PJ Barnes, B.A.            Theater, Choreography   PJ Barnes is a UNC Wilmington graduate with a BA in Theatre, concentration in performance. He's been trained in the Meisner method, Hagen method, and he's also had some training in Commedia D'ell Arte, in which he was able to put his physicality talents to use in shows like "Scapino!" and "We Won't Pay!!!". PJ's straight play career peaked, when he took on the lead role as "Rooftop" in Steven Gurgis' "Our Lady of 121st  St". PJ's also taken part any many musicals over the year including, "Big", "The Wiz", "Ragtime", and managed to play all of the Fred Casely, and all 7 husbands in "Chicago". Over the years PJ has also fine-tuned his dancing abilities. Starting off as mostly a hip hop dancer, PJ has choreographed for his college team, and led them victory over several competitions. He has taught Hip Hop and Contemporary at private dance studios as well as a few high schools in the Wilmington area. PJ's first gig as a choreographer was in Providence's "Footloose" in 2006. Since then he's worked with and adapted to Tapping, Clogging, Fosse, and Modern. He spent this past summer living on Bald Head Island, and co-founded their children's Theater camp, where he choreographed shows such as "School House Rock", "Seusssical" and "High School Musical". Film work has brought PJ back to Charlotte, and he is excited to work with OnStage, and looks forward to putting on awesome shows, and giving everyone a great experience they'll remember for a lifetime.             Jeri Bridwell, M.M.       Strings, Piano, Suzuki Method     Jeri began playing the piano at age four and the violin at age nine. At age fifteen she began playing with the Rochester MN Symphony,  and at age eighteen was awarded the prestigious American Federation of Musicians "Congress of Strings" scholarship, enabling her to study for a summer at the University of Southern California. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Indiana University and a Master's Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Georgia. She has studied with several teachers that were students of Ivan Galamian including Dr. Larry Shapiro, Dr. Won Mo Kim, Dr. Stephen Clapp and Mrs. Dorothy Mauney. She utilizes many of Mr. Galamian's ideas in her own teaching. She has also studied music and violin at the University of South Carolina and at New York University. She has taken Suzuki Certification classes through Book 2, and teaches both violin and piano using the Suzuki curriculum and philosophy, as well as more traditional methods. Jeri has played with numberous orchestras throughout the Southeast including the South Carolina Symphony, where she held the chair of Principal Second Violinist,  Augusta and Greenville Symphonies, Columbia and Augusta Lyric Opera Orchestras, Savannah, Charleston and Hilton Head Orchestras. She has started Suzuki violin programs at Presbyterian College, and in Union, SC, where she also wrote and was awarded grants to start a Strings program in the public schools. She also taught in Hilton Head, SC  for several years, and while there incorporated Suzuki violin into their Strings curriculum starting in grade one. While in Hilton Head she also helped with the start of the Hilton Head Youth Orchestra, where many of her students were some of the first members of the orchestra. After moving to Sarasota, FL she started Suzuki violin and piano programs for gifted and talented students in grades one and two, and a  Suzuki program in one elementary school with over one hundred students. Her students were featured on the TV Program "Excellence in Education". In Sarasota, she started experimenting with alternative styles of playing, including fiddle, celtic and jazz style electric violin playing, which opened her heart to loving music of all different types. She has more recently taught privately in San Diego, CA and Phoenix, AZ, and in Fayetteville, NC, where she was a featured soloist with the Cape Fear Regional Theatre performance of  "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change". When she is not playing or teaching, Ms. Bridwell enjoys making collages and sparkly jewelry.     Teaching Philosophy Ms. Jeri brings a wide variety of creative ideas to her teaching, particularly a committment to Montessori philosophy, which centers on preparing a learning environment and controlling that environment to the benefit of the child, rather than controlling the child. Believing in the Suzuki approach as well, she advocates a loving, praise oriented environment, and encourages each student to be expressive as well as maintaining a standard of technical excellence. She believes very much in communicating with parents, and truly enjoys observing and encouraging each child's unique creative process.  She has been strongly influenced by Howard Gardner's theories of multiple intelligences and learning styles, and tries to approach each student using a combination of aural, visual and kinesthetic methods of teaching. She believes that the creative process is a wonderful way to explore knowing oneself and others better, and to give a deeper meaning to life.

 

Angela Epting, M.A.     Voice, Songwriting, Piano Music Theory, Musical Theater, Beginning Guitar, Garage Band Program                                                                 Jane Orrell, M.M. Voice,  Piano, Choir

