Meet Our Staff
info@integralsteps.org
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Emma Shubin, MM, BM, BA, Dalcroze License & Certificate,
Executive Director & Co-Founder, Integral Steps Flutist, Suzuki, & Dalcroze Educator emma@integralsteps.org 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 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 of the natural world around them. Emma strives to creatively combine and share her love of music, movement, improvisation, and biology with students of all ages. www.emmashubin.com |
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Alejandra O. Hudon, MS, MFT
Co-Founder, Integral Steps alejandra@integralsteps.org 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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Weronika Balewski, Dalcroze Certificate, MM, BFA
Instructor and Director of Development weronika@integralsteps.org 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. |
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Cora Crisman, MA, BM
Instructor and Scholarship Coordinator cora@integralsteps.org A dedicated flutist and music educator, Cora believes that the importance of this work is to uplift and bring diverse communities together. Cora combines a foundation of professional performance with a flexible and creative approach to teaching and community building through musical experiences. Through her work with outreach programs such as the Colorado Symphony Orchestra’s Very Young Composers and the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra Outreach Program, Cora strives to use music as a jumping off point for exploration, conversation, and collaboration. In addition to outreach work in public schools and summer programs, she has worked with youth orchestras, coached chamber music ensembles, and taught privately for almost a decade with the goal of connection to music and to each other. In addition to her teaching artist work Cora performs frequently with such groups as the Colorado Symphony, the Colorado Ballet, and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. It is her lifelong dream to integrate music performance, music education, and community in a way that serves the community’s needs most effectively. Cora received her BM from Ithaca College and her MA in Flute Performance at the Royal Academy of Music. |
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Sorcha Barr-Deneen, MM, BM, BA, Certificate in Arts Management
Deputy Director sorcha@integralsteps.org At Integral Steps, Sorcha's enthusiasm for music, education, and administration combine in her role as Deputy Director. She began working with Integral Steps in Colorado during her undergraduate studies before moving to complete her graduate and post-graduate programs in Flute Performance and Arts Administration. Delighted to rejoin the Integral Steps team, Sorcha brings experience as an educator, performer, and administrator from her work in higher education, professional ensembles, youth band and orchestra programs, and volunteer organizations. In her free time, Sorcha travels, enjoys the outdoors, and volunteers with animal rescues, fostering newborn and senior cats. |
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Ann Suda, BA, MIB
Music Together Coordinator and Instructor 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. |
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Kat Fritz: BA,
Music Together instructor, registered Suzuki educator, viola/violin instructor kat@integralsteps.org As a longtime performer and educator, Kat weaves together classical and world music into her teaching, drawing from experiences studying, performing, and teaching in Europe, Russia, Mexico, and the Caribbean. She loves the process of working closely with her students and families, blending the Suzuki and traditional methods of string study. Each small gain is celebrated, knowing that through each accomplishment, a strong technical foundation, deep musical sense, and most importantly, a beautiful heart is developed. Since moving to Boulder in 2011, Kat has worked with various local and national arts organizations including the Center for Music Arts, Suzuki Association of the Americas, Suzuki Association of Colorado, Boulder Suzuki Strings, and the Old Town Suzuki Teachers Association. She teaches individual and group classes in Louisville and Boulder, as the General Music teacher at Horizons K8 Charter School in Boulder, performs in the area, and loves to go on hikes with her dog, Rusty. |
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Yuhsin Tai
Instructor Yuhsin Tai earned her Master of Music Degree and the License/Certification in Dalcroze Eurhythmics from Longy School of Music in 2011. She is specialized in piano, recorder, and improvisation, and music education. Before coming to USA, she was the winner of National Music Competition in Taiwan and was invited to record CDs for music textbooks. YuHsin has been running her piano studio in both Missouri (where she lived before) and Acton (current), while all her students who joined the National Piano Federation Festival got the highest rate, Superior every year. She has over 18 years of teaching experience, had been teaching in Tuft University, the Boston Symphony Outreach Program, etc., and will be joining Concord Conservatory of Music as faculty this fall. She is full of passion to inspire students learning and playing music. |
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Dan Inglis
