Inga Agrest earned her BA in Piano Performance and Composition from the College of Charleston and her MM in Opera/Theater Directing from the University of South Carolina. She teaches piano and voice at Creative Spark, Charleston Music Academy, and Ashley Hall.

  Marina Agrest started playing piano when she was 5 in St. Petersburg (at that time Leningrad) Russia. Music flooded her life since that time. Marina was six when she had her first public performance. Music made the difference in Marina’s life; it helped her survive through tough times in the Soviet Union. It was a challenge to receive a Bachelors of Music in Piano from the Rimsky-Korsakov College of Music, and then Masters of Music in Piano from the Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia. Marina taught piano at St. Petersburg School of the Arts where she accompanied singers, violinists, and performed solo. During her more than 30 years in music, Marina taught hundreds of students. Over the last eight years, Marina has shared her international experience with the greater Charleston community teaching at Creative Spark, at her own studio, and through the activities of the Russian Studies Program at the College of Charleston. Marina was acknowledged for excellence as a Distinguished Educator in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”.

Inger Brown is a graduate of Morris College where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. Inger came to Creative Spark after working in the counseling field for ten years. As the outreach coordinator for Creative Spark, Inger is able to blend her love of community, counseling, and the arts. In her free time, Inger enjoys event planning, reading, and spending time with her family.

Christina Caputo grew up in Dunwoody, GA and moved to Charleston in 2004 to attend the College of Charleston. Throughout college, she played viola in the CofC Orchestra, took every black and white photography class offered at the college, studied abroad in Sicily, and interned as a Special Events Coordinator for a local non-profit arts organization called Yo Art Project.
Christina graduated with honors from the College of Charleston in May 2008 with a BA in Arts Management and a minor in Photography.

Christina has been working at Creative Spark since September 2008 where she does marketing, public relations, photography, and administrative work. 

Christina is also the regional manager of an event photography company called Classic Photography Inc.

Dale A lifelong student and teacher of dance and movement, Dale is a dance and certified ZUMBA® Instructor who brings her own blend of music to her classes: Latin (Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Bachata), Argentine Tango, African and Middle Eastern.  Her classes have the moves, the energy and the spirit. Zumba is good for the body, mind and soul - becoming fit, toned, and strong are the added bonuses!

Kiki Fore has always known that she wanted to work with children. She began babysitting at 12 years old and was a teacher’s cadet in high school. When she finally got to college (College of Charleston) she was so happy to begin her teaching career. After her college graduation, she continued her education by going to University of Charleston for her Masters in Early Childhood Education. She taught Child Development in the public schools for 5 years. She began working with Magic Sparks in 2008. She has found it to be the perfect place to inspire our young children to be creative, kind-hearted, and independent individuals. 

Dr. John R. Francis teaches piano (and theory/composition) to students of all ages. (Currently his youngest is 4 and oldest is 79). He incorporates popular music of all kinds with classical music, catering to the interests of the students. He also involves improvisation and jazz/blues, if the student so desires, or compositions that the students write. It is important to him that the students enjoy and understand the music that they are playing, so he goes out of his way to find music appropriate.

Lisa Gair is proud to be a part of the “Magic Spark” family as an assistant this year.  All three of her sons are graduates of the program and she loved the program so much she just had to be a part of it. Before becoming a mother, she taught 1st grade in Charleston County and Ashwaubenon, WI.  In addition, she taught a Multi-age class of 1st and 2nd graders for 5 years in Mayfield, OH.  While teaching, she was a peer coach, enrichment coordinator, assessment coordinator, principal led team committee member, and a lecturer on the benefits of teaching an integrated curriculum in the multi-age setting.  She has taken graduate courses at John Carroll University and Cleveland State University.  Lisa is a huge fan of her alma mater The Ohio State University.  Spending time with her family is an important part of her life.  Together they enjoy doing crafts, camping, cooking and other activities.  She is looking forward to growing with all of the “Magic Sparks” and their families this year.   

Paul Gelpi studied classical and jazz guitar at Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, MD in the late 1970s and he graduated with honors as a recording engineer from the Audio Institute of America in 1990.
Paul joined an alternative rock band, TRIBAL DOGS, in 1996 as the lead guitarist and released a favorable reviewed CD.
He was the principal guitarist in 3 Piccolo Spoleto Festival shows in Charleston, SC: 60’s soul show and Steely Dan Tribute in 2006, 70’s soul show in 2007.
Paul was the principal bassist on the Spirit of Carolina for 5 years and the principal guitarist in the back up band for McDonald’s Choir Comp. at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center in 2009.

Paul has taught acoustic, electric, and bass guitar at Creative Spark since 1999.

Beth Harley is a South Carolina native who has always worked with children. Aside from teaching in the Magic Sparks program, Beth teaches ecology, art and yoga. She is also a naturalist and artist specializing in painting and mosaics. She has worked on one of the largest public murals in the country called “Fertile Ground” in Omaha, NE. Beth graduated from the College of Charleston with Bachelor of the Arts in Poltical Science and a minor in Studio Art. She enjoys traveling, sailing, dancing, and spontaneous creativity. 

Natalie Hudson, a native of South Carolina, received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the College of Charleston and continued her studies at the Conservatory in Madrid, Spain.  She has performed as a soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician throughout the southeast, California, and western Europe. In her teaching she emphasizes the importance of early childhood education and parental involvement.  She has taught at Creative Spark since 2002 and offers Musikgarten classes for babies and toddlers and Music for Young Children (MYC) classes for 3 to 6 year olds.

