Jess Stone is a mixed media artist who loves the lake life. Her favorite place to be is her newly renovated Art Studio or the classroom! She became a teacher of art by accident! Starting young in High School as an art teacher at local art camps. She then went on the receive her BFA from Clemson University and her MFA from Memphis College of Art in Memphis, TN. During this time she continued to teach and was accepted to the Artist in Education Roster. This allowed her to travel the state teaching Printmaking, papermaking and bookbinding to K5-12th grades across the state. After graduating with her Master’s she completed a 3 year program for teacher certification, and taught Elementary Art in Spartanburg for three years. She’s been blessed to teach at both Converse College and Anderson University. Currently, she teaches Elementary Art part time in Anderson County and Travel the Upstate doing Visiting Artist Residencies. She also works closely with the Smart Arts Program through the Metropolitan Arts Council which brings art into the basic curriculum! She loves sharing my passion for art and process with students!
Gregg “Buffalo” Barfield presents highly interactive residencies and concerts featuring old time “Appalachian and Jug Band” instruments like the washboard, spoons, kazoo, jug and washtub bass.
Sabrina Slater-Warren has been teaching dance for 27 years. She has taught every grade level and learned from each one of them. Early in her career, she used literacy to help teach creative movement. She is well versed in modern, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop. She enjoys giving students choreography problems to solve. This gives students a chance to discuss ideas and solutions. It also teaches them commitment and focus. Her students have traveled and performed at several community events. Students are also able to perform in front of their peers in a safe setting.
Theresa is an Author, an Artist-in-Resident, a Gullah storyteller, a certified Tour Guide, a Lecturer, and local Historian. She is also a Docent at the Old Slave Mart Museum. She is fluent in the Gullah language and grew up on Edisto Island with her grandmother whose only language was Gullah. Theresa speaks in the Gullah language and explains how it began and shares all about the food, the stories, the medicines, their spiritualities, songs, and the customs. She incorporates, for students, a show and tell segment centered around items she grew up with before modern conveniences of today. She has spoken at museums, Schools, Festivals, private functions and many other venues. She was featured in National Geographic Video Magazine and the Charleston Magazine. She is available for your presentations at assemblies, workshops, residences, and many other functions for Black History Month and any other occasions. She is the author of Mama Doonk’s Gullah Recipes, a cookbook featuring Gullah foods.
Dance Artist/Performer, Dance Educator/Judge, Dance Consultant. She provides Dance Fine Art residencies in a variety of Dance genres, Dance Integrated residencies including STEAM and YAR residencies, Master Classes in Dance, and Professional Development seminars for schools and districts in Dance Integration as well as PD seminars for Dance Teachers. Her performance troupe, The Moving Company, includes the Walhalla Bavarian Dancers, performing Austrian and Bavarian traditional dance. She is designated as a traditional artist for both Appalachian Clogging and Irish folk dance.
As Dinah Johnson, she is the author of several picture books published by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. She loves sharing literature, written and spoken, with people of all ages, as they experience joy and confidence in expressing themselves and exploring their worlds through language. It is important beyond measure for students to see, in the flesh, a person who wrote the words in a book that might be in their own school libraries. She often hears, “You wrote this book?”–both a question and an exclamation. As Dr. Dianne Johnson-Feelings, she is a professor of English at the University of South Carolina. She enjoys working with teachers as well as with parent and community groups in their efforts to support young people in becoming literate, enthusiastic citizens, through their engagement with literature and the humanities. She can tailor her workshops, as a children’s book author or as a scholar of children’s literature, for any age group and for groups of any size. She offers single session visits as well as multi-day workshops, sometimes culminating in performances of student work. Her most cherished “fan letter” is from a little girl who wrote to her, “You had made my heart sing.”
Porkchop Productions is a professional theatre company specializing in unique interactive performances of original fractured adaptations of classic fairy tales, folk tales, and fables. Delighting audiences with humor and universal lessons learned since 1991, Porkchop Productions strives to aide students, families, and communities in developing a life-long appreciation for the performing arts. All shows are appropriate for Pre-K through 5th grade.
Bright Star has been delighting and educating young audiences with their fun 45-minute two-person shows since 2003. Every year they travel the country with more than 20 tours, each with three shows. Subjects include Anti-Bullying, Holidays, Black History, Literary, STEM and more. In addition to their acclaimed shows, they also offer residencies, camps, workshops and Operation Friendship, their whole school anti-bullying program. They look forward to working with you this year!
Andy is a traditional musician focusing on the tunes and songs that would have been prevalent prior to the introduction of the radio into southern and Appalachian culture. He plays the guitar, banjo, jaw harp and fiddle and he won the 2016 S.C. State Fiddle Championship. Currently, he teaches an ongoing class at the Oconee Heritage Center in Walhalla, SC which is open to anyone who wants to learn to play Appalachian music. He has also taught in the Pickens County Young Appalachian Musicians program and will be a banjo instructor at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC in July, 2019. Because traditional southern music was typically passed down in the aural tradition, students are encouraged to learn to play by ear. Students are further encouraged to create social communities by gathering outside of class to share tunes and songs. He grew up in a cotton mill family in Easley, SC that enjoyed music. As a teenager, he was encouraged by his Great Uncle Sam Stephens (a fiddler) to play and enjoy this music and it has been a passion of his for many years. As a SC native it is an honor to keep traditions alive.
Based in Orlando, Florida, the Atlantic Coast Theatre (A.C.T.) For Youth tours throughout the United States bringing imaginative professional theatre to schools, museums, libraries, theatres, and performing arts centers.
2016- present board of South Carolina Artisan Center; 1977-Present Sculptor, Owner Bob Doster’s Backstreet Studio ltd.; visiting teaching artist with SC Arts Commission. Has worked with over 150,000 students k-12; first residency 1975; 1977 MFA Clemson University 1975 BFA University of South Carolina 1969-1973 owner Doster’s Grocery 1967 Lancaster High. Awards – South Carolina Arts Commission Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award Cultural & Heritage Commission of York County “Keeper of the Culture” Award First Steps of South Carolina “Hero of the Child” Award SC Main Street Inspiration Award. Public Art Commissions – Anderson SC, Cheraw SC, Columbia SC, Chesterfield SC, Chester SC, Clinton SC, Laurens SC, Lancaster SC, Pageland SC, Florence SC, Greenville SC, Spartanburg SC, Orangeburg,SC Gaffney SC, Walterboro SC, Lenior NC, Cary NC, Chapel Hill NC, Albemarle NC, Charlotte NC, Marvin NC, Raleigh NC, Rocky Mount NC, Atlanta Ga. This list doesn’t include the 100’s of sculptures created as legacy gifts for schools in North and South Carolina.
Mike Fowle is a contemporary sculptor working in multiple media. He is an approved artist for the South Carolina Arts Commission and maintains a working studio where he creates art for public and private collections. Mike shares a studio with artist Patz Fowle where they collaborate and create large Public Art Sculptures. Mike has been a visiting International Artists-In-Residence at the American School in Japan in Tokyo, Japan, and co-teaches with Patz Fowle at the SCAD Educator Forum, at Savannah College of Art & Design.
Tracie has been teaching Origami for 20 years in WNC and SC. She has taught well over 100 residences and continues to make this art fun and exciting for all involved. knowShe is known as the Origami Lady. She lives in NC with her husband and three children. She taught origami to herself using books and mostly practice to perfect techniques. She teaches students the basic folds using diagrams and visually folding models along with them. She includes Japanese culture as well. It is a very fun and engaging week that leaves students with a new passion for an ancient art form.
Southeastern Professional School of the Arts (SPSA) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that provides a professional and disciplined study of high-quality dance to low- to moderate-income families and at-risk youth in the State of South Carolina. Established in 2009, SPSA works in partnership with the Southeastern School of Ballet to offer after-school introduction programs, multiple levels and styles of dance training, workshops, seminars and annual performances. All programs are structured around 6 fundamental goals: 1) Develop an appreciation of the Arts; 2) Develop self-expression; 3) Improve self-esteem and self-respect; 4) Establish work ethic; 5) Develop awareness of physical well–being; and 6) Develop sensitivity and empathy. SPSA services are offered FREE to all participants through corporate and individual funding.
For 25 years Mimi has been the Artistic Director for Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet and the Director of Faculty at AB Center For Dance Education in Columbia, SC. They are a civic pre professional classical ballet company and school where students are introduced to and taught daily classes while having performance opportunities to further and enrich their journey in the Arts to become young performing artists and broaden the base of arts supports for the future. Before retiring she had the opportunity to perform as a professional classical ballet dancer through the Southeast and Canada with SCBT and Ballet Michigan for 15 years. Bringing experience and passion to daily classes, rehearsals and performances each season integrates dance as educational outreach through out our community and ensures current involvement in the world of dance today. She is a certified teacher in the American Ballet Theatre Teachers Curriculum and is proud to be a working artist in South Carolina.
Documentary Art Photography. Published author/photographer with Smithsonian Books – “Nashville’s Lower Broad: The Street That Music Made” 2004. University of South Carolina graduate. Born in Anderson SC. Organized and provided many residencies in SC in late 1980’s and early 90’s before moving out of state. Eager to do more.
