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School of Music

  • 2019 SAVVY

SAVVY Faculty

The SAVVY Arts Venture Challenge faculty includes innovative artists, entrepreneurs, administrators and leaders who have changed the world.

Season 6 Faculty:

David Cutler thumbnail image

David Cutler: Director

"If 1,000 people consider a particular problem, and 999 spot only roadblocks, I aspire to be the one who uncovers uncommon solutions.” Such is the perspective of pianist, composer, speaker, consultant, teacher and author David Cutler. A groundbreaking voice on arts entrepreneurship and leadership, his keynotes and workshops have impacted arts organizations, universities, and businesses worldwide. His current book project, "Solving PROBLEM-SOLVING Problems," provides readers with a framework for cracking complex puzzles. Prior publications, including "The Savvy Musician," have influenced a generation of artists. Cutler serves as University of South Carolina’s Director of Music Entrepreneurship, and he is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, aimed at building a more just society.

Lance

Lance LaDuke: Assistant Director

 Lance LaDuke is internationally known as an educator, performer and creator. He teaches at Carnegie Mellon University as Artist Lecturer in Euphonium, Freshman Advisor and Coordinator of Special and Creative Projects. Lance teaches business, marketing and communications as part of the CMU Music Entrepreneurship Program, coaches and mentors a variety of chamber ensembles, and is also Adjunct Professor of Euphonium at Daquesne University. Lance was a member of Boston Brass and the US Air Force Band in Washington DC, has performed with Philadelphia Orchestra, and currently plays with the River City Brass. He has taught and given masterclasses at some of the world's finest conservatories, including Juilliard, the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Lance co-wrote and produced "Band Blast Off," a highly successful band recruiting DVD and maintains an active speaking career, sharing his thoughts on practice, leadership and self-development. He is also the author of “Music Practice Coach, Five Workouts to Get the Most Out of Your Practice Time!” Lance is an Educational Ambassador for Jupiter Band Instruments.

Donna Walker-Kuhne

Donna Walker-Kuhne: Thought Leader

 Acknowledged as the nation’s foremost expert on audience diversification by the Arts & Business Council, Donna Walker-Kuhne has devoted her professional career to increasing the accessibility and connection to the arts by our nation’s rapidly growing multicultural population. “I firmly believe that the arts are the only pure vehicle we have in today’s society that crosses cultural and ethnic barriers and allows people to transcend their differences.” She is the Vice President of Community Engagement at New Jersey Performing Arts Center; founder of Walker International Communications Group, a boutique marketing agency; co-founder of Bite the Big Apple, a multicultural audience development tour of Australian arts professionals; and co-founder of Impact Broadway, a socially and technology-driven audience development initiative serving 300 African American and Latino students throughout the 5 boroughs of New York City. 

Stanford Thompson

Stanford Thompson: Thought Leader

Stanford Thompson is a musician and educator who serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Play On Philly, an El Sistema inspired program bringing music education to students in underserved areas throughout Philadelphia. Recently recognized as a TED Fellow, Stanford believes that music education is a powerful tool for social change and that symphony orchestras offer us important lessons in diversity and inclusion. As a professional trumpeter, Stanford has performed as soloist and section member with major international orchestras and continues to perform chamber music and jazz. Stanford currently serves on the boards of the American Composers Forum and the Philadelphia Wind Symphony, and was previously a board member for the Curtis Institute of Music, Interlochen Center for the Arts and El Sistema USA. Stanford is a native of Atlanta, GA, and hold degrees from The Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory’s Abreu Fellows Program.

Lorie Gardner

Lorie Gardner: Thought Leader

As founder, CEO & Executive Producer of Mad Monkey, Inc., Lorie has created commercials and brand films for Walmart, UPS, BMW, PowerBall and Mega Millions, as well as for major universities, hospitals, financial institutions and nonprofit organizations. Under her leadership, Mad Monkey has won more than 100 gold and silver ADDYs as well as 25 Regional Gold and National ADDYs. Lorie is an active member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the international Women’s Presidents Organization (WPO), and a member of Vistage, an advisory and coaching organization. In 2018 she was an honoree for the Women of Influence Awards, sponsored by the Columbia Regional Business Report. She believes strongly that whenever you reach out and help another entrepreneur get ahead, the ripple effect is immeasurable.

Idiom

Paolo Kernahan & Narrisa Mandol: Thought Leaders

Paolo and Narrisa share decades in media spanning print, radio and television. Under the company they founded in 2009, Idiom Productions Ltd, they apply their media training and experience to corporate video production, video content creation for the web and the production of television shows on Caribbean wildlife, history, culture and food.  As media veterans in print and broadcast journalism, they've mastered the fundamentals of good storytelling. From live field reports to the production and hosting of live news programmes and talk shows, this pair has more than 25 years of experience crafting stories that connect and resonate with viewers. Across the considerable gamut of their work, Paolo and Narrisa manage the entire video production process - scripting, shooting, on-camera presentations and editing.  

Jessica Litwak

Jessica Litwak: Team Doctor

Dr. Jessica Litwak is an Internationally recognized award-winning theatre artist focused specifically on leading theatre for social change and community engagement. She is a drama therapist, a playwright, actress, educator and puppet builder. Her articles and plays have been published by Howlround, Theatre Communications Group, Applause Books, Smith and Krause, No Passport Press, and The New York Times. She is a core member of Theatre Without Borders, a Fulbright Scholar and the Artistic Director of The H.E.A.T. Collective.