Kendall James has a BA in history (Art History) from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC and a MAT in Early Childhood Education from the University of Charleston in Charleston, SC. She has been teaching young children for 18 years. Prior to teaching, she was an arts administrator for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. She lives in Mount Pleasant with her soul mate and two children where she practices and teaches yoga- unless she’s traveling the globe!

Michaela Kuhn lives in Mount Pleasant, S.C. with her husband and their three children. She has been a teacher at Creative Spark Center for the Arts for the past 10 years, and is owner of Brown Bag Art. Michaela's pottery is inspired by her love of the natural beauty found in the Carolina Lowcountry.

Sarah Morrison (piano and voice)- Sarah has been teaching private students in voice and piano for eight years and is also an active and certified instructor in Music for Young Children classes.  Early on, she attended the North Carolina School of the Arts as a boarding student studying both piano and voice and went on to study these disciplines at SUNY Purchase and at the College of Charleston. During two years in New York, she studied privately and continued to teach adult beginners in piano. Having returned to her native Charleston, she is currently teaching at Creative Spark and at Hungry Monk Music in West Ashley. Sarah is passionate about teaching young and adult beginners and those with more experience seeking to transition into more serious study. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston.

Margaret O’Hanley decided at a young age that her chosen profession would be teaching preschoolers. Apart from being a copy girl in a lawyer’s office one summer, her professional dream has come true.
Margaret graduated from USC with a degree in Early Childhood Education. In 200, she completed a MEd in Creative Arts in Education and love to incorporate the arts into preschoolers’ learning. Margaret has been teaching preschool for 13 years, and began her Magic Spark career in 2008. Margaret is married to a lovely man and has a beautiful young daughter. She lives in Wando along with 2 dogs and 7 goats.

Jamie Quick joined the Magic Sparks team in August of 2008. He and his wife, Lindsay came to the South Carolina Lowcountry from the NC high country. Jamie received his BS in psychology at Appalachian State University, and has completed course work for a Masters degree in general-experimental psychology. As an undergraduate, Jamie took a work-study position at Lucy-Brock Child Development Center on campus and discovered a love for working with young children. Aside from spending time with all our “Magic Sparks”, Jamie enjoys evolutionary/social psychology, contemporary (low brow) art, punk rock, yoga, and being outdoors. Jamie and his wife Lindsay consider themselves very lucky to call Sullivan’s Island home and can be found cruising its streets and beach!

Shakti  Selene master bellydancer has danced, taught, and held seminars in  the Mideast, Southern USA and Istanbul Tk. She is choreographer  and Director of Ancientechoesbellydance. To remain current, she has studied all styles of bellydance for 20 years and taught for 10. She has performed at many local events including North Charleston Performing Arts Center, Piccolo Spoleto, local restaurants, and her own middle eastern  events held at CreativeSpark.

Karen Kinsel Silcox is the MWF 9:15-12:15 classroom teacher at Magic Sparks Preschool. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Development and Elementary Education from Vanderbilt University and a Masters Degree Human Development and Family Sciences, with a focus on Child Development.  She is almost finished with her PhD in the same area, both from the University of Texas at Austin.  Over the past 13 years, Karen has taught children from preschool through college age in a variety of settings; university child development center, elementary school, middle school, camp counselor, teacher educator, and adjunct professor. She is thrilled to bring this depth of understanding about children’s development and learning to Magic Sparks.  Karen is passionate about maintaining a strong home and school connection, helping children feel comfortable with themselves and those around them, and with igniting a passion for learning through teachable moments. 

Karen and her husband, Andy, have two children, Kinsey (4) and Jackson (1).  Kinsey is a happy Magic Sparker!  Karen tries to live a little greener every day, and she encourages children to develop a love for the environment.  She also enjoys cooking, photography, creative projects, numerous outdoor activities, travelling, and spending time with her fabulous family. 

Stephanie B. Sprott has been married to her husband, Jack, for 11 years. They have 3 children: Mackenzie (10), Declan (9), and Liam (7). She has been teaching at Creative Spark for 5 years. Before she started teaching for the Magic Sparks program, she taught 1st grade in New Jersey and while she was in graduate school she taught preschool in Easley, SC. She attended Clemson University for undergraduate and graduate school. She has a BA in early childhood education and a MEd in elementary education.

Kristin Zeaser Sydow is the Magic Sparks Preschool Director. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership & Curriculum.  She brings 26 years of experience to this successful preschool program that began in her home in 1992 after ten years of teaching first grade and kindergarten in Berkeley and Charleston Counties. Her belief that “Learning Can Happen At Any Moment” and a strong desire to incorporate a child-centered curriculum combined with developmentally appropriate practice makes this arts infused, multi-age program the creative alternative for young children East of the Cooper.

Kristin and husband Steve have two children, Lindsey (19) and Rebecca (15) who were the inspiration for Magic Sparks.  She can be found kayaking almost anywhere in the lowcountry at high tide and supporting the Wando High School Marching Band and spending time with her family and friends when the tide is low.

Kristin’s business, Learning Extensions, provides resources for home-schooling families, parent coaching, curriculum workshops and environmental education programs for children of all ages.  http://www.learningextensions.net