R é s u m é
PROFESSIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Tech High School
Director of Choral Activities: 2020-21
• Rehearsed and conducted four curricular and co-curricular choral ensembles
• Created impactful learning opportunities involving technology and distance learning
• Developed and implemented new curriculum dedicated to vocal pedagogy and music literacy
• Served on committees to discuss on recruitment, retention, diversity, and equity issues for
the district’s secondary music programs
• Co-developed curriculum for Creative Expression, a course for middle school students
exploring various fundamental aspects of the performing arts
• Managed and maintained the yearly budget for the choral department
• Directed vocal music for the high school musical theatre production
Moulton Elementary School (Des Moines, IA)
General Music Teacher: 2019-2020
• Taught general music in a highly diverse Title 1 school environment
• Designed and coordinated educational material for a wide variety of students
• Partnered with classroom teachers on curriculum and individualized instruction
• Collaborated with staff on arts initiatives and student enrichment activities
• Incorporated inclusion techniques and culturally diverse resources into classroom instruction
• Coordinated and communicated with stakeholders about student goals and progress
Valley High School (West Des Moines, IA)
Co-Director of Choral Activities: 2018-2019
• Rehearsed and conducted the A Cappella and Select Treble Choirs
• Directed the preparatory vocal jazz and show choirs, Vocal Point and Ignition
• Advised on wide-ranging improvements to the administration of the VHS choral department
• Co-managed and maintained yearly budgets for the choral department
• Organized and managed numerous out-of-school educational opportunities
• Collaborated with staff, community, and students on large-scale musical performances
• Directed four curricular and co-curricular choral ensembles
• Coached individual students on performance techniques and scholarly activities
Lebanon Valley College (Annville, PA)
Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music: 2015-2018
• Rehearsed and conducted the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and College Choir
• Taught undergraduate courses in conducting, choral methods, and music ed
• Taught graduate courses in music education and multicultural choral music
• Managed choir tours and outreach with local school and church choirs
• Organized yearly collaborative concerts between the LVC Chamber Choir and
area churches/high schools to support local charities and non-profit organizations
• Developed the annual LVC HS Choral Invitational and LVC HS Honor Choir
• Significant Choral Performance Accolades
• PA-ACDA Fall Conference Performance (2017)
• PMEA State Conference Performance (2018)
• On-campus choral workshop with King’s Singers (2015)
• On-campus choral workshop with Eric Whitacre (2017)
• On-campus choral workshop with Moira Smiley (2017)
Hopewell Valley Central High School (Pennington, NJ)
Director of Choral Activities: 2011-2015
• Rehearsed and conducted award-winning curricular choral ensembles
• Coordinated music tours and clinics with outside professional musicians
• Revised and redeveloped curriculum for a tiered choral program
• Supervised and mentored independent studies students and student teachers
• Directed vocal music for middle and high school musical theatre productions
• Significant Choral Performance Accolades
• NJMEA State Conference Performance (2013)
• Windy City Classic Music Festival (Chicago, IL); first place performances (2013)
• Two-time Grand Champions, Roxbury Choral Invitational (2014 and 2015)
• Festival Disney (Orlando, Fl); first place performances (2015)
• Invited guest performance at US National Cathedral (2015)
• Invited guest performance at Princeton University Chapel (2015)
• On-campus workshop with composer Ola Gjeilo (2014)
• Consistent Superior ratings, NJ-ACDA HS Choral Festival
• Consistent student participation in district and state choral festivals
Boylan Central Catholic High School (Rockford, IL)
Director of Choral Activities: 2000-2008
• Department Chair, August 2006 - May 2008
• Rehearsed and conducted curricular choral ensembles
• Developed curriculum and course work for three new music courses
• Launched and promoted two new annual choral concerts
• Directed vocal music for musical theatre productions
