Our Teaching Artists

Artistic Director: Lindsay Zetter Lucas. The Academy Ballet School of Annapolis (ABSA) follows the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus (RAD) for classical ballet training. Offering the finest teaching curriculum for classical ballet, character dance, and lyrical free movement dance, the Academy Ballet School is directed and staffed only by RAD certified and professionally trained teachers.

Artistic Director: Nicole Kelsch. Ballet Theatre of Maryland Conservatory of Classical and Contemporary Dance, founded in 1978, is the only school in Maryland that offers a fully comprehensive ballet training program for the beginner student through the professional dancer.

Cheryl Mauck has been a Dance and Wellness Teaching Artist at Maryland Hall since 1990. Adult Intermediate Jazz Dance was the first class she offered and this class continues to be popular. Other adult classes include Pilates Mat & Barre, and Beginning Jazz Dance. Children’s dance classes conclude with an annual stage recital in front of a packed theatre. Cheryl is a graduate of University of Maryland with a BA in Dance.

Lisa Peelish was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and began her ballet studies at the Cora Quick Ballet Studio at the age of five. Lisa continued with my studies through her twenties adding jazz and tap dance along the way. After graduating from Law School, practicing law in Denver, and raising a family, Lisa found herself back in the ballet studio studying with Barbara Owen, Founder of the Ballet for Life program at Maryland Hall.

Mary Slater has taught dance at Maryland Hall for over 30 years. Her dance career began at University of Maryland where she studied Dance Education. She was mentored by Henry LeTang, Brenda Bufalino, and Charles Cookie Cook and has danced all over the world. Her students have continued with dance in Stomp, Tap Dogs, Bring in the Noise Bring the in The Funk and Riverdance.

Leandra loves to educate dancers to take inspiration, passion and technique and express it through the art of dance. Her career as a Fitness/Dance Instructor has allowed her to work with all ages and levels of dancers. Leandra is very excited to share her passion and love for dance, as well as all of its healthy benefits with Maryland Hall students.

Emily Hysell discovered her love for ceramics and sculpture at a young age. In 2006, she continued developing her skills while attending St. Mary’s College of Maryland where she completed her Bachelors in Fine Arts and a Master of Arts in Teaching.

For several years Renata studied ceramics in Brazil. In 2000 she was invited for a two-year apprenticeship with Annie Schliffer at the Rochester folk Art Guild (NY). Renata currently works at her studio in Edgewater, MD and teaches at the Maryland Hall. Renata’s work has been displayed at galleries and stores in the US and Brazil. She has an MBA from Fundacao Getulio Vargas in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Laura is a master potter who graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bowie State University with a degree in Art Education. She also holds a masters equivalency in Ceramics. She was nominated in 2011 for career art teacher of the year from Maryland Art Education Association.

We are excited to welcome Melissa Hyatt Foss to the Ceramics team. Melissa is a musician, instrument-maker, and composer hailing from Maryland and Vermont.

Shannon holds a Bachelor's of Fine Art in Sculpture from SUNY Fredonia in NY and a Master's in the Art of Teaching from Goucher College. Shannon has been making pottery for 20 years and has worked as a teacher and artist at Baltimore Clayworks and the Pottery's Build of Baltimore.

Laura Dixon graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Maryland and has been a working artist for 35 years.

Melissa Twentey Gryder lives and works in Annapolis, Maryland. She received her BFA in 1999 from Frostburg State University. She went on to continue study at Oxford University and University of North Florida. She spent over a decade studying portraiture and color extensively with Cedric Egeli, John Ebersberger and at the Cape School of Art in Provincetown, MA.

Linda is an internationally recognized fine arts professional. The first solo exhibit of her paintings opened on her 21st birthday at the Widener Museum of Art in Chester, Pennsylvania. Her realistic watercolors and oils reflect the Brandywine tradition that surrounded Linda in her youth. Landscapes are her first love and primary subject matter, however, people, animals, flowers and still life are painting subjects as well.

Holly Rosario was born in rural upstate New York, and spent her childhood exploring its forested terrain. Introverted and aesthetically curious by nature, Holly was interested in art from a young age. In 2007 she moved to Baltimore to attend the Maryland Institute College of Art where she pursued her Bachelors of Fine Arts in conjunction with a Master of Arts in Teaching. While at MICA, she developed an interest in watercolor, inks, paper cuts, and ceramics as well as a passion for art history.

Andrée Tullier is a painter trained in the tradition of Classical Realism. Although her work includes still life, landscapes and figures, Andrée is primarily a portrait artist working in oil and pastel.

