Visual and Performing Arts

VPA Faculty Bios

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John Ash, Instrumental Music

John D. Ash is the Director of Bands for the College of Central Florida. Mr. Ash has served the world of music education for more than 23 years as a college music professor, high school band director and k-12 music teacher. Mr. Ash is currently the Department Chair for the Visual and Performing Arts Department, as well as the Faculty Senate President.

Mr. Ash studied conducting under Dr. Thomas Jenrette and Dr. Paul Hinman, and has resided in clinics with Anthony Maeillo, Dennis Zeisler, and Ed Lisk. Mr. Ash has performed as the principal tuba for the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra, the East Tennessee State University Wind Ensemble, the Classic Brass Quintet, the Emerald Coast Brass Quintet, and the Virginia Wind Symphony. He has also served as a sub for the Kingsport Symphony Orchestra, and the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Ash received his Masters Degree from Grand Canyon University, and a Bachelors of Music Education from East Tennessee State University, where he was a full scholarship recipient.
Mr. Ash lives in Citrus Springs with his wife Jong and their sons David, Jacob, and Matthew.

Office: 4-202A
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322, ext. 1203
email: ashj@cf.edu

Gay Lyn Capitano, Instrumental Music

Gay Lyn Capitano’s degrees include a Bachelor and Master of Music along with doctoral studies in piano performance from the Florida State University, under Dr. Carolyn Bridger and Leonard Mastrogiacomo. Mrs. Capitano holds a Certificate of Performance from the International Institute of Chamber Music held at the Munich Conservatory. She has studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music under Clifford Curzban and under James Smolko. Joerg Demus and the Alban Berg Quartet have been among her coaches. Performances have included solo and chamber works for piano and for harp. As a piano soloist, she has performed with the Florida Orchestra and the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Capitano has served as principal keyboardist for the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and Choir since 1989. She has played in the University Symphony Orchestra at the University of Florida and is the pianist for the Central Florida Master Choir. Gay Lyn is currently a vocal and instrumental accompanist for The College of Central Florida and an adjunct piano professor. She frequently serves as worship pianist for Grace Presbyterian Church in Ocala. Active memberships include the Florida State Music Teachers Association, Federation of Music Clubs, and the National Piano Guild. Mrs. Capitano has had thirty-one years of teaching experience and has presented a piano master class at the University of Florida.

As a zealous educator and performer, Mrs. Capitano has directed piano and pedagogy studies at the Capitano Music Studio in Ocala for over twenty-four years. Her students have been recognized nationally and traveled internationally to perform. Their compositions have been published and they have received scholarships to Florida State University, Liberty University, Pensacola Christian College, University of Tennessee, Bob Jones University, Baylor University, and the University of Florida. Gay Lyn is a frequent judge at the local, state, and national levels. She holds a permanent professional certification in piano teaching from the Music Teachers National Association. Gay Lyn is married to Greg Capitano and has three children. She home-schooled from 1991-2010 and enjoys performing with her children, Kirsten, Ben, and Anna, who play the violin, cello, and piano.

Office:
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322 x1419
email: capitang@cf.edu

Tyrus Clutter, Visual Arts

Tyrus Clutter is a painter and printmaker originally from Michigan. He has taught in higher education since 1995. Clutter holds a BA in Art from Spring Arbor University and an MFA in Painting from Bowling Green State University. His award-winning work has been exhibited in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout North America and in galleries in Europe. Clutter’s work can be found in many private collections as well as in the Print Collection of the New York Public Library and the collections of the Museum of Biblical Art and the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas.

Images of Tyrus’ work have appeared in several journals and magazines including The South Carolina Review, Ruminate,and Arts & Letters: Journal of Contemporary Culture. From 1999 – 2001 he was art critic for the Boise Weekly newspaper in Boise, Idaho. He was Director of the international art non-profit CIVA from 2003 – 2008. Clutter continues to teach and speak on topics of art, art history, and aesthetics around the country.

