Teaching Artists/Specialists

Tim Albert, guitarist, began his musical career at age 10 with his first professional performance. As a full–time musician for 20 years, Tim has toured with the 1970s funk band, Parliament, and accompanied Sister Sledge, Spencer Davis, Rick James, and the Charlie Daniels Band. Shortly after adapting his musical talents to the guitar in 1990, Tim formed the Illinois–based electric Blues Band, Uncle Albert. Tours to Bosnia–Herzegovina in 1997 and 1999 to perform at U.S. Military bases have helped Tim to “see the reaction of what just one song can do for somebody.”

Ephrem Andemariam was born in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. He started his career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding various positions within the African Department. He primarily worked in the area of African conflicts. At the Ministry he had the opportunity to visit and experience the cultures of many African countries, while representing the government at numerous meetings. Ephrem later served at the Ethiopian Embassy in London as head of the media and public relations. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Addis Ababa University, and has attended the European University Center for Peace Studies in Austria, where he earned an Advanced Certificate in International Peace and Development Studies.

Jeffrey Anderson, saxophone and bass, has performed with nationally known artists such as Marlena Shaw and Spanky Wilson. He has also collaborated with Isaac Hayes, Peabo Bryson, and Jamie Abersold. While teaching in the University City School District and working as a free–lance musician, Jeffrey is also a graduate assistant at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Kimberly Anderson has taught and performed Haitian dance in New York, Colorado, New Orleans, Houston, Oakland, and Cuba. She has studied dance – jazz, West African, Cuban, and Haitian – at Laney College in Oakland, CA, the Katherine Dunham Summer Dance Conference, and the Dansa Contemporana de Cuba.

aTrek Dance Collective presents works choreographed local artists and guest artists specially selected by the collective to represent the collective artistic vision. In 1988, aTrek began as the performing duo of dancers/choreographers Angela Culbertson and Terry Pexton. Born with an uncanny willingness to risk, Artistic Director Angela Culbertson guided the company from its inception until the spring of 2003. In 2003, aTrek Dance Company evolved into a collaborative group of artists. The Dance Collective presents works choreographed local artists and guest artists specially selected by the collective to represent the collective artistic vision.

Bob Ault fell in love with ragtime when he first heard it at age 5. Playing banjo and mandolin, Bob has been involved in the ragtime scene in St. Louis for nearly 30 years. In 1989, he appeared as harp–guitarist in a concert of vintage music at Carnegie Hall in New York. A year later he was a featured artist at the American Folk Festival in Silver Dollar City. Some of his work even appears on piano rolls.