Ellen Finks

Patron of the Arts

After earning degrees in Flute Performance from the Pennsylvania State University and Northwestern University, Ellen began her professional performing career in Mexico (where she lived for 10 sunny years), playing in orchestras in Guadalajara and Mexico City. Upon returning to the U.S., Ellen embarked on a career in Performing Arts Administration at Music at Gretna and Haverford College.

In 1987, she was hired by Kutztown University to be Director of Cultural Affairs — to create a world-class performing arts series — and also as Assistant Professor of Music. During her 21-year tenure as director of what is now KU Presents, she established a weekend children’s series, and a community outreach program, in addition to the evening performance series. Until her retirement, Ellen also continued her music-faculty teaching schedule at KU and her performances as a professional flutist.

Since her retirement (officially in 2008, unofficially in 2009), Ellen has become an avid student of the visual arts, regularly attending art classes and workshops. Her work has been exhibited locally and has won awards. Always intrigued by foreign cultures, Ellen has had the opportunity to satisfy her travel bug with adventures to many countries around the world.

Richard Wells

Patron of the Arts

Richard G. Wells was born in Knauertown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Warwick High School. Mr. Wells received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from West Chester State College and his Master of Arts in Music Education from Columbia University. Mr. Wells taught for three years in the Kutztown Area Schools and for seven years in the Owen J. Roberts School system, where he was instrumental in organizing the entire music program. Also, he was Director of the Bands at the high school.

Mr. Wells came to Kutztown University in 1968 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Music. He directed the Marching, Concert, and Jazz Bands, as well as the Instrumental Ensembles. He organized the jazz program in 1968. Mr. Wells taught twenty-nine years before retiring in 1997. Mr. Wells influenced scores of graduates to aspire to excellence in music performance and remain loyal to the ideals and benefits of music and education. Many students continued their association with the University and Department of Music long after graduation because of experiences in classes and performance organizations led by Mr. Wells.

Today, Mr. Wells is an active alumnus and director of the Kutztown University Alumni Jazz Band. Mr. Wells is co-founder and co-owner with his brother, James, of the Festivals of Music, Music in the Park, and the World Travel Corporations. He is married to Elizabeth J. Wells and resides in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

Willis M. Rapp

Performing Arts Fellow

Willis M. Rapp holds the Bachelor of Science and Master of Music Degrees in Music Education from West Chester University, the Diploma of Fine Arts in Conducting from the University of Calgary, and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the Catholic University of America. Dr. Rapp has served on the faculty of Millersville University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Iowa State University, and Kutztown University, where he retired in 2013 with the distinction of Professor Emeritus.

As an arranger, composer, and author, Dr. Rapp has over 500 publications to his credit. Since 2000, Dr. Rapp has served as conductor of the Reading Pops Orchestra; he has guest conducted and appeared as a clinician in twenty-eight states and three provinces in Canada.

In 2007 he was the recipient of the Kutztown University Faculty Research Award. In Fall 2009, he was honored with the Arthur and Isabel Wiesenberger Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, making him the first faculty member in the history of the university to be honored with both awards. In November 2018, Dr. Rapp was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in Education by the Percussive Arts Society.

Eric Schaeffer

Performing Arts Fellow

Eric Schaeffer was the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Signature Theatre for the past 30 years. Founded in 1989, Signature grew into a major force in the American Theatre. Under his leadership, Signature Theatre was honored with the 2009 Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theater in America.

On Broadway, Schaeffer directed Gigi, the critically acclaimed Follies as well as the Tony Award®-winning Million Dollar Quartet, Glory Days and Putting It Together starring Carol Burnett. His West End credits include Million Dollar Quartet, The Witches of Eastwick and Roy Orbison: In Dreams. He has directed Sweeney Todd (2017 & 2019) and Titanic in Seoul, South Korea.

Schaeffer – who is known for his direction of Sondheim musicals having directed over 30 productions of his musicals worldwide – served as the Artistic Director of the acclaimed Sondheim Celebration at the Kennedy Center in 2002 as well as directing its productions of Sunday in the Park with George and Passion. He is currently working on the film LIGHT YEARS and developing three new productions for Seoul, South Korea.

Andrew M. Kish III

Visual Arts Fellow

Born in 1980, Andrew Kish III has emerged as one of the premier watercolor painters of his generation after receiving his B.F.A. from Kutztown University. His paintings explore social subjects ranging from politics to spirituality and dive deeply into the contemporary human experience. His unique ability to blend thought-provoking concepts with powerful compositions is evolving the landscape of contemporary watercolor. Kish’s work deals with the morality of social paradigms and challenges the viewer with rich provocative and metaphoric imagery.

Kish’s paintings have been the subject of numerous exhibitions including the Shanghai Zhujiajiao Intl. Watercolor Biennial and the World Watercolor Exhibit, in Narbonne, France. His work is represented in collections worldwide including the Springfield Art Museum in Springfield, MO, the Quanhua Art Museum Zhujiajiao, and the prestigious Tullman Collection in Chicago.

Kish’s paintings have been featured in multiple publications including The Art of Watercolor, Watercolor Artist, Watercolor Magazine, and Professional Artist Magazine . His work has received numerous awards from national and international exhibitions including the prestigious Award of Excellence in the Shanghai Zhujiajiao Intl. Watercolor Biennial and the A.J. Casson Medal in the Open Water Exhibit in Alberta, Canada. Kish works and resides in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania with his wife and children.

Karen TenEyck

Visual Arts Fellow

Karen is originally from the East Coast, where she studied Communication Design. After graduation, she worked as a graphic designer at several Philadelphia firms before going to study theatrical production design at the Yale School of Drama.

After moving to New York in 1992, she designed over 65 sets for many of the nation's top theatres including Manhattan Theatre Club, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Austin Lyric Opera, and South Coast Rep. She received an American Theatre Wing award for her 3D projections for Mabou Mines' "An Epidog" and two Drama Logue awards for other work in California. Her design for Los Angeles Opera's "On Gold Mountain" was in an exhibit at the Autry Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. In 2000 she moved to Los Angeles where she has designed graphics for over 50 movies including "Water for Elephants", "Alice Through the Looking Glass", "Ad Astra", "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" and Disney's new "Pinocchio". She has been a member of two Oscar-winning design teams -- Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" and Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln". She also worked on the Emmy-winning design team of Steven Soderbergh's "Behind the Candelabra”. She is a member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences.