Our Teaching Artists
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Every year, Kansas City Young Audiences recruits new programs and talent for its roster. Our current roster features over 166 artists and presents 165 programs in creative writing, dance, drama, music, and the visual arts. These programs include performances, workshops, and professional development seminars for teachers.
Dr. Tom Aber
Thomas Aber, a founding member of newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, is also the bass clarinetist with the Omaha Symphony. His studies of the bass clarinet took him to Juilliard ...
Samarpita Bajpai
Samarpita Bajpai started training in dance at the tender age of seven. She trained in seven styles of Indian dance for three years; before she went on to specialize in two of the most popular forms Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam.
Cathy Barton-Para, Dave Para, & Mike Fraser
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Dave Para and Cathy Barton-Para are vocal and instrumental musicians, storytellers, song writers and folklorists ...
Michael Fraser has worked in education since 1977. The first seven years were in public schools, however the majority of his teaching experiences have been as an education consultant in the Ozark Region for the Missouri Department of Conservation...
Victoria Sofia Botero
Victoria Sofia Botero, is a classically trained soprano who is equally at home singing opera, musical theatre and cabaret. Her “beautiful crystal clear soprano” delighted audiences of Kansas City’s Quality Hill Playhouse in their cabaret production of Christmas in Song. And the St. Louis Dispatch, KDHX Radio and RiverFront Times all hailed her recent performances of Adina in L’elisir d’amore with Union Avenue Opera.
Brookside Brass
Stephanie 
Cox (trombonist and musical director) received a B.M. in Trombone Performance from UMKC in 1984...
Bill Brower (horn) studied at the University of Kansas and the Conservatory of Music at UMKC where he received a Masters degree in Horn Performance...
Barry Springer (trumpet) moved to Kansas City after spending three years as soloist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra...
Phillip Brown
President and Founder of BroPhillMusic has more than 25 years supervising and directing various music departments, with as many as 300 members. Phillip has led these church music departments through start-up, survival, turnaround, and growth modes.
Stephanie Bryan
Stephanie Bryan (trombonist and musical director) received a B.M. in Trombone Performance from UMKC in 1984...
Carla Buchheit
Carla Buchheit earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wichita State University. She has studied weaving and fiber art in Finland and has participated in various juried art shows in Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado...
Richard Buswell
Richard Buswell is an actor, director and fight choreographer. He holds a BFA in Drama from the
Jay & Leslie Laughing Matters
Jay and Leslie Cady have been full-time performing artists since 1980. They have given over 6000 performances in 34 states and seven countries including shows at the National Theater of Guatemala and at U.S. military bases overseas. They have trained extensively in circus and vaudeville arts, and in 1984 they studied with legendary mime Marcel Marceau. Jay and Leslie have twice been nominated for "Best Original Work" by the Kansas City Theater Awards.
Robin Case
Coming soon...
City In Motion Dance Theatre, Inc.
City in Motion Dance Theater has been part of the cultural fabric of Kansas City for over 25 years. Incorporated as a Missouri not-for-profit institution in 1985, its mission is to foster the development of high-quality, contemporary dance programming, and expand the dance audience in the Kansas City metropolitan region through its professional dance company, dance productions, and school of dance. ..
Susan Clymer
Susan Clymer is the author of 11 books published by Scholastic Press, including Scrawny, the Classroom Duck and Nine Lives of Adventure Cat. Susan received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California-Berkeley...
Jean Cook
A native Kansan, Jean Cook grew up on the family farm helping with harvests and caring for the family cows, sheep and horses. Her artwork is inspired by her real-life experiences showing horses, working cattle drives and traveling to unusual locations around the world.
Jim Cosgrove-Mr. Stinky Feet
Kid-rocker Jim Cosgrove has emerged as one of America’s leading family entertainers. He travels the country carrying a message that resonates with people young and old – hang on to the wonder of youth and love yourself, your neighbor, and the earth.
