Leslie Andrews Voice InstructorLeslie Andrews brings over a decade of voice teaching experience to the TrueNorth faculty. Ms. Andrews earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Cleveland State University in Voice with particular emphasis on Vocal Pedagogy and American Musical Theatre. She is currently enrolled at Ashland University and is pursuing her initial teaching license and second Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education for grades K-12. Leslie enjoys performing and teaching all styles of music and can be seen performing frequently in professional ensembles and regional theatre around Cleveland. She is the wife of TrueNorth percussion instructor, Chris, and they live in North Ridgeville with three dogs, Puganini, Pawvarotti, and Pawliacci. Rick Fortney Founder/Executive Director/Voice and Piano InstructorFounder and Executive Director of TrueNorth Cultural Arts, established in 1999. At TrueNorth, Mr. Fortney conducts the TrueNorth Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, serves as Musical Director for its theatre productions, and serves as TrueNorth’s Artistic Director in theatre, music, visual arts and dance. His professional singing resume includes performances with New York Choral Artists, Musica Sacra, Trevor Pinnock’s Classical Band Chorus, The New York Concert Singers, The Juilliard Singers, The National Chorale, The David Dussing Singers, and featured Soloist within the Calvary Baptist Chamber Concert Series. Theatrically he was Spirit McCoy in the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s in Beckley, West Virginia outdoor theatre; worked with American Entertainment, singing at Convention Shows, State Fairs and Cruise Ships for a number of years; and was in the opera chorus for three seasons with Director Peter Sellers. Rick is in The Canterbury Singers, USA with which he has sung several choral residencies at Cathedrals throughout England. Mr. Fortney received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts Degrees from Bowling Green State University. Rick has served as Director of Worship / Minister of Music at Bay Presbyterian Church, Director of Music at St. Barnabas Episcopal, Heritage Presbyterian, and currently St. Paul Lutheran in Amherst, Ohio. Rick and his wife Joan live in Avon Lake with their “Mighty Four!”, Luna & Ellie, and Sophie & Clyde! Janine Porter Voice InstructorLyric coloratura soprano, performed extensively with the former Cleveland Opera on Tour. Her roles included Madame Butterfly, Olympia, Rosina, Mabel, Josephine, Peter Rabbit, and City Mouse. Other leading roles include the Mother in Tri-C Western Campus’ production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors," the Countess in Stocker Center’s production of “The Marriage of Figaro,” and Rosina at Duke University’s production of “ The Barber of Seville,” and the title role in Little Red Riding Hood with TrueNorth. Her concert and oratorio work include the soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah with the Cleveland Messiah Chorus, Haydn’s Creation, and Schubert's Mass in G with TrueNorth Cultural Arts, and Brahms Requiem, Rutter’s Magnificat, Bach’s Cantata No.140, Mozart’s Regina Coeli, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, and Poulenc’s Gloria at Lorain County Community College. Janine also had the rare opportunity to perform Pierrot Lunaire with the Ars Futura Ensemble at Cleveland Institute of Music. Janine has a passion for helping students of all ages develop their best solo voice, no matter what style of music they are singing. Janine received her Bachelor of Music degree from Ohio Northern University, and a Master of Music degree in voice from the University of Akron where she studied with Dr.Mary Schiller. In addition to her singing and teaching, she loves spending time with her husband and two children., Margaret Ahrens Shaffer Voice InstructorPeg Shaffer is a free-lance musician who has worked extensively as a singer, composer, teacher, and writer. As an interpreter she is equally comfortable in standard art song and operatic Literature, the classics of twentieth century composers, and new compositions written especially for her. Ms. Shaffer attributes her interest in diverse styles to her own work as a composer and to the study of non-Western music. She holds a B.M. in voice and composition from the Ohio State University, and an M.F.A. in electronic music from the world-renowned Center for Contemporary Music at Mills College. She also studied world music with Terry Riley and Halim El-Dabh. In addition to performing numerous world, American, and New York premieres at multiple New York venues, Ms. Shaffer enjoys teaching voice to students of all ages and levels of experience. Previously Adjunct Professor, Voice and diction, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY Melissa Tippin Music Lessons - VocalMelissa has been teaching voice lessons for four years. She has a BS from Heidelberg University where she studied Music with a concentration in Voice and Business Administration with a concentration in Management. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Arts Administration from the University of Akron. Melissa has been performing since she was 7 and has been seen in productions such as [title of show] as Heidi, Hunchback of Notre Dame as a Congregant/Gypsy, and Into the Woods as Cinderella, Godspell, Addams Family: the Musical as Wednesday, Shrek: the Musical as Fiona, and Fiddler on the Roof as Hodel. She found her passion for performance and teaching in her hometown, Bryan, Ohio.
