At 8 years old, Stacy was excited to try an orchestra instrument with her classmates. She watched her teacher play a jig on the violin and a prelude on cello. Then, she heard the two notes - E and F - that changed her life: … (yes, the JAWS theme)! She was determined to play the bass, even though her teacher thought she should choose something 'gender-appropriate' like the violin. So, Stacy kept going with her dream, and eventually got a Bachelor's (classical double bass performance) and Master's degree (jazz bass performance & pedagogy).

Now Stacy McMichael is a thriving professional Upright and Electric bassist & Educator, who has been featured onstage in Broadway shows/tours such as “1776”, “Dreamgirls”, “Cabaret ZaZou”, “Hairspray", "Teatro ZinZanni", "Taste of Things to Come", and the smash-hit "SIX: the Musical". Stacy entertained 70,000+ fans onstage at Lollapalooza Paris performing with superstar dj Kygo.

In addition to her diverse musical accomplishments, Ms. McMichael is also a dedicated mentor and educator. Thanks to her wide range of experience and talents, Stacy can handle a variety of creative situations with ease and confidence.

http://www.stacybass.com/

On Friday, January 9, 2026, Dr. JoVia Armstrong brings her visionary percussion artistry to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights. Performing on her groundbreaking hybrid cajón kit, Armstrong leads an ensemble of top-tier musicians—Teiana Davis (piano, synthesizer), Carmani Edwards (bass), Nashon Holloway (voice), T. Ayo Alston (djun djun), and Maria Jones (djembe)—for a genre-defying evening that blends Afro-electronic grooves, jazz improvisation, and soulful expression. Expect a performance that is rhythmically electrifying, sonically adventurous, and deeply immersive.

Dr. JoVia Armstrong, the 2025 DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Percussionist, is a Detroit-born percussionist, composer, producer, and educator. Known for her signature hybrid cajón kit, Armstrong blends Afro-electronic soundscapes, jazz improvisation, and genre-fluid composition into immersive, future-facing performances. A member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and an endorsed artist with QSC, Sabian, Icon Pro Audio, and Gon Bops, she has collaborated with El DeBarge, Omar, Les Nubians, Res, Rahsaan Patterson, Eric Roberson, Frank McComb, The Impressions, Isaiah Sharkey, and more. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Virginia.

https://www.joviaarmstrong.com/