Culture Through Ballroom Dancing
William Jewell College dance instructors, Dr. Will Adams and Paula Marie Daub, began the program by teaching 5th graders to dance in four of the district's public schools . After only 10 lessons, some 70 student dancers had the rewarding experience of performing...
Rebecca Dempsey
Rebecca has acted in more than 50 productions since 1993 and has directed youth in five musicals. Rebecca also worked with a group that played improv games with children for many years. Her love for children and theatre, have lead her to work with many groups as well performing solo. Her latest endeavor, Character Education through Classic Fables, with Jay & Leslie’s Laughing Matters, reaches out to children in a new light and offers them a new outlet for character building...
Kevin Dolan
Kevin has worked as a professional actor on stage and TV. As a musician he has worked professionally in reggae, punk, folk rock 'n' roll and dixieland bands.
His music groups have opened for Angelique Kidjo, the great West African singer, and for Richard Thompson, the legendary British singer/songwriter that led Fairport Convention...
Charlia Fowler
Mrs. Charlia [SHAR-LEAH] Fowler, better known to her students as “Mrs. Charlie”, comes from a varied dance background, but specializes in Hip Hop and African Rhythms. She began dancing at the very young age of 6 years old, (not including her early years of performing the random “living room talent shows” she would put on for her family.) Safe to say, it didn’t take long for Mrs. Charlie to realize her passion for performing.
Bird Fleming
Bird Fleming developed his interest in music and drumming in his fifth grade band class. Since his parents could not afford a drum set, he played the bongos. By the age of 20, Bird was proficient in a variety of African and Afro-Cuban instruments. His career then led to him San Francisco where he performed and studied traditional hand drumming.
Vanessa & Rodney Gibbs
Fax Gilbert
Fax Gilbert is a performance artist and educator who uses mime, masks, magic, physical comedy and audience interaction to create programs that connect with his audience.
Fax began performing with the National Mime Theater Company in Boston following his graduation from Brandeis University. ..
Jane Gotch
Jane Gotch has been teaching movement to children since the age of 10. She has taught ballet, modern, tap, jazz, and creative movement to children of all ages locally and in Omaha, NE, Philadelphia, and the New York area...
Amanda Graor
Amanda Graor began training in dance at the age of 3, starting with tap. She has continued in tap, jazz and ballet since then and has been teaching in Kansas City for two years...
Milton Gray
Actor and Storyteller Milton Gray has been sharing his talent with children through his work with Kansas City Young Audiences for many years...
Larry Greer
Larry Greer is a theatre artist who has worked as an actor, director, and instructor in the Kansas City area since 1987. Larry has performed on every professional stage in Kansas City, including The Missouri Rep, The Unicorn, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, and The New Theatre...
Bill Hargraves
Bill Hargraves is an award-winning silversmith whose designs and jewelry can be seen throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Bill has designed jewelry for a wide clientele, including former President and Mrs. Reagan...
Lisa Henry
Dazzling and dynamic, Lisa Henry represents the best of Kansas City’s current Jazz era.
Lisa has entertained many with her voice and energy around the world. She’s performed in numerous festivals, venues, and tours. Her talents have led her to stages in Argentina, South Africa, and Madagascar. Lisa has also appeared on numerous audio recordings, many of which were recorded here in Kansas City...
Frank Higgins
Frank Higgins was a member of the first graduating class of UMKC’s Professional Writing Program. He has published two books of poetry, two books of haiku, and a number of plays.
Frank’s play Miracles, which started at Missouri Repertory Theatre, has played to sellout audiences in Virginia and was produced at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego for a six-week run in 1997...
Valda Hsu
Valda Hsu was born and raised in Taiwan. She came to America in 1983 to attend college and study art. After more than four years of rigorous study she graduated from Art Center College of Design with honors...
Chris Hudson
Chris Hudson received his Bachelor of Music in 1996 from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. He has given solo performances in various concert series through the Kansas City Guitar Society including the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, the Downtown Library Series...
