Musical Folk About Us

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Liz McNicholl Liz is the Owner and Director of Musical Folk, and a registered teacher of the internationaly renowned Music Together program. Liz offers the Music Together classes in New Haven, Hamden, Woodbridge, Madison and Branford. She is a native of Ireland and came to the US in 1987. Liz enjoyed a nine year career as Assistant manager of the billing department at Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital in NYC, but decided to leave that position to return to music, and to raise her two children, Darragh and Gavin. Liz has been involved with music her whole life, starting at a young age while living in Ireland, and continuing her love of music on stages here in the US . She is a well known folk/celtic singer and has sang throughout the US with the Acclaimed Irish Traditional all female group “Cherish the Ladies”, and now has her own folk band here in the Connecticut area called "The Crickstones". Liz plays the guitar, ukelele, and bodhran (Irish drum). Liz is thrilled to combine her love of music and children as she pursues her journey with Music Together. For more information on Liz's band, please visit her website at www.lizmc.com

Nik Rocklin has always had a passion for music, dance and acting. He still remembers a song he performed when he was in 2nd grade, word for word. Always having much encouragement from his parents, his passion continued to grow. He was involved with musicals throughout his education, which led to receiving a BFA in Musical Theater from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Nik has performed for more than 10 years professionally, all over the world; two favorite places would have to be Holland and Beirut, where he performed the role of Claude in the Musical HAIR. Nik’s dedication to music thrives in his willingness to teach himself how to play instruments such as the guitar, keyboard, and drums. He recently moved to New Haven from Brooklyn, NY, with his wife Jenny, son Rune and daughter Kaia. Being involved in Music Together helps to inspire more love of music in their home. He and his family collect percussive instruments to experiment with (Rune loves the kitchen table best). Nik’s other life-passion is photography, which he has recently turned into a career. He takes pictures of events, portraits, and headshots, but he spends a lot of time capturing Kaia andRune’s enjoyment of life, especially when it comes to music. You can see some of his work at his website, www.nikrocklin.com. Nik is looking forward to jumping into his new role as a Music Together teacher.

Rebecca Geary Rebecca has been involved in music for as long as she can remember. She sang in choruses from middle school through college and was also active in school and community theatres as both an actress and a director. In addition to singing, Rebecca plays the piano and strums a few chords on the guitar. She is a Connecticut certified public school teacher in both music and English. Rebecca taught chorus and drama at Amity Middle School for seven years. She now stays at home (almost) full-time to care for her sons Elijah and Gabriel. Rebecca is thrilled to be joining the Musical Folk team so that she can be a part of spreading the joy of music to the young children in our community.

Carrie Howes has been teaching Music Together for 3 years at Music Together of the River Valley, under the Direction of Jessica Nevins and has just received her Cert I for teaching mastery in June 2009. Carrie has taught at the North Madison Congregational church for Jessica for many years and is continuing to teach at this location. Carrie sizzles with a unique super grooviness and warmth. She has always considered herself musical; singing and dancing have always been part of her daily living. She performed in musicals during her high school years, something she truly misses doing. Now the mother of three boys, Carrie enjoys being musical with them. She experiences firsthand how music can effect their little minds,bodies and souls. Carrie is very eager to bring her enthusiasm for music, creativity and playfulness to other children and their caregivers. She is also a freelance Graphic Designer, holding a BA in Studio Art from SCSU. You will love Carrie's enthusiastic spirit.

Val McKee was first introduced to Music Together as a parent. Having been involved in music and dance for as long as she can remember, and after seeing the amazing effect the program had on her son, Val decided to become a teacher. Growing up in Tennessee, she was the lead singer of sorts in her family's "band" -some of her fondest memories involve singing along with her brothers' guitars in her family living room. Val is also a classically trained ballet and modern dancer who graduated from Walnut Hill School for the Arts and later trained at SUNY, Purchase. She previously taught Dance, and Dance History in the New Haven public school system and continues to dance as often as she can. Val now teaches English at Southern Connecticut State University, but spends her days at home with her 2-year-old son, Carson. Val is now a certified Music Together teacher and is thrilled to be part of the Music Together family!

Nancy McLaren After attending Music Together classes with her son, Alisdair, Nancy became an MT groupie and is now one of our teachers. Nancy has been involved with various musical pursuits since a young age, always finding an excuse to dance and sing at the top of her lungs. Nancy is a native of Connecticut, but left the state for a while to complete a degree in Religious Studies and Fine Art at Colgate University, followed by some time climbing and singing around Boulder, CO and several years doing much of the same in Scotland. Nancy returned to the US in 2003 to begin her Masters degree in Divinity at Yale Divinity School, and then worked in South Boston for two years. While in Boston, Nancy had the opportunity to direct an afterschool program that provided under privileged children opportunities to explore art and music. It was then that Nancy realized the profound impact that music can have on children, on their sense of self and connectedness to one another. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Nancy is now the Pastor for Family and Children's Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of New Haven, and will be joining Music Together's staff part time this fall. She looks forward to sharing with your family the joy that Music Together brings to her family! joy of music to the young children in our community.

