Belmont University School of Music
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
7:30 P.M.
MASSEY CONCERT HALL
Belmont University School of Music
FacultyConcertSeries
presents Erica Aubrey, soprano with special guests
Nancy Allen*
Jo Lynn Burks*
Ryan Greenawalt*
David Shamburger*
Katie Yeomans**
*School of Music Faculty/Staff **School of Music Alumna
Revolutionary Costume for Today
Korie/Frankel from Grey Gardens
Pink from War Paint
Heaven Knows from Far From Heaven
My Psychopharmacologist and I
I Miss the Mountains
Didn’t I See This Movie
So Anyway
Light from Next to Normal
Kitt/Yorkey
Only Love Hummon/Murrah
Ghosts in My Machine
Annie Lennox
Walking Happy Cahn/Van Heusen
Anna Perry* ,choreography/staging
Featuring
Miles Aubrey**, guitar
Nate Strasser*, piano
RJThornton**,drums
*CMPA Faculty/Staff **Guest Performer
About the Performers
Erica Aubrey holds the Master of Arts in Vocal Performance with an emphasis in Musical Theatre from New York University, and the Bachelor of Business Administration in Music Business from Belmont University. Before relocating to Nashville, Aubrey spent a decade working as a professional actress in New York City. Most recently, she played Diane in the regional premiere of Come From Away at Theatre Aspen. In the summer of 2022, she played Mary Todd Lincoln in American Prophet; in the words of Frederick Douglass at Arena Stage in Washington D.C., and at New York’s framed Apollo Theater in the Fall of 2019. She performed the role of Mrs. Newton in the Chicago-based Broadway tryout of Amazing Grace, and was the standby for Kelli O’Hara in Far From Heaven at Off-Broadway’s prestigious Playwrights Horizons. She joined Marnie Nixon, Kristen Chenoweth, and Douglas Sills in the cast of Music in the Air at the New York City Center Encores! Series, and has performed principal roles in Equity theaters across the country, including the Ryman Auditorium, Casa Mañana, Theatre Aspen, Gateway Playhouse, American Folklore Theater, Ogunquit, Playhouse, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Flat Rock Playhouse, and New York Stage and Film. Notably, she played Shelby in The Spitfire Grill in the 10th Anniverary production directed by the show’s composers, James Valcq, and played Judy Bernly in the first regional premiere of 9 to 5: the Musical starring Sally Struthers. She has appeared on The Late Night Show with David Letterman as a back-up singer and has also worked as a back-up singer for the jam band Phish, performing in a sold-out New Year’s Eve concert at Madison Square Garden. When in New York she performed in concerts with and on recordings for composers Alan Menken, Craig Carnelia, Stephen Schwartz and Adam Gwon. Aubrey can be seen on the small screen in Season 1 of the Netflix/Marvel Comic series A.K.A. Jessica Jones and a commerical for Farm Bureau Insurance.
In Nashville, she remains active as an actress, session singer, and voice-over artist, lending her voice to scores for video games, demos, and commericals. Aubrey has been seen as Patricia in the Dan Fogelberg musical Part of the Plan at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and Donna in Mamma Mia! At Studio Tenn, working alongside many of her students at Belmont! Her voice can be heard on the Roy Orbison and Bully Holly Hologram tours as the sole background vocalist. She is the voice of Lucille in the MTI cast recording of Junie B. Jones the Musical available on Amazon and iTunes, Florika in the MTI licensing recording of Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Mrs. Meyers in the licensing recording of Disney’s Freaky Friday, and has also lent her voice to MTI’s new licensing recordings of Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. Her voice can also be heard in the afterhours light show music at Disneyland and in the Halloween parade music at Tokyo Disney.
Erica Aubrey is Coordinator of Belmont’s award winning Musical Theatre department and is in her ninth year of teaching at Belmont.
Sharing the stage with Erica Aubrey has been a lifelong dream for Nancy Allen. In preparation for this moment, Allen attended Vanderbilt University and the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. She has performed the roles of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Jenny in Company, Velma von Tussle in Hairspray and of course, the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot. Even though Allen has performed in numerous venues with a variety of theatres throughout the region; performing with Erica, Jo Lynn, Ryan, and David on the iconic Massey stage might only be topped with an opportunity to perform in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. As always, Nancy Allen thanks you for supporting live theatre and urges us all to be kind to one another.
Miles Aubrey is equally at home onstage or in the orchestra pit, his theatre credits include the Broadway companies of Jersey Boys (seven years as Norm Waxman) and Ring of Fire (OBC). Select TV/Film credits include JerseyBoys (dir. Clint Eastwood), UnsolvedMysteries, Sportsdome, and Fatal
Attraction. An in-demand guitarist he has toured internationally with several major label artists, and shared the stage with the likes of Kenny Loggins and Willie Nelson. Miles Aubrey has appeared on The Tony Awards, The Tonight Show, Today Show, Seth Meyers, The Daily Show, NPR’s Tiny Desk and the Opry. Endorsements include Taylor Guitars, PRS, Reverend, Fender, Kyser, and others.
