Page Text: EXPERT IN: PIANO & VOICE
Hometown: Fall City, WA
Most Memorable Gig: My life with music began about the age of 7. Singing in the elementary chorus, singing in the church choir and taking piano lessons. I was fortunate to have awesome music teachers all the way through my high school years, including band , chorus and accompanying the younger groups on piano. Every year was filled with competitions. All state, All county and northeast conferences. My education culminated in my graduation with honors from SUNY Fredonia. I had a major in voice and minor in piano.
My Journey to Teaching: After graduation, I taught middle school music in the state of NY. When I moved to the state of Washington, my music became part time. I gave piano lessons in my home and played on the weekend for the church in Snoqualmie. After my sons were grown and gone, I decided to try and do music full time again. I was walking along Center Blvd on the Ridge when I noticed Big Star studios. I went in to inquire about the program and they told me they were accepting new teachers! 31/2 years later, my afternoons are full with young piano students.
My Mission: I love to work with children, whether it be singing or playing piano. If they can grow up loving music as I do, my mission is accomplished.
×
JOE ECK
DRUMSET & PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR
DRUMSET, VARIOUS PERCUSSION, MUSIC THEORY Hometown: Seattle, WA Most Memorable Gig: In 2018 I was very fortunate to perform at the Tanzcafe Arlberg Music Festival in Lech Zürs, Austria. What I didn’t know, was that I was going to be performing on the roof of a ski lodge, located at the top of one of the Austrian Alps. It was a very surreal and beautiful experience, and I sincerely hope that I never have to ride a ski lift to a gig ever again. Career Highlights: Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance from Cornish College of the Arts, Frequent touring and recording around the United States and Europe. My Journey to Teaching: I started teaching very shorty after I started playing drums. It started as kids at school asking for advice, and then quickly turned into parents contacting me to do proper lessons. Performing and teaching drums have been a huge part of my life for many years. My Mission:To give students a strong foundation and understanding of the drumset, rhythm, and to gain self confidence through learning music.
×
Sarah Edmonds
Hometown: Renton, WA
Most Memorable Gig: In the summer of 2017, I had the privilege of touring with Western Washington University's Advanced Chorale through Estonia and Finland. We were able to collaborate with local musicians, sing in gorgeous old churches, and be immersed in a beautiful culture. It was one my favorite experiences with a choir, and one I'm very grateful for.
Career Highlights: In my final year at WWU, I was chosen to perform "Laurie's Aria" from Aaron Copland's The Tenderland for an Americana themed concert by the Concert Choir ensemble. That piece means a great deal to me, and it was a song I had wanted study and perform since my very first voice lesson. That being one of the last times I was able to perform with Concert Choir, it was a really fulfilling, full-circle moment for me.
My Journey to Teaching: While on a gig in south Seattle, I heard the music director mention a non-profit organization he was putting together to provide free music lessons for children who couldn't afford them in the area. I'm passionate about making the arts accessible to everyone, especially young folks, so I happily volunteered my time. I first started as a piano instructor for a few group classes a week, but before I knew it I had a voice studio full of students! I've been very lucky to have had amazing music educators my life, and I hope to pass on some of the life lessons they've taught me.
My Mission: My mission is to create a safe, loving space for a child to grow, express themselves and be proud of their accomplishments! When I was growing up, the community I found in choir and musical theater was what got me out of bed in the morning. Music is something that, even on really tough days, I could do and feel confident in myself and my abilities. I want to be able to pass forward that experience, that feeling, to my students.
×
GAVIN TREGLOWN
GUITAR/UKULELE/BASS INSTRUCTOR
EXPERT IN: ELECTRIC GUITAR (LEAD & RHYTHM), ACOUSTIC GUITAR, ELECTRIC BASS, UPRIGHT BASS, UKULELE, JAZZ MUSIC THEORY Hometown: Snoqualmie, WA Career Highlights: Gavin studied guitar with Davey French for 6+ plus years. At the age of 16, he started to play guitar in multiple cover bands while also participating in the Mount Si Band program. After graduating in 2014, he studied guitar performance at McNally Smith College of Music in MN before studying upright bass at Central Washington University. At Central, Gavin has played guitar for select groups such as the CWU Jazz Band I, and was a part of the CWU Marching Band Leadership Team for two years. My Journey to Teaching: In 2012, during his Junior year at Mount Si High School, Gavin began teaching private and group guitar classes at Big Star Studios before leaving to attend college in 2014. It was during this time that he discovered his passion for teaching. My Mission:To promote creativity and provide students with the skills to become the best musician they can be!
×
Little Stars Preschool, Visual Art + Set Design
Expert In: Art Education, Reggio Emilia practices, carpentry, printmaking, surface design
Most Memorable Gig: As a resolute introvert, I don't have a long history of "gigs" per se, though I do play cello in the Issaquah Philharmonic Orchestra. I've been fortunate to work on a number of memorable projects including designing and building an immersive quiet play space at the Mercer Island Community Center inspired by the local wetlands and its resident frogs and friends.
Career Highlights: Group and solo gallery shows, inventing a new surface design technique, having that technique and, separately, a few of my prints published. I also worked at a hands-on arts and science camp centered around the marine life of the Puget Sound.
