Arts of America Judges
Arts of America is proud to present an exceptional panel of judges comprised of distinguished artists, educators, and industry professionals from around the world. Our judges bring a wealth of experience from leading performing arts organizations, universities, conservatories, and professional stages. Their expertise, artistry, and commitment to excellence ensure that every participant receives thoughtful evaluation from some of the most respected voices in the arts today. More Judges to be announced soon!
Hugh Wooldridge has produced, directed, devised and designed lighting for theatre, television and large-scale musical events all over the world. He also teaches and gives MasterClasses internationally in the UK, Denmark, Italy, Australia, South Africa and the United States.
Training
Having trained on the Theatre Projects Technical Training Course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Hugh Wooldridge started as an ASM in Canterbury rep and working for Peter Saunders and Michael Codron in the West End. He made his West End debut as an actor in The Dame of Sark with Dame Celia Johnson and Tony Britton, and subsequently with English National Opera in Il Trovatore and Salome; and with the London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) in the world premiere production of Romeo and Juliet, choreographed by Rudolf Nureyev.
He began his career as a professional theatre director by assisting leading UK directors including Alan Ayckbourn, Michael Blakemore, Philip Grout, Frank Hauser and Eric Thompson; however, he had been directing and lighting plays professionally in his own right since the age of 17 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Where he returned at 22 to direct and light with the Fringe First Award-winning team from the University of Bradford under the leadership of Richard Crane and Chris Parr.
The First 10 Years
In the first 10 years of his career Hugh directed more than 60 productions in London and throughout the UK – from Alan Ayckbourn to René de Obaldia, and Pam Gems to Athol Fugard. From the Bush Theatre to the Royal Opera House. He was the Resident Director at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester and the Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead, and the Staff Director at the Old Vic Theatre, London.
For The Royal Ballet's Ballet For All he directed The World of Giselle for Dame Ninette de Valois and Peter Brinson. At the same time, alongside his directing work, having assisted Michael Northen and John B. Read, he developed an international reputation as a lighting designer for dance, creating lighting for new choreography with companies including The Royal Ballet, Dance Theatre London, Rambert Dance Company, the National Youth Ballet, the English National Ballet and DASH – Wayne Sleep And Friends.
He then directed numerous premieres and productions in theatre and music theatre. These included the world premieres of the Graham Collier / Malcolm Lowry jazz suite, Under A Volcano and The Undisput’d Monarch of the English Stage with Gary Bond portraying David Garrick at The Old Vic; the Charles Strouse opera, Nightingale with Sarah Brightman and Peter Knapp at the Buxton Opera Festival; and Francis Wyndham’s Abel and Cain at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester with Peter Eyre and Sean Baker.
His work also included directing and lighting the original Olivier Award-winning production of Jeeves Takes Charge with Edward Duke at the Lyric Hammersmith; the first productions of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and T. S. Eliot Cats at the Sydmonton Festival; the Andrew Lloyd Webber / Don Black song-cycle Tell Me On A Sunday starring Marti Webb at the Royalty Theatre (now the Peacock Theatre); and Lloyd Webber’s Variations at the Royal Festival Hall, later combined with Tell Me On A Sunday to become Song and Dance. He also directed Just Liz, Liz Robertson’s one-woman show compiled by Alan Jay Lerner at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London. This later was shown on the opening night of ITV’s Television South.
The Jolly Good Production Company
During the next 10 years, Hugh Wooldridge ran his own multi-media company, The Jolly Good Production Company, which produced plays and TV programmes, managed artistes and published an award-winning book of fine art pencil drawings of dancers from New York City Ballet, The Still Point by Betti Franceschi.
TVS and Television
In 1983, as the Associate Head of Music for ITV’s TVS, he was responsible for a wide range of music and light entertainment programmes including The A–Z of Music with Richard Stilgoe and his own late-night series, Showcase, which featured artists including Nigel Kennedy, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Paul Jones, Benjamin Luxon, Rod Argent, Teresa Cahill, Ian Hobson, Julian Lloyd Webber and Sarah Brightman. He also devised and was the Creative Consultant of BBCTV’s Saturday night, prime-time programme, Challenge Anneka.
Large Scale Fund-Raising Gala Concerts
In 1987 he co-produced with Liz Robertson and wrote An Evening with Alan Jay Lerner at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane with Placido Domingo and many other leading performers to raise funds for Cancer Research. This event was remounted in Manchester in 1988 with Richard Harris and later, in 1989, he wrote and directed An Evening with Alan Jay Lerner at the New York State Theatre at Lincoln Center featuring Julie Andrews, Leonard Bernstein, Robert Goulet, Sally Ann Howes, Liza Minnelli, Rudolf Nureyev and many others. This was widely televised by PBS in the US.
Subsequently, over the following decades, he has become known for creating and directing large-scale gala concerts and fundraising events. These have included The Night of 1000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall (1999–2016); DANCEPOWER at the London Palladium for the Red Cross; Comedy Tonight at the Royal National Theatre for The Roy Kinnear Trust; Around the World at the Royal Albert Hall with Elaine Paige and Michael Flatley and the first live appearance of Riverdance in aid of the Royal National Institute for the Blind; the 125th Anniversary of the Red Cross with Dame Shirley Bassey; the all-star Ira Gershwin centenary celebration Who Could Ask for Anything More? at the Royal Albert Hall for Mencap; an all-star fund raiser of The Wonderful World of Captain Beaky and His Band at the Royal Albert Hall for UNICEF hosted by Roger Moore and with Joanna Lumley, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessie Buckley, Cantabile and may others, introduced by its author, Jeremy Lloyd; and Seasons of Love, the all-star 10th Anniversary Celebration of the original Calendar Girls for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
In the US, he created and directed the inaugural Bernard Jacobs Award for Excellence in Theatre in New York presented to James Nederlander and he created and directed the Richard Rodgers Award and the 50th Anniversary of the Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. In the UK he directed three concert productions of Jesus Christ Superstar introduced by Tim Rice at the Barbican Centre; the first European tour of The Rocky Horror Show and served as UK Associate to Jerry Zaks on his long-running West End production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London.
Other Major Productions
Other major productions include the workshop production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton film screenplay for The Phantom of the Opera; the live stadium version of BBC TV’s Robot Wars; the first large-scale revival of the Rice / Lloyd Webber musical Evita with a cast of 125 at the Grand Theatre, Leeds; a Millennium Musicals Celebration with the Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra in Munich; the UK tour of the Rodgers and Hammerstein revue Something Wonderful; the all-star Noël Coward – The Centenary Celebration at the Savoy Theatre; and a major revival of Peer Gynt for orchestra, chorus, dancers and actors at the University of Illinois, the first such production since 1876.
He also devised and directed Sondheim Tonight at the Barbican Centre and BAM Salutes Sondheim at the Brooklyn Academy of Music; the Royal Anniversary Gala celebrating the Golden Wedding Anniversary of HM The Queen and HRH Prince Philip at the Royal Festival Hall; Jack In Review for Cameron Mackintosh at the London Palladium; and an international celebration, A Gala Concert for Hal Prince in Munich, his family’s home city.
The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
In 1989, he created and directed the original UK and US productions of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, later seen in London at the Prince Edward Theatre and the London Palladium and subsequently touring globally. He also directed the UK tour of The Magic of the Musicals starring Marti Webb; the 20th Anniversary tour of Jesus Christ Superstar – In Concert starring the original Jesus, Paul Nicholas, and two large-scale US productions of Jesus Christ Superstar that toured throughout Europe. He also directed the 150th Anniversary celebrations of Thomas Cook Ltd in the presence of Diana, Princess of Wales.
