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Worship Arts Leadership
Michelle Russell – Worship Arts Minister, Intermediate/Advanced Tap Lead Teacher
"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
God began teaching me about His creativity when I was three years old as I started my first dance class in Cleveland, Ohio. Over many years of learning tap, jazz, acrobats and ballet I discovered that dance was a way to bring joy to others and to help them. I continued to learn and teach dance as a teen and as a student at Michigan State University. When I met Jesus at the age of 20, the first thing He taught me was how to pour out my heart to him in worship. Even though I was a music major in college at that time, I experienced a whole new aspect of music as I played my flute to Him and for Him. God healed my soul. I became a musical missionary for several years and then became a Registered Music Therapist.
I have been married to Robert, who is lead pastor of Celebration Church, for 30 years and we have three children, David, Jonathan and Abbie. All of the Russell family, including Robert, have danced at Celebration Church at different times over the years. When Celebration Church Dance Ministry/ Worship Arts Ministry began in 2003, I was excited to get my feet tapping again for Jesus. I have taught dance for over 20 years and continue to learn joyful ways to express my gratitude to the Lord for all that He has done for me.
I also have the honor of being the Worship Arts Minister this year. It is a constant joy and challenge to serve in this incredible ministry and to see the Holy Spirit transform our staff, students and their families.
The most important thing about me is that Jesus is the love of my life. I feel close to Him when I play my flute in worship and when I dance and long to teach others the joy of worshiping Him in Spirit and in truth. Music, dance, art and drama are very important in my life for communicating with God, displaying His creativity, sharing Jesus with others, expressing joy & pain, fighting spiritual battles, serving others, connecting with other believers and staying physically strong. My newest accomplishment and joy is that I have recently become a grandmother to Andrew Thomas and to Foster Jude. I'd be glad to show you their pictures any time.
Tapping for Jesus,
Michelle A. Russell
Contact: marussell@charter.net
Karen Grisenti - Worship Arts Coordinator
Since 2005 our family has been a part of Worship Arts at Celebration. All of our children, as well as my husband and myself, have enjoyed dance classes, fellowship, and discipleship through WAM. The Lord has used WAM to bless our family, and I am excited to be a part of what He is doing through this special ministry.
My family moved to Kingsport when I was 15, and the Lord immediately plugged me into a group of friends and a church where I came to know Jesus as my Savior. After college I met my husband while serving with Youth with Mission for 2 years. We have been part of Celebration Church since 2002 and help with the Family Ministry.
For the past 16 years I have had the privilege of home schooling our children. We have been a part of several co-ops, where I have taught a variety of classes. My current favorite is Plutarch because it is so unexpectedly enjoyable. I have one son and seven daughters, ranging in age from 22 to 6. We have a small farm with dairy goats and chickens. It’s seldom quiet and never dull at our house!
As a mother, above all else I desire for my children to know the Lord personally and to love Him passionately. Through WAM I see them worshipping, hearing from the Lord, being encouraged and shown truth by faithful lovers of Jesus. I am honored to serve in this place where the Lord is growing up worshippers of Him.
Taylor Royston - Administrative Assistant, Advanced Ballet, Contemporary, Acro Dance, & Dance In Worship Lead Teacher
I am so excited to be apart of the Worship Arts team at Celebration! I began dance at the age of 3 and have been dancing ever since. Types of dance I have studied include ballet, tap, jazz, hiphop, contemporary, & tumbling. I have done studio dance my whole life, but when I began college, I was presented with the opportunity to be a part of the ETSU dance team throughout my four years as a student. Now that I have graduated from ETSU, I am ready to start the next chapter in my life. I am so thankful that the Lord has led me to Worship Arts and is allowing me to continue to use my love for dance as an expression of love for Him. Throughout all my life, be it good times or bad, dance has always been there for me. Dance has allowed me to express thoughts, feelings, and emotions in ways words would not allow. For me, dance is a passion and I am happy to be able to share that passion with everyone and use my talent to worship the Lord. I am eager to see how He allows us to grow in dance and in worship.
