Meet our staff
Director, Founder, Instructor
Preschool music, Acadamiacs, Brain Builders, Pre Reading, Piano & Violin summer camps Virginia Anne Dill is the director of the Virginia Beach School of the Arts. An honor graduate of the Conservatory at Shenandoah University, she majored in classical and jazz piano pedagogy studying with Dr. Elizabeth Temple, Dr. James Laster and Dr. Elizabeth Caluda. Virginia specializes in preschool music and loves her students! She is the author of the world's largest library of academic songs, Acadamiacs, creator of Connections: The Brain Development Seminar and lectures on the University level about music, learning and the brain. A master teacher with over 25 years of experience, Virginia is the creator of Preschool for the Arts, the premier arts and academics preschool. Passionate about learning academics through singing, Virginia makes learning FUN for all of her students ages 3 months - adult. Read more about her courses, Music Mommy & Me, Baby School, Acadamiacs, Music Readiness, keyboard class and exciting summer violin and piano camps. 
Violin and viola
Angelina Gandolfo Angelina Weber graduated from McGill University in 2014 with a Master of Music degree, having studied with Mark Fewer and Alexander Read. Previously, Ms. Weber attended the Eastman School of Music graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree with distinction in Violin Performance. She has participated in numerous summer music festivals including the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Meadowmount School of Music, The Castleman Quartet Program, Classical Music Festival in Austria, as well as summer studies at Indiana University. She has played in masterclasses for Rachel Barton Pine, Irvine Arditti, Charles Castleman, Sally Thomas, Cynthia Roberts, and members of the Chiara, Ying, and Takacs String Quartets. As an avid orchestral musician, Angelina has played with the Virginia Symphony, National Academy Orchestra of Canada, Indiana University Festival Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute Festival Orchestra, McGill University Symphony Orchestra, and Eastman Philharmonia. Ms. Weber has performed as guest soloist with the Concordia Symphony Orchestra in Edmonton, and is an Alberta Provincial Music Festival award recipient in the category of Strings, Voice, and Creative Music. Passionate about outreach, she enjoys performing at hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and numerous community function 
Piano
Grace Ablang Hare Grace Ablang-Hare, a graduate of Old Dominion University, holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. A student of Harold Protsman, Grace has performed throughout the Hampton Roads area. She began her teaching career in 2000 at the Virginia Beach School of the Arts and has also been teaching piano at Cape Henry Collegiate School since 2007. Many of her students have continued their careers in the music industry. Grace lives in Chesapeake with her husband, Mark, and their two boys. She enjoys the beach and traveling. Grace loves teaching and watching her students grow as pianists. 
Crystal Lennon, Piano & Guitar
Born in North Carolina as part of the 4th generation on a beef cattle/grain crop farm, I started learning piano by age 7, trumpet by age 10, and guitar by age 11. My education journey took me to Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, where I earned a Bachelor of Music Degree with a concentration in Music Composition. Although I’ve taught music for more than 20 years, I’ve also had some other interesting occupations alongside my teaching career. I’ve composed music and designed sound effects for computer games, short movies, and commercials. I’ve played in many different bands/orchestras. I’ve served as both worship leader and band member of several worship bands. I even spent a year in Kenya, East Africa working in a Nairobi music studio. I have lots of stories to tell! 
Samantha Marti
On Site Manager Hi! I’m Samantha, otherwise known as “Mrs. Sam”. Prior to landing for a second time at VBSOTA, I taught for three years at Courthouse Academy. I’m a Navy Veteran and spent much of my military service teaching…which oddly enough is very much like teaching preschool! Haha! My family and I have called Virginia Beach home for more than 20 years and love spending time at the beach, watching my oldest son play hockey and my youngest son play soccer. I look forward to helping teach your children and getting them excited about learning this fall! 
Theresa Walker
Preschool Music Theresa graduated from Virginia Wesleyan University with a degree in journalism and advertising. For the past 2 years, she has taught ESL to students in China. She lives in Virginia Beach with her two daughters, ages 6 and 3. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She is excited to have a sing-songy school year with her students! 
Cathy Jelsema, 1st grade, Kid’s Club Director
Hello! My name is Cathy Jelsema. I hold degrees from Cedarville College,(BA) and Western Michigan University. (BS) I have 28 years of teaching experience behind me. I was introduced to Virginia Beach School of the Arts by my niece and started substitute teaching last January. In the spring I took over as Kids Club Director and this fall will step into the first grade suite. So excited to start this new adventure! |
Piano & Voice Lessons, Margaret McLewin
Margaret McLewin is an experienced teacher and musician. She attended Shenandoah Conservatory of Music and Byran College. She completed a double major in piano and voice Magna Cum Laude. Post graduate studies include instruction with the David McClosky and Barbara Henneberger from Boston Conservatory and piano pedagogy with master teacher, Christa Hamilton. Margaret has extensive solo and ensemble performance experience and 30 years of teaching experience. She performed with the Virginia Symphony Chorus and Virginia Opera Chorus for seven seasons and taught solfege for Virginia Children’s chorus for three years. Some of her students have gone on to professional music careers in music theater, composition, church music and teaching. Mrs. McLewin enjoys watching students become confident, expressive musicians. Lessons take a sequential, correlated approach, building skills in theory and technique. Margaret's students engage visual, auditory and tactile experiences creating great learning moments! Students will explore various musical styles and repertoire. She is married to Dr. Peter McLewin, pastor of Ingleside Church in Norfolk, Va. They have five married children and six grandchildren. Her other interests include gardening, swimming, reading, sailing and international travel. 