His own Alan Jay Lerner revue, The Night They Invented Champagne was staged in Cape Town and Johannesburg for Pieter Toerien, and later appeared in the UK under the title Almost Like Being in Love at the Royal National Theatre starring Sian Phillips, John Standing, Clive Carter, Anita Dobson and Anna Francolini. Also in South Africa for Pieter Toerien he directed House Guest and Extremities.
Chess in Concert
In 2008 he adapted with Tim Rice and directed Chess in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall with Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Kerry Ellis, Clarke Peters, David Bedella and Marti Pellow. In 2010, this production was broadcast by PBS in the United States and internationally, and was the first musical theatre concert to be screened in mainstream cinemas in the UK.
In 2010 he devised and directed the 10th Anniversary production of The Night of 1000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall featuring Kerry Ellis, Philip Quast, Adam Pascal and Queen guitarist, Brian May. He also directed ANTHEMS: The Concert at the Royal Albert Hall featuring Kerry Ellis with Brian May, Adam Pascal and Escala, which won the Jo Hutchinson International WhatsOnStage Award for Best Solo Performance.
In recent years Hugh Wooldridge has directed two major new productions of Rebecca for the Du Maurier Estate and Paul Elliott with Simon Williams and Carmen Silvera then Patrick Mower and June Brown; and three UK tours of The Haunting, an adaptation of short stories by Charles Dickens for Bill Kenwright, starring Paul Nicholas, Sean Maguire and Charlie Clements, later with David Robb and James Roache.
The University of Oklahoma
Between 2010 and 2012 he served as the Beatrice Carr and Ray Wallace Visiting Professor at the A. Max Weitzenhoffer College of Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma, where he devised and directed the 21st Anniversary production of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and premiered his own musical revue There Is More To Love featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. He regularly gives lectures and masterclasses at home and abroad.
BelCanto
In 2013–14 he directed the European and US productions of BelCanto in collaboration with Luigi Caiola and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, first seen at New York’s City Center and later in Naples, Rome and Paris. In 2016 he directed a new production of Twist of Lemmon at The Other Palace in London with Christopher Lemmon portraying his father, Jack Lemmon.
The Circle of Life
In 2017 he devised and directed The Circle of Life, a musical celebration of the songs of Tim Rice for Young Artists of America at the Strathmore Center in Maryland. Hosted by Tim Rice, this production was later broadcast on PBS as Can You Feel The Love Tonight and nominated for three regional Emmy Awards, winning the Emmy for Best Lighting.
In 2018 he directed Play on Words – a celebration of PG Wodehouse and his fellow wordsmiths, with Hal Cazalet and Simon Beck and VIP guest artistes at Crazy Coqs/Live at Zedel in London as well as in New York and Mumbai. The same year he directed a new production of Jesus Christ Superstar at Teatru Astra in Gozo, Malta with David Michael Johnson playing Jesus with Rachel Fabri, Chris Greck, Roger Tirazona, Noel Galea and Chris Dingli.
In 2019 he produced and directed a reboot of The Night of 1000 Voices for a younger audience, The Best of Rock Musicals, at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith hosted by Tim Rice, Christopher Biggins and Richard O’Brien in aid of the suicide awareness charity, The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.
The Pandemic Years
During the pandemic in 2020, he produced and directed twenty-six short films about osteopathy titled, Watering The Withering Fields – Discovering Osteopathy with Barrie Savory www.barriesavory.london/video-series and a season of new play-readings streamed globally from Riverside Studios in London under the title Riverside Reads (patron: Michael Codron).
In 2023, Hugh Wooldridge directed A Murder Has Been Arranged for Bill Kenwright for whom he has also written with Nicholas Bromley a new comedy with music about a girl band titled, Heads Up!
Jeeves Takes Charge (2024/6)
In 2024/5 he has been working on a new production of Jeeves Takes Charge with Sam Harrison in the leading roles. First seen at the Jermyn Street and Tabard Theatres, then for a Christmas run at the Ustinov Theatre, Bath; and soon to be seen in the Charing Cross Theatre and the WatchTower Theatre, Texas.
Also, in 2025 he directed the first solo My Way UK Tour and the London performances by the winner of Britain’s Got Talent, Sydnie Christmas.
Throughout his career, Hugh Wooldridge has directed many showcases, workshops and first productions of new writing, and has been much in demand helping others to improve their own productions – he is currently mentoring four authors, two composers and a producer. He hopes to direct a production every year at a drama school in the UK or internationally – as at BADA with his own adaption of Under Milk Wood with music by Julie Cooper. He continues his international teaching and MasterClass work and recently returned from a US tour with Trevor Nunn promoting their William Shakespeare Marquee TV series, A Man For All Time with Dame Judi Dench and Roger Allam.
In the future, in addition to his commitment to working on large-scale productions, Hugh Wooldridge hopes to spend time directing smaller projects, similar to those he thrived on during his first 10 years, and being available to help others achieve their goals.
Hugh Wooldridge is a member of the Dramatists’ Guild (USA), The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (USA), and the Stage Directors (UK).
Aaron Smyth is an Australian ballet dancer, actor, and educator who has built an international career spanning major ballet companies, musical theatre, film, television, and guest performances around the world. Born on Australia's Gold Coast, he began dancing at a young age and quickly distinguished himself as one of Australia's most promising young male dancers. After winning numerous national awards, he earned a full scholarship to train at the American Ballet Theatre's Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York, later joining American Ballet Theatre II under the direction of Wes Chapman.
He subsequently danced with some of the world's most prestigious organizations, including American Ballet Theatre II, The Royal Ballet in London, and The Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. During his time with The Royal Ballet, he created a role in Titian Metamorphosis, a collaboration with London's National Gallery. He also performed in the original West End cast of An American in Paris, directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon.
Throughout his career, Smyth has earned significant recognition on the international competition circuit. His awards include the Gold Medal and Audience Choice Award at the prestigious Genee International Ballet Competition, along with medals and honors at major competitions in the United States, China, South Africa, Korea, and elsewhere. He has performed at gala events worldwide and has appeared before royalty, international dignitaries, and former U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Beyond the stage, Smyth has reached broader audiences through film and television. He was featured in the acclaimed ballet documentary First Position, appeared on both Australia's Got Talent and America's Got Talent, and portrayed the Snow Cavalier in Disney's The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, dancing alongside Misty Copeland. More recently, he performed the role of Older Billy in the Australian anniversary tour of Billy Elliot the Musical.
In addition to his performing career, Smyth is the founder and director of Dance For Humanity, an organization dedicated to using dance as a force for positive social impact. He is also a sought-after guest teacher, coach, and adjudicator, conducting workshops and master classes throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Junwen Liang, Piano. Originally from Nanning, China, Junwen began his piano studies at the age of nine and made his solo debut at thirteen. As a featured soloist, Junwen has collaborated with orchestras including the Central Texas Philharmonic, Penn State Philharmonic, and Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of esteemed conductors such as Jeffery Meyer, Michael Hall, Gerardo Edelstein, and Stefan Sanders. His interpretation of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra was broadcast on WSKG radio. Additionally, he was invited to present a solo performance on WRTI Classical Radio in Philadelphia, further establishing his reputation as a promising concert pianist and showcasing his growing presence in the classical music scene.
