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Teachers
Mr. Harrison Bumgardner
Mr. Harrison Bumgardner
Choir, Musical Theatre
Harrison L. Bumgardner is an accomplished baritone performer and teacher. Harrison holds a Master of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Music from Appalachian State University.
On the operatic stage, he has performed the roles of The Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance), Ben (The Telephone), Harry Easter (Street Scene), and Guglielmo (Cosi Fan Tutte) with Appalachian State University Opera Workshop Theatre, Melchior (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Pandolfe (Cendrillon), Dr. Stone (Help, Help, the Globolinks) and Masetto (Don Giovanni) with UNCG Opera Theatre, Captain Corcoran (H.M.S. Pinafore) with Greensboro Light Opera and Song, Marco (Gianni Schicchi), and Boatswain (H.M.S. Pinafore) with Opera Carolina. In February 2020, he sang with Andrea Bocelli on stage as an Opera Carolina Featured Artist performing the Quartet from Act III of La Bohème. He was formerly a Studio Artist with Opera Orlando, a member of Opera Carolina’s Resident Company, and continues to perform comprimario roles with the company while continuing his opera chorus work.
On the musical theatre stage, he got his start as Admiral Von Schreiber at Matthews Playhouse in Sound of Music while his lovely wife Jennifer Reid Bumgardner played the role of Mother Abbess. He has also been Cinderella’s Prince (Into the Woods) and Perchik (The Fiddler on the Roof) with the Levine Jewish Community Center, Dewhurst (The Scarlet Pimpernel) and Enjolras (Les Miserables) with Central Piedmont Community College.
On the concert stage, Harrison has sung Ralph Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony with the Appalachian Chorale, excerpts from Haydn’s The Creation with Southwest Virginia Community College, Mozart’s Kronungsmesse with UVA-Wise’s Concert Choir. He sang Alejandro Rutty’s Down Home: The Cantata for its world premiere of with the Triangle Jewish Chorale.
He has taught voice with Community School of the Arts (now Arts+), Southern Park Music School (Charlotte, NC), Lake-Sumter State College (Clermont, FL), Valencia College (Orlando, FL), Wingate University, Queens University of Charlotte and Davidson College. He opened his private voice studio, The Bumgardner Voice Studio, in 2013 and has been helping singers find their best sound ever since. Most recently, he joined Matthews Playhouse as a Summer Music Teacher, School of Theatre, and made his debut as a Music Director for their production of Scrooge! The Musical in Decemeber 2022.
He currently teaches Concert Chorus I/II/III Honors, Concert Chorus IV Honors, and Music Theory Honors.
Email: harrison.bumgardner@ucps.k12.nc.us
Ms. Katelyn Chavis
Ms. Katelyn Chavis
Theatre
Katelyn Chavis began her theatre journey at just six years old with formal voice training, quickly discovering a love for performing. She sang at community events and Relay for Life fundraisers before stepping into her first theatrical productions at age ten.
Her passion for the stage continued through middle and high school and ultimately led her to pursue Musical Theatre at Winthrop University. After performing in a wide range of productions, she transferred to East Carolina University in 2020 to focus on Theatre Education. During her time at ECU, she completed her internship at Topsail High School and graduated in December 2022 with a degree in Theatre Education and a minor in History.
Katelyn took over the Theatre Program at D.H. Conley High School in January 2023, where she directed multiple productions and founded their chapter of the International Thespian Society. Under her leadership, students advanced to the national competition for two consecutive years, competing in a variety of theatrical disciplines. Her career at CATA began in the Fall of 2025.
At CATA, she aims to cultivate a positive, collaborative learning environment where students feel supported, challenged, and inspired to step outside the box and discover their full artistic potential.
She currently teaches Theatre I, II, III Honors, IV Honors, and Advanced Specialization in Theatre.
Email: katelyn.chavis@ucps.k12.nc.us
Ms. Shalen Ennis Daniels
Ms. Shalen Ennis Daniels
Technical Theatre
Performing Arts Department Chair
Shalen Ennis Daniels has been a teacher in the NC education system for fifteen years.
