Rising Stars
Performing Arts
/// Our Staff ///
At Rising Stars, we strive to bring you talented instructors that have the passion and drive to teach kids how to have fun and strive for excellence at the same time. We know our kids are driven and talented, and we want to let them shine!
Brian and Kerith founded Idaho Rising Stars in 2010, with one camp session: "Weather Or Not". The next year, they added "Go With The Flow", and the year after that, "Out Of This World" debuted. We took our program to Belize for two summers, working with at-risk teens, and we spent a month in Tanzania teaching drama and collaborating with American and Tanzanian artists and children to write and perform plays. Since we don't just work in Idaho anymore, we've decided to shorten our name to "Rising Stars". But Idaho is still very much where we love to work and play!
Kerith Telestai​
School & Summer Camp Programs Director & Instructor, Playwright, Choreographer, and Private Vocal Coach
​Education
2003 - Bachelor of Arts; Liberal Studies/Education:
Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA
2011 - Masters of Education; Integrating the Arts in the Classroom:
Lesley University in Cambridge, MA
​
Professional Experience
Kerith inspires kids to reach for the stars both in and out of the classroom. After graduating suma cum-laude in 2003, Kerith taught 5th grade in Santa Barbara, CA. About the same time, she joined a rock band playing electric violin and singing vocals. Within 4 months of forming, the band signed to Epitaph Records. Over the next 3 years, Kerith co-wrote and recorded two records, toured extensively in the entire US, Canada, and UK, and performed on some of the most prestigious rock tours in the world including the Take Action Tour, The Kerrang! Tour, and The Vans Warped Tour. After leaving the band, she returned to teaching in the classroom for 10 more years. Currently, Kerith teaches performing arts in artist-in-residence and after school programs positions at 6 schools in the Boise area, as well as offering private voice lessons to students in 6th-12th grade. She has also been cast in several musicals at BSU and Stage Coach Theatre, as well as in local films and commercials. Kerith’s passion for the arts is mirrored in everything that she does, in and out of the classroom. Her combination of real-world experience, academic excellence, and amazing dance and vocal talent make her a great teacher and a wonderful camp director. Rarely will you find someone of her caliber dedicating their life to teaching others how to perform.
Awards/Achievements
2003 - Kenneth Monroe Outstanding Female Graduate; Westmont
College
2003 - Liberal Studies Graduate of the Year; Westmont College
2004 - Student Teacher of the Year; Westmont College
2005 - Commissioned by the Wharton Foundation to write California
State Science Curriculum
2006 - Signed record deal with Epitaph Records; I Am Ghost
2006 - Wrote, Recorded, and Released “We Are Always Searching EP” by
I Am Ghost; Epitaph Records
2006 - Awarded RIAA Certified Gold Record; Vans Warped Tour
2007 - Wrote, Recorded, and Released “Lovers’ Requiem” by I Am Ghost;
Epitaph Records
2007 - Featured as “Musician of the Month”; Alternative Press
Magazine
2009 - Wrote, recorded, choreographed, and directed her first
musical, “Down To Earth”
2010 - Wrote Lyrics, recorded, choreographed, and directed the
musical, “Weather Or Not”
2011 - Co-wrote, recorded, choreographed, and directed the musical,
“Go With The Flow”
2012 - Co-wrote, recorded, and choreographed the musical, “Out Of
This World”
2017 - Choreographed, Music Directed, and starred in "L.A.R.P. The Musical" at BSU
2018 - Awarded "Best Supporting Actress" for Stage Coach Theatre's 2017-2018 Season as Sister Mary Robert in "Sister Act, The Musical"
2018 - Awarded "Best Choreography" for Stage Coach Theatre's 2017-2018 Season for work on "Sister Act, The Musical"
2019 - Co-wrote, produced, and featured in the short musical "Forever Home" as part of the I48 Film Competition
2019 - Awarded "Best Actress in a Minor Role" for Stage Coach
Theatre's 2018-2019 Season as Vivienne in "Legally Blonde,
The Musical"
2020 - Cast as Baker's Wife in Boise Music Week's "Into The Woods"
Brian Telestai​
Behind-The-Scenes Playwriting & Technical Work,
and #1 Supporter
of Kerith :)
Education
2008 - Bachelor of Arts; Music Performance - Vocal Performance Hope International University in Fullerton, CA
​2017 - Bachelors of Arts; Theatre - Dramatic Writing & Acting
Boise State University in Boise, ID
​2017 - Bachelors of Arts; Communication - Media Production
Boise State University in Boise, ID
Professional Experience
Brian's creative journey started as a musician in I Am Ghost on Epitaph Records (bass/keys/bgvs & writing/orchestration). He performed on 2 studio albums, 6 US tours, 1 Canadian tour, the Kerrang! Tour (UK), & the Vans Warped Tour in 2006 & 2007. During this time, Brian was featured in Alternative Press Magazine, Metal Hammer Magazine, Fuse TV, Kerrang! TV, MTV2, and yes, even the front page of Myspace (Sometimes its rough to know you peaked early). I switched to the non-profit sector in 2008 where I served for 8 years as the Artistic Director at Canyon Ridge Church. In 2014, Brian went back to school to finish/earn bachelor's degree in music, communication, & theatre. His thesis, "LARP: The Musical", a full-length, hard rock musical, was produced at Boise State University to sold-out audiences. Brian started standup comedy in 2018's Boise's Funniest Person and have since performed with Lady Bizness, Mattio Martinez, Jessica Keenan, Sophie Hughes, & Robert Downey Jr. (America's Got Talent). Brian is also passionate about giving back to serve others. He taught acting with Pathlight International in Belize and served with Dramatic Adventure Theatre in Tanzania/NYC where he co-wrote and acted in "Ubinadamu", a one-act play that went on to help fund a labor ward, medical center, and performing arts center in the village where he taught: Mloka Selous. Brian’s blend of unique talents and incredible passion for artistic excellence inspires others to meet their full potential, and makes him an integral part of Rising Stars, whether working directly with students or indirectly from home.
Awards/Achievements​
2003 - Colorado All-State Choir
2003 - Awarded Presidential Scholarship; Hope Intl. University
2006 - Signed record deal with Epitaph Records; I Am Ghost
2006 - Wrote, Recorded “We Are Always Searching EP” by I Am Ghost;
Epitaph Records
2006 - Awarded RIAA Certified Gold Record; Vans Warped Tour
2007 - Wrote, Recorded “Lovers’ Requiem” by I Am Ghost;
Epitaph Records
2007 - Awarded “Best Local Rock Band”; Orange County Weekly
Magazine
2007 - Featured/Interviewed on Fuse TV & International Music Feed
2007 - Published first photograph; Alternative Press Magazine
2007 - Featured at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; commemorating the
history of The Vans Warped Tour
2009 - Co-Produced and recorded “Down To Earth” musical
2010 - Co-Founded Rising Stars Performing Arts in Boise, ID
2010 - Wrote, recorded, choreographed, and directed the musical,
“Weather Or Not”
2011 - Co-wrote, recorded, and directed the musical, “Go With The
Flow”
2012 - Co-wrote, recorded, and directed the musical "Out of this World"
2017 - Wrote, produced, and starred in "L.A.R.P. The Musical" at BSU
2019 - Co-wrote, produced, and starred in the short musical "Forever Home" as part of the I48 Film Competition
2019 - Won "Best Sound" for the short musical "Forever Home" as part
of the i48 Film Festival