Since 2023, Junwen has established himself as a versatile recital artist, appearing in distinguished series including Lake Barcroft Concerts, Arts Club of Washington, Sunday Recital Series at Saint Thomas (New York), Trinity Concert Series, and the Sevenars Music Festival—recognized by TIME as one of America's finest small music festivals. During the 2024/25 season, he presented more than thirty-five performances across North America and China, with appearances at Fripp Island Friends of Music, Saugerties Pro Musica, Chamber On The Mountain, and Boston Court Pasadena. Highlights also included artist residencies and masterclasses at universities in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Guangzhou, as well as guest residencies at Ithaca College and the University of Northwestern – St. Paul, and an interview broadcast on KPR Radio.
The 2025/26 season marked another milestone in Junwen's expanding international career, with more than thirty recital and educational engagements throughout the United States, China, and Canada. Highlights included a multi-city recital tour of China, featuring performances in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Nanning, alongside recital and masterclass appearances at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, as well as his Canadian debut with the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society and Mid-Summer Music Series in Nova Scotia. In June 2026, his debut EP, Colombine, featuring works by Amy Beach and Florence Price, was released through the California-based Manus imprint and is available on major digital streaming platforms worldwide. He is currently preparing his debut full-length album with Sheva Collection in collaboration with Naxos of America, Inc.
In addition to his solo career, Junwen extends his musical talents engaging as a collaborative pianist with professional instrumentalists and singers in the thriving music scenes of Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore County, Maryland. Recognized for his exceptional collaborative skills, he was honored with the Clara Ascherfeld Award in Accompanying, and the title of "Outstanding Collaborative Pianist" at the Peabody Institute, which he was featured in their esteemed Noon:30 Concert Series. In February 2024, at the invitation of concert pianist Chantal Balestri, Artistic Director of the Lunigiana International Music Festival, Junwen participated in the Puccini Concert Project held at NYU Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo. This special event, in collaboration with the Festival Puccini Torre del Lago, commemorated the composer's 100th Anniversary. Junwen showcased his talent through solo arrangements and engaging vocal duets alongside guest soprano Marina Medici.
Furthermore, Junwen's collaborative ventures led to his participation in a piano quintet, coached by Michael Kannen, director of Peabody’s Chamber Music Program. The quintet's outstanding artistry earned them the distinction of being the only chamber group from Peabody selected to perform at Carnegie Hall’s Master Class Series, offering a unique opportunity to collaborate with Ludwig Quandt, principal cellist of the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Junwen's commitment to musical excellence is also exemplified by his participation in prestigious music festivals, including Texas State International Piano Festival, Lunigiana International Music Festival, Art of the Piano at CCM, Atlantic Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Orford Musique, and Philadelphia Young Pianists' Academy. He has worked with famous pedagogues and concert pianists including Piotr Paleczny, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Johnathan Biss, Gary Graffman, Jerome Lowenthal, Charlotte Ching-Yun Hu, Andre Laplante, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Vladimir Feltsman, Robert McDonald, Ursula Oppens, Jeremy Denk, and more.
A recipient of numerous awards, Junwen's artistic journey began with victories in prestigious competitions in China at the age of twelve and has continued internationally throughout his career. His honors include the 2026 GOCAA Professional Artist Award, first prizes at The American Prize, the Crescendo International Music Competition, the Princeton Festival International Piano Competition, the Nouvelles Étoiles International Music Competition (France), the Philadelphia International Piano Competition, the YMIC International Music Competition, as well as top prizes in the New York International Piano Competition, Naftzger Young Artist Competition, the Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, the Juliusz Zarębski International Music Competition (Poland), Music International Grand Prix, and WPTA Spain. In 2019, he was also awarded the Spencer Merit Award by the National Society of Arts & Letters in Bloomington, an honor presented to only one pianist that year.
Junwen graduated with a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, under the tutelage of Richard Goode. His past mentors include Christopher Guzman (Penn State - DMA), Roberto Plano, Edward Auer (Indiana University - MM), and Charis Dimaras (Ithaca College - BM).
Currently based in Philadelphia, Junwen teaches piano and chamber music in the Department of Music at University of Pennsylvania; and is represented worldwide by Price Attractions.
April Giangeruso is a former dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and is the creator of Chameleon Activewear. She joined ABT as an apprentice in 2010 after dancing with ABT II and subsequently became a member of the company's corps de ballet, where she performed an extensive repertoire of classical and contemporary works.
Originally from Ellicott City, April began dancing at the age of five after seeing her first performance of Swan Lake. Her exceptional dedication and talent led her to train on full scholarship at the renowned Kirov Academy of Ballet before continuing her studies with celebrated teacher Valentina Kozlova in New York City. At just fifteen years old, she became the youngest female finalist at the USA International Ballet Competition.
During her career with American Ballet Theatre, April earned recognition for her beautiful lines, musicality, and versatility, performing in both classical masterpieces and contemporary works. She was praised by teachers and directors for her professionalism, artistic maturity, and unwavering work ethic.
In addition to her performing career, April is the founder and creative force behind Chameleon Activewear, a highly regarded dance and activewear brand known for its innovative, fashion-forward leotards and apparel. Inspired by her experiences as a professional dancer, she collaborated with her mother, award-winning seamstress Kathy Giangeruso, to create stylish, high-quality designs that have become popular among dancers worldwide.
April married entrepreneur Blake Bhatia in 2019 and continues to inspire dancers both through her contributions to the ballet world and her successful work in dance fashion and design.
Bat Udval is the Artistic Director of Singur Ballet as well as the Artistic Director of the World Ballet Grand Prix in New York and Mongolia. Born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Mr. Udval graduated from the Perm Ballet College in Perm, Russia. As a Principal Dancer with the Russian State Ballet, he performed nearly all major roles and toured more than 40 countries alongside legendary artists such as Vladimir Vasiliev, Ekaterina Maksimova, Marina Semenova, Olga Lepeshchinskaya, Leonid Lavrovsky, and Mahmud Esambaev.
He has served as a judge for the Korea International Ballet Competition, the Asian Ballet Competition, the World Ballet Art Grand Prix, and the World Ballet Grand Prix, and as a master teacher for the Korea International Ballet Competition and the Asian Grand Prix.
His international performance career has included appearances at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, the Royal Opera House in the United Kingdom, the open-air Theatre of Dionysus in Greece, the London Coliseum, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Sydney Opera House, the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico, the Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, and the Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
Mr. Udval’s teaching experience includes positions at: Baltimore School for the Arts, Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., Ellison Ballet in New York, Asian Grand Prix (Master Instructor), Korean International Ballet Competition (Master Teacher), and World Ballet Grand Prix (Master Teacher).
He has received numerous honors, including the 2021 Youth America Grand Prix Best Teacher Award, Honorary Academician of the Académie Internationale de la Danse for outstanding choreographic achievement, and the title of Honorary Professor of the Mongolian State Conservatory.
Mr. Udval’s students have earned gold, silver, and bronze medals at prestigious international ballet competitions and now dance with leading ballet companies around the world.
As a performer, he was recognized with multiple awards, including Best Contemporary Dancer (1989), the Silver Medal at the 1993 International Ballet Competition in Moscow, and Best Dancer at the 1995 International Ballet Festival in South Korea.
Avguste Antonov studied piano in Bulgaria (Dobrich), France (Ecole Normale de Paris, Conservatoire de Bordeaux Jacques Thibaud) and the United States (2000: University of Missouri-Kansas City; 2001-2004: University of Kansas; 2006-2008: Texas Christian University). He studied under the guidance of Alain Motard, Herve N'Kaoua, Robert Weirich, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Jack Winerock and Tamas Ungar. Avguste Antonov also had the privilege of taking masterclasses with Gerhard Oppitz, Jean-Claude Pennetier, Olivier Gardon, Grigory Sokolov, Olga Kern, Laure Favre Kahn, Anton Nel, Roman Rudnytsky and Yoheved Kaplinsky.
