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Adam Wallace Board Member

Adam Wallace

Board Member
Position
Board Treasurer

Adam has loved musical theater since the age of 4 when he began with acting and dance lessons. While he end up pursuing a 20 plus year career in IT professional services, music, art and dance have always been close to his heart. Working with global customers at VMware, Adam has a long record of using people and technology to achieve business outcomes that exceed expectations.

Adam volunteers with National Ski Patrol during the colder months. He can also be found serving as a small group leader to the youth and singing in the choir at Kenwood Baptist Church.  

Adam lived for many years in New York City, where he could be found enjoying live performances whenever he could. While in New York City, Adam served as both President and Vice President of his Co-Op Board. Returning to Cincinnati with his wife, Mary Kathryn, an Equity Stage Manager, and his three children, he lives in Wyoming and is excited to be working with the Fine Art Center. 

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Amanda Baker

Amanda Baker

Board Member

Amanda has over 12 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Her initial focus was on planning fundraising events, and she transitioned to grant writing for several local organizations. 

As a child growing up on the west side of Cincinnati, Amanda attended the Wyoming Fine Arts Center for piano instruction. She studied at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and graduated with a Bachelor of Science. She lives in Wyoming with her husband and two sons. 

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Anna Dunlap Headshot

Anna Dunlap, MM

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Harp

Anna Dunlap has served as the principal harpist of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra in Alabama since 2020 and has performed as a substitute harpist with orchestras throughout the greater Midwest region including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, and Nashville Opera. In May of 2023, she performed as a fellow in the National Arts Centre Orchestra Mentorship Program in Ottawa, Ontario, performing in two subscription programs with the NAC Orchestra. Passionate about contemporary music, Anna was a founding member of New Downbeat in Cincinnati, OH; performed the world premiere of Blue Flowers on the Flowing Water by Fang Man in 2022 for Intersection New Music of Nashville, TN; performed with the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble for their recording of Sparrows by Joseph Schwantner in July of 2023; and has appeared with concert:nova in Cincinnati. She has performed as a concerto soloist in Cincinnati, OH; Baltimore, MD; and Rochester, NY, most recently performing the Debussy Danses Sacree et Profane with the Hopkins Concert Orchestra. 

As a recipient of the prestigious Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, Anna was a featured soloist on WXXI Rochester’s Backstage Pass in February 2018. She has previously attended Orford Musique where she studied with Jennifer Swartz and Caroline Lizotte and the Aspen Music Festival and School where she studied with Nancy Allen and Anneleen Lenaerts. Currently pursuing a DMA with a cognate in Arts Administration from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Anna earned her MM from CCM in the studio of Dr. Gillian Benet Sella, graduate certificate in Orchestral Performance and Digital Creation through OAcademy in the studio of Jennifer Swartz, and her BM from the Eastman School of Music in the studio of Professor Kathleen Bride.

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Bobbie McTurner

Bobbie McTurner

Board Member
Position
Advisory Board

Bobbie McTurner is an art and architectural historian (M.A. in Art History and double B.A. in Art History and Fine Arts from University of Cincinnati) who has served in various roles for nonprofit organizations and municipalities over the last 15 years. She is a former Executive Director of Cincinnati Preservation Association and served on the City of Cincinnati’s Historic Conservation Board for several years. Other nonprofit involvement includes serving on the boards of ArtsWave, the Cincinnati Art League and the Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum. Bobbie enjoys helping non-profits strategize fundraising efforts and improve organizational development.  Bobbie also has a long-standing appreciation for the arts, including a background as a visual artist. 

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Brad King - Board Member

Brad King, JD

Board Member
Position
Board President

Brad is 67 and a retired attorney, public school administrator, and adjunct professor at UC and Cincinnati State. He has been married for 45 years to his wife, Annie, who retired after 28 years as an elementary art teacher. They have three adult children and six grandchildren.  Currently, they provide full time daycare and after-school care for the three local grandchildren (ages 7, 8, and 11) Both of his daughters played strings in high school (viola and bass) and both pursued fine arts in college. One with a BFA and one minored in ceramics. All three local grandkids have gone to art or music camps at WFAC and one takes piano lessons there.