A North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship recipient, she earned her BFA in Theatre Arts Education (k-12) from East Carolina University in 2011. She taught English Language Arts and Theatre Arts in Onslow County Schools from 2011-2022, and directed/technical directed/designed over 30 productions. She is a certified Actor-Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. She earned her Master’s in Theatre Arts Education in Colleges and Communities from New York University Steinhardt in 2020.
Her career as Technical Theatre Instructor at CATA began in the Fall of 2022. While at CATA, she earned awards in set design from the North Carolina Theatre Conference Play Festival and helped mentor the Blumey’s 2023 Student Set Design Award Recipient. She is currently serving as the Performing Arts Department Chair.
She currently teaches Tech Theatre I, Tech Theatre II Honors, Play Production Honors, Advanced Specialization in Tech Theatre, and Physical Theatre.
Email: shalen.daniels@ucps.k12.nc.us
Ms. Nicole DePietro
Ms. Nicole DePietro
Apparel, Interior Design and Foods I
Nicole DePietro attended Molloy College to earn her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in Theatre Arts (this was before they even HAD a Theatre Major, which tells you how old she is...). She also earned her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University.
Ms. DePietro first fell in love with theatre and all the arts around it at the age of 9, when she attended her first acting classes. Since then she has held nearly every role in theatre from Director to Stage Crew. Of all her theatrical endeavors, her favorite has been sharing her love of theatre through teaching. Prior to moving to North Carolina, she was the Director of theatrical productions at Valley Stream North High School in Valley Stream, NY.
She has been a teacher in North Carolina for 17 years, starting her career at Parkwood Middle School, where she ran the Drama Program for 12 years. In addition to teaching, she recently started her own theatre company for teens called "RAH! Theatre". RAH!'s mission is to provide a safe, affirming, and most of all, fun space for teens to explore their love of all things theatre.
When she isn't sewing your costumes or teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband, her dogs, and her mom. She also loves to spend time alone, because she is secretly (like all theatre kids) an introvert.
Email: nicole.depietro@ucps.k12.nc.us
Ms. Allison Purcell
Ms. Allison Purcell
Dance
Allison Purcell started her dance training at the age of three at The Charlotte School of Ballet. Allison trained in Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti methods while performing in various ballets.Allison attended Northwest School of the Arts for middle school and high school and started her modern dance training there. After high school, she went on to study at University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received her B.S. in dance education in 2006. While at UNCG , Allison studied with B.J. Sullivan, Gerri Houlihan, Jan VanDyke, John Gamble, Eluza Santos. She performed in several concerts during her time at UNCG, and danced in Gerri Houlihan’s 4 X 4. After graduation, Allison went on to teach in Cumberland County for seven years. Allison has taught at several area studios , and teaches master classes in the surrounding areas. Allison professionally danced with nosi DANCE theater in Durham , NC for five years.
Email: allison.purcell@ucps.k12.nc.us
Mr. Nicholas Grimmett
Mr. Nicholas Grimmett
MPRA
Nicholas Grimmett graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and the University of Valley Forge with a Master of Music in Music Technology. He studied tuba with Mr. Eric Bubacz at GSU, participating in various ensembles including the Symphonic Wind Ensemble under direction of Dr. Robert Ambrose and Symphony Orchestra under direction of Michael Palmer. Mr. Grimmett student taught at Parkview High School under the supervision of Jason Atha and Lance Kindl. He was involved with the band program, serving as marching band staff in charge of electronics as well as low brass specialist. Mr. Grimmett is a strong advocate for music technology programs and a large portion of his student teaching was spent with Parkview’s music tech program. He enjoys working in all areas of the audio industry, from recording and engineering to composition and music production. He hopes to foster the growth and expansion of the Music Production and Recording Arts program at CATA going forward.