Pianist Avguste Antonov is at home in all repertoire, with a special interest for the 20th and 21st century music. He has performed World and USA premieres at venues across North America and over the years he has worked with composers Carter Pann, Gregory Hutter, Michael Colgrass, Raina Murnak, Matthew Lewis, Till Meyn, Matthew Saunders, Robert Rollin, William Vollinger and others. In 2014, Avguste Antonov recorded his first CD “An American Journey”, featuring the works of American living composers.
Avguste Antonov has performed recitals all over the United States (including Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee ), in England (London), Belgium (Bruxelles) and France (Le Haillan, Chateaubriant, Saint Gildas de Rhuys). He has been featured as soloist with various ensembles including the San Jose State University Wind Symphony, the San Jose Wind Symphony, the Tulsa Camerata, the South Kansas Symphony, Orchestre d'Harmonie de Caen, Nantes Philharmonie, Orchestre d'Harmonie de Rennes and Musique Transmission of the French Army. Concertos performed include Schumann Piano Concerto, Rachmaninoff 2nd, McDowell 2nd, Liszt 2nd, Ravel in G, Gershwin in F, Gershwin "Rhapsody in Blue", Carter Pann "Concerto Logic" and Matthew Saunders "Piano Concerto".
In addition to performing, Avguste Antonov is active as lecturer and has presented lectures for the Carrollton Music Teachers Association, Frisco Music Teachers Association, Kansas Music Teachers Association, Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, Wisconsin Music Teachers Association and the Colburn Piano Summer Festival. He is an adjudicator for various international competitions including the ENKOR Piano Competition, the Sound Espressivo Global Competition , World Classical Music Awards and the World Online Music Competitions Organization. In 2021, Avguste Antonov was named on the advisory board of the Sound Espressivo Global Competition and during the year 2022, he was the president of the World Piano Teachers Association-Piano Pedagogy.
Previous seasons highlights include a recital at the Bulgarian Ambassador Residence (Washington, DC) the performance of Carter Pann "Concerto Logic" with the San Jose State University Wind Ensemble, a live performance for the Kansas Public Radio, the World and US Premiere of Matthew Saunders "Piano Concerto" with the University City Symphony (University City, MO) and the Lakeland Community Orchestra (Kirtland, OH).
In April 2019 Avguste Antonov returned to France and since September 2020 he is professor of piano at the Conservatoire de Châteaubriant . In July 2023, Avguste Antonov was on the piano faculty of the Talent Music Summer Courses (Brescia, Italy) and in July 2024, Avguste Antonov was on the jury for the Indonesia International Piano Competition 2024, faculty for the Indonesia Music Festival 2024 and jury for the Indonesia International Young Musician Award 2024.
Looking ahead, Avguste Antonov will make his debut recital in Spain, in October 2026, with a concert for the cultural season of Fundacion Eutherpe. He will follow this with Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1 in June 2027 and Shostakovitch Piano Concerto #2 in October 2027 Learn more at https://avgusteantonov.com
STEFANIA DE KENESSEY’s music has been performed throughout New York City, from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to Joe’s Pub and La Mama; internationally, it has been heard in more than 35 countries, from Australia to Venezuela. Her output ranges from choral, vocal and operatic pieces to chamber and orchestral work, as well as scores for film, theater and dance.
Her Microvids, 19 piano miniatures and accompanying poems written during the pandemic, has been recorded by award-winning pianist Donna Weng Friedman and Broadway star Krystal JoyBrown (Diana Ross in Motown, Eliza in Hamilton, among others). Two other important arrangements of Microvids have also been premiered and recorded for release by Parma Records in 2025: a duo version for piano and violin, with Grammy-nominated virtuoso Curtis Stewart adding his distinctive, tour-de-force improvisation to the underlying piano part; and a version for piano and orchestra, commissioned and performed by the New Jersey Youth Symphony and its director Helen Cha-Pyo.
De Kenessey is the inaugural Composer-In-Residence for the Dal Sogno Ensemble, which commissioned The Names of Woman(2024), a cantata dedicated to women who have been unjustly neglected by history; the piece premiered at Barge music and was selected as a national finalist by the American Prize for its 2025 Charles Ives Award.
De Kenessey is also the first Composer-In-Residence for the Accord Treble Choir, which commissioned and premiered her Urgent Earth(2024), feminist eco-cantata about the climate change crisis, setting a text by the noted Wiccan poet Annie Finch.
De Kenessey has collaborated regularly with the all-female Ariel Rivka Dance Company and its founding choreographer Ariel Grossman and serves as that company’s Composer-In-Residence. Her numerous commissions have included Unorthodox, an all-time audience inspired by the Netflix series.
Her recent CD In Her Words(2022) features four of these dance pieces and was hailed for offering a “rich stew of pulsations, sounds and stories” (Jazz Weekly); “this is powerful, really powerful music... a fascinating disc defined by a wonderfully human sense of sensitivity and compassion”(Fanfare).
Her Unorthodox Redux (2025) for orchestra, chorus and dancers debuted in Antwerp, Belgium with the Virago Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Pascale Van Os, the Cantemus Merksem Chorus and Dansstudio Arabesque, choreographed by Andres De Blust-Mommaerts.
Her Menstrual Rosary (2020), a provocative music video commissioned for the launch of the New School’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Institute, has won thirty-three awards at national and international film festivals ranging from San Francisco, Nashville and Portland to London, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Hong Kong and Tokyo, taking the top prize at the Dallas and Vienna Indie Short Festivals.
Her virtuoso solo concerto Spontaneous D-Combustion was recorded by pianist Mary Kathleen Ernst and released by Innova Records on an album of women composers.
Her opera The Bonfire of the Vanities (2015) offered a radical reimagining of Tom Wolfe’s classic novel: de Kenessey created a leading role for a Black female defense attorney and updated the story of greed and corruption all the way to the final collapse of the New York Stock Exchange. An opera to some, a music theater piece to others, it has “an appealing and easy-going pop style” (Opera Magazine) yet is “caustically witty” (Financial Times). The video was released by House of Film, with permission from Warner Bros. Entertainment. and can be viewed on Marquee TV; the work is also included in a list of the top operas to be adapted from American novels (Opera Magazine, March 2025).
De Kenessey is committed to helping women composers and musicians achieve parity in an unequal, biased world. She is the founding president of the International Alliance for Women in Music and serves on the board of New York Women Composers.
Nurlan Abougaliev is an internationally acclaimed ballet dancer and pedagogue with extensive experience as a principal and soloist in major ballet companies across Europe, Russia, and the United States. He danced for many years with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as Principal Dancer, and previously held leading positions with Moscow City Ballet, Russian National Ballet, Ballet Internationale, and Colorado Ballet. His repertoire encompasses leading roles in the classical canon, including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Cinderella, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, and The Nutcracker, as well as significant works by choreographers such as George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, Twyla Tharp, Jiří Kylián, Mark Morris, and Paul Taylor. His career reflects a strong command of classical technique combined with stylistic versatility. Trained at the Almaty Ballet Academy in Kazakhstan, Abougaliev’s education is grounded in the Vaganova method. As a pedagogue, he has taught at leading ballet schools and companies in the United States and internationally, working with professional, pre-professional, and advanced students. His teaching emphasizes classical foundations, musicality, and artistic integrity. Based in Pittsburgh, he is the co-founder and co-director of Allegro Ballet Academy, where he is actively involved in dancer training and artistic mentorship. As a jury member, Nurlan Abougaliev brings deep stage experience, pedagogical expertise, and a broad international perspective to the evaluation of young dancers.
