Learn more about opportunities open to join our Education & Engagement team as an instructor here! 

My name is Cindy Allard. I am originally from New York but have lived in Eagle County for almost forty years. I have been the counselor at Gypsum Elementary School for twenty years.  I started playing the violin in fourth grade and have found a great deal of joy playing in various settings through different stages of my life. As a college student I played in a bluegrass band, later as an adult I played in a wedding quartet, taught violin lessons and played with Glenwood Symphony. I also supported three of my children through Suzuki violin classes. In the early years of my career as a counselor, I started an afterschool violin program at Gypsum Elementary, which eventually has lead me to BRAVO! I appreciate the support of these wonderful likeminded musicians. Although I am an avid outdoor recreator, like most of us in this valley, I feel a dedication to enriching the lives of our local students by sharing the joy of creating music!

Celesta Falconi Cairns is the current 3^rd-6^th Grade music teacher at Lake County Intermediate School.  She has been a music educator for over 20 years, teaching in urban, rural and international schools and has Pre-School through 12^th Grade experience.  Her expertise is in vocal music, but she has taught various bands for over 12 years, General music for more than 15 years, studied piano since the age of 8, and she has personal dance and theater experience as well as she is the musical director of the Lake County schools annual musical.  She has a Bachelor’s in Music Education from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Regis University and a youth composition certificate from the New York Philharmonic and Colorado Symphony Orchestra educational partnership called the Young Composer’s Program (YCP).   Currently, she is working on her National Board Certification with an Early and Middle Childhood Music Emphasis.  Philosophically, she believes that all people have a love of some kind of music and she is lucky to be able to have a career that brings joy to students and families as well as creates pride and confidence in ourselves and our community.  

Scott Carroll is a proud educator and stage director working in opera and musical theatre. He currently serves as the Artistic Director for the Lyric Theatre of Leadville as well as the Director of Music & Theatre Activities at Lake County High School in Leadville, Colorado.

As a director or assistant director, Mr. Carroll has worked throughout the United States. Some notable companies include Eugene Opera, Mill City Summer Opera, Cascadia Concert Opera, Opera Bend, University of Oregon Opera Ensemble, Lake County Civic Center Association, and the Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation. Credits include Giulio Cesare, Acis y Galetea, El Gato con Botas, La Traviata, Die Fledermaus, The Old Maid and the Thief, Trouble in Tahiti, La Fanciulla del West, Seussical, La Fille du Regiment, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Lend Me a Tenor, Annie, Into the Woods, and The Fantasticks.

Mr. Carroll has also collaborated with many artists as a curator for special concert events. Some notable performers include Jill and Jake Gardner, Michele McConnell, Emily Pulley, Dr. Karen Esquivel, Duane McDevitt, Richard Carsey, Andrew Bisantz, and Dr. Gustavo Castro. Scott continues to collaborate with Donna Schaefer, Carl Schaefer and Celesta Cairns on concert events at The Old Church in Leadville.

A native of Oregon, Mr. Carroll holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Abigail Dreher is a classically trained violist, violinist and pianist in the Roaring Fork Valley. She studied with Dr. Katherine Lewis and received her BM and BME from Illinois State University, and her MM in viola performance under Professor Erika Eckert and Geraldine Walther, at the University of Colorado Boulder, as well as studying at Lynn Conservatory under Ralph Fielding. Miss Dreher has attended the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Aspen Summer Music Festival and Banff Centre Evolution Quartet Programs where she worked and collaborated with the Eybler, JACK and Parker quartets. She has presented research and lecture recitals for the American String Teacher Association Conference and the American Viola Society Festival in L.A. She has held principal and section positions with the Boulder Symphony and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Palm Beach Symphony and subs with the Boulder Philharmonic. Miss Dreher is also an avid chamber musician and was a founding member of the Hexum Quartet, as well as collaborating with Jazz musicians in Miami and Ignite Entertainment in Denver. She enjoys teaching and helped direct and lead the Nationally Awarded Illinois State University String Project and ASTA Chapter. Miss Dreher previously lead an excerpts course at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and coached chamber music as adjunct faculty at the North Broward Preparatory Juilliard Prep Program, as well as the University of Colorado Boulder. Miss Dreher currently works for Aspen Music Festival and Bravo! Vail, teaching in their strings programs and performing at community events, as well as running her own private studio in Snowmass Village.

She is a classically trained violist, violinist and pianist in the Roaring Fork Valley. She studied with Dr. Katherine Lewis and received her BM and BME from Illinois State University, and her MM in viola performance under Professor Erika Eckert and Geraldine Walther, at the University of Colorado Boulder, as well as studying at Lynn Conservatory under Ralph Fielding. Miss Dreher has attended the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Aspen Summer Music Festival and Banff Centre Evolution Quartet Programs where she worked and collaborated with the Eybler, JACK and Parker quartets. She has presented research and lecture recitals for the American String Teacher Association Conference and the American Viola Society Festival in L.A. She has held principal and section positions with the Boulder Symphony and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Palm Beach Symphony and subs with the Boulder Philharmonic. Miss Dreher is also an avid chamber musician and was a founding member of the Hexum Quartet, as well as collaborating with Jazz musicians in Miami and Ignite Entertainment in Denver. She enjoys teaching and helped direct and lead the Nationally Awarded Illinois State University String Project and ASTA Chapter. Miss Dreher previously lead an excerpts course at the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and coached chamber music as adjunct faculty at the North Broward Preparatory Juilliard Prep Program, as well as the University of Colorado Boulder. Miss Dreher currently works for Aspen Music Festival and Bravo! Vail, teaching in their strings programs and performing at community events, as well as running her own private studio in Snowmass Village.

