DIRECTOR OF YAAJUNIOR & ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SPAI

Paul (he/him) is known for his tremendous gift of connecting with adolescents, and his energy and enthusiasm have inspired his students to achieve at high levels. Paul has taught middle school music and theatre for over two decades and is currently Choral Director at Loiederman Middle School.

DIRECTOR OF YAAKIDS

Joanna (she/her) is a veteran music educator with nearly 20 years of experience in the classroom and the theater. Joanna is currently the Lower School Music Director at Maret School where she has taught for nearly two decades, in the upper, middle, and lower schools on campus, both in music and drama.

STAGE DIRECTOR

Kevin (he/him) is a classically trained baritone who has performed as a leading man with every notable theater company in the region, including Signature Theater, Ford’s Theater, Olney Theater, Arena Stage, and Washington Opera, as well as on Broadway (Come from Away; Caroline, or Change)

STAGE DIRECTOR, PLAYWRIGHT

Carole (she/her) has taught at Everyman Theatre, UMBC, Glenelg Country School, and The Catholic University of America. She has been nominated for three Helen Hayes Awards in three different categories: acting, directing and playwriting.

DRAMATURG

Leayne (she/her) is a director, actor, acting coach, and educational consultant. She has directed a number of productions, including: In the Heights, Shrek, The Great Gatsby, Little Shop of Horrors, and Guys and Dolls.

STAGE DIRECTOR, TEACHING ARTIST

Kristina (she/her) recently completed her MFA in Theatre for Youth at Arizona State University and is currently Director of Innovation and Engagement at Sitar Arts Center. She has worked professionally as an assistant director with The Olney Theatre Center, Roundhouse Theatre Company, ATMTC, and Signature Theatre.

DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER, TEACHING ARTIST

Dana (she/her) has been teaching dance for over 25 years. She danced professionally on Broadway in the productions of Cats and Me and My Girl as well as Off-Broadway and in national touring companies. She also worked on two Broadway workshops and was chosen by Ginger Rogers to participate in another.

DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER

Baakari (he/him) is internationally known for starring in the Broadway musical Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk. Baakari has a Bachelors of Arts degree in theatre from the University of Maryland at College Park, and he is currently the assistant artistic director of Capitol Tap. Baakari was awarded the 2014 Pola Nirenska Award for Achievement in Dance, and 2021 Hoofer Award by the American Tap Dance Foundation.

STAGE DIRECTOR

Alan (he/him) was recently named Artistic Director of Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA, directing Cabaret there in summer 2023. He served as Associate Artistic Director of the Tony Award winning Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. where he worked from 2007 to 2022, where he directed Kiss Me Kate, Man of La Mancha, and Camelot (Helen Hayes Award for Best Musical).

STAGE DIRECTOR

Bobby (he/him) is an American actor known for his dynamic and emotionally charged performances on both stage and screen. After studying at Carnegie Mellon University, he made his Broadway debut in 2007 in 110 in the Shade, followed by Ragtime and Big Fish. He currently works as a therapist in NYC.

STAGE DIRECTOR

Jacob (he/him) is a New York/L.A. based, Chicago-raised writer and actor. He is a graduate of New York University, holding a BFA in Drama from the Tisch School of the Arts. As an actor and writer, Jacob has worked extensively on the New York and regional stage, including Feinstein’s 54 Below’s Sondheim Unplugged.

STAGE DIRECTOR

Quentin (he/him) is a NY/NJ based generative director, producer, and multidisciplinary theatre artist. Quentin specializes in documentary musical theatre, musical comedy, dance, and new work development. He creates and directs work that tells untold and forgotten historical stories, exposes the truth behind silenced voices, and showcases unique relationships in human connection.

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Victor (he/him) is a multi-talented musician with gifts spanning in areas of conducting, directing, composing, arranging, orchestration, piano and vocals in genres including, Classical, Broadway, Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Sacred, R&B and Folk. He has music directed national tours of Hamilton, The Color Purple, Memphis, and MJ the Musical.

STAGE DIRECTOR

Noah (he/him) is a New York-based theatre and opera director, and is the Associate Artistic Director of Everyman Theatre. His recent work includes Andrew Lippa's I Am Harvey Milk (Princeton Festival); Michael John LaChiusa & Ellen Fitzhugh's Los Otros (A.R.T. New York); Karen Hartman's The Lucky Star (59e59/Doug Denoff); Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth (Everyman Theatre, Baltimore); and Songs from the Holocaust at Carnegie Hall.

STAGE DIRECTOR

Rick (he/him) is Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Executive Director of the Hylton Performing Arts Center at George Mason University. Previously, he was artistic director of Theater of the First Amendment (TFA), which won twelve Helen Hayes Awards, as well as Associate Artistic Director of Baltimore Center Stage.

MUSIC DIRECTOR

Mark (he/him) is an acclaimed jazz pianist, music director, singer-songwriter, jazz instructor, and actor. He made his acting debut as the titular role in the DC premiere of the hit Broadway musical Jelly’s Last Jam, and received a Helen Hayes nomination for his music direction in Ain’t Misbehavin’, both at Signature Theatre.

ASSISTANT VOCAL DIRECTOR

Kathryn (she/her) graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor’s in Vocal Music Education. She interned with several arts organizations in Virginia and Maryland, including YAA and the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Chorus. She music directs several shows in the DC area, and is an MCPS high school music teacher.

