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 two daughters (both Musikgarten students!) and their family dog, Minnie Mouse.
The true purpose of arts education is not necessarily to create more professional dancers or artists. It’s to create more complete human beings who are critical thinkers, who have curious minds, who can lead productive lives. - Kelly Pollock, CEO, The Berges Foundation
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Greetings, students and families! We are thrilled to welcome you to this milestone anniversary year at The Music Academy!
As we celebrate how TMA has grown and evolved over the past 60 years, what has been even more striking to me is how much of it has remained the same. The mission printed on our 1964 Charter documents is still our mission today: "to provide young people and adults in our community with an opportunity to broaden themselves and enrich their lives through music."
Our goal is not to create more professional artists, but rather to create more complete human beings, who have curious minds, who will lead more fulfilling and productive lives after studying at TMA. I am honored to be a part of this legacy to help ensure that The Music Academy will continue to thrive for generations to come.
By enrolling your children at TMA with our first-rate faculty, you are giving them a gift that will serve them for the rest of their lives. As a fellow parent, I am committed to providing outstanding music education to our students in a safe and positive environment. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at director@scmusicacademy.org if I can answer questions, collaborate on new ideas, or address concerns.
Thank you for the trust you place in us!
Caroline R. Stahl Executive Director, The Music AcademyBetha 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."
Nicole Felker (Violin and Viola) is a graduate of Butler University with a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance under the tutelage of Richard Auldon Clark, and The Hartt School with a Masters in Viola Performance under the tutelage of Rita Porfiris. She is currently pursuing a Performance Practice Certificate at Penn State University under the study of Tim Deighton.
During her time at Butler, Ms. Felker was part of the Butler Symphony Orchestra and the Butler Ballet Orchestra, preparing major symphonic works, concertos and ballets. She was violist in her Butler based quartet, performing works by Mozart, Sibelius, Shostakovich, and more. While in Indianapolis, she worked with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra as an alumni and violin/viola instructor for beginning students.
At The Hartt School, she acted as a rotating principal violist within the Hartt Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician, she has premiered several commissioned works for solo and group settings and regularly performed with her piano quintet. She has performed in several solo masterclasses for Kayla Williams, Amber Archibald, Ann Rogan, Masumi Per Rostad, Amadi Azikiwe, Nicole Dival, and Tim Deighton. Ms. Felker has also performed in chamber masterclasses for The Aizuri Quartet, The Cassatt Quartet, Bang on a Can, and The Juilliard Quartet.
Ms. Felker was trained in violin/viola Suzuki pedagogy through Book 4 at the Hartt School under Teri Einfeldt. From this extensive training and her own experience as a teacher at Summit Studios, Ms. Felker has developed a teaching style that caters to the individual, exploring the methods that work best for the student. She also encourages learning a variety of styles, from traditional to folk, as well as exploring music outside of the general curriculum.
Brooke Greybush (Piano) is delighted to serve as the Adult Education Coordinator and a member of the piano faculty at The Music Academy. As Adult Education Coordinator, she is working to provide more learning opportunities for adults including Adult Keyboard Classes, the TMA Satellite Program at Retirement Communities and general adult instruction.
Brooke holds dual B.A. degrees in Music and Psychology from Susquehanna University and her Masters in Music in Piano from Temple University. Her teachers include Marylene Dosse and Cecilia Dunoyer from Penn State University, Dr. David Mattingly from Susquehanna University, and Dr. Charles Abramovic from Temple University.
Teaching positions include Susquehanna University’s preparatory program, Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, and The Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts in Clearwater, Florida. Since 2010, Brooke has enjoyed teaching at The Music Academy. Her interactive teaching method adapts to each student’s learning style. Brooke looks forward to exploring the world of music with her students while enhancing their everyday lives with creativity, discipline, and joy!