in watercolors, other mediums used in his work include oil, colored pencil, charcoal, and pen and ink.

Sam is a freelance cartoonist and art educator who resides in Lakewood, Ohio. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2013 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sequential Art, a degree that emphasizes visual storytelling, creative writing, and comic illustration. Sam Reveley has been exhibited internationally as a sequential artist, co-created numerous independently-published comic books, and has served as a public art educator since 2010 for the Museum of Contemporary Art: Cleveland, the SCAD Museum of Art, and the Center for Art-Inspired Learning. Her aspiration is to start-up the first independent digital comics focused publishing house in Cleveland. Co-creator credits include “Steelfoot Fin and the Last Oil Well” (published digitally), “Seeds of Valor” (in print by the Transitions Comic Anthology).

Patricia holds a BFA from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She is a signature member of the Ohio Watercolor Society. She instructs Watercolor Painting, Color Theory in Watercolor, Botanical Painting, and Portrait Painting in Watercolor. Patricia also teaches Plein air painting for the Case Western Reserve University’s Continuing Education Department. She enjoys teaching art classes for local private groups and has exhibited in numerous juried shows.

Alastair has a BA in Arts Education from Cleveland State University and a graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors. He recently received his teaching license and has done collaborative work with the Cleveland Artists Foundation, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Beck Center along with various school districts such as Fairview, Berea, Parma, and the Cleveland Municipal School District. Here at Beck Center has worked in the areas of visual arts education, outreach education, and creative art therapies. His artwork continues to be exhibited and was last seen in the most recent faculty art show. Al has been moving chairs and unlocking doors at the Beck Center since 2005 while working behind the scenes at virtually every major event. Learn more about Alastair’s work at www.misteral.org.

Hector Castellanos Lara is a painter and community artist working with a variety of arts and cultural programs in the Greater Cleveland area. He worked with Escuela Popular, where he coordinated art exhibitions of emerging Latinx artists from northeast Ohio, as well as working with Latin artists to exhibit for the first time in Cleveland. From these experiences, he worked with the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle, Chalk Festival, and WInter Lights. He was artist-in-residence at the Allen Memorial Art Museum in Oberlin as an artist-in-residence and outreach artist in schools and community centers across Cleveland and Columbus. Born and raised in Guatemala, Hector is now a Cleveland artist, maintaining his studio in the Hildebrandt Artist Collective. He is the Artistic Director of both Parade the Circle and Dia de Muertos, in close partnership with Cleveland Public Theater, and currently teaches an Alebrijes Sculpture class at the Beck Center.

Kristen Newell (they/her) is a versatile process artist whose primary focus is ceramic sculpture. They work and teach in Cleveland, Ohio, at their studio in the Hildebrandt Artist Collective. They graduated with a BA from University of Vermont and gained further education in the ceramics field through artist residency and internship at Brick Ceramics and Design Studio. Kristen's work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions around North East Ohio in galleries including Wolfs, Waterloo Arts, Abattoir, Gallery 202, and in the CAN Triennial. They have works in collections including Curated Storefront Akron, and the Cleveland Art Association. Kristen offers students joy in creativity, with a range of projects including sculpted planters, ceramic murals and handmade toys and games.

https://www.postkristen.com/

Justin Pintabona is a visual artist from Northeast Ohio. A lifelong creator, his specialty is digital art, informed by thorough practice in traditional painting, drawing and draftsmanship. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art with a BFA in Illustration, he currently works as head of mentorship and training for University Tees, a locally-based screen-printed apparel company for college students. He also produces sculpture and promotional material for IngenuityFest, a celebration of Cleveland's creative energies. He lives in Lakewood with his cats Taco, Spice, and Pepper, along with an entire stable of bikes.

Michael is a visual artist, educator and curator. For over two decades he organized artistic events ranging from gallery shows to live music performances. Michael owned and curated 2020 W Schaaf Gallery in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood. He loves sharing his favorite artists with young children to inspire a wide range of artmaking including painting, sculpture, and mixed media art made with recycled materials.

