vpa_faculty

Nikki Chan is one of the visual arts instructors at Ellsworth High School. She is actually an Ellsworth High School graduate herself - a member of the class of 2001. She graduated cum laude from University of Maine in 2005 earning a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education with minors in Art History and Studio Art. Currently, she is earning her Master of Arts in Art Education degree from Boston University. Her program is based online with intensive summer studios on the BU campus, where students in the program from around the United States and beyond continue to push the boundaries of the Art Education field further. Since she has been with EHS, art students have graduated and gone onto major in art at schools including Savannah College of Art & Design, Pratt Institute of Art, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Colombia College Chicago and the Art Institutes of Philladelphia. Mrs. Chan teaches Intro to Drawing, Intro to Ceramics, 2D Design, 3D Design, Figure Studies, Intro to Painting, Digital Art and AP Studio Art (2D Design, Drawing & 3D Design) here at Ellsworth High. In addition, she is the National Art Honors Society Advisor, and the Yearbook Advisor.

As an artist herself, Mrs. Chan enjoys painting and digital art (photography and Photoshop work). She has recently found a passion for linocut printmaking using multiple colored inks. In her artwork, she enjoys portraying everyday and ordinary things as unique and extraordinary through color manipulation and abstraction. Her favorite time of year is summer when she can get outside, go hiking, visit the beach, and take photos anywhere and everywhere. Mrs. Chan lives with her husband, Victor, and they are expecting their first born child in November of 2010. Other family members include two lazy cats named Allie and Oreo, and two rambunctious Boston Terriers named Jenna and Jax.

Maria Sleeper is the Director of Instrumental Music at Ellsworth High School. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maine in Orono with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education and a concentration in trumpet in 2001. While teaching part-time in the Old Town School Department and maintaining a 30 student trumpet studio, Mrs. Sleeper completed her Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Maine, graduating summa cum laude in 2003. She began her teaching career in 2003 at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln, Maine. At Mattanawcook Academy Mrs. Sleeper directed the Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and Pep Band and taught Music 101 as well as Advanced Placement Music Theory. During her tenure at Mattanawcook Academy, Mrs. Sleeper and the Jazz Band advanced to the State of Maine Jazz Finals three years consecutively. Mrs. Sleeper joined the Ellsworth High School Faculty in 2010 where she directs the Symphonic Band, and instructs courses in Guitar, Music Theory, American Popular Music and Piano.

Although teaching keeps Mrs. Sleeper quite busy she still enjoys performing as often as possible. Most recently she could be heard Sunday mornings playing trumpet with the worship team at the Rock Church in Bangor, Maine. In her free time, Mrs. Sleeper enjoys relaxing with family which includes her husband, Jonas, and twin daughters Kayla and Alissa.

Rebecca Wright is the Director of Theatre, Vocal Music and Dance at Ellsworth High School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre/Performing Arts with a music minor from the University of Maine and a Master of Arts in Theatre/Performing Arts from the University of Maine with a concentration in costuming. While there she was recognized as the Outstanding Graduate Student for the Theatre Department. Mrs. Wright began teaching in Ellsworth the fall of 1985 and currently teaches: Intro. Theatre, Advanced Theatre, Intro. Vocal, Advanced Vocal, Intro. Dance, Advanced Dance, Stagecraft I (set), Stagecraft II (costume), Concert Choir, and All The World's A Stage (Honors).

Mrs. Wright has performed and costumed at many theatres around Maine including the Grand Auditorium, Ten Bucks Theatre, and the Acadia Repertory Theatre. She is a regular soloist at United Baptist Church in Ellsworth and is former Director of the Grand Auditorium's School for the Performing Arts Summer program. Mrs. Wright is also very proud to be director of the Ellsworth Show Choir who have been National Champions at Musicfest Orlando, State Champions, performed at Disneyworld, the State House as well as at many community events. She has also directed many productions at EHS the most recent being one of her favorites, the musical “Disney's Beauty and the Beast”.