Office: 4-202B
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322 x1238
Email: cluttert@cf.edu

Nonalee Davis, Theatre

Prior to joining the College of Central Florida, Nonalee was a Communication Coach for the Savannah College of Art and Design where she worked with top fashion designers and artists from all over the world pitch and present their designs. She is also an actress, director, and stunt woman. Nonalee has also been a private movement coach for performers in world-renowned companies such as Cirque du Soleil and Dragone international performance teams in Las Vegas and Orlando. She was the Director of Communications Training for Feld Entertainment, where she provided the media, performance, and presentation training for Feld Entertainment’s Disney on Ice, Monster Jam, Sesame Street, Monster Energy Supercross, and Marvel Universe Live. Nonalee was the Head of Leadership for IMG Academy where she provided interview and media training for the NFL Combine, NBA pre-draft, MLB, and U.S. Olympians from speed skating to track and field. Nonalee has coached some of the top talent in the world from entertainment to NASCAR helping them overcome fears of speaking on camera, on a stage in front of thousands of people and helping them find a more authentic way to present themselves. She has her Master of Arts in Theatre from the University of Central Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Western Carolina University.

Office: 4-202A
Ocala Campus
Building 4
352-854-2322 x1220
Email: davisno@cf.edu

James Budd Dees, Digital Media

James Budd Dees is an artist and teacher based in southeast United States. He received a Bachelors of Fine Arts in ‘Digital Media’ from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Fine Arts in ‘Art and Technology’ from the University of Florida.

His work has been shown around the continental US, including the 2011 SGC International Conference and recently a few shows in Berlin. As a performance artist, sculptor, and digital arts maker, he values material flexibility and conceptual consideration over stagnant skills.

Office: 4-202F
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322 x1253
Email: deesj@cf.edu

Emily Heumann, Vocal Music

Emily Heumann, mezzo-soprano, is a performer of art song, musical theatre, sacred, and operatic repertoire. Additionally, Emily has spent the last six years studying voice science, and has experience teaching private voice lessons to children, teens, and adults.

As a singer, Emily has appeared with dozens of companies including Mad Cow Theatre Company, Florida Opera Theatre, The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Operativo Houston, Savannah Voice Festival, and Opera Orlando. Recent roles include Beppe in L’Amico Fritz, Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly, Alto Soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, and Hansel in a production of Hansel and Gretel that was praised by Arts and Culture Texas Magazine and the Houston Press.

This season, Emily is the Mezzo Studio Artist for Opera Orlando. In January, she made her debut with First Coast Opera as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro. Emily earned her bachelor’s degree at Rollins College, and her Master of Music in Voice Performance & Pedagogy from The University of Houston. She currently teaches voice at the CF Community School of the Arts.

Office:
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322 x1419
email: heumane@cf.edu

Jason Longtin, Vocal Music

Jason Longtin (Director and Conductor) is Associate Professor of Music at CF. He is the director of the Patriot Singers and Chamber Choir, and also teaches Music Theory and Sight Singing/Ear Training. He has been involved in musical theatre productions for nearly 20 years. His directing credits include “Sondheim on Sondheim,” “Into the Woods,” “The Pajama Game,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “Xanadu,” and “Zombie Prom.” His music directing/conducting credits include “Anything Goes,” “Guys & Dolls,” “My Favorite Year,” “Grease,” “Assassins,” “The Last Five Years,” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

He taught high school music in Florida from 1999 to 2017, and is a National Board Certified Teacher (Early Adolescence/Young Adulthood). He taught for two years at Lyman High School (Longwood), 12 years at Crystal River High School, and four years at Florida Virtual School. Choirs under his direction have performed throughout the United States, Italy, and Switzerland. As a composer, his music has been performed throughout the United States, Mexico and Europe.

He is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, American Choral Directors Association, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Florida Music Education Association, and has served on the State Board of the Florida Vocal Association. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Stetson University and a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Florida. He is currently a Ph.D. Candidate (ABD) in Music Education at the University of Florida.