Contact: tkitzmillerccwam@gmail.com
Hannah Taylor- Communications Coordinator
As someone who has been a part of this ministry since I was 8, I have loved being a part of the Leadership Team as Media/Marketing/Communications Coordinator. I am also on staff at Celebration as the Digital Media Manager.
In my free time, I love to spend time with my husband, sing, song write, playing with my nieces, and traveling.
It has always been my desire to learn how to better use the arts to worship God to the fullest, whether with dance, music, singing or art. I’m honored that I get to share my passions with others through the Worship Arts Ministry!
Contact: hvoudrieccwam@gmail.com
Connie Ward - Event, Serve & Pray Coordinator
More info coming soon!
Contact: cwardccwam@gmail.com
Worship Arts Teachers
Austin Bailey - Acting and Stagecraft Lead Teacher
Austin Bailey is a Christian director, actor, and playwright. His credits include acting in over fifty stage productions, writing and directing four original plays and two musicals, and serving as the sound designer and technical director for two non-profit theatre companies. Currently, Austin lives in Bristol with his incredible wife of four years Alaura and his two bunnies, two ferrets, and a dog. He is looking forward to the amazing things God is doing in the year ahead and hopes you join us for it!
Austin Blythe - Private Voice, Piano, & Ukulele Lead Teacher
Hi! I'm Austin Blythe, a passionate music instructor who you'll often see playing piano on stage during services at Celebration Church. Music has been my lifelong ambition, starting with classical piano at age six. Since then, I've explored many different genres and instruments.
With a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance and Business Marketing from ETSU, I bring a well-rounded approach to teaching. My experience includes extensive vocal training, choral performances, piano competitions, and a national award for music theory.
Whether you're a beginner eager to learn or an experienced musician seeking to refine your skills, I'd love to help you on your musical journey!
Contact: ablythemusic@gmail.com
Randa Blackley
I have sung and performed on a stage my entire life. My first love is leading worship and singing. My second love is acting. I have appeared in several faith-based films since 2019 and have shared the message of Christ through either film or drama on the stage. Using my talents to help someone see Christ on a more personal level is what I LOVE! And the worship arts are a perfect way to do that! I'm here for it!
Contact: rrblackley@gmail.com
Roderick Breem - Photography Basics Lead Teacher
My name is Roderick Breem. First and foremost, I am a lover of Jesus. He has gifted me with the ability to see the world in an artistic and beautiful way. I first became interested in photography while living in Florida. The sunsets were absolutely amazing. So I taught myself photography and purchased an old camera off of Ebay. Landscape photography became the focus. But then in 2016 I stumbled into real estate photography and have been doing it ever since. I have also done portraits, weddings, commercial work, drone photography and more. It is a joy to be a photographer. God has created so many beautiful parts of life that are worth capturing.
Kennah Crumbley - Assistant Teacher
Hi! My name is Kennah Crumbley and I cannot wait to spend time with and minister to all the Worship Arts students! A little about me- I have 7 siblings I have a baking business I enjoy volleyball My favorite thing to do is worship Jesus! I am beyond excited to meet your WAM students and hope that they experience the love and joy of Jesus Christ through us!
Bethany Davis - Interpretive Movement Lead Teacher
Contact: horses4beth@gmail.com
Kayla Davis - Interpretive Movement Lead Teacher
My name is Kayla Davis, and I am 20 years old. I have had a passion for worshiping the Lord through Interpretive Movement ever since I was four years old. My family attended a church in Charleston SC for many years until we moved. At that church there was a worship arts ministry and Interpretive Movement was one of their ministries. My two older sisters and my mother were on the team and I saw how they loved to worship the Lord through IM. I knew that someday I would be beside them praising the Lord. When I was five, I signed up for the team and was doing what I loved. I was with the IM team for four years before my family moved. I have a love for worshiping the Lord through I.M. and I am excited to teach others how. As hobbies, I like to read, paint, ballroom dance, be out in nature, and I love to knit, but my passion is to teach others to praise the Lord through Interpretive Movement.
