Faculty

ADMINISTRATION

Connie Dienner

Executive Director

Connie Dienner is the the founder and director of the Chabod Academy of the Arts, pulling together 30+ years of involvement in the Theatre Arts both in the United States and abroad, and the desire to foster a setting where creative people are accepted and their gifts nurtured. Connie’s undeniable passion for God, the students, and the community, is shared with a distinct vision of how excellence in the arts can be used to grow and advance the God’s Kingdom. This vision radiates through the Academy as student’s are trained and mentored to user their creative gifts in an inspiring and world-impacting way. Connie’s successful leadership was pivotal in several musicals to include the Academy’s own “[Clever Holiday Title]”, and producing Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man”; impacting the local region for years to come. Her submissiveness to God’s direction and call, has revealed a growing Chabod Academy family. “As the student’s and staff grow also in confidence, the achievement of excellence seems almost…..contagious!”

Ashley Dienner

Bookeeper

Ashley graduated from Acts International Bible School where she received her Associates Degree in Theology. She is married to Derek Dienner who oversees the media/video of Chabod Academy. She has also been involved in organizing numerous Chabod Academy events. Ashley has always enjoyed working in administration. She has been a great asset to the Academy.

DANCE

Tahnya Lapp

Assistant Director/Artistic Director, Ballet Instructor (Grade I, II, III and Adult Beginner)

Tahnya has been dancing at various schools in the region from a very young age. Her passion for dance developed when she traveled and performed across the east coast on a mission trip at 14 years old. It was then that she discovered there was more to dance then looking good onstage… dance is a powerful tool that breaks cultural barriers and reaches the hearts of people without even saying a word. Tahnya has been with Chabod Academy of the Arts since it’s small beginnings. She has taught hip hop, modern, worship dance and ballet. She is currently focusing on ballet and her roll as Assistant Director/Artistic Director. She has been receiving much guidance from Carolyn Trythall, owner of Lancaster School of Ballet. She has been taught under the professional instruction of Paul Sutherland (Joffrey Ballet), Brunhilda Ruiz (Joffery Ballet), Emily Borthwick (Contra Costa Ballet), Raymond Lukens (American Ballet Theatre), Christopher Hird (Boston Ballet), Franco De Vita (American Ballet Theatre). Tahnya attends the Cecchetti Council of America conference every fall and spring. She is in the process of getting her Grade I teacher certification from Cecchetti Council of America. She is very excited about the potential the academy has not only to raise up dancers with beautiful technique but dancers that can dance with excellence and purity unto the Lord. She has a passion to see the Kingdom of God influence the world with dance that is modern and relevant, instead of the world influencing the Kingdom. Tahnya and her husband, Richard reside in New Holland. They have five young children.

Julie Krothe

Hip Hop Instructor

Julie has studied dance at the academy for 5 years and started teaching Hip-Hop 3 years ago. She has been involved in productions at the Academy including “The Choice”, “[Clever Holiday Title]”, “The Music Man”, and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”. Julie is currently employed by Sight and Sound Theatres as a hair assistant. She also works in concessions and appeared in “In the Beginning”. This past Spring, she choreographed “Seussical” for the Manheim Recreation Center.

Stephanie Morales

Ballet (Non-Syllabus), Contemporary, Physical Theater Instructor

Stephanie has been trained in classical ballet for nine years under the direction of Dance For Joy Ministries, Lancaster School of Ballet, and Premiere Danse Academy and has been taught under the professional instruction of Paul Sutherland (Joffrey Ballet), Brunhilda Ruiz (Joffery Ballet), Emily Borthwick (Contra Costa Ballet), Kathy Thibodeaux (Ballet Magnificat), Jiri Sebastian Voborsky (Ballet Magnificat) and Viktor Yeliohin (Donetsk Ballet of the Ukraine). She has participated in Ballet Theater of Lancaster’s productions of Chippolino, Snow White, The Seasons, and The Nutcracker. Stephanie has attended Ballet Magnificat’s summer dance intensive in 2009 and 2010 and in 2009 competed in the Assemblies of God Fine Arts competition locally and nationally in the category of Worship Dance. She has been an apprentice ballet teacher under the supervision of Molly Carey from Lancaster School of Ballet. Along with dancing, she has participated in dramas and musicals such as “Jane Eyre”, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Sight and Sound’s production of In the Beginning, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Stephanie’s passion lies in sharing God’s love, through dance, all around the world.

