Xavier (they/he) is thrilled to be joining SDMT as the Academy Director. He is a professional performer, director, and choreographer who is originally from Detroit, MI. Starting theatre at the age of five, he quickly found his passion and hasn’t looked back. He began taking on leadership positions as soon as he got to high school, where he served as dance captain and choir president- two positions that made him fall in love with the educational side of theatre at a very young age. After high school he pursued musical theatre professionally and studied in New York City. At just 20 years old he directed and choreographed his first high school production which had a cast of over 150 students. Seeing the growth that students get from educational theatre is something that makes Xavier honored to be an arts educator. Not only do students learn about performing and theatre, but there are also so many life skills that are taught when talking about theatre.

Van Angelo (they/he) is an Actor, Music Director, Educator, and Southern California native. Van is a proud Westminster Choir College graduate, a teaching artist for New Village Arts and Moonlight Youth Theatre, and is a current MFA in Musical Theatre Candidate at San Diego State University. Holding a Bachelors in Music Education Van has worked at the elementary, middle, and high school levels teaching courses in singing, acting, dance, piano, music theory, and audition techniques. Van continues to music direct and can be seen performing on stages around Southern California. Music Directing Credits: Anything Goes (SDMT), Leonard Bernstein’s New York (NVA), Moana Jr. (MYT), Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical, and The Little Mermaid (VVUSD). Favorite Regional Credits: Something Rotten, Memphis (Moonlight), Catch Me If You Can (SDMT), Seussical (Candlelight Pavilion), West Side Story, Tarzan, Hairspray (Performance Riverside), The View UpStairs (Desert Rose Playhouse). Van has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Zelda Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Van is also featured on the recording of Bernstein’s MASS with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Van is a two-time Inland Theatre League Award winner, and a Desert Theatre League Award winner. In their spare time Van likes Legos, Power Rangers, Bowling, Anime, and Video Games. Their favorite day of the week is Saturday, they’re a Virgo (just like Beyonce), and their favorite color is Green.

Xavier J. Bush (they/he) is a San Diego based director, choreographer, performer, and theatre educator. They have choreographed a variety of shows and have experience working with people of all ages and experience levels. They have served as a teaching artist for many theatres such as Moonlight Youth Theatre, Trinity Theatre Company, Canyon Crest Academy, Coronado School of the Arts, and The Academy at SDMT. As an actor, they have worked at theatres such as La Jolla Playhouse, SDMT, Moonlight, NVA, and Oceanside Theatre Company. Xavier currently holds the position of Academy Director for San Diego Musical Theatre’s educational program. They believe in helping students elevate their craft in a safe and fun environment!

Chloe Chenfeld is a San Diego-based dancer and choreographer. Chloe has performed extensively in regional theater across Southern California, including A Christmas Story (ensemble), Beauty and the Beast(Silly Girl/Dance Captain), White Christmas (Ensemble/Featured Dancer), Singin’ in the Rain(Ensemble/Featured Tap Dancer), and Mary Poppins (Ensemble/Featured Tap Dancer). She has also performed at LEGOLAND California, where she proudly served as Dance Captain.  When she’s not performing, Chloe loves teaching dance at SDMT and recently served as Choreographer for Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition and Associate Choreographer for Hadestown Teen. Big love to her family, friends, and partner Joshua for their endless support!

Melissa is excited to return to SDMT Academy this Winter! She’s toured nationally and internationally with Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and Rudolph…the Musical. Recent regional credits: Scrooge’s Big SD Christmas Show, The Janiead (Old Globe), The Curious Incident…(CCAE Theatricals), Follies (Cygnet), Pippin (North Coast Rep), and The Prom (SDMT). Melissa is also an Associate Choreographer for Virgin Voyages and teaches at Grossmont College and SDSU. Her aim as a teaching artist is to shape self-assured students who develop confidence, curiosity, and empathy through theater training. MFA Musical Theatre, SDSU 2022. Instagram: @melglas

Megs Levi is a proud San Diego native who has spent nearly a decade teaching, directing, and developing young artists.

