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Meet the Instructors
Lia Bendix
Lia Bendix is thrilled to be a part of the team at Solon Center for the Arts. A life-long musical theater lover, Lia holds a degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder and in French and Francophone Studies from Carleton College. Lia taught general music for three years, including conducting an after-school choir, and has experience teaching music and languages to students from kindergarten to adulthood. She serves as the alto soloist and choir section leader at Plymouth Church UCC, and can also be heard performing around town with the Temple-Tifereth Israel High Holidays choir and the Cleveland Carolers. When she’s not singing or teaching, Lia works for College Now Greater Cleveland as a scholarship specialist.
Kaylen Durham
Kaylen Durham was a competitive dancer for 15 years at her home studio. After that, she began to work for SCA and has enjoyed working for the dance, theater, and adaptive programs for 8 years. When she is not teaching at SCA, she is an intervention specialist for Bedford City School District for individuals with moderate-intensive disabilities. Thank you to all the students and families who have made teaching at SCA so enjoyable!
KRISTINA J. FERENCIE
Kristina Ferencie is a 1988 alumna of Solon High School, where she has designed and directed for 20 years. Professionally, Kris has stage managed 4 of Cleveland’s longer-running shows at Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre and the Hanna Cabaret. Area lighting designs include Tony & Tina's Wedding, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Berea Summer Theatre and the Cleveland San Jose Ballet.
KRSNAA FITCH
Krsnaa Fitch is a graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York City, and has been teaching acting to children and adults for over a decade. She has had a love for the stage since before she could read the script (her first director handed her the script, and then said, "Oh wait, you don't know how to read yet!") and began writing and directing plays at the age of 14.
Krsnaa has acted Off-Off Broadway, in many places around the USA, and even got to fly to India to be in a show! She began the Gainesville Shaw Society in Gainesville Florida, and produced works of Shaw to much acclaim. She learned to love GB Shaw interning for David Staller & Project Shaw at the Players Club in NYC. Her favorite thing to witness is someone finding "their tribe" in the theater, and helping her students learn to love the art, and find their own voice and inner creative fire.
Stephanie McCarthy
Stephanie McCarthy is a graduate from Rowan University with a BA in Theatre Technical/Design. She has directed and choreographed My Son, Pinocchio JR, Seussical JR, Mary Poppins and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown as well as stage managed Legally Blonde, The Diary of Anne Frank and Grease at Mainstage Center for the Arts in Blackwood, New Jersey. She was also the Production Assistant for Moorestown High School Theater and is the stage manager for Dena Blizzard’s shows, One Funny Mother and I Love You, Get Away from Me.
MATTHEW WILKS
Matthew J Wilks is pleased to join the staff at Solon Center for the Arts! A graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, he has been working professionally in all areas of the performing arts industry for over 10 years. Selected Theatre Credits: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (The Grinch), The Importance of Being Earnest (Algernon), The Nerd (Axel), 2 seasons at Hilarities Comedy Club in their murder mystery parties, and 8 seasons as a resident actor and educator with The Illusion Factory, a children’s theatre touring company. Selected Film Credits: Little Evil, Draft Day, and White Noise. Currently he can be seen performing throughout Northeast Ohio with 4 Murder Mystery Theatre Companies.
MICHELLE WILSON
Michelle Wilson is thrilled to join the staff of Solon Center for the Arts. She has received a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre from Siena Heights University (SHU). Previously, she has worked with the Creative Stages Program at SHU as a Teaching Artist. During this time, she helped kids grades K-12 create and reach their full potential on stage. Michelle found her passion for theatre at the early age of five years old and her creativity blossomed from there. While she’s not teaching and performing, she enjoys swimming, cooking/baking, and writing plays.
KATHERINE TEKESKY
Katherine has been doing theatre in the Cleveland area ever since she graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2012. During that time she has run theatre camps and directed productions as well as serving in roles such as assistant director, stage manager, costume designer, props master, choreographer, and technical assistant. She is proud to be the new Theater Coordinator at Solon Center for the Arts and has much experience working with schools and theaters such as 82nd Street Theater, The Royalton Players, Chapman Elementary School, Hudson Middle School, Buckeye Community Theatre with Fred Hargrove Young Artists, Cuyahoga Community College and more. She’s also had the pleasure of acting in performance partnerships with Mapleside Farms, Tower City’s Kringle’s Inventionasium, The Cleveland Clinic and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.