Contact: kaylagraced123@gmail.com
Tabetha Davis - Assistant Teacher
My name is Tabetha Davis, I’m 17 years old and this is my third year of assisting with the Interpretive Movement team. As much as I love assisting, I’m still glad to be treated like a student sometimes and continue to learn more through this style of worship. I can’t wait to work with some of the younger girls this semester and to be the stunt coordinator for particular songs and people. I love the performing arts as I am an actress, singer, and dancer. Some of my hobbies include aerial hoop, aerial silks, and trapeze. I love rising to new challenges and am always ready to conquer the next stunt or big thing, and if I’m able to honor God through the process it always makes what I’m doing worth it.
Oleg Diulda— Private Percussion Teacher
I am excited to offer you the opportunity to learn how to play the drums to praise God through music! Playing this powerful instrument not only helps unlock your creative potential but also brings you closer to God, allowing you to enjoy the process and the beauty of music.
My main focus is rock, worship, and gospel. My goal is to teach you to a level where you can confidently and joyfully play the drums, enjoying this wonderful instrument and using it to praise God.
From the age of 10 to 13, I taught myself to play drums, and then I had a teacher who helped me make rapid progress. Since the age of 13, I've been playing in a worship band at church and continue this ministry to this day. Over the years, I've gained extensive experience performing at Christian conferences and recording music, including an album with the band Gloryquake. I know how important a good mentor is, and I am ready to help you grow faster.
I work with students aged 13 and older. In our lessons, we will focus on proper hand technique, coordination of hands and feet, and, over time, we will learn to read music and play from sheet music. I will also teach you how to pick out song parts by ear and help you learn any song you’d like.
If you want to learn to play the drums and use this talent to glorify God, I would be happy to help you achieve that goal!
Lance Godsey - Percussion Lead Teacher
I am so excited and humbled to be leading the Percussion Class this year for the 2024-2025 class! As a child I would tap and drum with my fingers on anything in the house that made noise, constantly drawing my Mom's attention. I played drums at Avoca Elementary, and I also sang in the Euclid Ave. Baptist Church Youth Choir from 12 years old till graduation from East HS. I then joined the Navy and sang in the boot camp choir as well. I have sung in the Celebration Choir since 2006 and have always been drawn to percussion in any music genre but focus on contemporary Christian music. I am blessed with natural rhythm and have gained an education in music through numerous choirs, and worship bands I’ve sang with. On a mission trip to South Africa in 2022 the Lord introduced me to a deeper understanding of percussion. Because drums and percussion play such a vital role in bringing music together, I think it is a great instrument to teach young worshippers!
Contact: triathlete66@hotmail.com
Eliana Grisenti - Boys Dance and Pre-Dance Lead Teacher
Hi! My name is Eliana Grisenti and I am 16 years old. I'm so excited to get to start my third year of teaching in Worship Arts classes! I've gone to Celebration Church all my life, and I've been doing things with Worship Arts since I was in early elementary school. I live on a farm, and I have 6 sisters. I love people, animals, dance, drama, and Jesus. I can't wait to start helping your kids learn more about Him!
Contact: efgrisenti2@gmail.com
Kari Grisenti - Assistant Teacher
Hello! My name is Kari Grisenti, and I am 13 years old. I live on a goat farm and have 6 sisters. I have been going to Celebration Church all my life and have been taking Worship Arts classes for several years. I am very eager to continue in my second year as a Worship Arts staff member.
Megan Grisenti – Assistant Teacher
Hello! My name is Megan Grisenti and I am eighteen years old. I grew up on a goat farm and I have six sisters and one brother. I have also volunteered at The Exchange Place Historical Site in Kingsport, TN. I have attended Celebration Church my whole life, and I have been dancing since I was two years old. I have really enjoyed tap especially. I tapped for a few years when I was younger, but I have been taking tap for five years and I have loved every minute. I look forward to being able to help others discover a passion for dancing for the Lord through tap just as I did. Another activity I have enjoyed is piano. I have taken piano for ten years and I am so excited to teach piano lessons this fall! Since I was 11 years old I have been learning sign language. I started in a song interpreting class and I am now pursuing certification in ASL (American Sign Language) at Virginia Highlands Community College. I have assisted in sign language classes at the church and I am thrilled to be teaching Sign Language as well this year!!!! So excited to see everyone as classes begin this fall, I look forward to building a relationship with them and helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Contact: mhgrisenti2@gmail.com
Talia Grisenti - Assistant Teacher
Hi, my name is Talia Grisenti. I am fourteen and I can’t wait to get started helping with drama and pre-dance. Some things you might want to know about me- I live on a goat farm, I like playing piano, and I love kids and animals. I cannot wait to start teaching your kids more about Jesus, drama, and pre-dance!!!!!!
