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Class of 2012 |
| A Cincinnati native, LeAnne holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati. Upon graduation, she worked as the Senior Marketing Coordinator for FRCH Design Worldwide, an international architecture and design firm. LeAnne then worked for the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati as Public Relations Manager. She is now the Festival Manager for the Constella Festival of Music and Fine Arts. LeAnne also serves as a Board Member of both her business fraternity’s alumni chapter (Alpha Kappa Psi) as well as the UC Band Alumni Association. In her free time, she plays flute with the UC Summer Community Band, roots on Bearcats football and enjoys working with her husband Matt on their house in Spring Grove Village. She is excited to combine her background in instrumental music with her diverse marketing and public relations experience as she continues her education in the UC MAA‐MBA program. |
| Anna Backer grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Surrounded by a variety of different artists within her immediate family, she developed a love and appreciation of all the arts, including music, theatre, architecture, and photography. She attended Brevard Music Festival for several summers
where she studied with Marina Lomazov, Elizabeth Pridonoff and Douglas Weeks. From there, she completed her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. During her time at Converse she was an active member of Delta Omicron, the Converse Collegiate Chapter for MTNA, and Mortar Board, where she served as Publicity Chair, Treasurer, and on the Hospitality Committee, respectively. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she taught piano lessons and tutored undergraduate students in music theory. In 2008 she received the MTNA Teacher’s Award for Pedagogical Excellence. After graduating college, she married her sweetheart and moved to Cincinnati, where he was finishing his degree. Anna is excited about earning her Masters in Arts Administration
from CCM, and looking forward to the career opportunities it will bring. |
| Zack is originally from Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina with a Bachelors of Music in Music Theory, where he co‐founded the Ictus Percussion Quartet and studied composition with Mark Kilstofte. He continued his study of Music Theory at Florida State University in Tallahassee where he earned a Masters of Music. While working on his Masters, Zack worked as an intern for the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina and managed the Box Office for the Whittington‐Pfohl Auditorium. |
| Originally from the Atlanta area of Conyers, Georgia, Helene earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Oboe Performance from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. At Furman she began to develop interest in Arts Administration, where she worked closely with the faculty and staff in the Music Department and also interned at the Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina for several summers. Helene moved to Cincinnati and obtained her Master’s degree in Music Performance from CCM in 2009. During her time at CCM Helene realized her passion for arts education and for arts administration and after graduating went on to work as the Development and Special Events Intern at the Brevard Music Center, followed by the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati. She is excited to further her skills through the MA/MBA program, loves working with people, and hopes to work as Director of Development for a performing arts organization. This past year Helene interned with the Cincinnati Ballet and will be returning this fall as a part-time Development Associate. |
| Jason Hurwitz, from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, realized that he wanted to play the violin at age 3 after seeing Itzhak Perlman play for Oscar the Grouch on “Sesame Street”; at age 5, he started in the local Suzuki program. Although officially he only ever studied classical music, Jason got into alternative violin in his high school’s Strolling Strings group and in his jobs as a bluegrass fiddler at both Knoebels Amusement Resort and HersheyPark, and continued pushing the violin’s limits throughout college. Jason earned his degree in Music Education from the University of Miami where he was Homecoming King and President of the Beta Tau chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Following graduation, Jason landed his dream job as a member of the cast of Barrage, the high‐octane internationally‐touring alternative violin show. During his four years with Barrage, Jason was elected to the position of Players’ Representative, and, in this capacity, was responsible for all of the communication and
contract negotiation between the cast, management, and the American Federation of Musicians. Jason is very excited to move to Cincinnati (although he does not like Skyline Chili) to begin this next chapter of life in the Arts Administration program at the University of Cincinnati, and
plans to someday soon become executive director of a large regional theater. |
| Stephanie Johnson is originally from Melbourne, Florida and graduated from The Florida
State University with a BM in brass performance and English literature. As a horn player,
Stephanie has performed with the FSU Wind Orchestra and University Symphony Orchestra,
as well as the Albany (GA) Symphony Orchestra. She finished as the highest undergraduate
horn player in both the 2009 and 2010 Southeast Horn Workshop Solo Competitions, and her
ensemble, Renegade Horn Quartet, won the quartet division in 2010. She is also published in
The Horn Call, the journal of the International Horn Society.