Fabio Parrini’s activity includes recordings, live broadcasts, solo recitals, concertos, chamber music, and collaborations with orchestras, choirs, summer festivals, and opera productions. Among his many musical partners are his wife Sherry (piano), their children Maria (piano) and Sam (violin), and his siblings Anna (soprano), Chiara (violin) and Alberto (cello). A Steinway Artist and SCAC Approved Artist, he has performed with the group Pan Harmonia, has released CDs as a soloist and with violinist Eun-Sun Lee, and has received multiple competition prizes, a Fulbright Grant, a Kahn Award, and recording grants from the Metropolitan Arts Council and North Greenville University, where he chairs the Piano Department. He has coached for the Philadelphia International Music Festival and has given master classes for the NGU Piano Seminar, the Greenville MTA, the SC Governor’s School, Clemson University, the Longy School of Music, Emporia State University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Carson-Newman University, the University of Texas at Tyler, and the University of Southern Mississippi. He holds degrees from the Conservatory of Padua (Italy) and Boston University, and has studied with Anthony di Bonaventura, Micaela Mingardo, Gyorgy Sandor, Bruno Mezzena, and Adriana Rognoni.
The Sumter Civic Dance Company provides Dance education through residencies, demonstrations, and performances. All performances are age appropriate and some pieces tell a moral story. Their residencies are grade specific teaching dance corresponding to what the students are learning in school. For instance: 3rd graders are studying SC History. Therefore, they teach The Charleston and the Shag, the SC official state dance.
For three decades, Doug Berky has brought classic solo physical theater performances to stages all over the world. Using the illusion of the mime, the antics of the clown, the transformation of his own handmade, original masks, the suspense of a good story and the excitement of improv, Doug inspires both laughter and reflection. A graduate of Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre in CA, Berky has performed and taught as Artist-in-Residence at the Commedia School in Denmark and numerous universities. He toured with The Two Penny Circus and The Montanaro Mime Theatre where he appeared in the award-winning NBC children’s series, “See Saw,” and in television specials for Swedish National TV. Doug has given literally thousands of performances. His unique and whimsical mask creations have inspired young mask makers in schools, ballet companies, and theaters from Stockholm to Seattle. Currently Artist in Residence at Furman University, Doug regularly tours North America and is available for K- 8th and family performances, as well as student and adult workshops, keynotes, master classes and residencies in mask theatre, mask design and construction, mime and movement, and the role of humor in health and healing.
Reggie Harris is a musician, storyteller and educator who has been a vibrant force in musical, educational and historical circles for over 35 years. Steeped in the tradition of African American spirituals, folk, gospel, rock and the music of civil and human rights, Reggie’s writing, research, field work and recordings have amassed an amazing repertoire of African American music, blending spirituals and freedom songs, the old with the new. A songwriter of great depth and passion, Reggie’s songs reveal thoughts about life and love and some of the deep aspects of the human experience and cover topics from his own personal journey to world issues and history. Reggie Harris has been affiliated with the John F Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education program for over two decades, offering both multimedia performances for students and communities as well as an in-depth workshop for educators at all grade levels. As a founding artist in the John F. Kennedy Center’s Changing Education Through the Arts program, Reggie is a committed teacher and advocate for lifelong learning.
Rhythm…funk…innovation…excitement: that’s the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE). One of the best youth tap ensembles in the world, NCYTE features 40 dancers, ages 8 to 18, who hail from throughout North Carolina. Don’t let the word “youth” fool you. These dancers tear up the floor with poise, passion and professionalism. NCYTE honors the traditions of this unique American form while infusing it with youthful energy, contemporary music, and innovative dances from some of the world’s most talented choreographers. Their educational concerts and demos teach percussive dance styles from around the world and throughout history. Founded by JUBA award winning artistic director Gene Medler in 1983, NCYTE entertains audiences with cutting-edge contemporary choreography along with traditional rhythm tap. NCYTE has toured throughout the U.S. and the world, with performances in Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany and Mexico. The company has toured or collaborated with the Greensboro Symphony, Michelle Dorrance, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Mallarme Chamber Players, and the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, among others.
Zak Morgan’s wit has been compared to Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. Zak has performed more than 2,500 concerts for children since 1999. Zak’s unique brand of music delivers songs and poems with wit and charm that inspire and tickle the funny bones. His performance is filled with musical stories, laughter and warmth as he encourages children to learn through reading, imagination, and believing in themselves. Parents and children will use their voices, creativity and body movements to join in the fun. After earning a B.A. in English from Kenyon College, Morgan worked as Director of Rights Acquisitions for Recorded Books, Inc. and was immersed in the rich offerings of children’s literature. His first CD, “Bloom”, was met with awards and many “Best of” listings and was followed by “When Bullfrogs Croak”. This CD was nominated for a GRAMMY, unusual for an independent release. In 2007 Zak released the DVD “ZakLand” with Hollywood director and producer Jay Silverman. 2011 brought “The Candy Machine”, an album about temptation and the golden rule. In February 2012, Morgan signed with myKaZoo Music/ Universal Music Enterprises and released “The Barber of the Beasts”.
Scott Ainslie is a traditional acoustic Blues singer, guitarist, historian, storyteller, and songwriter. Ainslie graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors from Washington & Lee University but his greatest love was studying with elder musicians on both sides of the color line – in the Old-Time Southern Appalachian fiddle and banjo traditions, as well as black Gospel and Blues musicians. Ainslie transcribed the original recordings and published a book on Delta Blues legend Robert Johnson, Robert Johnson/At The Crossroads (Hal Leonard, 1992), and recorded an instructional DVD on Johnson’s guitar work, Robert Johnson’s Guitar Techniques (Hal Leonard, 1997). Ainslie has six solo CDs to his name and maintains an active recording, performing and teaching schedule that carries him around the country, to Canada, and to Europe. His sixth album, The Last Shot Got Him, has been called “a must for fans of old-school Blues”. Ainslie has received numerous awards and grants for his work documenting and presenting traditional music. These include grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Slide Guitar Festivals’ Living Heritage Award among others.
Farmer Jason is the brainchild of rock music legend Jason Ringenberg of Jason and the Scorchers. An Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Ringenberg is one of the pioneers of the modern Americana and alt-country genres. In 2002 he created Farmer Jason to educate and entertain children about farm life and the wonders of nature. The character is based on his own farming background and love of the great outdoors. As Farmer Jason, he has released 4 records and a DVD. He has starred in the “It’s a Farmer Jason” video interstitial program airing on several PBS stations around the United States, earning one Emmy and 4 Emmy nominations. Farmer Jason’s records have won numerous awards, including the Parents’ Choice Gold Award and the Los Angeles Times’ Children’s Record of the Year list. Farmer Jason has performed several thousand concerts in venues ranging from rural fairs on the Alaskan tundra to posh European performance halls. The highly acclaimed live show involves sing-alongs, dancing, and discussions about nature appreciation, ecology, and farm animals. Although aimed at children ages 2 to 8, everyone is invited to get involved, and they do!
Darion McCloud is the cofounder and creative director of the NiA Company. The creator and Captain of Story Squad. A Riley Institute Diversity Fellow and a Leo Twiggs Scholar, a former President of the Friends of African American Art and Culture affiliate Columbia Museum of Art. Darion is a Indie Grits Fellow and a teaching artist as well as a performer and consultant working with students and all age adults. As a professional storyteller he has performed in venues as varied as prisons and Governor’s Mansions though he may be most fond of being the favorite of many school children. Darion’s directing credits include The Whipping Man, Intimate Apparel, Our Lady of 121st Street, Br’er Rabbit, Fat Pig, What’chamacallit!, Knock Me A Kiss. Some favorite roles include Macduff in MacBeth, Othello in Othello, Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Bernard in Boys in the Band, Actor 5 in Transparency of Val, Other in The White Problem among others.
Vicky has been an avid artist since she first picked up a crayon as a child in Texas. She has been a professional artist most of her life, and since January 2000, it has been in a full-time capacity. She studied drawing at the San Antonio Art Institute and has taken over 15 workshops with various instructors since moving to South Carolina in 2000. She studied design while earning a B.A. in Management at Virginia Wesleyan College. Her work reflects her love of the out-of-doors. She has found that a cotton field, and an abandoned car or barn has as much to say on canvas as a vase of flowers. She feels the need to be a caretaker of the past by immortalizing these subjects on canvas. She is that crazy lady you see parked on the side of the road high stepping though the weeds to get a photo of an old barn or forgotten landscape. These are the things that inspire her. She loves to share what inspires her by teaching others to paint in workshops and art classes.
Jeff Holland is a multi-ethnic percussion instructor who uses his travel experiences to create a “Musical Journey Around Our World” for the participants in his Teaching Artist Residencies and variety of other motivational programs. Through more than twenty years of presentation, these programs have proven to reduce stress in the body, improve focus in the mind, and create connections in each community. Music is the universal language, and rhythm is the most primitive element of music. Everything that makes up our bodies and constructs our world uses rhythm and pattern. Jeff realized the positive affects that rhythm had on his audiences, and then he developed Arts Integration with Academic Standards to make education deeper and more meaningful. Interactive participants are fully engaged one hundred percent, and this opens windows of communication for education, team and character building. He has traveled the world, and always brings back suitcases filled with new-found knowledge and experience. The knowledge from his traditional teachers, the techniques of classical training, and exponential team-building all come together to “Motivate People With The Rhythms of Life.” You can find out more about Jeff and the many branches of his business tree at www.DRUM4WORK.com, www.OURWORLDFESTIVAL.com, or www.DRUM234.com.
