Miss Kathey, as she is fondly called by her students is originally from Bluffton, Ohio, and holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music Degrees in vocal performance. She has been a featured soloist in oratorios, operas, musicals and contemporary Christian music. She has toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Orient with the show group Common Ground who frequently appeared on national television, in Las Vegas and on several USO tours. She has made special appearances with Bob Hope, Roy Clark, David Copperfield, Danny Thomas, Johnny Cash, Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers, and Jay Leno, and has sung for Presidents Ford and Reagan.

Miss Kathey’s Academy for the Performing Arts began while Kathey was living in Nashville where she taught private vocal and piano instruction. Kathey was also a studio demo singer and achieved success in commercial jingle work. She acted in national television commercials for Holiday Inn, Ladies Mennen Speed Stick, Century 21, Avon and American Beauty Cosmetics, to name a few. Kathey also entertained at the Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel and the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville.

Kathey has been the Musical Director for City Road United Methodist Church in Nashville as well as directed church choirs in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

She has conducted clinics in performance and acting techniques at colleges and universities around the country including Anderson College in Indiana and Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma. She was on the faculty as a voice teacher at the University of Mobile in Alabama.

In 2012, with her husband, Thurlow Spurr, she co-produced and directed 22 concerts with Grammy and Dove award winning artists Sandi Patty, Larnelle Harris and Dino.

In September of 2018, Thurlow and Kathey produced a TV pilot called, “The Larnelle Show!” featuring Larnelle Harris who the Spurrs have managed and booked for Larnelle’s entire 50-year career. Kathey also sang in the backup group called “Friends” that was highlighted on the show.

With over 35 years of performing, producing and directing experience, Kathey is co-producer of the CMI Concert Choir and directs The Thurlow Spurr Singers.

Miss Kathey’s Academy was officially established in 2014 and is dedicated to developing and training Godly character in today’s youth. MKA has also expanded to include a group of young adults who have named themselves the “Roarin’ 20’s.

Miss Kathey’s Academy has locations in MI/OH, Branson and St. Louis, Missouri.

Vickey Priest has been working with children in various capacities for over 30 years.  She attended Eastern Michigan University where she earned a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, as well as a Master’s in Early Childhood Education.  She has been teaching for ten years now, and is currently teaching second grade at Village Oaks Elementary in the Novi Community School District.  She has been performing with the CMI Choir for the past nine years and she now finds her two passions, pouring Jesus into children and singing, coming together in this position.

PASTOR STEPHEN NORMAN has a B.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan and a Masters of Divinity Degree from Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan.

He has a long history of being involved in drama from high school plays and musicals to performing in locate theatre productions in Livonia, Michigan and most recently, performing in “I Promise”, a film production for Pocket Parables in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Prior to seminary, Steve served for five years as the Director of “Acts of Apostles”, a large high school drama team from Ward Presbyterian Church where he taught drama classes and clinics, directed plays, and took the teens on drama tours during the summer months.

He also served for two years as Director of Drama at Canton Community Church in Canton, Michigan. During Seminary, Steve helped begin drama ministry teams in each of the churches where he worked and wrote materials to help others learn and teach “The Seven Basics of Drama.” Having served as a pastor for 20 years, Steve is currently pastor of Crossroads Church in Livonia, Michigan. He continues to have a passion for drama and its importance in the process of communicating God’s word and is excited to be a part of the teaching staff of Miss Kathey’s Academy.

Brittany Everitt Smith (Choreographer) is happy to have worked with CMI for the past 6 seasons! She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Miami. Her dance training includes ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop as well as musical theatre styles. Brittany is the Production Manager at The Riverbank and Snug Theatres in Marine City, MI where she also directs, acts, and choreographs. Past performing credits include Fiona in Shrek the Musical, Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Fran Kubelick in Promises, Promises, Kitty in The Drowsy Chaperone, Agnes in I Do! I Do!, and Gooch in Mame. Choreography highlights include: Shrek the Musical, Cinderella, The Music Man, Seussical, Promises Promises, The Drowsy Chaperone, Beauty and the Beast, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, Willy Wonka, and Sister Act as well as many  camps and classes. She is very proud of the Miss Kathey’s Academy students this year and is happy they are able to share the joy of performing with all of you!

Known as the “costume lady”, Nadine has been involved with CMI for the past 10 years and currently coordinates and inventories costumes for Miss Kathey’s Academy for the Performing Arts.  In addition to her time with CMI, Nadine has been involved with musical performance and productions for many years.  While in high school, she sang and toured parts of the United States with a 50-voice summer touring choir.  During college, she sang and travelled throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada with Sonlife, a musical group representing Youth for Christ, Metro-Detroit, and assisted with “Acts of Apostles”, a large high school drama team.  For the past 25 years, Nadine has begun and directed several praise worship bands, has sung with praise teams at various churches, and currently directs the Youth Worship Team at Crossroads Church in Livonia.  Nadine loves to express her love for God through worship and music as well as serving others and enjoys the fact that being a part of CMI and Miss Kathey’s Academy allows her to combine those passions together in one place.

Butch O’Brien’s love of percussion began at the age of nine when his family joined the Salvation Army Church in Royal Oak, Michigan.  His exposure to the music of the Salvation Army Church, particularly percussion, brass, and performance, were a stepping stone to a lifelong appreciation of music. Butch met Thurlow Spurr in the early 70’s and was recruited as the percussionist for the July 1972 Freedom Celebration.  He subsequently joined CMI as a Spurrlow percussionist for four years.

Percussion and performance have provided Butch with many opportunities over the years.  These include, coaching a high school drumline for 15 years; teaching private percussion lessons; performing with various artists including gospel singer Larnelle Harris, Pat Boone, Roy Clark, and a day of studio work with Bob Seger. Butch resides in Clawson, Michigan with his wife Betsy.  They have two married children and their first grandchild arrived in the Spring.