Meet the Team at Bedford Youth Performing Company
Our faculty members are passionate about teaching. All were chosen based on technical expertise and a strong desire and ability to teach students of all ages and skill levels. The BYPC faculty members also bring real-world knowledge and experience to their lessons and classes. They communicate practical skills and performance norms to students for the purpose of developing informed emerging artists. And most importantly, our BYPC faculty members inspire and encourage students to achieve their personal best and impart an appreciation for the arts that benefits students for a lifetime.
Browse this page to get to know all of the outstanding faculty who are dedicated to teaching music, dance, and theatre at our Bedford, NH performing arts school.
Ann Davison
BYPC Director
Theatre, Preschool
Ann Davison, with husband Jeff, co-founded BYPC in 1996. She holds a B.A. in education and psychology from Boston College, pursued graduate studies in mass communications at Boston University, and completed a graduate degree in integrated art curriculum at Lesley University in May of 2015. She has trained at Broadway Teacher's Workshop, College Concierge, Leap 'N Learn, Leading Edge Dance, Musikgarten, Project Zero Institute at Harvard University, and Successful Studio Strategies. Ann has produced summer stock theatre as well as enrichment and remedial productions for school districts in Massachusetts, Florida and New Hampshire. She has also directed hundreds of students many of whom have made it into prestigious universities and several of whom have made it into summer stock, regional theatre, and Broadway performances.
Click here to read a personal message from Ann Davison.
Victoria Alvarado
Kindermusik Certified, Leap N Learn Certified, Private Piano, Private Voice, Group Voice, Performance, Dance, Acting and Zumba Instructor
Production Director
Circle of Giving
Victoria Alvarado was a student of BYPC for almost 10 years, participating in dance, voice and performance training classes and countless productions. As a proud ambassador of BYPC's Circle of Giving Program, Victoria shared her gifts and brought the arts to children and adults who might not otherwise have had the opportunity. After finishing her studies in Early Childhood Education and Theatre for Youth at College of Charleston she was welcomed as a member of the BYPC staff in 2015.
Victoria is certified as a Leap N Learn Instructor and has participated in The Vocal Pedagogy Professional Workshop at Boston Conservatory, The Broadway Teachers Workshop, The Broadway Teachers Workshop Dance Intensive, Kindermusik International, Zumba, Zumba Kids and Zumba Kids Jr.
Victoria has also been an integral part of BYPC’s partnership with Goffstown High School as the Theatre Club Director and outside expert for the Theatre Department.
Amber-Rose Couture
Kindermusik Certified, Preschool, Performance, Group Voice, acting
Amber-Rose Couture is a musician and early-childhood specialist. She has studied violin, piano, voice, theatre and classical music and has worked in early childhood care for over 10 years. She attended the University of New Hampshire where she participated in the UNH Acapella Group and obtained a Bachelor Degree in American Sign Language.
Amber-Rose has attained several national titles including Vocalist of the Year and Rising Star Entertainer for North American Country Music Association International (NACMAI), Entertainer and Vocalist of the Year for Northeast Invitational Country Showdown (NEICS) and Entertainer and Vocalist of the Year for New Hampshire Country Music Association (NHCMA) for 5 years running.
David Couture
Assistant Music Director, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele and Percussion Instructor, and Ensemble Director
David Couture started taking music lessons at age 12. He trained at Berklee College of Music and at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Band Director Academy, as well as learned through lessons and clinics with prominent teachers and musicians. David has 25 years of teaching experience on guitar, bass guitar, drums, and small group ensembles. He specializes in developing each students' individual lesson style weaving together traditional music lessons with modern approaches using Finale music programs and Protools recording software.
Mary lou Couture
kindergarten and preschool Teacher, and Outdoor Curriculum Specialist
Marylou Couture joined the staff of BYPC in 2001. She received an associate degree from the University of New Hampshire Manchester. Mary has studied early childhood education in several intensive courses, focusing on developmentally appropriate practices, curriculum models, math curriculums and environmental education, and she continues to pursue ongoing professional development by taking workshops throughout the school year. Mary is passionate about teaching all Creative Kids students science, technology, engineering and math. She also teaches special gardening projects and raises the children's awareness of local wildlife.
Lauren Craven
piano and voice instructor
Lauren is an elementary music and band teacher at New Boston Central School. She currently lives in Bedford. Lauren attended UNH where she received her Bachelors in Music and a Masters in Education. She grew up playing piano, clarinet, singing, and performing with various theatre companies in the state. She is so excited to join the BYPC team and work alongside such incredible teachers and students!