Kurt graduated from Cleveland Institute of Art with his BFA in printmaking and was the recipient of the Otto F Ege award for academic excellence. He also attended Cooper School of Art in Cleveland. He works primarily in still life, landscapes, and abstracts. Mediums include watercolor, gouache, acrylic, collage, digital, monoprint and linocut. Kurt also works as a fine craftsman at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Heather McCormick is a mixed media artist and muralist, and she serves the Northeast Ohio area through multiple nonprofits. She has a genuine love for people, and it shows through how she engages with our community. Heather is grateful for her many years of working with the general public, and she has owned a brick-and-mortar enrichment and community center in the past. Heather’s mission is kindness, and she is an artist with her own company, Kind Mind Art, where she focuses on being kind to her mind through “arting” all over the place. She has worked in the Northeast Ohio community and with local families for over 30 years, and her goal is to promote kindness, healing, and self-love through art. Heather believes art is a great catharsis, and this fuels her passion in her art pieces and also her work. Heather loves live music, making big energy messy art, and she has one grown daughter who is also an artist. She enjoys practicing intuitive henna and ecstatic dance, she never minds if you call her Miss Feather, and she carries bubbles in her purse. #kindincleveland www.kindmindart.com

Jocelynn lives in Fairview Park, Ohio with her husband, two German Shepherds, and two cats. She is currently working on a master's in counseling and art therapy at Ursuline College. Jocelynn loves working with children and providing a creative and safe place for self-expression.

Sarah has a BM in Music Therapy from the University of Dayton. Practiced music therapy at Riverside Academy of Music for four years and The Far Conservatory in Birmingham, MI for three years. Early childhood music instructor at the Beck Center since 2005. Enjoys spending time with her two daughters and husband.

Michael earned his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in May of 2016. Following graduation, Michael completed a 6-month music therapy internship at Laurel Lake Retirement Community in Hudson, Ohio, where he served primarily in the skilled nursing and hospice unit. He has been on faculty at Beck Center for the Arts since January 2018, and teaches guitar there in addition to his duties as a music therapist. Michael is also employed by the Dover Congregational United Church of Christ Chancel Choir in Westlake. He maintains an active performance schedule with regional pit orchestras and with his two bands, The Branches and Flight 619.

Gavin holds a Bachelor's of Music in Music Therapy from Ohio University. Following graduation, he completed his music therapy internship at Mobile Music Therapy Services of Orange County in Garden Grove, California. He has a range of experience working with individuals and groups in early childhood, clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and older adults in senior living facilities. His instruments include guitar, piano, and voice. He is also a classically trained clarinetist and was in the Ohio University Wind Symphony and the Ohio University Symphony Orchestra. Gavin joined the Creative Art Therapies staff at the Beck Center for the Arts in September 2023. He is excited to be working at the Beck Center of the Arts and share his love of music in the community.

Carly earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Ohio University after completing her music therapy internship with the Fulton County School District in the metropolitan Atlanta area. She also holds a Master of Music in Music Therapy degree from Ohio University. Her graduate research on the benefits of inclusive music therapy settings in developing early childhood social skills. Carly has experience working with children and adults with developmental disabilities and complex medical needs. Her music therapy practice centers around the belief that every individual deserves access to music and that every individual deserves the autonomy to guide their own musical experience. Carly also has experience as a piano instructor and continues to fulfill that role at the Beck Center.

Josie (they/she) is an interdisciplinary theatre artist with over 20 years’ experience. Their work covers all areas of theatre from performance to production, spanning a range of settings from local community theatre to black box shows in New York, even producing an award-winning world premiere musical workshop. Josie holds a BIS from Kent State University, a certificate in Devising Theatre for Social Justice from Fringe Benefits Theatre in Los Angeles, and is currently earning an MA in Expressive Arts Therapy at Lesley University. As an experienced educator, Josie developed and directed the inaugural Youth Summer Theatre Camp at Arlene’s Broadway on Buffalo in Conneaut, where she continues to direct and perform. In addition to their theatre work, Josie leads ACES Creative Arts Club through NAMI Lake County, using creative arts activities to teach coping skills to middle schoolers, and is currently developing the organization’s first Youth Advisory Board.

Brooke is a graduate from Cleveland State University and a recent board certified and licensed music therapist. She has been passionate about music and creative arts since the age of five and is in a band called Fall Creek. Brooke has a cat named Rajah, and she really enjoy building Legos and reading in her free time.

