ABOUT

Kathryn is a Johnson City native who trained with Susan Pace White at the City Youth Ballet for 15 years before transitioning to college and teaching, which she has been doing for the past eight years. She received her Master in Education at Milligan University in 2019 and teaches at Science Hill High School.

In addition to her training with City Youth Ballet, Kathryn studied with the Radford University Ballet, South Carolina Dance Conservatory, and The Rock School in Philadelphia; and performed with the Milligan Dance Team for four years.

Kathryn specializes in pointe and classical variations for our upper level ballet students.

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Chloe grew up in Elizabethton, TN, and studied ballet at City Youth Ballet under Susan Pace White for 15 years. After high school, she went to Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she graduated in 2019 with a BS in Neuroscience and minor in dance. While at school, she performed with the Belmont University Dance Company, assisted at Rejoice School of Ballet, and was recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Dance by Belmont's dance faculty.

In addition to teaching at JCAC, Chloe works at Quillen College of Medicine as a Laboratory Manager in the lab of Dr. Brooke Schmeichel, where they are studying behavioral neuroscience. She is also active in her church community at Grandview Christian Church, where she served as the Cityview Childrens' Coordinator for two years after graduating.

Sarah Buzalewski is a classically trained violinist that has developed her career through violin performance, music education, arts administration, and arts advocacy. most recently, she had the honor or working as the Education Programs Intern for Silkroad, a non-profit organization founded by Yo-Yo Ma and currently led by Artistic Director and recent Pulitzer Prize winner Rhiannon Giddens. Sarah is passionate about music’s accessibility and believes students of all ages and backgrounds deserve a high-quality music education from a devoted and caring teacher.

Sarah graduated with a Master’s degree in Violin Performance with additional studies in Music Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in the studio of esteemed professor of violin Miroslav Hristov. Previously, she received a B.M. in Violin Performance and minor in Arts Entrepreneurship from the Pennsylvania State University while studying under James Lyon. In addition to her work at the JCAC, Sarah is a violinist in the Brevard Philharmonic Orchestra and a violin instructor at Trala, a trending online violin lessons app partnered with world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell. 

Lilly Anglin was born in Memphis, Tennessee and lived the first years of her life in Olive Branch, Mississippi. She loves teaching children and has worked with them at both her church and at JCAC (as the lead teacher in classes and at Princess Ballerina Camps.) Lilly has over ten years of dancing experience and has primarily been a student at Johnson City Arts Center, formerly Trinity Arts, where she has enjoyed tap, jazz, hip hop, ballet, modern, and pointe. She is homeschooled and enjoys debate, baking, learning to play the harp, and working with 4-H where she serves as a state officer and is in their performing arts troupe.

Lilly considers it an honor to teach your children and hopes to encourage them to dance to the glory of God.

Greta Anglin was born in Memphis and spent the first years of her life in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Greta loves all genres of dance and has taken dance lessons for over 10 years (with most of those years spent at Trinity Arts, now JCAC.) Greta has experience in ballet, pointe, tap, modern, hip hop, and jazz. She enjoys children and has worked with them in ballet classes, at Princess Ballerina Camps, and at her church. 

In addition to dancing, Greta enjoys reading, playing the cello, teaching, and  participating in 4-H and other leadership programs. She feels it’s her privilege to teach younger students. Greta hopes to instill in them a passion for dance as well as a desire to use their God-given talents to bless others.

Grayson is a Knoxville native and has been dancing for 14 years. She is currently a Theatre Major with a Musical Theatre Concentration and a Dance Minor at ETSU. She had the honor of coaching the University School middle school dance team for the 2022-2023 school year! Grayson has attended various dance intensives such as Joffrey Summer Intensive and TN Governor’s School for the Arts, where she got to return to GSFTA as a Dance Counselor in 2023. 

Grayson feels so blessed and is excited she gets to join the staff at JCAC and share her passion for dance with the new generation of performers.

Hello!

My name is Katie Cochran. I am a recent graduate from Milligan University where I received my bachelors in Vocal Music Performance. I studied many genres from musical theater to opera, and I am passionate about singing. I love working with students, not only to help develop their musicianship, but to also guide their love of music.

I’m excited to work with many different students as well as with Johnson City Arts Center in the future.

Thank you! 

A guitarist, flutist and dancer from an early age, Heidi settled in Seattle, Washington after attending Bennington College and Cornish Institute of the Arts to receive her Bachelors of Music in flute performance. She trained in the Suzuki Method of teaching young children and was faculty and department head at the Suzuki Institute of Seattle for 13 years, as well as maintaining a thriving independent flute studio in Seattle for 25 years. 