Jaime Harper - Beginner Ballet & Worship Flags Lead Teacher
Contact: jharperccwam@gmail.com
Jamie Henson -Tap Basics Lead Teacher
I started dancing with Academy of Dance Arts when I was 6 years old taking tap, jazz, and ballet. Tap was always my favorite because I loved making music with my feet! I continued dancing until I was a junior in high school and went on to take a couple of advanced tap classes while attending ETSU. At that point life took over, and I hung up my dancing shoes for a while to pursue a career in Organizational Training and Education.
In 2013, God led me and my family to Celebration Church where we not only found our amazing church family; we also found an outlet for worship through the arts. I was blessed to find tap again, taking Tap 2 and 3 and getting the opportunity to praise Him through dance. Tapping is like riding a bicycle- once I put the shoes on, my feet remembered what to do.
I am so excited to get my first experience TEACHING tap this year! While my “day job” has led me to teach and train many students of all ages over the years, the chance to teach worship and praise through tap is an incredible opportunity! As the instructor for Adult Tap, I am hoping to find others who want to make music with their feet with me. We are never too old!
Contact: jhensonccwam@gmail.com
Robin Henson - Private Voice and Piano Teacher
The Lord instilled in me a passion for music that has existed since I can remember. I sang my first solo in church at age 4. Throughout the years, I've had opportunities to sing a variety of styles of music including classical, broadway, choral, country, and more. I also love to sing in other languages. I graduated from Liberty University, and have a Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Studies: Christian Counseling/Special Education/Music. I have experience in vocal coaching as well as directing young adults' and children's choirs. As I began to grow in my walk with the Lord, He gave me a desire to focus on worship music as I longed to sing to Him and to lead others to Him. Currently, I help lead worship at Celebration Church and at various events when the Lord allows. God uses music in different ways: prayer/form of communication to Him, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing, as a creative outlet, and more. I'm grateful to the Lord for the healing He's brought about in my own life through music.
I'm currently available for vocal coaching (any age), as well as beginners piano and basic music theory. While our music focus will be Christ centered, I am beyond happy to focus on different vocal styles. I can also work with you on harmonizing if you wish! I welcome children and adults with special needs (different abilities). Children with special needs such as Autism may struggle to communicate. However, songs often speed up the vocabulary process and oftentimes, a child may sing before speaking. No doubt, God uses music in so many ways! I look forward to working with you!
Psalm 100:1-2- Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!
Contact: robinmh1@gmail.com
Naomi Hollingsworth - Assistant Teacher
Marissa Jones- Assistant Teacher
My name is Marissa Jones and I am assisting in beginning ballet. I have danced with Celebration Church for 10 years. I love The Worship Arts Ministry because it puts two of my favorite things together. I love dancing and it’s always been so much fun to get up on stage and perform. But it's not only the performance that I enjoy, I love to worship Jesus.
Contact: marissabooher2008@gmail.com
Trina Jones - Sew & Serve Lead Teacher
I was raised in the Tri-cities area by my father who was a faithful preacher and my dedicated mother who homeschooled me and my two sisters. Growing up I enjoyed crafting, drawing, painting and creating. In my teen and young adult years, I babysat, nannied and worked in child care and youth ministries. I have a Bachelor of Arts from Lexington Baptist Bible College. I also enjoyed a short career in mural painting and drawing portraits. Then in 2010, I obtained my dream career and became a mother. Now I spend my days homeschooling my three blessings, creating and crafting with them. I began sewing in my young adult years. I learned from my mother and online tutorials. After becoming a mother I began sewing baby items and that is when a true love of sewing ignited in me. This led me to start Sew and Serve in 2018 at Celebration Church. It is my heart and passion to teach sewing (SKILL), God’s heart (SCRIPTURE) and using our talents to minister to others (SERVING). “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” I Peter 4:10.
