Jean Marie Murray is an abstract painter and paper collage artist. Jean has taught craft classes for children and adults for 10 years and have worked with teens in a therapeutic painting class. Jeans teaching methods involve her students talking about what they have made and how they felt while creating their art.

Kimberly Gavin is a certified teacher in the Philadelphia School District and nominee for the 2011 Philadelphia Teacher of the Year Award. Ms. Gavin has received her MA in Art Education with an Emphasis in Special Populations at Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, and has a BFA from Parsons School of Design in NY. Ms Gavin works with students of all ages and abilities and believes that everyone can create something wonderful and unique.

Deirdre Burns has a certificate in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. She has won numerous awards and has exhibited extensively. She makes drawings, paintings, and sculptures that reflect the human condition.

Liz Zook started playing the violin with her sisters when she was nine years old. Over ten years later, she still plays music with her brother and sisters in a string quartet, and loves coming from a musical family. She recently completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance at Temple University, and during that time had the opportunity to study with Mei-chen Barnes, who is a principle player in the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. Liz also plays second violin in the F.A.E. string quartet, which was created through Temple and is one of her favorite musical projects. Aside from classical music, Liz plays shows and records with multiple bands in the Philadelphia area; her most prominent role is in the band “Lady,” whose members are currently in the studio recording a full length album. She has taught private lessons, designed music curriculum for young children, and coached chamber groups at orchestra camp. Liz is excited to be a part of Philly’s music scene, and loves to share musical experiences in any genre.

Tyrel McCoy has been playing drums since the age of 15. Born and raised in New York and New Jersey, Tyrel began his career playing in his father’s church in Philadelphia, where he quickly learned to create, but more importantly, to feel music. Eventually he began playing with a number of local Philly community choirs and groups, most notably the Philadelphia Soul Movement. It was there he cut his teeth learning how to groove and play “in the pocket”. Tyrel’s professional career started when he met singer-songwriter Billy Thompson Jr. and became his drummer both in studio and on-stage. He also began playing with great gospel artists like Grammy and Stellar award winner John P Kee, Shirley Ceasar and Kim Burrell. Currently, Tyrel tours with a number of renown Gospel, R&B, Jazz and Hip Hop artists, such as Benita Farmer, Jazmine Sullivane, Brett White, Stephen Hurd, Oliver Johnson, Black Reign, Chubb Rock, Eric Roberson and others.

Kim Creighton has a unique style of art and design, which is based largely on geometric shapes and simple objects. She also enjoys working with several different materials such as metals, glass, tile, wood and paints. In turn, out comes beautiful and breath-taking sculptures, mosaics, floor and wall mirrors. She also likes to use found and recycled objects turning them into some of the creations presented at the Portside.

Heather Allen holds an Associates in Theatre Arts from Gloucester County College and a BA in Theatre Performance from Richard Stockton College. Heather is a former drama teacher for Drama Kids International where she taught for 3 years. Shows Heather directed while with Drama Kids include : “The Old woman and the Shoe”,”Circus Capers”,”The Grasshopper and the Ant”,”Fancy That”,”The Legend of Tim Sandy”,”Paradesia”, and “The Bold Buccaneers”. After Drama Kids Heather went on to teach at Fusion Academy of the Performing Arts for one great year. While teaching at Fusion Heather co-directed Outcast Theatre Company’s production of “Godspell Jr.” . Before teaching Heather had performed in countless productions throughout the South Jersey area. Some of her past favorite roles include Corie Bratter in “Barefoot in the Park”, Fastrada in “Pippin” (received ACTF nomination), Uriah Shelly in “The Elephant Calf”, Irina Vladu in “Mad Forest” (received ACTF nomination), Asaka in “Once On This Island”, Lucy in “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” & Sister Amnesia in “Nunsense”. Heather is thrilled for the opportunity to continue to do what she is passionate about at the Portside Arts Center.