His board experience includes four years on the Board of Crossroads Crisis Center in Lima, Ohio, eight years on the Finneytown Athletic Association board, six years on the Finneytown Board of Education, and currently as Secretary of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) in Over the Rhine.

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Brenton Headshot

Brenton Carter

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Bass (Electric)
Bass (Upright)
Cello
Gamba
Guitar
Viola
Violin

Brenton Carter, a native of Winchester, Illinois, is the Acting Principal Bass of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. He is an active freelance bassist performing with many orchestras in the region including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.

Brenton holds a Masters of Music and an Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he studied with Owen Lee. He has also studied with Rachel Calin, Kurt Muroki, Lawrence Hurst, Tim Pitts, Nicolas Crosse, Max Dimoff, and Stephen Lester.

When he’s not teaching, practicing, or performing, Brenton likes to spend his time biking, hiking, and running.

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caroline hyatt

Caroline Hyatt

Board Member
Position
Board Vice President

Caroline comes from a family that is passionate about music. Her most prized possession is a pair of Klipsch cornerhorn speakers — the best way to listen to music… if you can’t listen live. She is a civil right attorney with Friedman, Gilbert + Gerhardstein, where she represents those whose rights have been violated by the government, and when she isn’t working, she likes to cook (which she does reasonably well) and garden (which she does quite badly). She lives in Wyoming with her husband, Nathan, and their daughter Josephine, who loves to come to art classes at the Center. 

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Carolyn Lunt

Carolyn Lunt, MME, MM

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Piano
Voice

Carolyn comes from a family of musicians including her grandfather, Dr. Ernest Lunt, the founding director of the Mendelssohn Choir in Pittsburgh.  She received a scholarship and completed her B.S. in Vocal Performance and Piano from Heidelberg University.  She attended University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and received her M.A. in Music Education and Opera. Carolyn believes in a positive approach in teaching and that words of affirmaiton are key to any type of instruction. 

In addition to vocal competitions, Carolyn has performed in Opera and Theater.  She has directed children and adult choirs and has taught all levels of piano and voice students. 

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Cheryl Raine

Cheryl Raine, MM

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Piano

Cheryl Ann Raine is both a CCM and Miami graduate, with a Masters of Music Education in Supervision and a Major in Organ.  She has been active as a music educator and church musician for over 40 years.  Cheryl is in her 5th year as Organist at Fleming Road United Church of Christ.

After 10 years as an Adjunct Music Instructor at Mount Saint Joseph University , teaching Organ, Class Piano and Church music skills, she is focused on Piano Instruction at Wyoming Fine Arts Center with the Raine Music Studio at home.

Doodle, a rescued Shih-tzu provides hours of enjoyment and active companionship for walks, games and meeting other dog-owners. 

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Darlene Suggs

Darlene Suggs

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Family Music
Piano

Instrument or Specialty:

Musik Kids

Piano (ages 4 through adult)

Voice (ages 9 through adult)

Darlene taught her first piano lesson as a teenager and loved her award-winning high school show choir. After earning her Music Education degree from Florida State University, she taught high school and middle school choir and trained church vocal groups in Florida.  In 1999, she moved to Cincinnati and established her private voice and piano studio; additionally, she taught preschool music classes and participated in church music programs.

Darlene loves to help people of all ages grow in ability and confidence as they explore the world of music.

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Donald Broerman

Donald Broerman

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Guitar

Donald Broerman, a Cincinnati native, earned his BM in Classical Guitar Performance at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) under the direction of Clare Callahan, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2013. He has also studied with David Case at the University of Oregon (School of music), as well as, Jazz guitar with Mike Denny and Chris Sorenson and started his training at the Musical Arts Center in Cincinnati.

During his time at CCM, Mr. Broerman performed in master classes from internationally acclaimed artists such Oscar Ghiglia, David Russell, Robert Belinic and Rupert Boyd and participated in classes given by Zoran Dukic, Marcin Dylla, Carlos Perez, Johannes Möller, Daniel Lippel and others.  Coruses completed for degree include:  Guitar Pedagogy, Guitar repertoire and History, Guitar Ensemble.

