Current Teachers:
Amanda Minor
Amanda is a Nashville native and grew up in a home with art and her creativity bloomed from there, from paints and canvases to crafts and custom cakes. She loves to take nothing and create something amazing. She has been a part of the CYT family for 4 years and has loved bringing her creative side to the Front of House and the props. She loves spending time developing an idea on paper and figuring out how to make it work in a space. She is excited to be able to work with the kids in a different type of creativity.
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.
Clara Martinez
I work as an elementary school bookkeeper for Williamson County Schools during the day and love my incredible side gig at CYT where I get to use my passion for Musical Theater to teach and grow the next generation! I am a wife and mother of 2. Both my kids have found a home at CYT and I am forever grateful.
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!
Jason Minor
Growing Up just out outside of Washington DC Jason was able to start his theater career in local dinner theaters. From that point, he had a manager in Maryland with Agents in NY which would allow him to land several national commercials. Eventually this led to an International Tour of the Sound Of Music with Debbie Boone, allowing him the opportunity to perform in Japan for 6 weeks after touring the US. Soon after, Jason went on to the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam CT to star in an off Broadway production of The Little Rascals as Spanky. From this show, he was cast in the Broadway production of Teddy and Alice. Shortly after the close of Teddy and Alice, this led to an opportunity to do the National tour, which eventually went to Broadway, Gypsy with Tyne Daly. While touring Jason was able to audition for the New Mickey Mouse Club airing weekdays on the Disney Channel. By the time Gypsy started on Broadway, Jason had accepted the opportunity to relocate to Orlando and join the MMC for the next 3 seasons. After completing his 3rd season, Jason went back to finish High School in MD, perform is school musicals and become a regular High School student. He attended UCLA's Theater/Film School for one year before moving to Nashville in 1997 with his high school band to try their talents in country music. Jason met his wife Amanda, a native Nashvillian (from Mt Juliet). They have 3 awesome children and now one grandchild. After watching Owen from the audience all of these years, he is extremely excited to be working with CYT to help guide the students to confidence in their creative decisions, see their growth, grow in confidence but most of all to remember they are not defined by what they can or cannot do on the stage. He is VERY excited to be a part of Nashville CYT!
Jeff Martinez
I have worked in the theatre world for over 20 years as a Producer, Director, Assistant Director, Teacher, and performer. I work for Ramsey Solutions in Franklin, TN and am thrilled to continue my love for teaching students about musical theatre at CYT Nashville. I am a husband and father of 2. It has been such a gift to share amazing experiences at CYT Nashville together as a family of four!
Kenna Otero
Kenna is thrilled to be joining the CYT community! Born and raised in Nashville, Kenna discovered her love for theatre in the 6th grade and has been passionate about it ever since. She is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary and Special Education at Lipscomb University. With a deep enthusiasm for theatre, Kenna is eager to share her passion with the next generation. She looks forward to meeting all the amazing students at CYT and playing even a small part in their artistic growth and development.
Mark Allen
Mark has been a part of theatre virtually his whole life: as a studio singer, a professional actor in the Nashville area, an award-winning director and a Broadway musical theatre writer. Graduating from NYU-Tisch School Of The Arts with an M.F.A. in Musical Theatre Writing, Mark has been on both sides of the audition table as an "audition-ee" and "audition-er" on and off Broadway in NYC for over 20 years. Raised in Nashville and thankfully back home again, Mark is honored to join CYT to share his love of theatre, music and Jesus above 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 grew up in the Chicago suburbs and started to fall in love with theater through CYT Chicago. After completing 19 productions with CYT, Taylor moved to Nashville to attend school at Belmont University and began working with CYT Nashville. Through her time with CYT Chicago and CYT Nashville, Taylor continued to fall in love with theater, especially in the context that focused on community over craft. Taylor later got her masters in Organizational Leadership and Management from MTSU and is beyond blessed to serve as the Managing Director here at CYT.