Michael Crutcher
Guitar Instructor
Mike Crutcher’s career shows that he is a quintessential guitarist and teacher. His 20+ year career includes training at Berklee College of Music and University of Massachusetts Lowell, as well as collaborations with diverse artists such as Soul City, Dave Anthony Orchestra, The Mike Fritz Band, Flipside, Unity, Soul Inspiration, Gary And The Gang, Gumbo Diablo, Mojo Mambo, and his own New Orleans funk tribute project Trick Bag. Mike continues to work around the New England area freelance, playing funk, blues, reggae, latin, rock, and jazz styles.
Jeff Davison
Music Director, Piano & Voice Instructor
Jeff Davison, with wife Ann, co-founded BYPC in 1996. A lifelong pianist, he studied at New England Conservatory, Music School at Rivers (Rivers School Conservatory), Syracuse University, Berklee College of Music, and is a former student of David Beyer, George Pappastavrou, Neil Olmstead, Bill Davies, and is fortunate to have been one of the last students of the renowned Dorothy Taubman in New York. He has attended Jazz at Lincoln Center's Band Director Academy, Taubman Institute at Julliard, Piano Teachers Institute at Berklee, and Boston Conservatory Vocal Pedagogy Institute. Jeff has taught piano and voice for 40 years; many of his students have pursued professional music careers. Since age 14, he has broad professional experience performing as a solo pianist, and as keyboardist and vocalist with rock, jazz and pop music groups on stage and in the recording studio, and over 40 years experience as music director for community and youth musical theatre productions. He has recorded with Grammy Award nominated singer-songwriter Linda Chorney, is featured on the latest recording from the blue-grass band Damn Tall Buildings, and was a member of the reggae band Dell Smart & Exit/In which opened for Jimmy Buffett, performed with blues great, Ronnie Earl, and released two CDs, Sure ‘Ya Right! and Party Time. In 2020, Jeff was spotlighted by internationally-renowned piano pedagogue Tim Topham for his and BYPC’s work developing unique online programs for music and performing arts education.
Jessica adams
Dance Instructor and Choreographer
Jessica Davison, daughter of Jeff and Ann, received her BFA in dance from Boston Conservatory and has trained at Rock School of Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, STEPS, Broadway Dance Center, College Concierge, Leap 'N Learn, and is an alumni of BYPC. Jessica also trained with Mary Illes and Sara Goldstein for voice and with Peter Carey and Sarah Skinner for acting, and is a Leap 'N Learn certified teacher. As a member of the Rockettes, Jessica appeared in seven seasons of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, one season at the Grand Ole Opry, and one season in the New York Spectacular choreographed by Mia Michaels. She has also appeared on the Tony Awards, America's Got Talent, the Today Show, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC.
Maryrose Donohue
Preschool Director and Teacher
Maryrose Donohue received an associate degree in early childhood education from Hesser College, and she has been teaching and caring for young children since 1988. She operated her own licensed child care program for 11 years prior to joining BYPC in 2000. Maryrose has a special interest in art, puppetry, and music. In addition to teaching in and directing the Creative Kids Preschool, Maryrose is an advisor and teacher in the Circle of Giving program.
Allyson Kachanian
Ballet, Jazz, Tap, lyrical, Acro, and Leap 'N Learn Instructor
Allyson Yennaco is a choreographer and dance educator with more than 18 years of teaching experience in all major forms of dance. Dancing since age three, she began assisting classes at 12 and teaching at 16. After graduating high school, she moved to NYC to train with industry professionals at the Broadway Dance Center and studied the Zena Rommett Floor Barre Technique for corrective body alignment and injury prevention at Broadway Dance Center and at STEPS on Broadway. Allyson is most influenced by her modern training under artists from the former Dance Space Center in SoHo (currently known as Dance New Amsterdam) where she also studied anatomy and kinesthetic body awareness.
Allyson successfully owned and operated Artistic Ballet and Creative Dance in Hampstead, NH for 8 years before marrying her husband and raising their two daughters. She is currently on staff at Phantom Gymnastics in Hampstead, NH where she coaches dance and choreographs competitive floor routines for NH State Champion gymnasts training in USAG Junior Olympic Program. Allyson is a graduate of the Dance Teachers Club of Boston Dance Education Training Course, a member of American Alliance and New Hampshire Alliance for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD and NHAHPERD), and the National Dance Association (NDA). She was certified in Leap 'N Learn in 2012. Allyson continues her own dance training by attending classes in NY and Boston, as well as dance conventions and professional educator seminars across the Northeast. Her creative ideas and choreographic style have earned numerous gold medals, overall high score awards, and special judges awards.
Michael Murphy
Piano Instructor
Michael Murphy studied piano for 10 years with Patrick Hebert at Highland Piano Studios. For six years, he served as pianist at the Trinity Full Gospel Church, and he has provided accompaniment and music arrangements for holiday and special celebrations at schools in southern New Hampshire.