Executive Director & Principle Conductor

Candace Wicke, made her Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2002, premiering the Symphony of Psalms by Imant Raminsh. As a champion of new music, Dr. Wicke has premiered new works in many of her Carnegie Hall appearances including the World Premiere of Stephen Edward’s Requiem for my Mother, Revelation and the New York Premiere of the Ave Maria Mass. Sharing the stage in 2008 with the likes of the Vienna Philharmonic, Christoph Eschenbach, and Helmuth Rilling, Wicke conducted the European premiere and world-wide television broadcast of the Edwards Requiem for my Mother with the Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus, Orchestra and the City of Prague Philharmonic at the prestigious Festival Internazionale di Musica Sacre Series in Roma, Italy. In 2009 Wicke conducted the World Premiere of A Carol Fantasy by Stephen Edwards in Carnegie Hall on the new “Christmas Time in the City” concert series.

Returning to Carnegie Hall in 2010 for the Lee Kjelson Memorial “Sounds of Music Series” Wicke conducted the Raminsh Missa Brevis in addition to a World Premiere by composer Gary Fry. In 2011 Wicke conducted the first Festival Internazionale Di Arte Per Giovani Musicisti in Rome, Italy, and is also scheduled to conduct the concert 2,000 years in the making “Live from St. Peters Square” featuring the world premiere of the Revelation Trilogy. This historic event is the first professional concert to be presented in St. Peter’s Square, City Vaticano. The 2013 season includes a concert collaboration with the Bayreuth Festival presenting Wagner’s only Oratorio Liebesmahl der Apostel in recognition of his 200th birthday.

Ensembles under her baton have received national and international acclaim, performing for the Global International Women’s Summit, Musica Mundi International, Legatus International, and the Miami Civic Associations Young Artist Debut. A popular clinician and judge, she has appeared as conductor in Rome, Assisi, City Vaticano, Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacre Coeur, Massabielle and the Théatre Fountaine in France. Dr. Wicke’s international experience also includes conducting the United States representative Wind Ensemble at the Taipei Presidential Inauguration, the Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and the City of Prague Philharmonic, in Prague.

Dr. Wicke is President, Executive Director and Principal Conductor for the Continuo Arts Foundation and the first woman conductor of the Maplewood Glee Club. Wicke conducts the Continuo Arts ensembles including the Children’s Chorus, Singers!, Continuos!, Civic Chorale and Seniors Sing!, featured in a variety of concert series’ and community outreach performances throughout the year. In these roles, she is committed to procreating the arts through performance, composition, education, and to fostering patronage for musical advancement and exposure. She is a graduate of the University of Miami and Evangel University, majoring in vocal and instrumental performance, music education and conducting.

Executive Assistant

Mezzo-Soprano, Jocelyn McGillian, is executive assistant for the Continuo Arts Foundation, and a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance as a student of Sharon Sweet. While at Westminster, she sang roles such as Connie Sue in the musical Smile, an Soeur Antoine in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites, in addition to performing in scenes from Mozart’s Die Zauberflote. In 2008, Ms. McGillian was selected to attend the Crittenden Opera Studio, where she performed in scenes from Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, Delibes’ Lakme, and Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. Ms. McGillian’s solo professional debut was in May 2009 in the Spoleto Music Festival’s production of Charpentier’s Louise.
At Westminster, Ms. McGillin appeared as a soloist with the Westminster Chapel Choir, Schola Cantorum, Williamson Voices, and the world-renowned Westminster Choir. Ms. McGillian is currently a member of the All Saints’ Choir in Princeton, NJ, where she recently performed as a mezzo soloist in Mozart’s Requiem. Additionally, she has made appearances with Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs as the mezzo soloist for the Bach Christmas Oratorio, and as Pitti-Sing in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. In 2010, Ms. McGillian was a soloist with Princeton Pro Musica in the Schnittke Requiem.

Accompanist

John Conte, pianist, composer, producer, orchestrator, educator, is the staff accompanist for the Continuo Arts Foundation and holds a B.M. and M.M. in piano performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD. His subsequent education includes studies in Jazz Performance and Music Theory at the Manhattan School of Music, Chamber Music at The Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada, and Composition at Westminster Choir College. His teachers have included Robert Weirich, Ann Schein, Leon Fleisher and Karl Ulrich Schnabel.  He's written and recorded the scores for the award-winning independent features "Black-Eyed Susan" and "Mass of Angels."  He was the Assistant Conductor of the Lyric Theatre Orchestra of NYC and is an accompanist for The Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ.  He is currently the pianist and Musical Director for Alexander Kariotis and the Rock Opera Orchestra.

