Meet the Directors

Prof. Chris Lance

Owner of Paladin Knight Entertainment, LLC and Strand Studios. Chris started drums  at 4, the guitar in second grade, trumpet in third, the piano in fifth and in sixth grade, was accepted into the Bergen Youth Orchestra under Mr. Eugene Minor. This was the start of Chris' musical career. He achieved degrees and certificates in music education, music business, performance and audio engineering from Caldwell College, Jersey City  State College, Montclair University and William Paterson University, to name a few. His instructors and mentors include, but not limited to, Prof. Louis Hooker, Dr. Jack Sacher, Amy Larkey, Don Butterfield, and Bucky Pizzarelli. Chris has directed numerous male, female, mixed and children's choirs in and out of competition. He directed over 250 voices for the Mayor of New York City. Chris has conducted community and concert bands, has performed in bands of all genres from polka to rock, and classical to jazz. His first CD, "Christmas Gifts of Music" was recorded when he was in college. When major labels wouldn't pick it up, Chris created his own label, Paladin Knight Records, and sold over 5,000 copies independently. He is currently in production on a jazz, techno and Halloween CD. 

​

But Chris wasn't satisfied with just music. His first attempt at film making was at 10 when he made a stop-animation film with toy dinosaurs. His interests quickly expanded to horror films and bribed his older cousins to star in "The Exterminator", a home movie complete with dummies falling out of windows! He attended Bergen Community College for acting and later the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York where he improved his craft. Chris obtained alot of experience as an extra on OZ, Law and Order, and the motion picture Seredipity. He then grabbed leading roles in several film and theater productions including Wilson in "The Rut" an independent film and on stage, Serebryakov in "Uncle Vanya. Switching to another acting method, Chris studied the Sanford Meisner Method for five years. From acting to directing to producing, Chris has Buffalo Diamonds (post production) and Missouri Loves Company (pre-production) to his credit with two more films on the table with long time famed American poet and screenplay writer John Dorsey.

 

As Musical Director, his credits include Anything Goes, Oliver, On the Town, Pippin, The Fantasticks, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1776, Stewart Little, Charlotte's Web and has even composed music for Woyczek. Chris has produced and directed several plays off-Broadway including Moon Magnets and Answers with George Feaster (Law and Order), and colleague Kevin Interdonato (The Sopranos, CSI: NY). He has produced the NJ Family Medieval and Fantasy Festivals, St. Greg's Medieval Festival, Hunt for the Jersey Devil Halloween Attraction, has consulted for the Warren 4H Ren Faire and was on the Board of Directors for the Stone Soup Symphony Orchestra where he also performed. His casting division has placed actors in shows such as MTV's reality show, "Damage Control", NFL Films SuperBowl XXXVI DVD and many modeling photo shoots. Chris was the resident trumpeter at St. Joseph RC Church in Washington for two years and the music director at St. Mark's RC Church in Long Valley for five. He currently is the music director at St. Theodore's RC Church in Port Murray, NJ. Chris is the creator of The Paladin Knight medieval fantasy hero. He has successfully created several entertainment businesses, including Paladin Knight Comics, Paladin Knight Pictures and Paladin Knight Publishing.

In his spare time, Chris enjoys traveling and video games!

​

Ms. Alison Ervin

​

Currently, Alison is pursing a Master of Music in Music Education and Modern Band Certificate at Lebanon Valley College. 

Alison graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.M. in Contemporary and Popular Music (concentration in Music Education) and a minor in Social Media Marketing from the University of Maine at Augusta. She also holds an Associate of Arts in Music from CCM, where she studied piano and voice. While there, she was the alto section leader of the Chamber Choir. 

Alison has also completed a certificate in Piano Pedagogy from Valley City State University, a certificate in Music Theory from Berklee College of Music Online and a certificate in Theatre & Performing Arts from WCTS. She is proud to be on the Dean's List and a member of the Sigma Alpha Lambda honor society.

​

Alison started her music education in elementary school with the recorder, saxophone, and chorus. She then moved onto private vocal, piano, violin lessons and so forth. By the time she graduated high school, she was playing over 10 instruments.

Alison has studied Piano with Dr. Christine Letcher, Prof. Joseph Bilotti, Prof. Greg Whiddon; Jazz Piano with Prof. Marcia Gallagher; Keyboard with Prof. Josh Tindall; Music Theory with Dr. Richard Gradone, Prof. Joseph Bilotti,  Prof. Steve Rochinski, Prof. Alizon Lissance, and Prof. Paul Schmeling. Voice with Dr. Melanie Mitrano, Prof. Marielaine Mammon, Prof. Marcia Gallagher, and Prof. Jonathan Walker-VanKuren; Drums/Percussion with Prof. John Mehrmann & Prof. Matthew Keown, Violin/Viola/Cello with Prof. Eliza Meyer; Bass with Prof. Ryan Kuhns, Guitar with Dr. Justin Morell, Saxophone/Flute/Clarinet with Prof. Eric Thomas; Trumpet/French Horn/Trombone with Dr. Anita-Ann Jerosch; Arranging with Dr. Timothy O'Dell; Conducting with Dr. Anita-Ann Jerosch; and Composition with Prof. John Mehrmann.

​

She is a graduate of WCTS. While there, she earned a place in the National Technical Honor Society, membership in The National Society of High School Scholars, the PTA Citizenship Award, and the John B. Laporta Scholarship. She took part in the schools a Capella club, bowling club, SGA, peer2peer mentoring, and Key Club.

​

Alison is the former Music Director at St. Cecilia Church and Sts. Peter & Paul Church. In these roles, she was responsible for playing and singing at weekend Masses and holy days, directing the church choir, and selecting music that aligns with the liturgical seasons and readings. She has also sung in the St. Marks Invitational Christmas Concert and has also sung with the Church of the Messiah. She is a cantor and instrumentalist at St. Theodore's. Her other credits include many theatrical productions. She has been involved in numerous recitals/concerts/showcases, co-hosted Knightline News, modeled for Paladin Knight Entertainment, LLC and was featured in and was on staff for a Paladin Knight Pictures independent film production.

​

Alison has performed the National Anthem at various Morris County USBC bowling tournaments. Her favorite musical accomplishment is singing with one of her musical theatre idols, Idina Menzel during her world tour in Bethlehem, PA in 2015.

In her free time, Alison enjoys volunteering, bowling, photography, ATVing, amateur radio, traveling, and modeling. She is part owner/manager of the Hackettstown Center for the Arts and is an active member of Strand String Ensemble and the Strand Performance Group.