Camp Levine DC Campus: NW Teacher Bios

Catherine is a rising 4th year Flute Performance major at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Her love of music can be traced back to Levine Summer Camp, where she started as a camper in 2009 before becoming a teen apprentice in 2014 and joining as a staff member in 2022. She also finds great joy in playing in musical theatre pit orchestras around the area. In addition to her commitment to music, she is an amateur snowboarder and enjoys studying philosophy, which is also her minor.

Beth has been teaching at Camp Levine since 2010, and is so happy to be back again this summer! Her background is in music therapy and early childhood music, which led her to the preschool classroom where she now teaches 3 and 4 year olds during the school year. Beth’s passion is engaging children in play through theme-based music, art and literature. When she’s not in the classroom, Beth keeps busy with her family and foster dogs.

Cierra holds a bachelors and masters of Music education from Norfolk State University. She has taught elementary and early childhood music for 13 years and has been with Levine for 6, teaching in their First Music department, primarily at the Silver Spring campus. Cierra enjoys cooking and baking for her husband, friends and family and also enjoys shopping!

Mr. Darren is a passionate music educator and pianist originally from Trinidad & Tobago. He holds a B.M. in Music Education from Florida International University, a M.A. in Music Education from University of Maryland, College Park and currently pursuing his PhD in Music Education, also at UMD. In addition to his studies, he has been a PK-8 music teacher, church musician, and collaborative pianist in the Silver Spring and DMV area. He is an accompanist and the curriculum coordinator with the Children’s Chorus of Washington(CCW). He has been with Camp Levine since 2019.

Dr. Ceylon Mitchell II embodies the 21st-century arts leader as a contemporary classical flutist, curator, educator, and entrepreneur. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Dr. Mitchell earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland School of Music, under the tutelage of Dr. Sarah Frisof. He has performed in venues such as Boston’s Symphony Hall, the Music Center at Strathmore, the Arts Club of Washington, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with Robert Glasper. In the United States, Dr. Mitchell has been a featured artist at the National Flute Convention, flute societies and associations, and multiple chamber music series. Recent achievements include the Strathmore Artist in Residence Class of 2021 and a Prince George’s County Forty UNDER 40 Award. In masterclasses, he has performed for the renowned flutsits such as Carol Wincenc, Marina Piccinini, Aaron Goldman, and Sir James Galway.

Jonathan Velsey has been introducing campers to the wonders of the cello at Levine’s Music & Arts camp since 1999. A Levine alumnus himself, Jonathan received a B.A. from Bard College, and got his Master of Music degree at Northwestern University. During the year, Jonathan teaches strings in Howard County, Maryland, is on the faculty as a studio and group cello instructor at Levine and is an active freelance cellist in the Washington area. Jonathan’s musical journey has allowed him to travel and perform as solo, chamber and orchestral cellist, giving critically acclaimed recitals at home and abroad. When not teaching or performing, Jonathan enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, traveling, composing and arranging music and learning new languages.

Dawoon Jung values a sensitive and delicate musician style in her performances as a soloist and chamber musician. As a musician and piano teacher, she is committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Dawoon built her musical career through solo recitals, chamber recitals, competitions, workshops/festivals, and accompaniment. She holds her bachelor’s degree at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee under the tutelage of Jung-Ja Kim. Dawoon holds Master’s degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University under the guidance of Professor Benjamin Pasternack. She was a teaching fellow in the Peabody Outreach Pedagogy program. Currently, She is a faculty at Levine Music and teaching private lessons through DC and Virginia area.

Christine Kharazian is a concert violinist, a graduate of the Komitas State Conservatory and the Tchaikovsky Advanced School of Music in Yerevan, Armenia. She has performed in concerts at the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Hall, Dumbarton House, the Gallery at The Ellipse, and various Embassies in Washington, among other venues as a soloist and with various groups. Christine is an experienced educator. Currently she teaches violin technique at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Sidwell Friends. Christine is also the author and presenter of a series of interactive programs in music education. As a versatile and adventurous musician she loves exploring various styles, from Gypsy Jazz to Brazilian Choro and performs often with various ensembles including Orchester Praževica. Christine Kharazian enjoys experimenting with the merging of various art forms, such as theater and music. In addition Christine was a 2nd prize winner of the Unsigned Only competition in 2021 for her original composition Valse Astolfi. She serves as a Chair of Student Activities at Friday Morning Music Club, coordinating concert series for young aspiring musicians, and is a board member of Blues Alley Jazz Education Society.

This will be Savannah’s second year with Camp Levine, having taught Instrument Building in the Summer of 2022. A graduate from George Washington University with a double major in Music and Psychological & Brain Sciences, she has since worked as the Performance Events Assistant for the GW Music Program, as well as a stagehand and member of the set team for productions at the Washington Stage Guild. Currently, Savannah is the Educational Program Coordinator with the Washington Bach Consort, an organization dedicated to introducing DC public school students to the musical works of Bach. Having spent much of her life and career engaging with music in a variety of different formats, she is excited to return this year with fun projects that work to encompass the nuances of music creation and the meaning of sound. As a performer and life-long lover of music she is excited to bring new challenges to the table for this year’s campers.

Michelle Seaward is a professional actress & dancer born and raised in Washington DC she has a Bachelors in Arts and Humanities Vocal Music Performance & Theater Arts from Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach Florida. With over ten years of experience. Traveling with gospel choirs throughout high school and college. She has done many auditions and performances around the United States. Michelle has an impeccable ability on and off stage to bring characters to life! She takes pride in creating and personalizing many plays, movies, music videos, and theater performances. While working with many production and theater companies it has help to expand her strengths beyond anything she could ever imagine. Michelle is known for her big personality and incredible ability to choreograph and act. Director’s and Play Writers rave about her energy on stage and camera! All while maintaining a very professional atmosphere. Michelle’s goal is to reach audiences of all ages and help bring entertainment and excitement to their lives. Michelle’s motto is “Life is like a stage you are always performing”

DC native Emily is a graduate of the SUNY Purchase conservatory with a double BA in Theatre & Medieval Studies. A Screen Actors’ Guild member since 2022, she is an actor, singer, teaching artist, and company member with the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Her post-grad training includes Studio Theatre, Shakespeare & Co., & Shaw Festival (Ontario); as well as classical voice with one of Broadway’s most sought-after teachers. Since 2013 she has performed around the region, originating roles at Source Fest, Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage, & on the radio with Jabberwocky Audio Theatre, among others. In 2020 she worked with The Show Must Go Online, a UK-based global collective of actors from all over the who performed the entire Shakespeare canon live on YouTube. Emily’s regular job is as a substitute teacher for DC Public Schools. Her classes emphasize theatre as play, with a focus on improv, character creation, group work, and movement. Her first feature film, RUSTIN, will be released on Netflix later this fall.