Michelle Wallick

Director of Cyprus Schools

Mrs. Wallick obtained a B.A. in English with a minor in Math/Computer Science from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. She has taught preschool and elementary aged children for over 25 years and in a Montessori environment for over 10 years. She earned her Montessori Diploma in 2001. Michelle believes strongly in the Montessori method for preschool education and was educated in a Montessori environment when she was young. Michelle had always dreamed of starting her own preschool where all aspects of a child's development are addressed in a positive, caring and intellectually stimulating environment. This became a reality when Michelle searched for a preschool for her youngest child and couldn't find the "perfect" environment, so she created it herself! Her highest priorities are a well-educated, creative, positive and charismatic staff, a low teacher to student ratio, and an environment and program that addresses and meets all needs of children.

Over the years, Michelle has noticed a lack of good options available to elementary students who have advanced academically or are gifted. She designed a unique elementary program specifically designed for such students. Cyprus offers a Classical kindergarten through third grade designed for gifted children with ability-based rather than age-based classes and a very in-depth and enriching curriculum. Cyprus will grow with our students, adding a grade each year!

While spending several years working with academically gifted children, it became apparent that often musical and artistic talent are present in these children too. Michelle felt it was very important to address these talents with the same quality and excellence as Cyprus approaches academics. Although Cyprus has always been very rich in the arts, it now offers a full-scale school for music and the arts, open after school hours. Private instrument lessons, art classes, drama, martial arts, science and language classes are offered through Cyprus School of Music and the Arts.

Michelle is currently pursuing certification in Talent Development and Gifted Education through the U of M. Concurrenly, she is pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology with an emphasis on gifted education. She and her husband, Mike, have three children ages 16, 14 and 6, and she is Founder, Director and a Teacher at Cyprus.

Alex Mezeritski

Music & Artistic Director, Piano, Instructor

Alex Mezeritski specializes in developing the talent of exceptional young musicians of all ages and levels, and is able to teach students to the highest level of performance. Alex is an internationally acclaimed, world class pianist and composer from the Ukraine, a country with a rich tradition of excellence in music. He is a prizewinner of several Ukrainian and international piano competitions. He has performed as a soloist and in various ensemble settings throughout Germany, France, Italy, Israel, Russia and other countries around the world.

He has been a professor of piano performance at Kherson Musical College. He has also led many Master Classes in piano in Austria and Greece. Alex's original piano compositions and numerous arrangements have been performed throughout the world. He moved with his family to the U.S. in 1997.

Alex has created an original piano program, exclusively featured by Cyprus School of Music, emphasizing individualized instruction. He is a featured pianist at several peformances throughout the Twin Cities, and actively creates original piano compositions.

Alex studied music at Odessa State Conservatoire, where he received a Masters Degree in Music, majoring in piano performance and pedagogy.

Jack Sabol-Williams

Drums

Jack graduated from the University of Wisconsin - LaCross with a degree in Music Education with an emphasis in percussion. During his years in college and beyond he played keyboard in a band. He is a dedicated teacher, who is always looking for ways to keep his students interested!

Hayley Nelson

Cello, Violin, Orchestra

Hayley graduated from University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire with
a degree in cello performance. In 2010. She earned her Masters degree in cello performance at the University of Minnesota under the instruction
of Tanya Remenikova. Hayley also plays and teaches violin (with a particular interest in Irish fiddle). Throughout her 16 years of music-related experience, she has taught cello and violin to students of a wide variety of ages and abilities.

Anna Golubeva

Piano

Anna was born in Ekaterinburg, Russia and began her piano studies at the age of 5. By the time she completed her studies, she had received many national awards, played her first recital at the age of 14, and at the age of 15, she made her debut with Volograd Symphony National Orchestra. She received her Masters Degree in Piano Performance from Gnessins State Russian Academy. She now is studying and is a Teaching Assistant at the University of MN under Alexander Braginsky. Anna is a winner of several national and international competitions and has worked as a piano instructor for several years with students ranging from beginners through college students.

Mike Salow

Guitar

Mike is an experienced guitar instructor with ten years of playing and performing experience. He is skilled in rock, blues, jazz, fusion, classical and metal; he teaches advanced theory as well as advanced techniques including hybrid picking, sweeping, tapping, alternate picking, economy picking, etc. He currently attends McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul with a major in Guitar Performance, and expects to graduate in May 2012.

Master Dave Youngman

6th Degree Black Belt, Master and Certified Instructor

Master Youngman is the head instructor and owner of Youngman's American Martial Arts. His reputation and experience teaching Taekwondo in the southern suburbs is simply unparalleled. With thirty years of learning Taekwondo as well as over twenty years teaching in the south metro, he has trained many students to black belt, instructorship, and beyond.

Mike Wallick

Drama Director, Instructor

Mike Wallick has extensive experience in Drama, Debate, Public Speaking and Broadcasting. He worked as Public Affairs Director and News Director for several radio stations in South Dakota. He was a producer for CBS radio, and Operations Manager and producer for several radio stations in Oregon. He starred in a morning talk radio show and has created and produced many radio shows and radio theater. He has done numerous voice-overs for commercials. He began his interest in radio with his interest in drama and debate, and played lead roles in plays and has won high honors in debate. He has produced and has handled backstage production for local theater. He currently is a judge and coach for a local middle school declamation team, and for a high school speech team.

Katie Wallick

Assistant Drama Teacher

Katie Wallick is a high school student with experience in theater and television performance. She has written, produced and directed two plays performed at local events by Trinity Drama Club, a school organization which she heads. She starred in the nationally released series, SciGirls on PBS television. She also has extensive local community theater experience. Katie has received a prestigious Scholastic Art Award and has placed 1st in an Art competition with over 100 contributors. She received a 2nd place medal in the National Latin Competition and received numerous medals in declamation meets. She has had her original poetry published in Magnum Opus, a publication for young writers. She is a black belt in karate, a MN Zoo volunteer, and a classroom volunteer at Cyprus Classical Montessori.