Andrée has studied portraiture, figure, and color with nationally recognized portrait painters Cedric and Joanette Egeli, master impressionist John Ebersberger, Abigail McBride, Rick Casali and master sculptor Stephen Perkins. Her work is in collections worldwide.

Erin Schweers has taught art to children, teens and adults privately and through after school programs, non profits, and other local institutions in Anne Arundel County for over 8 years. She holds her BFA in Fine Art from Ringling College. Her artwork has been exhibited in various shows throughout Sarasota, FL and Annapolis, MD. As an artist she specializes in large abstract oil paintings. Sharing her artistic process is a big part of how Erin guides students in developing their own work. As a teacher she seeks to encourage her students to explore their own unique style.

Nic Berg is a Native Annapolitan Folk Painter focused on divinity in nature. Nic's relationship with art began in early childhood, when she would regularly attend classes at Maryland Hall. She spent decades connecting her love for visual art with music and theater. Nic has worked for over 10 years as an editorial and theatrical makeup artist and national educator. She is currently the Wig & Makeup Director at The Young Victorian Theater Company in Band a vocalist with Live Arts Maryland.

Scott received his BA in Sculpture from Hartwick College in 1999. His work at that time was almost entirely three dimensional, involving glassblowing, metalsmithing, and conceptual installation. Scott then attended a post baccalaureate program at MICA, where he began creating visually meditative “panels” that broke away from academic explanation; he intended for them to be seen and understood by all. The panels were typically mounted away from the wall to create a slight shadow, and covered in a mixture of wax and pigment.

When Clare Shepherd was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center recovering after she serving as an Army Logistics Captain in Kuwait, a therapist suggested she participate in their art program and she reluctantly tried her hand at glass fusing. When Clare moved to Maryland a short time later, a family member suggested she try a class at Maryland Hall. She tried a class and fell in love with the art form and the process.

Kathie's glass journey began about twenty-five years ago when she fell in love with the glass medium and the interplay of glass itself with the lighting around it. Hooked on glasswork and this new art form, she went on to become a founding member of the Glen Echo Glass Art Consortium. Kathie has taken many master classes with renowned glass artists at The Studio at Corning, Urban Glass, Vitrix Glass, Weisser Glass, AAE Glass and Bullseye Glass.

Mary White Newcomb was born and raised in Annapolis and recently returned to those roots after 20 years of adventuring in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Northern California and Colorado. Mary started making jewelry when she was 8, after discovering a wonderful bead shop on Maryland Avenue, so she loves teaching both kids and adults.

We're excited to welcome new Teaching Artist Jessica McGrath to our Jewelry making team. Jessica’s work focuses on her love of color, texture and geometric form. She uses enamel, gemstones, silver, gold and patina in her jewelry.

Led by CJ Shiloh, MT-BC, Co-Founder & Executive Director and Naomi Davis, MT-BC, Instructor. The Musical Autist (TMA), a local disability rights nonprofit with a mission to provide access to the arts and create platforms for self-advocacy. TMA accomplishes this through three main programs, Sensory Friendly Concerts, Empowerment Jam Sessions, and a weekly class offered through MD Hall, Musical Autist Troupe.

Explore the world of art and music with us! Our adaptive arts program provides equal access to unique and engaging adaptive music and art experiences for students with or without disabilities.

Maryland Hall welcomes Naptown Jazz Kids this spring! This arts education and performance nonprofit organization will offer education programs, community engagement and musical training for students of ALL AGES. Steve Fidyk is the Artistic Director and Founder of Naptown Jazz Kids. And Chris Kaplan is Vice President of Naptown Jazz Kids.

Joan was first introduced to Tai Chi in 1990 at Maryland Hall. During a one hour workshop on the 8 Therapies led by Carol McGonegal, Joan fell in love with the gentle movements, internal centering and feeling of peace. She has continued her own growth in the Art of Tai Chi under the following masters and disciples of Cheng Man Ch’ing: Benjamin Lo and Maggie Newman, both senior student of Professor Cheng Man Ch’ing. She also studied with Carol McGonegal, Lenzie Williams, Wiliam CC Chen and Wei Ming.

An avid practitioner of various styles of yoga for over twenty-five years, it felt very natural for Lyn Venus to transition into the instructional side of things. Lyn's basic training and teaching experiences began at Pure Prana and Radiance studios in Alexandria, VA in 2010. A diagnosis of osteopenia triggered a need to seek out safer ways to move the body. This led to various workshops, more training and additional certifications in Integrative Yoga for Seniors, at Duke Integrative Medicine, Durham, NC, and YogAlign, Kuaui, HI.

