 Tim Evanicki- Director, Vocal Instructor
Having trained at both the prestigious Juilliard School and The Eastman School of Music, Tim Evanicki is one of the most sought-after Voice Teachers in Central Florida. He has taken his strong classical voice training and coupled it with his love of Musical Theatre and Commercial Music, along with working with some of the world’s leading vocal coaches, to create an effective, healthy vocal technique for his students that you won’t find anywhere else!
Mr. Evanicki has been seen on the stages of Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, The Kennedy Center and The New York State Theatre.
Prior to opening Starving Artist Studios, Tim owned and operated his own private voice studio in Orlando for over 6 years and worked as Education Director for the Downstairs Cabaret Theatre in Rochester, New York before that. His vocal studio, currently with more than 50 students from young beginners to seasoned professionals, has produced singers that have enjoyed successful careers in regional theatre, national tours, Off-Broadway, Broadway and in London’s West End.
Tim has coached musical theatre performers, rock bands, r&b singers, pop groups, soloists, folk bands, church musicians and has prepared his students for shows, concerts, recitals, recordings, weddings and other special events. Tim Evanicki is a proud member of both NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and The Actor’s Equity Association. |
 Ned Wilkinson- Brass and Woodwinds Instructor
Ned Wilkinson graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a degree in Commercial Arranging and an emphasis in trumpet performance. He soon found himself in Branson, Missouri, a tourist destination where few musicians read music and fewer trumpet jobs existed. Undaunted, Ned established himself first as a multi-instrumentalist, playing brass, woodwinds, strings, keyboards, and drums in nearby Springfield and at the Silver Dollar City theme park; he moved from there into show production and musical direction. He is most proud of his work with The Haygoods, fellow SDC alumni, former students, and current stars of a cable TV reality series.
Ned recently moved to Orlando, Florida to continue production work, to explore comedy, and to launch a theatrical writing career. At Starving Artist Studios, he continues the private teaching path he began more than two decades ago upon the advice of his band director friends. He strives to help his students make connections between various styles and disciplines, and prepare themselves for the performance opportunities of a future they will help create. |
 Heather Charles – Vocal Instructor
Heather Charles is a professional actress and graduate of The Boston Conservatory. Locally she’s been seen in such roles as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (Mad Cow Theatre), Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods (Orlando Shakespeare Theatre), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Winter Park Playhouse ’05, ’06, ’08 and ’09), Marta in Company (Mad Cow Theatre) and at various Disney venues since 2004 including the one woman show Perfectly Princess Tea Party and the Hoop Dee Doo Revue as well as both prestigious interactive improv companies; Main Street Acting Company and Citizens of Hollywood. Some regional credits include Christine in Phantom (Springer Opera House) and Ghost of Christmas Past in the national tour of A Christmas Carol. She’s also featured as a principle singer on the Original Cast recording of Twin Treasures. She has taught voice, piano and musical theatre at multiple venues over the last decade including The Springer Opera House, Master Class Academy and Magic Curtain Productions. |
 Michael Hadary – Voice Instructor
Michael Hadary has been studying voice and singing for over twenty years. Having earned a Bachelor’s of Music from James Madison University, Michael began work as a musical theatre performer performing in shows such as Oklahoma (Curly,) Songs for a New World (Man 2,) West Side Story (Tony,) Fiddler on the Roof (Perchick,) and Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince.) Looking to hone his skills further, Michael applied for graduate study at NYU’s Steinhardt School. He was accepted and awarded the highest talent scholarship for the Master’s of Music program in Vocal Performance. At NYU he studied voice and vocal pedagogy with reputed teachers Michael Ricciardone and Dr. Brian Gill along with teaching as an adjunct voice teacher. Michael has also studied voice and acting with such industry professionals as Meg Bussert, William Wesbrooks, Jamibeth Margolis, Stan Tucker and Katie Agresta. Studying with Ms. Agresta (teacher of Jon Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper, Lenny Kravitz and Sting,) Michael acquired a unique knowledge of techniques that help in the pop and rock genres of singing.
