Administration & Staff

Michelle Connelly, Executive Director

Michelle began her arts administrative career in 1997 as Program & Development Director for the Chenango County Council of the Arts, and by the time of her departure in 2017, had become a highly respected and distinguished member of the New York State arts field. Currently in her sixth year as Executive Director for the Earlville Opera House, she is influential in working to successfully realize the dual mission of the historic arts center to “enrich Central New York through the arts while preserving its historic building for future generations”. Michelle is currently a Community Board member of Colgate University’s Upstate Institute; serves on the Earlville Events Committee; Earlville For Earlville Committee; and is a founding member of Non-Profit Connections for Chenango County. She works with a dedicated passion for engaging people in the arts in order to foster social bonds which are an integral part of community building, life enrichment and economic development. Michelle was recently awarded a Cultural Impact Award for 2022 Arts Manager of the Year for Small Organizations by the Undergraduate and Graduate Arts Administrative Program of Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. Under her leadership, and during the Earlville Opera House’s special 50th Anniversary milestone year, the organization received the 2022 Non-Profit Agency of the Year Award by Commerce Chenango.

Victoria Kappel, Program Director for Arts in the Community Grants

Victoria Calvert Kappel was most recently Executive Director of Arts at the Palace in Hamilton, NY.  During her four year tenure she developed new and creative programming including Summer Youth Theater Workshops and From Script to Stage, a new play development residency.

Prior to that, she was Executive Director of the Chenango Arts Council for 15 years where she led the Council’s growth to a regional cultural organization, serving three counties.

A native of Indiana, Kappel held Executive Director positions in Indianapolis and Chicago, working with and developing community-based cultural organizations and educational theater companies.  She is a member of Actors Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA.

BEN GORTON, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Ben was bit by the performing bug back in the fifth grade when he helped MC his elementary school’s talent show in Millard Nebraska. More accurately he wasn’t bitten then, but it cemented a love and passion. Ben’s family is from the central New York area, where he has lived since the summer of 2005. Growing up, he participated in the Earlville Opera House’s summer circus camp as well as a few Sherburne Music Theater Society performances. This culminated in him winning the “Best Actor” award from the 2023 TANYS (Theater Assocation of New York State) Festival in SMTS’ production of 26 Pebbles. Ben attended Berea College where he earned his Bachelor’s degree, he majored in Film and Media Production and minored in Theatre.

Community involvement has been a passion of Ben’s during his youth and that continues in his adult life. From being an Eagle Scout with Troop 18 in Cazenovia NY, to being an AmeriCorps VISTA intern at Berea College, Ben has been part of livestream video crews for national Scouting events to being a videographer with the Chenango County Historical Society’s work with the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street’s Spark! Places of Innovation. He currently volunteers at Sherburne-Earlville Central Schools, having been a coach an Odyssey of the Mind Team as well as a stage manager for the Drama Club.

When Ben is not on stage or volunteering in the community, he is dabbling in his many hobbies. He is enjoyer of tabletop role playing games, loves to draw and paint, cooking and baking, writing and reading, and going to the gym. How does he fit all of those hobbies into his everyday life? That’s a question he asks himself constantly, and eventually he may find a way.

volunteers

We want to thank the volunteers that contributed over 3000 volunteer hours to help us each year in our mission in the arts!!  We welcome volunteers to help out with special projects, performances or with the annual Holiday Show and Sale!  We also welcome teens who need to fulfill their community service requirements!  EOH could not do all that we do on behalf of our community without the help of our volunteers.  Please call the EOH office (315-691-3550) to find out about volunteer opportunities!  Thanks for your help!