Meet the Staff

Kristen Alvarez

Campaign Manager
513.632.0134

Favorite arts discipline: Music
Most memorable arts experience: Going to see Starlight Express with my mom when I was a child. I loved it so much and begged to see it again and again and again!
Personal Motto: Always treat people with respect and integrity. There is absolutely no excuse for anything less.
Favorite Movie: The Man Without a Face
Favorite Author: All 7 books of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series
Favorite Musical Group: I'll go with my favorite local group - The Jon Justice Band
Favorite Muscial Artist: Wow, this is tough. I'm a long-time Ani DiFranco fan
Favorite TV Show: Depends on my mood
 

Favorite arts discipline: Theatre
Most memorable arts experience: Seeing Metamorphosis and Company at Playhouse in the Park and Hedwig at Ensemble Theatre
Personal Motto: To each his own.
Favorite Movie: Slumdog Millionaire
Favorite Author: Malcolm Gladwell, Stephen King
Favorite Musical Group: The Beatles, Coldplay
Favorite TV Show: Lost, House, Heroes

Favorite arts discipline: Contemporary Visual Art
Most memorable arts experience: When my son said, "Hey mom, can me and a friend make a Jackson Pollock in the basement?
Personal Motto: Comfort the disturbed, disturb the comfortable.
Favorite Movie: Love Actually
Favorite Musical Group: Postal Service, Owl City, Vampire Weekend
Favorite TV Show: Project Runway

Favorite arts discipline: Print, blown glass
Most memorable arts experience: Taking Bridget (5) to Beauty and the Beast this season at The Children’s Theatre
Personal Motto: Do unto others…
Favorite Movie: Grease (seriously!)
Favorite Book: The Red Tent
Favorite Author: Lisa See, Jodi Piccoult, Anita Diamant
Favorite Musical Group: No Doubt
Favorite Musical Artist: Sheryl Crow
Favorite TV Show: Good Morning America

Ashley Guethlein

Heather Hallenberg
Vice President, Arts Services
513.632.0128

Favorite arts discipline: "Multi-Arts!"
Most memorable arts experience: Metamorphosis at Playhouse In The Park
Personal Motto: Lead by Example.
Favorite Movie: Days of Heaven
Favorite Author: Elizabeth George
Favorite Musical Artist: Springsteen
Favorite TV Show: "Six Feet Under".  At the moment, "House"

Teri Haught
Vice President, Finance and Operations
513.632.0122

Favorite arts discipline: Theatre
Most memorable arts experience: Coordination of my children's school's first talent show in combination with a visual arts display of two pieces of every child's artwork. It was fun to see all the parents and grandparents in the gym for an art event versus an athletic event.
Personal Motto: Integrity is paramount
Favorite Movie: Schindler's List
Favorite Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Favorite Musical Artist: James Taylor
Favorite TV Show: Sports Night (weird for an arts girl)

Favorite arts discipline:  Choral singing
Most memorable arts experience:  The experience of having Leonard Bernstein conduct us in the May Festival's performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.  He sang along with the soloists (not well) and jumped up and down so much we thought he would fall backwards into the audience. He really brought energy to the podium!
Personal Motto: Listen.
Favorite Movie: On the Waterfront
Favorite Book: Cry, the Beloved Country
Favorite Musical Artist: Jessye Norman
Favorite TV Show: 60 Minutes

Favorite arts discipline: Art is so much boarder than just paintings, symphonies and plays. It can be giant puppets, dancing, singing and so much more. Art really is in the eye of the beholder. It can mean so many different things to so many people. It truly enriches our lives!
Most memorable arts experience: I would have to say seeing the "Nutcracker" for the first time this past year with my family.
Personal Motto: Don't get so caught up in the daily grind that you never find any time to enjoy yourself.
Favorite Movie: The Sound of Music
Favorite Author: Danielle Steele
Favorite Musical Artist/Group: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Favorite TV Show: America's Funniest Videos (I also like Extreme Home Makeover but it makes me cry too much)

Favorite arts discipline: Music
Most memorable arts experience: Going to the Art Museum for the first time as a kid.
Personal Motto: Make the most of every day
Favorite Movie: Cool Hand Luke
Favorite Musical Group: The Rolling Stones
Favorite TV Show: House

Lisa Maly

Communications Associate, Arts and Culture Partnership

513.632.0114

Favorite arts discipline: Dance
Most memorable arts experience: The first time I saw Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre live at the City Center in New York City
Personal Motto: If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.
Favorite Movie: Anne of Green Gables
Favorite Musical Artist: Ray LaMontagne
Favorite TV Show: So You Think You Can Dance

Favorite arts discipline: Music (more specifically instrumental and voice)
Most memorable arts experience: My junior year at Luther College when I auditioned for, and won, the prestigious Luther College Torgerson Concertmaster and Scholarship Award
Personal Motto: Music washes from the soul the dust of everyday life
Favorite Movie: Terminator 2
Favorite Book/Author: Wallace Stegner "Crossing To Safety;" Wally Lamb "She's Come Undone;" Maurice Sendak "Where the Wild Things Are"
Favorite Musical Artist/Group: Led Zeppelin, ABB (Guilty)
Favorite TV Show: Gilmore Girls

