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Emma Shubin, MM, BM, BA, Dalcroze License & Certificate,
Artistic Director & Co-Founder, Integral Steps Flutist, Suzuki, & Dalcroze Educator About Emma Shubin
Passionate about music, holistic & integrative education, Emma has been joyfully making music all of her life. Both conservatory and life-trained, she has performed and taught internationally as a flutist, a Suzuki educator and Dalcroze Eurhythmics instructor, an approach of teaching music through movement. Her love of ecology led her to a degree in the field and she seeks to make science not only accessible for her students, but to also deepen their awareness and connection to the world around them and the communities they reach - whether from the performance stage, at home, in schools, or in nature. She is represented by the Wm.S. Haynes flute company, and strives to creatively combine and share her love of music, movement, improvisation, performance and ecology with students of all ages. Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Integral Steps, Emma currently is pursuing her PhD at the University of Luxembourg researching the impact of integrating movement with instrumental learning for young musicians.. www.emmashubin.com Courses
Rhythmic Solfège I-V Advanced Dalcroze Instrumental Academy |
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Alejandra O. Hudon, MS, MFT
Co-Founder, Integral Steps About Alejandra Hudon
Alejandra specializes in early childhood development and infant mental health with a focus on attachment and early childhood trauma. Originally from Venezuela, Alejandra has been a licensed Clinical Psychologist in her country since 2006, and holds a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology here in the US. Her early childhood specialization came after training at UCSF Child Trauma Research Program in 2009 and at University of Colorado School of Medicine Harris Infant Mental Health Program. While living in Colorado she worked as a full-time child & family therapist at Aurora Mental Health Center and served as a member at the Colorado Preschool Programs (CPP) Advisory Board. She also became part of the Fussy Baby Network and completed a certification as an Infant Massage Instructor. Alejandra's practice is defined by her diverse background. Growing up as a martial arts pupil of Grand Master Su Yu Chang, she also studied music and was exposed to different mindfulness practices and the benefits of alternative medicine from a very young age. These experiences have led her to strongly believe in the need for an integrative focus to her work, promoting inner-growth through a balanced approach to life. |
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Rebecca Honett, MM, MA, BA
Executive Director AboUT rebecca honett
Rebecca Honett maintains a varied career across education, business, and the arts, bringing a unique body of experience to her new position as Executive Director with Integral Steps. Versed in both the commercial and not-for-profit realms, Rebecca currently owns and operates Honett Studio out of southern Ohio, offering voice, piano, and guitar lessons, and partners with Integral Steps to provide Music and Motion, Piano Moves, and Music Together® classes to her local community. A soprano, Rebecca has performed professionally in both solo and ensemble contexts in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. While on the west coast, she also performed on stage and in film projects, with a particular interest in producing new works. She has worked in arts administration and development for non-profit organizations like the Kaufman Music Center, in Manhattan, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in Boston. In addition to her growing studio, Rebecca continues to own and operate a cabin bed-&-breakfast business on the Ohio River. Rebecca earned an MM in Early Music Performance and a specialization in Voice from the Longy School of Music, in Cambridge, MA, and BA from University of Mount Union, in Music & Theatre in Alliance, Ohio. She lives by the Ohio River with her husband and 5-year-old daughter. |
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Nicole Thomas, BS
Virtual Dalcroze Meet-Ups Manager About Nicole Thomas
Individualistically minded, Nicole loves to support children and adults one-by-one. From developing content that is easily accessible to relaying focused information, she thrives on the harmony produced. Her belief in community has often translated to passionate involvement in local non-profits. In addition, she often heads outdoors to bike with her husband, run marathons with her daughter, and climb 14ers with her son. |
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Ann Suda, BA, MIB
Music Together North Manager and Teaching Artist About Ann Suda
Music has always been an important part of Ann's life. Ann has played flute in the Springfield, MA Young People's Symphony as well as in jazz and marching bands. While earning her BA in Economics and French from UMASS Amherst, she continued with music by playing in the college marching band and symphony. Ann went on to obtain her Master's in International Business from Pepperdine University where she lived and worked in France (and of course brought her flute with her). Ann participated in Music Together® classes with both of her children for a total of seven years and experienced firsthand the joy and learning that took place in and out of class. Ann is a Certified Level I Music Together Instructor and has taught Music Together Mixed Age classes since 2010. She loves how Music Together fosters community music making and enjoys seeing children grow and express themselves through music and movement. Courses
Music Together® |
Malia Van Rooy
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About malia Van rooy
