CLARICE SMITH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• New Development Coordinator

Angela is the new Development Coordinator for The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. She served most recently as the Executive Development Coordinator for the Associate Vice President of Development at University of Maryland University College. In this capacity, Angela managed four office calendars, scheduled both in- and out-of-state travel for the gift officers, generated expense reports, coordinated annual giving initiatives, supported staffing for phonathons, managed both gift processing and acknowledgement procedures and organized a schedule of alumni events.

Job Titles:

• Key Member

Job Titles:

• Production Manager
• Certified American Red Cross Instructor

Kara is the Production Manager for The Clarice, leading the Production Management Office in coordinating a wide variety of events -- from the School of Music's public programming, the Artist Partner Program's varied visiting artists, rental guests of The Clarice, and everything in between. An Ohio native, she received her BFA from Wright State University in Design and Technical Theatre with an emphasis in Stage Management. Kara is a certified American Red Cross instructor and a temporarily withdrawn member in good standing of both Actors Equity Association and USA 829.

Job Titles:

• Coordinator of Draping and Crafts in the Costume Shop

Lisa Burgess is a Coordinator of Draping and Crafts in the Costume Shop at The Clarice. She is responsible for a wide range of costume development including: pattern making, costume construction/alterations, fabric manipulation, millinery, jewelry, masks and puppet construction. She works closely with Graduate Student Designers for productions presented by the UMD School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies and the Maryland Opera Studio. Lisa holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Costume design from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater Design from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. While working at Vee Corporation in Minneapolis, MN, Lisa was given the opportunity to work on the original production of Julie Tamar's "The Lion King" and "Sesame Street Live". Other highlights include work for Santa Fe Opera, Minnesota Opera Co., Weston Playhouse, The Washington Opera, American Players Theatre and Wolf Trap Opera Company.

Job Titles:

• Music Director
• Appointed First - Ever Music Director of the National Orchestral Institute and Festival

One of the foremost conductors of our time, Marin Alsop is internationally recognized for her inspiring artistry, innovative programming, deep commitment to education and audience development, and powerful advocacy for the importance of music. The first woman to serve as the head of a major orchestra in the United States, South America, Austria and Britain, she currently serves as chief conductor of Austria's ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductor of honor of Brazil's São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and the first chief conductor and curator of Chicago's Ravinia Festival, where she curates and conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at its annual summer residency. In her 14-year tenure as music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, she led the orchestra's first European tour in 13 years, conducted more than two dozen world premieres and founded multiple change-making initiatives, including OrchKids, a music education program for the city's most disadvantaged youth. She was music director of California's Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music for 25 years and has long-standing relationships with the London Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestras. She also regularly guest conducts such major international ensembles as the Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Filarmonica della Scala and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Alsop founded the Taki Alsop Fellowship, which promotes and nurtures the careers of emerging female conductors, and has launched a host of pioneering initiatives to broaden access to the classical world, often with special focus on underserved communities. These include multiple projects in collaboration with Carnegie Hall, including "All Together: A Global Ode to Joy;" a worldwide celebration of community to mark Beethoven's 250th anniversary, this saw her reimagine the composer's iconic Ninth Symphony for 21st-century audiences in partnership with ten orchestras at leading venues on six continents.

Michael Driggers joined The Clarice as the Scene Shop Coordinator in 2013 and moved into the Assistant Technical Director position for the 2014 season. As the ATD, Michael generates construction drawings, oversees rigging installations and engineers automation for many of the productions here at The Clarice. Michael also enjoys tinkering with new drafting software and technology while creating new and interesting things with the CNC router. Michael recently earned his ETCP Theatre Rigging Certification. Michael came to the area from Valdosta State University, where he was a faculty member and Technical Director. Previously, Michael has worked at the Santa Fe Opera, the Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Central Piedmont Summer Theatre and Peach State Summer Theatre. When he isn't creating scenery, Michael enjoys spending time with his family and collecting classic video games

Job Titles:

• Co - Director of Artistic Programming

Richard Scerbo is the Co-Director of Artistic Programming & Director of the National Orchestral Institute + Festival (NOI+F). In these dual roles and as part of a nationally unique multi-curatorial programming team at The Clarice, he works to cultivate artistic experiences in the areas of jazz, classical, contemporary and emergent areas of music performance for the University of Maryland campus and surrounding community. With the NOI+F, he leads one of the nation's most prestigious training programs for young orchestral musicians. For over ten years, Scerbo has worked in various capacities to oversee the artistic growth of the institute and its innovative training curriculum in orchestral performance, conductorless chamber orchestras, professional development and community engagement. For his work with NOI+F, he was selected as an Innovator by Musical America and is profiled in Musical America's Innovators: 30 Professionals of the Year. Selected from hundreds of performing arts professionals, Musical America Professionals of the Year are innovative, creative and forward-thinking arts leaders. Under his leadership, NOI+F has created vital partnerships with organizations such as Naxos Records, Wolf Trap Opera, the Sphinx Organization and many others. Their ongoing effort to record works by American composers in partnership with Naxos Records was recognized by a GRAMMY nomination for "Best Orchestral Performance" for works by Steven Stucky, John Harbison and Carl Ruggles. Most recently, Scerbo led the festival in its appointment of Marin Alsop as its first Music Director. This coincides with the founding of Conducting and Composer academies that expand the program's offerings to new areas of teaching and mentorship. Prior to coming to The Clarice, Scerbo worked for the UMD School of Music where, in addition to his responsibilities with the National Orchestral Institute + Festival, he served as Assistant Director for Artistic Planning and Operations. During his time there he administered a wide array of creative projects including the Robert Schumann Bicentennial Festival-Conference, a three-year residency with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Art of Argento Festival and a remounting of Morton Subotnick's legendary album, Silver Apples of the Moon, among others. An active member of the arts community, Scerbo has served on panels with the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, adjudicated chamber music competitions for the Montpelier Arts Center and judged orchestra competitions for the Howard County Public Schools. He is currently on the boards of the American Composers Alliance and Bowdoin International Music Festival, and a Co-Artistic Director of Jackson Hole Chamber Music. As an educator of all ages, he is the Principal Conductor of the DC Youth Orchestra and former Music Director of the NIH Community Orchestra, a 70-member volunteer orchestra drawn from the health, science and research professionals across the region. Trained as a conductor and bassoonist, Scerbo maintains an active connection to the performance world. He is the founding Artistic Director of Inscape Chamber Orchestra where he has recorded numerous albums of American music, including the GRAMMY-nominated album Sprung Rhythm. A passionate advocate for new music, he has commissioned over forty works from emerging American composers. In recent seasons, he has led a North American premiere by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies; conducted chamber operas ranging from Bernstein to Stravinsky and a pantomime by Manuel de Falla; and worked with Mason Bates's Jukebox series at the Kennedy Center where he conducted shows with German IDM duo Mouse on Mars, techno legend Juan Atkins and electronica artists from Thievery Corporation. Richard Scerbo is a proud alumnus of the University of Maryland School of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music and a Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting.

Job Titles:

• Director of Operations for the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University

Ryan N. Knapp serves as the Director of Operations for The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland. His responsibilities include oversight of a professionally staffed Production department which produces 900-1200 performances per season and provides instructional support for the academic partners at The Clarice. In addition to his oversight of Production, Ryan is responsible for maintaining the operational relationship with Facilities Management which provides project and maintenance support for the spaces in which The Clarice Management and its partners operate. Ryan also extends his efforts through an array of committee participation in which his focus rests on cultural enrichment, safety and compliance, as well as policy and procedural development. Prior to joining The Clarice in 2008, Ryan served in various roles at both non-profit and academic/research based theaters in the Northeast including Production Manager, Technical Director, and Scenic Designer. His fondest experiences were working with the National Players touring group, the Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, and the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts. Ryan's extensive theatre and production career earned him an Offy Stage Award for excellence in theater production from The League of Washington Theaters and a performing role during the regional Helen Hayes Awards. Also, Ryan's talents and expertise have been recognized by multiple professional service groups such as USITT, LORT and the Production Managers Forum where he has been invited to sit on panels and present on topics ranging from resume building to generational differences. While at the University of Buffalo, Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Technical Theatre and later went on to the University of Maryland University College to receive a Master's degree in Project Management as well as a second Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA). Ryan believes that the roots of theatre are strongest at their source; this is where art meets the audience in an open space and free of cost.

Job Titles:

• Executive Director of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University

A longtime arts leader, Dwyer brings more than 30 years of experience in executive leadership, financial planning, high-level fundraising and programming at major arts presenting organizations, both regional and national, to The Clarice. Dwyer has served in leadership positions at prominent presenting and producing organizations from New York to San Diego. From 2006 to 2019, he was the president of the internationally acclaimed Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, California, a role he left with a strong legacy of artistic and educational excellence, collaboration, innovation and impactful community engagement. Dwyer has held the position of chief executive at La Jolla Playhouse, The Alley Theatre, Circle Repertory Company, Laura Dean Dancers & Musicians, the McCallum Theatre and the Kravis Center. Most recently, Dwyer was the consulting CEO for the Performing Arts Center-Eastside in Bellevue, Washington. He earned a master's degree in directing for the theater from the University of Missouri and a Master of Fine Arts in theater administration from the Yale School of Drama.

Tim Jones is the Props Shop Supervisor at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland. Tim is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland. He has also worked as a freelance Props and Scenic Designer throughout the Washington, DC area. His design work has been seen on stage at The African Continuum Theatre, Round House Theatre, Rep Stage, Everyman Theatre as well as other theatres throughout the area and across the country. Before coming to UMD he was Prop Master and instructor at PlayMakers Repertory Company at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He has also worked as Prop Master or artisan at other theatre companies around the country including the Tony Award winning Utah Shakespeare Festival. Tim is a member of the USITT and the Society of Properties Artisan Master's. He is also the Chair of the Black Theatre Network's Judy Dearing Student Design Competition for African American Students. He holds a Masters of Fine Art in Scenery and Properties Design from the University of Memphis and a BA in Communication from Salisbury State College. Tim is a veteran of the United State Marine Corp and a native of Prince George's County Maryland but has lived and worked throughout the United States.