Joel Jenkins
Joel Jenkins, is a storyteller. He enjoys using his imagination to help people laugh, inspire learning, and look beyond their everyday lives.
As a producer and writer, Joel created What’s Your Story, Kid?, an in-school residency that nurtures children’s storytelling skills through filmmaking. This successful program has entertained and educated many students. Parents have noted the improvement they’ve seen in their children’s self-esteem as the students learn to focus their creativity into producing a video presentation...
Lisa Jorgensen - Picadilly Productions
Lisa Jorgensen, founder and Artistic Director of Piccadilly Productions, ha s been a puppeteer since 1989. Lisa holds a BA from Kansas State University. She was an Artist-in-Residence on the Missouri Arts Council’s 2003-2004 touring roster and has also been chosen as a professional development workshop leader under Kansas City Young Audiences...
Kacico Dance Company
Kacico Dance, Kansas City Contemporary Dance, is a not for profit professional modern dance company of the highest quality in Kansas City. Kacico presents public concerts and programs locally and regionally in a variety of presentational forms for audience enjoyment, enrichment, and cultural education. Its mission includes creating and performing excellence in contemporary dance and raising the level of contemporary dance in Kansas City and the mid-west region to national levels and national notice...
Kansas Settlers Band
The Kansas Settlers Band consists of Rebecca Dempsey, Michelle Cotton, Chris Hudson, and Sam Wright.
Rebecca Dempsey is a professional actor who has performed in television and radio commercials, corporate training videos, films and live theater. An accomplished musician as well, she combines her love of teaching...
Sharyn Brooks Katzman
A lecture or demonstration with Sharyn Brooks Katzman is dynamic and engaging. Sharyn holds degrees in history and art history, has written art criticism, works for museums and schools, and has a global view from living and working in various European and Asian countries. With experience in curating exhibitions and developing programs, she is attuned to a wide variety of audiences...
Janet Kuemmerlein
Teaching Artist Janet Kuemmerlein communicates to students that art has the power to not only transform themselves but to also serve as a solid foundation of a career. Janet received her training in painting and design at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, ...
Pablo La Rosa
Pablo La Rosa, a native of Cuba, is a musician, writer, and photographer. His collection of short stories, Forbidden Fruit, was published by Arte Publico Press in 1996. He has received numerous awards for fiction and poetry, including the Cintas Fellowship and the Seaton Award. His photography has appeared in literary magazines and textbooks such as New Letters, Chouteau Review, and Kansas Quarterly...
Stephanie Laws
Stephanie Laws didn’t start out as a jazz musician but jazz reached out and pulled her in. Stephanie received her masters’ degree and post graduate performance certificate in voice performance from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. She began her career performing for private parties, singing musical theater and performing classically at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City...
Marimba Sol de Chiapas
Committed to the authentic performance practice and spirit of the marimba heard throughout Mesoamerica, Marimba Sol de Chiapas celebrates 20 years as Kansas City's own Mexican Marimba Ensemble, maintaining an active schedule of performances, recordings, multicultural workshops, and well over 40 years combined in-school presentation experience.
Andi Meyer
Andi Meyer is a member of Actor's Equity Association and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. She is a professional actress and holds a BA in theatre.
Andi spent 8 months as a principal actor in the “Spirit of Aloha” dinner show for Disney Resorts and has performed locally at the New Theatre Restaurant with The Coterie Children's Theatre, and The Unicorn Theatre.
Myrna Minnis
For 15 years, Myrna Minnis has been inspiring children through classes in clay. Myrna holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University and a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas.
With the encouragement of parents, kids, and teachers, Myrna created the Oogly kit in 1989. These kits are used as a tool by counselors and therapists for clients to express their emotions, poems, and stories through their Oogly characters...
