Emmanuel Acosta is a lyric tenor, voice teacher and coach based in Princeton, NJ. Mr.

Acosta received a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College.

Mr. Acosta began his main stage career with the Princeton Festival, with whom he had the

opportunity of performing the works of Wagner, Gershwin, Mozart, Britten, Puccini, and

Adams. Mr. Acosta has had the pleasure of performing with Boheme Opera New Jersey,

making his main stage debut as Normanno in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Also, with

Boheme Opera New Jersey, he has performed the works of Bizet, Rossini, Mascagni, and

Leoncavallo. Mr. Acosta featured in Boheme Opera NJ’s production of Verdi’s Aïda as the

Messenger, where he received acclaim for his “appealing lyric tenor voice.” Most recently,

Mr. Acosta had the pleasure to perform Verdi’s Rigoletto in the role of Matteo Borsa at Boheme

Opera NJ’s grand return to the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial.

Taniel Bennett is a native of Trenton, New Jersey and currently resides in Ewing, New Jersey.

She has over 15 passionate years of experience in the arts. She led the arts ministry for

her local church, the Salvation Army, Youth Turn, and other organizations throughout the

community. Performances under her leadership included one woman shows, original musicals,

puppeteering, and pantomime. She is also current Board Member of Ewing Arts Commission.

Her years of experience in the arts and in marketing landed her a job as Marketing Director for

Open Arts Performing Arts Center in Bordentown, New Jersey. Shortly after, she was appointed

Executive Director and played an integral part in forming the organization into a 501c3. Under

her leadership at Open Arts PAC, several Broadway Jr. shows have been produced in addition to

acting and vocal workshops.

Central Jersey Performing Arts Academy was established on February 4, 2022. The academy

currently operates out of Ewing, NJ. Taniel has a mission to reach the youth in and around

her hometown through the arts. Her vision is to make acting and vocal lessons affordable for

everyone. She is confident that her efforts will continue to impact this generation of youth. The

workshops at CJPA not only focus on acting and voice,but also focus on team building, self-

esteem, and public speaking.

When asked why she has such a passion for the arts, these were her words, “I remember being

in a school play in the 5th grade. I did so well the principal (Mr. Hodges) came to my class to

tell me how much he loved my performance and that I could be a star one day. Raised by my

grandmother with my 2 brothers, there was no way I could pursue lessons to continue the

pathway. Besides that, I didn’t know of any schools of the arts in our community. How many

other talented youths that are out there that could use Mr. Hodges and pathway to success in

the arts.”

Tonya D. Treadwell is a dynamic and poised individual trained in a wide range of performance

and acting techniques. Ms. Treadwell is a trained in actress, singer, dancer, and producer.

Tonya has worked with Pinnworth Productions, where she performed as Hattie in Cole

Porter’s Kiss Me Kate, and in David Bryan’s Memphis. Ms. Treadwell has also appeared in

Galt MacDermot’s Hair as Dionne, Robert B. Nemiroff’s To Be Young, Gifted and Black as

Mama, and Adrienne Kennedy’s Funnyhouse of a Negro as the Duchess of Hapsburg at the

Mercer County Community College. Among Ms. Treadwell’s directorial works is A Little Bit of

Everything in which she also choreographed and produced.

Tonya is a graduate of Thomas Edison State University, where she earned a dual degree as

a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, and Theater and Performing Arts. Ms. Treadwell also

attended Mercer County Community College, completing her A.F.A. in Theater and Performing

Arts.