Jessica is painter and credentialed art therapist (LCPAT, ATR-BC). She has over 15 years’ experience helping others heal through art making in a variety of mental health and educational settings. Jessica has experience teaching art techniques in art therapy groups.

Robin M. Gilliam has been a mixed media artist for over 35 years and a caregiver since 2017 when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. Robin was also the caregiver for her aging parents, who have both recently passed, and continues to care for her husband through his journey.

She was selected to show her art in the Healing Power of Art sponsored by the past first lady of Maryland, Mrs. Hogan. She has a BA degree is in fine arts and psychology, from Goucher College. She is the author of the novel Gift of Desperation which takes us on a wild ride out of past secrets and into the healing power of art.

Matt started the on the lathe at 10years old making a laminated rolling pin. Thirteen years ago started making bowls and became a full-time woodturner 5 years ago. Matt loves to teach spindle turning, bowl making and endgrain objects like boxes and hollow forms. He is recently hooked on the potential of resin/wood projects.

Matt currently is teaching in Rockville Maryland, and at his home shop in Howard county, and is a member of several woodturning groups and on the board of the Howard county woodworkers guild.

Joe Yablonsky specializes in gelatin silver photographs of public sculpture and architecture. The photographs are only taken when a rare combination of lighting and atmospheric conditions are present in the scene to highlight the sculpture and its environment. Joe's teaching philosophy is that good photographers do more prior to taking the photo than after.

Art Educator for toddlers ages Pre-K to 5. Bethany studied Art Education at Radford University in Southwest Virginia. Following her undergraduate studies she spent several years teaching art in a traditional classroom setting working in both an elementary school and a high school. Bethany has always had a passion for creating and exploring new mediums. Since having children of her own she has been drawn to the process of creating and discovery through art and play.

Inspiring change through wellness and the arts to grow our children into future wildhearts. Wildhearts Academy is a philosophy to teaching children while also building an inclusive, compassionate and forward thinking community.

Language Immersion Learning is a Maryland-based educational organization that supports and advocates for a more inclusive, multilingual and multicultural community. Kristi's program introduces young children to Spanish language through immersive activities including arts and crafts, stories, music and movement.

What you will see in my art is my love of color, illustration, flowers, animals, and whimsy. I enjoy maintaining the integrity of the literal image using new digital tools to move to interpretive imaging. I desire to enhance, recreate and quietly reimagine what I see.

Welcome Compass Rose Theater to Maryland Hall! Students will explore character creation and storytelling which is the heart of acting for the stage.

Matthew Crawford is an actor, teaching artist, and standardized patient throughout the DMV.

Erica Miller (she/her) has been active with the Annapolis theater community since she moved here from Pennsylvania in 2014.

Led by CJ Shiloh, MT-BC, Co-Founder & Executive Director and Naomi Davis, MT-BC, Instructor. The Musical Autist (TMA), a local disability rights nonprofit with a mission to provide access to the arts and create platforms for self-advocacy. TMA accomplishes this through three main programs, Sensory Friendly Concerts, Empowerment Jam Sessions, and a weekly class offered through MD Hall, Musical Autist Troupe.

Explore the world of art and music with us! Our adaptive arts program provides equal access to unique and engaging adaptive music and art experiences for students with or without disabilities.

Offering classes in an array of styles including, ballet, tap, jazz, modern, adult ballet, creative movement, and adaptive dance for ages 3-adult, BTM’s Conservatory of Dance’s goal is to provide the best training to anyone who desires to dance.

Heather Kerley is a mixed media and fiber artist living in the Washington, D.C. area. She studied art at the Columbus College of Art and Design before earning degrees in literature and gender studies. As a fiber artist committed to sustainability, she uses found and upcycled materials in much of her work. She has made dozens of abstract embroideries using found fabric such as vintage table linens and kimono silk scraps.

Laura came to the fiber arts in a roundabout way. She holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics and learned to knit when her children were small. She became fascinated at the ways we use two-dimensional knitting to fit three-dimensional shapes and began to collect knitting theories and techniques as she explored this new topography. In recent years, Laura has also taken up weaving, spinning, and dyeing fiber and yarn to deepen her understanding of knitted fibers and fabric. Today she teaches knitters from beginners through advanced and designs patterns with step-by-step instructions to help knitters of any level achieve success in their projects.