Calendar School Programs

2024 Salem and Gloucester County Teen Arts Festival

Friday, April 12, 2024
9am-3:30pm
Appel Farm Arts & Music Center

Appel Farm is excited to host the 2024 Salem and Gloucester County Teen Arts Festival on Friday, April 12, 2024! We welcome teens ages 13 - 19 from Salem and Gloucester Counties to participate in art workshops, adjudicated performances, portfolio reviews, and fun!

This event is not open to the public.

Teen Arts 2024 Adjudicators and Workshop Leaders

Leslie Bush - Dance

Rowan University, Dance / Movement Expert and Consultant

Courtney Colón, - Dance

Founder, pillardance / Professional Choreographer / Educator

I am an artist-activist who generates disruptions within my work by referencing contemporary issues. I enjoy creating works where others can find their own meaning and narratives.  I prioritize a connection to my internal and external environment, to others, and to the broader human experience.  We are all connected to a larger global community. I wish to make connections between the global dance community and the wider sociological, educational, and political communities spanning the globe stronger and more relevant.

https://www.courtneycolon.com/

Megan Cooney - Instrumental Music

Associate Director of Bands / Director of Athletic Bands, Rowan University

Loren Dann - Visual Arts

Visual Artist, Painter/Teacher/Executive Director of South Jersey Artist Collective

Loren’s multi-disciplinary approach empowers those who have been silenced and urges viewers to challenge society’s rigid aesthetic expectations. Her work has been exhibited extensively in New York, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, garnering widespread recognition. As a freelancer, Loren has lent her unique style to a variety of cultural items, from album covers to handbags. Loren is also an accomplished art educator, having worked with individuals of all ages, genders, and races to explore art for emotional and physical well-being. Through her art, she advocates for creating diverse communities that embrace and celebrate all forms of expression. Painting on material cultural items, from album covers to handbags, she creates a solid and recognizable presence. Loren’s skill as an art educator has allowed her to work with all ages, genders, and races to explore art as a creative and therapeutic outlet for emotional and physical well-being. Loren also uses her art to encourage diverse communities where all forms of art and expression are encouraged and valued.

Michael Doheny - Vocal / Choral Music

Choral Director and Drama Music Director at Winslow Township High School

Michael Doheny has been the Choral Director and Drama Music Director at Winslow Township High School, formerly Edgewood Regional High School, since 1994. He earned his B.M. in Music Education in 1994, and his Master of Music in Choral Conducting in 2011, from Glassboro State College/Rowan University, under the tutelage of Clarence Miller, Dr. Eugene T. Simpson, and Dr. Z. Randall Stroope. Mike is an NJMEA Master Music Teacher and was awarded the 2012 Winslow Township District Teacher of the Year honor. He has twice conducted the South Jersey Senior High Chorus (in 2004 and 2012), and has led rehearsals for the New Jersey All State Mixed and Treble Choruses and the NAfME Eastern Division Treble Chorus. Mike is currently serving as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Greater South Jersey Chorus, and most recently conducted the Salem County Honors Choir in April 2023. He has performed with community choruses, as a church soloist, and in leading and supporting roles in many of the local community theaters over the past 30 years.

Andrew Garonzik - Instrumental Music

Band Director, Winslow Township. Middle School / Professional Cornet Player / Trumpet Instructor, Rowan Community Music School

Andrew “Gonzo” Garonzik is a Rowan University graduate where he earned a degree in Music Education.  Originally from Maryland, Andrew also studied at Towson University as a Jazz Performance major.  Andrew works with students in all age groups and is currently the band director at Winslow Township Middle School in Atco, New Jersey as well as the trumpet instructor at Rowan University’s Community Music School in Glassboro, New Jersey. Andrew is currently the Eb Soprano Cornet player for the multi-national championship winning Atlantic Brass Band (Ensemble-in-Residence at Rowan University).  He has performed in venues all over the world including Symphony Hall (U.K.), Carnegie Hall (NYC), Sage Gateshead (U.K), Perth Concert Hall (U.K.), The Great American Brass Band Festival (KY), the North American Brass Band Summer School (Halifax, NS), The Mann Center for the Performing Arts (PA), The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo (Halifax, NS), The U.S. Open Brass Band Championships (IL) The North American Brass Band Championships (IN) with ensembles that include the Atlantic Brass Band, the Leyland Band, the Kings Division Brass Band, the Philadelphia Wind Symphony, the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, the South Jersey Wind Ensemble, and the Rockville Brass Band. Andrew is also a frequent free-lance musician.

Sage Haltiwanger - Visual Arts

Visual Artist / Illustrator

Sage is a nonbinary artist of color located in Glassboro, NJ. They have attended and studied several art programs, including art programs at Rowan University, University of the Arts, and Moore College of Art & Design. They are passionate about diversity, inclusion, and mental health, as well as storytelling, poetry writing, and character creation.

