Teaching Artists/Specialists

Paula Kasica received her bachelor of music from the Saint Louis Conservatory of Music. Her teachers have included Jacob Berg, Julius Baker, and Gerald Carey. Paula plays as an extra with the Saint Louis Symphony and has performed with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Ballet Orchestra of St. Louis, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Bach at the Seminary Series. Since 1997, Paula has been on the faculty of the Christian Performing Arts Festival. She also teaches flute at Webster University, Missouri Baptist University, and Dayspring School of the Arts. Paula, along with her husband John, acting Principal percussionist with the Saint Louis Symphony, perform around the country as WINDFIRE: Flute and Percussion Spectacular.

Arvell Keithley is a singer, percussionist, recording artist and entertainer. After being involved in the music industry for over 28 years, Arvell has had the privilege of working with such legends as B.B. King, Fabian, Gladys Knight, Redd Foxx and Lou Rawls.

Tamara Kelly started her training in St. Louis at the Best Talent Center at the age of 8 under the direction of Judy Best. She appeared on the Sammy Davis Jr. telethon and participated in the Anne Malone May Day Parade. She also worked with the St. Louis Muny Teens Chorus and was a member of the Aquinas–Mercy Falconettes Dance Line. During her high–school career she was a member of the St. Thomas–Aquinas Mercy High School Drama Club and she performed leading roles in Anything Goes, An American Sunset, and Night Mother, for which she received Best Supporting Actress. Tamara received her Bachelors of Arts degree in theatre, with a dance minor, from Missouri Valley College. She has worked as a St. Louis Public School classroom teacher for grades 3–5 in Special Education and in the Normandy School District. She also worked for COCA’s Urban Arts program as a drama teacher, and spent a year touring the Midwest as an actress/director with Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre Company based in Barrett, Minnesota. Locally she has performed with aTrek Dance Collective, The Midwest Lyric Opera Company, St. Louis Shakespeare Company, Piwackett Theatre for Children, New Line Theatre Company, and DramaRama Children’s Theatre.

Robert Ketchens is a professional artist who started his career as a Medical Illustrator for the U.S. Air Force and has since exhibited nationally. His interest in fine art grew during a four–year stay in Central Europe. Each visit to a museum drew his heart closer to art and further from illustration. He has been involved in art education since 1993.

Leon King uses his drumming talents to specialize in rhythm and blues, gospel and jazz. In addition to studying drumming and percussion at CASA and St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, Leon shares his love of music through private instruction.

Sky Kingsland has been drumming for fifteen years, his passion being West African drumming. He teaches West African Percussion at Maryville University and St. Louis Community College, as well as privately. He is a dance accompanist for Washington University Performing Arts, COCA, aTrek Dance Collective, and Rainbow Repertory Theatre. Sky is also the founder of the University City Loop Drum Circle.

During Antoinette (Toni) Kuhlman’s thirty–five years with the St. Louis Board of Education, she was an elementary classroom teacher, art specialist, and librarian. In all her positions, she used the power of storytelling, drama, and art to spotlight the hidden talents of her students. Toni has studied storytelling under Lynn Rubright at Webster University and with area storytellers such as Annette Harrison and Bobby Norfolk. She has been an art teacher for the Saint Louis Art Museum and told stories for the Girl Scouts and the YMCA summer camps.