• Supervised and mentored student teachers
• Significant Choral Performance Accolades
• Dorian Choral Invitational; Luther College, Decorah, IA (2008)
• Consistent Superior ratings, ILMEA state music festivals
• Consistent student participation in district and state choral festivals
CHURCH MUSIC EXPERIENCE
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Choir Director: 2010-2011
• Rehearsed and conducted two choral ensembles and two hand bell choirs
• Served on the Worship Ministry Committee
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Rockford, IL )
Choir Director: 2003-2008
• Rehearsed and conducted the Sanctuary Choir
• Served on the Music and Worship Committee
EDUCATION
Minnesota State University, Mankato (Mankato, MN)
Master of Science, Mental Health Counseling (in progress): May 2024 (anticipated)
• Graduate assistant to Dr. Jennifer Veltsos, Interim Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education
• Co-presenter, Suicidality and Rural College Campuses: Bridging the Resource Gap to Support Student Mental Health, American College Counselors Association National Conference; Las Vegas, NV, February 2022
• Accompanist, MSU voice lessons and studio class
University of Iowa, School of Music (Iowa City, IA)
Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting & Pedagogy: December 2014
Honors and Activities
• Teaching assistant to Dr. Timothy Stalter
• Assistant conductor, Kantorei (Spring 2010) and University Choir (Spring 2011)
• Instructor, Methods and Materials: Music for the Classroom Teacher
• Assistant, Choral Methods
• Accompanist, Camerata and Women's Choir
• Recipient, Graduate Summer Fellowship, 2010
• Recipient, Anne T. Cleary Dissertation Fellowship, 2011
Northern Illinois University, School of Music (DeKalb, IL)
Master of Music in Choral Conducting: May 2006
Honors and Activities
• Teaching assistant, Dr. Eric Johnson
• Conductor, University Choir (first graduate student to ever hold the position)
• Assistant conductor, Concert and Chamber Choirs
• Recipient, Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, 2008
Luther College (Decorah, IA)
Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music Education: May 2000
Honor and Activities
• Member and accompanist, Nordic Choir
• Member of Pi Kappa Lambda, National Music Honor Society
• Member of Phi Beta Kappa, National Undergraduate Honor Society
• Dean's List, six semesters
PRIMARY CONDUCTING TEACHERS
Weston Noble
Timothy Peter
Sandra Peter
Eric A. Johnson
Timothy Stalter
TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• Current Iowa Master Teaching license
• Previously held teaching licenses in New Jersey, Minnesota, and lllinois
• Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association - Ensemble-Specific Repertoire and Resources Chair (2015-present)
• PMEA District 7 Higher Education Representative to the Curriculum/Instruction Committee (2016-17)
• American Choral Directors Association - member
• PMEA: Pennsylvania Music Educators Association - member
• NAfME: The National Association for Music Education - member
TEACHING AWARDS
• National Society of Leadership and Success, Excellence in Teaching Award, April 2017
• WREX-TV Teacher of the Week (Rockford, IL), 2008
• University of Chicago Outstanding Teacher Award, 2005
• Boylan Edge Award, for service to the Boylan Central Catholic High School Community, 2002
GRANTS AWARDED
• Winner, ACDA International Conductors Exchange Program Conducting Fellow, September 2016
• Co-winner, Darrell Woomer Diversity Program Endowment Grant, for Lea Gilmore Residency at Lebanon Valley College, May 2016
• Winner, LVC Faculty Research Grant, to continue doctoral archival research in Edinburgh, Scotland, March 2016
GUEST CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE
• Guest conductor, PMEA 5th Grade Songfest in Sidman, PA, May 2018
• Guest conductor, Dauphin County Honor Choir in Hummelstown. PA, April 2018
• Guest conductor, Carbon County Honor Choir in Lehighton, PA, November 2017
• Guest conductor, Young Men’s Choral Festival at Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA, October 2017
• Guest conductor, West Shore Honor Choir Festival in Lewisberry, PA, September 2017
• Guest conductor for the Only Girls Aloud Treble Chorus Festival at Pennsbury HS in Fairless Hills, PA, March 2017
• Guest conductor, Senior All-District VII Women’s Chorus in Marion, VA, February 2017
• Guest conductor, Central Dauphin Chorus Festival in Harrisburg, PA, February 2017
