Current Teachers:
Amy Blackwood
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago Amy got involved with CYT when she was 12 and continued in the program until she graduated at age 18. Amy then went on to choreograph 20 plus shows for CYT Chicago. Some of her favorites included Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical (which she Directed) and Jungle Book. Amy has always had a love for Musical Theater and dance. She studied dance at Belmont University in Nashville, and then continued her training at Columbia College in Chicago. Amy moved to Missouri and was fortunate to be able to teach for CYT Kansas. Finding her way back to Nashville along with her family, Amy was excited to choreograph CYT Nashville’s first musical "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" in 2013. Amy went on to help direct and choreograph some other favorites including Aladdin, Frog and Toad and Annie. Taking a break from theater Amy went back to school to complete her nursing degree. She is now loving working at Centennial Women’s hospital on the high risk OB unit. Amy’s husband Eric is a Franklin native and together they are happily raising their daughter Annabelle who is a 2nd grader at Thales Academy. Her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
Cassie Trabucco
Cassie Trabucco was born in New York but grew up in Nashville doing any kind of music or musical theater she could find. She studied performance at Columbia State Community College and later graduated from MTSU with a degree in Integrated Studies with emphasis on Musical Theater and Dance. While in college, she performed and led worship across the country with a Christian/Catholic band. She teaches private voice lessons, sings on demos in Nashville and has recently turned her attention to songwriting and recording. Cassie is so excited to be working at CYT and looks forward to learning from every person and experience.
Courtney Edwards
God gave Courtney a passion for dance at a very young age, but He gave her an even deeper passion to teach. Courtney has had the honor of teaching and choreographing for professional and private dance companies throughout Southern California for over 20 years. Her trained styles include Jazz, Modern, Lyrical and Musical Theater or Broadway. It is her goal to teach with a loving heart, to inspire creativity, and to instill a confidence in each student’s unique abilities on and off stage. She is honored to be able to help her students find their gifts from God and learn how to share them with any audience! Every opportunity God has given Courtney has been the greatest blessing including moving here to Tennessee in 2021 with her husband, three kiddos and two dogs. She is beyond excited to start working with CYT Nashville!
Emma Jones Mullins
Emma (Jones) Mullins has lived in the Nashville area for almost nine years, graduating from Centennial High School in 2019, and recently finishing her undergrad from Liberty University with a degree in Biblical Studies and Theology. She has been involved with theatre and music since 2007, more actively participating in both in high school, being trained in vocals both privately and in group settings. She loves being able to work with students who are passionate about storytelling and hopes to encourage them as they continue their journey in CYT! She is also recently married, works in student ministry at a local church, and is overall excited to continue partnering with CYT in music and the arts.
Keagan Edwards
Like the saying goes, Keagan isn't from the South, but she got here as soon as she could! Keagan grew up in Southern California and moved here to Tennessee in 2021. She is so grateful that she was surrounded by all her favorite things growing up; singing, reading, playing instruments, Disneyland, painting, musical theatre, writing, and most importantly, God. Keagan has taken voice lessons since she was 9 years old, played piano and guitar since she was 10, and has been involved with theatre all her life. She did her first musical in 1st grade and caught the theatre bug, performing in shows as often as she could. Some of her favorite musicals she did are "Newsies", "Les Misérables", “Annie”, "Beauty and the Beast", and an original musical called "Twelve". Beyond her musical experiences, Keagan has enjoyed years of volunteer work with her church through VBS, weekly programming, leading worship, and youth leadership. Through it all, Keagan has found a pure love for teaching kids and is beyond honored to now be able to work with CYT and fulfill this new dream.
Megan Roberts
Discovering theatre in her hometown's community theatre at the age of 7, Megan has been passionate about pursuing the performing arts ever since. Performing and working in all areas of theatre throughout high school, she then went on to earn her Technical Certificate and Associate's Degree in Commercial Entertainment from Columbia State Community College. After graduating, Megan has worked professionally and in community theatre around the Nashville area. After returning home from attending a Discipleship Training School (focused in the performing arts) with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in 2020, she has been writing and directing skits with the youth group at her home church, and teaching theatre at the Boys and Girls Club with Watershed Public Theatre. Megan is so excited to be joining the CYT team and continue to teach what she is passionate about to the next generation (and learn more herself!).
Noel Lvovsky
Noel was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She studied acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Circle in the Square and has been working professionally as an actor, singer, dancer, director, producer, and teacher in LA for more years than she’d like to admit. She is blessed beyond measure to call Tennessee her new home with her husband and 2 children. She’s even more thankful to have the opportunity to teach at CYT, Nashville. God is great!
Raquel Lenhart
Raquel is thrilled to have relocated to Tennessee from Los Angeles, where she resided for the past eighteen years. Having earned a Master’s Degree in Theater from California State University, Northridge, and an Interdisciplinary Studies Field Bachelor’s Degree from UC Berkeley, Raquel has been fortunate to make a living both as an actress, producer, and acting teacher. Her passion to tell stories and honor the playwrights is apparent through her craft. As a SAG-AFTRA member, Raquel has been a part of many films, including A Life Lived, with Denise Richards, Deception, with Sonia Curtis, and The Extendables, with Brian Thompson, to name a few. On stage, Raquel has starred in and produced the award-winning musical The Night of the Black Cat which ran for about a year. Other theater credits include The Bacchae, at the Getty Villa in Malibu, The Miser, California Suite, Beyond Therapy, and The Doctor Despite Himself. Raquel has also worked as an actress in Brazil, Argentina, and Greece. Raquel has over twenty years of teaching experience and is delighted to join the CYT team. Her passion for helping others develop their talents and expand their creativity through a safe environment is evident through her teaching. Raquel’s light sense of humor and positivity create great learning and exploratory experiences for all.
Samantha Shelby
Sam grew up in Franklin, TN and is a Mississippi State University alumna. She graduated with an Interdisciplinary Studies degree, concentrating in Music, Public Relations and Marketing. At MSU, Sam concentrated in vocal performance, studying opera. During her time as a student she traveled with the State Singers Choir on yearly tours across the country and had the opportunity to sing in Spain. Aside from opera and choral music, Sam continued singing in various competitions on campus and was a 1st place talent show winner, the 2019 Battle of the Bands Winner, and was an opening act for T-Pain at MSU’s Bulldog Bash. Now, she lives in Nashville and is a Promotion Coordinator. Sam is so excited to be a part of this amazing group this year and cannot wait to meet all of the talented students at CYT!
Taylor Ruscitti
Taylor Ruscitti began participating in CYT Chicago at the ago of 8 years old, where she fell in love with telling stories through theater and dance. This prompted her to begin taking dance classes in different studios throughout the Chicago suburbs. When moving to Nashville for college, she knew she wanted to reach out and get involved with CYT Nashville. Taylor attended Belmont University where she studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and completed minors in Dance and Public Relations. Taylor completed the Disney College Program in the Fall of 2019 where she was able to work on their animal education team. Currently, Taylor is working at Belmont University as a housing director and pursuing her master’s degree through MTSU in Organizational Leadership. Taylor is excited to continue working with CYT Nashville by passing on her love of theater and dance to the next generation.