Michael Ray-Director
Michael Ray earned a bachelor of music degree from Ohio University in
2003. While in Ohio, Michael was a counselor and music director at
Camp Joy in Clarksville. Since coming to Augusta, he is director and co-founder of the creative arts camp, "Simon Says"; leader and founder of the ragtime band, "Raglove," featured in "Twelve Bands of Christmas," director of the Augusta Preparatory Day School Upper School Chorus, and a music therapy volunteer at the VA Hospital. In addition to teaching private piano and guitar students, Michael currently studies voice with Diane Haslam of Aiken and is working toward a master's degree in music at Augusta State University.
& Staff
Mrs. Clanton was educated at Temple University in Philadelphia, studying business and sociology. She served as a secretary at Butler High School for 4 years when she was hired to be the Secretary/Bookkeeper at the Davidson Fine Arts School in Augusta. She retired from Davidson after 22 years of service and was hired soon after to be the Administrative Assistant for the Jessye Norman School of the Arts.
& News
Dana Hughes has two degrees. Her first was a performing arts degree from the University of West Georgia. She obtained this with the help of a partial acting scholarship. Her second degree is in history along with a teaching certification which she acquired from Augusta State University. Since graduation Dana has worked as the World History, Ethnic Studies and Drama teacher at Butler High School. She has also performed many plays with local theatre companies including Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre, Occasional Theatre Co., Augusta Theatre Co., Augusta State University and Stage Three. She is now working with "Augusta Film" on independent films such as Basket weave, American Street Fighter, and an upcoming "vampire" movie this summer called Queen of the Dead. Due to the efforts of Mr. Williams she came to the Jessye Norman School of the Arts last school year and has loved it ever since.
Jennifer Toole - Dance
Ms. Toole is an easily motivated, high-energy dance instructor with over 12 years of teaching experience and nearly 25 years of dancing experience. With a strong background in classical ballet, Ms. Toole has been professionally trained in other areas of dance as well, including lyrical ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and ballroom. She has also danced lead roles in many ballet performances, including "The Lion King" and "Les Sylphides". Currently, Ms. Toole enjoys teaching dance at Jessye Norman School of the Arts, and is working on a second career, with hopes of becoming a register nurse, and is pursuing her continued education at Augusta State University.
Ladell Fortune - Music
Mr. Fortune received a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music Education from Georgia Southern University. He has sung for many performances in Georgia and in the US and has toured with Southern Chorale in Germany, Vienna, Austria, and the Czech Republic. He is a member of The National Music Educators Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, and Phi Mu Alpha (Professional Men's Music Fraternity). Since 2004, Mr. Fortune has been the Choral/Piano Instructor at Butler High School.
Sala Adenike Allen -
Art Instructor
Mrs. Sala Adenike Allen is a musical woman who sings, writes, dances, paints, teaches and learns. As an educational performing artist and keynote speaker, Mrs. Allen has reached countless students, faculties, congregations, family gatherings and community events with the message of self love, self understanding and multi-cultural awareness. Besides teaching at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, Mrs. Allen al maintains her position as artistic director of the dance company, Abatsu African Drummers and Dancers.
Henry E. Johnson -
Music
Mr. Johnson is the former Choral Director of the Paine College Choir, Augusta, Georgia and currently serves as the Choral Director at Jefferson County High School, Louisville, Georgia and as the Minister of Music at Broadway Baptist Church, Augusta, Georgia. He received his BS degree from Kentucky State University and a Masters in Higher Education w/Administration focus from Troy State University. He has done further studies at International Theological Seminary, Plymouth, Florida where he received a Diploma of Practical Theology and is currently pursuing a Master Degree in Church Music at Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, South Carolina. Mr. Johnson has served as conductor for the Augusta Players Theater’s productions of “Annie” and “Oliver” and has served as musical director of Paine College’s production of “Mahalia.” Mr. Johnson is the founder of a local Jazz quartet, “Confirmation,” and has played with renowned professional entertainers such as The Temptations, Lou Rawls, Midnight Star, Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Pattie Austin, saxophonist Sonny Stitt, The Spinners, jean Carne and Augusta’s own, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon. Mr. Johnson is the owner and operator of Johnson’s Band Instrument Repair.
Gary Dennis -
Drama
Gary Dennis has been active in the arts community in Augusta. He has performed with the Augusta Players in “Jesus Christ Super Star”, “Guys and Dolls” and “Evita” and with the Augusta Professional Repertory Theater Company in “The Rocky Horror Show”. Mr. Dennis worked in set design and instruction with the Youth Augusta Reparatory Theater and the Lakeside High School Drama Department. As director of Behind The Masque, Inc., Mr. Dennis served as a writer, director, actor and mime and as a special event designer and coordinator. For three years, Mr. Dennis served as a drama instructor for the Greater Augusta Arts Council Artscape. His interest in science has been shared with young people through his Science Super Blast, a program that provides educational entertainment to children from pre-school through 6th grade on numerous science topics. Mr. Dennis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
