OUR
TEACHERS
Libby Curtis was born and raised in New York City, where, as a child, she
attended The Julliard School of Music and The American Academy of Dramatic
Arts. She attended the High School of Music and Art and later moved with her
husband to Jamaica W.I., where they lived for 15 years. They were involved in many aspects of the Jamaican music industry, becoming
pioneers of live reggae venues.
They moved to Key West in 1984 where they raised three sons. Libby is a 19 year
member of The Keys Chorale and served on its Advisory Board. She was President
of the Board of the Montessori Childrens School for five years. She currently
serves on the Board of Directors of Wesley House Family Services and is President of Board of Directors of The
Anne McKee Artists Fund.
Robin Kaplan, celebrating her 30th year as an arts educator in Key West,
is the Co-founder and Director of Keys Community School of the Arts. She is
also the founder of The Bahama Village Music Program, The Young People’s
Theater Project, The Key West Jazz Festival and The Music Room. Educated at
Dartington School of the Arts in England, Manhattan School of Music in New
York, and Berklee School of Music, she is highly sought out not only as an
educator but as a musician playing venues throughout the Florida Keys.
Penny
Leto is the owner of Coffee Mill Dance Studio where
she is a choreographer/instructor. Born and raised in Bronx, New York, Penny
moved to Key West in 1977 and purchased the Coffee Mill property. She holds a
BA in Dance Education from Herbert H. Lehman College. In the mid-eighties, she
founded the Key West Dance Theater and was an original member of the Fabulous
Spectrelles. She provides superlative choreography for all the theaters in Key
West and produces DanceWorks annually with the Coffeemill Dance Collective.
Vincent P. Zito is well known in Key West as
the founder, music director and conductor of the Key West Pops Orchestra, Vincent
hails from New Jersey. He has degrees from NYU (BA) and Rutgers Univ. Mason
Gross School of the Arts (MA). He studied conducting with Laszlo Halasz,
founder of the New York City Opera and Jens Nygaard, founder of the Jupiter
Symphony. In 1999 he started the Key West Pops Orchestra and in 2001 he
co-founded Island Opera Theater with Dean Walters. A true cross over musician,
Vincent enjoys coaching and conducting music written for the stage, whether
Verdi or Sondheim.