Mr. Broerman is an active composer, whose compositions are primarily solo guitar works. He briefly studied composition with Terry McQuilken at the University of Oregon, Orchestration at CCM and private lessons with Jennifer Jolley (Composition Professor at Ohio Wesleyan, President and Co-founder of N.A.N.O. Works Opera Company). A budding interest in this field has led to performances of his own works at CCM’s North of Here, Classical Revolution and a commission by The Ascend Project.

Mr. Broerman serves the community through his work in non-profits. He is the current President of Greater Cincinnati Guitar Society, as well as, a member and guitar adjudicator for the Ohio Music Educators Association. Donald is a dedicated pedagogue.  His students have won gold medals in the Royal Conservatory of Music examinations. He currently teaches at Indian Springs Academy of Music, Wyoming Fine Arts Center and Leaves of Learning, select Cincinnati Public schools and is a co-director of and instructor for the CCM Guitar Youth Workshop.

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dougjenkins

Doug Jenkins

Staff
Position
Facilities Administrator

Doug pursued his education at Ohio University, earning a BS in American Culture and History with a minor in African American History. After graduating he worked for various art dealers and appraisers in New England.

Subsequently, he worked at the Cincinnati Museum Center, where he played a pivotal role in creating educational programs for traveling exhibits, coordinating volunteer staffing, and serving as a docent for the History Museum. He also managed two UPS Stores in Cincinnati before taking on the role of a customer service manager at FACS group. There he led in fraud detection and account management for the fraud departments of both Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Doug's most recent position at Lowes completes the last piece of the experience pie to serve as Facilities Administrator. In sum, he has a variety of professional experience in arts, management, logistics and customer service.

Doug has a passion for stand-up comedy, improv, and photography. He is also the proud parent of a 19-year-old son who is currently studying to become a firefighter/EMS.

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Elise

Elise Edelman

Board Member

Elise Edelman has worked as an Innovation and Human Potential Consultant for the past 8 years. She previously spent 24 years in Product Development at Procter & Gamble, where she uncovered consumer insights to guide technology development and bring products to market. Her experiences developing new product ideas led her to coach teams and leaders on strategy, creative problem solving, and holistic idea development. She specializes in assessing organizational dynamics and leadership coaching. She holds a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Toledo. She lives in Wyoming with her husband Ken and daughter Fiona, who participates in art and musical theatre classes.

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Emily Vaughn Headshot

Emily Vaughn, BFA

Faculty
Department
Art Lab

Emily is a multimedia artist based in Dayton, Ohio, and she earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts graduate from the University of Cincinnati’s Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) program in 2022. Some of her accomplishments include curating and facilitating a VR gallery space with over 65 international submissions and assisting with a mural project in Cincinnati in 2018. She has had her work displayed at the Tabula Rasa Gallery and a Puerto Rico- based university in 2019. 

The prevailing themes within her body of work revolve around flora & fauna, human nature, and reflection. She is able to convey these various themes using texture, color, and form. Ultimately, she wishes to make art an accessible and fun manner of expression to any and all people.

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Gayna Bassin - Violin

Gayna Bassin, MM

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Viola
Violin

Gayna Bassin teaches traditional violin and viola to students from age 6 to adult, with emphasis on reading skills, technique and musical styles.  She has been on the faculty of the Wyoming Fine Arts Center since 1997.

Mrs. Bassin was a member of the First Violin section of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for twenty years.  She has performed as Concertmaster for Musica Sacra and the Cincinnati Community Orchestra.  During college, she performed in many international music festivals, including Blossom (Kent State University, OH), Tanglewood (MA), the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico, and the Orchestra de les Jeunesses Musicales.  

Mrs. Bassin has been a soloist with Cincinnati Community Orchestra,the Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Windsor Symphony.  She has played many solo and chamber music recitals locally and is an active member of Matinée Musicale Cincinnati. She also plays klezmer violin in the Queen City Klezmorim band.

