Student Evaluation Form

Community Music and Dance Academy

The Community Music and Dance Academy complements the Conservatory’s degree programs by bridging the national reputation and excellence of the Conservatory with the local musical needs of the Kansas City community. The Academy currently offers private and group instruction to more than 600 area musicians and dancers using current Conservatory graduate students, alumni and professionals as instructional personnel. We are a pre-collegiate, non-credit preparatory school for children and adults. The Academy functions as a division within the Conservatory that caters to pre-Conservatory/Preparatory Music and Dance students. The Academy is also the Conservatory's office for music camps and festivals in the Kansas City area and provides continuing education training through workshops and in-services to area educators and therapists.  Additionally, the Academy fosters several community outreach programs including ArtSounds, Composers in the Schools, Conservatory Connections at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Musical Bridges and Stringendo. 

Academy Leadership:

Mara Gibson, Ph.D. - Director Cheryl Melfi, DMA - Assistant Director 
Email: gibsonmb@umkc.edu  Email: melfic@umkc.edu

Community Music & Dance Academy
UMKC Conservatory of Music & Dance
301 E. 51st Street, Room 201
Kansas City, MO 64112
phone: 816-235-2741
fax: 816-235-5998

Email:  music-ce@umkc.edu

Congratulations!  Academy Student Achievements

Maria Smithson was accepted into Pittsburg State University as a music major for the Fall 2009 semester.  Maria studies composition with Mara Gibson.

Paige Anderson was accepted into Northwestern University as a theatre major for the Fall 2009 semester.  Paige studies voice with Denise Knowlton.

Pei Shan Yu was accepted into Pittsburg State University as a music major for the Spring 2009 semester.  Before starting at Pittsburg State, Pei Shan studied flute with James Hall.

Daphne Scruggs was accepted into the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance as a music therapy major for the Fall 2009 semester.  Daphne studies voice with Denise Knowlton.

Mackenzie Copp was accepted into the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance as a graduate student in composition for the Spring 2009 semester and is now a CITS fellow.  Before starting at UMKC, Mackenzie studied percussion with Sam Wisman.

Allison Parisi was accepted into the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance as a music major for the Spring 2009 semester.  Allison studies voice with Denise Knowlton.

Natalie Ortega Wells won the MMTA Music Theory Competition for Level 3 (Grades 7 - 9) with her analysis project on Debussy's "La fille aux cheveux de lin."  Natalie studies music theory with Ryan Oldham, piano with Cameron Dibble, composition with Mara Gibson, and is a member of the Kansas City Children's Chorus.

Taylor Place won the role of Hope in Blue Valley North High School's upcoming production of "Anything Goes."  Taylor also won a position in the Kansas All-District Choir.  Taylor studies voice with Denise Knowlton and is a member of Canta Filia.

Paige Anderson won a position in the Kansas All-District Choir.  Paige studies voice with Denise Knowlton.

Kalli Slater won the Youth Symphony of Kansas City's concerto competition.  She will be performing the third movement of the Bruch violin concerto with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City's Academy Orchestra on April 19, 2009.  Kalli studies violin with David Kovac.

Lydia Crouch, piano student of Cameron Dibble, received Highest Honors at the Kansas City Music Teachers Association Fall Festival in October of 2008.

Disha Dasgupta, piano student of Cameron Dibble, received Highest Honors at the Kansas City Music Teachers Association Fall Festival in October of 2008.

Peter Shelton, piano student of Cameron Dibble, received Highest Honors at the Kansas City Music Teachers Association Fall Festival in October of 2008.

Abram Williams, piano student of Cameron Dibble, received Highest Honors at the Kansas City Music Teachers Association Fall Festival in October of 2008.

Silas Williams, piano student of Cameron Dibble, received Highest Honors at the Kansas City Music Teachers Association Fall Festival in October of 2008.

Noah Siegel, piano student of Cameron Dibble, began his studies at UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance.

Shayla James, piano student of Leon Bugg, began her studies at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a music performance major.  Shayla is the recipient of a four-year music scholarship from Coe College.

Jet Patterson, piano student of Jean Drumm, recently presented her Suzuki Piano Book One Graduation Recital.

Saatatya Chakraborty, piano student of Ya-Ting Liou, competed in the MMTA District Audition and was selected to participate in the state honors audition.  Saatatya also won a superior rating at the MAMA Festival in the summer of 2008.

Abigail Freeman, piano student of Ya-Ting Liou, won a superior rating at the MAMA Festival in the summer of 2008.

Theresa Truong, piano student of Angela Cannon-Hirte, won a superior rating at the MAMA Festival in the summer of 2008.

Jack Mikkelson, piano student of Angela Cannon-Hirte, won a superior rating at the MAMA Festival in the summer of 2008.

Grace Price, piano student of Angela Cannon-Hirte, won a superior rating at the MAMA Festival in the summer of 2008.

The Fall 2008 Creative Movement class performed at the Plaza Art Fair under the direction of Amanda McMaster.

The Fall 2008 Young Singers class performed at the Plaza Art Fair under the direction of Denise Knowlton.