Lindsay Erickson joined Bravo!Vail after moving to Colorado in 2015 with her family.  Born and raised in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, she began playing the violin at the age of four.  As an active chamber and orchestral musician, Ms. Erickson has played with a variety of ensembles ranging from the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Milwaukee Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet Company, the Cleveland Pops to many notable touring artists such as Peter Gabriel, Barry Manilow, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Rod Stewart, Josh Groban, and Jewel to name a few.  

Lindsay finished her double Master’s of Music summa cum laude in violin performance and Suzuki pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute of Music, under the tutelage of Linda Cerone and David Russel and Kimberly Meier-Sims, respectively.  Prior to graduate school, Ms. Erickson completed her undergraduate work at St. Olaf College, pursuing a double Bachelor’s of Music degree in violin performance and choral education.  As concertmaster of the St. Olaf Orchestra, Ms. Erickson performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto as a tour soloist and the Tchaikovsky violin concerto as a Senior Soloist Competition winner.  Music festivals include Aspen Music Festival, Kent/Blossom Music Festival and Chatauqua Music School in NY.

In her free time, Ms. Erickson enjoys spending time with her husband, son and triplets skiing, hiking, cooking, and traveling.

Hannah Ploughman is a singer, educator, and longtime enthusiast of Bravo! Vail. Currently working as a teacher in the Music Makers Haciendo Música program, she happily accepted the offer to work as an Executive Assistant for the company.  

Hannah grew up in the Vail Valley and began teaching for Bravo! when she was in high school in one of the first iterations of the After School Piano Program. She received a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Northern Colorado. During this time, she also taught Elementary Music in Poudre School District. Hannah loves to travel and perform and has had the opportunity to sing opera and choral music in Germany, France, Austria, and the Czech Republic.  

Creating meaningful connections and inspiring musical curiosity is something that resonates deeply with her personal and career values. She believes that music has the unique power to provide us with a high-level cognitive skill, while also connecting us emotionally and intellectually to the world around us. It is such a joy to be back in her hometown and to have the opportunity to share her passion for music with her students and her community. 

I was lucky enough to grow up in a musical family, and we performed from an early age. Music was to be shared among all ages and all people.

I started piano when I was five and have played ever since. I studied at Edinburgh University and went on to teach music in Elementary Schools both in the UK and in Colorado. I have worked as a teacher, accompanist , soloist and band member over the years and enjoy all aspects of music.

I have been teaching with Bravo! Vail since 2015, and love teaching the group lessons. I believe that all children should have access to quality music lessons in an instrument of their choice. I strive to make my lessons fun, active and engaging.

Sue Reid is a vocalist, pianist, voice, and piano instructor and is in her second year of teaching music at Gypsum Elementary School. She is from the midwest (Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan) and has lived in Colorado for over three years. Sue played piano by ear at a very young age and started formal studies at 11. Sue accompanied choirs, soloists, competitions, and musical productions throughout middle and high school. In addition, she began teaching piano lessons. Her studies took her to Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where she continued to study voice and piano, accompanying musicians on piano and singing in various vocal groups. Since college, Sue has taught piano and voice and performed with vocal groups and bands. She also traveled as a solo artist, which took her to Nashville to record at the Fireside Studio. In addition, Sue worked for many years as a Music Director for churches in Michigan and Colorado. She is married to David, and together we have four grown children.

Hannah Terrell, also known as Belle, grew up in Boulder and started singing and playing the piano, guitar and cello in elementary school. Music completely stole Hannah's heart, and throughout middle school and high school, she participated in theater, choirs and orchestras. In May of 2021, Hannah graduated with a music major from Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon and a certificate of fine arts from the Marchutz School of Vision in Aix-en-Provence, France. During her time at Linfield, she studied cello and vocal performance, music education, as well as music theory & composition. In mid-August, Hannah moved to Gypsum, Colorado to live with family and pursue her dream of teaching music, one that she has had since she was little. Now, Hannah loves teaching private lessons and piano classes with Bravo! and is excited to continue to grow as a teacher. In her lessons, she encourages confidence and focuses strongly on music theory and improvisation. She hopes to pass on the love and passion for music that was given to her by music teachers growing up. Hannah started teaching with Bravo! in September of 2021 and feels grateful to be a part of such a genuine, wonderful program. In her freetime, she loves to write music for all sorts of instruments and go to open mic nights in the area to perform. 

Amara Sperber - As a violinist and educator, Amara Sperber works to cultivate creativity in others. Amara currently lives in Eagle, Colorado, where she works as the Education and Engagement Programs Coordinator at Bravo! Vail Music Festival. There, she helps direct after-school piano and violin classes for over 200 students in addition to teaching violin classes and private lessons.