Mrs. Bassin received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Ivan Galamian, Jaime Laredo, and Jascha Brodsky.   She received a Master of Music Degree from Indiana University at Bloomington, IN, where she studied with Josef Gingold.  She has been coached in chamber music by members of the Guarneri, Curtis and Budapest Quartets.

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Jason Bartel

Jason Bartel

Board Member

A lifelong Wyoming resident, Jason Bartel grew up in a musical family and business. Jason’s father Paul, founder of the Baroque Violin Shop, as well as the Wyoming Fine Arts Center, exposed Jason to his passion for the arts at an early age.

After growing up in the family retail store, the Baroque Violin Shop, he chose this as his career path after graduating from the University Of Cincinnati with a bachelor's degree in Industrial Design. In 2011, Jason took his passion for music, and his experience in the orchestral string retail shop, and combined them into a new business, Maple Leaf Strings.

Maple Leaf Strings is an orchestral string manufacturer and national distributor that offers instruments from the student level to the professional level, as well as complimentary marketing and branding solutions for their customers.

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Jill Phillips formal color headshot.

Dr. Jill Phillips, DMA

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Voice

Jill Phillips, mezzo-soprano, received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. In addition to her studies, she has performed as an alto soloist with the Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas in Terrace Park, OH. In the fall of 2017, Jill sang the alto solos in J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor at Cincinnati's Christ Church Cathedral.

Jill performed as the alto soloist in the Peoria Bach Festival in 2017. In addition, she was the alto soloist in the Verdi Requiem with Bradley University in Peoria, IL, in the fall of 2016. During the summer of 2015, she was a Young Artist at Opera Saratoga, where she covered the roles of Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Cenerentola in La cenerentola.

She earned her Master of Music degree in voice from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.  While at CCM, Jill sang the roles of Marcellina in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, the Old Prioress in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Baba the Turk in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress.  In addition, she participated in the Opera Fusion: New Works project with CCM and Cincinnati Opera.

Jill has been an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera and made her mainstage debut at DMMO in 2013 as the Zweite Mägd in the company's production of Elektra. She has sung with Kentucky Opera, NANOWorks Opera, Cincinnati Chamber Opera, and Dayton Opera. In addition, Jill has been a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera.   

She has sung scenes from such operas as Anna Bolena, Cendrillon, La cenerentola, The Crucible, Dead Man Walking, Don Carlo, Giulio Cesare, L'italiana in Algeri, Peter Grimes, and Vanessa.

In addition to performing, Jill teaches private voice lessons at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center in Wyoming, OH. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.  While at Luther College, she performed in the opera scenes program and the spring opera productions.  

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Joe Robinson

Joe Robinson

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Bass (Electric)
Guitar
Ukulele

Joe Robinson was born and raised in Cincinnati by a family of musicians and has studied guitar for 17 years. He also plays bass guitar, ukulele, percussion, as well as the keyboard/piano. You can find him inspiring, enlightening, and empowering others in individual lessons, group lessons and master classes. Joe takes an individualized approach with each student to help them build the skills they need to progress and the passion for them to succeed in achieving their goals.

 Since 2018, Joe has been writing, recording, arranging, and distributing his own original music under the alias Coupe Knoobe. He is inspired by all genres of music, as well as the artistry that goes into the recording, engineering, and producing process. His goal is to not only teach how to play instruments, but to instruct students on how to be creative musicians! Outside of music, Joe enjoys spending quality time with the love of his life Katie, two beautiful daughters Teagan and Rowan, and four fur babies!

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joey kohl

Joey Kohl

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Drums

Playing the drum kit has been a passion of mine for over 15 years now. I grew up learning drums with a private instructor and learned how to write music with my friends. Shortly after forming our band, Dead Humor, we went on to win a battle of the bands competition, and have played all over Cincinnati and the Midwest, including events such as Blink and other local festivals. I have freelanced in studio sessions, as well as taught students both in private and classroom settings. I'm eager to continue to share my knowledge, help my students hone their skills, and get people of all skill levels excited to practice!

