About the Instructors

James VanKirk: Guitar & Bass

James Vankirk teaches acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, stand up bass, fiddle/violin, mandolin and banjo.

He taught at Merle’s Music in Rolla for 7 years.

He taught at West Plains music for a short time.

He currently teaches from his home in Licking on Mondays & Thursdays, The STARS Foundation in Cabool on Tuesdays, Metz Music in Rolla on Wednesdays.

James has also been performing on stage for 37 years with several different bands over the years in Missouri and surrounding states and for the last 2 years has been performing single shows in Missouri. His Facebook page is James Vankirk live music variety show and has all of his single shows listed.

He started a band this spring with his children, Braden Vankirk & Josie Vankirk and his friend Whitey Ford. They are The Lone Pine Band. If anyone is interested in attending his or the bands shows, we would love to see you all there.

Hannah Mattsfield: Student Teacher Dance

Hannah is a senior this year at Thayer High School and a sophomore at Missouri State University - West Plains. I am excited to attend college in Nebraska next year. I will be going into psychology.

This will be my third year teaching ballet and jazz at the West Plains studio. I love working with and helping children. I have been involved in dance since I was 3 years old. I also participate in the theatre and improv for STARS. A couple of my favorite shows I have been apart of are "Newsies" and "Music Man."

I love hanging out with my sister and brother when they are home. I am looking forward to working with your student this year!

Mary & Andrew Colbert: Theatre

Andrew Colbert and Mary Colbert are theater teachers from Cabool, Missouri, entering their second year of teaching theater. Both have rich backgrounds in theater performance. Their experiences on stage bring depth and authenticity to their teaching, inspiring their students to pursue their own theatrical dreams.

They continue to refine their craft by taking vocal lessons from Dr. Todd Payne, an esteemed opera singer and professor of music at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO.

When they are not performing on stage or teaching lessons, they work together at the Ozark Driving Institute, a family business, and are also building a tiny home together as they plan to start a family someday soon.

Jazmynn Grounds: Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary

I have been a dancer for 13 years! I love jazz, hip hop, contemporary and clogging! I currently have a band that I choreograph full time for and so far have opened up for Mykfresh, Lil Xan, Afroman, Caskey, Fredo Bang and have traveled out to SXSW to perform at there festival in Texas all within this year. I have taken lessons out in L.A every year at Millennium Dance Complex from Alexander , Matt Steffanina, Tony Bellisimo, Jr Taylor, Nika K and others.

A.A and Associates in Business. I have a band and I am a song writer and performer.

My daughter , Adalynn Rose Bess, is 4 years old and we reside in Springfield MO

Ginny VanOsKeuls: Oboe and Woodwinds

I am originally from the Cleveland/Akron metropolitan area in northern Ohio.

From early childhood, I studied music beginning with piano before adding woodwinds.

Primary study: Nordonia School System, Advanced music program beginning in 4th grade. Private lessons with members of the Cleveland Orchestra outreach music program. Oboe for concert seasons. Bells and majorette for marching seasons

Undergraduate study: Kent State University Musical performance

Northern Ohio advanced music program

Numerous community events while living in Ohio & worked for the Cleveland Orchestra ladies Auxillary program.

In 1981, I moved to the Missouri Ozarks to raise a family then returned back to performance music in 1998 when the Mozark group was formed. Later called SOCO for the now Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra.

Play Oboe and English horn, Bassoon -Mountain Home Symphony , STARS Orchestra, SOCO, Ava Symphony.

During my non musical times, I am a logistics coordinator with a major manufacturing company as well as a wife and mother and an avid outdoors person.

Stacy Georges: Irish Dance

Stacy grew up about an hour north of San Francisco, California where she commuted with her mom to Irish dance classes. First qualifying for World Championships in Ireland in the early 1980s, Stacy enjoyed competing in the art of Irish dance at Feisanna across the United States. After starting a family, Stacy began teaching her own traditional Irish step dancing classes. Just prior to moving to Missouri, two of her own dancers qualified for Worlds.

She has also enjoyed teaching multi-cultural culinary arts, rhythm & beginning music classes, and camp style theater. She has more than a decade of experience as a merit badge counselor with the Boy Scouts of America.

Elizabeth Bishop: Beginner Violin

Music has been an interest of mine from a young age. I am homeschooled and the oldest of nine children. My parents encouraged us to pursue music and i grew up playing music with my siblings. I have played violin for 11 years and during that time I have played with several local musical groups and orchestras. I currently play in the Mountain Home symphony and The STARS orchestra. I have been teaching violin for 2 years. I am very excited to share my love of music and continue to learn myself.
I currently live in West Plains, Missouri.