Bruce has been playing the oboe and English horn for over 40 years. He plays with the Parma Symphony and Bay Village Community band and has lent his talents to at least a dozen other orchestral groups and community bands. He takes pride in all of his private oboe students, especially the four accepted into the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. Bruce has studied with Loyal Mould and Danna Sundet in addition to master class experiences with John Mack, Frank Rosenwein, Jeff Rathbun, and Scott Hostettler at the John Mack Oboe camp. A member of the International Double Reed Society, Bruce was recently appointed to the sight-reading session committee. He is a retired hospital pharmacist with a 30 year history at Metrohealth Medical Center Hospital.

Sarah Boyle is a composer, vocalist, and pianist resident in Lakewood, Ohio. Sarah graduated at Cleveland State University in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Music in Composition. There she studied music composition and theory with Dr. Andrew Rindfleisch and Dr. Greg D’Alessio, as well as vocal performance with Eileen Moore. While in the Cleveland area Sarah has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, touring acts at Playhouse square, on top of numerous groups of Northeast Ohio in classical, rock, and jazz traditions.

Currently, Sarah continues to work with a variety of local ensembles while giving lessons in voice, piano, composition, and music theory. She is well versed in the performance and composition of classical, theatre, jazz, and popular music. She specializes in vocal technique and musicianship, leading prospective vocalists in the practice of mindful and healthy singing to achieve their artistic goals. Overall, she intends to help each of her students find what inspires them as musicians and guide them towards developing and mastering these skills to excel in their own brilliant ways.

Carmen studied at the Berklee School of Music in Boston where he focused on drums, mallets, arranging and composition. He has been a professional drummer and percussionist for over 4 decades. Carmen is an extremely accomplished jazz performer and has played in large and small venues alike in Cleveland, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and on a world tour for Blue Note Records that took him to New York, San Francisco, and Brazil. Carmen has collaborated with world renowned musicians Joe Lovano, Sonny Stitt, Dennis Irwin, Cecil McBee, Kenny Werner, and many others.

Christopher has a BA in Music from Baldwin-Wallace College and AA in Humanities and Music from County College of Morris in NJ. He performs frequently on Cleveland Classical Guitar Society recitals and around the greater Cleveland area as member of the clarinet/guitar duo Sunday in the Park. He is a member of the Cleveland Guitar Orchestra and the Guitar Foundation of America. He studied under the accomplished guitarist and composer Dr. Loris Chobanian and frequently participates in continuing education workshops at area universities. When he is not teaching or performing, Chris can be found running marathons and cooking up healthy recipes.

Jason Fuh, baritone, holds a DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) from the Ohio State University, as well as a BM, MM, and Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has performed operas and concerts with Cleveland Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Cleveland Orchestra, CIM Orchestra, Cleveland State University Orchestra, Brevard Music Festival and Intermezzo Opera. Dr. Fuh was awarded the Elizabeth Stoeckler Stevens Prize in Lieder, the Irvin Bushman Memorial Prize in Vocal Artistry and the First Place of the Darius Milhaud Performance Prize Competition. He regularly gives recitals in the US and has made special appearances in Taiwan. He was twice selected to participate in the Art Song Festival in Cleveland. He has also been invited to perform in the “Chinese Future Stars Recital” held in Carnegie Hall.

Juan graduated from Cleveland School of the Arts and attended Baldwin Wallace Conservatory for trumpet performance. He was a trumpet player and duty bugler with the US Navy and has been a music director for the Salvation Army Superior Corps. He has played with Texas Brass, and locally with Near West Theater, and our very own Beck Center stage. He has performed in countless Beck musical theater productions since he began in 2010.

Leah has a master’s degree in musical theatre from Oklahoma City University, where she studied with the world renowned voice teacher, Florence Birdwell, who also taught Tony winner’s Kelli O’Hara (Leah’s classmate) and Kristin Chenoweth. With over 20 years of NYC, touring, international, and regional theatrical credits, she is well equipped to share her love of music with the next generation of performers. Previously, she taught voice through the EMG Collective in NYC. Most recently she starred as Franchesca in The Bridges of Madison County in Atlanta, Georgia. Favorite credits include multiple seasons with Great Lakes Theatre and Idaho Shakespeare Festival, featured soprano at Tokyo Disney, Mrs. Phagen in Parade, Carrie in Carousel, and both Sarah and Adelaide in Guys & Dolls. Fun fact, Leah is also a proud former Miss OCU (Oklahoma City University) 1999, and 3rd runner-up to Miss Oklahoma. Throughout her years competing in the Miss Oklahoma system, she was awarded over $50,000 in tuition scholarships. She has since judged several state pageants and worked closely with two former Miss America’s prior to their claiming the crown. A proud member of Actors Equity, she continues to perform and looks forward to making Cleveland her theatrical home.

