Victoria Clark maintains a wonderfully diverse career as an award-winning actor, director, and educator. Clark began voice and piano lessons at the age of six. She was blessed with extraordinary educational opportunities, along with generous teachers and mentors throughout her early years. Clark graduated from Yale University and attended New York University’s prestigious Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program as a stage director (“Cycle 1” cohort).
The original production of Sunday in the Park with George was the beginning of Clark’s journey as a professional actor, which has led to thirteen Broadway and numerous off-Broadway plays, musicals, film, and television appearances. Highlights include The Light in the Piazza on Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater for which she was awarded the Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical, as well as Tony-nominated starring roles in the original casts of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, SisterAct, and Gigi.
Clark originated the title role in Kimberly Akimbo off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company, winning the 2022 Lucille Lortel Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and receiving nominations from the Drama League and Drama Desk. The show moved to Broadway, earning Clark her second Tony Award for Leading Actress in 2023 and a Grammy nomination.
Clark’s films, among others, include The Happening, Wanderland, Cradle Will Rock, and Archaeology of a Woman. Her television credits include The Gilded Age, Elsbeth, Homeland, The Blacklist, Pose, Little America, The Good Wife, Mercy, Law & Order, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Clark directed Dance of Death at Classic Stage Company, and the original musical Newton’s Cradle for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, winning the festival’s best director award. She directed the world premiere of The Trouble With Doug for the Fredericia Theater in Fredericia, Denmark, and most recently in March 2025, directed Love Life by Kurt Weill and Alan Jay Lerner at New York City Center Encores!
Clark is an avid teacher and educator. She served on the faculty at Yale University and as artist-in-residence at Pace University and Duke University, and teaches at conservatories and universities worldwide, as well as in her private studio in New York City. Her solo debut recording, Fifteen Seconds of Grace, is available through PS Classics as well as there-imagining of Maury Yeston’s acclaimed song cycle December Songs, featuring Clark with full orchestra.
After a forty-three year award-winning career in education, Ron Meers retired in 2012 following a thirty-year tenure as director of bands at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Prior to his time at Riverdale, Meers was director of bands at Mt. Pleasant High School in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. In 1978, the Mt. Pleasant Band became the first chosen by the Tennessee Bandmasters Association to perform at the Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) Conference held at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Also in 1978, Meers, encouraged by Harry Williams and the Mt. Pleasant Band Boosters, spearheaded the creation of the Class A (Div 1) and later the Class AA (Div 2) State Marching Band Championships. Both events are still thriving today. Meers received his bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University and a master’s degree plus thirty hours from Cumberland University. He has served as president of numerous statewide music organizations, including TMEA, the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (MTSBOA), the Tennessee Bandmasters Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Meers has served in numerous adjudication roles including TMEA performing group audition chair, all-state/mid-state audition chair for the MTSBOA, and auditions chair for the Governor’s School for the Arts and Tennessee All-State Band. Throughout his long career, he has adjudicated both marching and concert band events. Meers was selected as the 2002-2003 Riverdale High School Teacher of the Year and in 2011 was inducted into the Tennessee Music Education Association’s Hall of Fame at the Nashville Opryland Hotel. The following year, the Riverdale High School band room was renamed the Ronald S. Meers Band Hall in his honor. 2019 saw Meers inducted into the Tennessee Bandmasters Hall of Fame. Following his induction, Tennessee State Senate Resolution No. 544 was adopted in his honor, sponsored by Senators White (a former student) and Reeves and Representatives Rudd, Leatherwood, and Baum. Meers retired one final time in 2020 after eight years of service as the Tennessee Music Education Association’s executive director. In 2022, he was presented with the prestigious Lowell Mason Award by the National Association for Music Education and TMEA.
Rozelle Elementary School for Creative and Performing Arts, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is a vibrant institution dedicated to nurturing both academic excellence and artistic talent. As part of the Shelby County Schools district, Rozelle offers a unique Creative and Performing Arts program that integrates arts education into the core curriculum. Students have the opportunity to explore their passions through activities such as dance, drama, music, strings, visual arts, and more. The school earned significant accolades as a Model School in 2024, and since becoming a 2024 Arts Rich School of Merit, has been named a Model School and a 2025 Magnet School of Distinction for commitment to excellence in education and the arts. These honors underscore Rozelle's dedication to fostering a love for creativity and learning. Rozelle has demonstrated significant academic growth over the past few years. In 2022, Rozelle was designated as a Level 5 Reward school by the Tennessee Department of Education for academic growth. Emphasizing a culture of respect, responsibility, and readiness, the school inspires students to excel academically while encouraging creativity and self-expression. Rozelle Elementary’s holistic approach ensures that students are prepared to become future leaders, innovators, and positive contributors to their community. With its focus on academic rigor and artistic excellence, Rozelle Elementary continues to shine as a beacon of inspiration and opportunity for young learners.
South Doyle Middle School (SDMS), located “south of the river” in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a Title I school serving approximately 800 students in grades six through eight. The faculty includes specialists in academics, special education, English language learning, and the related arts. SDMS’s mission is to become a magnet that draws people to the community and a foundation for residents of South Knoxville. Its vision emphasizes creating a culture of belonging and engagement to support students’ academic and social growth. The faculty includes specialists in academics, special education, English language learning, and the related arts. The school’s daily KEE Time develops the core behaviors of Kindness, Energy, and Effort. All students participate in daily related arts classes, choosing from more than thirteen options, including chorus, band, beginner guitar, general music, performance arts, and news production. After-school offerings such as honors band, art club, ensemble, and Cherokee Singers expand access to creative learning. The SHADES after-school program further enhances engagement through STEM, culinary arts, and media workshops. Students regularly participate in local area arts events and various music competitions and showcases. Serving a richly diverse student body, SDMS values inclusive practices that reflect its commitment to equity and belonging. The school’s dedicated and collaborative team of professionals recognize the role of the arts in supporting students’ cognitive, emotional, and academic growth and is dedicated to providing meaningful opportunities that connect students with their community and the world.
Collierville High School’s diverse population remains steadfast in upholding the district’s core values of scholarship, integrity, and service. The school, located in Collierville, Tennessee, strives for academic excellence, fostering a love for learning that shapes the students’ futures. The commitment to integrity ensures that the school’s actions are guided by honesty, responsibility, and ethical conduct. Dedication to service, an emphasis on the importance of the fine arts, fostering artistic literacy, and a commitment to offer an extensive range of arts classes provides students with opportunities for growth and challenge in their artistic pursuits. The requirement for all students to take at least one year of fine arts classes ensures that every student can explore their creativity and develop skills in the arts. Sixty-six percent of the student body is engaged in the arts. A high percentage of students continue to advanced classes, including honors and AP courses. Community involvement in performances, competitions, and shows not only supports and celebrates the achievements of students, but also fosters connections between the school and the community. In the past year, students participated in approximately 123 community art opportunities. These performances and contests provide valuable experiences for students to share their talents and passion for the arts with others. The Collierville High School Fine Arts Department is making significant strides in fulfilling its mission to cultivate artistically literate students who are actively engaged in the arts as lifelong learners.
