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Meet Our Team
Learn more about the people who lead and help you to nurture, grow, and develop creativity.

Art Director / Lead Instructor
O. Makeba
With over twenty years in the Arts, she has a Bachelors in Fine Arts and Masters in Information Systems.
She is not only an author and illustrator of children's books, but a business owner. Her focus is to stimulate student's imaginations and build self-esteem while helping them deal with sensitive issues. With the challenges students face in the world, they are lucky to have Makeba as an advocate. "I am passionate about the ARTS and its ability to inspire, entertain, and creatively touch souls."

Music Director /Prof. Pianist
Shangwe
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Makeba is a pianist, composer and performer who has been playing for over 10 years. She is a dedicated and passionate individual with a strong drive to pursue a career in the captivating field of Game Audio, Arranging, and Composing at GSU. With a deep love for both music and technology, Makeba combines these two passions to create immersive audio experiences. "Music is my passion. Playing the piano, making music, and sharing it with you."

Professional Drum Instructor
Jordan Manley
Between stints on the road, Jordan taught drum lessons at the Columbus School of Music. He was a three-time senior project mentor and also helped instruct the School of Rock–a program that mentored student bands in performance and self-promotion.
As a teacher, he’s a fun-loving music historian with a wealth of knowledge and on-the-gig experience to share. He specializes in teaching rudiments, reading and various styles of playing drum set including rock, hip hop, country, and jazz. Parents and students appreciate his patience and his willingness to meet their personal goals.

Fitness Instructor
Diesel Gates
He is a former member of the Marine Corps and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He has a background in health and fitness as well as athletic performance training. His approach to fitness emphasizes strength training in combination with balance and flexibility training. He trains and works with Seven Arts Center schools as well as families, individuals and amateur athletes.
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