About Us

MEET THE FACULTY  |  ABOUT THE STUDIO

MEET THE FACULTY

Lynne Wells-Meyer
STUDIO OWNER | INSTRUCTOR - MUSICAL THEATER, VOICE, HARP, PIANO, TAP, JAZZ

Lynne Wells-Meyer’s love for the performing arts began early in life, starting with dance instruction in tap, ballet, and acrobatics at age 5 with Sharon Smith-Arpin and Beale Fletcher at Fletcher School of Dance.  Ms. Lynne loves tap and credits her passion for tap dancing to Beale Fletcher.  In addition to dance classes, Ms. Lynne also received formal training on piano for 12 years, flute for 6 years, and classical voice for 8 years. At the age of 9, she began pedal harp studies with retired concert harpist, Elsa Jennings of NYC, and the late Linda Booth of Charlotte. She began performing for weddings and special events by age 14, and at age 17, she made her symphonic debut with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.

Upon graduating from high school, Ms. Lynne received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Vocal Music Performance from Western Carolina University and was awarded a full scholarship for graduate music studies at the prestigious Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she studied harp with Dr. Ulli Brinksmeier.

Her musical talent served her well in her pageant endeavors as she won the titles of Miss Blue Ridge Valley in 1987 and Miss Greater Asheville in 1992. Both of these titles qualified Lynne to compete in the Miss North Carolina Scholarship Pageant held in Raleigh. Mrs. Meyer has a wide range or professional performing experience. She was employed for five years by the Dollywood Theme Park and Music Mansion Theater in Pigeon Forge as a singer, dancer, and instrumentalist in several shows. She has also performed with numerous symphony orchestras including the Knoxville Symphony, the Knoxville Opera Company, the Oak Ridge Symphony, the Huntsville Alabama Symphony, and the Asheville Symphony. She has performed with recording legends Ray Charles, Lou Rawls, the late Victor Borge, Paige O’Hara (“Belle” in the animated children’s film, Beauty and the Beast), the Four Tops and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).

Other regional performances include the Biltmore House Candlelight Tours, the Singing Christmas Tree at Arden Presbyterian Church and numerous weddings, parties, theatrical shows, special church services and other occasions. She has been an instructor of harp at the University of Tennessee and Western Carolina University and has been teaching private harp students for 15 years and private voice students for 8 years. She is an active member of the American Harp Society and the National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS).

In 2002, Lynne opened MusicWorks! Studio of Performing Arts. At the studio, and in her positions as arts instructor and active member of the Musical Theater Advisory Board at Western Carolina University, Lynne enjoys working with young people to develop their talents, and to instill confidence in them as performers and individuals. 

Kathyrn Millis 
DANCE EDUCATOR | PRESCHOOL, HIP HOP 

Miss Kathryn began dancing at the age of 3 and quickly found her passion.  She studied tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical through high school while balancing a very busy schedule as a high school cheerleader.  She began teaching for MusicWorks in 2002 until 2011 when she took some time off to pursue her education.  We are thrilled to have her back in the classroom again--welcome home Miss Kathryn!

Sarah Jane Blackburn
DANCE EDUCATOR | LYRICAL, HIP HOP, TAP, JAZZ

Sarah Jane began training at age of 5 at The Dancer’s Pointe under the expert tutelage of Shelia Radford Sumpter and Marilyn Cloutier. She also studied at Center Stage Dance Studio in Asheville with Michele Lee and Elliot Bradley, as well as working with choreographers Dale Lamm and Jason Parsons. Sarah Jane attended UNC Chapel Hill where she was a member of the Carolina Dance Team (ranked #3 in the nation) for two years, then became choreographer and performer with the Carolina Style Jazz Company and Blank Canvas Dance. She graduated from UNC-CH in 2009 with a degree in Psychology and was excited to return to the mountains! In addition to teaching dance, Sarah Jane is also a member of the preschool staff at First Methodist Church in Waynesville. Ms. Sarah Jane and her husband, Matthew, are proud parents of three beautiful daughers and a lively boy!

Marilyn Cloutier (1922-2022) | Forever with us in our movement and in our hearts!

Mrs. Cloutier was born in Michigan, raised in Kentucky, and at the early age of fourteen, joined a ballet company in New York. Her early training was with Mme. Casson of the Anna Pavlova Company. She was also a student of George Balanchine, Michel Fokine, Ted Shawn, and Luigi. She was a scholarship student at the School of American Ballet and attended classes instructed by Muriel Stuart, Pierre Vladimirov and Anatol Vilzak.

She brings to the artistic field an expertise which includes all phases of show business…actress, dancer, choreographer, and production coordinator. Mrs. Cloutier performed as an actressdancer in many night clubs, revues, Broadway musicals, and theaters across the United States, Canada, and Central America.

As a choreographer and producer, her long list of credits includes productions for the Tropicana Night Club in Las Vegas, the Carillon, Eden Roc, and Deauville Hotels on Miami Beach and special, intricate staging of underwater ballets for Weeki Wachee Springs and Sea World in San Diego. Mrs. Cloutier also produced extravagant productions for international firms, fund-raising gala events, fashion shows, beauty pageants, was instrumental in bringing lavish dance productions to the Orange Bowl Festival in Miami and assisted in the development of the inaugural ceremonies at Walt Disney World.

Lindsey Burnette

DANCE EDUCATOR | PRESCHOOL, DISCOVER ACRO, JAZZ

Bio forthcoming!

James Danna

Piano Instructor | Private and Group Classes

James Danna is a pianist who has worked on learning, practicing and studying the instrument for over 30 years. He specializes in improvisation and has studied with some of the top pianists in the new england area which extends from grammy winning pianists to musicians who have studied with Charlie Banacos, who is known as the one of the top jazz educators in history. James has an undergraduate and graduate degree in music therapy and has worked in some of the top placements in the country as a music therapist (Boston Children's Hospital, Jimmy Fund Clinic, St. Johns Medical Center). James' philosophy on teaching piano revolves around creativity, enjoyment and individualized learning at ones own pace. James is currently working on his second album "The Canvas" in addition to rehearsing and performing in the greater Asheville area.

Eric Meyer

Piano Instructor | Private and Group Classes

Eric graduated from WCU on Dec. 16 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Commercial Music and Audio Recording and a certification in Arts and Entrepreneurship. Eric was a member of the piano studio at WCU and studied with Dr. Lilian Pearson.  Eric is involved in the recording/electronic music industry as a freelance audio engineer; the classical music industry as an accompanist, piano instructor, and performer; and is also working on composing his third short film score!  He spent 5 seasons with the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band as Front Pianist and the Front Ensemble Logistics Coordinator.   ***FUN FACT: Eric can also teach keytar (cause everyone has one of those lying around) and bass guitar

Kathy Garris
FRONT DESK MANAGER

Bio forthcoming!

ABOUT OUR STUDIO

MusicWorks! Studio of Performing Arts is centrally located just off of US Hwy 23/74 at 164 Kingdom Hall Drive in Clyde/Lake Junaluska area. From our studio you will also have easy access to several local businesses including several grocery stores, medical facilities, and plenty of restaurants and fast-food establishments.

Our beautifully-renovated facility features three dance studios with sprung floors and Marley dance floor covering. Our largest studio features a 1,200-square-foot stage and seating for 125 audience members, which allows for a variety of in-house productions and events. There is also a comfortable lobby, private music studios, two bathroom/dressing areas, and a dancewear boutique. Central heat and air conditioning is available throughout the building. Ample parking is available. Healthy snacks and bottles of water are available for purchase in our lobby.

MusicWorks is proud to a part of the WINGMAN FOR DANCE program!