Gloucester & Salem County Teen Arts Festival

April 26th, 2023 | 9:00am-1:00pm

2023 Adjudicators & Workshop Leaders

William Benfer - Media Arts

Multimedia Designer

I am a multimedia designer with over 11 years of experience in multiple fields of media art and design. My work experience has taken me from collaborating on a design for the ‘Women’s March’ logo to creating a 3D animated video for ground breaking veterinarian surgical procedures in Chicago. While working in this industry, I have had the pleasure of working with people across the country. From San Diego, California to Chicago, Illinois and from New York, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In recent years, it has been my pleasure to teach Animation, Character creation, Advertising design, and Cartooning to children of all ages across the span of these cities. From Platt College in San Diego to Abington Art Center in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I attended Rowan University (then Glassboro State College) for Art Advertising and later attended Platt College of San Diego for Multimedia Design with an emphasis in 3D Animation.

Swati Chaturvedi- Dance

Dancer, Choreographer, Teaching Artist, Blogger

As a dancer, choreographer, teaching artist, and blogger, I aspire to create joy and to connect people one dance and one story at a time!  Bollywood dancing is my vehicle to foster individual expression, showcase cultural diversity, and celebrate life! I am the founder of the Community Bollywood Dance Project (CBDP), a passion project born back in 2009. Beyond dance instruction for individuals and groups, CBDP offers targeted Bollywood dance & movement programs across the Greater Philadelphia Region for all ages and abilities; including individuals with special needs, and patient demographics with cancer and Alzheimer’s diagnoses. Program format ranges from custom workshops and assemblies to multi-week residencies for schools/organizations. Rooted in experiential entertainment, these programs can be customized for team building events, milestone celebrations, and private events for individuals/communities/organizations.

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/

Rashad Malik Davis - Visual Arts

Author / Illustrator / Entrepreneur

I’m Rashad Malik Davis, an award-winning author/illustrator and entrepreneur currently pursuing his dream!  I love to explore themes of magic, the mystic, empathy, emotional literacy, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in my work most often – but in a fun and humorous way! I’ve been obsessively putting my visions and dreams to paper ever since I could hold a pen firmly, and I’ve reveled in every second of this journey. I am an artist, storyteller  and avid reader who has been doing all for as long as I can remember: drawing characters, giving them stories and reading to get inspired. In 2014, I reached a crossroads.  I had the option of staying stagnant, pursuing a career that was financially safe but ultimately unfulfilling. I felt stuck, called to do more.  It wasn’t until one night where I had a specific dream telling me “Take this opportunity or you might not get it again”, that I literally woke up to my purpose. I decided to leap with my eyes closed but heart wide open, trusting in myself and whatever guides came through that one night.  I’m happy to report that I am no longer jumping.  I am flying. I’ve now translated this all into a career as a diverse illustrator with a renewed focus on picture books for children and graphic novels for young adults. My picture book series won the 2017 Best Indie Book Award for its writing, and in 2019 the second book in the series won the Best Indie Illustrator Award for its art. I am currently at work on a graphic novel and my children’s picture book series entitled, Carefree, Like Me!

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. 

Arielle Eagan - Theater / Musical Theater

Voice Teacher / Acting Coach / Director

Arielle Egan is a graduate of Westminster Choir College (Magna Cum Laude) with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. From a young age she has been singing for audiences all over the Tri-State area. A south Jersey native, Arielle actively cultivates her love of musical theater, classical music, and choral repertoire on stages throughout the area. She teaches voice at Resonance School of Music as well as Mannington Music School and privately. Arielle also extends her craft as a theater and music teaching artist in public schools, an acting coach, a music director, a church singer, and a conductor. She continues to perform whenever she gets the opportunity. Some of her favorite roles include Carrie in Carousel, Lucille in Parade, Lilli/Katharine in Kiss Me, Kate, and Winifred Banks in Mary Poppins. In short, Arielle believes that the only thing that matches the joy she finds in creating art is helping others learn to do it.

L M Feldman - Creative Writing

L M Feldman is a queer, feminist, GNC playwright who writes theatrically audacious, physically kinetic, ensemble-driven plays that are both epic & intimate – usually about outsiders, often about searchers, always about the human connection. She writes plays that shift the prism, plays that quest & grapple, plays without answers. Plays about the women and queers she finds in the shadows & footnotes & margins. Plays wrestling with voice & agency, opportunity & access, history & its wake. Plays that explode space & time & dramaturgical form. Plays in which something TRANSCENDENT transpires – for the community both onstage and off. As a contemporary circus artist, L performed duo trapeze at festivals around the world. She continues to teach & dramaturg for circus artists around the country. She is passionate about theater that MOVES, and circus that DELVES. L has lived in seven cities and is currently based in Philadelphia, where she writes, devises, dramaturgs, advocates, teaches (all over the place), and handstands (also all over the place). For a full list of L’s work and awards, and more information, visit http://www.laurenfeldman.com/.

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!

AJ Nichols

Filmmaker / DJ

AJ has been a part of the Appel Farm Arts and Music Campus since 2018, where he taught robotics, film and recording arts, while also assuming the role of Arts + Technology Department Head for Summer Camp 2019-2020, and continued supporting camp operations and events in 2021 and 2022. AJ started his career working with children at John Fenwick Academy in Salem, NJ, where he was a teacher’s aide in special education classrooms. AJ graduated in Spring 2022 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Filmmaking from Montclair State University. He has worked on various films of all genres both at college and professionally. He has also worked as a DJ which allowed him to get professional experience with music production and sound design. He hopes to one day create his own film production company and work towards a Masters in Psychology and host arts retreats worldwide.

