Southport Performing Arts Conservatory and Entertainment

Hulya Alpakin is a native of Turkey and holds a Bachelor's degree in piano from Istanbul State Conservatory, a Master's degree in piano performance, and an Artist Diploma, both from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She has been performing internationally as soloist, as part of ensembles, and as accompanist. Her performances were featured on the radio and as well as on records, among them compositions especially dedicated to her.

Abigail Simon, a dancer since the age of three, joined The Joffrey Ballet as a company member in 2006. Prior to joining The Joffrey, Ms. Simon danced with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Studio Company and was an apprentice with the American Ballet Theatre. She also performed with the School of American Ballet, Ballet Hispanico and the West Side Academy of Ballet in Santa Monica. She has also attended summer programs in Kaatsbaan and Chautauqua, as well as the Royal Ballet in London and The Joffrey Ballet School in New York.

Pianist Elena Lacheva performed Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto (1st movement) with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra shortly after she turned 19 years old.

Elena was the soloist in a concert featuring select members of the Oberlin Orchestra, conducted by Konstantin Dobroykov, where she played Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.

Linda Westin sang her first impromptu solo at age 3, encouraged by her musical family. Having started her formal music training at age 6 and continuing her music studies at Valparaiso University, she studied with Neil Hakala, Susan Dersnah, Paul Nicholson, and Tracy Watson. She has sung with such prestigious choral ensembles as Chicago Choral Artists, Bach Week Festival Chorus, Ferris Chorale, and Chicago Master Singers. Her experience also includes church service music at St. Peter’s in the Loop, St. James Cathedral, and Holy Name, as well as performances as cantor for Cardinal George at Easter Vigil Service and section leader for Jewish Holidays at Am Chai Temple. Linda has taught at Central Academy of Music and Moolenaar School of Music and worked with children’s choir, women's folk music choir, and community theater groups. She has also served as a judge at talent shows.

Lindsay began playing in fourth grade in Olathe, Kansas. He performed extensively with every ensemble that would let him: Concert Band, Pep Band, Jazz band and was a member of the Kansas City Youth Symphony. This led him to go to The University of Michigan where he studied with Dr. Michael Udow, Julie Spencer, Salvatore Rabbio, and Michael Gould. He graduated with a bachelor degree in Instrumental Music Education.

Sarah J. Ritch was introduced to music early in life through various instrumental studies encouraged by a very musical family. Though encouraged in the classics, Sarah found herself playing guitar and bass in several Punk and Metal bands between 1996 and 2003, eventually leading to an interest in composition. In 1999, Sarah began her formal musical training in cello performance studying with Moonlight Tran, Assistant Principal of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra and Dr. Andrew Smith.

Chris Courtney began his hip-hop dance career in 1998 as a breakdancer and then joined the national company Culture Shock Chicago. Chris began teaching in 2000 and has taught at the Columbia College Chicago, Beverly Arts Center, Old Town School of Folk Music, LCDS, Grant Elementary School, Crunch Fitness, the Chicago Cultural Center and Danza Viva. During his dynamic career, Chris has shared the stage with Ludacris, Camron, Chicago Dance Crash, Busta Rhymes, Stick and Move, LIFE, Fivestar Boogie, Common and Kanye West.

Ms. Zarro began studying ballet at six years of age, in her home town of Los Angeles, California. There she studied with the renowned Meredith Baylis, a former Soloist with Les Ballets Russes.

Ms. Zarro continued her training with The Pennsylvania Ballet School, as well as studying on a full scholarship with The Joffrey Ballet School. At the age of seventeen Teanna moved to New York to join The Joffrey Ballet Two company, where she was coached by Elenore D’Antuonio, John Magnus, Winthrop Corey, Louis Fuente and Francesca Corkle.