Development@BryanSymphony.org

 

Melissa Ellis, a longtime resident of the Upper Cumberland, is an award-winning jazz artist with a performance career spanning over 30 years. Her journey began as a young teen at the renowned Cumberland County Playhouse. She holds an A.A. in Vocal Performance from Roane State, a

B.S. in Music Therapy from Tennessee Tech, and an M.A. in Music Business from Berklee College of Music.

 

A passionate advocate for the arts, Melissa founded HerSTORY, a project that celebrates female musicians and champions gender equality in the music industry. She also launched The Autumn Agency, a digital marketing and consulting firm serving artists and venues. Melissa also works as part of the music coordination team with Hip Cookeville on local festivals, events, and concert series. A believer in giving back to the community, she serves on the Board of Directors for the historic Cumberland Homestead

Tower Association as well as works as host and producer of the “What's Up, Crossville?” podcast, which highlights movers and shakers of her hometown and the Upper Cumberland area.

 

In her personal life, Melissa regularly contributes to her church worship team. She is an avid traveler, puzzle enthusiast, coffee connoisseur, and self-proclaimed movie buff with a particular love for horror and suspense films. Known for her love of meeting new people and networking, Melissa looks forward to getting acquainted with the current patrons of the BSO and looks forward to connecting new supporting fans and community partners to the organization. Her favorite thing in the world is spending time with her husband, Matt, and their four boys—Aidan, Ethan, Liam, and Nolan—in their lively frat house-like home.

 

 

A Cookeville native, and long-time educator, Jacob studied the performing arts from a young age. After having had the pleasure of studying under local fine arts educators such as Karen Rexroat Macke, Molly Malone, and David Talbert, he continued his education at Tennessee Technological University, studying Vocal Performance under Dr. Diane Pulte. He then transferred to The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in NYC, where he studied Musical Theatre, and gained a respect and admiration for the business surrounding the performing arts. When the pandemic brought him back home to Cookeville, he became a man of many hats. In addition to his work with the Bryan Symphony, you may find him teaching Private voice at Crossroads Music, acting as a professional event host/MC, or volunteering at Jack Scott United Karate studio, where he is a certified 2nd degree Black Belt. As a veteran of most of the stages in Cookeville, and  T.H.S.S.D.L. & T.T.A. Best Actor award winner, you may also have seen him as a proud cast member of the Backstage series at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center. He could not be more excited to work with the BSO and to continue to serve the Arts community of the great Upper Cumberland!

 

A Cincinnati native, Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music (cum laude) from Miami University of Ohio. Anne joined the Nashville Opera team full time as the Artistic Administrator in April 2016 after serving as the organization’s Contractor for two seasons. Additionally, Anne is the Contractor for Intersection, a contemporary music ensemble artistically led by Kelly Corcoran as well as Contractor for Cookeville’s Bryan Symphony Orchestra. She is the former Director of Orchestra Personnel of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, a post she held for over 12 seasons. Anne began her orchestral career as a Librarian Assistant for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera. In addition, Anne spent two seasons as the Production Manager with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Keith Lockhart. Anne also served as the Orchestra Personnel Manager for the San Antonio Symphony. Anne is a certified PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International Instructor and teaches disabled children at both White Fawn Farm and Saddle Up! every Saturday. A Dickson country girl, she is a Predators cheerer, reining horse rider, F-150 truck driver, flower bed mulcher, anytime/anywhere traveler, obsessive book reader, country music listener and, most importantly, mom to Shively Jane, her best accomplishment yet!