Megs’ directing journey began with a simple goal: creating more opportunities for her students. What started as showcases and student-centered projects quickly grew into a passion for directing, actor training, and arts education. Since then, she has directed youth productions including Matilda, The Lion King, and The Addams Family; served as a summer camp director for a local nonprofit theatre company; and worked with artists of all ages and experience levels developing new work.

Currently pursuing her MFA in Directing & Pedagogy, Megs is passionate about helping people discover their strengths, connect to opportunities, and become the fullest version of themselves. She believes great theatre should challenge us to be brave, engage in meaningful conversations, and pursue excellence together. A devoted Shakespeare nerd and lifelong student of actor training, Megs looks forward to creating, learning, and growing alongside her students.

If you’re curious what Megs looks like at her happiest, picture an iced matcha in one hand, her husband Leif’s hand in the other, and a trail winding somewhere ahead after a good meal with family.

Sarah Schechter is a San Diego based singer, actor, and dancer, who has ranged from working at Legoland California , to the Old Globe stage. Gradually, she has built her career using her 21 years of dance training, combined with her musical theater training to make her way across different theaters in the area, along with appearances on CBS. Training in California, she has studied for 4 years at Palomar College. Now, she has worked with the likes of Ted Lange, Kasey Viani, Kathy Brombacher, and Valerie Clark. All of her work on the stage has led her to teaching dance and theater; mainly working in dance studios and different elementary schools in the Escondido school district! With focuses on movement quality and technique, students of hers are encouraged to try and push themselves to do the things they thought impossible! 

E.Y. Washington has been teaching voice and dance here in San Diego for fifteen years. After receiving their B.F.A. in Music Theater, they hadn’t anticipated their passions would shift toward arts education. Washington is no stranger to the Moonlight Amphitheater, North Coast Rep., the Welk Resort, Cygnet, San Diego Musical Theater, Candlelight Pavilion, Musical Theater West, or the Disneyland Parks and Resort. They have taken their professional performing experience, paired it with their formal training, and generously invested the lessons learned to countless children, teens, and adults. Washington’s uncanny approach to arts education empowers students to create critically, perform freely, and respond compassionately. They look forward to seeing you in class.

While earning her degree at the University of South Florida (USF), she worked under the baton of Maestro Mark Sforzini at St. Pete Opera (in St. Petersburg, Florida) and finished three seasons in their emerging artist program. There, she happily covered operatic roles; sang in the chorus; and performed at the opera galas, fundraisers, and outreach programs. In 2011, she graduated with both a B.A. in Music from USF and the phenomenal experience of singing with symphonic orchestras. Since graduating, she has continued to pursue her career as a vocalist, performing in many musicals; operas; showcases; and production shows on land and at sea. Most recently she had the pleasure of performing the role of Eve in Stephen Schwartz’s Magic to Do presented exclusively on Princess Cruise Lines.

Van Angelo (they/them) Van is an MFA in Musical Theatre Candidate at San Diego State University and the Director of Education for San Diego Musical Theatre. Select Regional Credits: Something Rotten, Memphis (Moonlight), Catch Me If You Can (SDMT), Seussical as Wickersham #1 (Candlelight Pavilion), West Side Story, Tarzan, Hairspray as Seaweed (Performance Riverside), The View UpStairs as Wes (Desert Rose Playhouse). Select Music Directing Credits: Urinetown, Anything Goes (SDMT), Leonard Bernstein’s New York (NVA). Other performances with New York Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Zelda Symphony Orchestra, and Philadelphia Orchestra including the recording of Bernstein’s MASS with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Van is a two-time Inland Theatre League Award winner, and a recipient of the Desert Theatre League Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.  IG: @vanangelo; vanangelo.com

Xavier J. Bush (they/he) is a San Diego based director, choreographer, performer, and theatre educator. They have choreographed many shows from coast to coast and worked with people of all ages and experience levels. They have also served as a teaching artist for many theatres such as Moonlight Youth Theatre, New Village, Arts, Canyon Crest Academy, and CoSA. As an actor, they have worked at theatres such as LA Jolla Playhouse, SDMT, Moonlight, and NVA. Xavier currently holds the position of Academy Director for San Diego Musical Theatre’s educational program. They believe in helping students elevate their craft in a safe and fun environment!