ABOUT US
Emerald City Performing Arts provides exceptional performing arts training for young artists throughout the Greater Seattle area. We are committed to cultivating artistic excellence through high-quality instruction in acting, singing, dance, and musical theatre while fostering a supportive, inclusive community where every student feels seen, valued, and encouraged. We believe that young artists grow best when they are challenged to reach their highest potential in an environment built on respect, collaboration, and genuine care.
At ECPA, training extends far beyond technique. Our programs combine expert instruction, meaningful mentorship that helps students develop confidence, discipline, creativity, and resilience. Whether rehearsing in the studio, performing on stage, participating in competitions and festivals, or traveling together, students learn the value of teamwork, leadership, accountability, and artistic curiosity while building skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Above all, we believe the performing arts have the power to shape not only exceptional performers, but exceptional people. Every student brings unique talents, perspectives, and dreams, and our goal is to help each artist discover their own voice while finding a true sense of belonging within our community. At Emerald City Performing Arts, we are committed to training artists, building community, and inspiring excellence—both onstage and beyond.
MEET OUR TEAM
Jessica believes that the performing arts have the power to transform lives. As the Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Emerald City Performing Arts, she is passionate about training artists, building community, and inspiring excellence—both onstage and off.
A graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama, Jessica has spent more than two decades directing, choreographing, performing, and mentoring artists throughout the Pacific Northwest. Her award winning work has spanned professional theaters, educational programs, and youth organizations, giving her a unique perspective on developing performers at every stage of their artistic journey. Over the course of her career, she has directed and choreographed dozens of productions while mentoring hundreds of young artists.
In addition to directing productions, Jessica has led competitive musical theatre and performance programs, coaching students for festivals, competitions, and performance opportunities while fostering the discipline, confidence, and collaborative spirit that prepare them for success both onstage and beyond.
Throughout her career, Jessica has remained deeply committed to arts education. She believes that great theatre is built on more than talent alone—it is built on curiosity, discipline, collaboration, and the courage to take creative risks. Her rehearsal rooms are intentionally designed to challenge students artistically while fostering confidence, resilience, empathy, and a genuine sense of belonging.
Jessica founded Emerald City Performing Arts with a simple but powerful vision: to create a home where exceptional training and meaningful community exist side by side. She believes students thrive when they are known, encouraged, and inspired to pursue excellence while celebrating one another's successes.
Through ECPA, Jessica is committed to providing high-quality musical theatre training in an environment where every student is valued, every voice matters, and every artist is empowered to grow. Whether working with a student stepping onto the stage for the first time or preparing experienced performers for collegiate and professional opportunities, her goal remains the same: to develop not only exceptional performers, but thoughtful leaders, compassionate collaborators, and confident young people who will make a positive impact wherever life takes them.
Jessica Low
Founder and Executive Artistic Director
Jennifer Buehrer
Founding Partner and Executive Managing Director
For more than thirty years, throughout every chapter of her life—from teaching in classrooms, training educators around the world, leading non-profits, and homeschooling her own children, to now founding Emerald City Performing Arts—Jennifer’s passion has remained constant: creating spaces where young people can thrive.
Jennifer believes that people flourish in environments that cultivate autonomy, competence, and connection. Her passion is for youth to feel heard, valued, and supported so that they have the capacity to discover who they are, pursue their unique strengths, and strive toward their fullest potential. That conviction has shaped every chapter of Jennifer's life and continues to guide her leadership today.
While theatre brings stories to life on stage, Jennifer knows its greatest impact happens within each person. The performing arts creates an environment where young people can discover their own voices and appreciate different perspectives while building creativity, confidence, empathy, resilience, and courage. This empowers them to be able to trust that who they are truly matters.
That became deeply personal as Jennifer watched one of her daughters—once too shy to participate in her own birthday celebration—discover confidence, discipline, joy, and a genuine sense of belonging through musical theatre. It wasn't simply performing that transformed the young tween—it was being part of a community where she felt safe to take risks, make mistakes, work hard, and discover strengths she never knew she possessed.
Jennifer’s greatest hope is that every student who walks into Emerald City Performing Arts feels seen, valued, loved, and inspired to prosper. She strives to cultivate a community where artistic excellence and personal growth go hand in hand, and where every young person becomes stronger, more confident, more compassionate, and better equipped for today and all of life.
She is convinced that the greatest performance isn't the one that happens under the stage lights—it's the lifelong confidence, compassion, courage, and sense of belonging that young people carry with them long after the curtain falls.
STAFF
David Austin is a composer, lyricist, playwright, actor, orchestrator, vocal arranger, and professional voice/acting coach whose work has been heard on Broadway, in international productions and tours, and on stages around the world. He has written the book, music, and lyrics for 26 original musicals, and his songs have been performed by artists including Sutton Foster, Kelli O’Hara, Megan Mullally, Ana Gasteyer, Malcolm Gets, Cheyenne Jackson, and Caitlin Kinnunen. David is the recipient of The Stephen Sondheim Artist Citation, personally chosen and presented to him by Mr. Sondheim, who also mentored him as a writer.
Music Director and Voice Instructor