Heather Gifford (Homeschool Director, Assistant Production Manager, Private Voice Faculty)

Heather began working at MSA in 2013 as part of the voice faculty and served as The Academy music department chair from 2019-2024. She is excited to take on the role of Homeschool Director and Assistant Production Manager. Education: Bachelor Degree in Music Industry, with a Vocal Performance concentration from James Madison University.  Professional Performance: Keegan Theater DC: Chicago (Annie/Velma us); LTA: Legally Blonde (Brooke Wyndam); Holland America Cruise Line (lead singer); Harrah’s Las Vegas: Legends in Concert; Tropicana Atlantic City: Havana After Dark. Entertainment and Event Management: Venetian/Palazzo and Planet Hollywood Resorts in Las Vegas; Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor MD. Music Director for ACCT: Seussical the Musical, Guys and Dolls, Legally Blonde. Heather is honored to be able to share her love for the performing arts and encourage the next generation of performers.

Colleen Hayes I Dance
Colleen Hayes has spent the majority of her career as a performer and teacher in New York City and is originally from the DMV area. Performance credits include: Catch Me If You Can (1st National Tour), Crazy for You (The REV), The Producers and Cinderella (Fulton Opera House). DC area performances include: the World Premiere of Sheryl Crow’s Diner, Cabaret, West Side Story and Crazy for You (Signature Theatre), A Chorus Line and How to Succeed (Olney Theatre Center). TV and voiceover credits include: Roaring 20s for DC Lotto, and Butterbean’s Café, Corn and Peg, Paw Patrol, and Dora the Explorer for Nickelodeon’s digital app and audio books. In addition to performing, she teaches at George Mason University and afterschool at MSA. She loves working with students in all stages of their career to bridge the gap from education to professional work and is thrilled to be on faculty at MSA. Colleen holds a degree in Theatre and Dance with a Musical Theatre Concentration from James Madison University.

Photo by Aschley Garrett

Laramie Bertolino I Music

Laramie Bertolino is so excited to join the MSA team! She’s always loved the arts and some of her earliest memories are with her grandparents at the local Artist Series. As a military spouse (happy to be putting down roots in northern Virginia) she’s worked with many different opportunities as they have arisen. She has a Bachelors Degree in education from Florida State University, as well as an Associate’s Degree in Dramatic Production and Youth Ministries from The Academy of Arts in Taylor’s South Carolina. Laramie has experience as a piano teacher, public school classroom teacher, director of elementary musicals, stage director, and choir
accompanist. Her favorite title is Dance Mom, and she loves that her daughter gets to be a part of the amazing programs at MSA.

Kirsten Noetzel I Acting

Kirsten Noetzel works as a Director and Teaching Artist in DC and also serves as MSA’s Acting Program Director. Regionally, she has directed for The Theatre Lab (Matilda, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, The Magic Hour), Imagination Stage (Unlabeled, The Pencil is Mightier, O Wonder, Aladdin), Montgomery College (The BURN), Metropolitan School of the Arts (Wishful Thinking, The Odyssey, 4 A.M., Peter Pan, The Tempest, Mirror, Mirror); and Assistant Directed for The Hub Theatre (Peekaboo, The BURN). Kirsten also serves on the faculties of Ford’s Theatre, Wolf Trap, Imagination Stage, and The Theatre Lab. Kirsten has been invited to speak about
educational theatre by DC Public Schools, the Kennedy Center, Fairfax County Public Schools, Edlavitch JCC, and DC Collaborative. Kirsten received her M.A. in Theatre from the University of Houston. She is a proud member of VASTA (Voice and Speech
Trainers Association).