Professionals

SHAEON TSE – Guitar, Songwriting Award-winning* singer/songwriter Sharon Tse has been making music for over 20 years in New York, Boston, Atlanta and her native Michigan. She has played as a solo artist, with the bands Elysian Fields and Woody & the Knotholes, and frequently plays with one of the area's finest acoustic artists, John Finan. Sharon combines the influences of folk, pop and jazz into her own unforgettable sound, creating songs that stay with you long after the performance has ended. Her signature finger-style guitar playing, smoky-sweet voice and engaging stage presence captivate audiences of all ages. In addition to musical talent, Sharon has an extensive background in early childhood education, and is a respected performance improvement professional, leading enterprise-wide initiatives for companies such as Bose, Borders, Learning Care, Blue Cross and Coca Cola. Sharon's love of music and education were the inspiration for her innovative songwriting workshop, The Art of Songwriting. The six-week series combines aspects of music theory, industry standards, practical "insider's" experience and personal instruction to create a unique, supportive and effective learning environment for songwriters from the novice to the seasoned. Sharon can be seen playing in venues throughout SE Michigan and is currently working on her long-awaited first CD. *Winner "Best Ballad" for "I'll be Alright" and honorable mention in pop category for "Good Love Ends" in 1987 Georgia Music Industry Association (formerly Atlanta Songwriter's Association) http://www.gmia.org/

MATT CASON – Piano, Guitar and Songwriting - Matt has been playing music for 15 years. He competed for, and won, several 1st place awards and AAA evaluations through the American Guild of Music for his piano playing during his 7 years of classical training. He was asked to be a part of the school jazz band at 11 years old and has been playing jazz ever since. He founded and managed the Ambience Jazz Combo in 2003, performing with them until several key members left for college. Matt is also a trained guitarist, drummer/percussionist, for which he has also received AGM awards and several first place divisions at MSBOA Solo and Ensemble festivals. In 2007, Matt began writing original music. In 2008, he formed the Matt Cason Project, a four piece rock group with Jazz, Blues, and Funk roots, for which he plays guitar and piano, sings lead vocals, writes the songs, and brings a whole lot of stage experience and SOUL to every show. Today, Matt continues to learn and grow as a musician through education and practice. He is teaching piano, as well as composition and songwriting, to students of a variety of ages and skill levels and is working as a studio musician. Matt is also a finalist in this year's Shelby Arts & Idols competition and will be singing in May for the grand prize! Samples of Matt's music can be heard at http://www.youtube.com/mattcason.

BRYCE HARDING – Drums/Beatboxing. Bryce is a trained drummer, beatboxer, singer, keyboard player, producer and an experienced performer. He got his first real taste of the big stage when he was selected to perform with Shania Twain at the Palace of Auburn Hills in front of a crowd of 20,000 people. Since then, he has performed in countless other venues, most notably on the Warped Tour at the Pontiac Silverdome, as a featured performer at the Detroit Opera House, and at the world famous Apollo Theater in New York where he a was a finalist in the Apollo "show off" competition. Bryce has been playing music for over 18 years and has recorded on countless albums.Bryce has also worked on the other side of the camera as a music producer and the director/writer/producer of commercials.

BETTY LANE – Voice Specialist/Classical. Betty specializes in Vocal wellness and preventative care, vocal production and technique for singers and speakers, movement, energy practices and body awareness for voice users, abused, misused and troubled. She is an Independent vocal resource for Henry Ford Medical Center for the Performing Artist, Singing Voice Specialist in Residence at Detroit Opera House, Home of Michigan Opera Theatre, adjunct Professor of Voice at Wayne State University. Her work in these areas has been supported by a mini-fellowship from Dr. Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA/Otolaryngologist, Chairman of the Voice Foundation and Director of the American Institute for Voice and Ear Research in Philadelphia, where under his direct supervision, she trained as a Singing Voice Specialist. She earned her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in voice from Juillard in New York as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in music and education from Spelman College in Atlanta and is a graduate of Central High School in Detroit. She also has certificates in voice from the Academia Chigiana in Italy and the Ravel Accademie in France. At Temple University in Philadelphia, she was awarded a Future Faculty Fellowship for doctoral studies in voice performance.