Harford County Cultural Arts Board was founded in 1973, and over fifty years has worked to
“Preserve, Enhance, and Promote the Culture of Harford County, Maryland."
“Preserve, Enhance, and Promote the Culture of Harford County, Maryland."
As the official county arts agency, Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board is the primary local resource for arts organizations, independent artists, and the audiences of Harford County, Maryland. The government-appointed board provides grant opportunities, advocacy and administrative support; sponsors workshops, events, and promotional opportunities; and encourages and invests in the advancement of the arts for the community.
Current Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board Members
Chuck Bowden, Chair, has taught English, Drama and Technology Education at Bel Air High School for over 25 years. A graduate of West Virginia University with a BFA in Theatre and the College of Notre Dame of Maryland with a Masters in Education, Chuck worked with the theatre program at Bel Air for over 25 years. Chuck has also served as the Technical Director and Scenic Designer at the school. As a musician, he has participated in the pit bands for the musicals since 1994. For 12 years, he organized the North East Theatre Festival, a regional gathering of drama students, colleges and professionals from the Baltimore area. He is the proud owner of Starlight Theatricals, a private acting studio and educational production company in Whiteford, MD. Chuck has also served as an adjunct faculty member of the Theatre Department at Harford Community College, a Board member of the Scottfield Theatre Company and has worked as a Technical Director and Designer for several community theatres around the region.
Gigi Devanney, Vice Chair, has been a resident of Harford County for more than 25 years. Her love of the arts began in her childhood in central Florida. Her love of music (she studied instrumental music performance in college), expanded to include all the performing arts and she has served on the board of directors for Ballet Chesapeake for more than ten years. She knows the impact art has had on her life and wants others, particularly those in our area, to have opportunities for similar experiences. Professionally, her skills lie in communication and marketing in the education sector. She believes her relational approach guides her to ask thoughtful questions in an effort to better understand the environment, the critical issues, and the goals. Her expertise at looking at things both critically and holistically and considering the impact on all stakeholders helps her advise appropriate and effective strategies. Married to a Harford County native, Gigi has three grown children and loves spending time with family and friends.
Tatiana Levone', Secretary Tatiana Levoné was born and raised in San Bernardino, California, but has called Maryland home since 2006. She has resided in Edgewood, Harford County since 2015. Tatiana is a graduate of Howard University (Bachelor in Business Administration), Notre Dame of Maryland University (Masters in Leadership in Teaching), and Northcentral University (Educational Specialist in International Education). A career educator, Tatiana has worked in the field of special education with Baltimore City Public School System since 2007, currently serving as the IEP Chair at one of the largest high schools in the district. She is the mother of two daughters. Her eldest is a senior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Edgewood High School who will attend Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas as a 2028 graduate. Her youngest daughter is approaching her first birthday in June 2024. Tatiana is an avid arts enthusiast who greatly enjoys supporting a variety of Harford County’s diverse arts programs. A former hip hop dancer in college, Tatiana has coached cheerleading programs at several of the schools she worked at throughout Baltimore City. Tatiana enjoys writing poetry, reading, and the culinary arts. She also spends time enjoying the artistic beauty found in the numerous trails, parks, gardens, and nature locations throughout Harford County. In addition to her appointment to the Cultural Arts Advisory Board, Tatiana serves as an Election (since 2018) Judge and is on the Harford County Commission for Women (appointed 2023).
Cynthia Barbre was born and raised in Harford County. As a proud supporter and participant of the arts beginning in grade school through Harford Community College active in drawing, painting, photography, voice and later multiple decades of community theatre work. Moved to New York City to pursue theatre work studies in both production and performance. By day working at Josephthal and Co. and evenings and weekends as a working member of the Manhattan Theatre Ensemble. Additional studies included private voice lessons and workshops at HB Studios. Several years later with focus on family, she moved back to Maryland. She joined the Edwin Booth Theater Board of Directors managing a variety of productions and venues, including schools, restaurant dinner theaters, Tudor Hall, and the Bel Air Court House. After contractually working at the Bel Air Public Defenders Office, she was hired by Johns Hopkins University for the American Journal of Epidemiology as administrative assistant to the Editor-n-Chief, Dr. Moyses Szklo. Working as a liaison between our AJE board of editors, submitting authors, and Dr. Szklo, Processing peer reviewed manuscripts for monthly scientific journal publication. She regards this privileged association as a twenty-two year masterclass. After twenty-five years she retired from JHU. Cynthia is excited about the opportunity of supporting the arts at home in Harford County.
Wendy Ann Bohdel has served as the Concert Master of the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra for over 30 years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Towson University where she studied violin with Professor Zoltan Szabo. Ms. Bohdel’s graduate studies have taken her to Ithaca College in New York, Catholic University in Washington DC, and Bristol Intermont College in Virginia where she researched Suzuki Violin methods and studied with William Starr, nationally renowned Suzuki Master. Other graduate work included violin performance and music education studies at Towson University. She taught music in the Harford County Public Schools for eight years as an Orchestra Director and created an innovative curriculum based on the Suzuki Method. The program imparted advanced skills to youth, especially benefitting children with families unlikely to afford private music lessons, and enabled students to compete at a high level with those who had access to more formal training opportunities. Ms. Bohdel left the school system to focus her work in private music instruction, professional violin performance, and to pursue a new career path in nonprofits where she led as the chief operating officer at Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Institute for Integrative Health, and most recently as chief executive officer with Forward Visions Inc. Ms. Bohdel is a graduate of the Harford County Leadership Academy, the Maryland Advocacy Leadership Academy, and a recipient of the Women of Harford Award for her work in music and service to vulnerable children.