Since graduating NYU’s Steinhardt School, he has taught Private Voice Studios in Chicago, New York City and even over SKYPE. He has also taught at NYU’s Tisch school as well as Highbridge Voices in the Bronx and The Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, NJ. Michael has worked with a wide range of students including those wanting more confidence singing Karaoke to aspiring Classical singers as well as several performers from Broadway Shows/National Tours including Monty Python’s Spamalot, Mamma Mia, Sister Act, Les Miserables, A Christmas Story, The Producers, Jersey Boys, Annie, Joseph…, and Cats. Michael is very comfortable working in Musical Theatre, Pop/Rock, Classical and Jazz styles. As a performer in NYC, Michael has appeared in Sky Boys (Dan/Jim,) 110 in the Shade (File,) The Golden Apple (Ulysses,) Miss Saigon (Soldier,) and several festival shows. |
 Cara Lee Seguin – Dance Instructor
Upon graduation from Florida State University’s School of Theatre, Ms. Cibulsky (“Miss Cara” to her students) embarked with Disney Cruise Line as a performer to dance and cruise around the Caribbean! Back on dry land and settling in Orlando she has performed for Universal Studios, Sea World and most recently choreographed her own show for The 2010 Orlando Fringe Festival. While working with a local dance company in 2004, Miss Cara discovered her true passion, sharing her love of the arts with those willing to learn. Since that time she has taught throughout Central Florida at studios such as Clermont Academy of Dance, The Master Class Academy and Harwood-Watson Studios. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Theatre at the University of Central Florida where she has performed in and choreographed for their annual dance concert. |
 Neal Faul – Guitar/Bass Guitar Instructor
Neal was raised in the rhythmic, multicultural metropolis of Cape Town, South Africa before he journeyed to Sydney, Australia for university studies in music. After three years of music and performance education at Hillsong International Leadership College he enrolled in the Australian International Conservatorium of Music, from which he graduated as valedictorian with a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Performance. During his six and half years in Sydney he worked as a session musician, taught privately (all ages) as well as at the university level for Hillsong International Leadership College. Through performing, teaching and living in Sydney, Neal gained an extensive and varied musical foundation, from which he draws both his teaching style and content. Neal and his wife moved to the States in October of 2008 where he taught at Harris Music Studio in Lincoln, NE before moving to Orlando to begin work towards a Masters in Music Composition. They now call sunny and vibrant Orlando home. |
 Jennifer Bonner- Theatre Instructor
Jennifer graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Theatre with concentrations in performance, design, and production from Frostburg State University in small town Western Maryland. She has been working as a theatre professional for over ten years, the last six here in Central Florida. She is a collaborating partner with Empty Spaces Theatre Co(llaboration), a member of Beth Marshall Presents Design Team and core ensemble, a professional Teaching Artist, and a part of the 2010/11 Orlando International Fringe Festival’s official mascot team. Jennifer plays a dual role in the Central Florida theatrical community as an arts administrator as well as an actress/designer. She came to the Orange County Arts Education Center as the Arts Education Coordinator in 2011 after teaching theatre in the Lake and Orange County Public School systems, and now serves as Interim Director with the organization. She is excited to now have the opportunity to bring arts education to a larger audience, and strives to place the arts at the forefront of lifelong learning. |
 Kevin Kelly – Vocal/Piano Instructor
Kevin Kelly has been delighting audiences as a performer in Central Florida for a number of years. A graduate of Kansas State University, he holds a BA in choral/vocal performance as well as a BS in theatre. Before moving to Florida, Kevin was Director of Intern Studies and Musical Director for the Astors’ Beechwood Theatre Company in Newport, RI. While there, he co-created an intensive program focused on performance and professional development for the young actor.