Office:
Ocala Campus
Building 4, Room 202A
352-854-2322, ext. 1231
email: longtinj@cf.edu

Rebecca G. Lott, Dance

Rebecca G. Lott is a teacher, dancer, and choreographer residing in Ocala, Florida. She received her undergraduate degree from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in Special Education/Elementary Education, Master of Science in Dance from Illinois State University in 1983, and returned to graduate school to receive her Masters in Fine Arts from The Ohio State University. Rebecca has danced with Shawn Womack Dance Projects, (a touring repertory company), Pat Mckeown and Dancers, and the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy. She has also had the privilege to dance with Ann Carlson, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, Art Bridgeman and Myrna Packard, Mark Taylor, along with many others. Rebecca has served on the faculty at University on Cincinnati, Kent State University, and The Ohio State University as a Graduate Teaching Assistant where she received the Outstanding Graduate Teacher of the Year Award for the entire university. Rebecca is currently teaching at Lake Weir Middle School during the day, and rehearsing with the Diamondback Dance Company as Assistant Director under the direction of Cate Martin, at Belleview High School. Rebecca’s goal is to begin to build the dance program at College of Central Florida, and assist in the process of creating remarkable dancers in Central Florida.

Office: 101C
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322 x1419
email: lottr@cf.edu

Trey Moore, Instrumental Music

Trey Moore received his bachelor’s degree in both Music Performance and Music Technology from Stetson University in Deland. He later obtained a master’s degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Southern California. During his time in Los Angeles he worked for Trojan Event Services as a stage manager and was eventually promoted to the executive staff.

In addition to being the Dassance Fine Arts Center manager, Moore is a professor of trumpet at the College of Central Florida where he instructs students individually and in an ensemble setting.

Moore is also on faculty at Stetson University where he teaches Technology for Musicians, a nationally accredited course required by all music majors. In his free time, Moore serves as a substitute musician for multiple orchestras including the Jacksonville Symphony and the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.

Trey Moore
Office:
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322, ext. 1585
email: moorean@cf.edu

Dr. Sarah Satterfield, Instrumental Music

An experienced administrator with a broad background in various sectors of the performing arts industry, Dr. Sarah Satterfield managed the San Diego State University Symphony Orchestra and, currently, the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra. She served as Administrative Assistant for the prestigious Arioso Wind Quintet. During her first year with Arioso, she won grants exceeding $50,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts, City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, California Arts Council, California Touring Artists’ Roster, and John and Jane Adams Trust. She also coordinated the Adams Project, a training project that taught collegiate-level small ensembles the art of educational, senior, and multi-cultural outreach programming. While involved with the Adams Project, she coordinated outreach performances in 120 community venues throughout Southern California.Dr. Sarah Satterfield has taught a variety of music and humanities courses at College of Central Florida, the University of Florida, Flagler College, and Lake City Community College. She lectures regularly throughout the Southeast, specializing in American music and music of the twentieth century. Most recently Dr. Satterfield presented a lecture-recital on the traditional music of Florida at the International Conference of Arts and Humanities in Honolulu, Hawaii and gave the local debut of Jorge Ibanez’s Aire II for Flute and Piano at the College Music Society’s Regional Conference in Gainesville.

Dr. Satterfield has concertized extensively, participating in premieres or performances at the College Music Society Regional Conference, National Flute Association Annual Convention, Florida Flute Association Annual Convention, and International Festival of Women Composers. She has performed in masterclasses presented by Nancy Clew, Bradley Garner, Damian Bursill-Hall, Eldred Spell, and Constance Lane. Dr. Satterfield plays flute with the Central Florida Symphony and directs the Patriot Pipers, a flute ensemble she launched while at CF.

Dr. Satterfield is a member of a number of professional organizations including the American Musicological Society, College Music Society, Society of Early Americanists, National Flute Association, Florida Flute Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, Mu Phi Epsilon, Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa Delta Pi. She performs regularly throughout Central Florida.

