Performing Arts

As a result of a CHCA Fine Arts education, students recognize that music, theatre, and dance are gifts from God and, as such, should be used to glorify and serve Him. We encourage a lifelong love of the arts through study along with performance and outreach to internal and external audiences. Our acclaimed programs strive to nurture and encourage students of all ages to pursue performing opportunities with confidence. They receive both challenge and support - and the outcome? Confident, well-rounded student performers.

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Dance

CHCA Dance Academy is not just an after-school program; we are a dance academy tailored specifically to cultivate artists trained in both technical excellence and God-inspired creativity. Open to both CHCA families and dancers around Cincinnati, we offer a variety of levels and styles, including pre-professional and competitive tracks.

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Early Learning Program & Lower School

Upper School

Curricular Offerings

Dance as a Fine Art (Gr 9-12)
Dance as PE (Gr 9-12)

Extracurricular Offerings

CHCA Dance Academy (PK3-Gr 12)

Summer Offerings 2024

Dance Academy Drop-in Classes (Gr 2-12 girls)
Dance Academy Summer Intensive (Gr 2-12 girls)

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Dance Faculty

Melissa Kidd

Titles: Classroom Teacher, Dance Instructor, Classroom Teacher

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Biography:
Melissa Kidd has over 30 years of training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary/lyrical, pom, hip hop, kick, and acro as well as 15+ years of instruction/choreography experience. She is certified in injury prevention, rehab, and dancer specific training on the Pilates Reformer. Ms. Kidd owns Dance Technician LLC, a small business that provides private strength and flexibility training for dancers. She was the Founding Director of CHCA's Dance Program, and her choreography and routines have won CHCA several regional and national titles. Melissa's experience includes training under the Cincinnati Ballet and members of the New York City and Boston Ballets. Miss Kidd has also choreographed for the Christian rapper "Gyfted" and had her choreography featured on ESPN and FoxSports Network. Melissa currently judges for over 30 dance event producers in cities across the United States in both the all-star and studio competition circuit where she has also served as a judging coordinator/trainer. Melissa has been nominated 6 years in a row for the prestigious Dance Worlds in Orlando, Florida where she judged dancers from over 32 countries around the world.

Armleder School

General Music

General Music provides fundamental music processes and opportunities for our students to learn, create and perform. Our students learn by doing as they sing, play instruments, move to music as well as read and notate music. This exploration is done independently and with others and provides the building blocks of their music education through a comprehensive and sequential program. With the skills learned in General Music, our students are well prepared to continue on to our Instrumental and Vocal Music programs.

Early Learning Program

Curricular Offerings

Music (Ages 2-4)

Performance Opportunities

Gr PK Christmas Program

Extracurricular Offerings

Private Music Lesson Program (onsite) (PK3 - Gr 12)

General Music Faculty

Carolyn Hill

Titles: Classroom Teacher, Music Lesson Provider-Voice

Degree(s): B.M., Wright State University
B.Ed., Kentucky Chrisitian College

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Biography:
Carolyn Hill teaches Music in our Early Learning Program, leads worship for Preschool Chapel, and also teaches private voice lessons. Outside of CHCA, Carolyn is a member of the May Festival Chorus and Ensemble, serves as Children's Minister at Connections Christian Church, and is the wife of a minister.

Private Music Lesson Program Faculty

Dr. Lydia Woodin, Director (Viola and Violin)

Lydia Woodin

Titles: Music Lesson Program Director, Music Lesson Provider-Violin & Viola

Degree(s): D.M.A., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
M.M., University of Cincinnati
B.M., University of Alabama

Email:

Biography:
Lydia is a member of the American String Teachers Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has training in both the Suzuki and Sassmannshaus Tradition methods. Additionally, Dr. Woodin attended the American String Teachers Association Conference in 2009 and the Starling-Delay Symposium on Violin Studies at the Juilliard School in 2011 & 2013 and was a member of the Violin Faculty for the Preparatory Department at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She is also an active performer and has played countless solo and chamber music recitals in the US, Italy, and China. She has extensive experience playing with professional orchestra, opera, and ballet companies throughout the United States, and has performed under notable conductors Yoel Levi, Louis Lane, Benjamin Zander, Mark Gibson, Awadagin Pratt, Hugh Wolfe, and Paavo Jarvi.

Robin Albus (Piano)

Robin Albus

Titles: Music Lesson Provider

Degree(s): B.S., James Madison University

Email:

Biography:
Robin earned the National Guild of Piano Teachers High School diploma and has been teaching private piano lessons at CHCA since 2003. She also launched the Wunderkeys program at CHCA, which offers a musical experience on the keyboard for 3-5 year olds.