Dianne Moran
Dianne Moran is an award-winning storyteller who has worked with audiences for 35 years as a folklorist/naturalist. She lives in the Missouri Ozarks where she owns Earth Ways Farm, an environmental camp. Her programs may include Mt. Dulcimer and relics, as well as her live animals which serve as metaphors for her stories...
John Mulvey
John Mulvey holds a Bachelor of Theatre Arts degree from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. He has performed in plays such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, as well as children’s theater productions...
Maya Murthy
Pianist Maya Murthy earned her Masters degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music under Karen Kushner. She received her Bachelor's degree from Indiana University School of Music, where she studied privately with Henry Upper and Jean-Louis Haguenauer...
New World Connections
Beverly Nichols
Noted Teaching Artist Beverly Nichols holds several degrees, including an MFA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, an MA from Boston Museum School,and a BFA from Stephens College...
Heather Nisbett-Loewenstein - StoneLion Puppet Theatre
Heather Nisbett- Loewenstein is the Founder, Artistic Director, and a Company Puppeteer of StoneLion Puppet Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. She has performed, designed, and/or directed more than 70 different productions for StoneLion, and works as a puppet builder and costume designer for professional theaters...
Jennifer Owen
Jennifer Owen received her ballet training from Pacific Northwest Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. She went on to dance with the Russian State Ballet, Moscow Renaissance Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, BalletMet, and had the unique experience of appearing as a guest artist with the National Ballet of Turkmenistan. Notable roles Jennifer has danced include the title role in “Giselle,” Kitri in “Don Quixote,” principal roles in George Balanchine's “Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux” and “Donizetti Variations”, and the central pas de deux in Todd Bolender's “Arena.” ...
Owen/Cox Dance Group
The Owen/Cox Dance Group is an ensemble of professional dancers and musicians dedicated to performing collaborative new works. The group's mission is to create new music and dance collaborations, to present high-quality contemporary dance performances with live music, and to engage as wide an audience as possible through affordable live performance, education and outreach programs...
Cynthia Pederson
Cynthia Pederson is an experienced writer, researcher, and teacher. She takes great joy in passing along knowledge through the many workshops and presentations she leads. Cynthia holds several advanced degrees in literature, creative writing, and library science. Her teaching certificate for grades K-8 has given her the opportunity to gain experience in several teaching positions...
Roger Pitts
Roger Pitts is a native Kansan, attending school in the greater Kansas City area. Upon graduation from high school, Roger attended the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri. While studying music composition at the Conservatory, Roger was honored as a guest composer at the Mid-America Arts Alliance's Meet the Composer - The Conservatory Presents Program...
Tom Plaster
Tom Plaster attended the UMKC Conservatory of Music. He taught Percussion at the UMKC Conservatory of Music for ten years, and performed with both the Starlight Theater Orchestra and the Kansas City Philharmonic for fifteen years...
Kim Ratliff
Kim Ratliff has been a performer and educator for over 14 years. After graduating from the University of Kansas, Kim was immediately accepted at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. There, she discovered her love of improvisational comedy...
The Recipe Poetry Guild LLC
Theodore “Priest” Hughes and Desmond “3-3-7” Jones, life time poets and also ten year veterans in performance poetry, came together and launched in 2005 as a duo poetry team known as, The Recipe...
Richard Renner - Vodvill Entertainment
The Vodvill Entertainment Company was born in 1988 as a way to promote the lively art of circus skills and street performing. Little did we know there was such an enduring need for this kind of entertainment at the time. Our longevity has proven that time and time again. The basic truth is that we need to laugh and enjoy each other. The artists represented here are simply the best at fulfilling that need...
Jamie Root
Growing up in a talented and creative family, Jamie was encouraged to express her artistic tendencies in paint and sculpture. She continued to explore new media while earning a Bachelors of Science in Animal Science. Jamie’s teaching career started serendipitously during an internship in the exhibits department at the Kansas City Museum. She was drafted to develop and teach history and nature classes to preschoolers. More recently, she spent 11 years teaching life sciences in the public schools...
