CCAC Teaching Artists
Music/Voice Faculty
Louise K. Boyd (Piano) - has been active professionally teaching and performing in the Delaware area for 20 years. Ms. Boyd performs as a pianist and vocalist in various educational, cultural and entertainment venues.
Dennis Fortune (Piano & Assistant Director Fruits of the Spirit) - an accomplished pianist, composer and arranger, graduated from Dickinson College with a B.A. in Music and Sociology. He has created and produced many African-American history-based musicals and has performed with numerous artists including Rachelle Farrell, George Howard, and Jeane Carne. Fortune Vinson Cruse recorded and produced five compact discs receiving critical acclaim on Jazz Billboard charts. Mr. Fortune is recipient of the 1998 Individual Fellowship for Jazz Composition. The Dennis Fortune Scholarship for Musical Excellence was established in his honor by Alan Levenson and Karen Morris. The scholarship supports private study for students with a strong, demonstrated interest in Jazz Studies.
Norwood Coleman Jr. (Strings/Piano) — possesses a Master of Social Work degree from Delaware State University and is currently employed at the Brandywine Program/ACT/IOP. Mr. Coleman embroiders an eclectic mix of cultural, knowledge and skill based professionalism as he helps students forge the relationship between their technique, theory and love of music. This forging of mind, body and spirit is at the core of his approach to teaching and learning. He has studied with Dr. Yvonne Johnson, Jan Baty of the DeLos String Quarter for ten years on the Viola using the Alexander Technique, and the late John Young, international pianist and Professor at Lincoln University. He studied the Harpsichord with Ray Urwin plays Organ and has participated in music performance and theory course work at the University of Delaware. Mr. Coleman currently composes, arranges and performs with Umoja Strings, a chamber music ensemble. He has been a member of the Royal School of Church Music since 1986 and currently is lead musician at the Spirit of Life Lutheran Church in Wilmington. Mr. Coleman is a member of the Christina Cultural Arts Center Fruits of the Spirit Chorale Ensemble and performed with the group at the Tuscan Italy International Chorale Music Festival in 2007 and throughout Puerto Rico in 2008. He is the founder of the John Dickinson Chamber Players and his in known for solo and ensemble performance of Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Spirituals, Jazz and Contemporary music.
Karl McNeill Jr. (Electric Bass Guitar) — is a composer, arranger, recording artist, and drummer. Mr. McNeill is a graduate of Cab Calloway High School of the Performing Arts and is currently performing extensively.
Suzzette Ortiz (Director-Fruits of the Spirit Chorale) — pianist and composer, Ms. Ortiz performs throughout New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York and internationally. A native of Puerto Rico, Ms. Ortiz holds a Bachelor degree in Piano Performance from Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico, and a Master's degree in Music Education from Temple University. Ms. Ortiz is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Educators. She has been involved with choirs of all ages for over twenty-three years, including choirs at the AMLA School of Music in Philadelphia. In Puerto Rico, Ms. Ortiz worked for the acclaimed San Juan Children's Choir as well as a Christian Pop group that toured Venezuela to critical acclaim. Selected as 2007 Walmart Teacher of the Year by the Creative Arts High School in Camden, New Jersey, Ms. Ortiz teaches vocal music, arranges for school choirs and teaches piano. She has shared the stage with Tito Puente, Brenda K. Starr, Compay Segunda of the Buena Vista Social Club, Eddie Palmieri and Hilton Ruiz
Kevin Benjamin (Piano/Early Childhood Music) - a native of Wilmington
Mr. Benjamin is a graduate of Delaware State University with BA and a Masters degree in Music Education. Mr. Benjamin received his early music education at the Christina Cultural Arts Center and has served as musical director for many theatrical productions and as minister of music for Delaware churches. He is a much sought after conductor for a range of cultural and civic events.
Joseph Shields (Percussion) — a self taught drummer has been playing since age 6.
Mr. Shields has played with such notable artists as Cocoa Taylor, G Q, The Drifters and with local artists such as, Larry Unthank, Kenyatta "Funk Thump" Henry, Tony Smith and Alfie Moss.
Jill Broadway (Voice) - a native of North Carolina, soprano Jill Broadway is a graduate of East Carolina University. While at ECU, Ms. Broadway earned her Bachelors Degree in Voice Performance and English Literature. Most recently she received her Master of Music degree in Voice Performance at the University of Delaware. Equally at home on the concert or operatic stage, Ms. Broadway has been a soloist in Vivaldi's Gloria as well as in Rutter's Mass of the Children. On the operatic stage, Ms. Broadway has performed leading roles as Suor Angelica (Puccini), La Boheme, Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) and Albert Herring (Britten). Most recently she was seen as Anna Maurrant in Kurt Weil's Street Scene.
