Andrew Davidson -

Andy Happel Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Happel began playing violin at the age of five. He studied composition at University of New Hampshire, where he formed rock band Thanks to Gravity who released six CDs over the span of its career and toured extensively. In 1995, Happel composed a symphonic work that was premiered by the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra and was profiled on National Public Radio.
Long considered a prolific songwriter, Happel is also a celebrated music producer, arranger and session player with a long resume of commercial and commissioned work under his belt. This includes symphonic compositions, TV and radio commercials and string arrangements (full discography and production credits at www.andyhappel.com). Happel also enjoys playing fiddle and touring with the Don Campbell Band. “Violin is the center piece of this record,” says Happel, who is renowned for his fiery performances on his electric blue fiddle.

Andy is available to teach violin, viola, cello, piano or guitar with us here at Fiddlehead.

Kelly Kirchner holds a bachelor degree in Anthropology from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. Growing up in Yarmouth, Maine, she had the opportunity to take a service trip to Honduras and later to visit the Safe Passage project in Guatemala. These early experiences cultivated a profound interest and appreciation for other cultures and languages.

Kelly also spent three months participating in the "semester at sea" program when she studied and visited several different countries including Venezuela, Brazil, India and Burma. In addition toexperiences tutoring and helping with sessions of "culture camp" (through the Center for Cultural Exchange in Portland, Maine), Kelly most recently spent a year living and teaching English in Valparaíso, Chile.

Wini Marcel -

Wanda Schiche is a graduate of Maine Collage of Art where she majored in sculpture. She is currently an assistant teacher to our FiddleStarts pre school program and teaches a variety of programs in our afterschool classes as well.

Natasha Skala -

Sara Sturdivant -

Jessica Teesdale recently relocated to Maine from Portland, Oregon. She has been teaching pottery, glass fusing and mixed media arts for the past 12 years. She graduated with a BFA from Green Mountain College in 1996. She also has a studio of her own where she makes silk handbags and will be starting a tile making business in the future. She is a camp counselor at heart and has 3 children of her own. Although most of her teaching career as been with adults, she loves working with kids and is so excited to be teaching for Fiddlehead Center for the Arts this year.

Suzanne Drown-Trout -

Keita –Annie Whitten: MSW (master of social work), IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists), KYTA (Kripalu Yoga teacher Association).
Keita is a social worker that became trained as a Kripalu yoga instructor. She specializes in populations new to Yoga, wanting to bring the benefits of yoga to underserved populations. Her services “ Gentle Yoga- On- The- Go,” provides access to populations of color, seniors, individuals with chronic pain, the working poor and cancer patients & their families to improve their overall mood and quality of life.
Keita teaches gentle & restorative forms of Kripalu yoga. Kripalu yoga is a practice of self-compassion and self-acceptance. Classes help to ignite inner wisdom, aligning mind, body & spirit , which calms the nervous system, increasing circulation and lymphatic flow, allowing the body to relax, detox and release stored tensions. Keita teaching style combines elements of yoga Nidra, Bhati yoga, centering, meditation, meditation- in –motion, using gentle hands on assists, breath awareness, affirmations and postures that help strengthen, tone and balance mind, body and spirit. Her classes are beneficial working with trauma, hypertension, ADHD, anxiety, stress, depression, chronic pain, insomnia, and PTSD. Students describe Keita’s energy as calming, grounding and healing, bringing acute awareness to the needs of her students.