Anne McLaren, Assistant Artistic Director
Studio Instructor, Artistic Team Member
Anne has taught several Cornerstone Youth Theatre classes and been involved in several productions since her family moved to Canada from South Africa in December 2018. She musical directed for Grimm (2022), co-directed for Christmas Spectacular (2022), choregraphed for Rapunzel (2023) and has become a Cornerstone staff member as the Assistant Artistic Director since January 2022.
Prior to arriving in Canada, Anne was an active and well-respected member of the music community in South Africa. In Johannesburg she taught voice, song writing and various music theory subjects at the National School of the Arts in the Contemporary Music Department. She trained many college students who went on to have successful professional careers at the Allenby Campus College of Contemporary Music and trained many musicians (voice, piano and song writing) in her private studio over the years. In Canada she has taught voice, piano and marimba at Dance Magic in Red Deer and been the coach for Morning Song and Family Jam classes at the City of Red Deer Culture Services.
for more information or to email Miss Anne....
Jeannette Manser,
Teaching ArtistStudio Instructor, Musical Director
Jeannette Manser has been involved in Cornerstone Youth Theatre since the Fall of 2018 and has LOVED it!! She has musically directed for two Cornerstone Theatre shows-Frozen Jr. and Robin Hood, and has taught many vocal classes and Musical Theater classes at Cornerstone as well. She currently works as a Youth Ministry Coordinator for Red Deer Catholic Schools, and loves to implement music wherever she has the chance! She leads worship at her church in Innisfail, and ran her own music studio for 15 years before moving on to her current job. Jeannette graduated from Red Deer College with a Music Diploma majoring in voice performance and minoring in music merchandising back in 2001.
Jeannette is looking forward to an incredible year with Cornerstone and is excited to serve!
Ashley Miller,
Teaching ArtistStudio Instructor, Musical Director
Ashley Miller comes from an extensive background of education and experience in both music performance and music therapy, and dance. She earned a Certificate in Music Therapy from Acadia University, a Master's Degree in Music from The University of New Mexico and a Bachelor's Degree from The University of Montana. Her music therapy practice, Prairie Music Therapy, is located in Red Deer, and serves all of Central Alberta.
As well as teaching clarinet and voice, Ashley is also involved with Tree House Youth Theatre and Cornerstone Youth Theatre, providing music direction, and was the festival director for the Red Deer Festival of The Performing Arts. Her principle teachers include Joyce Howdle, Dr. Maxine Ramey and Keith Lemmons and Dr. Stan Fisher.
Kendra Moelhoff,
Teaching ArtistStudio Instructor
Kendra has trained in disciplines such as ballet, jazz, tap, acro, lyrical, contemporary, pointe and musical theater. Kendra is an active member of her community and has gained great experience working with children as she volunteers at SPARC dance studio, and she assists a ballet class at the Center of the Art at Red Deer Alberta. Kendra is very excited to be sharing her passion for dance with Cornerstone Youth Theater.
At five years of age, Kendra joined the competitive dance group at the Sylvan Performing Arts and Rhythm Center (SPARC) in Sylvan Lake, and soon SPARC became her second home. In February 2021 Kendra was in a snowmobile accident sustaining a knee injury and she was unable to dance for two years during her recovery. This is when Kendra became a member of Cornerstone and her passion for acting and singing grew. Last spring Kendra was able to return to dance and had a very successful season in competition winning first places, platinum medals, shoutout awards and scoring top ten in two competitions for her musical theater and jazz routine. After her gap year Kendra is planning to go to MacEwan University to pursue a Bachelor in Fine Arts with a Major in Music Theatre Performance. Kendra would ike to thank Cornerstone for the opportunity to share her passion and love to dance with their students.
Renee Gait,
Teaching ArtistStudio Instructor
Renee been a part of Cornerstone youth theatre since 2017. First as a supportive parent of and then she joined the Cornerstone as Area Coordinator in 2018. She then specialized as the Class Coordinator and loved being able to focus on helping the Cornerstone teachers run a fun and successful class. In that role, Renee went to the Broadway Teachers Workshop in NYC for 5 days of training in Musical Theater workshops. Training included teaching skills about song, storytelling, spoken dialogue, monologues, role and character, puppetry, dance and movement and so much more!
"I am so excited to be teaching this year and I know I will have just as much fun as your kids! I will do my very best to instill confidence in your child which will enable them to tap into that creative, dramatic side that God has placed on the inside of them! "
Ashley Lehman, Teaching Artist
Studio Instructor
Ashley Lehman has been a supportive parent at Cornerstone since 2019, when her daughter joined the Little Rascals class, and last session she joined the Artistic Team as a harmony coach for Cornerstone Youth Theatre's Spring production of Rapunzel . Ashley is the Administrative Assistant to Worship Ministry at CrossRoads Church in Red Deer, and she and her husband Ken have led one of Cornerstone Youth Theater's Worship Workshops last fall. Cornerstone is very excited to have her joining the Teaching Team this year in the Cornerstone Studio.
Zandrea Jensen,
Teaching ArtistStudio Instructor