For the summer of 2011, she is the National Advancement/ National Symphony Orchestra
Development intern at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington,
DC. Before coming to CCM, Stephanie interned with both the Tallahassee Little Theatre and
Americans for the Arts in Washington, DC. She also spent three years working in the FSU
Undergraduate Music Office and was the student coordinator for the College of Music's
Board of Advisors. She hopes to pursue a career in orchestral management. She enjoys
reading, college football and learning how to cook. |
| Kristi grew up in the small town of Hillman, Michigan. She began to pursue her love of music at a young age and began playing in the band, taking voice lessons and performing in a local community theatre. Her love of music drove her to study at Ohio Northern University in Ada where she graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and Professional and Organizational
Communication. She spent five years working at the Freed Center for the Performing Arts as a Student House Manager and Student Box Office Manager and eventually worked her way up to become the Assistant to the Managing Director. As the MD’s Assistant, she learned the art of grant writing, programming, educational outreach and several other portions of arts administration. Kristi
also handled all fundraising for small to medium donors at the FC. She attended the 2009 Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference in New York as a volunteer. Her job at the Freed Center and the amazing people she worked with created Kristi’s passion for Arts Administration and pushed her to join CCM’s program. Kristi eventually wants to be a Managing Director or Development Director for either a music performing venue or a children’s theatre. Kristi is thrilled to be joining CCM’s team and can’t wait for a long, successful career in the arts. |
| Tyler is originally from Ashland, Kentucky. He attended Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Music with minors in Philosophy and Business Administration. While at Transylvania, Tyler studied saxophone with Dr. Lee Patrick and remained and active performer in both university and community bands and chamber ensembles. He also helped organize the Music For Fun concert series aimed at providing Transylvania students with performance opportunities other than those required by their degree
program. After graduating from Transylvania, Tyler attended Florida State University where he earned his Masters in Music Theory in 2009. Tyler is excited to enter the Arts Administration program at the University of Cincinnati, and looks forward to developing the skills necessary to begin a successful career in Arts Administration. |
| Taj grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from CCM, where he studied with Philip Collins and Alan Siebert, and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Indiana University, where he studied with John Rommel. As a trumpet player, Taj has performed in both jazz and classical ensembles and at numerous summer festivals, including the Lake Placid International Trumpet Seminar and Bar Harbor Brass Week. He is also a singer, songwriter, and composer, and has recorded and performed several of his compositions. He hopes to work in marketing or development for a symphony orchestra or performing arts center, and is excited to be pursuing these goals in the Arts Administration program at CCM.
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| Though originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Jenifer received her degree in Vocal Music Performance from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. While in Louisville, she interned with the Louisville Orchestra, Kentucky Opera, and mentored with the Managing Director of Actors Theatre of Louisville. Much of her time was dedicated to Cardinal Singers, an internationally‐ranked chamber choir. With this group, she traveled to South Korea, Taiwan, and China, where the group received gold medals at the World Choir Championships.
During her time in Cincinnati, Jenifer has earned the position of Marketing and Public Relations Manager for VAE: Cincinnati's Vocal Arts Ensemble, after completing a year-long internship. In addition, Jenifer is spending her summer interning for The Santa Fe Opera.
Jenifer’s passion for opera has led her to the Arts Administration program at CCM, after which she hopes to continue into the world of opera companies in an artistic or marketing capacity. Hobbies include yoga, learning to cook, and reading. |
| For the past 16 years, countertenor David Walker has been very
fortunate to enjoy an international performing career which has included
opera, oratorio, and orchestral performances on some of the world's
most celebrated stages, and with some of the most highly regarded
orchestras, such as the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Los
Angeles Opera, Washington National Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper
(Munich), English National Opera (London), the National Symphony, and
the St. Petersburg Orchestra (Russia). Mr. Walker, recognized for his
virtuosic artistry and deeply connective dramatic expression, is highly
sought after in operatic work ranging from the Baroque to the
Contemporary Eras. His honors include a 2006 Australian Helpmann
Award Nomination, the 1999 ARIA (Awards Recognizing Individual
Artistry) Award, winning the 1998 Metropolitan Opera National Council
Auditions, a 1998 Sullivan Foundation Career Grant, and 1st place in the
1997 Florida Grand Opera Competition. He holds a BA in Industrial Engineering from Lafayette College and an MM in Vocal Performance from Florida State University, and was the Business Manager for an Episcopal
Cathedral for four years before completing his MM degree. He has recently completed two internships focusing on Development/Marketing with both Sarasota Opera and Fort Worth Opera. He is motivated to enhance, cultivate, and nurture the arts in America, particularly in opera, and with the combination of his performing experience and this MBA/MA Arts Administration degree, he hopes to become a general director of an opera company. |
| Tony Zancanella is from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is coming to Cincinnati directly from the University of New Mexico with a B.M. in Vocal Performance. He is a founding member and current treasurer of The 505 Chorus, a young men's a cappella/barbershop chorus, which has performed nationally for the last two years, and sits on the board of Opera Southwest, Albuquerque's regional opera company (serving as treasurer in 2009-2010). He sings regularly with the opera, as well as with many other community and professional choruses around the state. Tony's career goal is to assume the directorship of a major opera company.