Mauricio Salguero
Mauricio Salguero is currently a DMA candidate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Jane Carl. Mauricio plays clarinet and saxophone and teaches at the UMKC Community Academy. His musical interests span diverse genres, including contemporary, classical and Latin music. Critics have praised him as having "conviction and impressive technique.” Recently Mauricio completed a tour with electro<>acústico, his clarinet and electronics duo, to colleges in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin, and gave master classes in Colombia, Cuba and the U.S...
Teresa Saluzzi
Coming soon...
Katie Schilling
Katie Schilling is a graduate of UMKC with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and a former Kansas City Ballet student apprentice and faculty member. Katie primarily studied at the Kansas City Ballet underneath Karen Brown and has the distinction of being the only student ever invited to choreograph for KCBS performances...
Susan Schurman
Susan Schurman has offered activities for elementary and secondary students through Kansas City Young Audiences since 2008. As a social worker and family therapist, she created fun educational activities for children and adults to address their life challenges.
For the past ten years, Susan has worked as a book designer and editor for BkMk Press, of UMKC. During this time, she has helped students produce and illustrate anthologies of their art and writing...
Susansylvia Scott
Master Teaching Artist Susansylvia Scott is a creative and innovative storyteller. She holds a Master of Arts in Theater from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Two of her mentors are Vincent Dowling, of the Abbey Theater in Dublin, Ireland and John Houseman, a teacher at the Julliard School of Drama and featured in the Paper Chase...
Hema Sharma
Hema Sharma is a native of Chennai, India, where she started dancing (Bharathanatyam) at the age of 8 uner the tutelage of Kancheepuram Gnaprakasam. She is also well-versed in other Indian dance forms such as Kuchipudi, Mohini Attam, Kathak, and folk dances. She holds the titles of Natyaratna and Natyakalaratna. She has extensive training and experience working with well renowned artists, like Padmashri Adyar K. Lakshman and the Dhananjayans...
Brad Shaw
Brad Shaw, a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute, is considered a “Renaissance Man” in the theater world. His name can be found on programs as actor, director, choreographer, costumer, set design, and playwright. Brad has taught in the Kansas City Public Schools and in surrounding school districts...
Lem Sheppard
The US Embassy in Brazil referred to Lemuel as “The perfect touring artist, talented, flexible, knowledgeable of his own culture and interested in others." The Eisteddfod International Music Festival in South Africa referred to Lemuel as “An example in international and inter-cultural relations" After each concert lemuel Sheppard performs he always gets asked, “Are you from around here”? He has been performing American Folk music on concert stages, schools, and festivals for over twenty five years...
Kim Shope
Kim has been a part of Kansas City's dance community since 1981. As the first graduate of the Kansas City Ballet School, she enjoyed a successful fourteen year career as a professional dancer under the direction of Todd Bolender and Una Kai. She danced many soloist roles in works by Bolender, George Balanchine, Alvin Ailey and Margot Sappington...
Lee Slusher
Teaching Artist Lee Slusher, a studio potter, holds degrees from Johnson County Community College and Washburn University...
Stacy "Reach" Smith
Reach, born Stacy D. Smith, hails from Kansas City, Mo. Five short years after being introduced to Hip-Hop culture in 1986 Reach began writing and reciting rhymes at the tender age of thirteen. His early stylings were heavily influenced by lyrical gunslingers Keith Murray and Kurupt. After nearly a decade of honing and perfecting his craft he helped to form a local independent Rap label, Kingdome Records...
Mary Bridget Stewart
Mary Bridget Stewart works in the printmaking media of etching, lithography, linoleum and woodblock printing, and stamp printing. Her style is abstract and emphasizes relationships between pattern, color, music, language, and textiles. Bridget utilizes the experimental aspects of printmaking, exploring non-traditional materials for image making...