Contact: tjonesccwam@gmail.com
Jadah Keller - Assistant Teacher
I’m Jadah Keller and I have been blessed to be a part of the Worship Arts Ministry since I was five years old. God has given me so many great relationships inside this program. I was a gymnast for 7 years and am so grateful I can use my skills to teach others about tumbling and to be a light for Jesus. This will be my third year as an assistant teacher for all the tumbling classes and I can’t wait to see what amazing things God has in store for the upcoming semester!
Contact: tmkeller5@yahoo.com
Laurel Lawrence - Teacher
Hi, I am Laurel. I have been blessed to participate in the Worship Arts Ministry for 6 years. Dancing and praising the Lord is my life. There is nothing I enjoy more. I have been blessed by amazing dance teachers that have helped me improve my skills. The Lord has blessed me and I can't wait to teach the Worship Arts students about Him!
Contact: lawrence.laurela@icloud.com
Shane Leonard - Beginning Praise Band, Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Banjo, Mandolin Lead Teacher
Contact: sleonardccwam@gmail.com
Katrina Locklin _ Hip Hope 1.5 and Hip Hop 3 Lead Teacher
Katrina Locklin was previously the director of Urban Grace Dance Ministry in Roan Mountain and is looking forward to the opportunity of joining the staff at Worship Arts. Katrina has been teaching Hip Hop dance for over 30 years nationwide. Originally from Connecticut, Katrina furthered her dance education in Boston MA where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Among her accomplishments, she has performed professionally with several multi-disciplinary dance companies, dance troupes and in community theater. Katrina’s choreography has spanned from school and studio performances and competitions, to full stage productions as well as television and video. Katrina focuses on teaching proper technique in a fun, relaxed atmosphere where students are encouraged to be themselves and learn to glorify God with dance. (Psalm 150:4) Katrina lives in Roan Mountain Tennessee with her husband Jay and children Jacob, Jennifer and Halley. As a family they are currently working towards becoming full time staff at Doe River Gorge Ministries in Hampton Tennessee.
Anya Mashkina - Assistant Teacher
Hello, my name is Anya. I was born and raised in Ukraine. In February 2023, I moved to Bristol and I really like living here with my husband, son, and daughter. I'm a very creative person. I love making interior decorations, knitting, sewing clothes and toys, weaving baskets, and painting pictures. I love everything related to creativity. I also love to cook and grow flowers. And most importantly, I like spending time with children and sharing my experiences with them. So I look forward to meeting your children.
Maddie Sue Means - Assistant Teacher
Loving the Lord and loving dance and twirl is my life. My name is Maddie Sue, and I am 13 years old. For the past 7 years I have been worshipping God with The Worship Arts Ministry at Celebration Church. I have been dancing for the Lord since I was 5 and have loved every moment of it! I have also taken dance with Centre for the Performing Arts and have been in several of the theater productions at Celebration. I have been twirling for almost 4 years at Sullivan Central Middle School and was the team captain this past year. I am currently a West Ridge High School Majorette! Some things I enjoy are: dancing, twirling, reading, swimming, the beach, biking, painting, spending time with my family, and serving the Lord. I look forward to helping children build their relationship with Christ.
Contact: mandjmeans@gmail.com
Joy Moormans - Assistant teacher
Debbie Neilson - Assistant Teacher
I have been coaching gymnastics for 38 years and am currently a national instructor and a national ranked judge for USA gymnastics.
After competing myself, I owned a gymnastics gym for 15 years.
Contact: debbie@king.edu
Hunter Ogden- Parkour Lead Teacher
My name is Hunter Ogden and I will be the Parkour/Ninja warrior teacher for the upcoming year! I have been climbing trees my whole life and that morphed into my love of Ninja warrior and parkour in the past 3-5 years! Because of my passion for the sport, I was recently chosen to compete on the 15th season of American Ninja Warrior television show! I am excited to teach in the Worship Arts Ministry and to build bonds with the old and new students this year!
