2026 Faculty

Kansas City, Missouri

DeeAnna Hiett, a Texas native, began her professional career with Ailey II after receiving a full merit scholarship to The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. She later became a charter member of the Jamison Project under Judith Jamison and went on to perform with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Her performing career includes work with Ballet Hysell, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Quixotic, and the Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Theater, where she was also co-artistic director. She has been featured as a guest artist with companies such as Kansas City Ballet and has performed and choreographed in numerous operas and commercial venues. Notably, she appeared at Career Transitions for Dancers’ 22nd Anniversary Jubilee at New York’s City Center. Her choreography has been showcased nationally, including her work "Without a Word," performed at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She is a recipient of the Generative Performing Artist Award from the Charlotte Street Foundation. Ms. Hiett currently serves as Professor and Chair of Dance at UMKC Conservatory.

New York, New York

Arthur received her B.F.A. in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2007, and an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Art in 2009. Recent residencies and fellowships include Project for Empty Space AIR Program, Ucross Foundation Residency, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Residency, Pocoapoco Residency, MassMoca Artist Residency, and The Alma B. C. Schapiro Residency. She is the recipient of The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation Fellowship, the Anne Critz Fellowship, The Ald Held Fellowship at the American Academy of Rome, the Vermont Studio Center’s Pollock-Krasner Foundation Fellowship, The New York Foundation for the Arts Queens Art Fund: New Work Grant, The Newark Creative Catalyst Grant and the For The Artist Grant. Recently her work has been featured in New American Paintings Northeast publications #164 and #170. Arthur is currently based in New York City, where she also teaches at Columbia University.

daphnearthur.com

Denton, Texas

Raquel Samayoa is a versatile and accomplished trumpet soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer, and educator. Dr. Samayoa is Principal Trumpet of the Richardson Symphony Orchestra (TX) and performs regularly with the Dallas Chamber Symphony. Samayoa is also a Yamaha Performing Artist and a Denis Wick Artist and Clinician. Dr. Samayoa is a founding member of the award-winning Lantana Trio and was a core member of Seraph Brass from 2016 to 2025. Samayoa currently serves as Associate Professor of Trumpet, Co-Director of the UNT Brass Band, and Associate Chair of Instrumental Studies at the University of North Texas College of Music. 

solotromba.com