ASSISTANT VOCAL DIRECTOR

Montel (he/him) has been one of the most sought-after vocal instructors in Maryland for years. He also maintains a professional performance career of his own. He has been seen performing on Saturday Night Live with pop star Sam Smith, on cruise ships, in various musical theatre productions, and more.

ASSISTANT MUSIC DIRECTOR, MUSIC STAFF

Jamie (they/them) is a pianist with wide-ranging musical skills that span multiple genres. They have a Bachelor’s in classical piano performance and Master’s in both jazz studies and collaborative piano from NYU, where they worked with preeminent jazz musicians like Grammy Award winner Alan Broadbent. Jamie also arranged and self-produced their first album: Flowing Tide.

MUSIC STAFF

Josh (he/him) is a music director, actor, singer, accompanist, and songwriter. Josh's recent credits include Creative Cauldron's Daddy Long Legs (music director/piano) and The Arlington Players' Beauty and the Beast (assistant music director/piano). He is also the resident music director and accompanist for LaTiDo DC and teaches at Oneness-Family Montessori School.

ORCHESTRA EDUCATIONAL LIAISON

Liz (She/her) violinist/fiddler, music educator, performer, inventor, composer, singer, actor, and creative problem solver with registered training in Suzuki, Dalcroze, Bornoff, Fiddle School, Ultimate Music Theory, Creative Strings Academy, Music Mind Games, Orff Schulwerk, and World Music Drumming methods. She is currently the orchestra instructor at Stone Ridge School.

TEACHING ARTIST

Colleen (she/her) has been hailed as a “dramatically powerful” young singer by The Washington Post. Colleen’s most recent performances include Musetta in La Bohème with Annapolis Opera, Lyric Opera of Baltimore and Des Moines Metro Opera; Violetta in Opera Delaware’s production of La traviata, which she also covered at New York City Opera.

MUSIC STAFF

Chris (he/him) has conducted, accompanied, and rehearsed dozens of performers throughout the area, including: Kennedy Center for Young Audiences, Arena Stage, Ford’s, and Signature. He has been nominated for 12 Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Music Direction, winning for Titanic at Toby’s. Chris is currently Music Director/Associate Artistic Director at Olney Theatre Center

MUSIC STAFF

Isaiah (he/him) recently completed his studies in orchestral conducting under the tutelage of Marin Alsop at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. He received his bachelor’s degrees in piano performance and music education from Wheaton College (IL), where he studied piano with Dr. Karin Redekopp Edwards.

TEACHING ARTIST

As a composer, Kevin (he/him) writes traditional choral music infused with techniques derived from modern technical heavy metal, creating fresh, exciting, and multi-faceted works. He has been the recipient of such prestigious awards, including the Howard County Parents for School Music "Music Educator of the Year" award.

MUSIC STAFF

Matt (he/him) is currently a music teacher with Montgomery County Public Schools and the Music Director for Otterbein United Methodist Church. A Choirmaster in the American Guild of Organists, he earned a Master of Music with concentrations in Organ and Conducting and an additional Graduate Certificate in Church Music from Shenandoah Conservatory.

TEACHING ARTIST

Beth Ann (she/her) is a graduate of the University of Maryland where she studied voice with Martha Randall and Delores Ziegler. She currently teaches general music at Hanover Hills Elementary School. Beth Ann also works with Glorystar Children's Chorus as a conductor for their Concert and Chamber choirs.

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Jackie (she/her) is an Equity stage manager, who is originally from Maryland. Her passions lie in organization, musical theatre, education, and the outdoors. She holds BAs in Theatre and Psychology from Northwestern University and has stage managed Theatre For Young Performers, Musical Theatre, TV, and Dance across the country.

ALUMNI & OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Edima (she/her) is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park as a Creative and Performing Arts Scholar in the Bachelor of the Arts Theatre program, minoring in Arts Leadership. She has used her multifaceted interest in the arts to work with various organizations as a performer, teaching artist, collaborator, and administrator.

BUSINESS MANAGER

Beth (she/her) spent five years working as the instrumental music teacher at Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City. Beth holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Maryland, College Park.

OPERATIONS MANAGER

COMPANY MANAGER

ORCHESTRA MANAGER

ARTS ADMINISTRATION INTERN

Esther (she/her) is currently a students at the University of Maryland pursing a double major in Elementary Education and Public Policy. She is passionated about advocating for young people and has volunteered in curriculum development, tutoring, and recruitment. Recently, she has worked with the Red Cross and The Every Child Project.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, SPAI

Karen (she/her) is a University of Maryland graduate with a degree in Elementary Education. She has spent all of her working years, with children of all ages, in different capacities. In addition to her experience as a classroom teacher, Karen spent fifteen summers as a camp director with Carol Jean Cancer Foundation at Camp Friendship.

CAMP ADMINISTRATOR, SPAI

PR & MARKETING CONSULTANT

Kendra (she/her) is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University's Masters in Communications Program with concentrations in Corporate and Nonprofit Communication. With a background in community activism, her passion for relationship building and bringing people together is evident in all of the projects on which she works.

For all media relations inquiries, please email Kendra Rubinfeld.