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Class of 2013 |
| Hagit Caspi grew up in Israel, where she pursued a love for the flute, and all things Mozart, attending the Jerusalem Academy of Music for her Bachelors and Masters degrees in music performance. During her undergraduate and graduate years, she enjoyed playing under renowned conductors such as Asher Fisch, Avner Biron, and Mendy Rodan. An ardent lover of vocal music, she played in productions of Wotzzeck, Israeli contemporary children’s opera, the Abu Gosh vocal music festival, and Aharon Charlap’s opera Therse Raquin. As a music teacher, she especially enjoyed constructing and performing explanatory concerts with her fellow musicians. Audiences for these concerts spanned ages 5 to 16 and gave her great insight into music education and outreach. Hagit had the opportunity to pursue this interest further as a founding member of the Fourth Wall Arts Salon in Philadelphia, an organization that creates events for diverse groups of local, emerging artists. Hagit is delighted to be a part of the arts administration program, and sees this as a link to her love of music and the arts. She currently serves as a marketing a development intern with the Cincinnati Public Radio and the Cincinnati Ballet. Her career goals involve serving in a local arts organization where she hopes to specialize in marketing and audience engagement. |
| Jessica Gardner was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, though she has called Nashville home for the past four years. Jessica earned a B.A. in both Theatre and Philosophy from Vanderbilt University, as well as a minor in Mathematics. Though her love for the arts was instilled at birth, she originally intended to receive a degree in Astrophysics. Her primary arts interest is theater, and she hopes to work with a contemporary theater organization upon graduation. Most recently, Jessica has worked at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia in Sales. As she continues to get acclimated to Cincinnati, she is happy to be interning at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. |
| Jenny Lane grew up in Medina, OH, a small town just south of Cleveland. She attended
Indiana State University and received her undergraduate degree in Music Business
Administration. While at ISU Jenny was an active participant in the Music Industry Association
and the Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association. In her capacity with these
two groups she organized and promoted student recitals and biannual Battle of the Bands
competitions. Upon completion of coursework, Jenny was offered a six month internship with
the Louisville Orchestra where she focused on patron services, special events, marketing and
audience development.
After graduation she spent time as the Marketing Assistant at the Huntsville Symphony
Orchestra, Alabama’s oldest continuously operating professional orchestra. Jenny was
integral to establishing the HSO’s inaugural young patron group, First Circle, as well as the
New Patron Program that addressed the problem of audience churn. Following her time at
the HSO, Jenny was hired as the Communications Manager at the Huntsville Museum of Art.
Jenny has served as a presenter and group leader at the annual Alabama Museum
Association Conference, addressing topics such as community partnerships, audience
retention and the role of young professional audiences in arts organizations. Upon completion of the MA/MBA program at UC, Jenny hopes to pursue a managing career at either an arts festival or a presenting arts organization.
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| Lillian Matchett, a native of Austin, TX, began her musical studies at an early age on the violin, but eventually “saw the light” and switched to viola. She attended the Eastman School of Music for her BM in Viola Performance with Professor Carol Rodland, and also completed a Business Minor at the University of Rochester. While at Eastman, Lillian was extremely involved in the student community through her work for the Office of Residential Life, her service on the Executive Board of the Eastman Students’ Association and as a representative of Eastman on the Rochester Intercollegiate Council, and was a nominee for the Linda Muise Student Life Award for a graduating senior. She is also an accomplished performer, and has played at the Aspen Music Festival, Austin Chamber Music Center, and served as principal viola of the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra and Eastman Philharmonia.