Dan Strom
Dan is the trombonist for the TurpinTyme Ragsters but also performs with the “New Red Onion Jazz Babies” in the Kansas City area. He has performed with many national artists at local venues. He is also a clinician/private instructor in local schools and colleges. His educational background includes a B.M...
Lindsay Spilker Tate
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Lindsay Spilker Tate holds a B.S. Ed. In Dance Education (2003) from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, she trained with the CORE Concert Dance Company under the direction of Bala Sarasvati. She spent two seasons performing and choreographing with O-T-O Dance, a modern/aerial company in Tucson, Arizona. After moving to the Kansas City area in 2005...
Jaisson Taylor
Jaisson began his musical journey at a young age when he demonstrated an instinctual ability to capture rhythms quickly. As he developed, his efforts went into perfecting his skills as a percussionist, singer and songwriter. He polished his craft through appearances with Bill Withers, Al Green, Jean Luc Ponty, Freddy King, Santana, the Staple Singers, and Tina Turner in the 70s and 80s...
Tri-Percussion
Percussionist Mark Lowry is timpanist for the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and is a frequent percussionist with the Kansas City Symphony. In 1993, he helped create NewEar, Kansas City’s only professional, contemporary chamber music group.
Raymond De Marchi is a founding member of the Kansas City Percussion Quartet. He is Director of Percussion at William Jewell College.
John Currey, is a freelance percussionist with more than 20 years experience as an in-school presenter and clinician. John specializes in Modern dance accompaniment, and has toured extensively throughout the US, Mexico, and Western Europe.
Fifer Emily Smith is a freelance flutist and flute teacher who performs regularly with the Radio Days Orchestra and the Silverwood Quartet.
Trio Folklorico
Bird Fleming is a professional percussionist, educator, and performer. He is well versed in many styles of ethnic percussion: West African, South American, and Caribbean...
Pablo La Rosa, a native of Cuba, is a musician, writer, and photographer. His collection of short stories, Forbidden Fruit, was published by Arte Publico Press in 1996...
TurpinTyme Ragsters
Who are the TurpinTyme Ragsters?
The TurpinTyme Ragsters are a 7-Piece Ragtime music ensemble based in Kansas City. We hope to turn the clocks back, musically, to a era of ceiling fans, ice cream socials, and Sunday concerts in the park...
George Watkins
George Watkins has performed with many arts organizations in his twenty-plus years in Kansas City, including the Kansas City Symphony, Opera, Ballet, and the New Ear chamber players.
TerryLee Whetstone
TerryLee Whetstone is a self-taught, talented American Indian Flute Performer and multi-faceted artist. He reflects the history of his native people in his music and art. TerryLee recognizes a deep Spiritual connection and acknowledges these talents as gifts given to him from the Father. His Spiritual connection guides him in all endeavors, painting, poetry, jewelry design, and through the melodies he produces when playing the American Indian Flute...
Pippa White
Pippa White turned to solo performing in 1994. Previously she had an extensive career in theatre and television on the West Coast, including five years hosting a daily morning television show on ABC in San Francisco.
She calls her One's Company Productions "part theatre, part storytelling, part history." Audiences call them unique, captivating, and touching...
Mike Worley
On Christmas Day, 1979, Mike received a copy of How To Draw Comics the Marvel Way. In this book, he found his passion. Mike, already holding a degree in Music, returned to Northwestern Missouri State University to obtain a degree in Art.
The early 1980’s found Mike as a Colorist in DC Comic’s New Talent Program and as a runner-up Penciller in the Marvel Comics Tryout Contest...
Donna Yeager
Donna Yeager is an award-winning pastel painter whose work is collected worldwide. Her subjects include portraiture, landscape, seascapes, and still-lifes. Donna’s work is represented in local galleries as well as exhibited locally in prestigious shows and festivals such as The Plaza Art Fair, the Brookside Art Annual, and The Westport Art Show. Donna also participates in national and international art competitions...