Cara Richardson

Assistant Artistic Director/Administrative Assistant/Infusion Choreographer/ Primary Ballet, Creative Movement, Kinder Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical/Modern, and Musical Theater Instructor

Cara appreciates all forms of dance and enjoys teaching students of all ages. She has taught numerous classes at Chabod Academy and Chabod Summer Camp over the past 3 years including Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Musical Theater, and Hip Hop. She has also performs on Chabod Academy’s dance company, “Infusion” . Cara has lived all over the country, and as a result gained a rich cultural and artistic experience. She danced in the Florida Ballet’s production of “The Nutracker” from 1997-1998. In 2007 Cara choreographed “Godspell” for Fitch Senior High School in Groton, Connecticut and in 2009 choreographed for Shining Light Ministries in Lebanon, PA. Cara has also performed in various musicals and shows including, “Grease”, “Romeo and Winnefred”, “Little Shop of Horrors”, “The Choice”, “[Clever Holiday Title]”, “The Music Man”, “It’s A Wonderful Life”, and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”.

Cortlynn Phillips

GYMNASTICS

Derek Martin

Derek comes to us with a variety of experience in gymnastics and tumbling. He has had 17 years of training through Positive Fitness Gymnastics. He taught there for 4 years and has been teaching at Chabod Academy for 2 years. Derek was a stunt coach for Garden Spot Varsity for 1 season. He was also a competitive cheerleader for 2 years and a tumbling coach for Synergy Elite Cheerleading. Derek is currently performing with Chabod Academy’s dance company, Infusion and is involved in many of the dance classes at the Academy.

 MUSIC

Johnathan Bauer

Traditional Piano and Voice

Johnathan joined the staff of Chabod Academy in the spring of 2010 as a piano and vocal instructor. He received a bachelors degree in vocal performance from the University of Southern Maine, graduating summa cum laude, with a 4.0 GPA. Johnathan was twice selected to perform in the Honors Recital at USM, and has won 1st place three times at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition. Before moving to PA, he performed and taught in Maine, directing shows at Greater Portland Christian School. Johnathan moved to the Lancaster area with his wife Rebecca, to work at Sight & Sound Theatre.

Kristen Brewer

Voice

Kristen Brewer is thrilled to join the Chabod team! Originally from Pensacola, FL, Lancaster is now called home to she and her husband Ben after performing at Sight and Sound Theaters for the past 4 seasons. She graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, TN with a BM in Classical Voice and has been performing consistently and professionally since 2003. She has sung and acted all over the country as well as overseas. Since moving to PA, she has become a lead creative team member of the local PRiMA Theatre Company. Recent roles include Florence in PRiMA's "CHESS", Lady Potiphar in Sight and Sound's "Joseph" and Roxanne in 7th Sister's "Cyrano". Her newest role will be that of Mother in "Life"! Artistic expression is a powerful tool that the Lord uses and Kristen is excited to help cultivate that skill and passion in others!

 Diane Umile

Suzuki and Traditional Piano

Diane has been inspiring young people to pursue their love of music through learning to play the piano since the early 1980s. She was educated through the teacher training program of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and at West Chester University. She is a member of the SAA as well as the Greater Philadelphia Suzuki Association and she participates in continuing education workshops annually or more. Her students are her best teachers. She has operated her studio located in West Brandywine since 1988. Diane has taught Suzuki piano since 1983 and traditional piano since 1995. She is also an assistant teacher at Preschool in the Valley, Malvern, and plays keyboard, sings in and directs Forever Endeavor, a contemporary Christian band which plays at St. James' Episcopal Church, Downingtown, and performs locally with her husband, Tom, in their band, Free Range. Diane takes a special interest in songwriting and improvisation. She has taught music and other subjects at several homeschool co-ops. Diane and Tom have two grown children who homeschooled.

Quintin Stoltzfus

Drums & Guitar

Quintin graduated from Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas with a 2 year degree in biblical theology. He was heavily involved with their music program where he played acoustic guitar on the praise band for the school. Quintin has taken drum and guitar lessons from various professional instructors and has had lots of experience playing on worship teams. He loves the Lord with all his heart and really enjoys working with his students at Chabod!

 ACTING

Jesse Corbin

Play's The Thing!, Acting Up! Instructor

Jesse is currently in his Senior year at Lancaster Bible College studying Bible and Musical Theatre. Since moving to the Lancaster area he has had the privilege of performing with LBC in various productions, such as Singin' in the Rain, and has also worked with such local theatre companies as PRiMA Theatre and Chabod Community Theater. He has a passion to use the arts to teach important life lessons and also to reach those who are hurting or have no confidence and is excited to be a part of the Chabod Academy teaching team.