Shannon Booth (Voice & Piano) - a graduate of the University of Delaware with a BA in Music, Ms. Booth is a public school educator. In addition she directs several choral groups and performs a wide range of vocal literature. In addition to voice, her musical instruments include piano and flute. Ms. Booth has special expertise in music from the Baroque period and is a former student of Dr. Marie Robinson.
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Dance
Kenneth C. Brown (Early Childhood Movement) - a native of Wilmington
Mr. Brown trained with JoAnna Turner, Rhon McKennies, Faye B. Snow and Sean McCloud's New York Institute of Dance. He has performed in many theatrical and dance productions in the tri-state area and is very active in the Delaware arts community.
Mr. Brown completed the Lila Wallace early childhood arts training program at Settlement Music School and received his Masters in Education from Cabrini College in PA.
Benjamin Sterling Cannon (Ballet/Choreography/The Art In A Woman & The New Work Series) As a child, Mr. Cannon was awarded The Helene Antonova Scholarship to study classical ballet at Wilmington's Academy of the Dance. While attending Del Castle Technical High School, he began working as a professional actor and was a featured performer in numerous productions at Three Little Baker's Dinner Theater. During this time, Mr. Cannon appeared opposite Burt Lancaster in the film "In Pursuit of Justice". Benjamin joined the North Carolina Dance Theater as a soloist and toured with the company. Mr. Cannon left the company in 1993 to study acting in New York City. He enrolled as a student at the 42nd Collective where he studied with actor Bill Cwikowski. He has starred across the country in numerous touring productions. Mr. Cannon starred on Broadway as the comical, maniacal hyena BANZAI in Disney's "The Lion King" and most recently in "Blues in the Night" at the Skylight Opera Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a choreographer, he has worked with Opera Roanoke creating staging and choreography for (Amahl And The Night Visitors), directed by Ernie Zulia. Mr. Cannon most recently assisted Donna Drake, (A Chorus Line, Original Company) and performed with glowing reviews in (Smokey Joe's Café). CCAC commissioned a new work "nascita" which premiered at the Grand Opera House in June 2009. As the creative head of look/see, Mr. Cannon has developed a compelling artist-in-residence program and A New Work Series featuring original theatrical work. Visit look/see.com.
Richard Kee (Acrobatics, Modern/Jazz) - a Wilmington native , Richard graduated from CCAC's Dance Program, A.I. DuPont High School, and the American Beauty Academy in May 2009. Mr. Kee has been affiliated with CCAC for 15 years in a variety of assistant teaching capacities. Richard is well versed in hip hop, jazz, modern, and acrobatics. A former member of the CCAC Dance Ensemble having trained with Shawn Lamere Williams, Tanya Vaughn, Faye Snow, Chauntee Andrews and Kenneth Brown, currently Richard is a company member with Pieces of A Dream under the direction of Ashley Sullivan Kirksey. He currently is working on projects with Lean Shaey and Janell Nichole.
Brynia Johnson (Hip Hop, Modern, Jazz, Acting) -a native of Newark, Delaware
Ms. Johnson is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, DC where she received a BA in Theater. She trained for many years in Christina's dance training program. Currently, Ms. Johnson is the CEO of Dionne's Entertainment Inc and has appeared in a range of independent films including Last Night, directed by Kiandra Parks, the C.J. Foundation by Nickelodeon, The Dating Bill of Rights, directed by Sharon Baker, and Jersey Girl casted by Mike Lemon and directed by Kevin Smith. Ms. Johnson is a versatile actress, choreographer, dancer, song writer and hip hop lyricist. Ms. Johnson teaches hip hop and manages the CCAC Arts Creation Station in the East Side Community School at Bancroft Elementary.
Dara Stevens-Meredith (Jazz, Modern, African) a native of Atlanta, Georgia
Ms. Stevens-Meredith received her B.F.A. in Dance Education and is the 2004 recipient of the Stella Moore Award from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Ms. Stevens-Meredith has performed with Total Dance Theater in Senegal, West Africa for the "Fusion" Tour, Brian Sanders' "Junk" (Philadelphia), Jomandi Productions' "Black Nativity" (Atlanta), Opera North's "Vanqui" (Philadelphia) and VIA International's "Body Snatchers the Musical" (Los Angeles), "Haiku/Poems" (New York), and Sonia Sanchez' "Living Legends" tour. She has been an instructor at University of the Arts and conducted several workshops at University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State College, as well as several studios throughout Philadelphia and New Jersey. Ms. Stevens-Meredith is also a principal dancer and rehearsal director for "Eleone Dance Theater". "Eleone Dance Theater" premiered Mrs. Stevens-Meredith's work "Yesterday ... Today . . .Tomorrow", Jekonni - A Work of Art and Ordinary People (2006) to rave reviews. She has also choreographed for Bad Boy's "Danity Kane", "Orcheo Dance Company", "Collaboration Works", "Axam Dance Theater Experience", "Danse 4 Nia Dance Company" and received a "Best Choreography Award" from National Dance Showcase. She recently choreographed a new musical, "Love - A Revolution of the Heart" (Los Angeles) and has been awarded with the 2007 "Philadelphia Rocky Award" and Mid the "E Award for Excellence" for her outstanding service in dance throughout Philadelphia. In 2009, Ms. Stevens-Meredith was recipient of the Audience Choice Award for highly competitive Choreographers Festival in Germany.
