Music Instructors:

Rachel Finley      Rachel has been an Alaskan for sixteen years and an Eagle River resident for thirteen years.  She is an alumni of Eagle River Elementary, Gruening Middle School, Chugiak High School and Armstrong Atlantic State University.  She has sung in several local choirs including CHS Concert Choir and SSA madrigal, Anchorage Concert Choir and the St. Andrew's Youth Choir and Celebration Choir.  She has also sung professionally with choirs in Savannah, Georgia including I Cantori, St. John's Episcopal Adult Choir, St. John's Episcopal Men, Boys and Girls choir, and at Skidaway Island Presbyterian Church.       Rachel has a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts with a focus in vocal music from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia.  There at Armstrong she was taught the Doscher method of singing by Dr. Lucinda Schultz.  Rachel was also the soprano section leader for the AASU Concert Choir and Chamber Singers for four years, the AASU Choral Librarian for three years, and the AASU Choir President for one year.       Rachel currently works as a massage therapist at Studio 49, teaches voice at the Alaska Fine Arts Academy and cantors for the Celebration Choir at St. Andrew's Catholic Church.

Phil Beckett  Phil has been playing and teaching guitar for over thirty years.  Born and raised in Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C., Phil, like many, fell in love with the guitar when he saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show.  Phil has since played in bands from rock, country, bluegrass, blues, jazz and fusion.  He is now employed by the popular Time to Live Band out of Palmer and has his own jazz project with PB's Junta.  Phil is also starting a "School of Rock" held here at the Fine Arts Academy, on the last Thursday of the month, and it has proven to be popular with young players.  Phil stresses chord knowledge, reading, ear training, improvasational skills and also just having fun playing guitar.

Don Curry: An Alaskan by birth, Mr. Curry has taught brass students for twenty years, having had private studios in Michigan, Texas, and Alaska. He holds degrees in Instrumental Music Education from Michigan State University and Library Science from University of North Texas, and was a band director in Texas for fourteen years. Mr. Curry is an accomplished trombonist, having held positions in the Midland Symphony Orchestra (MI) and the South Texas Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has performed with the Lansing and Jackson Symphony Orchestras, Michigan State Trombone Quartet, Rio Grande Valley Trombone Quartet, South Texas Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet, and the West Circle Brass Quintet (MI) with whom he appeared on Michigan Public Television. Mr. Curry has also performed with numerous brass and mixed ensembles, and can be heard on recordings of the South Texas Symphony Orchestra. His primary teachers were Thane Curry, John Duff, and Curtis Olson.

Stephannie Eggebroten: Stephanie Eggebroten holds a five year music degree with emphasis in music education and performance from Grace College. Her former teachers include Evelyn Brue Roeder, Edward Wilcox, Glenn Cherry, and most recently, Russian violinist Olga Yurkova and husband Alexander Klepach of the Ft. Wayne Philharmonic. Her cello teacher was Daniel Zambrano of Quito, Ecuador. She is a self taught fiddle player and violist. Stephanie has played violin for 18 years, cello for 7 years, and viola for 8 years. She established her professional studio in 1997. Her career emphasis’ include teaching string pedagogy, chamber music, music theory , composition, improvisation, and sight-singing. Her experiences include serving as Principal Second Violin of the GCO, First Violin of Grace Chamber Ensemble for 3 years, and solo violin with Dr. Tim Zimmerman and Grace Brass to Quito, Ecuador in 1998. She collaborated with Daniel Zambrano in 2003, successfully developing the Winona Summer Strings Program, a children’s orchestra and musical techniques class. Her appearances have also included electric fiddle/viola with multi-genre group DJF of Milford, Indiana, and recording with King’s Brass in 2000. Stephanie currently plays cello for Anchorage Vineyard Church, as well as electric violin/viola. She teaches classical and traditional strings, as well as Suzuki. Stephanie also enjoys fiddle style / Celtic music for all strings. She teaches group and individual lessons focused on multiple learning styles as well as active involvement of her students. Stephanie commonly mentors younger or less experienced teachers. She is also actively pursuing her master’s degree in string pedagogy. Stephanie has been a member of National Music Educator’s Association and Indiana String Teacher’s Association. Her husband was raised in Northway, Alaska, and together with their son, they have returned to live in the Last Frontier.

Rebecca See Rebecca See is currently a full-time student at the University of Alaska, Anchorage majoring in Flute Performance and Music Education.  She studies with Dr. Laura Koenig and Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Sinfonia, and Flute Ensemble.  She is also an active member of the Alaska Flute Studies Center, the UAA Collegiate Chapter of the National Association of Music Educators (CMENC), and the National Flute Association.  In 2006, she was invited through the Alaska Flute Studies Center to tour New Zealand with the Arctic Wind Flute Choir as a flute mentor.  She was also chosen to solo on piccolo in the 2007 Symphony of Sounds, UAA's most prestigious annual concert event.  Rebecca has been playing the flute since she was in the fifth grade.  She graduated with honors from Service High School in 2003, where she occupied first chair flute in the Wind Ensemble and played piccolo with the Symphonic Band.  Upon graduating, she was preented witht he Band Director's Award from Darrel Kincade for her commitment and enthusiasm for the flute. Rebecca has been teaching independently in the Anchorage area for three years and has recently extended her sights to Eagle River with the Alaska Fine Arts Academy.  Her future goals are to continue her work with UAA and its flute community before attending graduate school.

Art Braendel Art was born and raised in Eagle River and has been involved in music since early childhood.  He got his first guitar in 1964 and has been playing ever since.  He played in rock and roll bands in the 1960's, and has worked in church music programs and served as interim music director.  He attained an Associate of Arts degree from UAA with emphasis in vocal performance and an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Science.  He has performed in many church seasonal presentations as both cast member and vocal performer and was a member of the cast of Captain Bree Scourge of the Sea theatrical performance.  He also performs vocally with the "Evening With Series" at the Alaska Fine Arts Academy.  Art works on sets, sound, lighting and construction.  He is currently President of the Board of Directors of the Alaska Fine Arts Academy.  He is an Army veteran, and retired senior fire officer with the Anchorage Fire Department.  Art presently runs a small excavation and landscaping business. "I want to pass on to others the skills, vision, and joy of performance of the Arts" Laura Storrs Laura has been teaching piano lessons for 8 years.  She grew up taking piano lessons in Anchorage; her instructors include Beverly Holt and Dean Epperson.  After graduating from Bartlett, she attended UAA where she studied piano with Dr. Timothy Smith, and earned her degree in Music.  She then continued on to earn her State of Alaska Teaching Certification.  She taught classroom music at Williwaw Elementary for 4 years, and is currently the choir teacher at Gruening and Mirror Lake middle schools. Pre-School Instructors:

Theater Instructors:

Visual Arts: Kim Girard