Paul studied painting at the Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston. He is juried member of the Art Guild of the Kennebunks, and has won several awards for both his watercolor and acrylic paintings. He exhibits professionally throughout Maine and New England, and is featured on the River Tree Arts fall brochure with his wonderful piece, “The Road a Little Less Traveled.” For more information, click here.

Mikie Ann Boyd has been instructing dance in Southern Maine since she relocated here in 1979. She was classically trained in Cecchetti Method Ballet at Courtney School of Dance in Louisville, Kentucky and the Allegro School of Chicago. Her instructors included artistic directors and ballet masters of the American Ballet Theater and The Saddler Welles Ballet. She was a performing member of the Louisville Ballet Company.

Kelly Bryand is a performing musician and instructor originally from Machias, Maine, and now living in the Portland area. Bryand began playing guitar at the age of thirteen, and in 2003 graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where he studied jazz, performance, and music business. He has performed in various groups across New England in a variety of styles, and has been an instructor both privately, and for organizations such as the Cobscook Community Learning Center in Trescott, Maine, and the Maine Academy of Modern Music in Portland, Maine. Kelly Bryand gives instruction for the guitar, bass guitar, drums, and mandolin.

Greg Bussiere holds a degree in Video Technology and New Media from SMCC. He worked at Nomad Pictures, Inc. as a production assistant making marketing videos for corporations, TV ads and infomercials. At Brunswick Cable TV3 he produced and directed videos for the town of Brunswick. At the same time he taught video at Brunswick High School. There he embarked on various creative projects with the help of students including a documentary about the Brunswick Trinidad (Cuba) Sister City Association and their unveiling of the large mural that hangs on Pleasant Street, a video History of the Alumni from the Old Brunswick High School (just prior to its demolition), podcasted daily the video morning announcements from BHS on iTunes, and organized student produced videos of athletic events that aired on TV3. Currently he is the Technology Leader for Casco Bay High School and Portland High School where he runs the 1 to 1 laptop program for teachers and students.

Juliette is owner and educator of Sprouts Studio where each student is invited to explore their creativity.  Her educational background is in art therapy and her teaching experience includes classes at River Tree Arts, The Morris Farm Trust, and St. Coletta's Day School. Juliette emphasizes childrens’ process, not just the end product. For more information, click here.

Nantz is an artist and educator whose art work is currently exhibited in galleries, museums, corporations and private collections throughout New England. She holds a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Nantz specializes in developing creative, educational programs and environments for a variety of settings. As a Maine Touring Artist with the Maine Arts Commission, Comyns has presented her "Process of Sculpture" workshops and artist-in-residences extensively state wide. She encourages creative collaboration among children to help them learn about their world and their relationship in it.

Sherwin has played, composed and taught piano for most of his life. His works have been performed locally and at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. He began his studies under the tutelage of Lisbet Hoffmann Koehler, a German émigré and concert pianist. He continued his education at Columbia University, where he studied harmony, counterpoint and composition, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1951. Sherwin has to his credit close to 70 compositions. He has served as organist at several churches in the area and is now organist and accompanist at the Congregational Church in Wells.

Richard has been a music teacher for 35 years. He has studied at Gorham State Teacher’s College in Maine, the University of New Hampshire and the U.S. Navy School of Music. In addition to teaching at River Tree Arts, he is an active professional musician having performed with the Portland Symphony Orchestra. He currently plays piano with the Good Memories Big Band and plays flute in a newly-formed woodwind quintet. When not teaching or performing, he repairs wind instruments and introduces woodwind instruments to beginning students in schools throughout New England.

Duane is an accomplished bass musician and teacher currently residing in Biddeford, Maine. He studied jazz at the University of Maine at Augusta with Boston bassist Greg Loughman, Thelonious Monk Institute Award recipient Steve Grover, the composer Richard Nelson, and saxophonist Frank Mauceri. Duane has also studied with jazz heavyweight Ben Allison. Duane has performed throughout New England and Canada, in a variety of groups with styles ranging from rock to jazz to Cuban. Duane currently teaches at River Tree Arts, National Music Workshops, and Midtown Music.

Keith has played and taught fiddle for more than thirty years. He earned his classical chops through a decade of study with Georges Yastremsky, formerly of the National Symphony Orchestra, and through the Rafael Trio's chamber music workshops. He has performed in theatres, centers, and festivals all over New England and beyond, including Washington D.C.'s National Theatre and Kennedy Center. He has recorded with The Barn Owl Band of Iowa, The Art Club, Buddie Shute, and others, as well as commercial and sideman work. Keith is fluent in classical as well as a number of folk fiddle styles. His teaching approach is highly individualized and personal, but always focuses on sound technique, learning both sight-reading and by ear, playing with others, and having fun. Keith makes fiddling an enjoyable, ongoing and natural part his students’ lives.