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

Sammy Reyes - Dance

Professional Choreographer / Teacher, Koresh Studios / Artist in Residence
Samuel Antonio Reyes (Sammy) has been a Philadelphia artist for the past 15 years. Sammy received a BFA in Performing Arts from the University of the Arts in 2001. He is the proud recipient of the Cushman Acting Award and the Theater Ensemble Award. Post-graduation, Sammy continued his dance training under Ronen Koresh of Koresh Dance Company and Renni Harris of Renni Harris Pure Movement. He has danced with many local Philadelphia artists such as Charles O. Anderson “Dance Theater X”, Kate Watson-Wallace, and Montazh Performing Arts Company. Sammy was nominated for a 2002 Barrymore Award for Best Choreography and Movement in the musical “St. Louie Women” and “Pal Joey” where he assisted Myra Bazell. He toured and created for Disney’s radio and television star Raven Symone from 2004-2008. Sammy continues to collaborate and set work on both theater and dance companies such as The Luna Theater, Cat Scratch Theater, Le Cabaret Molounge, Zen One Dance Collective, 11th Hour Theater Company, among others. He is currently choreographing for the Rocketts at Xfinity Live, is an adjunct professor/artist in residence at Muhlenberg College, and is the Artistic Director of his company SANBROOKA Productions.

Tanner Rushing - Theater

Theater Instructor / Director

Tanner began his career with Appel Farm during the summer of 2018 serving as a bunk counselor and theatre instructor/director, then quickly moving into the role of Head Bunk Counselor. He most recently served as Head of Theatre and Creative Writing for the summers of 2020 and 2021, and is now the Assistant Camp Director. Tanner received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of Southern Mississippi where he was able to perform in many of their mainstage productions and summer stock. He began his work with youth while still in college, offering one on one private lessons and coaching for children and young actors. He is dedicated to Appel Farm’s mission of providing an inclusive and safe environment for kiddos to explore and take artistic risks in a supportive and non-competitive environment.

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.

What is it?

Schools from Gloucester and Salem Counties are invited onsite at Appel Farm to perform and/or submit artwork to be adjudicated across various disciplines. Categories for adjudication at Appel Farm include visual art (2D and 3D), Video, Creative Writing, and performance ensembles or soloists in dance, vocal, drama, musical theater, and instrumental music. The festival day includes educational workshops for participating students.

Thank you to Salem County Office of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the Gloucester County Cultural & Heritage Commission for supporting artistic youth in Gloucester and Salem Counties. 

For more information about the Teen Arts Program, please contact Kristina Hill at khill@appelfarm.org.

Who can participate?

Middle (13+) and high school students, or the age/grade equivalent, from public, charter, parochial, or home school organizations in Gloucester and Salem Counties in New Jersey may participate. In most cases, a coordinator from the school will register, and work with teachers to enter students’ work. Students: If your school does not register, you can register as an individual entrant. Individual entrants who are under the age of 18 should register with a parent/guardian listed as the coordinator. Individual entrants who are 18+ should register with themselves listed as the coordinator. Individual entrants will enter their own work.

Registration Details

The County Teen Arts Festival will be held on April 26th, 2023 from 9:00am - 1:00pm at Appel Farm.

Final Deadline: 3/1/2023

Cost: $350/school | $25/individual

2023 Disciplines & Guidelines

Dance, Vocal, Drama, Musical Theater, Instrumental

Large group: 16+ (10 Minutes)

• Each school may submit a maximum of 2 Large Groups for each performance category.
• Each Large Group may submit 1 entry.
• The maximum length of each large group submission is 10 min.

Small group: 1-15  (5 Minutes)

• Maximum of 20 Small Group entries per school, per category.
• Each soloist may submit only 1 entry but may appear a second time as part of a separate small group.
• Max length of each submission is 5 min

Creative Writing

rose: limit of 4 pages

Poetry: limit of 4 poems or 4 pages, whichever is greater

Formatting Requirements:

• Orientation: 8½” x 11” page in portrait
• Margins: 1″ on all sides
• Font: 12pt. Times New Roman
• Title: top left of the page
• Page Numbers: bottom right
• Student Name, School, and Grade: upper right-hand corner of each page

*No written comments should appear on the work

2D Visual Art

Maximum of 20 2D entries per school

All student work must:

• Be two-dimensional (2D) artwork (painting, drawing, collage, print, mixed media, computer-generated or photograph
• Show creativity and originality, composition, content, and technical skill
• Follow copyright and plagiarism rules

3D Visual Art

Maximum of 20 2D entries per school

All student work must:

• Be two-dimensional (2D) artwork (painting, drawing, collage, print, mixed media, computer-generated or photograph
• Show creativity and originality, composition, content, and technical skill
• Follow copyright and plagiarism rules

Video

Maximum of 20 2D entries per school

All student work must:

• Be two-dimensional (2D) artwork (painting, drawing, collage, print, mixed media, computer-generated or photograph
• Show creativity and originality, composition, content, and technical skill
• Follow copyright and plagiarism rules