Dr. Satterfield received a Ph.D. in Music History and Literature with an outside specialization in art from the University of Florida, MM in Flute Performance from San Diego State University, and BM in Music Education from Furman University (magna cum laude).

Sarah Satterfield, Ph.D.
Office: 4-202C
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322, ext. 1406
email: satterfs@cf.edu

Gregory Snider, Instrumental Music

Gregory M. Snider is currently the College of Central Florida adjunct professor for saxophone, clarinet, and jazz band. He also works as a woodwind technician and jazz instructor for Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala and maintains a studio for saxophone and clarinet at Great Southern Music in Gainesville, FL.

Recently, Gregory graduated from the University of Florida with a Master of Music degree in saxophone performance. In conjunction with his teaching schedule, he strives to perform multiple styles of music on the saxophone ranging from classical works to pop charts and jazz, and regularly performs within the north central Florida area.

Office:
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322, ext. 1419
email: sniderg@cf.edu

Marina Tucker, Instrumental Music

Marina Tucker has been playing violin professionally since she was selected to perform with the London Symphony Orchestra during their performances at the 2007 Florida International Festival. Most recently, Ms. Tucker won Principal Second Violin of the Imperial Symphony Orchestra in Lakeland, FL. In addition to her duties as adjunct string professor at the College of Central Florida, she regularly performs with the Gainesville and Ocala Symphony Orchestras. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Music from the University of Florida where she studied violin with Dr. Janna Lower. With numerous students and performances around the state, she has become one of the most sought after violinists in Florida.

Office: 4-101C
Ocala Campus
Building 4
352-854-2322, ext. 1419

Michele Wirt, Visual Arts

Michele Wirt has been Professor of Visual Arts and Humanities, with CF full time since 1998. She received her MFA from UF in 1989. She is the President and Co-Founder of the Citrus Cultural Alliance, Inc. Michele Wirt is also a member of the Visual Artists Society.

Office:
Citrus Campus
Building 6-4 Room 201G
(352) 854-2322 x6131
Email: wirtm@cf.edu

Graham Young, Digital Media

Graham Young earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from Florida Atlantic University and a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Minnesota.

He has taught at the college level since 1999, most recently at The Art Institute of Jacksonville before joining The College of Central Florida in January of 2017. In his spare time, he designs and develops film cameras which he uses for a variety of photographic endeavors.

Office: 4-201A
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322 x1646
Email: youngg@cf.edu

Laura Zalneraitis, Vocal Music

Laura Zalneraitis is Adjunct Voice Professor at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida. Prior to her appointment at the College of Central Florida, Laura received her Master of Music and Bachelor of Music Degrees in Vocal Music Performance from the University of South Dakota.

As a Graduate student at the University of South Dakota, Laura taught applied voice and public school vocal literature and techniques. During this time she also performed in the University of South Dakota’s productions of Dido and Aeneas and The Medium. As Belinda in Dido and Aeneas the production received second place in the American Prize in Opera Performance in 2013, as well as, third place in the National Opera Association 2011-12 Opera Production Competition. As Monica in The Medium the production was a finalist for the American Prize in Opera Performance in 2014. After her graduate studies Laura was the assistant stage director for the University of South Dakota’s fall opera productions of Too Many Sopranos in 2014 and The Tender Land in 2015.

Laura performed regularly with the Sounds of South Dakota, Inc. in Sioux Falls, SD. Her first performance was in the production of The Magic Flute with Samuel Ramey, which received second place in the National Opera Associations 2012-13 Professional Opera Production Competition. Laura enjoyed being a teacher at the Sounds of South Dakota’s summer opera camp for children and performing in the summer children’s opera productions for two years. She performed in Masterclasses by Alexander Dedik, Amanda Johnston, Carla Connors, and Laura Loewen. Laura won several solo awards, most recently receiving first place at the NATS Young Artist Competition for the South Dakota Region in 2014 and first place in the MTNA Young Artist Competition for the South Dakota Region in 2013.

Office:
Ocala Campus
Building 4
(352) 854-2322 x1419
email: zalneral@cf.edu