EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Megan Rae Wetzel is a Columbus based musician working with music education focused nonprofits, retail brands, as well as individual artists and bands to produce positive musical messages and creative content.

Megan is the Executive Director for The Columbus Cultural Orchestra. Her private lesson studio for violin, viola, and general elementary music is hosted at Music Royale. Megan performs with Rankin’s 13, Bourbon Legend, and The Chapters. Follow her to find more performance dates with other local bands and musicians.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Sam Richardson joins the Columbus Cultural Orchestra after 39 years of teaching instrumental music in the Columbus City Schools. A graduate of Jackson State University, he began his teaching career as an elementary instrumental music specialist for six schools. From there he went to teach at Westmoor Middle School for 7 years, Franklin Alternative Middle School for 11 years, Columbus East High School for 3 years, and Columbus Alternative High School (CAHS) for 15 years. He has also served as an assistant/arranger at West and Eastmoor High Schools. At one point he taught grade levels 4-12 for ten years, a period to which he credits his success as an instrumental music teacher.

Honors and recognitions include:

2026-Jazz Arts Group’s Ray Eubanks Distinguished Service Award

2023-Columbus Symphony Orchestra Lifetime Achievement Award

2002-Columbus Symphony Orchestra Secondary Music Educator of The Year.

2012-2017-Co-Conductor of the Columbus City Schools Jazz All Stars

1994-Conductor-CCS All -City Concert Band (Middle School)

1992 Conductor-CCS All-City  Orchestra (Middle School)

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Robyn has been with CCO since 2021 first

starting as an adult player in the orchestra

and then becoming the Operations

Manager in 2024 seasons. She started

playing to violin at 9 and picked up the

clarinet at 13. She went to Kent State

University and The Ohio State University

studying Speech Pathology and Music

Education. Robyn in her free time loves to

just listen to music, read, hang out with

friends and family.

VIOLIN TEACHER

Chris Shaw is a violinist and multi instrumentalist playing music professionally since around 2002. Early on he studied classical moving through various Columbus youth programs like CSYO, Columbus Chamber Connection, and various summer camps. His high school Gahanna Lincoln had an amazing teacher Carolyn Osbourne (Cutler at the time) who taught an after school group in fiddling covering bluegrass, irish, cajun, as well as improvisation. He plays in several bands and has toured in over 7 countries playing fiddle in a country band. He is passionate about teaching, music, and is always looking toward the next big thing in his career.

Viola Teacher

Aaron Pearson is a teaching artist based in Columbus, Ohio. Aaron has worked with students at various levels as a graduate teaching associate at The Ohio State University. He also serves as a viola instructor with the Columbus Cultural Orchestra, where students perform music from a variety of musical genres. Aaron has performed in numerous ensembles in the Midwest and southern regions of the United States and is an active freelance performer in the Columbus area. He earned his Bachelor of Music in viola performance from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

CELLO TEACHER & ARRANGER

BASS TEACHER

BASS TEACHER

Micah Whitley is a bassist and music teacher from Columbus Ohio, currently earning a Bachelors of Music in Performance at Otterbein University. He has performed with Westerville Symphony and OtterCap Orchestra for 2 years, as well as various local jazz gigs. Micah also gives instrumental lessons in the Columbus area. He looks forward to working with CCO this season! 

VIOLIN TEACHER 7 ARRANGER

Hello! I’m Nic Lacy and I have been playing the violin for 16 years and I graduated from THE Ohio State University with a degree in Violin Performance. I’ve played in numerous symphony orchestras, pit orchestras, and even a few bands. I am a passionate musician that primarily plays classical music, but I also dabble in jazz, country, and hip-hop. I enjoy making people feel the full spectrum of emotions with my music and love discussing the many ways music can be interpreted and loved!

Board President

Updating

Business Manager

Grant Writer

Vice President

Board Secretary

Adrienne Sidney serves as Board Secretary for the Columbus Cultural Orchestra. She brings more than 15 years of leadership experience and a strong background in communication, organization, team development, and process improvement. As the proud CCO parent of an orchestra violinist, she is honored to contribute to an organization that provides meaningful musical opportunities for young people.

FOUNDER

Stephen Spottswood, native of Silver Spring, Maryland, moved to Columbus, Ohio to study music education at Capital University. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Stephen went on to start his solo career performing as a hip-hop and jazz violinist.