A Home for the Arts

A crowd gathered outside the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts to watch a musical performance with a female singer and a male guitarist. The building has large windows and a sign above the door, with trees and parked cars in the background.
Two people, a woman with long blonde hair wearing a red embroidered blouse and a man with short gray hair wearing a black shirt, are standing outside in front of a beige building with posters on the wall. The background features a tree with green and orange leaves, indicating fall.
White neoclassical building with tall columns, arched windows, and red double doors, set against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

About Us

A vital community resource, Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sustained by the generosity and enthusiasm of its patrons, donors, and volunteers. Through performances, classes, workshops, exhibitions, and events, TCFA creates opportunities for people of all ages to connect, create, learn, and grow through the arts.

Mission

The mission of the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, Inc. is to provide affordable opportunities for exposure to the arts through education, collaboration, performance and exhibition, thereby enriching the quality of life in our community.

History

Calista A. Smith (1937–2022) founded the Conservatory of Fine Arts in 1982. She began teaching music as the organization’s sole faculty member with just ten students. Over the years, many area residents took music lessons from Calista as she helped shape TCFA into a lasting community arts organization, serving as Executive Director for nearly three decades.

Since its founding, the Conservatory has been housed in an iconic Greek Revival building originally built in 1851 as the Second Baptist Society of Ulysses, later known as the First Baptist Church of Trumansburg. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the historic building serves as a meaningful gathering place where creativity, learning, and the arts continue to thrive.

Historic Timeline
About the Restoration

Managing Director

A woman with blonde hair smiling, wearing a red embroidered top, standing outdoors near a beige building and window.
A woman with blonde hair smiling, wearing a red embroidered top, standing outdoors near a beige building and window.

Dona W. Roman

Professor Emeritus of Theatre from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, Dona received her M.F.A. in Theatre (Acting) from the University of California, Los Angeles and B.F.A. in Drama (Acting/Directing) from the University of Oklahoma. She has performed in and directed over 200 productions for professional, university and community theatre. She also held Chairperson positions for the Texas Commission on the Arts and Texas Educational Theatre Association.

Dona created the Sul Ross Latino Theatre program and Pueblo Unido new works festival initially funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. She received the Sul Ross Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award in 2005.

Dona joined the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts in July, 2022. In her three years at TCFA, the Conservatory has experienced 100% growth in attendance, has raised over $1M toward their Capital Campaign restoration project, and has garnered collaboration with many local artists and arts organizations in Tompkins County, NY.

Board Members

Andrea Beesing, President

(retired) Assistant Director, IT Unified Communications, Cornell University &
Co-owner, Glenhaven Farm Winery

Eileen Heptig, Treasurer

Director of Administration and Development,
Cornell Catholic Community

Rob Cassetti

(retired) Senior Director of Creative Strategy & Visitor Engagement, Corning Museum of Glass

George Cook

System Engineer, Apple Computer, Inc.

Ezra Delaney

(retired) Senior Director Library Finance & Administration, Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University

Tamis Kaplan

(retired) Pre & K-12 school psychologist

Ellen Chase, Vice President

Capital Planning Manager, Cornell University

Christine Carstensen, Secretary

(retired) Project manager, Planning, Design & Construction, Cornell University

Mindi Miller

Branch Manager, Tompkins Community Bank

Andrea Murray

Lead Educator & Pre-K-12 Curriculum Development Specialist, Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University

Angie Nicholson

(retired) Middle School Art Teacher

Mary Ochs

(retired) Director, Mann Library, Cornell University 

Nana Potenza

Website Designer,
Nana Potenza Web Design & Brand Work