<p>**Staff Information:</p>
<p>*Laurence Kaptain
Dean and Professor of Music. Percussion instruments, leadership, organizational communication, World music (most specifically Latin America)
Faculty Member since 2006
Education:
Doctor of Musical Arts (percussion performance) University of Michigan, 1987. Master of Music (percussion performance) Univ. of Miami (Florida), 1975. Bachelor of Science (performance/education) Ball State University, 1974. CertificateLeadership Development Program (LDP), Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, 2001. </p>
<p>Personal Highlights:
2006: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra New York Philharmonic 2005: UNAM (Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico City) Minnesota Orchestra 2004: Lincoln Center Summer Festival. Concert performance with the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Elvis Costello. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln CenterGala Opening Concert. 2003: Chicago Symphony 2002: Chicago Symphony Phoenix Symphony Orchestra Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Chamber PlayersCarnegie Hall </p>
<p>*Thomas Albert
Professor of Music (Musical Theatre, Composition)
Chair, Theatre Division
Harold Herman Chair in Musical Theatre
Faculty Member since 1974
Applied Area(s):
Composition</p>
<p>Teaching Area:
Musical Theatre
Theatre History</p>
<p>Ensemble(s):
Music Theatre Ensemble</p>
<p>Education:
AB, Barton College; MMus, DMA, University of Illinois</p>
<p>Professional Highlights: Thomas Albert has served as music director and conductor for more than eighty musicals and revues during Shenandoahs academic year seasons and for the Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, most recently for Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, Tintypes, The Most Happy Fella, Seussical, Carousel, The Bakers Wife, South Pacific, 1776, and Into the Woods, as well as for concert performances of Titanic, City of Angels, Allegro, A Little Night Music, Of Thee I Sing and Follies. In addition to his conducting duties, he teaches the American Musical Theatre history course. </p>
<p> For the theatre, he has composed incidental music to several plays, including the Shenandoah productions of We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Dark of the Moon, The Crucible, and The Lark, as well as the Cincinnati College-Conservatory production of Angels in America, Part One: The Millenium Approaches, commissioned by eighth blackbird. With librettist Lindé Hayen Herman, he composed a one-act opera, Lizbeth, based on the legend of Lizzie Borden. </p>
<p> As an active composer for nearly four decades, he has seen his concert music performed throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Brazil, Japan and Korea. Commissions include grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Charles Ives Center for American Music, the Relâche Ensemble of Philadelphia, the 21st Century Consort of Washington DC, and the Washington Saxophone Quartet. Two of his works, "A Maze (With Grace)" and "Devils Rain," are included on the Relâches CD, On Edge. His best-known work, Thirteen Ways was commissioned by eighth blackbird and is the title work of the groups first CD for Cedille Records. </p>
<p> Thomas Albert is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, The Southeastern Theatre Conference, and Music Theatre Educators Alliance International. </p>
<p>*Lara Teeter
Associate Professor of Theatre (Musical Theatre)
Charles B. Levitin Chair in Musical Theatre
Faculty Member since 2004
Teaching Area:
Musical Theatre
Acting
Choreography</p>
<p>Ensemble(s):
Music Theatre Ensemble</p>
<p>Education:
BA, Oklahoma City University</p>
<p>Professional Highlights: Lara Teeter has performed, directed and choreographed for major regional theatre and opera houses nation-wide. Prior to coming to Shenandoah University, Lara was an Associate Professor in the Theatre and Dance Department at California State University at Fullerton, an Assistant Professor in the Music Theatre Certificate program in the School of Speech at Northwestern University, and the Artistic Director of Light Opera Works in Evanston, Illinois. </p>
