About Us

We are a family

Stage Notes Academy of Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, born out of a love for theater and for the diverse group of people who come together to create amazing art! Our goal is to offer artistic training and opportunities for people of all ages, races, and economic levels to encourage inclusion, compassion, and a sense of community!

The arts offer life long skills that help develop self awareness, teamwork, and confidence that demonstrate competence and proficiency in all walks of life.

We believe participation in the arts is a life changing experience that benefit both individuals and the community.

Our Story

When we began working together on shows at Henderson County Performing Arts Center, we were just a group of people who enjoyed performance. As we continued to get to know each other we realized we all had a passion for teaching theater arts as well. So we decided to create a place where people of all ages could come learn, improve and demonstrate their creative talents.

Each of us brings unique experiences and training to the group, and together we offer a wide variety of classes, workshops, intensives, and shows!

Meet The Team

Karen Holmes

Owner / Instructor / Director

Karen has 30+ years experience working with children in education, extra curricular activities, and arts related capacities.

She has 20+ years experience with theatre related skills such as acting, singing, dancing, choreographing, costume design, set design, writing, and directing. Her whole family is involved in her artist ventures! Her husband helps build sets and props and anything she dreams up, her oldest son helps (from afar) with tech expertise, and her youngest son (and future daughter in law) are amazing performers who have brought their talents to the HCPAC stage many times here in Athens!

Having recently choreographed several shows and directed two wildly successful shows at HCPAC, Karen is excited to bring even more opportunities to our community for people of all ages to explore the performing arts.

Ami Lorance

Instructor / Director / Acting Coach

Ami is a "Jack of all trades" of the theater! She truly does it all; from acting in shows to directing them, Ami has talent and knowledge to share! With a BA in Theater from UNT, and experience teaching high school theater, it goes without saying that Ami is an amazing instructor as well. She loves working with students of all ages, introducing them to theater, or honing their talents and skills! Ami is as creative as she is talented and she encourages her students to stretch and challenge themselves. She is married to her biggest fan, Jacob, who is as creative and talented with tools as she is with art! Jacob helps create amazing sets and special effects for her shows. Some of her favorite roles have been: Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Annie in The Play That Goes Wrong, Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, to name a few

Troy Martin

Instructor / Director / Acting Coach

With over 25 years in theater, Troy has experienced every aspect of theater from teaching, acting, writing, and directing. He works closely in marketing as well with social media and development of theaters. Troy is an experiences actor, having played many leading roles in plays and musicals over the years in Oklahoma and Texas. Recently, he has returned to the local HCPAC theater, where he has starred as Chris Bean in The Play That Goes Wrong, starred as Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls, choreographed several numbers in Guys and Dolls, and served as Acting Coach for Footloose the Musical. He directed and did the marketing for Clue. Troy desires to bring the joy of theater to those in the community whether it be through teaching, acting, directing, or marketing.

Daniel Holmes

Instructor / Vocal Coach

Daniel has been performing since he was three years old. He has performed in many productions in church, school, college, and at the HCPAC theater. He has been teaching music in various forms for several years and LOVES teaching others about music and it's powerful influence on people and society. Daniel is currently studying Vocal Music Education with the School of Music at UT Tyler. He also plays percussion, guitar, ukulele, piano, and various odd instruments he finds in random places, (he collects strange and interesting musical instruments). Daniel is engaged to his leading lady, Sariah Joblin and loves doing shows with her. His favorite musicals are Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Les Mis, Catch Me If You Can, Little Shop of Horrors, Guys and Dolls, to name a few!