Mariel Vandersteel is an arts administrator, graphic designer, and music educator based in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Mariel moved to Norway to study the hardingfele at Høgskolen Telemark in Rauland. Soon after, she released Hickory: a solo album of Old-Time, Scandinavian and original fiddle tunes. A member of Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards for over six years, the band was selected twice by the U.S. State Department to act as cultural ambassadors throughout Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Montenegro, Greece, and Estonia.

Mariel earned a masters degree in Arts Administration with a certificate in Fundraising Management from Boston University while working full time at the legendary folk music venue, Club Passim in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She continues to teach violin privately and offers graphic design to musicians, non-profits and small businesses through her creative business, Sirkel Sirkel Creative Co.