Grace Patillo Cole

Performing Arts Teacher and Director

Performing arts teacher, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, dancer, ethnomusicologist, and educator with 15+ years working in educational programs that foster creativity and artistic expression. Founded, managed, and assisted with multiple international performing arts programs and projects that cultivated the growth of a diverse background of multi-talented artists. The goal is to facilitate and promote inclusive environments that are engaging and allow for creative exploration across the fields of music, dance, theater, and writing.

• Orca United Arts Academy, Columbus Short
• Society for Ethnomusicology
• International Council For Traditions of Music and Dance

• International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance World Conference, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 2023
• American Music Therapy Association Conference, Sandusky, OH, 2016
• Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 2011

• Hollywood Tap Fest, Los Angeles, CA, 2022-2024
• D.C. Tap Fest, Washington D.C., 2022-2024
• Dunham Dance Technique Intensive, Elkins, WV, 2022
• International Dance Academy Summer Dance Intensive, Los Angeles, CA 2013
• International Dance Academy Dance Foundations Certificate Program, Los Angeles, CA, 2013
• Piedmont Virginia Community College dance productions courses, Charlottesville, VA, 2010-2011
• Terry Deane Dance School, Charlottesville, VA, 2009-2012
• Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Summer Hip Hop Intensive with Dave Scott, Los Angeles, CA, 2007-2011
• Peridance Dance Center workshops, New York City, N.Y., 2011-Current
• Alvin Ailey Extension adult dance classes, New York City, N.Y., 2011-Current
• Cumbe: Center for African and Diaspora Dance, Brooklyn, N.Y., 2022
• Richmond Urban Dance, Richmond, VA, 2025-Current

• Musicians Institute Gospel Ensemble, Hollywood, California
• True Samaritan Baptist Church, Inglewood, California
• Black Voices Gospel Choir, Charlottesville, Virginia
• Augusta Heritage Gospel Choir, Elkins, West Virginia
• Jazz Camp West Gospel Choir, La Honda, California
• New Jerusalem Baptist Church Choir, Charlottesville, Virginia
• Union Ridge Baptist Church Choir, Charlottesville, Virginia
• Common Grounds On the Hill Community Gospel Choir

M.I.M.A(Modern Music Improvisation Association)

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, February 2017

Participated in a three week music study focused on Burkina Faso's Jeli tradition. The jeli (or griot) tradition in Burkina Faso, and throughout the Mandé region of West Africa, is ancient, with roots generally traced back to the Mali Empire in the 13th century. The jeli tradition (or griot) is a revered West African hereditary system where families of storytellers, historians, and musicians preserve oral history, genealogy, and cultural traditions. These keepers of oral tradition act as advisors, praise singers, and diplomats, using instruments like the kora, balafon, and ngoni.

Corey Harris

Charles Owens

Mark Buckner

Pete Vigour

Joseph Tucker

Art Wheeler

Front Porch Roots Music School private and group lessons, Charlottesville, VA, 2015-2019

Private piano instruction Jazz Theory with Roland Wiggins, Charlottesville, VA, 2017

Music Education Center private lessons in Jazz Theory with Charles Owens, Charlottesville, VA 2013-2017

Richmond Urban Dance, Richmond, VA

Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Los Angeles, CA

Jazz Camp West, La Honda, CA

Musician's Institute

Dessert Theater Charlottesville

John D’earth Jazz Opera, Charlottesville, VA

Augusta Heritage Festival, Elkins, WV

Ashoken Bluegass Week, OliveBridge, NY

WUMB Blues Weekend, Groton, MA

Berklee School of Music Online, Boston, MA

Vocal Technique Certificate, 2016

Artist Management Certificate, 2016

International Dance Academy, Hollywood, CA

Dance Foundations Certificate, 2013

Musician's Institute, Hollywood, CA

Vocal Production Certificate, 2013

Vocal Institute of Technology Certificate, 2006

Recording Artist Production Certificate, 2007

Richmond Urban Dance, Sensory Hip Hop, Richmond, VA, 2025-Current

Volunteer assistant for hip hop dance classes designed for atypical learners and special needs youth