Jo Lynn Burks received the Bachelor of Performing Arts in Music from the University of Alabama where she also won the title of Miss University of Alabama. She then received the Master of Musical Theatre Degree from the University of Miami, Florida, where she was honored to hold the title of Miss University of Miami.
Burks now wears many hats as a musical director, orchestrator, singer, pianist, and teacher. As a keyboard player/singer, Burks has toured with Gladys Knight, with Lead Singers of the Temptations, a solo tour with Roger Daltrey of TheWho, and with many Nashville touring artists including Laura Bell Bundy. Solo pianist/singer engagements included New York City’s The Carlyle, the Waldorf-Astoria, The Plaza, and fun, Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans.
On Broadway, she originated a principal role in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Other Broadway musician credits include Smokey Joe’s Café, Hairspray, The Full Monty, All Shook Up, and The Color Purple. Burks’ national tours include Fame, Mamma Mia, Smokey Joe’s Café, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, and “Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians.” Regionally, her work has been seen at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, North Shore Music Theatre, Denver Theatre Center, Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, and Studio Tenn.
Along with music-partner Daryl Glenn, Burks’ New York City cabaret show entitled Robert Altman’s Nashville won New York’s “Triple Crown” of Cabaret: the Nightlife Award, Bistro Award, and MAC Award. Television credits include All My Children, One Life to Live, Nashville Now, and many National Broadcasts of “Christmas at Belmont” on PBS, as Musical Theatre Conductor and Arranger.
In her young years, Burks sang and danced her way through several shows at Opryland, right here in Nashville. She serves as Resident Musical Director and as a voice professor in Belmont University’s Musical Theatre and Commercial Voice Departments.
Burks teaches Master Classes in the techniques of singing Rock/Pop/Country/R&B. Several of her former voice students are currently on Broadway in Aladdin, Book of Mormon, and Wicked, including recording artist Chris Lee, who played the principal role of Lafayette/Jefferson in Hamilton.
Ryan Greenawalt has been fortunate to travel the world singing with multiple bands an in various musical genres. Greenawalt has had three top-five American inspirational radio singles and has performed and recorded alongside artists such as Lady A, Josh Turner, Eden Espinosa, Mandisa, Melinda Doolittle, and many more. He was a founding member of the internationally acclaimed R&B a cappella group AXIOM. His solo Christmas album “Holiday is On” was released in 2022, and this year, he can be heard singing in the Rockette’s Radio City Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. When he’s not on the road, Greenawalt can be found in Nashville performing professionally in stage musicals, in studio work, and in concert venues. One of the greatest joys of his life is teaching voice to the amazing students of Belmont University Musical Theatre. When he’s not performing or teaching, he’s probably playing volleyball or on the couch with his husband, Evan, cuddling with his three adorable pit bulls, Penny, Nelly, and Mabel.
Anna Perry holds the Master of Arts in Theater from Regent University and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Dance Performance from the University of the Arts. Perry's performance career has taken her from coast to coast, dancing for commercial dance companies, on cruise ships overseas, and in regional theater productions across the country.
Perry started her professional dance career in Philadelphia as an intern with balletX under the direction of Matthew Neenan and Christine Cox. She later joined collidEdance Company in Los Angeles where she spent 2 seasons under the direction of Erica Sobol. In her time as a professional dancer, she has been a guest artist with numerous dance companies including SoleVita Dance Company in Los Angeles and Krash! Dance in New York City. Perry also completed two contracts with Royal Caribbean Productions where she traveled the world as a dancer in four different productions shows.
Some of Perry’s favorite musical theatre roles have included Graziella in WestSideStory and ChaCha in GREASE. Other memorable shows include, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers directed by Broadway’s Connor Gallagher (Beetlejuice), A Wonderful Life at The John Engeman Theater, Kiss Me Kate at Westchester Broadway Theater, and TPAC/Studio Tenn’s EVITA starring Anthony Crivello, Eden Espinosa, and Ben Crawford. Perry has served as a dance captain on numerous shows including SPAMALOT!, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardobe, GREASE, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Perry has been teaching dance and choreographing for dance studios and theaters across the country for over two decades. Her choreography credits include over a dozen shows at Belmont University including Beauty and the Beast, 42nd Street, Thoroughly Modern Millie, On The Town, and Fiddler on The Roof (winner of Best Choreography). Additionally, she has served as the choreographer at Studio Tenn Theater Company in Franklin, Tennessee in their productions of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Beauty & the Beast, Mamma Mia!, Cinderella, and SPAMALOT where she served as the associate choreographer. She has also worked with Nashville Children’s Theater, Nashville Repertory Theater, and A.D. Players at the George Theater in Houston, Texas.