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Julia Green Headshot

Julia Green, MDES

Faculty
Department
Art Lab

Julia Green is an artist and designer based out of the Cincinnati, OH area. She attended the University of Cincinnati, where she earned both her bachelor's degree in Fashion Design and her Master of Design (MDES) degree. She has since put her skills to use at locations such as Nordstrom, the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and Artonomy. Julia returned to UC as an Adjunct Professor in 2013, where she taught Foundation Drawing, Fashion Drawing, Design Communication, and much more!

Currently, Julia is the founder and CEO of (DSGN)Cllctv, a gallery, retailer, event and production space with the intention of serving the greater creative good in Cincinnati, OH. She also continues to teach as a private instructor, showing students the basics of drawing, animation, fashion, and design.

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Kerri Bram

Kerri Bram

Faculty
Department
Art Lab

Kerri Bram, a veteran artist and art educator, is the owner of Tea Stained Studio, a stained glass studio located in the Clifton/University Heights area of Cincinnati, Ohio. After spending 17 years teaching in the traditional classroom, decided it was time to start focusing on producing on her own. Kerri specializes in the design, construction and repair of architectural stained glass windows.

As an artist, she uses natural elements as the media for her work (glass, metal, rocks, wood and fibers) to alter both one’s perspective and relationship with their environment. Whether it be through her sculptures or her windows, I hope to stimulate a sense of place in the environment.

And, at the end of the day, Kerri loves the sound of breaking glass.

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Board Member Kim Hennessy

Kim Hennessy

Board Member

Kim Hennessy is an artist and educator living in Wyoming, Ohio. A native Cincinnatian, Kim has a BFA in studio art from DAAP at the University of Cincinnati and an MFA in painting and installation from the University of Massachusetts. Kim spent ten years in Massachusetts and New York City, balancing her time between making art, working as a freelance graphic designer and teaching. Selected exhibition cities include NYC, Boston, Seattle, Houston, Las Vegas and Portland. Kim is the co-creator of SoftSpot, a digital curatorial space. Kim is AMS Montessori certified, and she loves combining visual arts and the Montessori philosophy. She developed curriculum for and instructed programs at the Essex Art Center in Boston, Massachusetts and West Side Montessori school in NYC, and currently runs the art program at Terry's Montessori School in Wyoming, Ohio. She has two children who love creating art projects on every surface of the house, putting on musical extravaganzas at mealtime, and generally bringing comedy and drama to all moments. 

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Lydia Collins

Lydia Collins, BFA

Staff
Position
Office Staff

Lydia is an artist, educator, and avid creative based in Westwood, Cincinnati. She received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the Art Academy of Cincinnati in Drawing, with extensive studies in Printmaking and Art History. A creative jack-of-all-trades, her current exploration  includes drawing, print media, embroidery, and textiles.

An educator at heart, Lydia’s true passions lie in fostering community, connection, and understanding through creative exchanges. She brings 12 years of experience in nonprofit administration and education, specializing in youth programs; including extensive work with the Art Academy of Cincinnati’s Community Education department, Artworks, Contemporary Arts Center, and the Cincinnati Hamilton County Public Library.

Curious and a natural problem solver, she is an avid reader and hobbyist researcher. In her free time, she enjoys baking, exploring nature, camping, gardening, and archery.

She aims to pursue a Masters degree in arts education with a focus in museum studies, and is training for a wildlife rehabilitation certification!

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Mariia Headshot

Mariia Demash, MA

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Piano
Viola
Violin

Mariia Demash holds a Master's degree in Music, obtained from the Academy of Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine. Prior to that, she completed her Bachelor's degree at UNTAM Tchaikovsky in Kyiv, Ukraine. She is an exceptional musician specializing in viola and also skilled in violin and piano. Hailing from Donetsk, Ukraine, she brings her passion for music and European musical expertise to the United States. She boasts a wealth of experience and recognition from prestigious orchestras and opera studios. From October 2018 to February 2022, she served as an orchestra member at the Opera Studio of the National Academy of Music in Kyiv, Ukraine. Building on her international experience, she expanded her horizons as an orchestra member at the North Bohemian Theater of Opera and Ballet in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic, from March 2022 to August 2022.