Jennifer Ogden - Intermediate and Advanced Ballet Lead Teacher
I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and moved to the Tri-Cities area in 2017. I have been happily married to my husband Mark for over 20 years, and we have four amazing children! I started taking ballet at the age of 3 at Barbara Driscoll's School of Ballet. When I was a little older, I trained with Ann Van Norman Gavit at The Ballet Studio and later was trained in both ballet and modern dance as a member of the modern dance company at International Dance Theatre. I was also part of a yearly dance program called The Holiday Gift Program. Our company would take our performances to those who could not attend at a theater, such as nursing home residents and women living at the shelter for battered women. For a short time, I was part of a liturgical dance group that spread the gospel through dance. That was a life-changing experience for me. Contact: redchihuahua77@hotmail.
Sophia Ogden- assistant teacher
Emma Olinger - Art Lead Teacher
Hello everyone! My name is Emma Olinger, and I am a sophomore pursuing a degree in Elementary Education at ETSU. I was homeschooled from an early age and graduated from HomeLife Academy in 2023. During this time, I fell in love with art and found it as a beautiful way to explore God’s creation. I attend Celebration Church regularly and participated in the Worship Arts program when I was a child. That experience helped to strengthen my relationship with God and grow as a person. I strive to spread the love of God to all my students. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, playing pickleball & volleyball, reading, and volunteering. I am thrilled for this opportunity to work with the students and encourage their love for art, while worshipping the Lord. A verse I love to live by is “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”- Psalm 31:24
Contact: olingerer55@gmail.com
Alisa Pylypets - Lead Teacher Faceless People Mime Ministry
Audrey Rice -Assitant Teacher
More info coming soon!
Contact: aricewithchrist@gmail.com
Hannah Rhoton - Assistant Teacher
Hello! My name is Hannah Rhoton, I am 16 years old. My family and I have been attending Celebration Church since I was two years old. I am assisting HipHop 1. I have danced with Celebration Church for four years. The thing I love most about dancing with Worship Arts is that I get to dance while worshiping the Lord, which are my two favorite things.
Hannah Roberts - Assistant Teacher
Dance is my passion. I am 16 and have been dancing for twelve wonderful years. Throughout that time I've learned so much about different dance and teaching styles. I've danced ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, interpretive, and I've dabbled in ballroom. For those twelve years, I've also done theater. I love acting. I play guitar and piano in my free time as well as choreographing dances and crocheting. I've been teaching at the Worship Arts Ministry for the past two years and I love it. One of the best parts of teaching is getting to see the growth of the students throughout the school year. They learn so much so fast! Besides that, I love the opportunity to connect with these kids and learn things from them. God moves so much through this ministry and the hearts of the staff. It is so beautiful when we get to see Him work in the kids' lives too.
Contact: thehobbit3.14@gmail.com
Lauren Roberts - Tumbling Lead Teacher
Hi! I am 18 years old and a sophomore at Milligan University. I am studying Child and Youth Development and would like to pursue a career in teaching when I graduate. In my free time, I love to dance, listen to music, and read. I have been part of the Worship Arts Ministry since I was 9 and started teaching with Worship Arts when I was 13 years old. Since I was 6 years old, I have always enjoyed dancing and tumbling, and have done almost every style of dance, with tap and acro being my favorites! Teaching is a passion of mine, and I absolutely love having the opportunity to teach children how to use their gifts and talents to shine for God and His kingdom. I have been the assistant for tumbling at Worship Arts for almost five years and I am excited to meet all your wonderful children and teach them as their lead teacher this year!
Contact:
Jaden Shaw - Hip Hop 1 & 2, Pre-Dance Lead Teacher
Hi! My name is Jaden Shaw, and to say I’m excited to start teaching at Worship Arts this semester is an understatement! For the last 13 years, I’ve poured my heart and soul into worshiping God through dance. Worship Arts has truly been one of the greatest blessings God has given me. It opened my eyes to what worship can be, and taught me that praising God doesn’t just mean singing along during church service on Sunday mornings. It means glorifying him everyday through my thoughts, actions and through my art.
