BY MAUREEN WERTHER
Chelsie Henderson, owner of Rural Soul Studio in Schuylerville, blends the female entrepreneurial spirit with the soul of a musician and the generosity of a teacher.
Originally from Easton, N.Y., Henderson received a degree in music education from the University of Vermont. She was always keenly interested in ethnomusicology, but she also loved teaching.
After graduating from college, Henderson went on to develop a portfolio as teacher, director, conductor and performer. She developed and implemented a choral program and co-directed theater productions in rural Vermont. She honed her conducting skills with the Bella Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont.
In 2009, Henderson was awarded the title of “Outstanding New Music Educator,” shortly thereafter satisfying her urge to travel and experience ethnic music first hand. Her travels took her to India, Ireland and Italy with, as she says, her “ears and eyes wide open.”
She fell in love with music from West Africa and began studying the djembe and doundouns, drums that come from West Africa.