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 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 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 Courses
Rhythmic Solfège I - V Advanced Dalcroze Music Together Music in Motion Instrumental Academy |
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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Sorcha Barr-Deneen, MM, BM, BA, CertAM
Director of Operations About Sorcha Barr-Deneen
At Integral Steps, Sorcha's enthusiasm for music, education, and administration combine in her role as Director of Operations. She began working with Integral Steps 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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Nicole Thomas
Program & Communications 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. |
Molly Burt-Westvig, BFA
Social Media Manager About Molly Burt-Westvig
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. |
Melissa Overbury-Howland , MEd, BA
Website & Registration and Teaching Artist Vertical Divider
About Melissa Overbury-Howland
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. Courses
Summer Camps |
Ann Suda, BA, MIB
Music Together Coordinator and Teaching Artist Vertical Divider
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 |
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 - II Music in Motion Piano Moves Instrumental Academy |
Cora Crisman, MA, BM
Teaching Artist Vertical Divider
About Cora Crisman
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. Courses
Piano Moves Music in Motion Music Together Suzuki Piano Summer Camps |
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Tera Girón, BA
Teaching Artist Vertical Divider
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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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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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. |
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. |
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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. |
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. |
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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