Arts Courses

Sasha Newman began teaching at Madeira in 2010. She earned a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in Scene Design from Boston University and a Master's degree in Art Education from the University of Florida. She teaches Technical Theater, Advanced Theater Production, and STEAM in addition to designing the Fall play and Winter musical.

Ms. Crespo started working at Madeira in 2002. She a bachelor's degree in Music from University of Central Arkansas and a master's degree from University of California at Irvine.

Adalia V Tonneyck has been designing costumes for the Madeira Theater Department since 2014 and now has join the faculty as the Production Manager. For the last 9 years Adalia has been the working in D.C. Metro area as a freelance theater artist, at such companies as The Folger, Traveling Players Ensemble, GWU, Howard University, Constellation, Signature and Adventure theater. She holds a B.A.F in Fiber Arts from S.C.A.D University of Creative careers and M.F.A in Production Design from George Washington University.

Master of Music candidate at George Mason University and received her Bachelor of Music from Vanderbilt University.

Jason Oestenstad joined Madeira as the Director of Orchestra in 2020. He previously served as the Associate Conductor for the Oakland Civic Orchestra. He has a Master's Degree in conducting from San Francisco State University. 

Jerien Okoh-Tisch brings her passion for music education, conducting, and performing to the Madeira school as the Director of Choral Music. She holds a degree in Music from the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute and a Standard Professional Teaching Certificate from the state of Maryland in Music Education. Her additional studies have taken her to the Royal College of Music in London, the New England Conservatory, and Vanderbilt University. Highlights of Ms. Okoh-Tisch's performance career include a tour in 2005 with Grammy award winning artists Kanye West and 2006 with Grammy nominated Gospel artist, Joe Pace. She has since conducted and performed in several ensembles and choruses in the U.K. and the United States while maintaining a private teaching practice specializing in classical and contemporary vocal instruction. Having studied under the award-winning music pedagogue, Peter Howard, she also teaches and plays cello, piano, and violin.    

Mr. Priore became Director of Dance at The Madeira School in August of 2021. He studied dance at Point Park University and has been working professionally in the DC area since 2010. Mr. Priore is also an Artist-In-Residence at CityDance Conservatory and an adjunct professor at George Mason University in the dance program. Mr. Priore's choreographic work has been seen on stages from the John F. Kennedy Center to the Joyce Theater in Manhattan as well as over thirty countries internationally. For the last ten years, Mr. Priore has worked with Company E as a cultural ambassador with the US Department of State to bring American Modern Dance to near and far corners of the world.