Patricia Johnston relocated with her family back home to NE Ohio from Florida as a freelance double bassist at the end of 2019. Patricia started on the bass at age nine and was lucky to study with amazing teachers over the years, starting with Chris Haff at CIM as well as Curtis Burris at Chautauqua Institute. Then her undergraduate studies were with Virginia Dixon at Wheaton College and David Young at the Colburn School of Music, followed by graduate studies with Robert Kassinger of the CSO at DePaul University. As an adult, she has received coaching and mentorship from Dr. Lee Eubanks, Lauren Pierce and Paul Ellison.

Most recently she enjoyed performing the Summit Choral Society’s Christmas Candlelight Concerts. While in Orlando, Patricia was a contract musician with Bach Festival Orchestra and Orlando Symphony Orchestra, and also received regular calls to sub with The Venice Symphony and The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra. Patricia has always maintained a nice studio of private students as well as offering regular sectional coaching to area schools. She is also currently the double bass faculty member for the Contemporary Youth Orchestra. Patricia lives in Broadview Heights with her husband (also a professional musician), her two high school age sons, her giant St. Berdoodle and loves hiking together in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Van has a BM from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and an MA in Horn Performance and Literature from Northwestern University. A champion of new music, Van has been a member of the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, the Northwestern Contemporary Music Ensemble, and has participated in premieres by Eric Whitacre, Lewis Nielsen, and composer Deborah Phelps from whom he commissioned the piece Cui Bono. Mr. Parker has also performed with Oak Park, River Forest, Waukegan, Lake Shore, and Sherwood Symphonies and currently plays with the Firelands Symphony and Cleveland Winds. Van also appeared in performances with the Akron, Ashland, Mansfield, and Youngstown Symphonies and the Chagrin Falls Studio Orchestra. He currently serves as an Assistant Director of the All-Ohio State Fair Band.

Chuck is a professional musician and teacher who studied jazz at Cleveland State University. Currently, he teaches guitar, bass, ukulele and piano to students of all ages and experience. Incorporating music theory and using a variety of teaching styles, his instructional approach is customized to each student based on their interests and learning objectives. Chuck also performs in a variety of bands, including jazz, classical, rock, Motown and folk music, specifically bass with The Bottom Line Band and bass/guitar/piano with award-winning singer/songwriter Anne E. DeChant. Chuck also performs solo guitar and piano, and enjoys collaborating with other musicians and artists.

Andrew holds a BM and MM in music performance from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music where he studied with Carmine Campione and Jonathan Gunn. In addition to his experience on clarinet, Andrew is also a proficient pianist with over twenty years of experience and has studied as an honors secondary piano student at the University of Cincinnati. He is currently an active teacher and freelance clarinetist in Northeast Ohio, where he has performed several times with the Canton Symphony and serves as an alternate musician for both the Akron Symphony and Erie Philharmonic.

Dan holds a B.A. from the University of Toledo and an Associate’s Degree in Jazz Studies from Cuyahoga Community College. He maintains an active private lesson studio and has over 17 years of teaching experience. Dan is a Cleveland based saxophonist and veteran of NE Ohio’s jazz and experimental sound scenes. He currently performs with the Revolution Brass Band, Togishi, Oblique Orchestra, Nitebridge, Hexapod, Trepanning Trio, Beans (AntiPop Consortium), and Broken Ornaments. Dan also curates the music at 1Way, a monthly new/free music showcase which presents and documents local experimental, new, and free music. He also organizes a monthly free improvisation session called OutLab: Experiments in Improvised Music that takes place at The Bop Stop.

Naomi brings a myriad of instrumental experience to the Beck Center studios. While primarily teaching violin and viola, she has received training and lessons on flute and piano while also being a vocalist with her family’s trio. As a classically trained musician that can easily go between violin and viola, she brings a unique skill set to students of both instruments – especially those that may be making a switch as their skills develop and expand.