Mariia has actively participated in numerous concert tours and music festivals, with some of the highlights including Opera Fest at the castle in Bratislava, Slovakia, solo skits in Prague, Czech Republic, and a rock concert as Alesh Bright in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic. She has garnered prestigious awards and prizes for her solo performances in international contests, receiving the 1st prize as a soloist in Autumn Leaf Fall in Mariupol, Ukraine, and Seasons in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Mariia is dedicated to inspiring and nurturing young talent as she teaches children at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center. Her passion, expertise, and commitment make her an ideal mentor for aspiring musicians.

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Mike Wade Headshot

Mike Wade, GA

Faculty
Department
Music

Mike Wade, also known as “Shorty Bop”, is a professional trumpeter that can play funky grooves that make you want to swing! He began playing trumpet in his pre-teen years. While attending the Duke Ellington School of Arts in Washington, D.C, he received a National Symphony Fellowship to study with symphony trumpeters. He attended Central State University on a full scholarship to earn a bachelor’s in music education. After that, he earned a Graduate degree in Classical Trumpet Performance from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Since then, he has made a name for himself as a producer, composer, arranger, and educator.

Mr. Wade has over 20 years of experience teaching at Withrow International High School, while also being a private music instructor. He is the founder and leader of three groups: The Standard Time Jazz QuintetMike Wade & The Reality Band, and Mike Wade & The Jazz Mafia. He has been named as one of the top ten unsigned jazz and brass players by Jazziz Magazine. He has performed and/or recorded with artists such as David “Fathead” Newman, Clark Terry, Javon Jackson, and many others. He has also performed on Black Entertainment Television (BET) Jazz Discovery show and WOSU Jazz Voices television series.

Other accomplishments include winning the Cincinnati Cammy Award for Best Small Jazz Group, being a recipient for both the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and the John Philip Sousa Award, and placing first at the Virginia State University Classical Solo Competition. His personal music features a blend of funky hip-hop, smooth jazz, R&B, and go-go.

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Peter McCutcheon

Peter McCutcheon, MM

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Bass (Upright)
Cello
Suzuki

A Cincinnati native, Peter McCutcheon began playing double bass as a way to learn a musical instrument but keep a safe distance from his older brother who played violin. Quickly, Mr. McCutcheon became passionate in performance, and at the age of 13 he debuted with the Cincinnati Community Orchestra, performing Mahler’s 1st Symphony and Holst’s The Planets. Over a decade later, Mr. McCutcheon has performed with various local orchestras, including the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and the Queen City Chamber Orchestra.

Before attending college at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), Mr. McCutcheon became interested in pedagogy when he began teaching private lessons to younger bassists. At the age of 18, he became Suzuki certified, becoming the only Suzuki-accredited double bass teacher in Cincinnati at the time.

Alongside being a double bass specialist, Mr. McCutcheon has incorporated his love of music into his faith. He is an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, where he can be seen playing bass guitar and double bass, arranging music, leading youth ministry, and other various musical tasks when called upon. More recently, he has taken on the role of Worship and Music Administrative Assistant, and now works actively each week in the planning and organization that goes into each worship service.

Mr. McCutcheon received his pre-collegiate instruction from Dayton Philharmonic principal bassist Debbie Taylor. He has earned a Bachelor of Music from CCM, and is now working towards his Masters degree, studying under Rachel Calin. During his Masters, Mr. McCutcheon is also serving as a Graduate Assistant of Music Education, where he can be found teaching String Methods to undergraduate music education majors. It was during his experience as a Graduate Assistant that Mr. McCutcheon grew fond of all of the instruments in the strings family, and now has multiple years of experience playing and teaching violin, viola, and cello in addition to his double bass expertise.

When not thinking about bass or music, Mr. McCutcheon enjoys solving advanced Sudoku puzzles, collecting vintage books, and collecting vinyl records.

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Preston Charles III

Preston Charles

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Violin

Preston Charles III is a violinist that has had the best of both worlds; a standard private education in classical music and Suzuki as well as contemporary forms of music performance. This includes jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, and pop. Performing since he was four, Preston’s passion for music encompasses a wide variety of musical interests from musical composition to playing flute and piano.