Music Together instructor dan@integralsteps.org Dan Inglis is a freelance singer, voice teacher, choral conductor, organist and pianist, arranger, and music curriculum consultant. He is delighted to join the Integral Steps team as a Music Together and summer camp instuctor. Dan maintains a busy online private studio, whose students are active nationwide as performers, composers, and voice teachers. Dan recently served as Director of Music of a large program at First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, Massachusetts; as director of the Hampshire College Chorus, the Pioneer Valley Chordsmen, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish; and as a conductor of the famous Fort Carolers at the Student Prince Restaurant. Dan's roles as a tenor include Young Man Patient in The Scarlet Professor, tenor soloist in The Messiah with the Cornucopia Consort, and appearances with Mak'hela: The Jewish Chorus of Western Massachusetts, the Amherst College Concert Choir, the Hampshire College Chorus, a cappella group the Connotations, worship ensemble Part Fire Part Faith, leftist folk trio Red Valley Fog, and solo to promote his folk album "Disappearing Railroad Blues.” Dan has also served as musical director for the Lander-Grinspoon Academy Chorus and Band, The Pirates of Penzance, Passion, and his original scores for the plays Dreaming Inside the Lover’s Eye and Bind Their Wombs. His choirs were featured prominently on WGBY-TV's popular series "Together In Song" from 2011-2015, winning Top Performer in the Adult: Classical and Adult: Barbershop categories. For this series, Dan also served other groups as guest conductor and arranger. |
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Tera Girón, BA
Spanish Instructor 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! |
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Dr. Amanda Setlik Wilson, DMA, MM, BM
Piano & Suzuki Educator 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. |
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Maria Mandico, MM, RYT
Summer Instructor After a year of studying and performing in France, Maria Mandico, MM, RYT returned to her hometown of Colorado Springs to train at Cambio Yoga. Upon finishing her 200 hour training, Maria went on to complete multiple internships, which included a 15-week Adjusting Internship, a 15-week Teaching Internship, and a 15-week Kid’s Yoga Internship, all with an E-RYT mentor. While teaching extensively at Cambio, Maria trained as a Reiki II practitioner, co-created the sold-out workshop, How Far is the East from the West (Christianity and Yoga in modern times), and provided weekly live music for Yoga in the Park in the summers. Inspired by both fellow teachers and her personal journey in musician wellness, Maria develops and leads workshops on Yoga for Musicians: Injury Prevention and Management and has presented at the Bel Canto Flute Institute (Golden, CO) and the Integrated Flutist Festival (Steamboat Springs, CO). Maria is currently stationed in Naples, Italy, serving as a flutist in the Naval Forces Europe Band, where she continues to inspire yogis of all ages through weekly classes for her fellow sailors and through the USO. |
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Nicole Thomas
Program & Communications Manager nicole@integralsteps.org 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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Melissa Overbury-Howland , MEd, BA
Instructor and Website & Registration melissa@integralsteps.org Born in England, Melissa grew up in Greece and experienced a truly international education, becoming a TEFL teacher at the age of 18. Melissa went on to graduate from the University of Cambridge with a Masters in Education and was an English and Drama teacher for 6 years before transitioning to the tech and admin world. Some of her accolades include working with the BBC to create a documentary focusing on classroom engagement and also setting up a teaching program in India promoting non-didactic teaching methods. A strong supporter of alternative and innovative education, she is very happy to be partnering with Integral Steps to ensure multimodal programs reach those in need. |
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Molly Burt-Westvig, BFA
Social Media Manager molly@integralsteps.org Molly Burt-Westvig is a visual artist who believes deeply in making fine and performing arts education accessible and equitable for communities everywhere. Through her work with Integral Steps she takes pride in bringing inspiring stories to our media platforms, giving a glimpse inside our classrooms to showcase how we serve our community. |
Meet Our Guest Staff
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Marci Kalish, BA
Music Together Instructor Marci has been teaching Music Together since 2006. She absolutely loves creating music with children and their families and highly values the community and relationships that evolve in the process of music making. Marci received her BA in Vocal Performance from the College of Music at University of Colorado in Boulder in 1993. In addition to teaching, she currently performs with her trio, Faodail, and larger collaborative, Calliope, an all-women group comprised of local professional musicians. Both groups donate their time and talents performing to raise money for charities and to educate the community on social issues. |
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Danielle Forte, MS, BFA
Summer Instructor danielle@integralsteps.org Danielle’s curiosity was piqued by the melodic flute being played by her neighbor Emma Shubin, and was compelled to learn more about what was happening next door. An instant connection was made, and Danielle became involved in planning and facilitating several community events with Integral Steps, before stepping into her current role. Danielle holds a Master of Science in Museum and Field Studies (where her love for six and eight-legged creatures was born), a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and an Associate’s degree in Interactive Computer Design. Her concurrent experience as the Creative Project Manager for a children’s museum exhibit design firm continues to ignite her passion for alternative and accessible forms of learning and engagement. Danielle is delighted to work with Integral Steps to convey their ideas, mission, and vision in a clear, compelling, and meaningful way. |