Dr. Jeremy Benson, hailed by the New York Times as "Powerful and Passionate", is an American flutist and pedagogue. He joined the faculty at the David L. Walters Department of Music in the fall of 2011, where he is Professor of Music, teaching flute studies, conducting, and music performances courses. Dr. Benson was named the Silver Prize winner at the 2021 Music International Grand Prix solo artist competition and was awarded First Prize at the USA solo division of the competition before advancing to the international level. In 2019, he was honored by receiving the JSU Faculty Scholar Lecturer of the Year Award for his service to research, publication, and original work in the music field. In 2012, Dr. Benson was awarded the JSU Ray and Ruth Ringer Award for superior achievements and accomplishments in the flute community. He served as the coordinator for the National Flute Association's Young Artist Competition from 2013-2018 and is currently serving as the president for the Florida Flute Association's annual conventions until 2026.
As an active soloist, chamber musician, and adjudicator, Dr. Benson was named a First Prize Winner at the 2011 Alexander & Buono International Flute Competition at Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York. He was also the first prize winner at the Kentucky Flute Society's concerto competition in 2010. In addition to being a lecturer and performer, he has had the prestigious honor to serve on juries for international and national flute competitions & masterclasses, including: the National Flute Association's competitions, the New York Flute Club, the Florida Flute Association, the Mid South Flute Society, the Flute Society of Washington, D.C., the MTNA Woodwind Soloist Competition, and the ENKOR International competitions. His students are consistently hired for music jobs and are named as award winners at national auditions and solo artist competitions. The JSU Flute Ensembles have performed at several national conventions, including the National Flute Association's annual convention, the Florida Flute Convention, and the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference.
Dr. Benson is the leading scholar and expert on flute compositions by the contemporary Japanese-French composer Yuko Uѐbayashi, and his doctoral research serves as a primary source and cornerstone publication about Uѐbayashi and her original flute compositions. He is the creator of the "Take Your Picc..." masterclass series that includes four piccolo masterclasses that have been presented around the country.
He completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Flute Performance from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, the Master of Music in Performance degree from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Jacksonville State University. He performs as principal flutist in the Gadsden Symphony & Rome Symphony.
His newest album was released in 2023 featuring Kuhlau trios with Bart Feller and Laurel Zucker. Other recordings include "EARTH: new works for flute and piano" on Cantilena Records, and "Pure HYMNagination". Other flute publications are available through Little Piper Publishing and several online sources.
He is a Muramatsu flute performing artist .
Tahnee Harrison is an accomplished actress, singer, and former Miss Nevada Teen USA, whose career spans film, television, and commercial work. A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, she began studying dance, piano, and voice at an early age, developing a lifelong passion for the performing arts.
As a teenager, Harrison was crowned Miss Nevada Teen USA, demonstrating both talent and poise from an early age. She later attended Johns Hopkins University, where she earned a degree in English while pursuing vocal studies through the prestigious Peabody Institute. Although she was accepted into medical school, Harrison ultimately chose to follow her passion for performance and relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a professional acting career.
Since then, Harrison has appeared in numerous film, television, and commercial productions. Her screen credits include roles in Atlas Shrugged: Part III, A Jealous Friendship, Killer Ambition, Hollywood Deal, and Adventures of a Fifth Grade Robin Hood, which starred Jon Lovitz, best known for Saturday Night Live, A League of Their Own, and numerous film and television roles. The cast also included Ernest Thomas from Everybody Hates Chris.
Known for her versatility and dedication to her craft, she has worked across a wide range of genres, from drama and suspense to family entertainment.
Gina Perregrino, Mezzo Soprano, can be heard on stages such as the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Seattle Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Philadelphia, The Atlanta Opera, The Dallas Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Ópera de Guatemala, OperaDelaware, and Central City Opera. Last season marked her anticipated debut at The Metropolitan Opera in the featured role The Voice of the Fountain, singing and dancing under producer and choreographer Deborah Colker in a new production of Golijov’s flamenco opera Ainadamar.
Drawn to poignant works old and new, she has collaborated with authors such as Salman Rushdie and Khaled Hosseini to bring their literary stories to the stage. Behind the camera, Gina has also been featured in the film Baawal (2023), directed by award-winning director Nitesh Tiwari. Other opera/film-hybrid collaborations include her work with Afghan film director Roya Sadat from Roya Film House during the world premiere of the opera A Thousand Splendid Suns with Seattle Opera.
Gina performs as a roster artist with Serafin Ensemble, a group of internationally acclaimed musicians devoted to collaborative chamber music performances of masterworks and lesser-known gems. This season, she performs virtuosic arias by Handel in their February and summer concerts, and makes her debut as the title role of Mélisande in Pelleas et Mélisande at Opera Baltimore.
Gina’s interpretation of Latin songs has also been featured in operatic crossover programs at companies like Santa Fe Opera, and her original songs in Spanish are slated for both publication and release on the Global Music Partnership record label in 2025.
Her work has been critically interpreted as “potent,” possessing “swaggering strength” and “urgency” (Opera News). As a performer—whether on stage or screen—she’s drawn to work that celebrates boldness and speaks to the tougher edges of the human experience.
Along with having her master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music, she credits discomfort and the nervous system as the teachers who have taught her the most. Gina is attracted to those in history who are defiant, compassionate leaders. Her favorite artist across all genres is singer Chavela Vargas.
Daniel Panner, Violist, enjoys a varied career as a performer and teacher. As violist of the Mendelssohn String Quartet, he concertized extensively throughout the United States and Israel. He has performed at numerous music festivals, including Marlboro, Ravinia, Tanglewood and Aspen, and he has collaborated with members of the Cleveland, Emerson, Guarneri, and Juilliard String Quartets. As a member of the Whitman String Quartet, Mr. Panner received the 1998 Walter W Naumburg Chamber Music Award and served as teaching assistant to the Juilliard String Quartet for two years.
Panner is co-chair of the string department of the Mannes College of Music, where he also teaches viola and chamber music. He has also taught at the Juilliard School, Rutgers University, SUNY Stonybrook, Queens College, and the Jerusalem Music Center Summer Courses, and he has given master classes at such schools as Peabody, Hartt and the North Carolina School of the Arts. He has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Orchestra of St Lukes; he has also toured with Musicians from Marlboro and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. As a guest artist, he has performed with the Juilliard String Quartet, the St Lawrence String Quartet, the Daedelus String Quartet, the Flux String Quartet, and the Moscow Conservatory Trio.
Panner has been heard on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today,” both as soloist and chamber musician. He has served as the principal violist of such orchestras as the New York City Opera and the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra. An active performer of new music, he is a member of Sequitur and the Locrian Ensemble and has performed as guest with such new-music groups as Speculum Musicae, the Da Capo Chamber Players, and Transit Circle; he has recorded solo viola works by Thea Musgrave and Victoria Bond, both for Albany Records.
Daniel Panner studied with Jesse Levine at Yale University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. He continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music with Joseph de Pasquale and the Juilliard School with Samuel Rhodes.
Kamal Attia is an accomplished Egyptian actor, theatre director, educator, and award-winning artist whose career spans television, film, theatre, and higher education. A graduate of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Egypt, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Acting and Directing, graduating first in his class with honors, before completing a Master's Degree in Theatre Directing. He is the recipient of the prestigious Egyptian State Award for Creativity in Theatre and was awarded a scholarship to Italy to further his studies in theatre arts.
In addition to his distinguished performing career, Mr. Attia is a respected academic. He has served on the faculties of both Helwan University and the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts and currently lectures in the Department of Acting and Directing at the Academy of Arts in Egypt, where he mentors the next generation of theatre artists.