• Guest conductor, West Shore Honor Choir Festival in Lewisberry, PA, September 2016
• Guest conductor, LLMEA County Honor Choir in Lebanon, PA, January 2016
• Guest conductor, West Shore Honor choir Festival in Lewisberry, PA, September 2015
• Guest conductor, Emory and Henry Invitational Choral Festival, April 2015
• Choral conductor/faculty, Performing Arts Institute (Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, PA), Summer 2012-2016
• Guest conductor, Little 10 Choral Festival (Saumanok, IL), November 2009
PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, CLINICS, AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
• Presenter, Choral Triage: A Method to Maximize Your Rehearsal Efficiency, NJMEA State Conference; New East Brunswick, NJ, February 2018
• Panelist on music education and arts funding, WITF (NPR) Smart Talk radio program, Annville, PA, April 2017
• Presenter, Press! Glide! Slash! Dab! Laban Movement in the Choral Rehearsal, ACDA-PA Fall Conference; Susquehanna College, PA, November 2016
• Presenter, Priority Check: Three Tenets to Ensure Success in the Music Classroom, PMEA District 7 Professional Development Day; Gettysburg College, PA, October 2016
• Facilitator, Multicultural and Ethnic Resources and Repertoire reading session and roundtable, ACDA-PA Fall Summer Conference, Elizabethtown College, PA, August 2016
CHORAL CLINICS, WORKSHOPS, AND ADJUDICATIONS
• Clinician, choral workshop with Central Dauphin HS and Fox Chapel HS choirs, May 2017
• Clinician, choral workshop with Annville-Cleona HS Concert Choir, May 2017
• Online clinician, choral workshop with Liberty High School choirs, Hillsboro, OR, March 2017
• Clinician, choral workshop and exchange between Pennsbury High School Choirs and LVC Chamber Choir, April 2016
• Clinician, choral workshop with Hershey High School choirs and LVC Choral Methods students, March 2016
• Clinician, numerous choral workshops with Cocalico HS, 2017-present
• Clinician, numerous choral workshops with Central Dauphin HS, 2015-present
• Clinician, numerous choral workshops with Lower Dauphin HS, 2015-prese
• Clinician, numerous choral workshops with Palmyra HS, 2015-present
• Adjudicator, Music in the Parks, May 2016-present
• Adjudicator, NJMEA Region II and All-State Auditions, 2011-2015
COMPOSITIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Bionn Siulach Scealach for SSATBB choir a cappella
Published by Earthsongs, ID S-373
Bring Me My Shadow for SSA choir and piano
Published by SBMP, ID SBMP 1242
Canopy for SATB choir a cappella
Published by Polymnia
If for SATB choir and piano
Published by SBMP, ID SBMP 1500
Lie Light for SSA choir and piano, and SATB choir and piano
Published by SBMP, ID SBMP 1327 (SSA) and SBMP 1324 (SATB)
Ring Out, Ye Bells for TTBB choir and cajon
Published by MorningStar Music, ID 50-8915
Sail Fast! for SATB choir, violin, cello, piano, and percussion
Published by Walton Music, WW1737
Sing Me To Sleep for SSA choir and piano
Published by Heritage Music Press, ID 15/3649H
When You Are Old for SATB choir and piano
Published by Heritage Music Press, ID 15/3553H
COMPOSITION CONTESTS AND COMMISSIONS
• Commissioned composer for There Is No Road for SATB choir, piano, steel pan, and percussion, Gilbert Middle School (IA), 2020
• Commissioned composer for The Gift to Sing for SATB choir, Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester (MN), 2018
• Finalist for The Eleventh Hour for SATB choir and piano, Stephen Paulus Emerging Composer Competition, True Concord Voices, 2018
• First place for If for SATB choir and piano, Lancaster-Lebanon Music Educators Association Composition Contest, 2018
• Commissioned composer for Time is… for SATB choir and soprano solo, Lower Dauphin High School Chamber Singers, 2018
• Commissioned composer for Sure is the Summer for SATB choir, Pequea Valley High School Chamber Singers, 2018
• Commissioned composer for Ring Out, Ye Bells! for TTBB choir and cajon, Luther College Norsemen, 2017
• Commissioned composer for Sail Fast! for SA choir, piano, violin, cello, and percussion, Allegro Choral Choral Academy, 2016
• Commissioned composer for Bring Me My Shadow for SSA choir and piano, Algona Area Children's Chorus, 2013
• Second place for I’m A-Waiting and A-Watching for SATB choir, Sacra Profana Composition Contest, 2010
• Commissioned composer for Bionn Siulach Scealach for SSATBB choir, Princeton High School Concert Choir, 2006