Email: nicholas.grimett@ucps.k12.nc.us
Mr. Craig Retzlaff
Mr. Craig Retzlaff
Concert Band and Marching Band
Mr. Retzlaff is the Director of Bands at the Central Academy of Technology and Arts where he teaches all Symphonic Band courses as well as the Jazz Band, Chamber Music. Previously, he was the Director of Bands at Monroe Middle School. His bands have received “Superior” ratings at the SCDBA MPA Festivals. He has received several awards and recognition during his nine year teaching career such as quarter finalist for the Grammy Award for Music Educators, the 2012 North Carolina American School Band Director Association’s “Encore” Award for young teachers and was selected as the 2013-2014 Monroe Middle School “Teacher of the Year” finishing in the top ten in Union County. In addition to his public school teaching responsibilities, he is Adjunct Faculty at Wingate University leading the Trumpet studio and teaching a senior level Trumpet Literature and Brass Pedagogy class. At Wingate, he has been a guest lecturer at the Canadian Brass Symposium on “Warming Up Effectively on Trumpet.”
His musical training started in Delaware at the age of 9 with his middle school band director Jason Rogers and continued while attending the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University earning both a Bachelor of Music (Trumpet Performance) and Bachelor of Music Education. After graduating Peabody, Craig attended the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at the California State University, Long Beach, earning a Master of Music degree (Trumpet Performance) and serving as the trumpet teaching assistant and the brass chamber music graduate assistant.
As a performer, Mr. Retzlaff is currently the Principal Trumpet of the Union Symphony Orchestra, a founding member of the Stained Brass and an active freelancer in the greater Charlotte area. He has been a featured soloist on the Haydn and Hummel Trumpet Concerti with the Union Symphony Orchestra. He has also been the Guest Principal Trumpet for the Symphony Orchestra of Augusta and has performed professionally with the California Philharmonic Orchestra, the West Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s “Soulful Symphony”, the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra, and the Delaware Choral Society Orchestra. He has also performed at numerous venues throughout the east coast including Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York, Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, Royce Hall and Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. When not doing something music related, Craig enjoys spending time with his wife Erica, Pets (Rocky, Eddie and Bella, family and friends.
Email: craig.retzlaff@ucps.k12.nc.us
Guidance Counselors
Ms. Elizabeth Bartell
Ms. Elizabeth Bartell
Career and Technical Education Guidance Counselor
Ms. Elizabeth Bartell is from Gainesville, Florida and attended the University of Florida earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies. She then went on to attend Winthrop University earning a Master’s degree in School Counseling. She has worked for Union County Public Schools as a School Counselor since 2006 and then transitioned to CTE to become the Career Development Coordinator at Parkwood High from 2014 until 2021 and has been the CDC at CATA since the spring of 2021. Ms. Bartell enjoys singing, theater, reading, hiking and traveling. She is a big Florida Gator Football fan and also has 4 children.
Email: elizabeth.bartell@ucps.k12.nc.us
Ms. Ashley Cole
Ms. Ashley Cole
Theatre and Dance Guidance Counselor
Ashley Cole is the school counselor for the Dance and Theatre academies. She has worked at CATA since 2017. Originally from Cary, North Carolina, Ms. Cole received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications from UNC Pembroke in 2014, and received her Master of Arts Degree in School Counseling from UNC Charlotte in 2016. Ms. Cole loves attending productions and shows throughout the year and supporting the arts students and teachers. A fun fact about Ms. Cole is that she was a player on the Women’s Soccer team at Apex High School that beat Weddington for the 2007 State Championship. She was also a guest choreographer for our production of In the Heights, which unfortunately was never shown due to Covid. Ms. Cole enjoys watching soccer (Go Arsenal!), playing with her cat, Dorito, and riding her motorcycle.
Email: ashley.cole@ucps.k12.nc.us
Ms. Sally Goodwin
Ms. Sally Goodwin
Music Production and Recording Arts Guidance Counselor
Ms. Sarah "Sally" Goodwin is from Marshville, NC. She attended Appalachian State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. She went on to earn a Master of Arts in School Counseling. Ms. Goodwin has spent 18 years working with students in Union County. Ms. Goodwin loves traveling internationally and walking her dog Lolly around downtown Monroe.
Email: sarah.goodwin@ucps.k12.nc.us
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