Classical Kids Live

Paul Pement – Director & Producer

Paul holds an exclusive international licensing agreement with the award-winning Classical Kids organization to produce the highly-acclaimed symphony concert series that includes Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Tchaikovsky Discovers America, Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery, Hallelujah Handel and Mozart's Magnificent Voyage. As executive and artistic director of Classical Kids Music Education, NFP, Mr. Pement oversees all business and artistic aspects of the Classical Kids Live! theatrical concert productions around the world. (www.classicalkidslive.com) Paul received a BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois and, as a long-time member of Actor’s Equity Association, has gained extensive theatrical experience performing in over 50 productions throughout Chicago and abroad. He has appeared in such long running commercial hits as Peter Pan (Peter), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Benjamin)  and Forever Plaid (Sparky), the latter of which he has also directed and choreographed at major theatres across the country. In addition to film and television appearances, he has produced and directed several tolerance-related short films and has directed and choreographed live industrial shows for corporations such as Target and Mobil.

  

Susan Hammond – Series Creator

Susan has created a whole new generation of classical music fans through her innovative and award-winning Classical Kids recordings. She is the executive producer of a 16 title series of children’s classical music recordings known collectively as Classical Kids, selling to date nearly 5 million CDs, DVDs and books worldwide, and earning over 100 prestigious awards and honors. Each story entails its own adventure featuring a unique combination of music, history, and theatricality to engage the imaginations of children. Susan holds the philosophy that, “Where the heart goes, the mind will follow.” An accomplished concert pianist and music teacher, Hammond searched for recordings about classical music to share with her young daughters. One day, she sat reading to her girls with a classical music radio station on in the background and noticed how they responded to the literature in a different way when enhanced by music. The rest, as they say, is history. Susan is the recipient of Billboard Magazine’s International Achievement Award and resides with her husband in Toronto where she is a member of the Order of Canada for her contribution to the arts.

  

Barbara Nichol – Author

Barbara is an award-winning author and filmmaker. Her book Dippers was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award, and Biscuits in the Cupboard won the Mr. Christie’s Book Award. She is also well known as the author and director of the Juno award-winning original recording of Beethoven Lives Upstairs and author of the book by the same title. She was awarded a Genie for Best Short Film for Home for Blind Women and was nominated for an Emmy for her work with Sesame Street. Barbara Nichol has published four books with Tundra, including Safe and Sound, Trunks All Aboard: An Elephant ABC, and Dippers.

 

 Andrew Redlawsk– Christoph

Andrew, now in his fifth season with Classical Kids, plays both Christoph in Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Karl in Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage. Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, he is a graduate of Loyola University in Chicago and currently resides in New York City. New York credits include: Greenwood (NYMF), BJ: A Musical Romp (Planet Connections) Festivity), The Bowery Boys (NAMT), Together This Time (NYC Fringe), and Assassins and Godspell (Momentum Repertory Company). Regional credits include: A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane Oakbrook), The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Northlight Theatre), The Bowery Boys (Marriott Theatre), and Twelfth Night (Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival). Andrew would like to thank his family and friends for all their love and support. Visit him online at www.andrewredlawsk.com  

 

 

 

Thad S. Avery – Uncle

Mr. Avery performs for Classical Kids Live! as both Uncle in Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Tchaikovsky in Tchaikovsky Discovers America. He is based in Chicago with his wife Cheryl, and two children, Spencer and Grace. A proud union member of all three performing unions his first professional show was with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.  He received his training from Wayne State University in Detroit. There he performed in a number of shows ranging from the Classics to many musicals.  After graduation, he was a company member of Utah Shakespearean Festival and traveled around the world with an international comedy troupe. The troupe was featured at World Entertainment in Japan and also at the Wintergarten in Berlin. When Thad returned home, he started a long and rewarding relationship with the musical Forever Plaid. The production took him from Door County, WI to the first national tour, to Las Vegas, and back home to Chicago. Other appearances in Chicago include: I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Wizard of Oz, Charlotte's Web, Alice in Wonderland, and The Nutcracker. Thad gives special thanks to his mentor, the late Robert Hazzard.  

 

Classical Kids Music Education, NFP

Classical Kids Music Education, NFP was formed for charitable and educational purposes to build pathways for progression in music so that all young people, whatever their background or abilities, have access to the rich and diverse range of influence classical music offers. Reduced funding to the arts has diminished the ability of many symphony orchestras to provide high-quality educational and family programs like the one you are seeing today. It is imperative that more organizations are able to reach students and families through excellent music education programs in a time when affordable and worthy programming is lacking. Classical Kids Music Education, NFP was created to “bridge the gap” by securing funding for high-caliber projects and, together with individual donor support, help to bring music education into the 21st century by creating more opportunities for young people to be exposed to their interest and develop their talents to the fullest. Please visit www.ckme.org to learn more about how you can help.

 

Actors’ Equity Association

Actors and Stage Managers are members of Actors’ Equity Association. Actors' Equity Association, founded in 1913, is the labor union that represents more than 45,000 Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Equity seeks to advance, promote and foster the art of live theatre as an essential component of our society. Equity negotiates wages and working conditions and provides a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans, for its members. Actors' Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO, and is affiliated with FIA, an international organization of performing arts unions.