Erin Fulford has sung in choirs, taught piano, directed children's choirs and vocal ensembles, and served as a church musician in Harford County for nearly 20 years. She earned her Associate of Arts in Music at Harford Community College and her Bachelors of Science in Music at Towson University. She resides in Bel Air with her family. Currently, she homeschools her three children and plays music with her husband most Sundays for Forest Hill Presbyterian Church.
Jane Knapp is a lifelong resident of Harford County whose appreciation for music and the arts started in early childhood. Her mother studied music at Notre Dame of Maryland, and her uncle was a professional opera singer. Music is what brings her family together at every holiday and celebration. At 13 years old, she caught the theater bug and joined the Youth Technical Group of Harford Opera Company; a love of set building, lighting and props continued throughout high school and college. During college summers, Jane taught art classes for Harford County Parks and Recreation. In her therapy practice as, a licensed social worker, she has had a focus on Grief Therapy for children and adults and has found the use of art and music to be an amazing tool for healing. Throughout adulthood she has remained committed to ensuring that the lives of her children and grandchildren are enriched by the arts, taking an active role in their school drama productions and attending many choral and instrumental concerts. Jane holds the strong belief that art is an integral part of the growth and development of children, and she is honored by the opportunity to serve on this council. May all within our community have the opportunity to participate in the arts!
Susan Nicolaides Susan’s passion for drawing, painting, and design has been the cornerstone of her diverse career. With a BS in Fine Arts from the University of Maryland and advanced studies in costume design, she embarked on a life-long career in arts administration. As Director of Cultural Events and Performing Arts at Harford Community College, she became a tireless advocate of the arts in the community. For three decades, Susan coordinated arts programming and performances, supervised dance and theater companies, designed costumes, and expanded marketing goals. Post-retirement in 2019, she ventured into children’s book illustration, collaborating with a grief therapist. Committed to the cultural advancement of Harford County, Susan continues her work with the Harford County Cultural Arts Board to promote and preserve the arts.
Susan Joines Sneddon holds a BA Dance degree from Towson University along with an MA Dance degree from George Washington University. Ms. Joines Sneddon studied classical ballet at both Peabody Institute and Baltimore Ballet. After studying and performing in New York, Boston, and Washington DC, Susan founded Dancemoves Studio of Dance in 1983, a private dance studio with an enrollment of approximately 300 students. While living in New York she spent time working in the Development Department of City Center Theatre in New York. In 1999, Ms. Joines Sneddon founded the Common Ground Dance Company and served as Artistic Director for many years. Susan served three years as a panelist with the Maryland States Art Council, and she has been on the dance faculty of such prestigious dance programs as Towson University, George Washington University and Harford Community College. She also served as a dance specialist for Cecil County public school system for two years, in addition to being a faculty member at Notre Dame Preparatory in Towson, MD. Although selling her dance studio in 2017, she continues to teach and work administratively for the new owner, Centre Pointe Performing Arts, in White Marsh, MD. Susan loves teaching ballet and modern to the younger students attending Centre Pointe. Susan is thrilled with her recent appointment to the Harford County Cultural Arts Board and looks forward to supporting the efforts of the board as it focuses on the cultural arts of Harford County.
Erin Feeney Whipple, PLA ASLA Longwood Gardens, Associate Director, Landscape Architecture and Program Design. Throughout her 15+ year career, Erin has been dedicated to creating meaningful, beautiful connections between people and the natural world. At Longwood, she oversees Longwood’s large-scale installations and special exhibitions, often serving as the artist and lead designer for such projects. A licensed landscape architect, Erin also serves as a creative and aesthetic advisor to Longwood’s outdoor landscape team, setting design direction and supporting the refinement of ideas for both seasonal displays and permanent garden amplifications. Erin co-leads several critical Longwood teams focused on strategic innovation and cross-department collaboration, including the IDEA Committee and the Programming Committee, which is responsible for annual events, exhibitions, and displays invaluable to the effective delivery of the organization’s mission. Prior to Longwood, Erin worked as a landscape architect in Chicago, where she concentrated on projects to improve local community resources, including the redesign of play areas in eight historic parks for the Chicago Park District. Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Michigan State University and is a graduate of Longwood’s Professional Horticulture Program. Erin is settled in Kingsville, MD with her ultra-supportive husband and two young children.
Michael Bailey
Lisa Mangione
Michael Sweet
Lisa Mangione
Michael Sweet
Harford County Cultural Arts Advisory Board is currently accepting applications from Harford residents with a passion for the arts.
Copyright 2025 | Harford County Cultural Arts Board | 1221-A Brass Mill Road Belcamp, Maryland 21017 | 410 273 5600