New TBD (Acoustic and Electric Guitar)

Dr. Sera Cheon (Cello)

Sera Cheon

Titles: Music Lesson Provider

Degree(s): D.M.A., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
M.M., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
A.D., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Email:

Biography:
Sera has been teaching cello for more than 20 years to students of all ages. She has performed various solo and chamber recitals using both the baroque cello and the modern cello across the United States and Asia. Sera is currently a board member and a principal cellist at JS Chamber Ensemble and was selected to be an associate member in the Chicago Civic Orchestra and the New World Symphony. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. from Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea then earned 3 additional degrees from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She believes that music enriches lives, and she shares her passion and love of music through teaching and performing.

Jill Duebber (Piano)

Jill Duebber

Titles: Music Lesson Provider

Degree(s): B.M. Ed., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Email:

Biography:
Jill taught both piano and flute at a private studio for 28 years with students ranging from preschool to adults. As a child, she had wonderful music teachers who inspired her to choose music education as her vocation. Jill’s biggest passion has always been playing the piano, and she loves passing that on to others. She’s currently a member of the OMTA and MTNA and has a Level 1 Orff-Schulwerk Certification, as well as an MTNA Professional NCTM Certification. In addition to private music lessons, she has taught preschool music classes, summer composition camps, prep for RCM national exams, and has been an accompanist for high school and collegiate soloists. In her free time, Jill enjoys running, biking, reading, and spending time with her husband and three kids.

Dr. Takako Frautschi (Piano)

Takako Frautschi

Titles: Music Lesson Provider

Degree(s): M.M., Eastman School of Music
D.M.A., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
B.M., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Email:

Biography:
Takako has taught precollege level students since 1992 throughout the United States and Canada. Her childhood musical training was completed through Toho Music School Preparatory division, one of the most prestigious precollege music programs in Japan. Her mentors and the experiences that she remembers from childhood inspired her to find true joy in working with precollege level students. Takako has performed in Banff, Paris, Prague, and Amalfi Coast. Takako's performance highlights include an appearance at Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1998 and 2010. Her most recent recital was broadcasted over WECI 91.5FM, in Richmond, Indiana. Takako holds additional certificates in Suzuki Method and MTNA Professional NCTM Certification Program. Outside of CHCA, Takako serves on the faculty of the piano department at the Preparatory Division of University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music and the College of Examiner of Royal Conservatory in Canada. She also enjoys presenting lectures on pedagogical topics to share her teaching tips to other educators. She and her husband, David have two children and a Sheltie.

Andrew Hartman (Percussion)

Andrew Hartman

Titles: Classroom Teacher-Instrumental, Music Lesson Provider-Percussion

Degree(s): B.M., The Ohio State University
B.M.Ed., The Ohio State University

Email:

Biography:
Andrew is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the Percussive Arts Society. He teaches drumline for marching band during summer band camps. He has served as a church musician for 14 years, providing drums and percussion for Forest Chapel United Methodist Church, Northminster Presbyterian Church, and All Saints Catholic Church. In 2014, Andrew won the Ohio State University James Moore Percussion, and he performed with the Ohio Military Band as a featured soloist in 2010 and 2015.

Amy Herbst (Voice)

Amy Herbst

Titles: Classroom Aide, Music Lesson Provider-Voice

Degree(s): M.A., Belmont University
B.A., Northern Kentucky University

Email:

Biography:

Amy started her musical journey singing popular music and musical theatre songs before being introduced to the amazing world of opera!  She attended Northern Kentucky University before moving to Nashville to attend Belmont.  She has performed with Nashville and Dayton Opera, toured with Round About Opera for Kids, and sung in many church settings.  She still performs with Dayton Opera and various opportunities around the city.  She is very passionate about vocal pedagogy and uses the program created by the Northwest Institute of Voice.  She has taught in many studios and schools in Nashville and Cincinnati in addition to having her own studio.  She loves helping students find and use the beautiful voice that God has blessed them with!

Emery Hicks (Trumpet)

Emery Hicks

Titles: Music Lesson Provider

Degree(s): M.M., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
B.M., Belmont University
A.D., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Email:

Biography:
Emery was first intrigued by the brass instruments in the great movie scores he grew up listening to. As he got older and began to perform, it brought him so much joy that he wanted to help spread that joy to others. Emery graduated from Belmont University with a B.M. in trumpet performance and went on to earn an M.M. and an A.D. in trumpet performance from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Today, he plays the second trumpet in the Evansville Philharmonic and performs regularly in several regional orchestras in the Greater Cincinnati area. Emery’s passion is to find beauty in the world, whether that be through music, art, or the natural wonders that the world offers.