Lisa M. Knight
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / [email protected]
Lisa has been a business owner and an active member of the arts community for over 30 years, creating programming, building sustainable partnerships and providing leadership skills. She founded a nonprofit focused on youth mentorship using theater and cultural arts with community organizations and after school programs. Since 2016 she has been the COO of Public Thread, a Michigan based company working with and designing around upcycled materials to create artfully crafted products. Lisa serves on the Board of Circle Theatre and is part of their 2022 season creative team. She holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and a master's degree in organization leadership from Cornerstone University.
Avalon Cutts-Jones
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / [email protected]
A Grand Rapids, MI native who comes from two musical families. Under their influence her love for music was birthed. Fueled by that passion she’s had the opportunity to travel the world as a background vocalist for both local and world-renowned artist such as Marvin Sapp, Maurice Griffin, Bill Moss, Robert Hawkins, and Debra Perry and Majestic Praise.
Avalon is known for her vocal versatility performing different genres such as R&B, gospel, neo-soul, and classical. In 2018, her voice could be heard in the role of Rosa Parks in Douglas Tappins’ “I Dream” with both Toledo Opera and Opera Carolina. She returned in this role in the 2021 production as well. Avalon has had the privilege of touring through Spain and Portugal on the “Oh Happy Day Tour” with the Alabama Gospel Choir as a featured soloist in 2017 and 2019. Receiving her Bachelor’s degree as a vocal performance major at Grand Valley State University, Avalon has had the opportunity to be the special music for the 2019 commencement ceremony at Van Andel Arena as well as the Inauguration of GVSU’s first female President Philomena V. Mantella. She is a regular ‘young artist’ feature with Opera Grand Rapids and had her first role playing Elizabeth in the Matthew Aucoin opera Second Nature. Most recently Avalon was part of the cast of Stinney:An American Execution, Pirates of Penzance, and will be in the chorus in the Spring production of Aida.
Avalon Cutts-Jones Music can be found performing throughout the Midwest. Performances, news, and upcoming dates can be found on her website www.avcjmusic.com and all social media outlets. ‘A choir girl with quartet roots who loves jazz harmonies while performing classical with a neo-soul vibe, meet Avalon’.
Mary Klaasen
JUNIOR ACADEMY & SENIOR ACADEMY CHOIR DIRECTOR
Mary grew up in Grand Rapids and has been teaching K-12 vocal and general music for six years. She graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2011 with a BA in Vocal Music Education. Then she taught in Phoenix, AZ for three years before returning to Grand Rapids to marry her husband and continue her career. While in Arizona, she completed her MA in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in Reading. Mary has taught general music for the Kent City Summer Migrant Program, and she started and developed the K-12 music program at Hope Academy of West Michigan. She also teaches music for Grand Rapids Public Schools and directs the children’s choir, Park Singers, at First Park Church. Mary has traveled to Finland, Estonia, Germany, France, Belgium, and Ghana on choir tours, and most recently she sang in Carnegie Hall with the Park Church Chancel Choir. Mary has a passion for pets. She shares her home with a dog and four rescue cats. She enjoys reading and group fitness with friends.
Maya McAdory
GRANDVILLE AVENUE GIRLS CHOIR DIRECTOR
Born and raised here in Grand Rapids, Maya is a former member of GCA, participating from 6th to 12th grade. Receiving a leadership award her senior year (2016) both from GCA and her high school choir at Catholic Central, she is excited to take her leadership skills to the next level and inspire the Grandville Avenue Girls Choir to find the true happiness that comes out of coming together in song. Maya has been directing GCA choirs since 2018. “This is a rewarding opportunity for me, as this will be my first job as a choir director!” – Maya
Cathrin Finney
DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST [email protected]
Cat Finney comes to the Girls Choral Academy from a long history of performing arts production and administration. She earned her BA in Theater and Drama from the University of Michigan before embarking on a career in theater, dance, and opera that took her from New York to Los Angeles, Toronto, Disney and beyond. Here in West Michigan she has worked for Opera Grand Rapids, the Grand Rapids Ballet, and Mason Street Warehouse among other organizations. In her spare time she sings with the Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus, grows flowers for the local deer to consume, and enjoys travelling with her husband, Jim.
Born and raised in Muskegon, and having lived in Grand Rapids for the last 30 years, Chris is a life-long resident of West Michigan. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hope College in 1989 and a Master of Arts degree from Grand Valley State University in 2001. Chris is a recently retired elementary school teacher, having served mainly in Wyoming Public Schools in her 30 years of teaching. In her spare time, she enjoys singing in the Park Church Chancel Choir, playing handbells at Park Church, playing oboe occasionally around the West Michigan area, walking her two chihuahuas, and reading.