Each of my teachers has been so encouraging. Each has created a positive environment for me to grow, in both skills and confidence. I am overjoyed to have an opportunity to teach children what worshiping God can be, and how freeing expressing oneself through dance really is.
When I’m not praising God through dance, I'm honoring him by pursuing my nursing classes at Northeast state, singing, playing the ukulele, and crafting.
Contact: jadennshaw@gmail.com
Donnie Snyder- Private Cello Teacher
I am a cellist originally from Texas. My journey with the cello began when I was 4 and has greatly impacted my walk with Christ. Beginning at 4 years old, I did not realize how beautiful music is and how God’s character shines through it. While I was in high school, I was able to participate in the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, Interlochen, and the Aronson Cello Festival, as well as various cello camps. With the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, I was able to tour to Europe twice and perform outstanding music in the composers’ backyard. I decided to pursue a cello performance degree at Samford University and studied under Dr. Samuel Nordlund. While at Samford, I was able to perform in many masterclasses, including a masterclass with Steven Isserlis and the Takács string quartet. I began teaching cello at Samford Academy of the Arts while I was attending college and learned how exciting it was to inspire students to see the beauty of music. After I graduated, I decided to teach full time in the Birmingham area. I held my students to high standards, demanded excellence, and fostered curiosity and passion for the music that God has given us. I am eager to resume teaching since I have recently moved to the Tri-Cities area!
Rebekah Snyder- Private Piano and Clarinet Teacher
Rachel Strand - Private Lesson Lead Teacher
Hannah Strickler - Pre-Dance Lead Teacher
My name is Hannah Strickler and I am 17 years old. My family and I have been attending Celebration Church since I was born. I am the oldest of five children and the only girl in my family. I have been dancing with the Worship Arts Ministry for 9 years and I love it! This is my fourth year as a staff member and I am SO excited to be teaching again. I am looking forward to another wonderful year and can't wait to get to know all of our new students.
Contact: hstrickler0105@gmail.com
Nancy Strickler - Pre Dance and Beginning Adult Ballet Lead Teacher
I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with the Worship Arts program and its students. I am especially thankful to be back working in the arts after a 10-year hiatus. I am a Kingsport native and began my journey in the arts at 5 years old taking ballet and tap classes. I continued my dance experience taking classes and performing with the Academy of Dance Arts, Studio One, Centre for the Performing Arts, Kingsport InterCity Ballet Company, and Hannah’s School of dance. I have experience with ballet, tap, jazz and competition dance. The highlight of my time in the arts is expanding my dance skills through 15 years of performing and teaching color guard (flags, rifles, and sabres) at a variety of award-winning high school and independent programs.
Although the arts have been a big part of my life, my favorite title is “Aunt” and I am proud to be an aunt to 1 niece and 7 nephews, many of whom I’ve been able to watch grow through Celebration’s Worship Arts Program. During the day, I get the privilege of providing therapy to help children heal from the trauma they’ve experienced in their lives, and on the weekends, you will often find me working in Celebration’s nursery loving on your infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
My desire in teaching is to share with your students a love for movement and performing, using it to express emotion in healthy ways and worship God with all of themselves while sharing it with others.
Contact: nancy_strickler@yahoo.com
StellieMay Whitesides - Beginning Tap Lead Teacher
Elisabeth Winters - Crochet, Sew & Serve Lead Teacher
My family has been a part of the Worship Arts Ministry and Celebration Church for the past six years. It has been a joy to see significant growth in both talent and our walk with the Lord through many dance, music, and art classes. I came to know Jesus as my savior while in college and have helped with various missions and mercy ministries throughout the years. For the past 10 years I have homeschooled my children and have had the opportunity to teach several different art and craft classes to children of many ages. Some of my favorite activities are watercolor painting, crochet, knitting, and embroidery. I consider it to be a great privilege and responsibility to serve in this ministry and I am incredibly thankful for it.
Contact: winterymix3@gmail.com
Miriam Winters - Assistant Teacher
Sarah-bel Winters - Assistant Teacher
Contact: winterymix3@gmail.com
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