Barbara comes to River Tree Arts with an extensive background teaching arts and directing early childhood and school-age facilities for over twenty five years. She has combined these skills as a consultant, training educators in the use of arts to develop curriculum, self-esteem, and team skills for Tufts University Education and Community Day Care of Lawrence, Inc. Barbara currently works full time teaching multicultural and literacy based arts classes and piano for Family Day Care and Early Childhood Centers, and Arts organizations in Southern Maine. You may learn more about her by clicking here.

Bill Griffith, owner of Griffith Technology Solutions in Kennebunk, has been working in the field of Computer Science since his early teenage years.  Bill started as a web designer, creating a website for a political party at the age of 14.  He has an extensive knowledge of many web design technologies, such as: HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, Apache, IIS, and most Adobe Products. After building several other web sites, he started his career as an IT support technician working for businesses and individuals in Kennebunk and surrounding areas.  He specializes in advanced networking and computer repair for both PCs and Apples.

Steve remembers the first picture he drew – a cartoon jalopy. He was seven years old. As he filled the blank paper with the bent fenders, torn convertible top and steam erupting from the radiator he began an artist’s journey that continues to this day. Mostly self taught, Steve looks for creative ways to express the amusing, dramatic and beautiful vistas he sees around him. In addition to cartooning and caricature drawing, his subjects include homes, buildings, portraits, equestrian art, pets and scenic views. A major influence in Steve’s cartooning is the Broadway caricatures of Al Hirschfeld. Visit Kennebunk Art Studio Web site.

Mary teaches flute, piano, piccolo, saxophone and voice. She is a graduate of Colby College and the Hart School of Music. She also attended the New England Conservatory in Boston. She performs with the Edith Jones Project, Banish Misfortune and occasionally with the Tim Janis Ensemble. Mary is also a minister of music and a counselor.

Judith brings a feeling of warmth and involvement to her work, using vivid color to accent florals and landscapes. Influenced as a child by her grandmother's watercolors and flowering gardens, Judith brings a bold and colorful approach to her favorite subject matter. As she has developed as an artist, she has increasingly connected to the luminescence and flow of watercolors. Primarily a self-taught artist, she delights in the use of negative space demonstrating the heart and spirit of her paintings.

Dennis grew up in Gloucester, Massachusetts where he soon became a part of the long line of Cape Ann’s contribution to American impressionist painters. Dennis attended Butera School of Art in Boston; was the first student to study the Atelier System at the newly formed Gloucester Academy of Fine Arts; and the studied at Arts Student League in New York City. He was winner of the Charles J. Romans Memorial Award at his very first national exhibit at the Allied Artists of America Show. Dennis is a member of North Shore Arts Association, Rockport Art Association, and the Copley Society of Art. For more information, click here.

Internationally-recognized, award-winning artist Carol Santora is best known for her expressionistic and soulful animal paintings in soft pastel. A Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, Santora (BFA, Framingham State College) is a member of the Pastel Painters of Maine and a juried member of the Art Guild of the Kennebunks. Santora displays her art in her home gallery, Santora Fine Art in Kennebunk, and she is represented by the Wright Gallery and Carver Hill Gallery in Maine and A Horse of a Different Color, Jackson, WY. For more information and to see Santora’s work please visit her Web site.

BIO TO COME

Ronda Verges the founder/owner of a|d|a|m- Academy of Developing Artists of Maine joins River Tree’s faculty with extensive knowledge and experience in both the Fine and Performing Arts. She holds degrees in Expressive Arts in Learning and Teaching, Special and Elementary Education with Minors in Art Therapy, and has over 14 years of experience in the areas of Developing, Implementing, Producing, Directing, and Teaching various theatrical programs. She has a number of directorial credits to her name and has authored various plays and muscials. She has also acted as a Theatrical Consultant mentoring numerous JR Highs and Town Recreation Departments throughout York County as they develop their own unique performing art programs. Her goal is to teach one the sense self from the Inside-out while developing a passion for the ARTS. To find out more about Ronda Verges, visit her Web site.

Russel studied art at Maine College of Art, Heartwood College of Art and the Art Students League of New York. He is a member and showing artist with the Ogunquit Arts Association/ Barn Gallery and the Kymara Gallery. His painting experience includes scenic artistry in theater painting at The Ogunquit Playhouse, Good Theater in Portland Maine and Prescott Park, Portsmouth NH. For more information, click here.