Cristin Introcaso - Vocal / Choral Music

Choral Director, Collingswood High School / Asst. Director, Rowan University Vocal Camp

Cristin Introcaso is in her nineteenth year as director of choirs at Collingswood High School in Collingswood, NJ, where she conducts the Concert Choir and Women’s Choir in addition to four co-curricular ensembles: the Madrigal Singers, the Chamber Choir, an a capella group, and a barbershop quartet. Under her direction, the choirs have performed at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.,Lincoln Center, the Kimmel Center, and most recently, at Carnegie Hall. Mrs. Introcaso received her Bachelor of Vocal Music Education and Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Rowan University. Mrs. Introcaso is also the founder and conductor of Collingswood Sings, a group that connects community singers and instrumentalists together to perform free concerts of major works bi-annually in Collingswood. An active member of ACDA and NAfME, Mrs. Introcaso is the President-Elect for Region III All South Jersey Chorus, recently conducted the Jr High Chorus at the 2022 SJCDA concert,  has presented sessions for the NJMEA conferences, conducted the 2014 SJCDA Elementary Festival, the Camden County Music Educators’ Professional Development Day, and most recently was the co-chair for the Together We Sing sessions at the ACDA Eastern Division.

Melody Marshall - Tech Theater

Stage Manager / Scenic, Properties, Sound Designer

Melody is a strong believer in using the arts to make a positive change in her community and has spent the last 10 years doing exactly that. She has a B.A. in arts administration and technical theatre and has over 5 years of experience in theatre teaching and leadership as well as studying and working with theatre for social change and theatre education. In technical theatre she has worked in stage management, props, painting, costumes, sound design, and more!

Charlotte Northeast - Theater / Musical Theater

Professional Actor / Director / Acting Coach / Writer / Producer

Charlotte Northeast is a Philadelphia-based actor, director, educator, administrator, and writer. She is a two-time Barrymore Award winner for her work at InterAct and Lantern Theater Company. Graduate: Circle in the Square. Other credits: Act II Playhouse, Theatre Exile, Passage Theatre, Azuka, Montgomery Stage, Hedgerow, Tribe of Fools, Orbiter 3 (Barrymore Nomination), Delaware Theatre Company and the Walnut Street Theatre. Co-creator and performer of The Complete Works of Jane Austen (Abridged) and solo show They’ve All Gone & We’ll Go Too (Edinburgh Fringe). For ten years she was an artistic associate of the Philadelphia Artists Collective. www.charlottenortheast.com

Laura Lyn Stern - Visual Arts

Visual Artist / Ceramicist / Mosaic and Mural Artist / Artist in Residence

Laura Lyn Stern is an award-winning visual artist. She holds an M.F.A. Ceramic Sculpture from Louisiana State University, an M.A. Ceramics from Purdue University, and a B.F.A. in Textile Design from Moore College of Art. Currently an Artist in Residence at C3 Collaboratory School, Stern’s teaching experience ranges across 40 years from public schools to private studios to college instructor. Professional affiliations include CFEVA: Center For Emerging Visual Artists, and MSoP: Mosaic Society of Philadelphia, where she has served as Vice President, Secretary, Board of Directors, and Exhibition Chair. More at https://lauralynstern.artspan.com/.

Brent White - Instrumental Music

Director, Jazz Orchestra and Jazztet, Drexel University

Brent White is a lifelong Philadelphian and jazz enthusiast. Mr. White understands Philadelphia’s rich cultural community; its leaders, history, musicians, connectors, and politics. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Widener University, a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of the Arts, and a certificate in non-profit management from LaSalle University. He has toured nationwide and internationally as a freelance trombonist to the world’s largest Jazz festivals, yet possesses the local field experience, and relationships with many of Philadelphia’s non-profits with a career focus that can be summarized in one word—Jazz. Previously, Mr. White has worked as the Education Program Manager at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, designing and implementing outreach education programming for Philadelphia students. Mr. White has taught jazz in the Philadelphia Prison System, the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, in the Camden New Jersey City School system, and as Director of Jazz Orchestra at Drexel University. Residencies included the Juilliard School of Music outreach Department (Bay Area Tour), where he provided jazz workshops in juvenile detention centers, children’s hospitals, and schools in the San Francisco Bay area. As a trombonist, Mr. White has toured with the likes of John Legend (Indonesia), Kindred Family Soul (South Africa), and the Sun Ra Arkestra (Europe). Mr. White has been welcomed to the stage by Lady Alma, and has recorded in-studio for Patti Labelle. Mr. White is no stranger to the Philadelphia and New York jazz scenes where currently, he performs with Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band, Josh Lawrence and Color Theory, and the Fresh Cut Orchestra, among other ensembles. Most recently, Mr. White composed and recorded his album Broken Toy dedicated to children who suffer trauma caused by losing a parent to incarceration.

Brian Kurtas-Theatre/Musical Theatre

Director/Musical Director

Brian Kurtas has been associated with the Walnut Street Theatre since 2007. He began his career here as a performer and in the professional apprenticeship program, and has since dedicated himself to bringing artists together. He now serves our artists and audiences in the various capacities of casting, directing, programming, and literary management, as his function is to identify the highest quality of artists for our historic theatre. His vision behind unforgettable live experiences and storytelling has become a creative solution from the stage to the screen – He spent 4 seasons as the Executive Producer of Gretna Theatre, worked on feature films and tv networks including TLC and HGTV, and created events and entertainment for brands such as T-Mobile and Walmart while at Live Nation. Originally from Lancaster, Brian is a proud Temple alum and a member of the Casting Society of America.

2024 Teen Arts Timeline

Early Bird Registration Deadline: December 31, 2023
Registration Deadline: January 31, 2024
Submission Form Deadline: March 15, 2024
Teen Arts Festival: April 12, 2024 - 9am-3:30pm