Put POETRY BANG in your classroom with a POETRY SLAM, haiku battle, or tableau poem. Be amazed at the rich narratives, strong imagery, and figurative language that your students produce, using Kimberly’s unique Poetic Language Generator! Or stomp, clap, and snap your student’s attention as they have a blast bringing POETRY ALIVE! Assemblies available too! Help students improve their vocabulary across a variety of core subjects! Every child can write! Kimberly is a certified SC teacher, a published poet, a poetry slam champion, and the 2016 Teaching Artist of the Year for Greenville County. Kimberly offers the following: Research-based creative writing; Offering vocabulary building activities to create a context for Social Studies and Science; The Writing Process as explained by a published author; Figurative language and imagery scaffolding for every level of writer; Writing for inclusion and special education classes, as well as ESOL students; Brain breaks and tableau theater activities to help students focus, explore their creativity, as well as how to access prior knowledge and make inferences.
Carol Cannon, Mezzo-Soprano, was born in Rochester, New York, and raised in Maryland. Dr. Cannon received her Bachelor of Music in voice from the Peabody Conservatory of Music. She made her professional operatic debut in Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia (Bianca) with the Chamber Opera Society of Baltimore, Thomas Conlin, conductor. Opera news says, “Carol Cannon’s sympathetic understanding and opulent mezzo enhanced the role of the old maid, Bianca.” Opera says, “Lucretia matched well with Carol Cannon’s impressive Bianca.” Musical America calls her “an exceptional actress”. Dr. Cannon holds a Master of Music from University of Maryland and a Doctorate in Educational Administration and Vocal Performance from East Texas State University. Throughout Canada, Mexico, and the Unites States, Carol Cannon performs concerts and recitals and presents master classes. She had presented lecture recitals at international congresses, conventions, and world forums. She received the Distinguished Participation Medallion at the 31st International Congress on Science, Culture, and Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii. Carol has appeared as soloist with the Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, and National Symphony Orchestras. She is listed in the International Who’s Who in Classical Music, 2002, and in the Dictionary of International Biography, 2006. Visit www.carolsings.com.
The Power Company Collaborative (aka PoCoCo) is a group of dance artists committed to creative engagement and exchanges with all people. Choreographer, Martha Brim founded The Power Company in 2000 to “embrace the idea of power for all people” using dance as a means in practice and performance. Under Brim’s leadership PoCoCo has received numerous honors, awards and grants to assist in creation recognizing the importance of the work for the past 18 years. PoCoCo’s teaching is deeply informed by somatic practices, believing that all bodies dance. Drawing from expertise in movement studies emphasizing physical perception and experience, PoCoCo teaches a broad-spectrum population, from students of all ages, artists across disciplines, incarcerated youth, teachers, to senior adults. Every class is guided by the purpose of cultivating each individual’s power. Audiences appreciate and expect PoCoCo’s non-traditional approach to dance making and performance. Transforming public spaces such as art galleries, abandoned shops, gardens, parks, and bridges into performances spaces, we challenge conventional aesthetics. PoCoCo’s large-scale performance installations collaborating with artists and organizations include: “The Home Project” (2016) Artfields commission; Occupation/Reconstruction” (2015) Historic Columbia Foundation and OneColumbia commission; “My Walk with Kanye” (2013) featured installation in Charleston; and “Pieceworks” (2008) commissioned by 701CCA.
Katherine earned her BFA in Advertising Design at Kendall School in 1982. She worked as an advertiser in Germany for two years. She returned to school in 2009 to Converse College where she completed 33 hours of collective studies in: Studio Art, Art Therapy, Art Ed, Theatre. The last two years she has spent working in the Theatre as a stage manager, prop master and various back stage crew positions. Katherine is currently teaching paint classes and painting commissioned pet portraits. She has painted nearly 200 portraits of dogs and cats. “I find my happiness in watching others find theirs”. Teaching painting classes has opened up her heart. The paint your pet nights are the very best. One student explained it like this “it’s like being able to pet my dog one last time with each brush stroke”. She learns so much about herself with each class she teaches. It is also wonderful watching other people learn something about themselves as they watch their pet emerge on their canvas.
Terri McCord is a visual artist and a poet/writer. The South Carolina Arts Commission awarded her the literary fellowship in poetry for 2001-2002. She has won first place out of 600 entries in the South Carolina Poetry Initiative/The State Newspaper Single Poem Contest. Other awards include finalist standing in the Press 53 Open Awards, Pocataligo Poetry Prize from Yemassee Review, and the Southeast Review. She won the 2007 Don Russ Poetry Prize from Kennesaw Review, and has won awards from the Poetry Society of South Carolina. She has read for the Sundown Poetry Series at the Spoleto Festival and has conducted workshops in the upstate as well as teaching at the college level. McCord received a Pushcart Nomination in 2017. Terri McCord has a degree in English and a second major concentration in art. She also has an M.F.A. in creative writing. She has won several art awards and worked in arts administration. Residencies have included elementary through high school and often utilize self-portrait work in pencil, paint, mixed media/collage, and often combine aspects of visual art with literary arts. Her emphasis is on the myriad facets of communication and critical thinking skills.
Vicky Saye Henderson is a working actor, teaching artist, vocalist and speaker based in SC whose performance projects include live stage, film, television, improv, sketch comedy, commercials, voice-overs, and concert cabaret. She is a company member emeritus with Trustus Theatre (Columbia) where she served on staff as Director of Education. In 2015, she received the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Individual Artist Fellowship in Acting, and was also named the Jasper Magazine Artist of the Year in Theatre in 2013. Residency topics include theatre arts, musical theatre, improvisation, character essence, auditioning, sketch comedy, dramatic writing, juggling and mindfulness. Vicky enjoys creating and customizing interactive cross-curricular residencies, building upon a class’ previous learning to pursue new objectives. She also designs and facilitates professional development units for educators and school personnel in team building, collaboration, improved communication, innovative thinking, problem solving, goal setting, and preparing a collaborative mindset for becoming an arts focused or infused school. Additionally, she is also a certified yoga instructor and offers learning opportunities for students through mindfulness and yoga.
Cecilia Ho of Greenville, SC, was born into a family of designers in Hong Kong. She is a self-taught fiber artist who has been experimenting & creating all kinds of 2D & 3D felt creations with Wool. During her last residence in Nova Scotia, Canada (2006), the local sheep farms influenced her passion and direction into felting and fiber arts. Since her 2013 relocation to the Upstate SC, Cecilia has been teaching private & group felting workshops to all age group in multiple local, regional and national organizations & schools. She has held felting demonstrations at museum, gallery & festival ie Artisphere, across the US and Canada. Cecilia has taken part in multiple juried art exhibitions ie Spartanburg Art Museum “Unnatural History” Dec 2017 – Mar 2018, Flat Out Under Pressure with MAC Committed Award in Jun 2018, & fashion shows like CONTEXTILE in 2016 & Couture for a Cause Recycled Runway charity events in 2017 & 2018. Since 2018, Cecilia has concentrated to offer fiber arts integration workshops at schools through SmartARTS as a teaching-artist. Cecilia also runs STEAM projects & presentations with art communities where both students & teachers have an opportunity to explore Felting Fiber Art while learning academic subjects related to Science, Social Studies, Mathematics & Language Arts. Through SmartARTS, Cecilia has run Arts classes up to 300 elementary students (k4-5th) or 200 middle students (6th – 8th & adaptive) at each unit. All units are based on the SC standards : Color, shapes & Line (K4) ; Wassily Kandinsky Circles (K5 & Adaptive) ;Animal Finger puppet (1st) ; Tall Tale Character & Felt Factory (2nd) ; Civil War Underground Railroad Quilt (3rd) ; Landscape (Westward Expansion & Grant Wood) (4th) ; World War 2 Badge & Georgia O’Keeffe Flower Abstract (5th) ; Heather Brown (6th) ; Vincent Van Gogh (7th) ; & Pablo Picasso cubism portrait (8th). Cecilia always opens to new ideas & creates new project plans based on the teacher’s teaching plan & subjects. Other collaboration like art event at school & art club, Cecilia designs and prepares creative felting hands-on activities based on time, age group, budget, individual or community projects. Demonstration & presentations covering fiber arts integration to teachers & parents are also conducted through SCAEA conference & Greenville Center for Creative Arts.Cecilia loves WOOL because she can “Felt lt. Love lt. Treasure lt.” FELTasticFashion is the business created in 2011 which Cecilia designs & packages all-inclusive felting Do-it-yourself kits for beginners. Cecilia runs private & group felting workshops weekly at various art centers & communities throughout SC, NC & GA. Cecilia also creates customized teaching plan & prepares workshop materials supplies based on the designed project. www.FELTasticFashion.com
Shane Bryant has been a potter since 1993.He was the founder of the William Felton School of Crafts in 2004.He has taught classes through Furman University’s continuing education department, as well as the Spartanburg Museum of Art, where he was the pottery studio manager.Shane served asboard member for Upstate Visual Arts, and Greenville’s First Fridays.Shane has been listed with the SC Arts Commission’sArtist Roster since 2000, and has been an artist in residence for many schools over the years.He has been a teaching artist for MAC’s Smart Arts program since 2004, and was awarded the Smart Arts Teaching Artist of the Year award for 2017.
