Consultant – Dave Holland

Dave Holland
ArtsNow Music Consultant

Dave is founder and primary performer and facilitator of all Beatin' Path programs and drum circles. Dave spreads the message of community, teamwork, diversity, and environmental awareness through rhythm-based events. Dave leads regular drum circles at regional area schools, public housing communities, health fairs and festivals. Former clients include the Chattahoochee Valley Library's reading initiative program, Southeast Regional Hospice, Muscogee County School Administrators Conference, Georgia's Early Childhood Educator's Conference, and the Southeast Regional Girl Scout Leadership convention. On stage, Dave is found in a number of musical settings, including world beat, jazz, orchestral and theatrical productions. Dave is the leading member of Ritmo Blu, a world percussion trio that performs at regional schools and festivals. Dave has traveled to Cuba, Africa, and Brazil to pursue his continuing education of the world's cultures and drumming traditions.

Consultant – Darlene Guida

Darlene Guida
ArtsNow Music Consultant

A long-time veteran in music education, Darlene served as the Lead Elementary Music Teacher for 34 schools in the Clayton County Public School System and served as the Georgia State Chair for Music in Our Schools. During her career, Darlene received numerous awards including Teacher of the Year, Star Teacher Award, P.T.A. Award for Excellent Programming, Who’s Who of Teachers, and Who’s Who Among Women. Darlene was Instrumental in creating the first elementary School of the Arts Magnet Program and initiated the Middle School Fine Arts Magnet Program. Darlene holds a master’s degree in Music Education from Georgia State University and an Education Leadership Degree from West Georgia University. She is also a certified Orff instructor. Darlene takes great joy in spreading the love of music and educating others about the benefits of student development through the disciplines of music.

Consultant – Maribeth Yoder-White, PhD

Maribeth Yoder-White, PhD
ArtsNOW Senior Music Consultant

Maribeth joined ArtsNOW as a consultant in September 2006 and taught at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Appalachian State University. She is sought after internationally as a consultant and clinician in the areas of choral music education and as an Orff specialist. Maribeth is currently President of the Southern Division of the National Association for Music Education and previously served as president of both the North Carolina American Choral Directors Association and the North Carolina Music Educators Association. Maribeth earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Lenoir-Rhyne College, as well as a Master of Music Education and a PhD in Music Education from University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Consultant – Andrea Washington

Andrea Washington
ArtsNow Theater Consultant

Andrea is an actor and teaching artist based in Atlanta. She works in various disciplines with all ages. She currently integrates theatre arts into programs including the Alliance Theatre Institute, Georgia Wolf Trap and Fulton County’s Teaching Museum. Andrea also partners with Out of Hand Theatre, Teller Productions, and Synchronicity Performance Group’s Playmaking for Girls. As a director and guest professor at Kennesaw State University, she educates undergraduates about Theatre for Young Audiences. Andrea has also performed on dozens of states across the country and uses her deep experience in arts integration to combine storytelling, role-playing, music, and puppetry with subjects like reading, science, and math.

Consultant – Susie Spear Purcell

Susie Spear Purcell
ArtsNOW Theater Consultant

Susie has been acting and teaching theatre arts for more than 30 years, with a long resume in television and film. She is currently the Director of Synchronicity Performance Group’s Playmaking for Girls community outreach program, developing curriculum and training a teaching staff of 15 female artists to empower teen girls in Georgia detention centers and DFACS Group Homes as well as refugee girls in their playwriting and summer programs. As a former program director for The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company in Los Angeles, Susie developed curriculum to help imprisoned boys write plays and perform in front of large audiences. Susie teaches Film acting classes and Meisner Technique acting classes to adults and children in Los Angeles and Atlanta.