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Gregory Ristow, Dalcroze Certificate & License, BM, MMEd, DMA
Associate Professor of Conducting, Dalcroze Educator greg@integralsteps.org Gregory Ristow is associate professor of conducting and director of vocal ensembles at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he conducts the Oberlin College Choir and Musical Union and teaches courses in conducting and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. In the summers, he is instructor of Eurhythmics and conductor of the World Youth Honor Choir at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. He has given workshops on Eurhythmics around the United States and abroad, including conferences with the Dalcroze Society of America. His writing on Eurhythmics appears in the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy, the American Dalcroze Journal, Being Music (The Canadian Dalcroze Journal), and Theory and Practice. Additionally, he is featured in several videos on Eurhythmics for the Dalcroze Society of America's YouTube channel. Gregory holds the Dalcroze Certificate from the Juilliard School (Robert Abramson) and the Dalcroze License from the Longy School of Music (Anne Farber & Lisa Parker). He holds a bachelor's degree in music from the Oberlin College Conservatory, a master's degree in music theory pedagogy, and a master's and doctoral degree in choral conducting from the Eastman School of Music. |
Meet Our Fellows
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Sarah Hicks
Play It Forward Intern From an early age, Sarah has found comfort and inspiration in the power of music and strives to share that power with everyone she encounters. Sarah is currently a student at the University of Alabama studying Instrumental Music Education. Her primary instrument is the French horn, which she has been studying for 8 years now. Sarah is an alumni of the Play It Forward Scholarship Program. Her love for the beauty of music and for serving those around her has led her to pursue opportunities that will help her grow as a person, as a teacher, and as a musician. She is currently teaching as a consultant for the Denmark Danes High School Marching Band and interning for Integral Steps as an ambassador for the past, present, and future of the Play It Forward Scholarship Program. She hopes to one day pursue a career as a band director, utilizing the ideologies of integrative education in the classroom on a daily basis. |
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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Deborah Clem
Board of Directors Member Debby’s long embrace of multi-cultural music and art is rooted in her Swedish-French-Welsh DNA, fed by a peripatetic education in four Western states, the Philippine Islands and Australia, and inspired by family music-making at home. College French and music studies in Wisconsin led her to Paris, then to Colorado to teach K-6 music in Jefferson County with summers studying with Grace Nash in Arizona, then Barbara Grenoble’s 3-level Orff-Schulwerk certification course through Denver University. [Orff is a music education process developed by German composer Carl Orff whereby children learn through song, dance, and movement while accompanying themselves on an elemental “orchestra” of xylophones, drums, recorders and all manner of percussion.] In subsequent years, Debby taught MOPS, directed church choir, organized “Art Moms” to teach Spectra Art at St. Louis Catholic School; and is a longtime member of a piano group with origins in 19th C. Denver. At the Lafayette Center for Musical Arts, she studied and performed for eight years with Faye Nepon and the Broadway Boomers, as well as volunteer work organizing the CMA music library. With Orff colleagues, then the Boomers, she went “on the road” to bring participatory music and Broadway revues to local retirement communities. Since 2013 she has been a student at the Dalcroze Institute of the Rockies and participant in the world-wide Dalcroze community. Peripheral pursuits include telemark skiing, gathering family history, free lance writing, and growing monster house plants. She is looking forward to serving on the Integral Steps Board as she and her husband Steven continue to support the lively arts that enrich our families and communities. |
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Tamara Darnow, CFA, PMP, CAMS-Audit
Treasurer of Integral Steps Tamara’s childhood volunteering at a local non-profit triggered a connection to the aspirations of nonprofits that lives on today. With a lifelong passion for academics and appreciation for the impactful powers of music and arts, Tamara ardently believes in Integral Steps’ unique integrative education mission and partnership in the community. Throughout her financial services oriented professional career, leveraging a MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an economics degree from Northwestern University, Tamara has actively pursued responsibilities with a risk management theme. Her current role focuses on enterprise, compliance, and operational risk areas within KeyBank wherein she also serves as the Corporate Bank Code of Ethics Officer. Never one to stand still, Tamara holds the Chartered Financial Analyst ® designation, among other risk-oriented designations, and is an active season passholder at Copper Mountain in Summit County, CO. |
Some of our wonderful partners, funders and sponsors
For more information, please visit our partnership page
Integral Steps receives funding from:
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We thank our generous sponsors!
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