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.

While living in Nashville 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 has also taught voice 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.

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

Miss Kathey’s Academy for the Performing Arts was officially established in 2014 and is dedicated to developing and training Godly character in today’s youth.

Kathey is married to noted producer and CMI executive director, Thurlow Spurr; together they home school their daughter, Maddie Mae.

Michael Picker has been performing since junior high school. His acting experience encompasses stage and screen to radio and television. A two-time St. Louis region Emmy Award winner and New York Gold radio award winner, his characters range from comedic to Shakesperian. As a BFA graduate of Missouri State University, he has also written and directed for the stage as well as public television at KETC in St. Louis. Michael has performed as an emcee at the Fox Theatre and at Busch stadium in St. Louis and as a stand-up comedian at the Funny Bone Comedy Club in Westport. His clients include KTVI, KSDK, Monsanto, Schnucks, United Way, Macys and Pevely Dairy among others. He believes teaching performance is teaching God’s beauty of expression in all of us.