Since moving to Florida, he has been featured in roles such as Hunter in the Central Florida premier of [title of show], Jitter in Musical of Musicals: the Musical, Frankie in Forever Plaid, and Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at the 2009 Orlando Fringe Festival. At the Mad Cow Theatre, credits include Forbidden Broadway Greatest Hits, John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Konstantin in the Seagull and the shape-shifting Mercenary in Kid Simple. Other regional credits include Horst in Bent, L.M. in Pump Boys and Dinettes, Sideway in Our Country’s Good and the title role in Hamlet, which took him to the Kennedy Center as a national finalist in the 1994 Irene Ryan competition. |
 Jennifer Kobrin – Dance Instructor
Jennifer Kobrin received her BFA in Dance from Florida State University. She danced as an apprentice for Footpath Dance Company in Cleveland, Ohio before quickly locating to warmer weather. For five years, she was the Director of Dance at Daytona Beach Community College, and Artistic Director of the DBCC Dance Company. Aside from teaching modern, jazz and classical ballet of all levels, she choreographed the annual dance concert, “Dancescapes”, the annual Madrigal Dinner, and the annual Big Band Dinner Dance. She has extensive training with Linda Davis (FSU Faculty, Bella Lewitzky Company), Anthony Morgan (FSU Faculty, Anthony Morgan Dance Company), Peggy Lyman (Martha Graham Dance Company), Gwynne Ashton (FSU Faculty, Royal Danish Ballet) and Richard Sias (FSU Faculty). Before going on hiatus to raise her two boys, she also completed 17 credit hours towards a MFA in Dance at FSU. |
 Christopher Leavy – Piano Instructor, Vocal/Audition Coach
Christopher Leavy is a freelance music director, accompanist and actor whose professional career spans over 30 years and nearly 100 shows. Chris is the resident MD at the Winter Park Playhouse. He holds a BA in Theater from the University of New Hampshire and attended Grad School at Missouri State Univeristy. Local Credits: Walt Disney World (Dapper Dans, Hoop Dee Doo Revue), SAK Comedy Lab, Mad Cow Theatre and Islands of Adventure. He directed the 2010 Orlando Fringe Festival hit Julie Bunny Must Die! Regional Credits: Don’t Tell Mama (NYC), the National Tour of Bathhouse, the Musical, the Kansas City Crossroads Musical Theatre Festival, the Kansas City Fringe Festival, Silver Dollar City theme park and the Mansion America (Branson, MO). Chris has also worked with the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA and Portsmouth, NH’s Theatre by the Sea and Seacoast Repertory Theatre. |
 Joyce Lemos – Dance Instructor
Miss Joyce comes to us from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she received her dance training at Academio Spaco Dance, Lamarca Dance Center, Tapias Dance School and the Carlos Gomes Theatre School. She specializes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, African, Flamenco and Brazilian Salsa. She has been seen on the Brazilian stages in such productions as A Chorus Line (Diana) and Rocky Horror Picture Show (Columbia) at Tablado Theatre do Brasil, Parusia Capitalista (Dance Captain), Geracao Trianon, Sleeping Beauty, Vida and Quanto Mais Lamarca Melhor. After moving to the United States, she was an aerialist and dancer with the Ringling Brother and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Currently, she can be seen on the stages of Arabian Nights and The Pirates Dinner Adventure here in Orlando. |
 Chris McCabe – Musical Theatre Instructor
Christopher McCabe is so excited to be a part of Starving Artist Studios. He received his BFA in Music Theatre from New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL and is the Theatre Director for Lake Mary Preparatory School. Past credits include the South Florida premier of Bare (Peter), Off Broadway’s Judy & Me (Jimmy/Rick), the US National Tour of Bathhouse The Musical! (Billy), West Side Story (Tony), Parade (Britt Craig), Into the Woods (Wolf/Prince), Songs from an Unmade Bed and his original one person show Never Eat the Masala from Punjabi Palace. |
 Natalie Deen – Strings Instructor
Miss Natalie has been the Director of Orchestras at Lake Highland Preparatory School since 2007. She teaches 3rd and 4th Grade Enrichment, 4-6th Grade Beginning String Orchestra, 6th Grade Advanced String Orchestra, Middle School String Orchestra, Upper School Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber. Ms. Deen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The University of Mount Union and a Masters of Music in Music Education from Columbus State University. She was a member of the Alliance Symphony Orchestra and the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra from 2003-2007. She was a featured soloist with the Reparatory Strings at Mount Union in 2007. She has also performed with chamber ensembles and as a soloist throughout her career. As an active Alumnae of the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, Ms. Deen is very involved in the national philanthropy “Walk Now for Autism Speaks”. Ms. Deen is also an active member of the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church Choir. |
