WIT hosts Musical Improv Conservatory for second year in a row

Earlier this year, WIT welcomed a new crop of talented students into our Musical Improv Conservatory program, which made its successful debut in DC last year. The current, five-month program features three teams with 12 performers each for a total of 36. There’s a mix of 2024 alumni and new students, and each team has its own coach and music accompanist.

The Conservatory aims to foster DC’s musical improv community by expanding and deepening the talent pool of players doing this work. Teams rehearse weekly and will perform at least five shows for the general public in late spring/early summer.

There are two returning coaches: Anna Claire Walker, who is a member of WIT’s longest-running ensemble iMusical and Beth Lyons, who was formerly an iMusical member, and two new coaches this year: Simone Webster, who co-coaches with Anna Claire and 2024 Conservatory alum Katie O’Donnell. Both Simone and Katie are also members of iMusical.

Mike O’Connor, Michael Gottlieb, and Paul Rosenberg have returned as accompanists, while Paige Rammelkamp and Kristin Sowell have been added to the Conservatory’s accompanist list in 2025.

“I’m delighted the program is now in its second year,” said WIT Artistic/Executive Director Mark Chalfant, whose love for the genre of musical improv also dates back to the founding days of iMusical. “Our hope is to demonstrate the breadth of storytelling that is possible through musical improv. We have a talented cohort of participants this spring and I can’t wait to see them perform.”

TEAM ONE

Coach: Beth Lyons

Accompanist: Paige Rammelkamp

Ben Willman

Carlic Huynh

Chris Carusiello

Daniel Shanker

David Steib

Elisabeth Mabus

Fred Gilbert

Juliette Price

Kaeli Patchen

Michelle Burrows Doerr

Stephen Gabauer

Taunya Ferguson

TEAM TWO

Coaches: Anna Claire Walker and Simone Webster

Accompanists: Paul Rosenberg and Kristin Sowell

Andrew V. Ly

Goli Samimi

Hayley Emerson

J.P. McElyea

James Freeman

Joey Scully

Jordana Mishory

Lexcia Carr

Lore Leupold

Marjanna Smith

Niv Elis

Shawn Logue

TEAM THREE

Coach: Katie O’Donnell

Accompanists: Mike O’Connor and Ryan Campbell

Catherine Mullins

Christina Ferrari

Colin McIntyre

Daniel Barrera

James Nugent

Jamie Lantinen

Jonah Gordon

Keegan Cassady

Madison Schneider

Maria Getahun

Mikki Smith

Taylor Emerson

Image: Katie O’Donnell pictured here while performing in WIT’s 2024 improvised Western Tumleweed! which featured improvised songs and lyrics.