Caroline Stahl comes to TMA with more than a decade of arts administration experience ranging from fundraising and donor relations to marketing and public relations. During her career at Carnegie Hall in NYC from 2013-2018, Caroline helped raise $32 million annually toward artistic and educational programming by securing corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and private donations. In her role as Senior Manager of the Patron Program, Caroline stewarded nearly 950 donor households and planned large-scale private events for patrons and trustees.

A native of South Carolina, Caroline is a classically trained soprano and graduated from Clemson University in 2009 with a B.A. in Production Studies in Performing Arts (music concentration). In 2021, Caroline returned to Clemson as the Director of Public Relations of the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, overseeing digital marketing for the mainstage concert series and leading publicity efforts for student activities in the Department of Performing Arts.

Since moving to State College in August 2023, Caroline has enjoyed plugging into the flourishing local arts community, and now sings with the State College Choral Society and serves on the Board of the Nittany Performing Arts Centre. She and her husband Michael enjoy exploring the beautiful parks in the area with their fun-loving, 2-year-old daughter Annie (a Musikgarten student at TMA!) and their family dog, Minnie.

Read a note from Caroline to TMA Families here.

Betha Christopher is a fully licensed Musikgarten teacher, was a National Musikgarten Teacher Trainer and a Level I Certified ECMMA member. She earned a Bachelor of Music from DePauw University in Indiana, and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Boston University.  "Because I can see the wonderful benefits of music in my own children, I am delighted to offer Musikgarten & Music Together programs to families at The Music Academy!  I bring over 20 years of experience with young children, as a children's choir director, nanny, nursery director, preschool music teacher, and mother.  I hope that your family will join me soon to sing, dance and experience music together."

Trevor Thompson has an active career as a freelance violinist and music educator. Trevor performs in concert halls throughout the country, performing with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, California Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, Pacific Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana, and the Ohio Valley Symphony. A passionate chamber musician, Trevor has performed in concert alongside violinist Ariana Kim, Berlin Philharmonic violist Matthew Hunter, and cellist Andres Diaz. As an educator, Trevor has a passion working with a wide array of students and levels, taking inspiration from the pedagogies of Suzuki and Paul Rolland. Trevor has served as a faculty member of The Crowden School in Berkeley, CA, and as the Senior Coordinator and Lead Strings Instructor at California Symphony’s Sound Minds music program. Trevor has coached and given masterclasses as a Chamber Fellow at the Palo Alto Chamber Music Summer Camp and served as the Assistant Coordinator and Violin Instructor with the Illinois String Academy, where he taught violinists of all levels and coached chamber music at the Pre-College Chamber Music program. Trevor received a B.M. in Violin Performance from Vanderbilt University, and an M.M. and Artist Diploma in Violin Performance from the University of Illinois.