Favorite arts discipline: Not telling!
Most memorable arts experience: My first week as a freshman at CCM, slipped into a rehearsal of the Philharmonia Orchestra rehearsing Beethoven's Leonore Overture #3. Here were a bunch of kids in jeans - MY age - making the most extraordinary music. It absolutely took my breath away.
Personal Motto: "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit". (Harry Truman)
Favorite Movie: American President or Air Force One (sense a theme?)
Favorite Author: John Le Carre (any of his spy novels)
Favorite Musical Artist: Michael Buble
Favorite TV Show: News Hour with Jim Lehrer

Favorite arts discipline: visual art
Most memorable arts experience: David Mach's show at the old CAC
Personal Motto: Fear is the opposite of faith
Favorite Movie: Currently Fur which is loosely based on Diane Arbus who was an American photographer, back in the day it was Blade Runner
Favorite Book: Mirriam Webster Dictionary
Favorite Musical Artist: Stephane Pompougnac
Favorite TV Show: Anything about houses, gardens, architecture  

Favorite arts discipline: Photography
Most memorable arts experience: When they moved the mosaic murals to the airport, my dad pointed out the one that depicted the Cincinnati Milling Machine where he worked. 
Personal Motto: Treat others as you would like them to treat you and honesty is the best policy.
Favorite Movie: Finding Forrester
Favorite Book: Exodus/Uris; The Secrets of Life Every Woman Should Know
Favorite Musical Artist:  Barry Manilow
Favorite TV Show:  Grey's Anatomy (current), Jeopardy (continuing), Once and Again (past)

Favorite arts discipline: Theatre
Most memorable arts experience: Competing in set design at the International Thespian Festival.
Personal Motto: Live in the moment.
Favorite Movie: 10 Things I Hate About You
Favorite TV Show: Brothers and Sisters

Favorite arts discipline: Visual Arts
Most memorable arts experience: A private, up close and personal tour  of Dia Beacon, NY. 
Personal Motto: Carpe Diem
Favorite Movie: Love Actually
Favorite Book/Author: Too many to name
Favorite Musical Artist/Group: The Beatles
Favorite TV Show: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Favorite arts discipline: music (all types)
Most memorable arts experience: Singing with friends over the years (high school, college and beyond). Lots of great memories.
Personal Motto: Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Favorite Movie: Kill Bill    
Favorite Book/Author: Stephen King
Favorite Musical Artist/Group: The Monkees
Favorite TV Show: Arrested Development

Favorite arts discipline: Theatre
Most memorable arts experience: Seeing the Armand Hammer Collection at the Cincinnati Art Museum in the early eighties. Truly unbelievable to be so close to such masterpieces.
Personal Motto: Life is Short; Be Good, Do Good!
Favorite Movie: The Sting
Favorite Author: Jodi Picoult
Favorite Musical Artist: Paul Thorn
Favorite TV Show: Lost

Favorite arts discipline: Theatre 
Most memorable arts experience: All of them
Personal Motto: Do the right thing.
Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Favorite Book/Author: Cider House Rules
Favorite Musical Group: Maroon 5
Favorite TV Show: The Unit

Favorite arts discipline: Theater
Most memorable arts experience: Learning to pick-pocket by attending a performance of Oliver Twist in elementary school.
Favorite Movie: Mary Poppins
Favorite Book/Author: Roald Dahl
Favorite Musical Group: The Beatles and REM
Favorite TV Show: House

Favorite arts discipline: Sculptures
Most memorable arts experience: The weekend after 9/11, I attended a Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performance that had been quickly modified to be a memorial concert.  It was very moving.
Personal Motto: Be Prepared.
Favorite Movie: Rain Man
Favorite Author: Franklin Roosevelt by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Favorite Musical Artist: Bruce Spingsteen
Favorite TV Show: 30 Rock

Most memorable arts experience: The time I went to see a play at the Playhouse - I love plays so when I saw the actor put on this performance playing all of those different characters it was just amazing.
Personal Motto: Laughter is the best medicine in my book - We have to live day by day and overcome the obstacles that are thrown at us because at the end of the day you should be proud of what you were able to accomplish.

Margy Waller
Vice President, Arts & Culture Partnership
513.632.0131

Favorite arts discipline: Music and theatre.
Most memorable arts experience: Listening to my parents play music.
Personal Motto: Remember that sometimes losing well is winning.
Favorite Book/Author: Manhattan When I was Young by Mary Cantwell
Favorite Musical Group: The Mix
Favorite TV Show: The Wire and Mad Men

Favorite arts discipline: Theater and Choral Music
Most memorable arts experience: Performing in the  Jr. High Talent  Show at WHHS as the commercial break. I sang the Mr. Bubble jingle, and yes, I was dressed up as a bubble!
Personal Motto:  Let's get the job done.
Favorite Movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Favorite Book: Let Them Eat Cake
Favorite Musical Artist: Hard to pick; I love a lot of different female vocalists
Favorite TV Show: The Practice

Favorite arts discipline: Visual Arts, Opera
Most memorable arts experience: Taking my kids to see any live performance - we always have fun and it's memorable for all of us 
Personal Motto: Be intentional.
Favorite Movie: Little Miss Sunshine, Bridget Jones' Diary
Favorite Book: 100 Secret Senses
Favorite Musical Group: Coldplay
Favorite TV Show: So You Think You Can Dance