Spartanburg School District 7 Theater Odyssey Program from 1987-1991(various roles+SC State Theater Competition Champions), 1990 Mr. Black Spartanburg Pageant Winner: Talent-Original Monologue, 1990 USC-Upstate Shoestring Player for Colored Museum (various roles), 1991 Spartanburg Little Theater-Best Performance nomination for roles in Colored Museum, Converse College Summer Theater Camp Superior Performance Award for monologue 1990, 1991 Clemson University 4-H Second Place Performance Award for monologue, Inspirational Players Community Theater Group 1991 (Brother Boxer in “The Amen Corner” by James Baldwin), Spartanburg Methodist College Theater Group 1992 (various roles in “MacBeth Did It”), Second place winner in the University of South Carolina-Upstate Talent Show-February 1998 and 1999; Winner of the Coffee Beanery Freestyle Contest in Greenville, S.C- June 15, 2001; Spartanburg Poetry Slam Winner- January 10, 2004; Member of the Upstate Poetry Slam Team 2004-present and Slam Coach from 2006-present; Featured poet for Band-Aids (AIDS Awareness Program) in Spartanburg, S.C.; Performed at several elementary, junior and senior high schools, universities, and colleges. Regular host at several poetry venues in the upstate; Poem published in Still Home(Book of Spartanburg Poets); 2009 Poetry Slam Instructor for USC-Upstate’s Upward Bound Program; Competed in The Southern Fried Poetry Slam Competitions 2004-present; Competed in PSI’s National Poetry Slam 2004-2018; Special Guest performer at the 27th Annual Evening of Talent Expressions at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium; Featured artist at the Travelers Rest Arts Commission annual Arts Festival October 6, 2007 in Traveler Rest, S.C./ featured poet for the North Charleston Arts Festival May 2008, Stone Soup Story Telling Festival in Woodruff, S.C. in 2009 and 2010/ Featured poet for the Annual Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C., The Peace Day Festival in Charleston, S.C., featured poet for the annual Chautaugua Festival since 2008, one of the artists that opened up for Trey Songz at The Carolina First Center in Greenville, S.C. and opened up for Lyfe Jennings at Epiq in Greenville SC, and at The 3rd Annual Millican Festival in Sumter, S.C. Moody was one of the presenters at the 2011 & 2018 TedX Greenville SC Event, and the 2011 Pecha Kucha Greenville SC. In addition, Moody Black is the Coffee Underground Grand Poetry Slam Champion of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. 2012 Poetry finalist in the 1st Ignite the Mic Talent Show at TD Convention Center, and Champion of the 2nd and 4th Annual Slam Madness Poetry Slam Competition, 2012 and 2018 Grind Flu Magazine Spoken Word Artist of the year, and tied for first place in the Southern Fried Poetry Slam Slam Master’s Slam (2012 Tampa FL and 2013 New Orleans, LA), and co-host and co-organizer of the 22nd Annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam, 2015 National Poetry Awards Host of the Year and Open Mic Venue of the Year. Greetings, and 2017 All Def Poet, 2018 “Endyfire” Radio Legend Award, and Metropolitan Arts Council of Greenville Smart Arts Teaching Artist since 2016 at various schools in the upstate of SC, and Teaching Artist for Chapman Culture Center of Spartanburg, SC since 2018.
Sunny Mullarkey McGowan is a fine artist residing in Greenville, South Carolina. Growing up in the sea islands of the Lowcountry in Beaufort, South Carolina, her love for nature’s beauty and majesty grew. Sunny was accepted into the Governor’s School for the Arts summer program. She later attended Anderson College, then the University of South Carolina. She now resides in the Upstate with her husband and three children, where she is active in the local artists community.Sunny is both a print maker and a mural artist, creating her fine art pieces in her studio located in the arts district of the Village of West Greenville, and has Completed several mirrors around the city of Greenville. She takes great joy in teaching as well. Sunny is a Teaching Artist with SmartArts, an arts integrated education program by the Metropolitan Arts Council in partnership with the Greenville County School District. Teaching relief printmaking to elementary and middle school students is a rewarding and passionate practice for her. She also teaches relief printmaking in her studio and Greenville Center for Creative Arts.
Tim Davis has worked as a professional illustrator and published author for thirty years. With over 500 Hidden Pictures to his credit, Tim teaches workshops for Highlights to train other illustrators in the art of Hidden Picture creation. These lessons are incorporated into an age-group-appropriate curriculum for the classroom.He has written and illustrated eight children’s books: the Mice of the Herringbone series and the Tales of Dust River Gulch series. His latest book, The Island Rule was published in May 2019. It emphasizes the importance of music and cross-cultural acceptance. He regularly teaches writing and illustration at Greenville Tech and Greenville Center for Creative Arts.
By using murals as a vehicle to enrich student learning across the full spectrum of standards, you give students an opportunity to not only surpass what is required from them academically but also the chance to beautify their home school, connect with fellow classmates at a deeper level and learn a whole host of skill sets around a different profession.
Hobey Ford is internationally renowned in the puppetry field; an award-winning performer, and a Kennedy Center Partner in Education teaching artist. Ford has received the highest awards for his brilliant and priceless contributions to the world of puppetry: two-time winner of puppetry’s highest honor, the UNIMA Citation of Excellence, recipient of three Jim Henson Foundation grants, and The Hermitage Fellowship, Hobey Ford is renowned for excellence in his craft. Chosen as a Kennedy Center Partner to teach teachers (and other artists) how to use the performing arts in the classroom curriculum, Hobey not only performs his original works all over the world but also offers workshops to teachers and students alike.
Cecily Smith is a versatile director, theatre education specialist, artist in residence and actor, with extensive performance experience across the US. She is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a BFA in Theatre Performance. She has worked with youth in theatre and musical theatre across the country, most recently as the Youth Drama Director and Teacher at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island.Some of Cecily’s stage roles include Lady Di in Brentwood Blondes (Los Angeles); Carol in Oleanna (Cincinnati) and the lead role of Sarah in the film Blood Proposal. She also starred as Marian in the US premiere of The Edible Woman (Ann Arbor). Cecily was one of the Founders of Girls on the Run Orange County, a non-profit empowering young girls in California. She has created, directed and led youth theatre productions, workshops and classes for children of every age. She is a recently certified actor combatant with Academy of Fight Directors Canada.Cecily is a traveling theatre artist and lives with her family in Toronto.
Eugene has been an Artist-in-Resident for over 30 years, instructing students from Richland to Beaufort Counties, at all grade levels.Communication skills is one of his teaching applications.He combines the teaching of Creative Writing and Public Speaking. This format teaches students much needed – and often feared skills that are necessary for advancement in life.Drama Appreciation – he teaches students the rudiments of drama, and the students actually write and produce stage plays. Drama is a mirror of life – the good, bad, and ugly.
With rave reviews in New York City (Cabaret Scenes Magazine) and hailed as “one of the most celebrated teams” in the Lowcountry (Lowcountry Today), Charleston, SC sisters Gracie & Lacy captivate audiences with their “smooth-as-butter harmonies” (Viera Voice), power-house vocals, intricate tap dancing, and drop-dead-gorgeous costumes!They are best known for their preservation of The Great American Songbook and United States history of the 1920s-1960s.Gracie & Lacy’s unique backstory inspires students that no matter their age or their resources, they can pursue their passion.At the ages of eight and ten, Gracie & Lacy strung a bed sheet curtain on a garden hose across their garage, and thus, “Broadway On The Driveway” was born.Soon off the driveway, the company grew to include a full orchestra, technical team, and casts of up to 90 performers.The annual productions reached thousands of patrons each year, packing the house at local performing arts centers in St. Louis, MO.Gracie & Lacy expanded Broadway on the Driveway’s reach to include performing arts classes in theatre, vocal performance, and dance, serving hundreds of students over the course of 15 years.In addition, their programs have been featured in both public and private schools, universities, libraries, and museums.They host the annual “Great American Songbook Star Search” each year during Piccolo Spoleto Festival to recognize outstanding youth.With infectious humor and wit, Gracie & Lacy relate well to students of all ages and abilities.They emphasize the importance of character and teamwork, and connect students with areas where they can shine, building confidence and leadership skills.They make learning music, public speaking, dance, and history fun, through interactive games, stories, songs, and a trunk full of costumes, props, and more!Gracie & Lacy work with teachers to enhance objectives set forth by the South Carolina Teaching Standards in History / Social Studies, Music, and Theatre, and Dance.They specialize in the history of World War II, Prohibition Era, Charleston, SC History, Songwriting, Choreography, Dance and Music of The Great American Songbook.