Since retiring in 2018 from her position as Assistant Director at ETSU’s Mary B. Martin School of the Arts, she has returned to more teaching and playing music, two activities she truly loves.Her eclectic, imaginative, and playful teaching approach bring a sense of fun to the process of acquiring skills and learning to play expressively. She welcomes students of any level and age, from beginner to professional, and age 8 to 80.

Jonathan Edens is a native of East Tennessee who has been playing music for most of his life. He received his formal education in music at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC under the tutelage of Richard Banks for voice and Baron Tymas for guitar.

Jonathan has performed in ensembles of every size including stage operas, big bands, theater orchestra pits, jazz quartets, and solo gigs, playing his own original music.

Jonathan is known for his laid-back personality and patient style of instruction -- a super-power he puts to good use, bringing out the best in his students of all ages.

Rachel Ellison is a native of East Tennessee. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from North Greenville University in South Carolina. While attending college, Rachel traveled and performed with the musical groups Joyful Sound and NG Singers.

Rachel then moved to Nashville and earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Pedagogy from Belmont University. She taught music lessons at Belmont Academy in Nashville while earning her degree. After graduating, she taught as an adjunct instructor of voice at both ETSU and Milligan University. Her passion is helping singers free the voice through healthy vocal technique, which in turn, allows singers to be more artistic and expressive. She enjoys teaching many styles of music.

In addition to teaching music lessons, Rachel loves spending time with her husband and daughter, as well as leading worship at her home church in Elizabethton.

Katie Greene has been dancing for eighteen years and has been teaching for four years. Katie is a Dance minor at ETSU, a student in the Fine and Performing Arts Honors College, and is the president of Amalgam Dance Group, a community of dancers on campus that create and perform together. Katie is trained in many styles of dance including: Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Modern, Hip-hop, Contemporary, Musical Theater, and Tap.

In her free time, Katie enjoys training aerial dance, powerlifting, and rock climbing. Katie is very excited to be sharing her passion for dance with the JCAC family!

Eden has over 15 years of experience as a trained ballet, jazz, and contemporary dancer. She is entering her eighth year of teaching and choreographing with us and at other schools throughout the Tri-Cities. Eden has directed and choreographed several dance productions, including God With Us and Prodigal, as well as performed in and choreographed for musicals in the area. When she's not teaching, you can find her studying data science for her graduate program at ETSU.

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Eden has spent many summers training pre-professionally under ballet companies such as American Ballet Theatre and Gelsey Kirkland Academy. She was accepted to the year-round pre-professional program at Gelsey Kirkland Academy at age 14, and she is Cecchetti certified in levels 1-5. 

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One of her favorite parts about teaching is seeing improvement in her students and helping them find their own unique style.

Cassidy is a passionate and creative individual who grew up in Unicoi, Tennessee and started dancing at the age of 6. During that time, she was one of the first generation students at Trinity Arts Center. From then on, her love for dance grew. 

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She is trained in many styles that include ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary dance. 

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She now lives in Johnson City with her cat and works full time. She enjoys photography, going out with friends, and getting coffee any chance she gets. 

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She is excited to bring her love of dance back into the community and share it with others!

Mia grew up here in Johnson City training in primarily classical ballet, with some background in modern, contemporary, and jazz. She pursued a professional dance career from a young age, and has trained under Susan Pace-White, Nashville Ballet, Kingsport Ballet, and Trinity Arts/JC Arts Center. Now, she continues her ballet career through teaching intermediate and advanced ballet classes at Johnson City Arts Center.

Outside of teaching at JCAC, she owns Mountain Home Ballroom with her husband and competes along side him in partnership dancing. Mia found ballroom dancing at 17, and changed course from a professional ballet career to compete ballroom professionally. Her passion is still dance, and she always pushes herself to learn new things about the art. Through being so involved in the dance community, she hopes to leave it a kinder, more accessible place for all those wanting to learn.

Dustin is a guitarist, producer and freelance media composer living in Johnson City with his wife Megan. 

Dustin’s musical training began at the age of 10 when he first picked up guitar and has covered a wide variety of genres and techniques in the years to follow. As a teenager, Dustin began to develop the craft of songwriting and arrangement. He went on to become a recording artist and live performer, releasing two original albums and honing his skills on stage. In recent years, Dustin has ventured into the world of electronic music/synthesis and has been laying the groundwork for his future as a producer. A growing network of friends in the filmmaking industry has also given Dustin the opportunity to create music for visual media. He has been working as a freelance composer since 2017, scoring for independent films, YouTube series and commercial advertisements. 

Hello!

My name is Adrian Nuñez, and I am a Drumset/Percussion instructor in Johnson City with additional experience teaching guitar, marimba, ukulele, and entry-level piano! I have a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Percussion. I have been playing drumset for 15 years and studying percussion for 6 years.