As an actor, Mr. Attia has appeared in a wide range of acclaimed Egyptian and Arab television series, feature films, and stage productions. His television credits include Truth and Mirage, The Fourth Wife, Except Me, Social, School of Love, and many other notable productions. His film work includes The Baby Doll Night and The World Box, while his theatrical performances have featured collaborations with some of the Arab world's most celebrated theatre artists, including Mohamed Sobhi.
As a director, Mr. Attia has staged numerous productions for university theatres, state theatres, private companies, and the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. His productions have received multiple awards for artistic excellence, including three honors at the 2021 Egyptian National Theatre Festival for his acclaimed production Dogs. He has also led numerous theatre workshops, served as a jury member for national theatre festivals and competitions, and continues to play an influential role in the development of theatre throughout Egypt.
With his extensive experience as a performer, director, educator, and adjudicator, Kamal Attia brings exceptional artistic insight and a wealth of international theatrical expertise to the Arts of America judging panel.
Dr. Elena Dorozhkina, Russian-American pianist and piano pedagogue, graduated from the renowned Saint-Petersburg State Music Conservatory named after N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in Russia with degrees in piano performance, collaborative piano, and piano pedagogy, and earned her DMA in piano performance from the University of North Texas, the USA. Elena won prizes in a number of International and National Piano Competitions in the USA, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia.
Dr. Dorozhkina is an assistant professor of piano at Kennesaw State University and an affiliate artist at Agnes Scott College. She is a co-chair of the Atlanta Piano Festival, and has served as a president of Atlanta Music Teachers Association (2018-2022). Elena is an active adjudicator for numerous regional piano competitions and auditions in the Southeast.
Dr. Dorozhkina has performed solo and collaborative recitals at concert halls of the USA, Germany, Czech Republic, Russia, and Ukraine. Her 2020-22 engagements included solo and collaborative recitals, and piano master classes at Spivey Hall in Morrow, GA, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA, Perimeter College at Georgia State University, Clarkston, GA, University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA, Rice Music House at Steinway Piano Galleries in Columbia, SC, St. Philip Cathedral in Atlanta, GA, and Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, GA.
Dr. Dorozhkina enjoys teaching the art of piano playing to children and adults of all levels and ages. Elena has taught at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, GA, Preparatory Music School of Clayton State University in Morrow, GA, and Perimeter College at Georgia State University, Clarkston, GA. Dr. Dorozhkina was awarded Georgia Music Teachers Association and Steinway Piano Galleries Teacher Grant.
Currently, Dr. Dorozhkina teaches piano classes at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, and in her private piano studio in Avondale Estates, GA.
Valeria Ivleva is an experienced ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer. She was a Principal Dancer with Russian Grand Ballet, Kiev University of Performing Arts, Kiev Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet, Cairo Opera Ballet Company, Étoiles Russes de la Danse in Switzerland, Kiev Youth Ballet, Baltimore Ballet, and Regalul Baletului Rus in Romania.
She won First Place in the 2005 Grand Pas Competition from Donetsk, the Gold Medal and a Special Award in 2006 Galician Terpsichore International Ballet Competition, and the Silver Medal and a Special Award in 2007 Crystal Shoe Kharkov International Ballet Competition. She has diplomas in Ballet from Kharkov Ballet Theatre, a B.F.A. from the Kiev University of Performing Arts, and a Masters Degree from the National University of Ukraine, all with honors. Valeria’s name is included in the Honorable Book of Fame in Kharkov.
Valeria was a faculty member at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC, where many of her students won awards at YAGP. She was a Ballet Instructor /Choreographer, Director/Assistant Director of productions with Mystic Ballet Company and Academy of Mystic, Connecticut, and a principal teacher at Baltimore Ballet. Valeria currently is on the faculty of Runqio Du's DUCON. She has taught master classes in the United States, Europe, and Africa.
Valeria is also an award winning choreographer who has worked closely with Tony Award winner George Faison, who served as Michael Jackson’s choreographer.
Dan Qiao, violinist, is an internationally active artist known for her expressive depth and compelling stage presence, performing across China, Europe, and the United States. She has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician at major festivals including the Brevard Music Festival, Mostly Modern Festival, Atlantic Music Festival, and Splendor Academy in the Netherlands. She has been invited as a guest artist to leading institutions, including the University of North Texas, New York University, the Peabody Institute, and Howard University.
In 2019, she shared the stage with violinist Maxim Vengerov in a chamber recital at the Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves, and has since appeared at major venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City. She continues to serve as a regular guest artist at the Peabody Conservatory and the NYU Composers’ Collective.
As a soloist and chamber musician, Dan has received numerous awards in international competitions, including First Prize at the France Music Competition and the Music International Grand Prix (Adult Strings), as well as multiple honors from The American Prize and top awards at the Three Arts Scholarship Competition. She is also a multi-time winner of the CCM Concerto Competition and a recipient of an Honorable Mention for the Doug Davis Endowment Performance.
She has served as guest concertmaster with ensembles including the CCM Chamber Orchestra and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. She has also been invited to serve on juries for international competitions such as The American Prize and the Music International Grand Prix.
Beyond the stage, she is the co-founder and violinist of the DuoMente chamber music series and the Hamilton Classical Collective. Together with pianist Meng Yuan, they perform the complete Beethoven violin sonata cycle in marathon performances. She also serves as Artist-in-Residence with the Music with Mission Chamber Music Series and is actively engaged in community outreach through more than 30 benefit concerts annually.
She has recently collaborated with Pass to Dignity, an organization serving individuals experiencing homelessness, performing in local communities and shelters through outreach concerts and community engagement initiatives.
Dan serves as Assistant Faculty at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Violin Workshop (since 2024). She maintains a private studio of over 70 students, many of whom have won major competitions and received scholarships to leading music schools in the United States and China. With over 18 years of teaching experience, her mentorship has supported the development of the next generation of musicians. She holds Suzuki Violin Teacher Certification (Books 1–7) and RCM Teacher Certification, with a focus on early and intermediate-level violin education.
Born in Tianjin, China, Dan began violin studies at the age of four. She earned her Master’s degree from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, graduating at the top of her class. In 2015, she moved to the United States, where she completed a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.
Evgenia Singur graduated from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. After graduation, she joined the Russian State Ballet in Moscow, where she became a Soloist and performed principal and soloist roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Spartacus, Scheherazade, Les Sylphides, and many others.
With the Russian State Ballet, she toured internationally to over 30 countries, performing for audiences that included the Queen of England, the Kings of Oman and Dubai, and numerous presidents. She has been featured in European and Russian dance magazines, representing Grishko in advertising campaigns.
Her specialties include teaching ballet and character dance. She has taught at the Baltimore School for the Arts and the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., and has served as a judge and guest teacher at international competitions such as the Canaan Dance International Ballet Competition and the World Ballet Grand Prix in New York and Ulaanbaatar.
Ms. Singur’s students have earned numerous awards, including gold, silver, and bronze medals at prestigious international ballet competitions. Her students are now dancing with renowned ballet companies around the world. She has taught at the Kirov Academy of Ballet, Ellison Ballet School, City Dance, Baltimore School of the Arts, and many more schools worldwide, and is now the Founder and Owner of Singur Ballet Academy in NYC.
Dr. Irina Voro. Hailed by the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (USA) as one of the leading piano pedagogues in the world, Dr. Irina Voro is Professor of Creativity and Piano at the University of Kentucky. Creativity too, because aside from skills in music performance in line with the Russian and French piano traditions of Voro’s own teachers, her students learn applied creativity and resourcefulness. In 2015, Dr. Voro established the Creativity Lab within the Piano Program and her students have launched the Creativity Club. Voro's students have won state and international competitions and they get jobs or graduate school invitations.