Preston realized his dream when he established Make It Happen Music in 2012. He is one of the city’s most active performers. Recent projects include: Blink 2022 (performing artist) in collaboration with Triple Sonicz and OTR Alit, the Cincinnati Hip Hop Orchestra in partnership with Elementz, Black and Brown Artist Grant ArtsWave award Recipient for film and music production, Cincinnati Music Accelerator, Maestro of Tomorrow judge, Books Alive, The Street Stage Project for CMA/ 3CDC, CSO MAC Award and opening for CSO Pops, the Conner Prairie Museum Center in Indiana for music composition and production, Double Forte Musician and Make Music Cincinnati.

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Ramona Toussaint

Ramona Toussaint

Staff
Position
Executive Director

Ramona is a knowledgeable and proven nonprofit leader. She brings experience and a solid track record in grant-writing, fundraising, and community engagement.  Her genuine passion for the arts and arts education has fueled a successful career of over 25 years, including work at the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Music Hall.  She serves on several nonprofit art organization boards and enjoys personal artistic pursuits in music, dance, and theatre performance.

“Everything in the world is created twice, a vision in the mind and again in the world. Creativity is the source of everything. I am thrilled to take my vision of community engagement to the Wyoming Fine Arts Center”.

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sharonford

Sharon Ford

Faculty
Department
Dance & Musical Theater
Instrument or Specialty
Musical Theater

Meet Sharon Adrielle, a multi-talented force in the entertainment industry driven by an unwavering passion for acting. From her early days at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio, to earning a degree in Electronic Media and Broadcasting with a minor in theatre from Northern Kentucky University, Sharon's journey has been marked by a deep love for the stage and the camera.
What sets Sharon apart is her unique ability to seamlessly navigate both sides of the creative process. With a solid foundation in acting and a profound understanding of the production world, Sharon has found the perfect balance between her two passions. This rare combination allows her to bring a comprehensive perspective and a fresh lens to every project she undertakes.

When Sharon is not immersed in the world of entertainment, she cherishes quality time with her loved ones, indulging in delicious cuisine, and exploring the great outdoors on her bike. These moments of joy and connection fuel her artistic spirit, infusing her work with a genuine passion that resonates with both colleagues and audiences alike.
Sharon's unwavering commitment to her craft, combined with her natural talent and vibrant personality, has solidified her place as a beloved figure in the industry. With each new project, she continues to inspire and empower fellow creatives to pursue their dreams and embrace their unique artistic voices.

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star

Star Christine

Staff
Position
Registrar & Visual Communicator

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Star's passion for the arts ignited in her youth. Throughout high school, she immersed herself in self-guided learning, mastering programs like Photoshop and Final Cut Studios. Fueled by creativity, she spent the last two years of high school attending the Warren County Career Center for Digital Design. Remarkably, by the age of 17, Star secured a position as a Graphic Web Designer before even graduating high school.

An enthusiast of self-expression, she would describe herself as a dabbler having dipped her hands into various pots like drawing, painting, dancing, flow arts, aerial arts, tactile arts, photography, filming, digital arts, and singing. With every phase of interest Star found herself experiencing different facets of communities all throughout Cincinnati that helped continually shape her artistic journey.

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Stella Bardetti

Stella Bardetti

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Piano

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mrs. Stella Bardetti received her B.A. in Music (Piano) and Certificate in Piano Pedagogy from the Northern Kentucky University. She also studied piano at the Chautauqua Music Festival in 1998 and 1999 where she received the Eleanor B. Daugherty Scholarship both times. In 2000, Mrs. Bardetti was a semi-finalist in the Eastern Ukraine International Piano Competition in Luhansk, Ukraine. She is a sought-after guest lecturer on the topics of Music Theory and the benefits of Early Music Education as well as an experienced adjudicator for various piano competitions and juried events. Mrs. Bardetti is a Certified Musikgarten Instructor. Various music festivals throughout the world that she has participated in include: Chautauqua Music Festival at the Chautauqua Institution in NY, the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Vietri sul Mare, Italy; KIIS in Salzburg, Austria; and the Aub Chamber Music Festival in Aub, Germany. 