Graphics & Web Development

Saxophonist, producer and song writer Mike Marrocco has made a name for himself by creating music that connects with his audience. Whether he is found sharing the stage with artists' from Rafael en Concierto to Wynton Marsalis, or playing jazz clubs promoting his recent CD release "Walk Away;" Mike aims to create artistic music.

Mike is a Miami Native, who has grown up in the culturally rich South Florida scene.  As a young player Mike was a student at the prestigious New World School of the Arts, were he was given instruction by some of South Florida’s Premier musicians.  He continued his studies at the University of Miami as a student in the Studio Music and Jazz program.  With the formation of his production company MJM Productions Inc. Mike has branched out his talents to include the production of albums and original compositions. His original music can be heard on a wide variety of projects from theatre productions, TV commercial placement, Nationally Syndicated Magazine spotlights, product informercials, commerical advertising campaigns, albums and independent film projects.

As a musician, Mike has worked with artists ranging in diversity from Arturo Sandoval, Wynton Marsalis, Rafael en Concierto to  Barbara Cook.

Artistic Director
Summer Musical Theater Conservatory 

Cherilyn Marrocco is the Artistic Director and owner/founder of the Marrocco Academy of Dance/ MAD Dance. Cherilyn is a Miami/New York-based choreographer, director, instructor and performer who founded MAD Dance to bring others all of the joy, experiences, and appreciation for the arts that dance has provided her. With over 25 years of dance training, 12 years of dance instructing, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theater/Drama Education, Cherilyn brings with her a diverse set of skills and talents, an understanding for children and their different learning styles, and a life-long passion for the beauty, creativity and freedom of dance. Ms. Marrocco brings an enthusiasm and dedication to her craft that is reflected in the quality of the instruction, programs and experiences.

Cherilyn began her career in the Miami area. She received a BFA from New World School of the Arts/University of Florida Music Theater Program. A native of Miami, Mrs. Marrocco trained at the age of 4 at the Ballet Academy of Miami under the direction of Tony Catanzaro and Lizette Piedra. She then received a full scholarship at Miami City Ballet and trained with renowned masters Edward Villella, Violette Verdy, Vladimir Issaev, and Nancy Raffa. In 1997 she was awarded a full scholarship to Belvoir Terrace, a Performing Arts Camp for Girls in Lenox, MA. At Belvoir, Mrs. Marrocco trained with master teachers and mentor Michelle Benash, Carolyn Lanfredi, Pedro Ruiz, Nancy Bielski, Chris Lee, Chet Walker, and Milton Myers.

Mrs. Marrocco’s repertoire includes such classics as George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Sleeping Beauty, Serenade, Paquita, Valse Fantaise, Concerto Barrocco, Who Cares, Raymonda, as well as a wide variety of modern and contemporary works including Pedro Ruiz’s masterpiece “Places of the Heart” at Jacob’s Pillow in 2004. Mrs. Marrocco has performed at such venues as the International Hustle and Salsa Competition and is a Dancesation company member under the direction of world champions Katie Marlow and Billy Fajardo. She has also had the privilege of singing John Rutter’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall with the Continuo Arts President Candace Wicke.

Theater credits include: Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Ilona Ritter in She Loves Me, The Witch in Into the Woods, Iris in No Dogs Allowed, White Christmas the Musical, Angela in Fools Paradise and as the unforgettable Little Sally in Urinetown the Musical at Actors Playhouse in which she was nominated for a Carbonell Award at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in 2007.

Cherilyn Marrocco was the Director of Dance/Choreographer for Miami Children's Theater and is presently dance faculty member at Arts and Minds Charter School. Over the past decade, Mrs. Marrocco has taught in many dance companies and schools throughout South Florida and the Northeast. She began teaching at the Ballet Academy of Miami and New Image Dance Company. Other Dance schools and academies she has taught in are Miami City Ballet, the MCT Dance Conservatory, the University of Miami, Actors Playhouse Theater Conservatory, Broadway Musical Theater in Key Biscayne, Center Tone Music School, MJM Productions Music School in Westfield, NJ, and Belvoir Terrace, a performing Arts Camp for girls in Lenox, MA. and the Dance Now Summer program jazz/musical theater instructor.