Richard Williamson (b. 1962) is Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Coordinator of Music Theory at Anderson University in Anderson, SC, where he also teaches theory, composition, and conducting.He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Eastman School of Music, and Furman University.Dr. Williamson’s primary artistic contributions have been as a composer and conductor.He has published educational and sacred works with various firms, and he has been commissioned by schools, churches, and community ensembles.In 2013–2014 Williamson served as a Fulbright Scholar at the National University of Music in Lima, Peru, returning in 2015 on an Aid to US Citizens Grant.During his time in Peru, he composed and conducted original works for several choirs.One of these pieces, “Alleluia,” received a commendation in the 2018 Cornwall International Male Choir Festival Composers Competition.Dr. Williamson has composed for ensembles of several South Carolina schools and has served as a conductor and clinician across the state.He is currently an artist-in-residence for Southwood Academy of the Arts in Anderson and is an approved artist of the South Carolina Arts Commission.
Mary How, MA, ATR-BC, founder of Full Circle Programs, is an artist, art therapist, coach, teacher and writer with twenty years of experience teaching individuals and groups large and small. She has extensive experience working with diverse populations including children, adolescents and adults with varying skills and abilities.She is a leader serving to enrich students’ (and teachers’) lives, helping them integrate mindfulness, emotional and relational health and stress management skills to enhance students’ abilities to self-regulate thereby enabling happier and healthier learners.Mary holds a BA in art and psychology from Columbia College, SC and an MA in Art Therapy from Norwich University, VT. She is a board certified and registered art therapist who has served on both state and national boards to advocate within her field and is past-president of the South Carolina Association of Art Therapists.As an artist Mary practices mindfulness meditation by creating small mandala circle drawings and larger mandala paintings. She also facilitates community based art experiences using natural or recycled materials, or brightly colored chalks to create large scale mandalas while working alongside group participants to help them understand and assimilate the skills that she teaches.
Kristy Bishop is a fiber artist specializing in weaving and natural dyes in Charleston.She has been involved in education ever since she was the North Charleston Artist in Residence in the 2012-2013 school year. By using techniques and topics of fiber art her curriculum augments what students are currently learning in math, science, and social studies.Using natural dyes, classes explore the scientific theory, critical thinking, all while creating hand dyed artwork.Students will utilize multiplication, fractions, and concrete math concepts through weaving.For social studies, courses discuss indigo’s impact on South Carolina, its importance to the world, and the lowcountry’s connection to West Africa.Through this dye, students create batik resists using African Adire symbols that they choose to represent themselves or families.This is a reflective project that also connects to another culture.All of these topics can be tailored to any grade level so that every student can experience an art form that has been used by humans throughout our history.
Gail Glover Faust is a 40 plus year veteran of the dance arts and education. She owned her own dance studio in NJ and SC teaching ages 2 – 65, for 25 years. As an arts commission artist since 2005 she has worked statewide and has taught dance nationally and internationally. She teaches a variety of dance including African dance, Harlem Renaissance, Motown, Ballet, Tap, and many other techniques. Gail shares with students the cultural, economic, social and historical value of dance and how dance was integrated and was a catalyst for change during the time period. She loves to share her passion and expertise through dance education with all ages. Her interactive professional development workshops serve to stimulate teachers imagination and encourage them to use movement in the classroom. Gail continues to seek out and present a curriculum that engages and educates.
Jugnu Verma grew up in BIHAR, the STATE of the Madhubani region in northern India.The state, part of Mithila, carries a rich pastel of cultural legacy in art and literature.Artistic interests led Jugnu to seek out practitioners of the art from local artists and learn directly from them. Now she practices, popularizesand teaching the art in the U.S.A.Teaching various Indian FOLK art Form such as Madhubani painting, Lippan art, Warli Art, Rangoli, Mixed Media at Columbia Art center.Henna Tattoo at Columbia Museum of Art.Worked at South Carolina State Museum as an EDUCATOR and was on the team of ‘Beyond Bollywood’ Exhibition.
Thad is an entertainer, musician, teaching artist and songwriter.He enjoys giving energetic performances and workshops, sharing his humorous songs and historical ballads, demonstrating how to play a variety of instruments, and writing songs.He is inspired by musical styles ranging from traditional, folk, mountain ballads, old-time and country blues to the roaring 20’s.He plays ukulele, harmonica, guitar, washboard, bucket bass, jaw harp, limber jack and homemade folk instruments for audiences of all ages!His career and involvement as a teaching artist has focused on music and songwriting.He presents over 300 curriculum-related programs a year with individual classrooms for preschool through high school, integrating music with language arts, writing, science, geography and history.These short single classroom arts infusion sessions, provide participatory and engaging arts experiences for the general classroom, as well as music and science classrooms, with a variety of themed programs that he has developed, such as The Pumpkin Life Cycle, The Amazing Monarch Migration, Down in the Swamp, The Science of Sound, Riding the Rails, All Aboard Harmonica workshops, The Frog Life Cycle, The Little Red Reading Wagon, Exploring the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, Longitude and Latitude with a Geo-Musical Attitude, and Ukulele Fun.Residencies explore a variety of topics including science, social studies, history and language arts. Since 1988, he has conducted over 300 week-long songwriting residencies mostly in South Carolina, North Carolina, Kansas, and Nebraska. The workshops provide progressive skill development with core groups for an in-depth understanding of the creative process. His interdisciplinary program combines language arts, lyric writing, composition, and performance.Students collaborate, brainstorm, research, write and revise as they create songs about local history, heritage and culture. Residencies have yielded songs, performances, publications, artwork and audio/video recordings. Successive residencies in the same school/community yield collections of work, sometimes exploring a single topic over a period of time, such as the dust bowl years or exploring the many facets of the culture of a community through its history, employment and significant events.He is also involved in making and playing homemade instruments and facilitating classroom “Bucket Bands” to explore music, performance and songwriting. The students and he often create end-of-residency skits, sets and performances to showcase and document what they’ve created.He continues to seek professional development opportunities through extensive teaching artist training with The Kennedy Center through KU Lied Center Art.teach and Nebraska Lied Center at Lincoln, Wichita Arts Partners, WolfTrap Early Learning Institute, Accessible Arts and is currently involved with several local arts organizations focusing on artist business development.He has also worked with many arts organizations statewide and local in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, North Carolina and South Carolina, WolfTrap Early Learning, Wichita Arts Partners, Kennedy Center, KU Lied Center Art.teach and Salina Arts Infusion a program of Salina Arts and Humanities.Sharing his love of music and the creative process with students and teachers during artist in education sessions has been one of the highlights of his career.
Building on a foundation of five years’ classroom experience (High School /Middle School ELA and Drama, 5th/6th Grade ELA) and drawing on a love for show business Storyteller Tim Lowry has been an independent teaching artist for 19 years. Using the dramatic arts as a vehicle for creative teaching and student exploration Tim integrates education standards from the Performing Arts, English Language Arts, and Social Studies strands. Education units run the gamut from shadow puppetry incorporating Native American star stories and scientific facts about the constellations to dramatic radio plays encompassing facts about World War II and showcasing student writing to coaching sessions with high school drama students studying physical and vocal characterization techniques. No matter the subject matter, there is always an emphasis on literacy. Creative writing, problem solving, team work, and independent study are also integral parts of the units that Tim creates for the classroom. When collaborating with classroom teachers Tim’s ultimate goal is to leave the classroom teacher with a unit theme, lesson plans, and all necessary resources to duplicate the creative experience again and again independent of the artist/specialist.
Zuri Raushannah Wilson-Seymore is poet, yogi, and an actress. In October 2017, she became the Poetry Out Loud Coordinator for the SC Arts Commission. She booked her first major voice over June 2017 with G.E.M. Studios. In 2017-2018 she worked with her editor Al Black on her first poetry book. Her mission is to encourage others to be the life force energy and create unity through diversity for the community by exuding love with poetry, music and movement. The vision of Zuri’s Parallel Worlds and Zuriality is to heal and produce through poetic expression, therapeutic music, and laughter with an embodiment of like-minded spirits, and souls to create life. She is a 2016 honorary graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a master’s degree in Creative Writing emphasis poetry. She has also led poetry workshops under the sponsorship of the City of Columbia and for C.A. Johnson High School in Columbia, SC, as well as, Poetry Meets Screenwriting Workshops for the University of SC in 2015 and 2016. She was inducted in two honorary societies in 2015: The National Leadership & Success Organization and the society of Sigma Tau Delta. For booking or additional information please visit her website http://www.zuriality.com.
Vera Gómez is a firm believer in the power of words. She is a workshop facilitator, performance poet, and a teaching poet. She has been a teaching artist with Greenville’s SmartArt’s program for more than 15 years. Vera uses creative writing and poetry to team with teachers to make curriculum exciting in the classroom. Subject areas of focus include Science, Social Studies, Art, History, Spanish and English.Vera has a poetry collection, Barrio Voices, and her work has appeared in ARCHIVE; State of the Heart: Carolina Writers on the Places They Love, Volume II; Ties that Bind; Quintet; Kakalak and Emrys Journal. She supports collaborative work and hosted a Chautauqua Greenville talk on Caesar Chavez (May 2017); Improv Poetry at Read Up, Greenville (October 2017); lead a panel, Voces Nuevas: Raising Latinx Voices in South Carolina, at the Deckle Edge Festival (March 2019) and Visible Voices with the Greenville County Museum of Art (August 2019).
Stacy is the managing partner of Art & Soul of Aiken, a gallery by artists for artists in Aiken, South Carolina. She is the owner and an artist of O’Sulllyside Studio located southside Aiken, South Carolina, and an instructor and independent professional glass artist with over 40 years of industry experience.
