Joanne Link has been teaching music and producing performances for young people for 29 years. She has taught in 12 different schools, holding teaching certifications in NJ and PA to teach music for grades K-12 and certificates for Violin Suzuki Books 1-3. Joanne is the orchestra director at Toms River South Intermediate School and owner and founder of Mind Steward, Mindsteward Kids Theater: The Complete Theater Experience, Mindsteward Teen Theater, Viobling, and My Mom’s Here Blog. In over 30 productions, she has held positions including director, music director, producer, violinist, pianist, stage manager, vocal coach, and conductor. She performs violin with Toms River Multigenerational Orchestra and is the pianist and vocalist on Ocean Community Church worship team.

Joanne specializes in motivating children to pursue skills in the arts and strives to bring people together while assimilating to the local culture and needs of each community she interacts with. She happily runs and grows the infrastructure of Mindsteward Kids Theater with the contagious energy and skills of the arts community of education enthusiasts and professionals in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She has taught thousands of children how to play instruments and innovates pedagogical techniques to increase zeal and motivation for arts education.

Joanne enjoys spending time with her supportive family, husband, and children, playing games, playing music together, and scuba diving.

Dena McKell (Director/Choreographer) is from the Harrisburg region and has been a teacher, choreographer, and director of theater arts for over 27 years. She began teaching dance instruction at the Harrisburg Dance Conservatory under the guidance of Forrest Gehret at the age of 16. Ms. McKell currently teaches in the Children’s Division at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet. Ms. McKell also serves as the choreographer for East Pennsboro High School Panther Productions for which she has choreographed GREASE, NEWSIES, SISTER ACT, MATILDA, and HELLO DOLLY! Ms. McKell is currently the director and choreographer for Encore Homeschool Productions. Her choreographic works include SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE MUSIC MAN, PETER PAN, and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST to name a few. Ms. Mckell is also an Apollo Award Recipient for her Outstanding Choreography for PETER PAN in May 2016. Ms. McKell also received an Apollo Award for her choreography in May 2017 (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), May 2018 (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF), and most recently in May 2022 for her choreography in THE LITTLE MERMAID. In May 2022, Ms. McKell directed Encore Homeschool Productions Apollo Award Outstanding Musical THE LITTLE MERMAID. Encore Homeschool Productions also received the Apollo Award for Outstanding Musical in May 2024 for their production THE WIZARD OF OZ under the direction of Ms. McKell. Ms. McKell also works with local community theaters and colleges such as Keystone Theatrics, Creative Pursuits Academy, Lancaster Bible College, and Oyster Mill Playhouse.

Mary-Teresa Lee has worked in theater arts for over a decade. Music Director – Peter Pan Jr., The Music Man Jr., Mary Poppins Jr. (SMMS), Frozen Jr., Flat Stanley – A Zoomsical, The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka Jr., Finding Nemo Jr., Seussical Kids (Eisenhower), Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winnie the Pooh Kids, Anne of Green Gables (Pollock Center), The Jungle Book Kids (Mind Steward). Associate Music Director – Newsies Jr. (Pollock). Director – Aladdin Kids, Aladdin Dual Language, Beauty and the Beast Jr., Cinderella: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale, Beauty and the Beast: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale (Mind Steward). Book - Cinderella: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale, Beauty and the Beast: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale. She also performs as a solo musician as well as with the group Seasons with which she has recorded four albums. Mary-Teresa Lee has worked in theater arts for over a decade. Music Director – Peter Pan Jr., The Music Man Jr., Mary Poppins Jr. (SMMS), Frozen Jr., Flat Stanley – A Zoomsical, The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka Jr., Finding Nemo Jr., Seussical Kids (Eisenhower), Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Winnie the Pooh Kids, Anne of Green Gables (Pollock Center), The Jungle Book Kids (Mind Steward). Associate Music Director – Newsies Jr. (Pollock). Director – Aladdin Kids, Aladdin Dual Language, Beauty and the Beast Jr., Cinderella: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale, Beauty and the Beast: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale (Mind Steward). Book - Cinderella: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale, Beauty and the Beast: A Ridiculous Retelling of a Classic Tale. She also performs as a solo musician as well as with the group Seasons with which she has recorded four albums.

This is Melissa’s 1st summer with Mindsteward and excited to join the team! She is currently the Choir Director/Music teacher at Wood-Ridge Jr./Sr. High School in Wood-Ridge, NJ (2003-Present). Melissa also currently runs her own private voice and piano studio (2003-Present). She currently teaches at Allegro Arts Academy in Carlstadt, NJ (2004 - Present). Director of the Wood-Ridge Recreation Program (2009-2011); graduate of Wood-Ridge High School - 1999; Bachelors in Music: Major Music Education and Vocal Performance – 2003 from The College of New Jersey; Masters in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College in 2007.

Musical performance experience: Carnegie Hall Performance - March 2015, 2016, 2017 with the National Festival Chorus - Manhattan Concert Productions; Studio workshops for Margaret Leary 1999-2009, Vocal Soloist; Bethany Worship Team 2004-2007, 2015 - Present Vocal soloist and back up singer, Wyckoff, NJ.; A Gala Evening of Music of the Stage 2001-2003, Soloist with orchestra, TCNJ; TCNJ Winter Orchestra Concert 2002, vocal soloist, Nov. 23, 2002; TCNJ Opera Theatre Productions 1999-2002: The Boys From Syracuse: Luce, TCNJ; Die Fledermaus: Chorus; Brigadoon: Lead dancer/chorus; Westside Story: Anita, On-Stage Theatre Company in Oakland, NJ; Summer 2001; Wood-Ridge HS Productions 1995-1999: Grease: Sandy, The Wizard of Oz: Cowardly Lion, The Sound of Music: Maria, Mame: Mame, Inherit the Wind: Howard, Annie: Annie.

Awards/Recognitions - Her select choir was selected to perform at Carnegie Hall March of 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019 with the National Festival Chorus in New York City; Received a 4 year grant from Paper Mill Playhouse “Adopt-A-School Project” for Wood-Ridge High School from 2011-2015; Wood-Ridge Memorial Fund Educator’s Award 2016; Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award for Wood-Ridge High School for 2009-2010; Advisor of the 2009 Year: For the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute for the state of New Jersey for years of service to teen leaders and drug prevention from 1996-2009; Resolution from Wood-Ridge Board of Education for years of service to Teen Institutes for the Wood-Ridge School District October 2009; Wood-Ridge Memorial Foundation 2016 Honoree for Excellence in Music Education for Wood-Ridge Students; Coordinator for NJPAC Hip Hop Class for W-RHS; Helped students get into College Vocal Auditions and Bergen County Chorus numerous times; Awesome news - Her former choir & private vocal student was one of the leads in “Spring Awakening” & “Dear Evan Hansen” on Broadway (Connor Murphy) and much more. - Alex Boniello (Wood-Ridge Native)! So proud of him and all my students. She would like to thank God, all her teachers and family for all of their love and support. To my cast members…Break a Leg!!!