Enthusiastic music educator adept in program management and excelling in collaborative leadership. Provides over 25 years of experience teaching, directing, and performing. Employs strong attention to detail within a connective classroom and inclusive ensemble atmosphere. Driven to enhance student engagement and performance quality. Passionate about exposing kids to diverse musical styles through memorable, interactive, learning experiences which encourage students to make connections and explore expression.
Though I chose not to continue with this program (primarily for financial reasons), I spent one semester further enhancing my knowledge and experience in sacred music, church history, choral performance, and vocal pedagogy.
From the 1950s through the 2010s WCC remained the premier choral educational institution in the United States. A truly unique school founded to train church musicians but rapidly evolved into an elite classical music conservatory centered on voice, piano, & organ, performance, as well as the finest choral conducting, music eduction, and sacred music programs. I enjoyed the privilege of studying and earning my degree during the pinnacle years of WCC. As a voice principal, I studied classical bel canto (opera) singing with stellar instructors. During my years at Westminster I was blessed to study choral conducting with Dr. James Jordan, Dr. Andrew McGill, and Heather Buchanan. Central to any degree program offered at WCC was participation in several of the most elite choirs in the world, directed by the late Dr. Joseph Flummerfelt, whom Leonard Berstein decribed as "greatest choral conductor in the world". Many of the most incredible, unforgettable, and formative experiences I have had in my life as a singer and musician occurred during the hundreds of hours spent in rehearsal as well as singing in once in a lifetime world-class performances of timeless choral works with the world's best orchestras and conductors. My flexible degree program allowed me to focus and hone in on specific passions and interests. Though I was a voice principle, and studied music theory, history, singers and choral diction, as well as arts management and many humanities focused courses, I was still able to minor in choral conducting techniques and sacred music.
A unique and intensive one-year program focused on various Biblical literacy and discipleship. During this year, which I employed as a gap year prior to pursuing a degree in music, can be described as an unofficial master's degree in varied, yet practical and applicable Biblical studies. This was a formative year centering on personal responsibility and impact. The mentoring lessons gleaned from this experience have helped to shape my approach to teaching and relationship-building.
Current Employment Contacts:
Pastor Christopher Ek & Pastor Elisabeth Venturini, Bethany Covenant Church (603) 472-5545
Kym Harmon, ASD Theatre Club (603) 595-4705
Professional Musicians whom I have worked and served (volunteered) with over the years.:
George Lopez, piano (603) 315-7932
https://www.bowdoin.edu/profiles/faculty/glopez/index.html
https://www.gulimina.com/george-lopez-bio.html
Piper Loveless, harp (603) 785-3047
https://mcmusicschool.org/faculty/piper-loveless/
https://www.nco-music.org/piper-runnionbareford
Tom Salyers, trumpet (603) 219-5061
https://www.music.af.mil/Home/Biographies/Display/Article/1308351/thomas-salyers/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-salyers
Marilyn Valentine, piano accompanist & vocalist (603) 438-1189