Miriam, a classically trained musician, has excelled as a violinist while also being a piano player and vocalist. Her love for music began at an early age as she and her very musical family frequently performed and shared their talents with the community. Through the years, as she developed her skills, she began teaching out of a private studio in Medina and is thrilled to be able to assist in the musical development of Beck Center students.

Mary retired from a career as a public school music educator, having taught in grades K through 12 in Michigan and Ohio for over 35 years. Most recently, she taught middle school choir and general music at Rocky River Middle School for 23 years, where she directed musical theater productions as well as coaching and accompanying hundreds of middle school singers in solo and ensemble contests. Additionally, since her teenage years she has served as church musician to several churches, and has taught private lessons in clarinet, basic guitar, and beginner piano. She earned a B.Mus.Ed. degree from The College of Wooster, and an M.A. in Choral Music/Music Education from Eastern Michigan University. She and her husband have three sons: two of whom are music teachers and one who is a professional actor.

Jenny Millward is a lifelong musician who values versatility, self-expression, and flexibility in the music-learning process. Jenny began at a young age with singing and joining choirs, and over the years branched out to add other instruments including piano, cello, and guitar. She similarly began as a classically trained musician, and over time transitioned to explore her skills in other styles of music as well. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Psychology from Capital University in Columbus, Jenny continued on to study Music Therapy in graduate school. Since leaving undergraduate studies, she has spent five years working in developmental and educational settings with a wide range of age groups. Jenny’s approach to the learning experience comes from a well-rounded and empathetic perspective- providing each student with a space that supports their individual needs in developing music skills.

Violinist Amos Fayette began his studies at the age of 2 with his mother, made his solo debut at the age of 8, and at 12 was admitted to the prestigious Pre-College Division of the The Juilliard School. He completed his formal training and education at the Peabody Conservatory and The Juilliard School as a student of Pamela Frank and Ronald Copes respectively, and also completed a fellowship with the New World Symphony under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas. He has performed as a soloist with the New World Symphony Orchestra, Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra, Mid-Atlantic Symphony, the Orquesta Filarmonica de Medellin, and others. Equally in demand as an orchestra musician, Amos currently performs with many orchestras in and around Northeast Ohio, including Cleveland Pops, Firelands Symphony Orchestra, and Cleveland Opera Theater. Past teaching appointments include faculty appointments at the New World School of the Arts, Queens College CPSM, and the Music School of Delaware. Mr. Fayette performs on a violin made in 2012 by master luthier Edward Maday. In his spare time, he can be found exploring the culinary landscape of Cleveland with his family.

Flautist Mary Kay Robinson has performed, toured and recorded with many of the premiere orchestras and chamber musicians in the United States and abroad. She has been featured as soloist on Flute, Piccolo and Alto Flute and has commissioned many works for these instruments and is the Principal Flutist with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. With a background in music education, performance and leadership, as Director of Case Chamber Music, CWRU /CIM, organized and coached small groups open to all instrumentalists. She founded the Greater Cleveland Flute Society and the Cleveland chapter of Chamber Music Connection, a small ensemble community collaborative (all instruments and ability levels), has taught privately, coached and hosted Adult Amateur Chamber Music Workshops throughout the area for many years. She is a frequent guest artist and clinician for competitions and has many highly successful students.

http://www.mkrobinson.org

Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University, and a B.M. in Piano Performance (“With Honors in a Major”) from Mount Union College, now University of Mount Union. At University of Mount Union she taught on the college level and in the preparatory division and served as a Collaborative Pianist, accompanying faculty, students, and guest recitalists. She joined Beck Center in 2008 as Accompanist for Performing and Chamber Choirs, and later joined the Beck Music Education Faculty as a Piano Instructor for Private Piano in 2009. Mrs. Pham is organist and cantor at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, Sheffield Village. As a past President of Cleveland Piano Teachers’ Organization, she continues to serve the organization as an Officer and Board

Member. She has also served as an adjudicator for the OMTA Ribbons Festivals in New Philadelphia, and the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festivals in Youngstown State and Kent State Universities, and Baldwin Wallace and Cleveland State Universities.

Mrs. Pham continues work as a collaborative pianist in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties, and has performed in recitals at various colleges and universities-- Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Mount Union, Kent State University-- as well as the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, NY.