The 2022-23 school year marks Mrs. Bardetti's 25th year teaching Piano and she is an active member of Music Teachers National Association. She also taught Voice for 7 years. From 2013 - 2014, she was a Representative for Steinway & Sons Pianos in the Tri-State area, and received intensive sales training at the famous Steinway & Sons factory in Queens, New York. Her duties for Steinway included organizing the Steinway Young Artist Concert Series, event planning, and being the liaison for all of the Steinway Artists who came to town to perform with the CSO and other organizations. A highlight of being a Steinway Representative was when she was given the high honor of being in charge of the famous Horowitz Steinway (CD503) when it came to the Greater Cincinnati area in 2013. As a pianist and vocalist, she has performed in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Austria, Italy, Ukraine, and France. A few years ago, Mrs. Bardetti became a licensed Musikgarten teacher. A lifelong learner, she is currently a student of concert pianist  Luiz de Moura Castro in Hartford, CT.  

Mrs. Bardetti and her husband, Michael, enjoy time with their family and friends, cooking, movies, and traveling.

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ty geissinger

Ty Geissinger

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Bass (Electric)
Guitar
Piano
Ukulele

A performer through and through, Ty has been enthusiastically filling the roles of bassist, guitarist, vocalist and keyboardist since 2010 with numerous bands both on stage and in the studio. Raised around bluegrass musicians, she gained an interest playing acoustic guitar at the age of 13 before acquiring a bass guitar soon after. The bass became both a creative outlet and a means of survival as Ty began writing music and performing as a freelance bassist with various cover and original bands, eventually incorporating keys, guitar, double bass and lead vocals into her arsenal. Having learned theory in the field, Ty has a firm grasp on applying concepts in real time to fit the music and has studied independently with a consistent thirst for knowledge, which has allowed for a successful career as a music instructor since 2017. Outside of teaching, Ty can be seen on stage with a variety of acts including Anaphaunt, Heist, Stone and Snow, and Strange Creature.

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Valerie Bobosh with a young child and flower bouquets.

Valerie Bobosh, MS

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Piano
Suzuki

Valerie received her Bachelor of Music from SUNY Potsdam, and her Master of Science in Education with a concentration in music education from the University of Dayton. Suzuki Piano Teacher Training, levels 1 through 6, was pursued at Capital University. Further professional development includes Kodaly music education from the Kodaly Institute at Silver Lake College, and Orff –Schulwerk music education. Additionally, Valerie is a licensed and certified Musikgarten instructor.

As an Ohio certified teacher of Music Education, K-12, she has taught in both public and private schools. Her professional experiences also include over 20 years as a liturgical choir director, choral accompanist, and ballet school accompanist.

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Wendy Dorn

Wendy Dorn

Board Member

Wendy is an Equity stage manager who has been a part of numerous productions at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, and Dayton’s Human Race Theatre Company. She has worked for Cincinnati Ballet as Company Manager and Production Manager and Cincinnati Arts Association as Event Supervisor/Manager on Duty at Music Hall. Wendy has stage managed in Chicago, toured nationally, and managed corporate special events. Since 2011, she has taught a course nicknamed “The Biz of the Biz,” also known as Survival Skills for the Freelancer, at UC’s College-Conservatory of Music. Her sons Sam and Spencer Bowden grew up taking lessons at the Center and are now continuing their musicianship at the college level. Wendy is a past board member of the Wyoming School Music Association and a graduate of Northwestern University.

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Yuko

Yuko Tsujimoto, MM

Faculty
Department
Music
Instrument or Specialty
Violin

As a Starling Competition first prize winner, Yuko studied at CCM where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance. While at CCM, Yuko was the concerto competition winner and performed the Tchaikovsky violin concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Upon completion of her studies at CCM, Yuko went on to receive Master’s Degree in Violin Performance from Indiana University with Violin Pedagogy as a cognate field. Her teachers include Naoko Tanaka, Franco Gulli and Won Bin Yim. Yuko is also a former member of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and has been on faculty at the Center since 1997.