MUSIC AND ART - Key Persons
Abby is an aspiring costume designer and actress. Alongside father Bobby, she's been involved in productions and the arts since before she could talk. She's recently completed a run of little shop of horrors, and an internship with the costume department at Carnegie Mellon University and Quantum Theatre of Pittsburgh. Abby plans to become a costume apprentice.
Job Titles:
- Drama & Theater Instructor
A graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a BFA in Theater/Acting, Bobby is currently the Theater teacher and Drama Club advisor at Indian Creek High School. He has a professional acting career that spanned over a decade working with such theatres as Quantum Theatre, Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre, and Duquesne University's Summer Company, First Frontier Inc., Stage First Cincinnati, and Theater IV Cincinnati. Bobby also trained with Shakespeare & Company in Lennox, MA.
Job Titles:
- Director of Education & Marketing
Meet Carrie, our Director of Education and Marketing at The Center of Music and Art. With a Bachelor's degree in Visual Communication Design from West Liberty University and a Master of Fine Arts in Media Design from Full Sail University, Carrie brings a wealth of artistic expertise to our team. A true orchestrator of creativity, she seamlessly integrates her strategic approach to event organization, lesson planning, class coordination, and design and marketing initiatives for the CMA.
A native of the Chicago area, Cherry Lee earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She has traveled extensively to places such as Brazil, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, England, France, Switzerland and Germany to name a few. Having lived in Texas, Arizona, Florida and China, Cherry relocated to the Ohio Valley where she has been teaching piano since 2013. She has served as an accompanist for a number of local vocalists and enjoys performing with other musicians. Cherry is a devoted volunteer at local animal shelters and the Weirton Christian Center.
Daniel is versed in guitar, bass, saxophone, and piano. His musical taste ranges from classic rock acts such as Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Aerosmith to blues acts such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Healy, to metal acts such as Testament, Dream Theater, and Megadeth.
After training in Machine Tool Technology at Forbes Road CTC, David decided in 1972 to turn to musical instrument repair and restoration as a career. After a two year in-house apprenticeship with Gerrero Music of Wheeling, West Virginia, he became a full-time Band Instrument Repair Technician for Gerrero Music of Steubenville, Ohio in 1974. During the 47 years he has worked here in the Ohio Valley, he has had the opportunity to perform work for over 40 different school districts in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Additionally, he has association with many professional clients in the area, specializing in saxophone repair and restoration. Through the years he has also enjoyed providing repair clinics for local band directors on "in service" days, as well as a mobile repair service at various marching band contests.
Stephan Williams has played piano since the age of 9, including 7 years of study with David Zapka, former professor of piano at West Liberty University. He recently continued his piano studies with Deborah Breiding of West Liberty. He is currently pursuing a degree in philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he also studies organ. Stephan is excited to begin teaching piano and sharing his love of the instrument with others.
Gerald has been making art for 38 years. As a professional artist and graphic designer, he has had experience in many forms of artistic media, both traditional and digital. Gerald is a frequent award winner and had his work shown in local, national, and international art shows. He is a long-time member of the Steubenville Art Association and the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh.
Grace is a musician and aspiring radiology professional currently studying at Eastern Gateway Community College. With a passion for the flute, Grace honed her skills in the marching band and as section leader for the flute section. In addition to her musical pursuits, Grace enjoys spending time with her family and two cats, as well as reading in her spare time. Grace finds music to be an inspiring form of self-expression and loves sharing her interest in music with others. She is particularly drawn to working with children and has been involved in numerous community outreach programs. A classically trained vocalist, Grace has performed with the Pueri Cantores choir at the Vatican, showcasing her enthusiasm and dedication to her craft. With a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence, Grace is poised for success in all of her future endeavors.
Jennifer is continuing her education at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Sacred Music with a concentration on vocal performance. She has always enjoyed music throughout high school and volunteers with Harrison Central's music department. She has been teaching voice for over a year, and is excited to teach others what they need to build their confidence and abilities.
Jonathan Stanley has been playing guitar since he was 14, and was himself a student at CMA for several years. His musical tastes range from classic rock bands such as Kiss and ACDC to blues acts such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton to jazz/fusion acts like Greg Howe and Frank Gambale. Jonathan also plays in local original Metal band Helios and 80s cover band Steel City Messiahs. If you're a complete beginner, an intermediate player, or even a seasoned player looking to expand on anything, stop in today. Jon would love to help.
Jordan has been playing guitar for 15 years, and has recorded four of his own full length albums, as well as played as lead on multiple others. He is also a recording engineer, producer, writer, and performer.
With a background rooted in the study of English literature, Julia Wehner has taught classes and workshops to children of all ages in the areas of both writing and theatre. When it comes to personal creative hobbies, Julia is a poet first, but will dig into any type of artthat is set in front of her, believing that curiosity and magnanimity form the heart of every creative venture. Beyond the classroom, she is a devoted observer of everything, sharing her love of noticing with friends, the occasional stranger, and even her two-year-old nephew.
My name is Kennedy, I'm currently a senior at West Liberty University. I'm majoring in Creative Arts Therapy and minoring in Psychology. I'm doing my internship here which involves me teaching some great classes! I love art. My main medium is colored pencils, although I've dabbled in a variety of mediums too!
Norm Keyser was born and raised here in the Ohio Valley and began playing guitar in 1987. With over three decades of experience, Norm is well versed in performance and guitar repair/modification. When you bring your guitar to CMA for repairs or upgrades, you can have the piece of mind that your instrument is in the right hands. Services offered include restringing, setup, truss rod / neck adjustment, fretwork, cleaning, electronics/pickups for electric guitars, and more. You can drop off your guitar anytime, and we offer free estimates.
Patrick LeMasters studied music at West Liberty who specializes in woodwinds and guitar. He plays in the local oldies cover band, Flashback, and the Christian Rock band, Called By Name. If you are looking for instruction in solid woodwind technique and music reading to improve your performance in band or you want to learn basic theory and ear training for the purpose of improvising in Jazz and Rock, Patrick is your guy.
Sam Shadle is a senior at Franciscan University studying Sacred Music-Vocal Performance and Software Engineering. During his time at Franciscan, Sam was honored to direct the Chapel Choir, Good Friday Choir, and music-direct for the Musical Theatre Troupe, and to give informal private voice lessons to members of those groups. He is excited to apply all he has learned studying voice under Dr. Jessica Ewell, and to lean on her vocal pedagogy mentorship, to share his love and passion for music with others!
Job Titles:
- Drum & Percussion Instructor
Bill is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, with a degree focusing on both Music Composition and Percussion. He has also continued to study, taking courses through The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The University of Melbourne. He is also a proud member of several professional organizations, including The Percussive Arts Society, The U.S. Association of Rudimental Drummers, and The Professional Drum Teachers Guild of America.
Bill is currently the Percussion Instructor at Harrison Central High School in Cadiz, Oh. He is also the director of the Fort Steuben Nutcracker Drumline, and has directed the O.V.A.C. All-Star Drumline in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022.