Grand Canyon University Brings Caché to Fine Arts Faculty

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When Grand Canyon University’s College of Fine Arts and Production Dean Claude Pensis learned that the University was bringing back the College after a four-year hiatus, he went to task to bring the best faculty members he could find to help with the program’s renaissance. The fruits of his labors will come to fruition this fall, as the University relaunches its College of Fine Arts program with a faculty that promises to provide students with a holistic, well-rounded appreciation and education in the performing arts.

“Our students will be exposed to all facets of a theatre production, because of the wide-ranging experience of the faculty members that have joined us”

“Our students will be exposed to all facets of a theatre production, because of the wide-ranging experience of the faculty members that have joined us,” Pensis said.

Assistant Dean of Music Juan Hernandez, Assistant Dean of Theatre and Dance William Symington, Professor of Voice Sheila Corley and Director of Dance Susannah Keita begin their teaching in earnest this fall, and are already focused on the school’s inaugural production, Pirates of Penzance, staged August 27 through Sept. 5.

Originally from Mexico City, Dr. Juan Hernandez found his love for music at a young age. He has served as Conductor of the Arizona Philharmonic Orchestra, Assistant Conductor of the Arizona Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Conductor and Music Director of the Arizona Opera Theater, among many other professional accomplishments. While working toward his master’s degrees at Yale University, he was assistant director of the glee club and director of the chamber singers, which included concerts at Carnegie Hall.

William Symington comes to GCU with 17 years of wide-ranging experience in technical theatre, design, administration, directing and teaching in higher education and professional and regional theatre. He was the scenic designer and production manager for Lyric Opera Theatre in the Herberger Institute School of Music at Arizona State University for 14 years, and received an AriZoni award for “Private Lives” at Phoenix Theatre. He received his master’s degree in Technical Theatre from Arizona State University.

No stranger to GCU, Dr. Sheila Corley graduated from the University and served on the faculty in the former college for more than 20 years. Corley was conductor of the Opera Workshop in the GCU Ethington Theatre series, where she conducted more than 140 performances of 15 operas. She fostered the growth of many former GCU students, seeing those in her vocal studio participate in district, regional and national Metropolitan Opera Auditions. Her students have also auditioned for the Houston Grand, Ohio Light and Central City Opera, and sang with the Chicago Lyric Opera Artists Studio. Many of her former GCU students teach in private and public schools and are involved in music ministry.

Susannah “Sukie” Keita is a versatile dance artist who has performed in the United States and abroad, with companies such as the Grand Rapids Ballet and InSync Dance Theatre in Michigan, and Adrenaline Dance in New York City. A graduate of the University of Arizona Dance Department, she earned her M.F.A. in choreography in 2003, where she was honored with the Graduate Creative Achievement Award in Dance. Her choreography has been performed by numerous regional theater companies, dance companies and public school programs in New York, Michigan and Arizona.

Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is Arizona’s private university. The prestigious Christian university is regionally accredited and is recognized as offering some of the best education programs in the nation. Grand Canyon University offers traditional campus-based and online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs through the Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Education, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, College of Fine Arts and Production, and the College of Doctoral Studies. GCU emphasizes individual attention for both traditional undergraduate students as well as the working professional. For more information about GCU’s fine arts programs, visit www.gcu.edu/cofap.