Cecilia Stair Named New Executive Director

Community School of the Arts warmly welcomes Cecilia Stair as our new Executive Director! We are thrilled to have her join and lead our team effective July 1. Welcome Cecilia!!!

Cecilia Stair is board-certified music therapist, instrumentalist, music instructor, songwriter, and community arts leader based in Knoxville, Tennessee. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in cello performance at the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor’s Equivalency Degree and Master of Music Degree in Music Therapy at the University of Kentucky. Following a clinical internship with UK Healthcare, she became board-certified as a music therapist and also became NICU and Orff Level 1 certified. Cecilia’s clinical work has supported students in special education settings, individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and other chronic health conditions, as well as individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders in both clinical and community settings. She has partnered with non-profits, community organizers, healthcare providers, and educators to develop projects that explore connections between music, wellness, and community health.

As a performer, Cecilia has performed with a wide range of artists including the Lonetones, RB Morris, Senora May, Warren Byrom, Lucette, William Tyler, Jon Whitlock, Peter Gregson, and Trampled by Turtles. She is particularly passionate about collaborating with innovative Appalachian musicians. She was a contributing artist for Tyler Childers’ Grammy-nominated album, Long Violent History. Additionally, she writes, records, and produces original music.

For over 15 years, Cecilia served as a private music instructor, including positions at Community School of the Arts in Knoxville, Tennessee and Central Music Academy in Lexington, Kentucky. She produced and hosted the “Pass the Mic: Creating a Stage for Change” podcast for the Tennessee Theatre and recently served as project supervisor for composer Lisa Bielawa’s Knoxville Broadcast, a Big Ears production that brought together 14 ensembles and approximately 500 musicians of all ages for a large-scale, site-specific performance at World’s Fair Park. She was named “40 under 40” by Knox News in 2024.

At the heart of Cecilia’s work is a commitment to expanding access, opportunity, and equity in the arts. She is honored to serve as the next Executive Director of Community School of the Arts.