Choral/Vocal Music

English, French, German, Italian

K-12 Schools, After School Program, Community Center, Library

NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians), Board Member, New York Chapter, NAfME (National Association for Music Education)

Freelance soprano soloist/leader of song/voice teacher Performance venues include: Alice Tully Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral (NYC), St. Mary the Virgin (NYC), St. Jean Baptiste (NYC), Maryknoll (Ossining, NY), St. Joseph’s Seminary (NY), SUNY Purchase, Tanglewood and Aspen Music Festivals, Madison Square Garden (NYC), Prudential Center (Newark, NJ).

November 2009 – June 2014 Church of the Magdalene, Pocantico Hills, New York Children’s Choir Director Fall 2012 and 2013 Lifetime Arts/Greenburgh (NY) Library and Warner Library (Tarrytown, NY) This is My Song, Director: Provide guidance and instruction on vocal technique and music performance to senior citizens with divergent levels of ability and experience. Choose and prepare music in multiple genres. Interface with library staff on grant writing, ordering materials, publicity, space and scheduling. Lead the group in performance. This is My Song is a ten-week choral experience and outreach for senior citizens, funded by Lifetime Arts. September 2012 – June 2013 St. Luke’s School, Bronx, New York Music Teacher (pre-K – grade 8) November 2011 – June 2012 Guardian Angels School, New York, New York Music Teacher (pre-K – grade 8)

Almost everyone sings—in religious celebrations, to a song on the radio, to celebrate a birthday or an anniversary. We also hear music around us all the time. However, we do not really consider what goes into performance. The combination of melody, words and tone that go into singing make it singularly expressive among the musical arts: the most beautifully played piano sonata cannot connect to us the way a simple song can because of the interplay of music and lyrics. I have had the pleasure of running two Lifetime Arts choral programs in the New York area. Each 10-week vocal workshop provided the senior singers a meaningful and enjoyable culminating performance experience. While there is technique and study that goes into singing, the learning curve for novice singers is higher than that of a beginning instrumentalist—as a singer, your body is your instrument, which means you can learn to use it more quickly that you can a violin or flute. Choral singers also work together and learn to listen to each other to create an optimal performance. The shared activity culminating in an artistic musical presentation is a great community builder, and does wonders for the performers’ self-esteem. Finally, because the singer’s instrument is the body, learning vocal technique makes participants more aware of their physiology. Teaching proper breathing techniques and singing posture are wonderful, non-threatening ways to build aerobic and core strength.