Faculty & Staff

A performer equally adept at classical and contemporary singing styles, Corinne Ness has performed classical, music theatre, contemporary Christian, and bluegrass music in venues across the country. As a classical soprano, she has performed roles such as Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Alice Ford (Falstaff), and Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus). She has premiered new works by composer Rufus Brown and has appeared as soprano soloist with the Kenosha Symphony. Read more.

Prof. Berg studied choral conducting under Dr. Weston Noble at Luther College and was given the Presser Award as the outstanding music major of his class, a distinction bestowed by the faculty. His graduate work was followed by an apprenticeship with the Chicago Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, a group of 12 singers selected from a pool of almost 500 applicants nationwide. In addition to his work at Carthage, Prof. Berg hosts classical music programs on WGTD FM 91.1, the local public radio affiliate. He is also the minister of music at Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Racine. Read more.

Matt Boresi is a writer of original operatic, musical theatre, madrigal, choral, and art song works which are performed across the country and have been called "inventive and ably balanced" by Variety, "truly scrumptious" by Backstage, and "bursting with wit and charm" by Talkin' Broadway. Read more.

Klaus Georg was born in Bonn, Germany. He earned B.A.s in mathematics and music and his M.M. in voice at Washington University in St. Louis. He is currently pursuing a D.M. in voice performance at Northwestern University, where he studies with Karen Brunssen.

Mr. Georg has performed leading tenor roles in Mozart's Zauberflöte, Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmelites, Loesser's The Most Happy Fella, and Hoiby's Summer and Smoke, as well as the tenor solos in Mozart's Requiem, Händel's Messiah, Haydn's Creation, and Brahms's Zigeunerlieder. An experienced choral singer, Mr. Georg also founded a madrigal group in St. Louis, More Fools Than Wise.

Mr. Georg currently resides in Chicago, where he sings with the CSO Chorus and Music of the Baroque, and has appeared as a soloist with both groups. He also sings with the Grant Park Music Festival and is chorus director at Beth Emet the Free Synagogue in Evanston. Recently, Mr. Georg appeared as the tenor soloist in Mozart's Requiem at the Music Institute of Chicago and as Chibiabos in Coleridge-Taylor's Hiawatha's Wedding Feast in Park Ridge.

Sarah Gorke received her M.M. in classical voice performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts of Roosevelt University in 2006 and her B.A in music from Carthage College in 2004. Ms. Gorke is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and has also been a two-time finalist in their District Auditions. She has been a concert soloist with numerous professional organizations including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Apprentice Chorale, Central Chamber Chorale, and Kenosha Symphony. She currently sings in the professional core of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and is on the Music Faculty at Carthage, where she teaches Private Voice and Exploring Music.

Ms. Hackett began dancing at the age of 4, performing professionally at the age of 15, and teaching at the age of 18. She also teaches workshops and master classes all over Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Her students have been accepted into dance programs with The American Ballet Theatre, The Joffrey Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and The Chicago Civic Ballet.

Her choreography has been seen at Chicago-area theaters such as The Baliwick Repertory Theater, The Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, Northlight Performing Arts Center and The Paramount Arts Center. She has also choreographed for Carnival Cruise Lines and many industrial shows for such organizations as State Farm, Pepsi, Give Kids the World, and Kraftmaid.

Ms. Hackett has performed in many productions at theatres including The Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Theatre Ensemble, Northlight Performing Arts Center and The Paramount Arts Center.

Prof. Haines' teaching responsibilities include private voice lessons and vocal pedagogy, as well as directing the Main Stage musical. Read more

Ms. Hull has served as a young artist for Glimmerglass Opera and Seattle Opera, where she received acclaim for her portrayal of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. She has won competitive awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions including district winner and third place at the regional level. She was a junior winner in the Palm Beach Opera Competition and was chosen to participate in the Thomas Hampson Masterclass Special for PBS.

Prof. Instenes holds an MFA in costume design and technology from Ohio University, and a BA in theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Her faculty credits include UW-Parkside, UW-Whitewater, UW-Milwaukee and Lawrence University. In addition to teaching at these schools, she has designed costumes and makeup for a number of productions including Imaginary Invalid, Pride and Prejudice, Trojan War, Sweeney Todd and Translations. Read more.

Herschel Kruger earned his Master of Fine Arts in acting from the University of Illinois, and while there, completed an independent study in directing with Dr. Burnet Hobgood. Prof. Kruger is also a graduate of the National Shakespeare Conservatory's two-year Professional Actors Training program in New York City. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Communications from Cardinal Stritch University. Read more.

Martin McClendon joined the Carthage Theatre Department in 2006. He holds BFA and MFA degrees in acting from Rockford College and the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign respectively. He worked as a professional actor in Chicago and Los Angeles for 10 years before getting involved in teaching. He has appeared onstage at Chicago's Steppenwolf, Northlight, Organic and Victory Gardens theatres, among others. Martin acted in independent movies both in Chicago and Los Angeles. His TV credits include episodes of ER and Early Edition, as well as numerous commercials. He is a member of AEA, SAG and AFTRA. Read more.

Stacy Pottinger has a Master of Arts in Dance Education from the State University of New York College at Brockport, and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is Director of the Dance Minor at Carthage and directs the student and faculty dance concerts. Her artistic interests have included a variety of interdisciplinary projects though which she has collaborated with composers, video animators, and teaching professionals of varying subjects. She teaches Modern and Jazz Technique, Introduction to Dance and Improvisation, and Dance History. Read more.

Neil Kristian Scharnick began teaching at Carthage in 2003 and joined the Theatre faculty full time in 2004. He served as business manager of the Acacia Theatre Company in Milwaukee for two seasons. He also worked at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill., before returning to teach at his alma mater. Neil holds an M.A. in theatre from Northwestern University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Theatre Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Research interests include Irish theatre, Restoration drama, the avant-garde, and the interactions of theatre and faith. Read more.

Prof. Schwaber holds an MM in voice performance from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University, and a BFA in voice performance from Carnegie-Mellon University. She has done additional study of music and theater at Banff Center for the Performing Arts and DePaul University, and studies with Judith Haddon, Ruth Falcon, Beatrice Krebs, Barbara Pearson. She is the former co-director of the opera program at Roosevelt University’s College of Performing Arts, a former faculty member at Sherwood Conservatory of Music, and The Performing Arts Workshop. She has additional experience directing and choreographing numerous performances on Broadway, national tours, regional opera and theater companies, and concerts for symphonic and chamber groups.