Joe plays ukulele, guitar, and bass guitar and has a wide range of music experience in Jazz, Blues, Pop, Classical, Rock, Folk, and Bluegrass. He teaches at Beck Center as well as The Music Settlement. Joe earned his BA in Music Performance and is currently continuing his studies at Cleveland State for a M.M. Degree in Music Performance with a focus in Jazz studies. He is active in the music community and plays regularly with bands around Cleveland such as Quick Silver, QS Jazz and Hip to That. He also enjoys playing in pit orchestras for musicals. Joe tries to give his students an enjoyable experience while teaching the joy and knowledge of music.

Jacob Bremkamp is a native Ohio composer, lyricist, private instructor, and vocal coach. He is also a musical director, conductor, and accompanist with over two decades of professional experience in the theater industry. He received his B.F.A. in Theater Arts from The University of the Arts (2010) in Philadelphia where he began writing and producing original musicals, gaining public recognition, and receiving academic awards and accolades for his theatrical work. Since then, he has continued to grow as a musical director and accompanist in NYC and Washington DC. He later received his M.M. in Composition from Cleveland State University (2022). He currently teaches voice, piano and musical theater performance privately, and works as the administrative assistant to the head of the Composition Department at Cleveland State University School of Music. You can reach out to him at Mysterikinkmusicllc@gmail.com. He has been a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America since 2010.

Alexandra was born and raised in Cleveland, OH where she studied various styles of dance at Beck Center for the Arts and Cleveland School of the Arts. She holds a BFA in Dance with Distinction from The Ohio State University where she focused on choreography and education which allowed her to choreograph and present numerous works in student concerts. Ali has also performed and choreographed internationally through the Ohio State Brazil Dance Tour. She is excited to return to her home town and Beck Center.

Lou originated from York, England, a Musical Theater graduate from London’s Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. She relocated to Cleveland in 2010 upon retirement from 20 years of performing, teaching, and hiring dancers for Carnival Cruise Lines. Lou currently teaches for the Dance (Jazz, Tap, Ballet), Theater (Musical Theatre Dance), and Outreach Department at the Beck Center. Lou also teaches Jazz for the Dance Department at Cleveland State University and is a Choreographer for the CSU Vikings Dance Team.

Ally started her dancing career at the Beck Center in 2007. Since then she has performed in dozens of shows and showcases here, two of her favorites being as Karen Davidson in Billy Elliot (2016) and as the Evil Queen in the ballet, Snow White (2022). She is currently attending Cleveland State University where she is a member of the CSU dance company, majoring in dance. She can also be found performing science experiments at the Great Lakes Science Center, where she works part time.

Tristan has been a student at the Beck center for over 20 years in the dance, theatre, visual arts, and music departments. He has been teaching dance and choreographing for three years, starting in college, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in art and entertainment media at Vanderbilt University. He has been learning tap from former Radio City Rockette Mimi Schwensen for around two decades, and has also studied ballet, jazz, Latin dance, Chinese and Vietnamese traditional dances, flow arts, and martial arts such as Tai Chi.

Gwendolyn is a graduate of the University of Georgia, she studied theatre and stagecraft at Northwestern University with early training in ballet/pointe, tap, and jazz was with Margaret Holden. She performed with New York City Ballet in Saratoga Springs, NY. A former adjunct faculty member of Middle Tennessee State University and teaching artist for the Cumberland County Playhouse, Mrs. Seckers was the assistant director of the Rutherford County Youth Ballet. She is a certified group fitness instructor, has teaching experience with children and adults in private studios, teaches ballet for athletes and conducts in-school workshops.

Lieneke Matte grew up in the Bronx and received her early training at the School of American Ballet where she was a child performer with the New York City Ballet. Ms. Matte then attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in New York City and would later go on to study dance at SUNY Purchase College. There she performed works by a number of influential choreographers such as George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, Nicolo Fonte, Lar Lubovitch, and Nicholas Villeneuve. Lieneke also studied abroad, spending a semester at the Western Australian Academy of the Performing Arts. In 2013 she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase College, as well as receiving the President’s Award for the dance conservatory. Following graduation Ms.Matte joined Verb Ballets (now Ohio Contemporary Ballet). During her 10 years with the company she performed works by Gerald Arpino, Adam Hougland, Anthony Krutzkamp, Heinz Poll, Richard Dickinson, Charles Anderson, Lauren Edson, Antonio Brown, Tommy-Waheed Evans, and Stephanie Martinez to name a few. Though no longer performing, Ms. Matte continues to spread her passion for dance throughout Northeast Ohio.

