FOUNDER & ARTICTIC DIRECTOR
Dr. Rosilee Russell, classical pianist, is the Founder/Executive Director of Community School of the Arts and was previously the Executive Director of the Academy of the Arts at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. She came to UAFS in 1990 after teaching in Kansas City to serve as Director of Keyboard Activities/Artist-in-Residence for the Department of Music. Russell holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Baylor University, a Master of Music degree and also a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. While at Baylor, she was the recipient of the Van Cliburn Piano Scholarship and the Alpha Chi National Music Scholarship for graduate study. At UMKC she was awarded a graduate piano teaching assistantship.
As a solo artist, Russell has performed extensively throughout Arkansas and has played nationally as a touring member for the Mid-America Arts Alliance. She has appeared as recitalist at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion, guest pianist at the White House, and was nominated for a performance at the Kennedy Center.
Rosilee can be heard on her Live at Eastman recording performed in the famous Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music in New York, as well as her recording entitled Cool Classics, which is a collection of classical masterpieces recorded live.
Rosilee is a past faculty member of the Masterworks International Summer Music Festival, and is currently actively involved in the National Guild for Community Arts Education, a national organization that promotes artistic activities for children and youth.
In the fall of 2006, Russell founded and developed the UAFS Academy of the Arts, a preparatory program serving some 800 students each semester providing instruction in the visual and performing arts to children and youth. In the fall of 2016, Russell opened Community School of the Arts, an independent arts program for young people, where she currently serves. CSA is in process of completing a Capital Campaign to build the Center for the Creative Arts, a 40,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility on the Arkansas River in Fort Smith which will house CSA as well as the Institute for the Creative Arts, the new Charter Performing & Visual Arts High School. Dr. Russell will serve as the Artistic Director of ICA to assist in launching the school and developing an immersive arts program.
Drs Phillip & Rosilee Russell spend time with Governor Sarah Sanders at the new Center for the Creative Arts facility.