Donna Thomas (Modern/Jazz) - a native of Staten Island, NY, Ms. Thomas has studied a range of dance techniques and styles with New York Dance Masters such Lynn Simmonson, Katiti King, Sue Samuels, Nia Love, David Story, Max Stone and mentor Miguel Godreau. Ms. Thomas served as founder and artistic director of the Black Feet Dance Theater and has performed with Opus Dance Theater, Hilary Easton, Kilxbill Dance Theater, and Alpha-Omega Dance Theater.
Tanya Vaughn (Tap) - started dancing in elementary school with Jaime Jamison at the Academy of Dance. She has also studied with Ms. Wimberly at the Wilmington Theater Ensemble, Kamau Parks of Griots Wa Umoja, & Rhon Ivory McKennies founder of Dance Trans Theater at Christina Cultural Arts Center. Ms. Vaughn teaches Tap and Praise Dance throughout the region.
Shawn Lamere Williams (Modern/Jazz) A native Philadelphian, Mr. Williams began his dance training with Cheryl B. Sheppard and has studied with Faye B. Snow, E. Leon Evans III, Milton Myers, Denise Jefferson and James Truitt to name a few. He was recipient of the Alvin Ailey School Merit Scholarship and is a graduate of the Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA). Mr. Williams has performed and traveled with Juba Contemporary Dance Company, PHILADANCO, Leja, Mark Scott, New Freedom Theater and Eleone Dance Theater where he serves with distinction as founding Artistic Director. Mr. Williams has had the honor of performing with and for Patti LaBelle, Howard Hewitt, Melba Moore, Jean Carne, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Coretta Scott King, the Winans and the late Cab Calloway and Grover Washington, Jr. He as choreographed many ballets for CAPA, PHILADANCO II, LEJA, Eleone, CCAC and the New Freedom Theater, all have received rave reviews. Mr. Williams has many awards from the City of Philadelphia and is a highly respected, choreographer consistently receiving critical acclaim for his signature works. Mr. Williams has served as Artistic Director for Eleone Dance Theatre for more than a decade and has elevated the company's brand nationally.
Gabrielle Hilliard (Praise Dance, Modern) — A native Philadelphian, Ms. Hilliard graduated from the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) and is in pursuit of a nursing degree having attended Delaware Technical Community College. Ms. Hilliard has performed in national touring productions including but not limited to Friends and Lovers, starring Leon best known for his role in Robert Townsend's film The Five Heart Beats, What Men Don't Tell, starring Kenny Lattimore and Chaunte Moore and was lead dancer in the production of Good Lord What is the World Coming To starring Megan Good. Ms. Hilliard was formerly a company member with Eleone Dance Theater, she works annually with the Juneteenth program and several area churches developing Christian dance ministries.
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Visual Arts
Milton Downing (Edward Loper Sr. Gallery Curator/Instructor) - teaches in the Brandywine School District and brings a stimulating style of art instruction to CCAC. He graduated from the Tyler School of Art with a B.F.A. in painting. Mr. Downing has a distinctive style defined as "Jux T". His paintings are in numerous private collections. Mr. Downing has served CCAC with distinction for 18 years.
Theater
Kim Graham (Family Services Director/Acting, Spoken Word) — holds a BA degree from University of Delaware in Psychology. Ms. Graham joined the CCAC faculty and administration in 1998. She has studied at both the Wilmington Black Theater Ensemble and at Freedom Theater. In 2007, DDOA awarded her a Fellowship in Literature for Poetry Performance and her debut CD "Transformations" earned her rave reviews in VIBE Magazine. Ms. Graham is Co-Director of the Paul Robeson Ensemble and a member of Fruits of the Spirit. She provides family counseling support and utilizes techniques that incorporate drama into the therapeutic process. Ms. Graham has managed the Arts & Education Professional Training Institute for public school and early childhood educators. In additional she provides outreach services to youth of promise attending the Delaware Adolescent Program and Kingswood Academy.
Salimata J.D. Linguer (Acting/African Dance) - a Wilmington native, Ms. Linguer has been part of the CCAC family for 25 years. She studied both acting and technical production under Zadia Ife and Kim Graham. She has been a member of the teaching faculty in various capacities in the dance, drama, after school café and community outreach departments. Ms. Linguer currently teaches Early Childhood Drama, and Children's Theater. Ms. Linguer believes that art is a tool for social change and promotes holistic wellness through art therapy. In the spirit of Afrikan tradition. She encourages all to "See the rhythm, hear the dance, feel the song and experience the culture."
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