LYNDSEY BROWN SCHAEFER

MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAM DIRECTOR, VOICE TEACHER, AUDITION COACH AND REPERTOIRE COACH

Lyndsey Schaefer is both an award-winning teacher and actress! As a performer, she is a classically trained soprano. She has performed in musical theatre productions locally, regionally and on tour. Some of her favorite roles include Christine Daaé in Phantom, Lily in The Secret Garden, Mary Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life, Beth in Little Women, Laurey in Oklahoma, Johanna in Sweeney Todd and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz for which she was awarded "Best Actress in a Musical” for New Jersey’s 2010-2011 professional theatre season. She also had the honor of being one of only four original cast members in Ruth Fost's Alice in Wonderland tour. Outside of theatre, Mrs. Schaefer is a hired soloist for concert and solo work. As a child, she had the honor of singing in Avery Fischer Hall in Lincoln Center. She is a hired studio musician and has recorded demos for new musicals and also singer/songwriters. She has also been also featured in commercials and is a freelance director, producer, casting director and film editor. As a teacher, Lyndsey has been teaching private voice lessons since 2003 which focus on classical technique through musical theatre and classical repertoire. She has been teaching music (vocal, general and orchestral) since 2004 and received the award of "Teacher of the Year" in 2013 (Bernards Twsp 2004-2019, Lebanon Borough 2019-2023)! She has also been nominated for the Grammy Music Educator Award. She served as musical director/pit conduct for the spring musical at Ridge High School from 2011-2019 and Conductor in 2021, 2023, & 2024, including the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star award-winning production of Disney's Newsies, and music directed for Morris Knolls High School in 2020. Favorite MD credits include Newsies, Rent, The Secret Garden, Legally Blonde, Fiddler on the Roof and Bye Bye Birdie. She has also musically directed shows and taught master classes at various performing arts schools. At Cedar Hill School, she created the drama club where she directed, musically directed and choreographed countless shows!

STEVE SCHAEFER

ROCK BAND PROGRAM DIRECTOR, GUITAR AND BASS TEACHER

Steve Schaefer is both a performer and teacher. He is a classically trained guitarist who has traveled the world refining his craft. Whether shredding a solo with his band, playing a Bach Concerto or performing in a musical theatre pit orchestra, Steve's talent, energy, and professionalism are undeniable. As a performer, he is currently the lead guitar and back-up vocalist for NJ's premier cover band, Captain Eric and the Shipwrecks. He has also performed in the pit orchestra for various theater companies in the tri-state are. Some favorites include Spring Awakening, Catch Me if You Can, All Shook Up, West Side Story, The Man of La Mancha, Rent, Legally Blonde and Jesus Christ Superstar. Steve has been teaching instrumental music since 2002. He is currently the instrumental music teacher in Clinton Twsp. Here he conducts the band, orchestra and jazz band in addition to the rock band and guitar ensemble which he created for the district. In 2015, he was awarded "Teacher of the Year" at Clinton Township Middle School. In his private lesson studio, he teaches guitar and bass. He also plays various other instruments as well including drums and saxophone.

STACIE GOGO

MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAM CHOREOGRAPHER & ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Stacie Gogo is an actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer based in NJ. As a performer, Stacie's bright smile has been seen across the country while on tour, regionally, and off-Broadway. As a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, favorite credits include Penny Pingleton in Hairspray, Tinkerbell in Peter Pan, Cinderella in Cinderella, a Kit Kat Girl in Cabaret, a lead vocalist in the Cruisin' Into the '70s revue, and of course Alice in Alice in Wonderland, where she had the opportunity to perform alongside Mrs. Lyndsey Schaefer.
After beginning her dance training at age two and a half, Stacie studied tap, jazz, ballet, modern, musical theatre, and some ballroom dance; all while performing in countless community and school theatre productions from childhood through college. After receiving her degree in Musical Theatre with a minor in Dance, she went on to work professionally, both as a performer and choreographer/dance teacher.

Choreography credits for theatre productions include Grease!, Once Upon a Mattress, Velveteen Rabbit, and The Adventures of Hans Christian Andersen. Stacie had the opportunity to teach beginner and intermediate tap at the college level, and a Musical Theatre Dance course at The Dance Connection in Rockaway, NJ (where she attended from ages 2-18). Stacie is currently the choreographer for the annual musical at her alma mater, Morris Knolls High School, and has the great pleasure of choreographing and teaching for Fine Tuned Performing Arts' Summer Musical Theatre Intensive, since the program started back in the summer of 2018.

KIM ACE

VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Kim Ace is a former art teacher in Bernards Township and Hunterdon Central school districts with experience teaching all grades levels from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. She currently teaches in Lebanon Borough. She studied at Pratt Institute and received her degree from The College of New Jersey. She is a life-long learner constantly seeking opportunities to learn from other artists. She has practiced open life drawing at the Center of Contemporary Arts in Bedminster, NJ and at Kissimmee River Pottery in Flemington, NJ. Kim resides in Tewksbury Township, NJ with her husband, two daughters, and many cats.

Kim concentrates mainly on portraiture, murals, and live painting. Additionally, her breadth of work covers children's book illustrations, ceramic totem poles, acrylic landscapes, house illustrations, and more. As a teacher, she was able to dig deeper into every medium and still enjoys opportunities to do it all. She continues to teach students of all ages in private lessons, small group workshops, and summer camps.