Meredith Hazelwood McKee
Art Mrs. McKee completed a degree in primary and secondary Art Education from Virginia Wesleyan College. She began her teaching career at the Virginia Beach School of the Arts in 2003 and has since been dedicated to building their art education and enrichment program. Meredith specializes in art classes and programs designed for young artists ages 2-15. She enjoys working with her 2 and 3 year old Mommy and Me students and introducing them to the world of art and especially enjoys watching them grow up through her art program. Meredith has designed a stair stepping art program that allows children to grow over the years into art classes that are appropriate for their age and motor skill level. Students may begin in Mommy and Me art classes or join Meredith in Preschool for the Arts. They, then get to advance to classes such as Crafts, Beginning Drawing, Painting, Mixed Media, and Open Studio. She has also created a Handwriting program for preschoolers and kindergarten age students to help alleviate the tears and struggle at home. With Hampton Roads’ large home school community, Meredith has designed an appropriate grade level ART curriculum for homeschool students at the Virginia Beach School of the Arts. She also runs an awesome summer camp program every year with camp options ranging from the ever famous Jewelry Camp to Clay Camp, Canvas Painting Camp, Sewing Camp, Artist Camp, Mosaic Tile Camp, Culinary Arts Camp, and Paper Mache Camp. Meredith’s art students have also teamed up with Virginia Beaches local Old Beach Farmers Market to design their market t-shirt for the past 5 years and just recently their 12 month calendar. In return, Old Beach displays the student’s artwork every spring and summer at their markets. Meredith is married to Chef Andrew McKee owner of McKee’s Custom Cuisine and sous chef at Norfolk Yacht and Country Club. Together they love to travel, have three rescue dogs, and a daughter. 
Piano, James Gardner
James Gardner is a Hampton Roads native who has been playing piano and composing since childhood. In 2006, he graduated from Nyack College School of Music in New York, with a Bachelor of Music in Composition, with additional studies in Piano and Organ Performance, Philosophy, and Communications. While at Nyack, James was Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper, The Forum. He also holds a Master of Music degree from East Carolina University School of Music and a Certificate of Film Studies from the Los Angeles Film Studies Center. While living in Los Angeles, James worked in the music department at 20th Century Fox Studios. 
Beth Baker
Piano Beth earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in Music Education with an applied piano concentration from Old Dominion University’s Diehn School of Music. Playing and teaching piano are her biggest passions. She is an avid beach lover and enjoys swimming and spending time with her soon to be husband. 
Anastasia Galisyna
Ballet My name is Anastasia. I have been living in United States for 9 years, I moved here from Russia. I started dancing in Russia and graduated from the choreography school there. Here, I teach ballet classes for adults in a dance studio and barre classes at the gym. I love teaching and I feel it’s my passion to dance and to teach. I hope we will dance together this school year! 
Lindsey Flores
Preschool and Lead Substitute teacher I have been teaching for a few years now and love to teach the children through games, dancing, and stories. I graduated from Old dominion University with a psychology degree. Therefore, I like to focus on building the emotional intelligence of our students. I have lived, studied and worked most of my life in Virginia Beach and I'm happy to be home again! I am a military spouse, a mother of a fellow student at our great school and a foster Mom with the Virginia Beach SPCA. My hobbies include spending time with my friends & family, learning new things and fostering kittens! 
Lauri Boatright
Piano, Voice, Preschool music Lauri is a native of Hampton Roads,a graduate of Kempsville High School, and has her bachelors of music education from Southeastern FWB College in Wendell, NC. Lauri has taught classroom music, private piano, private voice and choirs of all ages for over 20 years. Inspiring students to love music, she has taught a wide variety of all ages of people. Lauri has been with The Virginia Beach School of the Arts for over 18 years and also works concurrently at Great Bridge Christian Academy in Chesapeake as a private instructor. 
Carolyn Weems
1st grade teacher Carolyn Weems graduated from Clemson University and soon afterwards became an instructor and Women’s Tennis Coach at ODU. In addition to starting and managing their own company, Carolyn and her husband, Billy, raised 5 children here in Virginia Beach and enjoyed being their coach, den leader, Sunday School Teacher and school volunteer. She has been a member of the Virginia Beach City Public School Board since 2002. She represented Virginia Beach on the Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs Board for 17 years and is currently the liaison to the city’s Special Education Advisory Committee. She received her Special Education Provisional License before teaching in Norfolk and becoming a language arts and math tutor. She is president of Caitlyn’s HALO and co-chair of the Hampton Roads Opioid Working Group. In her spare time, Carolyn loves to paint furniture, craft, read and play games. |
Want to join our amazing staff?
We are always hiring degreed, experienced music teachers. Music degree required. Talented seniors will be considered. Bring your current students or we will grow your studio from the ground up. Teach one or more days weekly. $36 hour, make your own schedule. Contact us at virginia@vbsota.com or 757-717-7187 for a tour and interview.