Spirithawk is a Silversmith/Metalsmith producing her pieces the old way.Using a stump and anvil she designs, hand cuts, files, stamps, polishes each piece by hand.She teaches Silversmithing classes in her studio and at the School Of Mountain Arts in Pickens, SC.She is the Metalsmith at Hagood Mill in Pickens, SC and presents show and tell classes for students.
Belton Area Museum Association had her as one of their Heritage Days Traditional Artisans to demo Silversmithing to 1671 students, a very powerful interaction for the kids and her.
Well known for their trademark whimsical approach to storytelling and exquisite puppet design, Grey Seal Puppets offers a variety of puppet performances sure to tickle your fancy.Their repertoire includes a variety of productions from familiar fairy tales (The Emperor’s New Clothes) to original stories (Bathtub Pirates).The company’s thirty-year history includes such honors as three Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA (International puppetry organization), the President’s Award from the Puppeteers of America, and the Award for Leadership in Theatre from the NC Theatre Conference.
Glenis has two posts: as Poet-in-Residence at the Peace Center and at the State Theatre NJ. Her essay, “Poetry as a Mirror,” was chosen as the runner-up for the 2018 Bechtel Prize for the Teachers & Writers Collaborative.Glenis is a Cave Canem Fellow, a North Carolina Literary Fellowship Recipient, and a Kennedy Center Teaching Artist.Redmond’s “Dreams Speak: My Father’s Words” was chosen for third place for the North Carolina Literary Review’s James Applewhite Prize.“Sketch,” “Every One of My Names,” and “House: Another Kind of Field will be published in NCLR in 2019. These poems are about —Harriet Tubman, the most famous conductor of the underground railroad; Harriet Jacobs, who escaped from slavery and became an abolitionist, and the author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl; and Harriet E. Wilson, who was held as an indentured servant in the North.In 2011, she was a founder of Peace Voices, a poetry program dedicated to poetic outreach and engagement in the community through the Education and Outreach Department of the Peace Center for the Performing Arts in Greenville, South Carolina.
For 11 years, James Cannon has provided residencies throughout South Carolina that are student-centered, hands-on, percussion-driven experiences that focus on West African drumming. A typical residency lasts 5 days and culminates with a student led performance on the final day. James Cannon studied West African drumming with Mohamed DaCosta and Dr. B. Michael Williams at Winthrop University. James Cannon lives in Charleston, SC, where he works with the band programs in Berkeley County, providing high-quality percussion instruction on concert percussion, drum set, and world music. He is an active musician, playing jazz drum set throughout the Lowcountry.
Becky started Becky’s Box of Puppets in 1980.From 1980-82 she performed at the Charleston Museum.Shortly after that she auditioned for the South Carolina Arts Commission Artist Roster and was approved.She has performed in schools, festivals, libraries and television.As an approved artist she has conducted residencies mainly with elementary grades.Kindergarten is her love!Although primarily self-taught, as a member of Puppeteers of America, she has traveled to many out of state festivals to learn more about her craft.She participated in a 3 week course at Washington State University and has studied with a famous director ofan acclaimed puppet company from, what was then, Czechoslovakia.She loves bringing her hand-crafted puppets into schools to create a magical experience with studentsthat is enriching while reinforcing lessons of the day.She feels very blessed to share her passion with the children of South Carolina.
Band Bio
Willie Wells – Vocals, Mandolin, Rhythm Guitar, Tenor Harmony
Continuing the family tradition, his father Bill founded, Willie Wells heads up this current version of the Blue Ridge Mountain Grass.Singing lead and tenor, playing Mandolin and Guitar.Willie is excited about the talents of his individual bandmates.They bring many years of performing experience with them to the stage.
Tyler Chasteen –Vocal, Guitar – newest member of the band.He brings his unique talent to the band with
as a lead guitar and vocals.
David Prosser – Vocals, Banjo – David and Don Ashley came to the band as a duo from the well-known Carolina Rebels band, founded by David’s dad Hank.David’s straight-ahead Scruggs style banjo is lightning fast and metronome perfect.He sings lead and harmony.
Don Ashley -Vocals, Fiddle – Don’s hard-driven double stop fiddle style and bass voice is an integral part of the band’s sound.
Tommy Thomas – Bass – Keeping the band’s beat steady and true is bassist Tommy Thomas.He can also walk up and down the neck when called on.
Patrick Russell – Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar and Fiddle – Writing some excellent original material, both melodic and lyrical, plays mandolin, guitar, and fiddle.Band Bio
Willie Wells – Vocals, Mandolin, Rhythm Guitar, Tenor Harmony
Continuing the family tradition, his father Bill founded, Willie Wells heads up this current version of the Blue Ridge Mountain Grass.Singing lead and tenor, playing Mandolin and Guitar.Willie is excited about the talents of his individual bandmates.They bring many years of performing experience with them to the stage.
Tyler Chasteen –Vocal, Guitar – newest member of the band.He brings his unique talent to the band with
as a lead guitar and vocals.
David Prosser – Vocals, Banjo – David and Don Ashley came to the band as a duo from the well-known Carolina Rebels band, founded by David’s dad Hank.David’s straight-ahead Scruggs style banjo is lightning fast and metronome perfect.He sings lead and harmony.
Don Ashley -Vocals, Fiddle – Don’s hard-driven double stop fiddle style and bass voice is an integral part of the band’s sound.
Tommy Thomas – Bass – Keeping the band’s beat steady and true is bassist Tommy Thomas.He can also walk up and down the neck when called on.
Patrick Russell – Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar and Fiddle – Writing some excellent original material, both melodic and lyrical, plays mandolin, guitar, and fiddle.
Clarence is a master artist working in the ARTS ACCESS SOUTH CAROLINA programs serving people with disabilities.He has been active on the South Carolina Arts Commissions Artist Roster since 1981.His residencies have included gifted, general population and talented students as well as special needs.He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators. Richard C. Owen publishes his children’s books.He also has nonfiction, and books of satire available on Amazon.com . His poetry has been published in numerous publications and anthologies.He won the International Golden poet award and has been listed in About the Author.His painting and/or other art works have been featured in national magazines and on Public Television.
EDUCATION
Schiller College, Strasbourg, (set design and direction) France 1978
University of South Carolina, Columbia, B. A. in Art 1977
Fine Art or illustration for NASA, Panasonic, U.S. Army Corps. Of Engineers, War Veterans Home(Percent for the Arts), Anderson, S.C., C & S Bank, Dictaphone, Federal Landbank, NCR, Southern Bank Corp., Westinghouse, Numerous Private Collections
Sharon has had many opportunities over the years to share Tales and Tunes with both students and adults with varying disabilities.This has been through schools with disabled classrooms and camp settings, serving those with special needs. She also works as a music therapist with children with special needs.She always enjoy working with special needs friends.Their creativity and inhibition adds fun, laughter and excitement to the shared storytelling experience!
G’day! Didgeridoo Down Under is one of the most popular K-12 enrichment programs in South Carolina. We specialize in weaving Australia-themed cultural arts, core curriculum, character building, motivational speaking and audience participation into high-energy shows, workshops and residencies. Since 2004, we’ve presented more than 7,000 programs at elementary / middle / high schools, colleges, theaters, festivals and other venues nationwide.The Didgeridoo Down Under Show is a unique fusion of Australian music, culture, art, science, literacy development, comedy, character building, anti-bullying and audience movement / participation. The didgeridoo has been played by Aboriginal Australians for at least 1,500 years, and is known for its otherworldly sound. But DDU is much more than music. It’s interactive, educational, motivational and super fun for all ages! During the show, we play a variety of exotic didgeridoos. We also use a multitude of props – including a vocabulary list, a globe, motivational signs, artifacts, artwork and puppets – to deliver educational lessons and empowering messages. We adjust our programs according to age levels and learning objectives. A study guide is provided for pre- and post-performance lesson plans.We also offer didgeridoo workshops, immersive residencies (2-5 days) and world-class concerts. Visit www.didgedownunder.com for more info.
Brien Engel is an explorer of unusual sounds coaxed out of everyday objects. His main passion is the glass harp, an instrument comprised of 50 wine glasses, which he plays by rubbing his wet fingers on their rims. This enchanting art form dates back to the 18th century, and Brien is one of very few modern practitioners. His repertoire includes pieces by Mozart, Bach, and Haydn, as well as popular standards, movie tunes, ice cream truck songs, and the occasional heavy metal request! In addition to lots of music, Brien incorporates the physics of the glass harp, and science of sound principles in his presentations. He also plays musical saw, bottles, singing bowls, and introduces Ben Franklin’s invention (and the first American musical instrument), the glass armonica. Brien’s show is full of audience involvement as well.This unique presentation has earned acclaim all over the country by countless students, teachers and parents.
