WHO WE ARE
FACULTY & LEADERSHIP
OUR FACULTY
One thing that has never wavered throughout The Music Academy’s history is the quality of our teaching artists. We are honored to have a community of well-respected and experienced professional musicians working our mission and uncovering the creative spirit within us all. Our teachers make a tremendous difference in the lives of our students and we take great care ensuring that our students are mentored by the very best, regardless of age, ability, or ambition. Most have advanced degrees, could work anywhere, and choose to be a part of our community.
Teaching artists invest their whole selves into their work. They spend hours each week preparing and further developing themselves by practicing, exploring innovative lesson plans, and rehearsing for their next performance. Our faculty perform locally with the Greensboro Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, Old Time and bluegrass ensembles, NC Symphony, NC Opera, Bel Canto Company, Piedmont Wind Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, and many other esteemed ensembles across the country. They are professional accompanists, performers, presenters, composers, AND educators who amazingly balance many responsibilities while nurturing our souls and making us better humans.
A student of ours once said that “after two years of lessons, I am walking more nobly, shoulders back, breathing a little better, and the songbird in my soul and in my voice is resounding”. These words beautifully convey what we know to be true. Teaching artists build confidence, provide encouragement, and bestow the tools needed to improve and progress. We are continuously grateful for the many gifts they share, especially the gift of music.
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FACULTY BIOS
MUSIC ACADEMY STAFF
KELLIE BURGESS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
KELLIE BURGESS, Executive Director, helps craft an artistic, educational, and organizational vision for The Music Academy. Throughout her career as a music educator, administrator, and restaurant owner, she has developed skills and expertise in organizational and event management, personnel management, accounting, budgeting, fundraising, grant writing, marketing, board development, and strategic planning. Her passion for music education and arts advocacy fuel her accomplishments and motivate her to fulfill her responsibilities as an arts administrator. Kellie participated in the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium’s Executive Director Academy and Board Development Academy, Impact Greensboro, a five-year training in the Benevon Model for Sustainable Funding, and she regularly engages in professional development opportunities locally and nationally to learn from others, build relationships, and strengthen her skill set.
Kellie received her Master and Bachelor of Music degrees in cello performance from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Her twenty-year career teaching cello, early childhood music, and beginner violin as well as the many years spent performing with local orchestras and chamber ensembles help guide her vision for the organization. Kellie is proud to be recognized as a Music Academy Master Teacher; trained in Musikgarten, Kindermusik, Orff, and Suzuki cello; and to have held the positions of Dean of Faculty, Chair of the String and Early Childhood departments, Artistic Director for The Music Academy of NC Cello Competition, and Director of Outreach before being appointed to her current position. She enjoys spending time with her family, making pottery, gardening, playing the piano, and hiking with her two German Shorthaired Pointers whenever possible.
STEPHANIE FOLEY DAVIS
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
STEPHANIE FOLEY DAVIS, Associate Director, is charged with
raising critical funds for MANC. Stephanie worked side by side with Executive
Director, Kellie Burgess, to achieve a 1-million-dollar capital campaign to
purchase their community school building in just over a year. Since taking on
development responsibilities, Stephanie successfully grew the monthly donor
base at The Music Academy and maintains an active multi-year giving society,
the Lessons for Life Society. She has participated in development workshops
with The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, the Guilford Nonprofit
Consortium, the Greensboro Chapter of Community Centric Fundraising, and
the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
A sought-after performer, Stephanie continues to have a vibrant career in
opera, concert, new music, as well as rock and pop. Ms. Davis has appeared in
leading roles throughout the US with companies such as Arizona Opera,
Nashville Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Nightingale Opera Theatre, Orlando
Philharmonic and almost every professional opera company in North Carolina,
including Opera Carolina, Piedmont Opera, North Carolina Opera, and
Greensboro Opera.
Stephanie has been asked to perform mezzo-soprano solos with the Memphis
Symphony Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra (Maine), Winston-Salem
Symphony, Arizona MusicFest, Greensboro Symphony, and Opera Roanoke
Symphony. Along with fellow Music Academy faculty, Stephanie is the lead
singer of The Nonprofits, a rock and pop cover band in Greensboro, NC.
CHRIS RACHAL
DIRECTOR OF STUDENT RELATIONS
CHRIS RACHAL, Director of Student Relations and Recording Engineer at The Music Academy of North Carolina, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech/Mass Communications from the University of West Georgia. Following an 18-year career in radio broadcasting as a Disc Jockey, Chris embarked on a career in music and music production by attending The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio. Chris has worked in the Music Technology Department at the Music Loft, also as a sound editor and score creator at Notion Music in Greensboro. Chris also owns Spin It On Entertainment Professional Mobile DJ business and has over 30 years experience recording everything from radio voiceovers, recitals, school choral performances, church choirs to solo artists and rock ‘n’ roll bands. Chris also plays guitar and sings, and he is back on the radio after a 13-year break and can be heard on WQFS 90.9 FM.
NICOLE RAY
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
NICOLE RAY graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts in visual communication design and visual journalism. She also completed a copywriting course under the visionaries at The Creative Copywriter. Nicole loves being innovative through design, storytelling, and the use of unique verbiage.
Before her position at MANC, Nicole owned a local, children's consignment store in Greensboro for 16 years. She was thrilled to be able to provide a much-needed service to families, get to know her consignors, and bring smiles to her littlest customers. This connection to the community was really special, and that same feeling is what drew her to The Music Academy.
When she's not at MANC, you can find her doing additional freelance copywriting and design, spending time with her family, practicing yoga, or walking throughout all of Greensboro's beautiful trails, parks, and neighborhoods.