Educator Biographies

PRIMARY EDUCATOR: GLORIA BUCCINO

A native Utahn, Gloria recently moved back to Salt Lake City after living in Mexico, Colorado and, most recently, California. Gloria has always loved caring for children and spent many hours as an adolescent babysitting for neighbors and friends. During the five years that she lived in Mexico, Gloria became fluent in Spanish and taught English to small groups of children as well as homeschooled her own children.  Through these experiences, she discovered her talent and passion for teaching. Upon returning to the United States she began teaching Spanish to groups of children and working as a private tutor. In Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Gloria worked as a high school Spanish at a private school and most recently, in California, she was a preschool and pre-k teachers assistant working with 3 to 6 year olds.  Her love of teaching inspired her to return to school to receive a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  Gloria began her studies at the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California where she maintained Phi Theta Kappa status and plans to continue her education at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

GUEST EDUCATOR: ERIC BOLTON

SUMMER WORKSHOP: Musical Theater

Born in the Los Angeles area, Eric Bolton was a member of the Young Americans and studied choral music at the Idyllwild School of Music and Arts. He graduated from Pasadena City College with an A.A. in Humanities and from Cal State Los Angeles with a B.A. (cum laude) in Theatre Arts.

Early in his career, he worked for the Captain K.I.D. child safety programs, educating and entertaining kids across the U.S. He has written several children’s musical theatre pieces, one of which, titled, “Magic Leaves”, toured Los Angeles area schools. Eric wrote the music for the piece, ‘Cracker Jack Day’, which was honored by then Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley for promoting racial tolerance. His love of writing and performing for children led him to teaching in the Gymboree Play Programs for several years.  A professional actor, you may have seen him on Boston Legal, Murphy Brown, Melrose Place, Port Charles and in a recurring role on General Hospital. Before recently moving to Utah, he taught musical theatre at the Red Chair School of Performing Arts in Burbank, California and performed the role of Daddy Warbucks in the Red Chair production of Annie Jr. He is also available for private vocal coaching sessions.