Board of Directors

Leigh Ann owns Oh My Darling in downtown Syracuse.  She previously owned and operated a women’s boutique store, Lee Lee’s Forest, at the South Street Seaport in New York City, which was named the Best Kept Secret in the Financial District by AM New York. Leigh Ann toured with Feld Entertainment “Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show” for 3 years performing in over 16 countries. She professionally trained in Modern Dance in Chicago at Columbia, Thodos Dance, Deeply Rooted and Visceral. Benz was a company member with Mordine & Co. She has appeared in stage performances in Syracuse, including The Nutcracker and Cinderella as Cinderella’s stepsister. She is excited to see CNYB grow and flourish in this amazing community!

Marisa is owner and artistic director of Guzmán’s Dance Studio in Syracuse. She is a lifetime member of the CNY dance community. She specializes in Flamenco and is one of the only teachers of this dance style in Upstate New York. She also teaches jazz, creative movement, ballet, modern and is trained in Stott Pilates. She is an award-winning choreographer whose credits include the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company, Syracuse Opera, Syracuse Symphony, Fayetteville-Manlius High School musicals, Town of Manlius summer shows and most recently a SALT award winner for her choreography in CNY Playhouses’ “Adams Family.” She has performed with Alegre Flamenco throughout the Upstate Region. She recently got her certification to teach Rhythm Works Integrative Dance classes for children with special needs.

Amy Lamberto

Director

Amy is the Chief Financial Officer and Director of Human Resources at the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley in Rome, NY since 2019,  She previously worked as a Staff Accountant at the Stanley Theater in Utica, N.Y. Amy served on the board of the Mohawk Valley Ballet from 2008-2021, where she served as the chair of finance. During her tenure on the board for five years, she also co-chaired and held the Sugar Plum Tea, which was the largest annual fundraiser for the ballet. Amy also previously served on the board of the Utica Symphony Orchestra.

Brett is Director of the Majestic Theater at Gettysburg College and former Curatorial Director of Live Arts with over ten years of experience with The Santa Fe Opera, Peak Performances, and Live Arts at the Morris Museum. Brett conceived the contemporary arts series, Live Arts at the Morris Museum to foster artistic creation across multiple genres; the series has presented seven world premieres since its launch in 2019. During the summer of 2020, Brett launched Jazz on the Back Deck and Lot of Strings Music Festival as safe, socially distanced ways to keep audiences and artists connected for live performance. Both of those series continue as mainstays of the organization’s annual programming and have included notable collaborations with Jazz at Lincoln Center, American Symphony Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, as well as many other Grammy-Award winning and nominated artists.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Ralph Solis was accepted to, and attended the leading school in commercial arts education, the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan, NY. There, he developed his artistic abilities in sketching, sculpting, fine art, photography, and graphic design. Solis was a competitive, sponsored Skateboarder for 13 years. Solis then moved to Syracuse, NY in 2018 to pursue a career in law enforcement with the Syracuse Police Department. Solis has completed certifications in leadership, communication, and conflict resolution tactics and skills, since joining the SPD. Since calling Syracuse home, Solis has taken on a passion and love for the city and has high hopes for what a quality arts scene can do to improve our city for all who reside in it.