She currently serves as the Director of Dance at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. She is also the founding Artistic Director and Master Teacher for Breathe Dance Convention and the Company Director at Elevate Dance Studio in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Perry currently resides in Thompsons Station with her husband John, daughter Eloise, and pup Jasper.
Nate Strasser is a pianist, composer, and music director based in Nashville, Tennessee. Strasser has made notable contributions through his work in television, film, and video game scoring. His global stage credits include appearances in Scotland, Austria, China, and Wales. He has been the pianist for shows such as Apple TV’s Franklin, Netflix’s EmilyinParis, and NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Strasser composed additional music for Netflix’s animated series Captain Fall and has supported artists such as Dave Matthews and Seth MacFarlane through music preparation work. He has orchestrated for Oscar-nominated composer Carter Burwell and performed piano for films including Harriet and I Wanna Dance with Somebody. In the video game world, he served as stadium organist for EA Sports’ NHL 2015. Strasser has composed two symphonies, including one commissioned by the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. His recorded piano performance can also be heard nightly during the fireworks show at Epcot in Walt Disney World.
David Shamburger serves as an Associate Professor of Musical Theatre at Belmont University. He holds the Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Shamburger began his career as a performer and soon found his way to his passion for directing, teaching, and coaching. Some of his favorite musical theatre performance experiences include roles in Gypsy, Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate, Forever Plaid, 1940's Radio Hour, Damn Yankees, Crazy For You, Man Of La Mancha, 110 In The Shade, Into The Woods, I Do! I Do!, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Shamburger also enjoys teaching, performing, and directing Shakespeare. His experience includes King John, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Romeo And Juliet, and As You Like It. Other notable performance credits include The Crucible, You Can't Take It With You, Noises Off, Wait Until Dark, Tartuffe, and The Cherry Orchard.
At Belmont, David Shamburger has directed over thirty-five productions such as Hello, Dolly!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, and 42nd Street. He also serves as Acting Coach for Belmont Musical Theatre majors. Prior to Belmont, he directed productions and taught multiple theatre courses at Middle Georgia College, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Huntington University, Indiana, where he served as Chair of Theatre Arts.
Shamburger has been a member of Actor’s Equity Association (AEA), Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) and the Musical Theatre Educator's Alliance (MTEA). His training includes certification in Michael Lugering’s Expressive Actor Technique and Susana Bloch’s Alba Emoting, along with extensive study in Kristin Linklater’s Freeing the Natural Voice. He has presented workshops on acting and voice at the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) and Christians in Theatre Arts (CITA).
Shamburger is currently developing an acting book, The Body Compass: Navigating Authenticity for Actors and Beyond, which reflects his ongoing interest in helping actors approach their craft with honesty and physical freedom. He also enjoys serving as Artist Liaison for the Tennessee Arts Academy Awards Banquet each summer, where he has the opportunity to collaborate with various Broadway artists.
RJ Thornton hails from Durham, North Carolina. Thornton is an experienced drummer and background vocalist. Recent credits include Alice by Heart (Street Theatre) and One Night Only featuring Jessie Mueller (Studio Tenn), as well as numerous Belmont senior recitals. Outside of the theatre, he has toured the country opening for the likes of Cody Johnson and Ashley McBryde. Instagram: @rjdrums
Katie Yeomans is an actor/singer originally from Nashville, Tennessee, and proud 2022 graduate of the Belmont Musical Theatre program with the Bachelor of Fine Arts. Recently, Yeomans starred as Cady Heron on the MEAN GIRLS 2nd National Tour. Prior to touring, she performed around the world with Oceania Cruises (NCLH) as a Production Cast Vocalist. Her regional credits include: Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Repertory Theatre, and the Nashville Opera. Big thanks to her Belmont faculty, Erica Aubrey, and BUMT. Instagram: @katie.yeomans
Upcoming Concerts and Events
Camerata
Monday, September 15, 7:30 p.m.
McAfee Concert Hall
Faculty Jazz Group
Wednesday, September 17, 7:30 p.m. Massey Concert Hall
Faculty Concert Series:
Sandra Dudley & Friends: Freedom Dance
Thursday, September 25, 7:30 p.m. Massey Concert Hall
Classical Singers Recital
Sunday, September 28, 2:00 p.m. McAfee Concert Hall
Composition Honors Recital
Wednesday, October 1, 7:30 p.m.
McAfee Concert Hall
For more information on upcoming concerts and events, please visit www.belmont.edu/cmpa or “like” Belmont University School of Music on Facebook.