Lillian's interest in arts administration grew out of a desire to synthesize her artistic background and her studies in business, and during the summer of 2010 she worked as the Special Events and Development Intern at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She continued to work part-time at the RPO as a Patron Services Representative while completing her degree. She is extremely excited to pursue graduate studies in Arts Administration, and hopes to enjoy a career in the administration of an orchestra. Outside of work and school, Lillian enjoys going for long runs, reading, cooking Mexican food, and old fashioned contra dancing. |
| Adrienne joins the Arts Administration program from Indianapolis, Indiana. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and minor in dance from Millikin University. Prior to joining CCM she kept herself busy in both business and arts industries. Adrienne worked as stock broker for three years and a dance instructor for four years. Outside of her professional work, Adrienne has been involved with arts organizations including the Rhythm N Motion Dance Company as the Artistic Director. In addition, she was also the President and Choreographer of the Vessels of Worship Dance Ministry at Mt. Carmel Church. She has had several work/educational experiences that focused on arts and culture, including attending the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference, studying through the Dance Masters of America; and performing in stage plays around Indianapolis. After working for 5 years Adrienne decided to find a program that fuses both business and the arts. Adrienne is excited to pursue a degree in arts administration in hopes to one day own or operate a performing arts center. |
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| Jennifer Ng, from Vancouver, Canada, began her music education at the age of four, taking piano and violin lessons, and partaking in choral ensembles. Inspired by her teachers and instructors, she pursued a Bachelor of Music in Secondary Music Education at the University of British Columbia. While pursuing her BMus, she interned as a Marketing Assistant at Eponymous Productions, Inc., where she found her love for arts administration. In keeping with her initial passion for music education, Jennifer subsequently became the Choir Manager for Kids Sing Chorus, where she gained valuable arts administration experience. She was also the Fundraising Assistant and Assistant Manager for the West Coast Chamber Music and SummerChor, respectively.
In addition, Jennifer is an avid musician; she was the pianist for Concordia Choir and Manner-Gesangverein Lyra Choir, and a singer of the Angeles Singers Quartet. Jennifer hopes to become a Director of Educational Activities or Director of Development for a major orchestral/chamber ensemble and is ecstatic to be in CCM's Arts Administration program. |
| Originally from Baltimore, MD, Lisa Oswald comes to Cincinnati from Shepherdstown, WV, where she served as the Preparatory Division Coordinator and Administrative Assistant to the Department of Music at Shepherd University. In addition to her work in the music department, she served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Music, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting musical excellence at Shepherd and in the region through their successful concert series and scholarship program. Prior to her experiences at Shepherd, Lisa held several internships in the field of arts management including positions with Baltimore Choral Arts Society, the National Symphony Orchestra (Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC), and the Washington National Opera (WNO). Lisa holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Shepherd with a concentration in flute. In addition to her work in the field of arts administration, Lisa performs in several chamber orchestras in the greater Baltimore/Washington area, including the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra and the Apollo Chamber Orchestra. During her time at the Kennedy Center and with WNO, Lisa developed a love of opera, and hopes to become the Director of Artistic Operations for a major opera company in the future. |
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| John Primavera grew up in Morristown, New Jersey and attended college and worked in Fairfield, Connecticut. He earned a bachelor's degree in marketing and music from Fairfield University and served as Coordinator of its academic department of Visual & Performing Arts for five years. John is an amateur percussionist, pianist, and singer, and has been making music since grade school. He has performed with various ensembles including the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut, the Glee Club and Orchestra at Fairfield University, and the University of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and has performed on several tours of Europe with the Glee Club and in China with the New York Choral Society. John's other interests include photography, music engraving, graphic design, cooking, and travel. John is currently an intern in the marketing department at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He hopes to combine his passion for music with his administrative and business background and eventually work for a major American symphony orchestra or opera company. |
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| Sarah Anne Slaby was born and raised in Cincinnati and attended CCM for her Bachelors of Music in Musicology and Music Theory. After spending summers clunking on her grandparent's piano and being introduced to her elementary school strings program, she decided to play viola at age ten. Once she graduated high school, she attended CCM for her undergraduate hoping to pursue her master's in Conducting. After studying abroad in Salzburg and finally hearing her own voice, she decided she was better suited for arts administration. Coming from a family of engineers, being the only artist was intimidating. Knowing she did not want to perform but still wanted to impact the arts, arts administration became the beacon shining in the distance. Sarah Anne's eventual goal is to be production manager or CEO of an orchestra.
In her spare time, Sarah Anne water skis, snow skis, walks and plays fetch with her german shepherd, Ives, pursues photography, cooks, sews, knits, reads, teaches spinning, and teaches group fitness strength classes. |
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