Aletha Fassl
Bethlehem,PA
Summary
Accomplished Director of Music showcasing exceptional organ and piano playing, alongside innovative choral directing. Spearheaded diverse musical projects, including international performances and recordings, Reliable and adaptable. Aspires to elevate music to glorify God through the voices of God's people.
Overview
60
60
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Music
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
08.2012 - Current
- Played Piano & Organ for all Sunday Services, Christmas Eve & Day (when scheduled) Services, and Lenten Midweek Services.
- Directed the Adult Choir when they were scheduled to sing.
- Prepared & planned a Liturgy for Children in 2015,
- Trained Leaders of Song & soloists for Children's/Youth Services.
- Prepared all Worship Services during the time without a pastor, asking our parishioners to lead our worship when a substitute pastor could not be found. .
- Planned and rehearsed plays and music for once-a-month Saturdays for a program the community children were invited to attend prior to 2016.
- Determined voices, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos and tone balances required to achieve effects desired in each musical composition.
- Led live music performances and rehearsals, directing musicians to achieve their best possible performances.
- Attended regular practices and private lessons to hone skills.
- Selected and arranged music for 24 + holiday performances and special events.
- Chose music for all liturgies.
- Studied scores to learn music in detail and develop interpretations.
- Fostered a positive rehearsal environment, beginning with prayer and promoting open communication and constructive feedback among the singers.
- Evaluated musician performance regularly, offering guidance on areas requiring improvement or adjustment in technique or interpretation.
- Developed musician's skills through focused rehearsals, ensuring high-quality performances.
- Transposed pieces from one key to another to accommodate the vocal range of the community.
- Handled requests for specific musical selections.
- Maintained an organized music library, streamlining access to scores for rehearsals and performances.
- Resurrected a Bell Choir that had been absent for many years.
- Taught and directed this Bell Choir for 2 years until it again disbanded due to an unfortunate situation with one of the members and the church council. Four of these members stopped coming to church except for Christmas & Easter. One left the church with her family.
- Wrote Bell parts for the Grace (vocal) choir to ring while singing.
- Played & rehearsed for A Charlie Brown Christmas.
- Organized, planned, rehearsed for our first Talent Show/Concert.
Director of Music
St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church
12.2006 - 06.2011
- Rehearsed Adult Choir once a week, requiring choosing music,
- Played Organ & Piano for 2 weekly Sunday Services plus 2 Christmas Eve Services, midweek Advent and Lenten Services.
- Directed a Praise Band
- Worked with soloists and instrumentalists.
- Started a Bell Choir, teaching them ringing and reading skills.
- Started a Children's Ring & Sing Chime Choir.
- Played a Christmas Bell program at the Chrin Community Center in Palmer Township.
- Performed one Concert in the church.
Substitute Organist/Pianist/Children's Choir Director
Various Churches and Schools
01.2002 - 11.2006
- Played electronic & pipe organs in Packer Chapel at Lehigh University, First Baptist, Bethlehem, Chapel at Moravian College, St. Ursula's Catholic Church, Bethlehem, PA, Muhlenberg College, and keyboard at Northampton Area Community College.
- Directed Children's Ring & Sing Bell Choir once a week.
Director of Music
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church
09.1977 - 01.2002
- Directed Adult Choir
- Directed English Handbell Choir
- Directed Men's Choir
- Directed School Choir
- Directed Folk Group
- Directed Sounds of Joy Contemporary Music Group
- Directed Ave Maria (auditioned) Children's Choir for weddings and other special occasions
- Directed Parish Children's Choir
- Directed School Spirit Bell Choir
- Directed Resurrection Choir (for funerals)
- Trained & scheduled all Cantors
- Prepared all liturgies for 5 Masses on Saturdays & Sundays.
- Wrote Prayers of the Faithful for Sunday Worship.
- Taught Classroom Music for grades K-8.
- Prepared School Liturgies for Friday morning School Mass with the children.
- Produced 2 recordings with my music ministry to earn money to perform in Italy in 1998, then Germany/Austria in 2000.
- Adult & Bell Choirs perform in concert in churches throughout Italy, as well as being invited to sing for the beatification of a gypsy saint at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II.
- Adult & Bell Choirs invited to perform at the Salzburg Music Festival in Salzburg, Austria. We also performed concerts in Germany.
- Held annual Concerts in church.
Creative Copywriter
Valence Advertising
12.1964 - 12.1966
- Wrote copy for brochures, magazines, news releases.
- Wrote for Travel Trade magazine's Pocono Mountains edition.
- Wrote for Bride's magazine article on what to wear and what to do in the Poconos.
- Managed the Manhattan office and hired photographers when needed.
- Attended office dinners/luncheons to promote new clients.
Education
No Degree - English Handbells & Guitar
Vander Cook College of Music
Chicago, ILBachelor of Arts - Music Performance in Piano & Voice, & Music Ed.
Moravian College
Bethlehem, PA06-1984
Associate of Arts - Psychology/ Music
Northampton Area Community College
Bethlehem, PA06-1982
High School Diploma -
Pen Argyl Area High School
Pen Argyl, PA06-1964
Skills
- Vocal techniques
- Organ playing
- Piano playing
- Arranging music
- Rehearsal techniques
- Choral directing
- Sight-reading proficiency
- Concert production
- Writing lyrics
- Music composition
- Self-critiquing skills
- Musical arrangements
Timeline
Director of Music
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
08.2012 - Current
Director of Music
St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church
12.2006 - 06.2011
Substitute Organist/Pianist/Children's Choir Director
Various Churches and Schools
01.2002 - 11.2006
Director of Music
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church
09.1977 - 01.2002
No Degree - English Handbells & Guitar
Vander Cook College of Music
Bachelor of Arts - Music Performance in Piano & Voice, & Music Ed.
Moravian College
Associate of Arts - Psychology/ Music
Northampton Area Community College
High School Diploma -
Pen Argyl Area High School
Creative Copywriter
Valence Advertising
12.1964 - 12.1966
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