Aside from teaching dance, voice, and theater, Mrs. Marrocco has been choreographing for over 15 years. Her choreographic works include: FAME, DROWSY CHAPERONE, ON THE TOWN, EVITA, GUYS AND DOLLS, GREASE, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, THE WIZARD OF OZ,THE WIZ, HAIRSPRAY, excerpts from WEST SIDE STORY, KISS ME KATE, and A CHORUS LINE and JERRY HERMAN’s TRIBUTE at the University of Miami to name a few.

Mrs. Marrocco served as Artistic Director for the Continuo Arts Foundations Inaugural Summer Musical Theater Conservatory and is excited to return for the 2012 season!

Conducting Fellow

Tom Colao, Continuo Arts Conducting Fellow, is currently Director of Music and Organist at All Saints’ Church, Princeton, New Jersey. Born and raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Mr. Colao attended the Mannes College of Music in Manhattan, studying voice and choral conducting, before transferring to Westminster Choir College to pursue studies in organ and sacred music. While at Westminster, he sang as a member of Westminster Choir, under the direction of Dr. Joe Miller, in addition to performances with the Choir as both a tenor and organ  soloist. He also made frequent appearances conducting various student ensembles. Mr. Colao maintains an active schedule as an accompanist, vocal coach, freelance conductor and recitalist. In addition, he is the composer of several works for both choral and instrumental ensembles.

Conducting Fellow

Nicolás Alberto Dosman-Educator, Conductor, and Singer is a Continuo Arts Conducting Fellow, and a doctoral student (ABD) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to his return to graduate studies, he was a  full-time teacher in Miami-Dade County  Public Schools and a professional singer in Miami, FL. During his tenure in Miami, he was the Founder and Chairman of the Miami Choral Festival as well as Chairperson for the Miami-Dade/Monroe County region of the Florida  Vocal Association. Choruses under his direction have performed at music education conferences as well as various cities in the United States including Orchestra Hall in Chicago and Riverside Church in New York City.
As a professional singer, he is in frequent demand as a cantor and soloist. Nicolás Alberto received his M.M.E with a focus in choral conducting from Florida State University where he studied choral conducting with Dr. André Thomas and voice with Roy Delp. Prior to his graduate studies at FSU, he attended the renowned Oberlin   Conservatory of  Music where he received his B.M. in music education with a vocal emphasis. His vocal teachers and coaches included Lorraine Manz and Mark Moliterno. Currently, Nicolás Alberto is a director of the “Family Faith Choir” of the Church of St.Francis Xavier (New York, NY) and Casita Sings in the Bronx, NY. His research interests include: music teacher preparation, urban school districts, and addressing the need for social justice in schools with at-risk  populations. He has  published articles, led choral workshops, guest conducts choirs in New York City, and enjoys freelance performing.

Conducting Fellow

Stephanie Harris is the Continuo Arts Conducting Fellow for Seniors Sing! and received her B.A. in Church Music with a Classical Guitar concentration and Theology minor from Eastern University in Pennsylvania, and is currently pursuing the Master of Church Music in Choral Conducting degree from  Concordia University. Stephanie directs two Handbell Choirs at Middlebush Reformed Church and takes   private organ lessons at Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton.

Artist-in-Residence

Sara Noble, artist-in-residence for the Continuo Arts Foundation , is a recent graduate of Westminster Choir College. Her opera   credits include Le Nozze di Figaro (Susanna) with the  Austrian American Mozart Academy, L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (La Chauve-Souris) and The Turn of the Screw (Miles) with Westminster Choir College, and Madame Butterfly (Cousin) with Opera New Jersey. As a soloist, Sara’s repertoire has included Christ lag in Todesbanden (BWV 4) and Magnificat (BWV 243) by J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Handel’s Messiah. Sara has been a participant of New Music on the Point, OperaWorks, and Bel Canto Institute, where she received the Bel Canto Institute Performance Award in 2009. Sara is a passionate supporter of new American classical music and is pursuing a career in arts administration.

President and Executive Director

President, Tempo Music

Advertising & Promotions Director, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

President, Cactus River, INC.

Assurant, Inc., Organist, Composer

President and CEO, NJ State Theater