Dr. Voro has received 12 student-nominated teaching awards, including the UK Great Teacher Award, the national Teacher Recognition Award, and the Kentucky Music Teacher of the Year. She has been invited to share her pedagogic and performing insights with the International College Music Society, the European Piano Teachers’ Association, the Music Teachers National Association and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. Voro has served as president or jury member at international and state piano competitions, and presented masterclasses in China, Europe and Brazil, and eight Italian State Conservatories. Engagements include visiting professorships at the University of Shanghai, University of Florida, Faculdade de Musica do Espirito Santo (Brazil) and the Prague International Piano Masterclasses.
A passionate and virtuosic performer, creator of “L'Excital for Piano, Narrative and Imagination”, Dr. Voro has given concerts on four continents and has been a concerti soloist with philharmonic orchestras in Brazil, China, Canada, USA and her native Russia.
In 2011, she was elected to the UK Board of Trustees (2011- 2014), where Dr. Voro was an advocate for shared governance and administrative accountability.
Joshua Nelson has over 30 years experience in the entertainment industry having worked as an actor, producer and casting director. He is also an award winning filmmaker and screen writer. Joshua is a graduate of the prestigious High School of Performing Arts (The "Fame" school). He has starred on both Sitcoms and Soap Operas. He has also appeared in numerous film that include working opposite academy awards winners Al Pacino and Robin Williams. He has also spent the last several years working as an acting teacher and coach in Manhattan and various schools in NJ. He has been in dozens of feature films, off-broadways shows and TV shows. He is the owner and lead instructor at the LaGuardia Acting Studio in New Jersey where he coaches and mentors both aspiring and professional actors.
Michelle Stebleton is Professor of Horn and member of the Florida State Brass Quintet and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. Since coming to FSU in 1990, she has been awarded the Teaching Incentive Program Award, an Undergraduate Teaching Award, and several large research grants. Through these grants she recorded two compact discs available on MSR Classics: The Horn Works of Paul Basler and MirrorImage at the Opera, a recording of her horn duo with Lisa Bontrager. The Florida State Brass Quintet’s CD Strophes of the Night and Dawn is available through Crystal Records.
Stebleton, a Holton-Leblanc Artist Clinician, is a six-time prize winner in various divisions of the American Horn Competition. She has traveled to 26 countries as a chamber artist and clinician and performs regularly as a soloist and clinician in Paraguay, The Czech Republic, and under the baton of Philipe Entremont in the bi-annual Music Festival Orchestra in the Dominican Republic.
At FSU Stebleton maintains a horn studio of about 30 students. She offers daily Fundamentals Class, weekly Studio Classes, and Horn Choir. In addition, she teaches the Horn component of Solo Brass Literature. Actively performing, she is regularly featured at the International Horn Society Symposiums and Southeast Horn Workshops. She currently serves as on the Advisory Council of the International Horn Society.
Professor Stebleton received B.M. and M.M. degrees from the University of Michigan, where she studied with Louis J. Stout and Lowell Greer. She holds a diploma from the Prague Mozart Academy.
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Dr. Andy Nevala is the Director of Jazz Studies at Jacksonville State University, Dr. Andy Nevala currently directs the Downbeat Award Winning Jazz Ensemble I (2015, 2023), Jazz Ensemble IV, the Latin Ensemble, oversees the Jazz Combo program, produces the annual Jazz Festival (in it's 13th year), and teaches Jazz piano lessons. As Director of Jazz Studies, he has overseen the JSU Jazz program more than double in size during his time at JSU, with performances in the community, at regional and international festivals, and Middle and High Schools in the Southeast region.
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Andy has been recognized by Downbeat magazine on 10 different occasions, winning individual Downbeat Music Awards for composition (2002), arranging (2003), and performing/directing (2000, 2001, 2002, 2015, 2023).
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Andy has recorded on over 20 CDs released in the US, Japan, and South America, most recently New West Records “Big Band of Brothers”, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Jazz Charts, and “Three Times Two”, released on the Girod record label out of New Orleans.
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Andy’s YouTube Channel can be found here
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The latest JSU Jazz CD, “First Circle”, was released in January 2018, and features Jazz Ensemble I, the JSU Steel Band, and the JSU Latin Ensemble. The first CD “Everything In It’s Right Place” was released in 2015 and was recognized in Downbeat Magazine for “Outstanding Performance, Undergraduate Jazz Ensemble”.
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Professionally, Dr. Nevala has toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra (US Touring Orchestra, 1 Tour of Japan, 2 tours of Canada), Steve Lippia (2 US tours, Fresno CA Symphony, Las Cruces NM Symphony, Corpus Christie TX Symphony, Mobile AL Symphony), Eddie Turner (3 tours of Europe), The ProJazz Trio (Bassist Gonzalo Teppa, Drummer Tyer Hornby; two Venezuelan tours, tour of Canada), and his own groups (Denver, CO, Boise, ID, Boulder, CO, Aspen, CO). He currently can be seen with the Atlanta Latin Jazz Orchestra, Orchestra MaCuba (Atlanta, GA), and his own groups. He has performed with the Pensacola Symphony (vocalist Dee Daniels), Mazacote (San Francisco, CA), Orquesta Borinquen (San Francisco, CA), Conjunto Colores (Denver, CO), Nelson Rangell (Denver, CO), Mart Avant and Nightflight (Birmingham, AL), and many more.
Antoine Jackson is a trumpeter, composer, and electroacoustic artist whose work reimagines the trumpet across traditional and emerging musical contexts. Rooted in the classical tradition while embracing contemporary technologies, his creative practice explores the convergence of acoustic performance, electronic sound, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Through solo performance, chamber collaboration, and original compositions, he seeks to create immersive sonic environments that evoke vivid imagery and invite personal interpretation.
Inspired by lived experience, his music often transforms personal reflection into electroacoustic performance. Recent works integrate live processing, modular synthesis, fixed media, spoken word, and experimental sound design, expanding the expressive possibilities of the trumpet while blurring the boundaries between performer, instrument, and technology.
As both composer and performer, Antoine has presented his original electroacoustic works at the 2025 New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival and SPLICE Festival VII (2026). His work has also been selected for presentation at CLICK FEST 2026. Rather than pursuing a fixed aesthetic, he approaches each project as an opportunity to translate experiences, ideas, and imagery into immersive musical environments through the expressive possibilities of acoustic and electronic sound.
Alongside his creative work, Antoine maintains an active career as a performer. He has appeared at notable venues including Carnegie Hall and the Kimmel Center and has performed under the direction of conductors including Gerardo Edelstein, Joseph Young, and Marin Alsop. His musical foundation was shaped through orchestral, chamber, and church performances across Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania before expanding into contemporary and electroacoustic performance. His formal studies include work with Dr. Christopher Krummel, Dr. Langston J. Fitzgerald III, Billy Hunter, and Anthony Prisk.
A dedicated educator, Antoine teaches students ranging from beginners to advanced performers through collegiate, pre-college, and private instruction. His teaching emphasizes curiosity, creativity, and technical fluency, encouraging students to develop confident musical voices while building a strong technical foundation.
Antoine holds a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Penn State University and a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory. He is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Trumpet Performance at Temple University, where his artistic and scholarly work investigates the evolving possibilities of electroacoustic performance and contemporary trumpet practice.