<p> He was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the 1982 revival of the Rodgers and Hart classic On Your Toes performing the role of Junior Dolan, originally portrayed by Ray Bolger in 1936. Other Broadway credits include The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Pirates of Penzance, Happy New Year, and Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Other roles performed in prominent theatres include Jamie Lockhart in The Robber Bridegroom, Steven Kodaly in She Loves Me, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, and the Dentist in Little Shop of Horrors. National Tours include the role of Don Lockwood in Singin In The Rain, Will Parker in Oklahoma!, and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz starring Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt. Lara has performed at Lincoln Center with the New York City Opera as Silas Slick in Naughty Marietta, and as Herman in The Most Happy Fella. He made his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut performing the role of Steve Sankey in Street Scene starring Catherine Malfitano. Directing credits include My Fair Lady for Opera Pacific, The Pirates of Penzance for San Bernardino Civic Light Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, and Dayton Opera, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Living In Paris for the Hollywood Cinigrill, and The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas for the Fullerton Civic Light Opera. </p>
<p> Recordings include the original Broadway cast recording of the 1982 revival of On Your Toes, the Gershwin Trust/Library of Congress first ever recording of Gershwins Lady Be Good, and the Grammy Award nominated recording of The Wizard of Oz starring Mickey Rooney and Eartha Kitt. In the summer of 2000, Lara made his Carnegie Hall debut performing the role of Henry Higgins in a tribute to the work of Lerner and Loewe. </p>
<p>*Erica M. Helm
Associate Professor of Dance
Chair, Dance Division
Faculty Member since 1989
Teaching Area:
Dance, Ballet
Dance Composition
Dance History
Choreography</p>
<p>Ensemble(s):
Dance Ensemble</p>
<p>Education:
BFA, University of Hawaii; MFA, Southern Methodist University </p>
<p>Professional Highlights: Erica Helm has choreographed for The University of Hawaii Dance Theatre, Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, Opera Americana in Alexandria, VA, East Carolina University and for dance companies and madrigal ensembles in Hawaii and Texas. Her works have been presented in several Washington, DC venues, including the Jack Guidone Theatre, the Austrian Embassy and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as well as on tour in England, Spain, Scotland & China. Her choreography has also been selected by adjudication for the Annual Choreographers' Showcase held at the Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, Maryland, and the Choreographers Showcase produced by the Reston Arts Council. </p>
<p> As a member of the Shenandoah Chamber Dance Company, she performed throughout the Shenandoah Valley region as well as in Washington, DC and on tour to Trinidad. She also danced for the Honolulu City Ballet, appearing in classical and contemporary repertoire as well as performing as a guest artist with Ballet Hawaii and the Hawaii Opera Theatre. As a member of stillMOVING dance company, she was engaged in a teaching and performance residency at the Harvard Center for the Arts in Boston in 2001. </p>
<p> Erica Helm has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the American College Dance Festival Association, and in the Dance Education Division of the Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. In 1999, Ms. Helm received an Artie Award from the Shenandoah Arts Council, recognizing her contributions to the artistic community of this region. She has received several awards from Shenandoah University, including the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award and the Wilkins award. </p>
<p>*Michael Forest
Associate Professor of Music (Tenor)
Chair, Vocal-Choral Division
Faculty Member since 1988
Applied Area(s):
Voice</p>
<p>Education:
BME, MME, Shenandoah University; Certificate of Advanced Studies, Guildhall School of Music and Drama </p>
<p>Professional Highlights: Recording credits include Gershwins Porgy and Bess (EMI), Mozarts Le Nozze di Figaro (Deutsche Gramophone), and BMGs Grammy Award winning recording of John Coriglianos Rage and Remembrance. </p>
<p> Appeared with the Wolf Trap Opera Company, Washingtons Concert Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and the Wexford Opera in Ireland. </p>
<p> In nine seasons with the Metropolitan Opera, he has sung over 100 performances of fifteen different roles. </p>
<p> Member of the Metropolitan Operas Young Artists Development Program from 1989 to 1992. </p>
<p> Symphonic engagements include performances with the National Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. </p>
<p> Frequent soloist at the Kennedy Center with the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the Washington Chorus. </p>
<p> Studied at the famed Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London in 1986.</p>
</p>