Angela has her Bachelor’s degrees in Vocal Performance and Arts Management from Newberry College and a Masters in Music Business and Songwriting from Berklee School of Music. Along with her knowledge of voice, stage performance, and songwriting skills, Angela has extensive knowledge of various musical instruments (including band instruments) and various genres and has been teaching for over ten years. Angela teaches both classical, musical theater, and commercial voice. Angela has experience in classroom planning, group lessons, as well as non-profit fundraising.     Teaching Philosophy Voice lessons are taught by the use of Technique and Theory while encouraging student creativity through a variety of musical genres. I teach vocal control and breathe support as the foundation of a powerful voice for all types of singing. All lessons are taught from a "hands off" approach, where the student is always the one in control of their instrument. Completed homework assignments are required weekly to enhance student improvement. Lessons are also available in beginning piano, guitar and songwriting.                                                 Jane is a native of Wilmington, NC and a graduate of East Carolina University in vocal performance and pedagogy.  Jane moved to Vienna, Austria to pursue studies in German Lied at the Hochschule fur Musik.  After returning from Austria, she moved to Cincinnati where she studied with Italo Tiao and Tim McGraw. During Jane’s twelve years in Cincinnati she sang with Cincinnati Opera, Dayton Opera, and Opera-in-the-Schools with Whitewater Opera, and toured with New York City National Tour. In 1991, Jane moved to New York where she studied with Marie Traficante.  During her stay in New York Jane appeared in “Parsifal”, and “Die Meistersinger” at The Metropolitan Opera, First Lady in “The Magic Flute” with Brooklyn Lyric Opera, and was a member of New York Choral Artists.  Jane moved to Colorado in 1993 to attend the University of Colorado, Boulder for her master’s degree in vocal pedagogy and performance.  After graduating, Jane was an instructor of voice at the Colorado Christian University and ran a private voice studio.  Since 2000, Jane has been teaching K-5 general music in public schools.  She taught for four years with Denver Public Schools and begin in 2004 with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  Jane currently teaches K-5 music at Clear Creek Elementary in Mint Hill.  She is a past president of District 6 in the NCMEA and currently serves on the CMS Board.

Lisa Palladino, B.A.    Director of Early  Childhood Education

Lisa graduated magna cum laude from StonehillCollege in N. Easton, MA with a BA in Elementary Education.  As a certified teacher, she incorporated the Arts in all areas of the curriculum, as well as directing various school plays and chairing an intramural program for over 700 students. Her approach to thematic teaching led her to co-author a teacher’s guide to Whole Language instruction and present at regional workshops on the benefits of integrating the Arts in classroom reading strategies.  The mother of two teenagers, she finds oil painting a relaxing creative outlet.   Teaching Philosophy                                                                                   Integrating Fine Arts education into curriculum enhances the development of higher-order thinking skills. I believe exposure to the Arts at a young age contributes to success in a traditional learning environment and helps to promote a life-long love of learning. I strive to provide a trusting and relaxed environment to give children the poise and self-confidence needed to solve problems creatively and to express their ideas without limitatioons.

 

Bridget Ruller,  M.S. Ed. Toddler & Pre-School Instructor

Bridget Ruller has a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo and a Master of Science in Education Degree from FordhamUniversity. She is a certified teacher with over 15 years experience in the combined areas of early childhood, elementary, reading and gifted education. Her resume also includes an accomplished background in dance and instrumental music. In addition to developing a curriculum that integrates the arts into traditional classroom learning, Bridget has taught after school dance classes, choreographed dance routines, and directed school plays. Aside from teaching, Bridget enjoys spending time with her family; her husband, Doug, her two children, Kayleigh and Joey, and the family dog, Abby.

 

Stefanie Spruill, B.A.   Beginning Voice, Piano, Musical Theater

An Indiana native, Stefanie is a graduate of Purdue University at Fort Wayne (IPFW) with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with an Emphasis in Musical Direction. While in college, she had the privilege of musically directing and accompanying numerous shows at both the university and high school levels including Ragtime, Dreamgirls, She Loves Me, How to Succeed in Business…, On the Town, Bye Bye Birdie, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and The Music Man. She also helped co-conceive and accompany several cabarets and variety shows both at IPFW and Ball State University and works as an OnStage accompanist for Productions. Stefanie has been playing piano for over twenty years and has a desire to foster a love of learning music in all of her students. She believes that kids will learn best when they are enjoying the learning process. She strives to create an environment where students can learn at their own pace and in a way that will best suit their individual needs and help them to reach their full potential.     Teaching Philosophy Stefanie believes that learning music theory basics is important for every student and will be beneficial for their future, whether they want to only learn piano or branch out and study voice or even another instrument. When studying theatre she incorporates monologues, scene work, and drama games to help the student have a well-rounded experience. She most enjoys working with preschool and elementary age children and thinks that a fun and encouraging environment with lots of positive reinforcement is essential, especially for younger students. Accountability from parents with practicing throughout the week is important to maximize a student's potential. She also encourages open communication between herself and parents to figure out what approach is best for the student. Lessons can be tailored to fit each student's individual age and needs.

 

Joshua Wentz, M.A.   Voice, Piano   Musical Theater

Josh has been teaching and performing for 10 years throughout the United States and Europe. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum University his Masters in Music Performance from Winthrop University. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Science from Nova Southeastern University. Joshua performs with various organizations such as Opera Carolina, Oratorio Singers of Charlotte, and the Chamber Singers who were recently invited to sing at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston. He has sung and played piano for various companies throughout the United States and continues teaching, coaching, and developing students to pursue their dreams and make careers in music.   Teaching Philosophy Using my own methods to teach breathing, support, relaxation (relaxed sound), tone placement, delivery,I focus on intervals and pitch accuracy to give the student an introduction to aural skills/ear training in the younger years and floor excercies and breathing excercises are encouraged. In piano lessons, I spend a little time each week on essentials: scales, arpeggios, chords and inversions, ear training, intervals, etc. I do not feel that these should be exhaustive and hope to only expose the young learner to these techniques and relate them to the lesson and music being learned.   Making individualized lesson plans for each student with weekly progress, assigning technical practices for improvement, and incorporating these into the assigned music. Although I will direct students towards a "Classical" path, I will utilize their own interests (Broadway, pop, jazz, etc.) to keep them interested and engaged in weekly progress.