Susan Natale, a Certified Drum (Djembe) Instructor, received her certificate at Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy (Winston – Salem, N.C.), a branch of the International School founded by Mamady Keita. She has studied with Grand Masters Mamady Keita and Bolokada Conde and has the privilege of performing with Bolokada at Anderson University. She has plans to travel with Bolokada to Guinea, West Africa in January 2019. Susan continues to study in Winston – Salem and is the administrative assistant for the current drum instructor graduate classes there. Susan founded SEWA Drum School in 2014.SEWA means joy in the West African language, Malinke.Her mission is to spread joy through the djembe.She currently teaches traditional rhythms to adults and children (ages 6 and up).Susan also has a Master of Science degree in Nutrition and a Montessori Early Childhood Certification.The pedagogy she uses is multi-sensory to accommodate all learning styles. Lessons are broken into simplified parts and repeated often to develop mastery. West African drumming introduces students to a culture and music deeply rooted in tradition and has many health benefits including: confidence building, teamwork, cross-lateral movement, muscle coordination, inner tranquility, and joy.
Tiffany is considered a tenacious self-starter who brings strategic conceptual thinking forward!She is passionate about creating new things using traditional or digital media.Tiffany holds a Bachelors’ degree in Animation and has a total work experience of 11 years as a freelancer.She is well versed in different areas of design and has successfully designed solutions for print media, children’s books, and websites. Overall Tiffany is a color-obsessed Artist, Educator, and photographer.
Dave McDonald has built a career as a comics creator and teaching artist based on an award-winning background in television, theme park entertainment and puppetry.He served as head writer for the Scooby-Doo brand of live entertainment for Paramount Parks’ 5 North American theme parks and continues to provide writing services to U.S. & International theme park clients, museums and corporations.He is currently an accredited teaching artist and offers education-based programming to schools, museums and libraries through several state and local arts councils in North & South Carolina.McDonald presents to over 5,000 kids a year in schools with his “Kids Make Comics!” assembly programs and weeklong artist in residencies.He is also a featured kids cartooning instructor through his online “Kids Make Comics!” video series, which can be seen on the classroom reading and learning app, Epic! www.getepic.comand Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/DaveMcDonald
Patrick Marzett was born in Chicago, Illinois.By age 5 his father joined the Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Honolulu, Hawaii where he attended elementary school.He landed in Charleston by the 6th grade and began playing the trumpet through 12th grade. Patrick has a B.A. in Media Arts from the University of South Carolina where he learned photography, video, audio, and other various media. He also has an M.S. in Digital Imaging and Design from NYU where he Learned 2D and 3D design concepts. Patrick currently works in his field of study, for himself, doing freelance multimedia design through his company, planetMarz Multimedia. He also plays the trumpet for several bands and venues and records on various artists’ albums. Some bands include The Dubplates, who’s album has been #1 on the Billboard 100 for Reggae, The Emerald Empire Band, Regina Ferguson, Ben Fagan and The Holy City Hooligans, Stoplight Observations, Elise Testone, and Emanuel A.M.E. Church to name and few.Patrick enjoys watching movies, listening and discovering new music, researching and discovering new things on the internet, and he is also an avid gardener.
PETER GODFREY, (stage name Peter Townes) studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and has a Masters Degree in Text and Performance Studies from Kings College, London. He taught acting techniques at the Governors School for the Arts, Media Studies at Stanmore College and Games Theory at Birmingham University. As well as an extensive resume as an actor in US theatres, TV and films, he was founder and Artistic Director of The Rational Theatre Company, and co-director of Unexpected Developments, Ltd. He wrote texts for both companies, including a musical, and contributed articles to Artscene, Visual Education, Point and Performance Magazine, and theatre reviews to Edge magazine and Creative Loafing. Together with Sue Burford, he toured SC High Schools with SHAKESPEARES LOVERS (AND OTHERS), one week workshop residencies that culminated in a showcase performance. He currently offers TALL TALES FROM WALES, a compendium of lore legend and literature from his country of origin, including original translations of ancient texts and rare radio work by Dylan Thomas.
For over 25 years, Billy Jonas, performer, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator, has perfected the art of original songs performed with a generous dose of audience participation. Jonas performs using voice, guitar, and industrial re-percussion – homemade creations of buckets and barrels, keys and cans, bells and body percussion. Each concert is a soul-spelunking, heart healing, joy-filled journey of spirited music that is accessible to anyone and everyone, regardless of age or cultural background.
Roger Day writes and performs award-winning children’s music that tickles the imagination with infectious tunes and rhythms and inspiring characters. Day has been writing and performing his smart, interactive music for families for over 15 years and is an approved Dove Family Foundation artist and multiple Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner.Roger Day’s concerts are action-filled adventures that exercise both mind AND muscle; both body AND brain. Day keeps his young audiences involved and captivated. These fun concerts inspire each child to discover his and her own talents, give flight to the imagination: to DREAM BIG! and GET YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR! and now in his newest concert, to be INVINCIBLE!
Angela Gallo, Professor of Dance -Coker College, Artistic Director of Sapphire Moon Dance Company. Performance highlights: White Wave Dance Festival, Dancenow Downtown Festival, Dance Theatre Workshop in NYC, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, the Fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists in Canada, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Alabama Dance Festival, Charlotte Dance Festival, Dimensions Dance Festival, and others. She danced with AmDAT: Dance Art Technology (NY), Eisenhower Dance Ensemble (MI), the Power Company (SC) and worked with Ballet Preljocaj (France) and Anou Skan (France). Guest choreographer for Columbia Classical Ballet, Vibrations Dance Company, Power Company.
Angela is often a sought-after guest artist. Instructor at Joffrey Ballet Summer Program, Peridance Center, Hartford Ballet School and guest instructor at Spelman College.
Angela was awarded the SC Dance Associations Advocacy and Honor Awards, grants from the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, South Arts, Kyle Foundation, Black Creek Arts Council and was runner up for the SC Arts Commission’s Fellowship in Dance in 2007.
Angela received MFA in Dance from University of Michigan and BFA from Central Connecticut State University.
Angela is interested in the intersection of life and art- how can we bring cultural change and awareness through our artistic vision.
As an artist, Gina derives so much joy from various forms of sculpture, and any work that provokes thought and imagination.She works primarily with lightweight materials, such as paper in all its forms, and recycled materials whenever possible.She loves creating odd characters and creepy creatures, anything with personality.Puppetry opens up a world of fascinating options.
In her classes, students take inspiration from world culture puppetry arts, and create original characters. They make connections to academic content, tell their own stories, and perform with much less inhibition as they can choose to hide behind the puppets and scenery. In her classes “weird” is okay, original thought is celebrated, and “messing up” artistically is not a fear.Process is emphasized over product.Students learn technique, build skills, retain content.
Each workshop is tailored for each group of teachers and students. Teachers provide the academic focus – standards, content, and objectives, and these inform the puppet and theater styles that are integrated. A workshop may include design, creation of age-appropriate characters, theater games, story-telling, or performance on any scale, from classroom skits in small groups, to school wide productions, through individual and team work. Please see examples on her website.
TEACHING ARTIST & CONSULTANT, ARTS INTEGRATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Presenter: Workshops at the 2014 & 2017 Kennedy Center-VSA Intersections Conferences, “Leveling the Playing Field: Storytelling in the Special Needs Classroom,” “They hate to write!”
Presenter: 2015 Kennedy Center-VSA webinar, “Teach Them to Fly: How Storytelling Gives Primary-age Children with Special Needs Their Wings”
Author: Storytelling Strategies for Reaching and Teaching Children with Special Needs. Co-authored with Lyn Ford. (Libraries Unlimited, forthcoming 2017); Article for Kennedy Center-VSA Newsletter: “Seven Tips for Using Storytelling to Engage Students with Disabilities”
Trainer: Professional development workshops for SPED teachers and teaching artists for the Mississippi Arts Commission: “Arts Integration in the Special Needs Classroom”; trainer on Sensory Storytimes for NEFLIN, SEFLIN, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis County Library, Daniel Boone Regional Library, Utah State Library, Kansas regional library systems: SEKLS, NEKLAS, SCKLS.
Teaching Artist:VSA-Kennedy Center contract with Springboard-St. Louis (serving 27 self-contained classrooms each year for 4 years); Tennessee-VSA residency for high school students with special needs, and dozens of residencies and student workshops in inclusive elementary and middle school classrooms in Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut and Mississippi
25 + years working as a theatre artist-in-residence with schools in SC, NC, FL and LA for the past 12 years, 65-75 schools per year. Also 28 years working in SC schools as a classroom teacher (10 years as a high school English and Drama teacher and 18 years as an elementary and high school principal).Yes, I’m getting on up there. LOL
BA, Wofford College (English)
MEd., University of South Carolina (Ed Admin)
MA, University of South Carolina (Theatre with an emphasis in directing)
My five-day residencies culminate in a full-scale production (Shakespearean or Musical).All production costs: sets, costumes, royalties, music… are included in the residency fee.
I usually work in conjunction with my wife, Dorothy Martin, who is also on the roster.
A professional touring theatre company in continuous operation since 1981.
The company provides sets costumes, scripts and music in conjunction with professional consultation in theatre and musical theatre productions.
