The Songbook Academy® Information Session

Meet the Panelists

Renée la Schiazza (she/her): Director of Programs

Renée La Schiazza joined the Great American Songbook Foundation in February 2018. She was no stranger to the Great American Songbook Foundation, as she was a 2012 Songbook Academy Alum and interned for the organization in 2013.  Renée holds a B.F.A. in Music Theatre and a B.A. in Arts Administration from Elon University.  She is an accomplished performing artist with experience as a professional actress, associate director/music director and choreographer at regional theaters and performance venues throughout the country.  Prior to joining the Songbook Foundation staff, Renée worked at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, in Marketing and Development.

Since joining the Songbook Foundation, Renée's main focus has been to grow the organization's two premier programs, the Songbook Academy and Perfect Harmony. 

Melanie Shore: Music Director

Melanie Shore is an accomplished performer, sought-after studio musician and award-winning composer and arranger who has performed with artists including Chuck Berry, Il Divo, Lea Salonga, David Archuleta, Debby Boone, Restless Heart and Collin Raye. She has worked on many national Broadway tours, most recently as associate music director/conductor for the first U.S. national tour of Matilda the Musical. She is an associate professor of jazz piano at Snow College, University of Utah and Utah Valley University.

Mary Michael Patterson: Vocal Coach

Mary Michael Patterson is an Atlanta-based performer, director/choreographer and educator who has been seen on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera (Christine Daaé), Anything Goes (Hope) and the First National Tour of Love Never Dies (Meg Giry). She has been featured in concert work at Lincoln Center and as a lead vocalist with the American Pops Orchestra. An accomplished director on stages from The Green Room 42 to Arena Stage, she also served as Assistant to the Supervisor on Broadway (The Phantom of the Opera). www.marymichaelpatterson.com

Madeleine Burnett-Caballero: 2021 - 2023 Alumna

Madeleine Burnett-Caballero has had a passion for singing and acting since childhood. She has garnered awards at local and national levels, including first place at the Talent America finals in NYC. She honed her skills through prestigious programs such as The Juilliard School Summer Performing Arts Camp, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the Salzburg Festival & Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Camp. In 2020, she trained with The Performing Arts Project and the Music Theater Academy. Notably, she participated in The Juilliard School Winter Festival and a Master Class with Taylor Louderman. She has been selected three times as one of The Songbook Academy's top 40 young artists. With diverse experiences including original productions and roles like Erzulie in Once on This Island Junior, Madeleine recently portrayed Cindy Lou in The Marvelous Wonderettes '58.

Seth Jacobsen: 2022 - 2023 Alumnus

Seth Jacobsen is a freshman at Indiana University majoring in Musical Theatre in the BFA program. Seth has always had a passion for the arts and has consistently been performing since the age of five. Not only does Seth love being on stage, but he also loves playing piano, guitar, and bass and occasionally writes his own music.