Malia Van Rooy has been musically involved throughout her life starting at a very young age, performing in various ensembles locally, nationally and internationally. Malia is passionate about connecting to people and especially young people through music instruction, focusing on the whole person in lessons. As such, she continues her successful studio in Lafayette, teaching both flute and piano to students of all ages. Additionally, Malia has served on the Lafayette Cultural Arts Commission, bringing grants, arts awareness, networking, and various opportunities to local artists and musicians in the Lafayette/Boulder area. Malia collaborates with band directors teaching flute sectionals in local Boulder Valley schools of all grade levels, and is excited to be a part of Integral Steps as a Music Together teacher and as a teaching artist through the Boulder Philharmonic to children in Boulder County’s Head Start program! Other than music, Malia keeps very busy with her husband, three kids and other passions, including reading, traveling, soccer, snowboarding/skiing, hiking, and camping! Courses
Music Together Head Start Instrumental Academy |
Sara Parkinson
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About Sara Parkinson
Sara Parkinson has dedicated over 25 years to music education, performance, and program development, establishing herself as a prominent figure in the Colorado music community since 2006. She holds degrees in piano performance from the University of Iowa (BM), New England Conservatory (MM), and CU Boulder (DMA, Collaborative Piano). Sara’s leadership in the arts is exemplified by her roles as Director of Education and Community Engagement (2019-2020) and Executive Director (2020-2023) of the Boulder Philharmonic. As an accomplished pianist and conductor, she regularly performs across the Front Range, including engagements with the Colorado Ballet, Central City Opera, PlainsSong Symphony Orchestra, and as founding member of the chamber ensemble Grande Orquesta Navarre, specializing in tango, classical, and original compositions. Most recently, she conducted the PlainsSong Symphony with Calexico at Levitt Pavilion and performed with Devotchka at the Denver Botanic Gardens. |
Weronika Balewski, Dalcroze Certificate, MM, BFA
Teaching Artist & Virtual Dalcroze Meet-Ups Administrator About Weronika Balewski
Weronika believes the Arts have the power to build connection, relationships, and community. This idea is central to her work as a flutist and music educator. A co-founder of Marvento Duo, Weronika performs on modern and Baroque flutes and loves inviting audiences into the magic of music. She is passionate about building a joyful learning environment for her students based on the principles of Dalcroze and Integrative Education. In addition to teaching summer camps with Integral Steps in Colorado, she teaches private flute and piano lessons in her studio in the Boston area and is on the Flute Faculty at the Concord Conservatory of Music. Born in Poland, Weronika brings a lifelong interest in science, history, and foreign languages. She is a graduate of the Integrative Education Fellowship program at Integral Steps. Courses
Rhythmic Solfège I - III Music in Motion Piano Moves Instrumental Academy |
Abigail Olson, BA
Teaching Artist ABOut Abigail Olson
Abigail Olson’s music career inhabits many different spheres. You might find her teaching a 4-year-old beginner pianist, a high schooler learning their first concerto, eurythmics lessons, or a toddler and parent music class. Perhaps you’ll run into her rehearsing for or performing in a chamber music concert, a solo piano recital, or a choral concert. Creating music with others and watching students experience success are her most rewarding moments as a musician. As a teacher, she relishes sharing creativity, listening, and attention to sound production with her students, but she also knows that technical fluency, dedication, and perseverance are the less appealing, but ever-so-necessary ingredients to progress for students. Finding ways to motivate young pianists and encourage joyful repetition is a favorite challenge of hers. With advanced degrees in performance, pedagogy, and collaborative keyboard as well as certifications from The Royal Conservatory of Music and ongoing training in Dalcroze eurythmics, Abigail has a strong pianistic and pedagogical foundation, and both are some of her favorite things to discuss. In her free time, she enjoys trying out new recipes in the kitchen, swimming, learning foreign languages, fellowship with friends and her church family, attempting (and usually failing) to grow another plant, reading a good book, and visiting a new coffee shop. Courses
Music in Motion |
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Tera Girón, BA
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About Tera Girón
Tera Girón holds a BA in Spanish and an elementary education licensure with linguistic and cultural diversity and K-12 ESL certifications. She was a Dual Language and ESL teacher for 16 years during which she received many recognitions including the Colorado Bilingual Teacher of the Year award. Tera now works on developing curriculum for a variety of public, private, and homeschool organizations including Integral Steps. She is passionate about encouraging bilingualism and biculturalism in young children starting with her own son who has been an Integral Steps student for most of his six years of life! Courses
SAMM Summer Camps |
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Amanda Setlik Wilson, DMA, MM, BM
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About Amanda Setlik Wilson
Dr. Amanda Setlik Wilson grew up in Lisle, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. She began piano studies at age four at the Wheaton College Community School of the Arts’ Suzuki program with Sarah Williams. At age 15, Amanda began studying with Dr. William Phemister, a professor at Wheaton College. She attended several summer music programs, including the Suzuki Institute at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Interlochen, Indiana University Piano Academy, and the International Institute for Young Musicians in Cincinnati. Dr. Setlik Wilson continued on to study Piano Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with husband-and-wife team Eugene and Elizabeth Pridonoff. During her time at CCM, Dr. Setlik Wilson attended piano master class programs in Belgium and the Czech Republic as well as an opera program in Lucca, Italy. She graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelors degree from CCM and moved to Boulder, Colorado to study at CU with Professor Doris Pridonoff Lehnert, earning both her Masters and DMA in Piano Performance. Dr. Setlik Wilson specializes in new music and, in particular, the music of Emma Lou Diemer. Diemer wrote a solo piano piece for her in 2012, Toccata for Amanda, which she premiered on her final solo DMA recital in 2014. Amanda commissioned a second piece by Diemer in 2017, titled Variations on “Our Triangle,” to perform with violinist Dr. Mei Mey Segura at the 2017 Mu Phi Epsilon convention. Dr. Setlik Wilson performs regularly throughout the Denver area as a soloist and as part of Peak Duo, her performing group with Dr. Segura. Amanda is a trained Suzuki teacher and has taught privately since age 17. She currently lives in Broomfield with her husband, Michael and her son, and teaches Suzuki and traditional piano lessons in her home studio. Courses