 Claudia Goncalves- Theatre Instructor
Claudia is honored to be part of the Starving Artist Studios team. She has tutored in grades 3-5 and taught drama in early elementary afterschool programs, in addition to working with several productions in local youth theater. She has a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in NYC and is a certified teacher for VPK and Pre-K through 3rd grade. She is currently a VPK teacher in Winter Garden, but before moving to Florida, she worked in a preschool setting for a total of 9 years. She worked with our Theatre Tots and Rising Stars during our Summer Program and looks forward to continuing the fun into the fall season. |
 Elizabeth Ingram- Voice Instructor
Elizabeth Ingram is an emerging opera singer complimented for her effortless high notes and beautiful tone. Born and raised in Winter Park, Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Loyola University New Orleans, where she studied with Ellen Frohnmayer. During her time there she sang with the New Orleans Opera Association and shared the stage with world-renowned singers Plácido Domingo, Lawrence Brownlee, and Elizabeth Futral. Upon her completion, she was accepted into the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music and earned her Master of Music in Vocal Performance studying in the studio of Canadian baritone, Michael Meraw. Elizabeth is a light lyric/coloratura soprano, and has sung roles such as Nellie from Summer and Smoke, Calisto from La Calisto, Alice from Falstaff, Aminta from Il Re Pastore, Apollonia from La Canterina, and Second Lady from Dido and Aeneas. She is currently singing with the Florida Opera Theatre and pursuing her opera career, and is thrilled to be teaching at Starving Artist Studios. |
 Amanda Hudson Giese – Voice Instructor
Amanda Hudson Giese has been working with kids for over 20 years as a voice, music and theatre teacher. She is a professional actress, singer and recording artist with a degree in Theatre and Music from Austin Peay State University. She was featured in many professional regional theatre productions such as “Nine”, “Evita”, “Mame” and “Life With Father”. She performed as Miss Lily in “The Golden Horseshoe” Saloon Show” at Disneyland in California for three years and was the featured vocalist with Big Bands in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Amanda served as Artistic Director for Knoxville Theatre’s Children’s Camp, was a faculty member at the Nevada School of the Arts, a music teacher for Pathways Private School in Orlando and founded Stagekidz! ®, a Non-Profit Theatre and Music Company for kids ages 7 through 18. She served as an elementary music teacher, choral director and theatre teacher for Hillsborough County Public Schools. Most recently, Amanda was a voice and theatre faculty member at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. She taught theatre and chorus at the Woodruff Academy and was a theatre instructor at Master Class Academy here in Orlando. She has been a private voice teacher and a performance coach for more than 15 years. |
 Aleksandra Vargas- Voice Instructor
Classically trained singer Aleksandra Vargas is a graduate of the Purchase College Conservatory, and holds a Master’s degree from the Florida State University. Originally from New York, she has attended the Juilliard pre-college program, and has performed in Avery Fisher Hall. Ms. Vargas has been an affiliated artist with the Orlando opera. She has performed roles with the Orlando Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Opera company. Ms. Vargas has taught voice at the Florida State University and Harrison School of the Arts. Aleksandra Vargas believes that a solid technique is the foundation to good singing. Many of her students have sung with the candlelit procession at Disney, and have gone on to be accepted into prestigious music programs. She continues to perform and is in the process of receiving a degree in speech pathology. |
 Vera Evanicki, Studio Manager
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 Katie Tricamo, Administrative Assistant
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