President, Executive Director & Principle Conductor

As a champion of new music, Candace 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 pro Musica e Arte Sacre Series in Roma, Italy. In 2009, Wicke conducted the World Premiere of A Carol Fantasy by Stephen  Edwards in Carnegie Hall on the “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 RaminshMissa Brevis in addition to a World Premiere by  composerGary Fry. In 2011, Wicke conducted the first Festival Internazionale Di Arte Per Giovani Musicisti in Rome, Italy. She also served as the principal conductor for the 2012 Inaugural season of the Minuetto Music Festival and returned to the second annual Giovani Musicisti Festival to conduct the world premiere of Stephen Edwards Missa Brevis in Rome, Vatican City, Assisi and Prague.

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 Theatre 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.

Wicke is the President, Executive Director and Principal Conductor for the Continuo Arts Foundation and conducts the Continuo Arts ensembles including; the Children’s Chorus, Chanticleers, Singers!, Continuos!, Civic Chorale and Seniors Sing!  These ensembles are 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.

Associate Conductor

Resume:

Choral Conducting and Voice Performance Studies - Mannes College
Organ Studies - Westminister Choir College
Assistant Conductor - Columbia University Bach Society
Music Director and Principle Conductor - Westminister Choral Scholars
Director of Music and Organist - All Saints Church, Princeton

Tom Colao, Continuo Arts Assistant Conductor, 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Artist-in-Residence

Craig Sanphy, artist-in-residence for the Continuo Arts Foundation, a native of Concord, NH, and  has appeared with multiple companies, including the Delaware Valley Opera Company (Don Ottavio understudy in Don Giovanni), Princeton Music Festival (Chorus in Francesca di Ramini), Opera MODO (Elder Hayes in Susannah) and the Westminster Opera Theatre (Chorus in Cosi Fan Tutte).  He currently resides in Princeton where he studies voice with Dr. Sharon Sweet.

Artist-in-Residence

Jamie Klenetsky, artist-in-residence for the Continuo Arts Foundation, 

President and Executive Director

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