Dr. Deborah Thurlow teaches applied voice and related vocal courses for Washington Adventist University (WAU). She is an Associate Professor and Director of the Performance Workshop for WAU, where she has produced, directed, and conducted over twenty-five productions.
Deborah has appeared with organizations such as Maryland Opera Studio, The Light Opera Company of Southern Maryland, Interact Theatre Company, The Forgotten Opera Company, The Washington Savoyards, Eldbrooke Players, Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia, the Mclean Choral Society, Columbia Collegiate Chorale and the New England Youth Ensemble. With Friday Morning Music Club Chorale and Orchestra, she has soloed in the Mass in B Minor and St. John Passion (Bach), Messiah, Israel in Egypt and Alexander’s Feast (Handel), A German Requiem (Brahms), Hodie (Vaughan Williams), Requiem and Coronation Mass (Mozart), Creation, Harmoniemesse and Theresienmesse (Haydn), and Mass in A Flat (Schubert).
She has performed in many concert venues such as the Chevy Chase Women’s Club, Anderson House, Britten-Pears School, Strathmore Mansion, Corcoran Gallery, Folger Theatre, and Dumbarton House. She has premiered works by composers Ron Warren, Elaine Erickson and Winifred Hyson. She is Vice President of The Musical Source and is co-soloist for Sixth Church, Christ Scientist, DC. She is currently Treasurer for the MD/DC chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Dr. Thurlow holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Maryland, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Arts in music and English from Washington Adventist University.
Dr. Charles Wood enjoys a diverse career as teacher, recitalist and soloist. Currently, he serves as Director of Opera at The University of Montevallo and teaches applied voice. Dr. Wood also serves on the faculty at the Brasov International Summer Voice Program in Romania. His voice students continue to win competitions and gain acceptance into top graduate schools across the country and international voice and opera programs. Under his direction, the UM Opera Ensemble has become a nationally recognized opera program with repeated appearances at the National Opera Association conferences and winning the NOA Opera Scenes competition. Each year, the UM Opera Ensemble produces full opera productions as well as an opera scenes concert with selected scenes that span the history of opera. The full productions have student casts and are complete with orchestra and costuming. Examples of past opera productions include Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, La finta giardiniera, and The Magic Flute. Other full productions include Bellini’s La sonnambula, Britten’s Albert Herring, and Curlew River, Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretel, Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelica, among others.
His operatic experience includes leading roles with the Des Moines Metro Opera, Amarillo Opera, Longview Opera, and with the Brooklyn Performing Arts Center in New York. He sang the lead role of Franco Bellini in the world premiere of Bellini’s War composed by Steven Paxton with a libretto by William Wenthe. Dr. Wood was a winner in the Vera Scammon International Voice Competition and a top ten finalist in the Dallas Opera Guild Competition.
Other personal performance highlights include solo appearances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Orff’s Carmina Burana. Other highlights include Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Nashville Symphony, Bach’s Magnificat, numerous performances of Handel’s Messiah, several masses by Beethoven, Franck, and Mozart as well as Requiems by Fauré and Duruflé.
Dr. Wood is an active recitalist giving solo recitals at the University of Montevallo, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, McMurray University, the University of Mobile Abilene Christian University, and Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa.
In matters of research, Dr. Wood’s work on Romanian composer Nicolae Bretan took him to Cluj, Romania and culminated in a book entitled Nicolae Bretan, Romania’s Silenced Composer. His book led to an invitation to present a paper on Bretan at the CMS International Conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia, as well as the CMS Regional Conference in Orlando.
Dr. Wood holds a Ph.D. in Fine Arts/Vocal Music Performance from the School of Music at Texas Tech University, a Masters of Music and Bachelors degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce. He was named Alumni Ambassador at Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2004. He is s a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, The College Music Society, Music Educators National Conference, and has been inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, The National Scholars Honor Society, and The Golden Key Honor Society.
Dr. Steven Rainbolt is a distinguished baritone, voice teacher, and vocal pedagogue who served on the voice faculty of the prestigious Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University for many years, and was also a Voice Faculty member of George Mason University. A graduate of Peabody's Artist Diploma program, he studied with the internationally acclaimed bass-baritone John Shirley-Quirk, whose influence helped shape Rainbolt's deep commitment to musical integrity, expressive communication, and artistic excellence.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rainbolt has earned recognition as an exceptional mentor to young singers, guiding undergraduate, graduate, and professional artists in vocal performance and vocal pedagogy. His students have gone on to successful careers as performers, educators, and arts professionals throughout the United States and abroad. At Peabody, he taught generations of singers while maintaining an active presence in recital, concert, and operatic performance. He also served as President of the MD/DC NATS organization.
Known for his expertise in vocal technique, art song interpretation, and healthy vocal production, Dr. Rainbolt is highly respected for his ability to develop both the artistic and technical potential of his students. His teaching philosophy emphasizes a deep understanding of text, music, and expressive intent, encouraging singers to combine technical mastery with meaningful communication.
As an adjudicator and educator, Dr. Rainbolt brings decades of experience working with emerging vocal artists at one of America's leading conservatories. His insight, professionalism, and dedication to artistic excellence have made him a valued mentor and respected figure in the field of classical voice.
Hazem Zakaria is an Egyptian ballet dancer, choreographer, ballet master, and educator who currently serves as Director of On Stage Dance Academy in Mallorca, Spain. He is also the Director of the Galaxy International Dance Competition. He began his dance training at the age of six at Egypt's National Academy of Arts and demonstrated exceptional talent from an early age. After graduating at sixteen, he joined the Cairo Opera Ballet Company as a soloist and was promoted to First Soloist at just nineteen years old. During his distinguished performing career, he appeared in numerous productions with the Cairo Opera Ballet and earned recognition through several national ballet competitions and awards.
As a performer, Hazem has danced leading and featured roles in a wide range of classical and contemporary works, including Swan Lake, La Bayadère, Spartacus, Bolero, The Nutcracker, Pinocchio, Zorba the Greek, Aida, and Maurice Béjart's Dionysos. His international engagements have included appearances with the Norwegian National Ballet, the Croatian National Ballet, and Opera na Zamku in Poland. He also performed the role of Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet alongside former Royal Ballet principal dancer Ivan Putrov.
In addition to his performing career, Hazem has established himself as an accomplished choreographer and teacher. He studied choreography, theater, and stage direction at the National Academy of Arts in Egypt and has created numerous productions, including Grease, The Sensation Show, and Peter Pan in Spain. He has been invited as a guest teacher throughout Europe and has taught at prestigious institutions, including Poland's National Academy.
Today, Hazem Zakaria continues to inspire the next generation of dancers through his work at On Stage Dance Academy in Mallorca, where he combines his extensive international performance experience with a passion for artistic excellence, technical training, and creative development. His career reflects a unique blend of classical ballet mastery, contemporary innovation, and dedication to dance education.
Laura Alvarez is the Director of On Stage Dance Academy in Spain. She studied in Spain until the age of 16 with exceptional training in classical ballet, tap, modern, jazz, and contemporary. She then joined the prestigious Tanz Akademie Zurich where she studied with Oliver Matz and Steffi Scherzer. Ms. Alvarez then received a contract with The European Ballet, an international company founded in 1994 by its Director Stanislav Tchassov, Russian former Principal Dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, and is now an established touring classical ballet company, where she performed alongside major stars including Daniil Simkin, Ivan Putrov and more in productions of The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and Romeo and Juliet.
She has been a professional dancer in musicals such as Grease and Peter Pan, and in international dance festivals in Spain and the Middle East. Currently she is a qualified teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Her choreographies have received 1st Place awards and Gold Medals at the Dance World Cup Competition.