KAREN HIGGINS is an accomplished dancer, teacher and choreographer. She received her both BFA/MS in Dance and Psychology. Karen was a dancer/choreographer for eight years with Orchesis Modern Dance Company, while also developing a pilot wellness program for the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be implemented nationally. She also volunteered with Easter Seals to develop a Dance Therapy Program for children with disabilities and worked as an Adolescent Addictions Counselor of Thomas Memorial Hospital. Karen has also been active in dancing and choreographing for the Charleston Stage Company, Charleston Light Opera Guild, and Kanawha Players. She was Founder/Artistic Director of JADCO Contemporary Dance Company. Recently, Ms. Higgins has been awarded the Choreographer of the Year Award for 2003 and 2003 by L.A. Danceforce for her original works "Creatures" and "Business as Usual." Karen is married to Dr. Henry Higgins and they have four children, Isaac, Lauren, Ian, and Adam. Karen teaches Jazz/Lyrical, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre.

ANN HURST joins the APAC staff after three years of teaching in the AISD and WISD public school systems. Ann is a graduate of McMurry University with a degree in secondary education. While teaching, she directed a number of shows including Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town” and the musical “Bye Bye, Birdie.” Her acting credits include William Inge’s “Picnic” and McMurry’s 2003 Homecoming Musical “Pippin.” Ann served on the APAC Board of Directors this past year and also has been a director for the APAC/NCCIL Visual and Performing Arts Summer Camps for the past two summers. Ann loves to work with children to help them reach their potential and is excited about the opportunity to contribute to the vision of APAC. She and her husband, Luke, welcomed their first child, Gracie Beth, in September 2004. Ann teaches Theatre & Kindermusik.

AMY KRAKE is a 2003 graduate of Hardin-Simmons University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Business. Amy has appeared in several HSU Musical Theatre, Abilene Collegiate Opera, and community productions. Recently, she appeared in the Paramount Theatre's Summer Musicals "Smokey Joe's Café" and was featured as Evelyn Nesbit in "Ragtime.” She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, international music fraternity for women, and of Pi Kappa Lambda, National Honor Music Society. In addition to working at APAC, Amy also has performed as a contract artist with Young Audiences of Abilene and taught music and drama at Kenley School for two years. Amy and her husband, Jonathan, welcomed their first child, Conner Paul, in November of 2006. They are also the proud parents of their two precious labs, Stanley and Ollie and their two awesome turtles, Fig and Newton. Amy is the Creative Design Director at APAC and teaches Kindermusik.

JENNIFER KROEGER, a West Texas native, is a graduate of Texas Tech University where she received her B.A. in Public Relations. While at Tech, she had the privilege of performing with the award-winning clarinet choir and the University Symphonic Band.  She has also played clarinet with the Temple, TX Wind Symphony.  She was previously the District Director of the South Plains Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and worked in Corporate Services for the Covenant Health System in Lubbock, where she helped develop and implement a workplace wellness program for local industries.  Jennifer became a licensed Kindermusik Educator in 2004 after experiencing Kindermusik with her own children and seeing what a positive influence it was during their early childhood development.  She has taught Village and Our Time classes prior to joining the APAC staff, and is excited to be able to share the dynamic world of music and creative movement with our youngest learners.  Jennifer is married to Dr. Greg Kroeger and they have three children; Claire, John, and Kate, and a yellow lab Lucy. Jennifer teaches Kindermusik.

TONJA LOWRY, an Abilene native, graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a specialization in Ballet and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. During her college career, Tonja was the recipient of two dance scholarships and was a member of Chi Tau Epsilon, National Honorary Dance Society. Tonja was a soloist with the Willis Ballet and taught preschool ballet for three years at the Conservatory of Classical Ballet in Lubbock. Upon graduation, Tonja taught 5th grade reading and language arts at Beltline Intermediate School in Cedar Hill, Texas. Tonja teaches First Steps.

ADAM POYNOR, a native from Abilene, is a 2005 graduate of Hardin-Simmons University with a bachelor's degree in Music Education. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in choral conducting. He received the Presser Award in 2004 from the school of music at HSU, and was one of the six chosen musicians to perform at the Honors Concert with the Collegiate Orchestra. Adam enjoys singing with the Concert Choir at Hardin-Simmons as well as participating in the opera program where he has been in the last two productions. He also enjoys performing in the community theaters around town: Smokey Joe's Café, Ragtime, Oklahoma!, Big River, Joseph..., Civil War, and Hello Dolly! at the Paramount and A Funny Thing...Forum, Forever Plaid, and Cabaret at Abilene Community Theater. Along with singing, Adam enjoys playing the piano, an instrument he has been playing for nearly 15 years. Last year he came in second place in the Lynn Baldwin Piano Competition, and this year he came in first. Adam is the Assistant Director at APAC and instructs Musical Theatre and Private Voice.

BARB STOCKDALE was born and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she began her dance training with Donna Wood. She attended University of Colorado where she danced with Rocky Mountain Ballet and Marilyn Long. Barb has 27 years of teaching experience with various studios and Air Force Bases in Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas. She trained with many wonderful instructors such as Bobby Burgess, Gus Giodano, Luigi, and Roni Mahler. Currently she is a contract artist with Young Audiences of Abilene, and has been performing with them for the past five years. Barb is married to Mark Stockdale, and has three children, Meredith, Steve, and Chris. Barb is the instructor of Ballet, Tap, and Musical Theatre.

LANIE WESTMAN is a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education. She has performed with the Abilene Opera Association, local theatre companies, is a contracted artist with Young Audiences of Abilene, and continues to perform in the Abilene community. Recently, she appeared in the Paramount Theatre's Summer Musicals "Smokey Joe's Café" and was featured as Mother in "Ragtime.” Lanie also taught elementary music 1993-2000 with AISD. Lanie is married to Rob Westman and they have two boys Joshua and Jess. Lanie is the Executive Director of APAC and teaches Musical Theatre.