Emily Scali started her dance education locally. She studied ballet, pointe, jazz, and tap, with a heavy emphasis in ballet, and pointe. After high school, she continued her education as a dance major at The University of Akron. Emily has been a ballet and pointe instructor at numerous studios in the area since 2004 and was recently certified to teach Progressing Ballet Technique. Emily continues her dance education by attending classes and local workshops. She is incredibly excited to share her passion and knowledge with the students at Beck Center.

Bridget Biliunas was trained in Russian Classical Ballet by Cleveland's Marguerite Duncan and Nancy Arcury. She accompanied children’s ballet classes while student-teaching training. Her ballet career includes North Coast Ballet Theatre, Cleveland Dance Theater, numerous dance and science somatic seminars in Cleveland, Chicago, New York City, and Las Vegas while performing at the Cleveland Playhouse, the Masonic Temple, Connor Palace, and Tower City Productions, among others. In addition to her classical training, Bridget has danced with several folk dance ensembles. While performing, Bridget earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education teaching early childhood and middle school grades throughout Greater Cleveland. Through the Royal Academy of Dance, she is a licensed Silver Swans teacher for therapeutic ballet for seniors. Beginning in 2020, Bridget attends the Royal Ballet School’s Enlighten global webinar program for dance pedagogy. She is a member of the Royal Academy of Dance.

Molly Cohen is originally from Strongsville, Ohio and studied ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, modern, and contemporary for 15 years, with a heavy emphasis on ballet. She continued her dance education at Kent State University, graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising with a Minor in Dance. After living in Cincinnati for 2.5 years, Molly moved back to Cleveland and started taking adult ballet classes at the Beck Center for the Arts, as well as substitute teaching at local studios. Molly is overjoyed to begin her teaching career at Beck Center, and is ready to utilize her over 20 years of ballet experience to help others develop their ballet skills and their appreciation of dance.

Melaina McConnell is from Cleveland, Ohio. She began her ballet training at the age of four with the School of Cleveland San Jose Ballet, under the direction of Dennis Nahat and Gladisa Guadalupe. Melaina also studied modern and contemporary dance under the tutelage of Tom Smith, Sabatino Verlezza and Tom Evert. At the age of sixteen she joined Dancing Wheels, America’s premier physically integrated dance company. She is the founding Assistant Director of North Pointe Ballet and currently teaches traditional and adaptive dance for students of all ages and abilities across the Cleveland area.

Judi Bar E-RYT 500, Yoga Therapist, Reiki Master and retired Yoga Program Manager and Lead Yoga Therapist for a local health system where she manages her yoga team and designs program for patients, families and employees in her style of accessible yoga. In addition to specializing in therapeutic yoga to treat chronic pain and illness for patients, she has developed unique programs that are accessible to everyone. She has been featured in several books, speaks at international medical conferences of the benefits of yoga and has created the Come as You Are Yoga DVD series. She was director of her own HeartLight Yoga Studio prior to joining the health system. She has been teaching yoga almost 25 years.

Carolyn has worked as a theatre educator, actor, and director nationally and internationally, and is thrilled to be back home in Cleveland. She has worked as a teaching artist in Denver, New York City, Washington DC, and Columbus, working with young artists ages 3-18. She was the Drama instructor for Aspen Academy (K-8) and the Theatre Instructor at Whitman Middle School through Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. In addition to working with younger students, Carolyn has also taught undergraduate courses in Acting, Improv, and Theatre History at The University of Virginia and John Carroll University.

Matthew has a MM in Choral Conducting and BM in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Akron. Currently is the Director of Music at Peace Lutheran Church in Canton. Over 10 years of experience working as Creative and Musical Director for many area theater productions. Current Musical Director for the Hudson Theater Camp. Matthew has also appeared as a clinician and accompanist for many area school choirs. An active composer and arranger his works have been performed across northeast Ohio. Matthew is also a cast member of Something Dada.

Russel is the Artistic Director and founding member of Something Dada Improvisational Comedy Co. He has over sixteen years of improvisational performance experience, including playing the Best Man in Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding. Directs for Olmsted Falls High School and served as Camp Director at Hudson Theater Camp for sixteen years.