Make Noise RVA, Richmond, VA, 2025-Current

Provided volunteer videography

Clark Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA, 2019

Assisted with Brazilian and West African hand percussion workshops for World Cultural Day

Boys & Girls Club, M.I.M.A, Charlottesville, VA, 2016-2017

Assisted in music and songwriting workshops for afterschool middle school programs

Albemarle Highschool Creative Arts Program, Charlottesville, VA, 2016

Assisted in song writing workshops for teenagers

Music Resource Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2016

Provided vocal lessons for teenagers and assisted with Summer Rock Music Camp

Richmond Ballet, Piedmont Virginia Community College, 2009

Helped with backstage lighting and props for ballet productions

Ashokan Center Bluegrass Week Work Study, Olivebridge, NY, 2019

Jazz Camp West Work Study Scholarship, La Honda, CA, 2016-2019

Midwest Banjo Camp Work Study Scholarship, Olivet, MI, 2018

Augusta Heritage Festival Summer Scholarships, Elkins, WV, 2016-2022

Collaborated with music historians and musicians to produce performances, cultural sessions, and lectures. Topics included singing, dancing, and music from a variety of roots traditions. Sessions included; Vocals and Vernacular Dance Week Week, Vocal Workshops with Charles Williams( vocal coach for Sweet Honey in the Rock), lectures with Rhiannon Giddens of Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Jabari Exum, artistic director for Black Panther I and Black Panther II. Dance studies included a variety of Vernacular dances styles, including swing, blues, tap, clogging, “buck” dance, flatfoot, square dance, hip hop, and Dunham Technique., Dance workshops with Jabari Wilder, Junius “Brick House,” and Latasha Barnes, Blues & Old Time/American String Band Traditions Week Week, Examined the history of Blues music and musical styles of the American pre-19th century., Classes with Blues legends Hubby Jenkins and Justin Robinson of Carolina Chocolate Drops, Marcus Cartwright, “Blind Boy” Jeron Paxton, Phil Wiggins, Roddy Barnes, Jonatvius Willis, and Ben Turner, and Sunpie Barnes, Bluegrass and Swing Week, Examined the history of playing technique of American Bluegrass and Swing music, Cajun & Creole and Classic Country Week, Examined the history and cultural relevance of Cajun, Creole, and Classic Country music

Front Porch String Band Camp Full Scholarship, Charlottesville, VA, 2018, 2019

"Gullah Voices: Traditions and Transformations" National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Teachers Workshop, Charleston, South Carolina, 2015

Awarded a stipend to participate and conduct research in an NEH-funded Landmarks of American History and Culture workshop that immerses K-12 educators in the culture of the Sea Islands' Gullah Geechee people. Led by the University of Connecticut and partnered with the Penn Center and Georgia Historical Society, it explored the African roots, language, and, notably, music and oral traditions of this community to inform classroom curricula.

• Music Kamp Africa, Ten Strings Music Institute, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, 2024

• WUMB Blues Weekend workshops and performance classes, Groton, MA, 2019
• Music Camp North Mandolin and Banjo Workshops, Charlton, MA, 2018
• 18th Century Banjo History Mentorship with Joe Ayers, Bremo Bluff, VA, 2018
• Common Grounds on the Hill Music Leadership Workshops, West Minster, MD, 2012
• Berklee School of Music Summer Vocal Summit, Vocal Performance Workshops, Boston, MA, 2012

Orca United Arts Academy, Columbus Short, Los Angeles, Online, 2022-Current

Studied method acting, improv, monologue readings, and audition preparation under the direction of actor Columbus Short

The Blueprint, Brian J. White, online, 2025-Current

Mentorship on how to be successful in the performing arts industry