My Journey to Teaching: I love teaching! I've worked with kids since I was a kid myself. I even started my college career on an art education path, but the lure of art studios proved too exciting. Once I had children of my own, I had the privelege to work in the art room at my son's cooperative preschool. The dedicated teachers there reignited my passion for education and I've been developing and leading art lessons at elementary schools ever since. Now, I'm thrilled to be a part of the Big Star Family and to work with my teaching partner, Jillian, to bring adventurous creativity and imaginative exploration to our Little Stars friends and beyond! There truly is nothing more fascinating or rewarding than supporting the self-directed work of young minds.
My Mission: First and foremost, my mission is to foster and engage the natural curiosity that is so vibrant in children. But I have a sneaky, second mission and that is to engage young introverts in the fine and performing arts. I grew up as the shy black sheep of a theater/ performance family. Building sets and costumes, lurking backstage and hiding in orchestra pits gave me an incredible sense of belonging and pride in my outcast self and in my backstage work. Whether a child seeks the spotlight, or has never, and will never, set foot on a stage I truly believe in the rich, engaging, inclusivity of the arts.
×
Musical Theatre, Improv, Singing, Acting, Directing
Expert In: Musical Theatre, Improv, Singing, Acting, Directing
Hometown: Snoqualmie, WA
Most Memorial Gig: My Alma Mater, Western Oregon University, put on a production ofUrinetown my senior year. I was never cast in any other show, yet I auditioned my heart out and I was cast as Soupy Sue, one of the poor folks having to pay to pee. I was so grateful to be a part of a production, especially a comedic musical at the college-level! I learned more about being an actress in a show during that production than my four years of high school theatre ever did. I bought my own character to life and got to really act and become a character as opposed to the acting classes I had taken in the previous years at university. Urinetown taught me to love acting in shows again and it is a show and a role I will never forget.
Career Highlights: My magnum opus, if you will, was being the director of a Performing Arts day Camp on Mercer Island last summer. There were three three-week sessions and at the end of the second and third session, the campers put on an officially licensed Disney jr. show. Directing a show in that amount of time is no joke! Together with my co-director, we taught the music, choreographed over thirty songs, and blocked until we went crazy. We took the definition of a "camp show" and turned it on it's head. I couldn't have been more proud of all of them and their dedication and hard work to make themselves shine onstage. Other career highlights include playing Miss Blacklock in A Murder is Announced (my first (and only) lead senior year of high school), Yente in Fiddler on the Roof, and Hades #2 in a summer camp production of Hercules in 2006.
Journey to Teaching: I have been a camp counselor for the past six years, and the reason I have been one for so long is because I love working with kids! I love to share my passions with the younger generations in order to inspire them to find their own passions and let them have fun. I went into college with the idea of becoming a high school drama teacher, after being so inspired by my own high school drama teacher at Mt. Si. However, I decided that teaching high school at the age of 23 is not something that I would enjoy doing. I may go back to school one day to earn my Master's degree in teaching, but for now, my dream is to teach theatre to children!
Mission: One of my favorite sayings ever is "enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm", meaning if someone is willing to be goofy and silly, then the other is more prone to reciprocate. I am all about fun with kids, while also teaching them what I love. My mission is to ignite a spark of love for theatre in the kids so they could possibly grow up and discover their own unique and personalized love for the arts. I want to let them be goofy and silly and have fun acting, because I will be doing the same things with them.
×
Katie Jarvis
MUSICAL THEATER INSTRUCTOR
My Journey to Teaching: I have always been interested in theatre and performing arts. My first singing performance was when I was 3 years old and the love affair has continued from there all through childhood and my teen years. I got both my undergraduate degree and my graduate degree in Theatre Arts and I have been in over 50 shows professionally and in the community. I love sharing what I know with my students and helping bring out the best in them.
My Mission: My mission is to empower, embolden and help heal both students and audience members through performing arts while having fun.
Hometown: Grants Pass, Oregon
Most Memorable Gig: I played the lead in a devised comedy about anxiety and depression called "Happysaddness", where the main character's thoughts were portrayed by muppet-style puppets while all the other actors were human. It was the most meaningful project I have ever been a part of, so incredibly funny, and it facilitated many vital conversations about mental and emotional health.
Career Highlights:
I have loved doing voice-over character work for several animated short films.
I have loved being in plays and musicals both professionally and independently.
I have especially loved tap dancing in many, many shows and teaching tap over the years.
×
Erin Gehrig
Hometown: Issaquah, WA
Most Memorable Gig: My most memorable gig was actually probably here with big star, I was in the summer stock production of charlie brown with all of my best friends. I got to play Linus, which was hilarious because I got to tango onstage with a blanket. Having fun with my friends during summer at big star, what more could you want?
My journey to teaching: I’ve been with big star for a solid eight years now, which feels surreal to me. I am currently a senior on the competition performance team (both hip hop and regular), and when you’re this involved, it’s hard to not get attached. I realized that if I wanted to work I should do something that I really enjoy and that I can easily incorporate into my schedule. For me, Big star was a no-brainer. I really enjoyed being there, and I found it fun working with children. Plus, I had a lot of knowledge that I felt ready to pass onto others. I am very positive that I made the right decision when it comes to work. I enjoy my job, and not many people can say that full-heartedly.
My mission: I really just want to create the environment for the kids that big star created for me. I have always had people who support my decisions, and I’ve always had the freedom to chose how I want to express myself. I find these things paramount when considering a child’s growth. Creating an environment like this will facilitate confidence. Big star has given me one of the best experiences of my life, and I would love having the opportunity to share that experience with your child.
×