John holds a MA in Composition from Cleveland Institute of Music and MA in Conducting from Southern Methodist University. Career includes full-time instrumental, choral and general music teacher; has freelanced in directing, music directing, choral conducting, teaching theater, and vocal coaching. John lives with his family in South Euclid.

Rachel is a longtime theater educator, playwright, and director for Beck Center’s Theater program and served as Associate Director of Outreach Education for 17 years. She has 20 years of early childhood education experience, and is a former theater instructor with the Strongsville City Schools and director of the Children’s Theater with the Royalton Players. As a playwright has written over 2,000 speaking roles for Beck Center and area school productions. She is also an award-winning actress with an extensive resume in television and theater. Rachel enjoys reading her Kindle, rocking out to obscure bands, and snuggling with her Shih Tzu.

Kierstan holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre from Cleveland State University with an emphasis in Performance. During her time at CSU, she had the opportunity to learn and perform locally in Cleveland and abroad in Nantes, France. Collegiate credits include Richard III (Richard III), The Moors (Moor Hen), MOLIÈRE (Dom Juan, Lucinde, Angélique), Into the Woods (Florinda), Sweeney Todd (Ensemble, u/s Mrs. Lovett). At CSU and beyond, when she is not acting she coaches and assists with a variety of accents and dialects. A Cleveland native, Kierstan grew up learning, performing, volunteering, and interning at the Beck Center for the Arts, and she is thrilled to be returning as an acting instructor!

Rachel Gold is a senior BFA acting student at Baldwin Wallace University, expecting to graduate May of 2023. She is originally from Columbus, OH where she graduated from Bexley High School. Her most recent credits include Hamlet (Rosencrantz) with The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, The Crucible (Rebecca Nurse) with BW, and The Modern Prometheus (Mary Shelley/Creature) with BW. She also produced BW’s 24-Hour Theatre Festival in September of 2022 and will be directing some radio plays with Radio on the Lake this year. She has been learning stage combat for about two years and has been working as Dusten Welch’s teaching assistant at Baldwin Wallace for the past two semesters. She has also fight captained multiple shows through BW and regionally as well. Rachel has a passion for learning which is why she has been producing and directing more recently. She is so excited to share her knowledge with students and create some really special theatre!

Emily got her start in community theater at the age of 9 when she played a yellow brick in the Wizard of Oz at the VWCT. After doing several shows in primary, middle and high school she took a bit of a break (almost 27 years) and only performed in shows at church. She jumped head first back into community theater in the spring of 2019 when she auditioned for Little Shop of Horrors at the VWCT and was cast as part of the Greek chorus. This was a dream role! She has since performed with the Fort Findlay Playhouse and the Black Swamp Players, Perrysburg Musical Theater Company and the Star Theater doing back to back shows until live theater took its 'intermission" during COVID. Since the return to live theater, she has worked both on stage and backstage in 6 shows. Emily is a full time childcare center director. She has worked in the field of early childhood for 26 years. She is brand new to Lakewood and is thrilled to be a part of the Beck Center faculty.

Theo is an actor, director, and dramaturg from Cleveland, Ohio. He holds an MA in Performance Studies from New York University and a BA in Theatre Directing from Cleveland State University. He has worked with several local theaters including the MAD* Factory and Near West Theatre as well as Beck Center. He grew up attending classes and camps at Beck Center and is thrilled to return as an instructor!

Eliana (she/her) is overjoyed to be a member of the Beck Center Theatre Education team! Eliana is a Cleveland native, currently residing in Cleveland Heights. She is a proud graduate of Wright State University’s BFA Acting program with an emphasis in Musical Theatre. As an actor, Eliana has performed onstage all around Cleveland, including here at Beck Center for the Arts, Dobama Theatre, Talespinner Children’s Theatre, and more. Eliana has also taught infants through adults at Talespinner Children’s Theatre, Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, and West Shore Child Care Center.

Heidi has been seen music directing all over northeast Ohio for the last 25 years, including at the Beck Center, the Cassidy Theater, and Near West Theatre. Heidi holds an Undergrad degree from Baldwin-Wallace University and a Masters degree from Case Western Reserve University in Music Education. She has been a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and The Cleveland Opera Chorus, serving as Children’s Choir Master during her tenure. Retiring from the Bay Village City Schools in 2020 after 33 years, Heidi continues to vocal coach, music direct and teach music at John Carroll University.