Kat wrote and co-produced an ETV video series designed to teach 3rd grade S.C history in an entertaining way for students.The series has been popular with teachers and students, and it won “most watched episode” in 2011 for Episode 5.She is a certified general music teacher, which she taught for 5 years in the Lexington Two school district. After becoming a mother, she taught “creative arts” in an after-school program during her son’s infancy and toddler years.She, then, was hired by Richland School District One, [Columbia, SC] to teach drama at Brennen Elementary School, where she taught for 17 years.During her tenure at Brennen Elementary, she wrote multiple plays based on ELA and history topics.One of her plays on S.C. history later became the series DETECTIVE BONZ AND THE S.C. HISTORY MYSTERY, produced by SCETV.She began teaching in 1982, retired formally in 2013, but continues to work for SCETV, designing arts lesson for their new website for teachers, LEARNING WHY.org , and occasionally teaches as a substitute in local elementary schools.She does this because she enjoys being with young children, and it also it helps her stay current with how children think and learn.
Gilbert Allen, a longtime resident of upstate South Carolina, is the Bennette E. Geer Professor of Literature Emeritus at Furman University, where he taught from 1977 until 2015. He has discussed literature and read his own work at public schools, colleges, literary festivals, writing workshops, and libraries throughout the Southeast. He has appeared frequently on South Carolina Public Radio, and he is listed prominently in Walter Edgar’s The South Carolina Encyclopedia. He was the 2002-2003 recipient of the South Carolina Literary Arts Fellowship from the South Carolina Arts Commission, and his short stories were chosen for the South Carolina Fiction Project Prize on five occasions. In 2007 his sequence of poems “The Assistant” received the Robert Penn Warren Prize in Poetry from The Southern Review, and in 2013 his short story “Trash” received Special Mention in Pushcart Prize XXXVII. He was inducted into the South Carolina Academy of Authors, the state’s literary hall of fame, in 2014. In that same year, Measure Press published his sixth collection of poetry, Catma. In 2016 his collection of short stories, The Final Days of Great American Shopping, was published by USC Press.
Trent Arterberry’s unique brand of physical theatre combines mime, storytelling, puppetry and audience participation. “A proven crowd-pleaser” (The Boston Globe), Arterberry has performed everywhere from New York’s Radio City Music Hall to the QE2 luxury liner. He has given thousands of performances at schools across the US and Canada, and currently offers three different educational programs for elementary, middle and secondary school audiences.
Also an active artist-in-residence, Arterberry has directed performances with upper elementary, middle and high-school students, including plays by Shakespeare, Dickens as well as contemporary and original works.
“Arterberry grabs children from his first entrance with an arsenal of body movements and self-generated sound effects … In short episodes as a racing-car driver, a pilot, a robot, a digital dude, and a puppet named Mr. Bigg, he fascinates his young audience and involves them in trying some of his moves.” —NOW Magazine, Toronto
“Arterberry’s genius is two-fold — storytelling that doesn’t patronize and the agility to make it vastly entertaining.” —Monday Magazine, Victoria
Jef is a mime and variety artist currently performing at fairs and festivals, libraries and schools as The InterACTive Theater of Jef.He has performed at such places as Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, The Strawberry Festival in Fort Mill, the Saluda County and Newberry County Libraries, and Pontiac Elementary in Elgin.He is also a teaching artist, sharing workshops and residencies in mime, mask, physical dynamics, Commedia dell’arte, melodrama and circus arts.
Jef studied Mime with C.W. Metcalf, Tony Montanaro & Jacques Lecoq.He also studied Period Dance & Style with William Burdick, Clowning with Peter Hoff and John Towsen, Acting with Bill Hickey at the H.B. Studio, and Commedia dell’arte with Joan Schirle and Donald Forrest at the Dell’Arte School.
He began his professional career with the TOUCH Mime Theater, performing for folks of all ages throughout the United States.He then created and performed as the mascot Wool E. Bull for the Durham Bulls Baseball Club in Durham, NC.He began his variety arts work as one half of the duo, Ken & Jef.He now performs his wacky brand of theater for children and families as a soloist: combining mime, juggling, clowning and variety arts.
Mahoganee, a South Carolina Native & East Coast based artist blends a Style of Southern Soul, Funk, Jazz, Blues & Hip-Hop (deemed Funky Organik Soul) is a renowned vocalist, recording artist, songwriter and youth educator-mentor with national credits to her name. With over 20 years of experience in her field, she evolves as a consummate personality. Mahoganee is sought to perform at numerous and reputable corporate, private, civic and community events with audiences of dignitaries and 21st century iCons. She has amassed a growing fan base and continually earns respect from her “age-peers” and her “age-seasoned ” audiences. Both groups of supporters appreciate the sultry, earthy, authentic, vocal range spanning more than four octaves, and her commanding acapella stage presence. She has performed for audiences of 20,000 + with music heard in over 24 countries. Her music can be heard on numerous local and national FM/AM radio and internet radio stations.
Joe Rock Edwardshas a BA in Art Educationfrom East Carolina University andwas a North Carolina State Certified Art Teacher with over 30 years of teaching experience. He has worked with children and adults with a variety of learning styles. He has developed teaching techniques that ensure the student will complete works of art they will be proud of even without the benefit of previous artistic study. Demonstrating for classes as well as designing sculptures thatcan be reproduced by other artists means Joe can design a project for your classes that will align with topics and objectives you are doingwithyour students.Joe can capture the attention and mesmerize a class of students with his many anecdotes and board illustrations. Joe creates sculpturesforthe classroomto use as examples and has many videos that can be used either before or after residencies/workshops to enhance the presentation.
Marina Alexandra has established herself as a dynamic performer with a powerful stage presence. Finger Style Guitar Magazine described her as an “amazing player that commands the guitar with world-class technique and musicianship that is uncommon.” She has received awards in several guitar competitions including the Music Teachers National Association State and Regional Competitions and semifinalist in the 6th annual Edwin H. and Leigh W. Schadt National String Competition for classical guitar. Marina has a concert career spanning the last fifteen years, taking her to Piccolo Spoleto Festival, National Public Radio, Allentown Radio, and hundreds of venues including colleges, guitar festivals and museums throughout USA.She has released three albumsincluding; Timeless Enchantment (Baroque, Classical, Modern, and Latin-American music) , A Moment of Magic (modern music by Russian composer, Nikita Koshkin) and Americas from North to South (flute and guitar music). Her albums received high praises from such prestigious music magazines as Soundboard, Classical Guitar (UK) and American Record Guide.
Dottie has a BA in Theatre from Columbia College.She has worked professionally as an actress for touring theatre for 15 years in SC, NC, LA, and FL.She has also worked with approx 65 schools a year for the past 10 years helping schools produce theatre productions for Elementary, Middle, and High schools.
Pantasia is one of the Southeast’s longest-running professional steel bands with performances spanning Ohio to Florida, Barbados, St. Lucia and Hong Kong. For 25 years, Pantasia has been a part of the “steel band movement,” assisting schools with grant writing and instrument acquisition, providing professional development training for teachers, as well as serving as artist-in-residence through educational school assemblies and residencies for more than 350 schools- both in the U.S. and abroad. Its director Kimberly M. Roberts began as a certified teacher in Lexington Two and is now an internationally-recognized steel drum education specialist. Mrs. Roberts is the consultant for steel drum manufacturer Panyard, Inc., is co-designer of the Jumbie Jam steel drum, and author/composer of the instrument’s instruction manual. In 2016, Pantasia furthered the steel band movement by traveling to Hong Kong to establish their county’s first steel band. Teaching at the prestigious Kellett British International School, Mrs. Roberts set up steel bands for students in elementary, middle, and high school. She has also presented at SCMEA and music conventions throughout the United States.Mrs. Roberts is the author of Trinidad’s Musical Journey, Jammin’ Geography- Caribbean Cruise, and the Beginning Guide to the Jumbie Jam.
Kimberly M. Roberts began her career as a certified teacher in Lexington School District Two and pursued her passion for both teaching and the arts as an artist-in-residence in the area of literary arts and music. She has taught in more than 350 schools, as well as dozens of libraries, child development centers, festivals, and Arts camps throughout the United States and internationally.
Mrs. Roberts presents programs on topics including: steel drums, ukulele, “STOMP” percussion, rhythm composition/performance, poetry, creative writing, arts integration, and additional topics which can be found on her website www.SCTeachingArtist.com.
Mrs. Roberts has taught students across the entire age spectrum and has successfully worked with every type of learner including the academically gifted, behaviorally at-risk, and children/adults with severe to profound developmental and physical limitations.
She is the director the Pantasia Steel Band- one of the Southeast’s longest-running professional steel bands and is an internationally-recognized steel drum education specialist through her work with the NAMM Award-winning Jumbie Jam steel drum.
Mrs. Roberts has presented at SCMEA, the SC Book Festival, and music conventions throughout the United States and is the author of Trinidad’s Musical Journey, Jammin’ Geography- Caribbean Cruise, and the Beginning Guide to the Jumbie Jam.
Shannon Ivey, MFA, AEA, is an actress, director, activist, educator, StorySlam maven and Tedx Presenter. She holds an MFA in Acting from UNC Greensboro and a BA in Theatre from Mississippi University for Women.Ms. Ivey has over 20 years of experience teaching theatre, facilitating workshops, directing and devising plays and musicals, as well as creating performative experiences for audiences of all ages.Ms. Ivey facilitates Story Slams, Theatre of the Oppressed workshops, and participatory/ collaborative events to encourage the use theatre and storytelling for social change.Ms. Ivey is the proud founder of the #whatshesaidproject, which uses first person storytelling to empower women of all ages.
FMI: www.whatshesaidproject.com