Our Instructors

Blaine Heeter III received his Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance at Wright State University, where he was the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the vocal and choral departments. Blaine has been studying and performing music and theater since childhood. Some early productions include Oliver, Anything Goes and Barnum. Blaine began his collegiate career as a music performance major at Sinclair Community College where he earned his associate’s degree in 2005. That same year he transferred to Bowling Green State University to begin working towards his bachelor’s in vocal performance. While attending BGSU Blaine was involved in the opera theater’s production of Die Zauberflöte,participated in a vocal master class with Julliard pianist Margo Garrett and in 2007 had the privilege of playing the male lead in Francesco Cavalli’s 1642 opera, La virtù dei strali d’Amore for its North American debut in collaboration with early music musicologist, Paul O’Dette and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. After graduating from BGSU in 2007, Blaine moved back to the Dayton area where he opened a small studio teaching private vocal and piano lessons. Blaine’s students have been accepted into such music performance schools as the Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton and the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Blaine’s students have also received superior ratings in OMEA solo and ensemble adjudicated events in both piano and voice. In addition to teaching private lessons, Blaine has also served as music director for Richmond Civic Theatre’s Stage One youth theater program in the summers of 2003 and 2004. In 2009, he also served as music director for the Vandalia Youth Theatre’s production of Les Misérables. Earlier that same year Blaine portrayed the role of Lumière in Richmond Civic Theatre’s Main Stage production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.Blaine performed as a member of the Dayton Opera Chorus for La Traviata, also in 2009, the 2005 production of Tosca and the 50th Anniversary Star Gala in 2011.

Audrey Henry is pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance at Wright State University, where she recently won the Concerto/Aria Competition, and performed with the the University Orchestra as a featured soloist.

Mackenzie Kennon began performing in choir, band and musical theater as a child. She went on to attend Wright State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education-Voice in 2018. While in school, she performed in various opera performances, Women’s Chorale, and University Chorus. Mackenzie was a soloist in the school’s performances of Mendelssohn’s Elijah as well as Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes. Additionally, she spent 5 years in the university’s top choral ensemble, Collegiate Chorale, where she had the opportunity to perform Vivaldi’s Gloria at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Britten’s War Requiem under direction of Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra and toured throughout Italy performing in Rome, Vatican City, Florence, and Venice. Since graduating, Mackenzie has taught General Music in grades 2-5, and 6th grade choir for Monroe Local Schools. She has previously taught voice and beginning flute at the Dayton Kroc Center and conducted the chapel choir at Emmanuel’s Lutheran Church in Germantown, Ohio from 2016 to 2021. Mackenzie currently enjoys performing as a member of Dayton’s chamber choir, Musica and frequently sings with local church worship teams. She lives in Miamisburg with her husband Larry and cat, Zildjian.

John Wright is the Organist and Choirmaster for St. Mary of the Assumption parish in Springboro, Ohio. He is an award-winning piano performer and instructor with over 25 years of experience teaching piano, brass, and voice. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Wright State University, where he graduated with honors. In addition to being an accomplished pianist, John teaches and has performed in civic and professional ensembles on trumpet, French horn, euphonium, and tuba. Johncurrently serves on the Music Committee for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and is the music consultant for the Cast Your Nets archdiocesan vocations program.