__________________________________________________________________________________

		Liz McNicholl Liz is the Owner and Director of Musical Folk, and a registered teacher of the internationaly renowned Music Together program. Liz offers the Music Together classes in New Haven, Hamden, Woodbridge, Madison and Branford. She is a native of Ireland and came to the US in 1987. Liz enjoyed a nine year career as Assistant manager of the billing department at Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital in NYC, but decided to leave that position to return to music, and to raise her two children, Darragh and Gavin. Liz has been involved with music her whole life, starting at a young age while living in Ireland, and continuing her love of music on stages here in the US . She is a well known folk/celtic singer and has sang throughout the US with the Acclaimed Irish Traditional all female group “Cherish the Ladies”, and now has her own folk band here in the Connecticut area called "The Crickstones". Liz plays the guitar, ukelele, and bodhran (Irish drum). Liz is thrilled to combine her love of music and children as she pursues her journey with Music Together. For more information on Liz's band, please visit her website at www.lizmc.com
		Nik Rocklin has always had a passion for music, dance and acting. He still remembers a song he performed when he was in 2nd grade, word for word. Always having much encouragement from his parents, his passion continued to grow. He was involved with musicals throughout his education, which led to receiving a BFA in Musical Theater from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Nik has performed for more than 10 years professionally, all over the world; two favorite places would have to be Holland and Beirut, where he performed the role of Claude in the Musical HAIR. Nik’s dedication to music thrives in his willingness to teach himself how to play instruments such as the guitar, keyboard, and drums. He recently moved to New Haven from Brooklyn, NY, with his wife Jenny, son Rune and daughter Kaia. Being involved in Music Together helps to inspire more love of music in their home. He and his family collect percussive instruments to experiment with (Rune loves the kitchen table best). Nik’s other life-passion is photography, which he has recently turned into a career. He takes pictures of events, portraits, and headshots, but he spends a lot of time capturing Kaia andRune’s enjoyment of life, especially when it comes to music. You can see some of his work at his website, www.nikrocklin.com. Nik is looking forward to jumping into his new role as a Music Together teacher.
		Rebecca Geary Rebecca has been involved in music for as long as she can remember. She sang in choruses from middle school through college and was also active in school and community theatres as both an actress and a director. In addition to singing, Rebecca plays the piano and strums a few chords on the guitar. She is a Connecticut certified public school teacher in both music and English. Rebecca taught chorus and drama at Amity Middle School for seven years. She now stays at home (almost) full-time to care for her sons Elijah and Gabriel. Rebecca is thrilled to be joining the Musical Folk team so that she can be a part of spreading the joy of music to the young children in our community.
		Carrie Howes has been teaching Music Together for 3 years at Music Together of the River Valley, under the Direction of Jessica Nevins and has just received her Cert I for teaching mastery in June 2009. Carrie has taught at the North Madison Congregational church for Jessica for many years and is continuing to teach at this location. Carrie sizzles with a unique super grooviness and warmth. She has always considered herself musical; singing and dancing have always been part of her daily living. She performed in musicals during her high school years, something she truly misses doing. Now the mother of three boys, Carrie enjoys being musical with them. She experiences firsthand how music can effect their little minds,bodies and souls. Carrie is very eager to bring her enthusiasm for music, creativity and playfulness to other children and their caregivers. She is also a freelance Graphic Designer, holding a BA in Studio Art from SCSU. You will love Carrie's enthusiastic spirit.
		Val McKee was first introduced to Music Together as a parent. Having been involved in music and dance for as long as she can remember, and after seeing the amazing effect the program had on her son, Val decided to become a teacher. Growing up in Tennessee, she was the lead singer of sorts in her family's "band" -some of her fondest memories involve singing along with her brothers' guitars in her family living room. Val is also a classically trained ballet and modern dancer who graduated from Walnut Hill School for the Arts and later trained at SUNY, Purchase. She previously taught Dance, and Dance History in the New Haven public school system and continues to dance as often as she can. Val now teaches English at Southern Connecticut State University, but spends her days at home with her 2-year-old son, Carson. Val is now a certified Music Together teacher and is thrilled to be part of the Music Together family!
		Nancy McLaren After attending Music Together classes with her son, Alisdair, Nancy became an MT groupie and is now one of our teachers. Nancy has been involved with various musical pursuits since a young age, always finding an excuse to dance and sing at the top of her lungs. Nancy is a native of Connecticut, but left the state for a while to complete a degree in Religious Studies and Fine Art at Colgate University, followed by some time climbing and singing around Boulder, CO and several years doing much of the same in Scotland. Nancy returned to the US in 2003 to begin her Masters degree in Divinity at Yale Divinity School, and then worked in South Boston for two years. While in Boston, Nancy had the opportunity to direct an afterschool program that provided under privileged children opportunities to explore art and music. It was then that Nancy realized the profound impact that music can have on children, on their sense of self and connectedness to one another. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Nancy is now the Pastor for Family and Children's Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of New Haven, and will be joining Music Together's staff part time this fall. She looks forward to sharing with your family the joy that Music Together brings to her family! joy of music to the young children in our community.