AAK Staff
Our professional teaching artists are all actively working in their respective industries, earning livings as both artists and educators. Their passion for their art form inspires our students to develop confidence through mastering fundamental techniques and preparing for performance opportunities in acting, voice and dance.
Felecia Scott, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Felecia studied drama in New York City at the Herbert Bergdorf Studios and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She graduated from the Berkeley Business School in New York.
A veteran of stage, television and films in New York and Los Angeles, Felecia has over 15 years of combined experience working in the industry.
Ms. Scott co-founded Faith Acting Studios in 1992, and All God's Children Performing Arts Conservatory (AGC) in 1995, which was
awarded the NAACP. Ms. Scott was the Arts
Enrichment Coordinator for 15 years at Vista Del Mar School in Culver City, which serves children with learning disabilities.
Felecia's goal is in building self-esteem in our youth to succeed not only on stage but in life.
David Keller, Co-Founder and Sponsor
David's early career was spent in commercial and investment banking. He also spent time in Southeast Asia as a speechwriter for the Japanese President of an international development bank, sailed his own boat with his family 18,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean and back, and produced an award-winning PBS documentary on men at mid-life.
In addition to his active involvement with AAK, David is an avid supporter of the cutting edge research being conducted by the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. He also provides funds for other
Los Angeles programs that serve at-risk youth.
Carol Zee, Director of BEACON
From 2000-2017, Carol served as the Founding Artistic Director for The Gabriella Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to transform the
lives of under-served youth through high quality dance training. Ms. Zee joined AAK in 2017, as a dance instructor and to spearhead the launch of the B.E.A.C.O.N. Program (Building Educational And Career Opportunities Now), which assists youth ages 14-18 in gaining more self-awareness and understanding of themselves while discovering where their true passions lie for
their future.
Carol holds a BFA in Dance from University of Illinois and serves as the Artistic Director of the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at Culver City High School.
Lillian Sengpiehl, Director of Music
Lillian is a professional opera singer, who has performed leading roles in opera and musical theatre productions, as well as orchestral concert works, throughout America and Europe.
She also has performed on many soundtracks and commercials.
Lillian began teaching "Opera In The Schools" with the New York City Opera. Her career as an educator blossomed when she moved to Los Angeles in 2005 where, in addition to her role
as Musical Director of AAK, she maintains a very active private teaching studio.
Lillian received her Bachelor's Degree in Theatre and Voice from the University of Kansas and pursued graduate work at The Manhattan
School of Music in New York City.
Charlotte Williams, Artistic Director
Charlotte loves being a part of the AAK family! She’s been an Acting teacher for eight years and enjoys directing and watching the students embrace their individuality while exploring the
art of Acting. Charlotte has been acting/performing for over fifteen years.
She has appeared in commercials for Ford,
AT&T, and McDonalds, to name a few.
She’s worked on a TV show with Zack Galifianakis and has starred alongside
Ben Affleck in a film. She’s most proud of her directorial contributions at AAK.
Teaching and watching students’ development and embrace of storytelling brings Charlotte so much joy.
Jason Chong, Choreographer and Dance Instructor
Born and raised in Hawaii, Jason found himself
surrounded by music and called by dance, which led him to training at 24-7 Danceforce and Big City Dance Company. Jason relocated to Los Angeles, CA to immerse himself in dance, crediting The Edge, Millennium Dance Complex and Debbie Reynold’s Dance Center for training. He booked his very first video with Janet Jackson, then Britney Spears, which
was quickly followed by Christina Aguilera.
His journey has allowed him to teach many over the years, including Billie Eilish, Finneas and Tinashe. All the while, Jason continues to aspire and build confidence and drive in students to pursue their very own dreams.
Kyausha Simpson, Director of Acting
Kyausha was born in Los Angeles, studied at the
Beverly Hills Playhouse, and is a graduate of the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She has played various roles on TV shows, musicals and feature films and has worked with mega music stars, such as Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams, Destiny's Child, Luther Vandross, Usher, and The Killers. Ms.Simpson has not only worked as a choreographer for iconic bands, but her experience also includes stage direction, video content coordinating, lighting collaboration and performing as a stylist for music bands. Aside from loving to display her talents, Kyausha has a passion for helping others reach their
full potential.
Christian Rodrigo, Acting Instructor
Based in Los Angeles, this Spanish actor and filmmaker has a robust portfolio that spans acting, producing, and directing for over 20 years. As a member of SAG-AFTRA, the Actors Studio (guest member), and the Cinema Academy of Catalonia, Christian has solidified his presence in the industry.
Christian's acting career includes roles in various films, TV shows, theater plays, music videos,
and commercials. He has also hosted numerous events and television programs. As a producer, he established Full Emotions SL in Barcelona in 2007 and Full Emotions Inc. in Los Angeles in 2019. Christian is the founder, director and executive producer of the Brisk Festival, an international 10 min plays theatre festival, that takes place in Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and soon in Mexico City too.
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Sam Bierman, Vocal Instructor
A Los Angeles native and graduate of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Sam has been playing piano and singing for fifteen years and teaching for five. While still a student, Sam performed at a number of music festivals and was the recipient of the Maestro Award for Choir at the Heritage Festival and a Downbeat Award as a member of the JV1 Jazz Vocal Ensemble.
He spent two years performing in New York and around the nation.
Nowadays, Sam spends his time working with artists as a songwriter, producer and mixer at
his studio and performing at various sites.
Nidia Perez, Executive Assistant
Nidia was born in Guatemala City and
immigrated to the US at age 14.
The obstacle of adapting to a different culture and the challenge to learn a new language helped her become bilingual.
Her passion to learn new things drove her into technology, becoming a Microsoft Office Specialist, Systems Administrator, and obtaining
a CompTIA A+ Certification.
She joined AAK as a full time employee in 2015 and continues to learn and grow in this wonderful program.
She loves helping and sharing with others how technology can be beneficial to overcome obstacles on a daily basis.
Angie Hernandez, BEACON Program Coordinator
Angelica, better known to the AAK family as "Angie", joined All About Kids in 2021. She is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development.
Being bilingual and having a passion for helping others helped carve her path in pursuing her higher education. She hopes to take the skills
she has obtained to make a difference in others' lives.
A quote from Marian Wright Edelman she likes states, "Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and
world better than you found it."