Melodia Studio Exclusive Event: College Prep for Young Performing Artists

By Rita Gigliotti Edited by Danielle Bissonnette

On Sunday, August 17, Melodia Studio’s Pre-Professional Track will host its very first exclusive event College Prep for the Young Performing Artist. The afternoon brings together two families with one shared goal: supporting their children on the journey to a professional career in the performing arts, but with two very different starting points.

Students and parents will have the opportunity to meet and hear from Jonah, Karen, and Jonathan Uffelman, a family deeply rooted in the world of professional theatre, and Samantha (Sammy) and Lori Hayes, a family newer to the performing arts but fully invested in navigating its challenges. Together, they will share candid reflections on their own experiences with the college application and audition process, and what life is really like for a student pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at two very different institutions, Elon University and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

The Uffelman Family: A Legacy of the Stage

For the Uffelmans, the performing arts are not just a passion, they are a way of life.

Jonah Uffelman is a rising second-year BFA Music Theatre student at Elon University, already building an impressive résumé. In 2024, he was awarded the Brandon Victor Dixon Award for Best Actor and became a semi-finalist at the prestigious Jimmy Awards. Last spring, Jonah made his Elon mainstage debut as Charley Kringas in Merrily We Roll Along, and most recently he stepped into a leadership role as assistant director for Anastasia: The Musical at Vienna Youth Players. This fall, he will be on stage again in Elon’s production of An American in Paris.

Jonah’s journey into the professional training world has been shaped by the unique perspective of growing up with two parents who have worked at the highest levels of the theatre industry.

Jonathan Uffelman spent fifteen years as a professional actor, touring the country three times with The Acting Company and performing in Shakespeare and other classics. His credits include four seasons at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, a world premiere Beth Henley play, and even a memorable television commercial alongside Wyclef Jean. Today, Jonathan works as an intellectual property attorney in Washington, DC, and is the author of the novel Book of Leprechauns: The Lore Gatherers. His deep understanding of both the artistic and professional worlds gives him a rare dual perspective to share with students.

Karen Wright brings her own wealth of expertise as a performer, director, and coach. With a BFA and MFA in acting and directing, she has taught at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, the Youth Film Academy, and now works privately with high school students preparing for college auditions. Her professional credits span theaters across the country and New York City, as well as television and voice work. Most recently, she directed Anastasia at the Vienna Youth Players and performed in Little Women at The Arlington Players.

For families in our Pre-Professional Track, the Uffelmans offer a window into what it is like to navigate the college audition process and life while studying for a performing arts degree with the benefit, and sometimes the pressure, of an insider’s knowledge of the industry.

How the Hayes Family Navigated College Auditions Without a Theatre Background

While the Hayes family is newer to the performing arts, they have embraced the journey with energy and commitment.

Samantha (Sammy) Hayes is also a second-year student, studying Musical Theatre in NYU Tisch's New Studio on Broadway. During her time in Northern Virginia, she trained with Fairfax Academy, Signature Theatre, and Encore Performers while performing at various theaters throughout the area. Most recently, she attended this summer's Musical Theater Summer Intensive “Artsbridge,” where she served as assistant to the head of dance at NYU Drama. Her experiences at NYU will offer fresh, relatable insight for students who are imagining their own transitions from high school stages to university-level training.

Sammy’s mother, Lori Hayes, brings a different and valuable perspective. Without a professional theatre background, she has navigated the learning curve of the performing arts college process alongside her daughter.

Lori Huberman Hayes is an educator by profession, with over 30 years in Fairfax County Public Schools. She taught elementary grades before moving into science curriculum development, integrating technology, and creating award-winning environmental education programs. She has also served for seven years on the Board of Directors for The City of Fairfax Theatre Company, managing house operations. Her organizational and leadership experience, combined with her perspective as a parent new to the industry, make her voice especially important for families who may be walking this path for the first time.

For the Hayes family, the performing arts journey has been about exploration, adaptability, and supporting Sammy’s passion even without an inherited roadmap. This is proof that you do not have to be born into the industry to find your way in.

Two Journeys, Shared Wisdom on Building a Career in the Performing Arts

What makes this event special is not just the credentials of the speakers, but the contrast in their starting points.

The Uffelmans bring decades of professional experience, industry connections, and a deep understanding of the demands of a career in the performing arts. They can speak to how growing up in a theatre family shapes a young artist’s preparation and outlook.

The Hayes family represents the many students and parents entering this world without prior professional experience, learning terminology, navigating the audition circuit, and discovering the nuances of performing arts degree programs in real time.

By hearing from both, our Pre-Professional families will gain a richer, more balanced perspective on the road ahead.

What Performing Arts Students and Parents Will Learn at the Event

During the 90-minute session, our guests will share:

• The college audition experience, how each student prepared, what the audition season looked like, and lessons learned from both successes and setbacks

• Navigating middle school and high school experiences leading up to the college audition process

• Transitioning to university life, the realities of performing arts degrees' schedules, class loads, rehearsal commitments, and maintaining well-being as a performing arts student

• The parent’s role, how to support your student through the application, audition, and college adjustment phases without taking over the process

• Building a network, how relationships formed before and during college can open opportunities and provide mentorship

• Managing expectations, understanding the competitive nature of the field while still fostering joy and artistic growth

Why This Event Matters for the Melodia Studio Pre-Professional Track

Events for the Melodia Studio Pre-Professional Track embody what the program is all about, connecting serious young artists and their families with real-world insight, mentorship, and community.

The college audition process for the performing arts is unlike any other, blending academic applications with a high-pressure, talent-based admissions track. It is an emotional, time-consuming, and often expensive journey. Having candid access to both seasoned professionals and newcomers who have just walked through it is an invaluable opportunity for our students and parents.

By hearing directly from Jonah, Sammy, and their families, attendees will leave with both inspiration and practical takeaways, from how to structure a pre-audition training plan, to what questions to ask on campus visits, to the importance of building resilience alongside technique.

Preparing the Next Generation of Performing Artists

As Melodia Studio, events like this are a cornerstone of the Pre-Professional Track program, fostering the connections, skills, and confidence our students need to thrive in the professional world.

We are deeply grateful to the Uffelman and Hayes families for sharing their time, stories, and wisdom. Whether your student is just starting to dream of a performing arts degree or already deep in preparation, this conversation will remind you that while every journey is unique, the heart of the work, dedication, passion, and perseverance, is the same.

At Melodia Studio, Rita Gigliotti offers private voice lessons, as well as exclusive events and mentorship. Learn more about the Studio