Dianna Hochella

Taught approximately 130 students across 6th–8th grade vocal music, 7th–8th grade world drumming, peer link music, and directed a student-led Drama Club.

• Employed diverse, hands-on teaching strategies—including technology, recordings, and group work—to actively engage learners.
• Integrated music theory to build sight-singing and note-reading skills.
• Prepared choirs for MSVMA District Festival, consistently earning top scores. Annually coached students for State Honors Choir and Solo & Ensemble Festival.
• Founded a vocal practice club with high school mentors.
• Served as Secondary Vocal Music PLC Leader (2018–2022) and district music tech lead, supporting peers with Noteflight and Soundtrap training.
• Mentored new and student teachers.
• Selected as 2020 MSVMA State Honors Choir conductor (7–9 SSA), performing at Michigan Music Conference.
• Founded a self-sustaining, all-inclusive Drama Club (2023–2025).
• Led PBIS Student of the Month recognition initiative.
• Chaperoned annual 8th grade trips to Washington D.C., Traverse City, and Sleeping Bear Dunes.
• Produced student-run talent show “Clague's Got Talent” (2012–2020).
• Supported high school choir programs (Skyline and Huron High Schools) at Interlochen Choir Camp and international tours to Italy (2012) and Ireland (2015).
• Revamped multicultural world drumming curriculum to include student compositions and public performances (Festifools parade). Collaborated with U-M Latin American Studies and EMU's HanSoRi to bring cultural music and dance experiences to students.

Taught and conducted the Detroit Opera Youth Chorus, an auditioned ensemble of ~50 singers aged 8–17.

• Provided rigorous vocal instruction focused on music literacy, ear training, and artistic expression.
• Led rehearsals, prepared students for concerts, and conducted fully staged children's operas.
• Used diverse teaching methods to actively engage students and offered hands-on experience in professional production settings.

Taught at the academy and also long-term substituted for the vocal music program in the high school. Taught 7th grade music appreciation, 7th/8th grade mixed choir, 8th grade elite choir, and co-taught 8th grade musical drama. Co-moderate the 7th and 8th grade student council which includes weekly meetings and planning school events for students.

• Utilized a variety of teaching methods such as group and individual assignments, hands-on activities, readings, recordings, and other multi-media to actively engage students in their learning
• Introduced piano keyboards into the classroom as a part of the 7th grade curriculum to help students learn how to play and apply note reading
• Successfully prepared the 8th grade choir to perform at the MSVMA District IV Festival in 26 days of class, teaching them the solfege system of sight reading and working with them every day on their skill development, which resulted in the students qualifying for the state festival.
• Instituted new curriculum for the 7th grade music appreciation course which focused on the historical periods of music, and the history of music in general
• Integrated a multicultural hand drumming unit which taught different drumming beats from around the world while also teaching students how to read written rhythms