Instrumental Academy |
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Matt Fuller, MM, BM
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About Matt Fuller
Guitarist Matt Fuller is both an active performer as well as a passionate teacher. Some of his performing highlights include several US Tours, a performance at the Kolkata Jazz Festival in India, three years spent as a freelance musician in NYC, and several performances with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. He has over twenty years teaching experience, varying from beginning children to college masters students and professionals. He currently teaches jazz ensembles and guitar classes at Denver School of the Arts and is a faculty member at Rocky Ridge Jazz Camp. Matt runs and teaches at the Lafayette Park Guitar Studio, his private teaching studio in Lafayette, CO. Matt holds a MM degree in Jazz Performance/Pedagogy from CU Boulder, a BM degree in Music Education from Ft. Lewis College, and is a long time student of celebrated veteran jazz guitarist Dale Bruning. For more info, please visit: www.mattfullermusic.com Courses
Instrumental Academy |
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Meet Our Board Of Directors
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Brett Nickerson, B.A.
President of the Board of Directors As a long time resident of Louisville, Brett brings his theater, teaching and corporate business experience to his role as President of the Board of Directors. Having served on the Louisville Cultural Council along with Emma Shubin and currently on the Louisville Recreation Advisory Board, he is intimately familiar with the vibrant and creative local community and is honored to be able to support Integral Steps with their strategy and growth for the future. Brett has performed in local theater for the last 20 years and is proud to watch his own daughter, who has also been a student at Integral Steps, catch the bug for hitting the stage too. He was fortunate to spend 9 years teaching skiing throughout his career in Colorado, Vermont and New York so he has a keen appreciation for experiential learning and helping people overcome fear and frustration to achieve their goal. He is currently a Strategic Alliance Manager at Tech Data and has held marketing and technical positions at GE, NetApp, Arrow Electronics, and Sun Microsystems; bringing his large company experience to support a small/local creative business is a very satisfying way to merge two worlds together and support the Arts. Brett holds a B.A. in Communications and Human Relations from Western Connecticut State University |
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Heather Boak
Secretary of the Board of Directors Heather has lived in Colorado for 20 years and brings with her a strong joy for life and passion for the development and support of growing children. As the mother to Annabelle, Heather recognizes the important role that music plays in the experience of a child and how it supports the development of their kinesthetic awareness and attunement to their own internal rhythms. Heather is a strong believer in the connection between self, music and emotion and is astounded by how the Integral Steps programs help to develop well connected and emotionally grounded human beings. Heather has been the managing partner in a successful holistic Physical Therapy practice in Boulder for 14 years. She feels that her experience in running a business aligns with supporting this vibrant child focused organization. As the parent of a child in the program, she understands the importance of staying focused on the mission of Integral Steps while also prioritizing the needs of the children and families that it serves. As a class parent and a community volunteer she is grateful for the opportunities she has been given to support others in her life. Heather has a deep love of the arts, cooking, the sound and smell of the ocean, hiking, traveling with her family and being immersed in different cultures, spending hours perusing museums and attending music concerts of all kinds. She lives in Boulder with her loving family, her daughter Annabelle and husband Karl, and travels with them often to her birth home at the Jersey Shore to be surrounded by the love of their broader family. |
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Leah Biber Cousin
Board of Directors Member Leah’s music career landed her in Boulder in 2007, when she came to be part of the graduate fellowship wind quintet at the University of Colorado. She spent decades as a clarinetist, teaching and performing, and she was lucky to have been able to travel all over the world, meeting so many wonderful colleagues and performers. Shortly after Leah moved to Boulder, she became interested in sustainable agriculture, and her continued interests and passions in the field led her to gradually make a career switch from music to sustainable agriculture. Over the past 15 years, she has worked on several organic farms in Boulder County, and she currently owns and operates an urban farm in the heart of Boulder. Leah has a passion for community building and knows, without a doubt, that the power of music is capable of cultivating and sustaining life-long relationships. She loves how Integral Steps supports students of all ages and how it seeks to build skills in the arts through mind, body and emotions. Leah lives in Boulder with her family, and when she is not weeding, harvesting or processing vegetables, you can find her running or hiking on the trails. |
