Our Staff
Corey
Schwarz
Kristin
Pastoriza
DeeAnn
Perea
Claire
Brewer
Nicki
Torres
Kelli
Walker
Sarah
Shogren
Jami
Hildebrand
Lauren
Isackson
Shannon Holliway
Chris
Mercado
Sarah
Edmonds
BIO COMING SOON!
EXPERT IN: OFFICE MANAGEMENT, BOOKKEEPING, REGISTRATION, PRIVATE LESSON SCHEDULING & CUSTOMER SERVICE
Hometown: Pelham, NY
Most Memorable Gig: I was a student at the School of American Ballet in New York City where I performed in the New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker Suite with Peter Boal (current Artistic Director for PNB) and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Peter was the child Prince, I was a soldier and Baryshnikov was the Cavalier – the star of the show. I bumped into Baryshnikov in the elevator and promptly realized I was taller than he was! I was 10 years old.
Career Highlights: My career as a professional dancer never hit the pavement; instead I graduated from Kenyon College where I met my husband Hugh. We moved to the Seattle area in 1992 and settled in Snoqualmie Valley in 1995 where we enjoy living close to the mountains. It was always a goal to live where there are more trees than people. My passion for ballet and musical theater has lead me to fundraising and becoming a member of the Board of Directors for Pacific Northwest Ballet. I am proud to have raised over $200,000 for scholarship students during the 8 years that I have been involved with PNB STARS. I have also loved being a coach for the Mount Si Lacrosse Club Youth Boys teams from 2011-2018.
My Journey to Big Star: After 10 years in the video production and software manufacturing industry, I became a stay-at-home mom when our boys were very little. Corey & Kathy asked me to join the team at REACH Eastside Performing Arts as the office manager. When REACH closed their doors, there were 25 kids in the musical theater program that REALLY wanted to continue taking classes, and Big Star Studios was born! I am proud to have helped the company as a start-up in 2011.
My Mission: It is my goal to provide a nurturing environment for teachers and students. I love seeing the kids in Snoqualmie Valley and beyond performing, gaining confidence, and learning so much about themselves through our fantastic programming.
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.
Hometown: Stafford, Virginia
Most Memorable Teaching Moment: They say you will always remember your first class and it’s very true. My first year was a major year for me as I learned so much about myself on a professional and personal level. It filled me with fear at the beginning, but it left me elated by the end.
My Journey to Teaching: My mother taught for 34 years, I’ve always been in awe of her. I’ve loved being around kids from a very young age and every job I’ve ever truly enjoyed has been working with children. Whether it’s motherhood or working at an elementary school, being around children has made me a better person. Teaching has been the most draining and challenging job but yet the most rewarding. It’s all about relationships and that I love!
My Mission: To make each child feel valued while teaching them the skills needed to gain confidence in their capabilities. Create a nurturing environment that inspires and reflects their world that is relative to them.
Hometown: Libby, MT
Most Memorable Teaching Moment: My most memorable teaching moment is not one specific event, but it is all the times I’ve seen the light bulb turn on for a student. All the “ah ha” moments!
My Journey to Teaching: I just always knew that’s what I wanted to do. :)
My Mission: To create an environment that is student-centered, self-guided and rich with experimental learning in a relationship-driven environment.
Hometown: Snoqualmie, Washington
Most Memorable Teaching Moment: My most memorable teaching moment comes with a deep understanding that every child is someone's baby. I sent my babies to preschool with all the emotions and tried to connect with each child each day they were in my class. I hope to make memorable teaching moments happen every day.
My Journey to Teaching: I have always loved working with kids and have done so my life. When my son started preschool eight years ago, I also began my journey into teaching preschool. I didn't know that I would find such a deep passion for teaching and a tremendous love of preschoolers.
My Mission: As a preschool teacher, it has never been lost that I am most of these students' first stop on their educational journey. My goal is to make your child feel loved, safe and help them develop a love and excitement for coming to school.
Hometown: Issaquah, Washington
Most Memorable Teaching Moment: Some of my most memorable teaching experiences are observing and engaging with students and seeing new ideas happen which are not planned.
My Journey to Teaching: My greatest accomplishment in life has been raising my three amazing children. I have spent many hours in their classrooms volunteering and working with teachers. My volunteer work over the years has consistently led me to caring for children. Working with children brings me great joy and I love to watch them grow.
My Mission: I am committed to providing my students a welcoming, happy, safe, and supportive environment. I want my students to know that they can achieve anything that they put their mind to. I will help my students to become independent thinkers and develop a love for learning. I will encourage them to try new and exciting things and give them a solid foundation to build on.
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.
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.