Programs
Departments
Carnage's arts department spans seven disciplines, each led by a dedicated instructor. The full, current list of departmental needs lives in our shared wish list document, updated regularly by the board and faculty.
Department
Band
Instructor: Mathew Pellas
Director of Bands at Carnage Magnet Middle School, where he leads a 200-student program spanning four concert bands, jazz band, and percussion ensemble. A Nationally Board Certified teacher and former Central Region Band Director of the Year, Mr. Pellas insists on musicality, proper tone, and quality literature at every level.
Department
Chorus & Guitar
Instructor: Mandy Cavanaugh
A Wheaton College Conservatory graduate, Mrs. Cavanaugh has spent over a decade finding her joy in middle school chorus — the years when students discover the voices and interests they'll carry forward. In 2025 she directed the Carnage Honors Chorus at the NCMEA Conference, and in 2026 she was nominated for the NCMEA Keasler Teacher of the Year Award.
Department
Strings
Instructor: Anna Tschiegg
Holding both a Bachelor's and Master of Music Education from UNC Greensboro, Ms. Tschiegg-Baker brings years of middle school orchestra teaching and active performance with local symphonies, pit orchestras, and community ensembles. She is passionate about fostering creativity, collaboration, and lifelong musicianship in her students.
Department
Dance
Instructor: Morris Clayton Barrier
A Durham native and North Carolina Central University graduate, Mr. Barrier has trained under Nancy Pinckney, Florencia Guerrier, Kristi Vincent-Johnson, and the late Dr. Chuck Davis. His no-nonsense — yet caring — approach meets students at their level, raises the bar, and supports them in reaching it.
Department
Theater
Instructor: Catherine Minjkives
Ms. Minjkives holds a BA in theatre from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and brings decades of professional stage, film, and television experience to the classroom. At Carnage she teaches Acting I & II, Technical Theatre, Best of Broadway, and Costume & Makeup Design, and directs the fall play, spring musical, and three one-act plays each year.
Department
Piano
Instructor: Ramona Jenner
Mrs. Jenner is a career music educator with over three decades of K–12 teaching and a Bachelor of Music in Piano from UNC Greensboro. Nationally Board Certified since 2005, she established the Martin Magnet Piano Lab in 2002 and now teaches Magnet Piano I, II, and III at Carnage.
Department
Art
Instructor: Katherine Carlotto
Ms. Carlotto holds a BFA in Illustration and a BA in Art History from UMass Dartmouth, along with a Master's in Art Education. Drawing on her dual background in studio illustration and art history, she introduces students to the full arc of making — from foundational technique to the broader visual traditions that shape contemporary practice.