Board Members: of The Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts!
Upholding....what we do!!
Mark A. O'Neill, Interim President
As a former member of The Heinz Chapel Choir at the University of Pittsburgh, Mark was a natural fit with the Academy's mission. He participated in more that a dozen musicals in both high school and community theatre and was selected to represent his high school at the 1992 PMEA District 8 Festival Chorus held at Wellsboro High School, PA near his hometown of Jersey Shore in Lycoming County, Pa. He later played supporting roles in Camelot and The King and I during graduate schoool at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
As a former member of The Heinz Chapel Choir at the University of Pittsburgh, Mark was a natural fit with the Academy's mission. He participated in more that a dozen musicals in both high school and community theatre and was selected to represent his high school at the 1992 PMEA District 8 Festival Chorus held at Wellsboro High School, PA near his hometown of Jersey Shore in Lycoming County, Pa. He later played supporting roles in Camelot and The King and I during graduate schoool at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Kristina Werner, Secretary
Kristina, along with her husband, Henry, have been part of the Academy since 2011. As a mother of 10, she is very busy at home but enjoys investing in the Academy also. Her children have been actively involved in all aspects of the Academy, participating in choirs, orchestra, theater and fine arts. They also enjoy bluegrass music in the Werner Family Band.
Kristina, along with her husband, Henry, have been part of the Academy since 2011. As a mother of 10, she is very busy at home but enjoys investing in the Academy also. Her children have been actively involved in all aspects of the Academy, participating in choirs, orchestra, theater and fine arts. They also enjoy bluegrass music in the Werner Family Band.
Leah Frey
Leah and her husband, Jerel, homeschool their 6 children and have been involved in the Academy since 2014. Jerel holds a degree in voice performance from Temple University, and because of this, wanted his children to be involved in choirs from an early age. The Academy was perfect fit. Leah is a nationally certified sign language interpreter and enjoys bridging the gap of communication between those who can hear and those who are Deaf. Jerel and Leah and all their children can be found working at Frey's Greenhouse, a 3rd generation family business. Jerel and Leah live in Lancaster city and attend Wheatland Presbyterian church.
Leah and her husband, Jerel, homeschool their 6 children and have been involved in the Academy since 2014. Jerel holds a degree in voice performance from Temple University, and because of this, wanted his children to be involved in choirs from an early age. The Academy was perfect fit. Leah is a nationally certified sign language interpreter and enjoys bridging the gap of communication between those who can hear and those who are Deaf. Jerel and Leah and all their children can be found working at Frey's Greenhouse, a 3rd generation family business. Jerel and Leah live in Lancaster city and attend Wheatland Presbyterian church.
Gail Mbugua, Treasurer
Gail Mbugua, her husband Peter, and their daughter have been part of the Academy since 2012. Gail grew up loving all aspects of the performing arts, including vocal, instrumental, theater, and dance, earning many honors and student directing across all disciplines. In college she traveled with a small vocal ensemble and participated in choral and wind ensembles. Her love for missions moved her out of the performing arts realm, and she earned degrees in English Education and Bible. Peter, a former pastor, holds degrees in Bible, Music (Trumpet and Church Music), and a Master’s in Counseling. Together they run The Benjamin Wellness Center, a non-profit with a medical clinic in Kenya, and lead mission trips to Kenya regularly. Gail is thankful for the Academy’s vision to provide quality performing arts education and opportunities for homeschooling families.
Gail Mbugua, her husband Peter, and their daughter have been part of the Academy since 2012. Gail grew up loving all aspects of the performing arts, including vocal, instrumental, theater, and dance, earning many honors and student directing across all disciplines. In college she traveled with a small vocal ensemble and participated in choral and wind ensembles. Her love for missions moved her out of the performing arts realm, and she earned degrees in English Education and Bible. Peter, a former pastor, holds degrees in Bible, Music (Trumpet and Church Music), and a Master’s in Counseling. Together they run The Benjamin Wellness Center, a non-profit with a medical clinic in Kenya, and lead mission trips to Kenya regularly. Gail is thankful for the Academy’s vision to provide quality performing arts education and opportunities for homeschooling families.
Victoria Fisher
Victoria’s early childhood experiences of visiting art museums and attending theatrical performances while living in NYC nurtured in her a deep appreciation for the effect art has in people’s lives. She has fond memories of facing a large wall with paintbrush in hand to paint a life-size mural and serving on stage crew to build sets to bring theater to life. After undergrad, she considered pursuing a degree in art therapy, but instead, she earned a Masters in Education while teaching in NYC, and later, a Masters in Intercultural Studies while teaching in Asia. On her honeymoon, she dragged her husband to see Mona Lisa’s smile and about every other museum that dotted the landscape of Europe. She now carries this same passion into her homeschool education experience for her children, exposing them to famous musicians and artists through readings, attending concerts and performances, visiting museums, and of course getting them directly involved in the beauty of creating art, singing, and acting. Victoria is so grateful for the blessing the Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts has been for her children and is humbled to partner with the Academy to bring glory to God through the arts. Victoria, her husband, and her children have been involved with the Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts since 2016.
Victoria’s early childhood experiences of visiting art museums and attending theatrical performances while living in NYC nurtured in her a deep appreciation for the effect art has in people’s lives. She has fond memories of facing a large wall with paintbrush in hand to paint a life-size mural and serving on stage crew to build sets to bring theater to life. After undergrad, she considered pursuing a degree in art therapy, but instead, she earned a Masters in Education while teaching in NYC, and later, a Masters in Intercultural Studies while teaching in Asia. On her honeymoon, she dragged her husband to see Mona Lisa’s smile and about every other museum that dotted the landscape of Europe. She now carries this same passion into her homeschool education experience for her children, exposing them to famous musicians and artists through readings, attending concerts and performances, visiting museums, and of course getting them directly involved in the beauty of creating art, singing, and acting. Victoria is so grateful for the blessing the Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts has been for her children and is humbled to partner with the Academy to bring glory to God through the arts. Victoria, her husband, and her children have been involved with the Lancaster Academy for the Performing Arts since 2016.
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