My goal as an instructor is to create a fun and digestible learning environment for my students, providing them with the skills to grow in their playing and musicianship. Outside of music, I enjoy hiking, the outdoors, and spending time with my family.

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Kate Palmer has been dancing since she learned to walk! She studied ballet and modern dance at St. Louis Ballet and attended summer dance intensives including TN Governor's School for the Arts, Princeton Dance & Theatre, and Virginia School of the Arts. She attended a pre-professional ballet program in high school at the Virginia School of the Arts.

Kate earned her doctorate in physical therapy in 2018 and loves incorporating dance technique with her treatment style. She currently performs with the Jonesborough Repertory Theatre and has enjoyed expanding her dance expertise to include tap and musical theatre.

Isaac Ratliff is a musician and songwriter living in Jonesborough, TN, with his wife, Amy.

Isaac began classical training on piano at age 8, but started to learn by ear at age 13, aided by his aunt, a southern gospel church pianist. Throughout high school, and as a student of Appalachian Studies at ETSU, Isaac supported several ministries and music departments on piano and guitar while continuing his own music education in piano and music history.

His independent study of music, fueled by a love for the craft, has led him to learn the foundations of many American musical styles, from blues and jazz to old-time country and gospel. In addition to his independent learning, he has studied with jazz pianist Jonathan Huber.

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Isaac is a founding member of Sorrel, a band he formed with his brother Seth. He also writes and performs as a member of the bands Charlie Maples and Florencia & The Feeling.

Graci Summey grew up in Chilhowie, VA where, at five, she began taking piano lessons. Shortly thereafter, she transitioned to violin and, under the guidance of Kieth Hungate, studied and performed over the next 11 years.  

After graduating high school, Graci pursued a college degree in Music Performance. There, she was involved with the college level orchestra, participated in the ETSU Chamber Orchestra, and took private lessons from Dr. David Kovach. 

Outside Graci’s musical life lies a path defined by hard work and determination. Graci also acquired her Cosmetology license and is a practicing stylist at Hair Benders Salon in Kingsport. 

Graci is very excited to be teaching at our organization and cannot wait to help others find the joy of music in their lives. 

Christina has been dancing since she was four years old, eight of those years as a student at Trinity Arts Center. In that time, she has also trained with Bristol Ballet, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Millennium Dance Complex. Since 2020, she has enjoyed assisting, teaching, choreographing, and even designing costumes for her ballet and jazz students at Trinity and JCAC.

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When she's not teaching, Christina studies at ETSU for her BA in Theatre Production and Design and minor in Dance. In what time she has left, she trains in circus aerial arts. Her enthusiasm and creativity are a valuable addition to our teaching roster!

Macey just moved from central Florida, where she has lived for her whole life. Macey has been dancing for 15 years & this will be her second year teaching. Macey is a high school senior at Providence Academy. Aside from academic studies, Macey has studied Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theater, & Tap. Macey has had the opportunity to choreograph several numbers, as well as been involved with many dance recitals. In addition to dance recitals, she has also preformed in numerous musicals & helped with choreography. Before moving to Tennessee, her family owned their own Christian-based dance studio. 

In her free time, Macey enjoys spending time with family + friends, traveling, photography, reading, spending time outdoors, art, writing, surfing, going to the beach, & anything that involves Jesus. Macey is looking forward to this dance year as she gets to share one of her greatest passions!!

Sterling is a vivacious and dedicated young woman whose passion for vocal education resonates deeply in her pedagogy. Known for her love of people and collaborative spirit, she takes great joy in witnessing the spark of excitement in students when they reach musical breakthroughs. For the past seven years, Sterling has delved into the world of classical voice as a soprano, and she is currently on the cusp of completing her Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance at East Tennessee State University. 

Throughout her academic journey, Sterling has showcased her musical prowess through notable performances, including portraying characters like Papagena in "The Magic Flute," Mimi in "City Workers in Love," and Sadie in "Slow Dusk." Beyond the academic realm, she actively contributes to the musical and spiritual fabric of her community by lending her voice to the worship experience at her home church, First Baptist of Kingsport.

Sterling's commitment to vocal excellence and her genuine desire to help others achieve their musical and personal goals make her a valuable contributor to the Johnson City Arts Center.

Makaila teaches our beginner-intermediate ballet students. She has been dancing since she was 3, and it has always been her passion. She has taught the last 3 years at Trinity Arts Center and Johnson City Arts Center, and getting to know her students is the joy of her week. She takes pride in all of her students and wants to cultivate their love of dance.

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She hopes her students can learn perseverance, sportsmanship, and discipline from her classes and be left with a lasting dance foundation.