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Maryland Music Educators Association
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The Maryland Choral Educators Association is proud to announce our
Clinicians for the February 2012 MMEA Conference!
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Leia Bennett
Leia Bennett received her undergraduate degree in choral music and education summa cum laude and
a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy from The Catholic University of America. There she received the Presser award for music scholarship and the 2004 Highest Academic Achievement Award from the Rome School of Music. She earned membership into Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society and studied voice under Sharon Christman and
conducting with Dr. Leo Nestor. Ms. Bennett has been involved with many metropolitan music programs including Calia, (which she co-designed) and the prestigious Levine School of Music in Washington D.C. Ms. Bennett is currently in her eighth year as choral director at Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS), where nearly one-third of the student body is now involved in the choral program. At AACS she conducts the Bell’Arte Singers, Madrigal Singers, Men of Note, and Women’s Choir, and has performed with them in such venues as Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. John the Divine, and National Gallery of Art. Ms. Bennett is passionate about engaging the
body, soul, and spirit of each individual she teaches, viewing choral singing as an exploration in artistic communication and expression of the spirit. To aid in the formation of whole and healthy students, complementing her music curriculum, Ms. Bennett is currently pursuing her counseling certification. In 2009, Ms. Bennett was named Teacher of the Year. She also maintains a small private studio of voice and piano students. | MCEA's February 2012 Clinicians
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Heather J. Buchanan, PhD
Australian born conductor Heather J. Buchanan is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Montclair State University, where she conducts the 160-voice Chorale, 60-voice University Singers, and 24-voice Vocal Accord. Choirs under her direction have won critical acclaim for their “heartfelt conviction,” “vibrant sound,” and for singing with the “crispness and dexterity of a professional choir.” In recent years, the MSU choirs have collaborated with a variety of renowned artists including Meredith Monk, Mícheál ÓSúílleabháin, Tarik O’Regan, Joseph Flummerfelt, and conductors Neeme Järvi, Jacques LaCombe, and John Maucceri with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO). In past seasons the MSU Chorale has collaborated with the NJSO for masterwork performances of the Verdi Requiem, Carmina Burana, Mahler Symphony No. 3; Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and The Lord of the Rings Symphony. In December 2011 Dr. Buchanan conducted the MSU Chorale and Symphony Orchestra in the East Coast Premiere of the new American oratorio Parables (Aldridge). The University Singers has established an exciting performance relationship with renowned composer-artist Meredith Monk beginning with their historic collaboration in December 2006 and continuing with the March 2009 performances of Songs of Ascension at the Guggenheim Museum which received outstanding reviews. They also recorded Songs of Ascension with Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble on the prestigious ECM label (released in May 2011), and their performance of Ascent received a preliminary Grammy nomination for Best Choral Performance. In February 2012 University Singers also gave their ACDA Eastern Division Convention debut performance in Providence, RI. In 1012-13 they will perform The Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem with the NJSO.
Dr. Buchanan holds degrees from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University (Australia), Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and a PhD from the University of New England (Australia). A licensed Andover Educator, she specializes in the teaching of Body Mapping and somatic pedagogy for musicians. She is co-editor of the GIA choral series Teaching Music through Performance in Choir (Vol.3. released March 2011), has published a DVD-Video Evoking Sound: Body Mapping & Gesture Fundamentals, and choral octavos in the Evoking Sound Choral Series (GIA). A vibrant teacher and dynamic performer, Dr. Buchanan is in demand as a
guest conductor and clinician in the US and abroad. |
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Jo A. Enke
Jo A. Enke has been a public school educator since 2002, teaching in Anne Arundel County Public Schools and West Bridgewater Massachusetts. Mrs. Enke completed her undergraduate work at Salisbury University receiving a degree in music with a concentration in voice. Additional graduate coursework was completed at Towson University, Notre Dame of Maryland University and Framingham University with a focus in vocal music and education. She has served as a full time instructor in general music and a chorus conductor at the elementary and middle school levels. During her career in Massachusetts, Enke served as co-manager of the Massachusetts Music Educator Association Junior District Mixed Choral Festival. In 2007 Enke earned National Board Teaching Certification. |
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Joseph Goldsmith
Joseph Goldsmith is certainly a jack of all trades in the music world. After a very successful two years teaching middle school choral music in southern MD, he resigned and married his fiancé who lives in Harford County. Unable to find a teaching job in the new county, Joe finally pursued his other interests. He is half way through his MM in Music Ed at Kent State, has a contemporary music ministry at a local church, is the musical director for Godspell at Harford Tech, is interning at a graphic design agency, and is
rising in the country/rock and music business world in the Baltimore area with the help of the record label he is signed under. Of course, Joe also offers voice lessons and subs on occasion.
Joe is a passionate workaholic who constantly takes on new ventures and gives 110% to all of them. He has strong feelings regarding music in our schools and believes that every child should at least try music in some fashion. Chorally, Joe held his choir to the highest standards as he could, taking a grade level II segregated choir and making them into a level III/IV mixed choir with
straight I’s at the state level within his two years of slightly unorthodox teaching methods. “If you show your passion for the job, your goofiness and serious side, a middle school singer will love you… or at least respect you enough to do what you say. Our job is to prepare them for high school and to avoid hitting the Easy Button when picking repertoire.”
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Stephen Holmes
Stephen Holmes began his formal musical training with The Maryland State Boychoir (MSB) at the age of nine. His strong ties and commitment to the MSB continue today where he is now serving in his fourteenth year on staff and serves as the Artistic Director, overseeing the boychoir's six ensembles.
Mr. Holmes serves in various leadership roles throughout the Maryland and D.C. area. He is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the Notre Dame of Maryland University . He has also served as Associate Director of the Glorystar Children's Choir. In addition, he is the Organist/Choirmaster at the Church of the Resurrection and for ten years served in the same position at Aisquith Presbyterian Church in Baltimore. Mr. Holmes also conducted the University of Maryland Men's chorus from 2005-2011.
Additionally, he serves on the board of directors for the Canticle Singers of Baltimore, the Maryland State Boychoir, and The Choral Music Educator's Association of Maryland. Mr. Holmes has conducted in 35 states and at the ACDA and Maryland Music Educators Association conferences, served as a guest conductor of county and state honor choirs and festivals, and his choral arrangements have been performed by choirs throughout the country. Mr.
Holmes has performed as a soloist and chorister with numerous regional ensembles and has been recognized with several voice, organ, and conducting awards. Mr. Holmes and his wife and newborn daughter reside in Baltimore 's Mayfield community. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in voice and organ performance from Towson University and his Masters degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Maryland , College Park . He will complete his doctorate in choral conducting at the University of Maryland in the spring of 2012.
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Katherine Murphy
Katherine Murphy is the Content Specialist for General and Choral Music, Pre-K through 12th Grade in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). This is her 18th year in MCPS and her fourth in this position. Prior to this position, she was an elementary general and choral teacher for 14 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in music education from the Catholic University of America and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Administration and Supervision with McDaniel College.
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Krystal Rickard McCoy is an adjunct faculty member at the College of Southern Maryland where she teaches Music Appreciation and Ear Training courses. She is the conductor of St. Maries Musica, a select community choir based in Southern Maryland. Krystal is also the director of the Southern Maryland Encore Chorale, which is part of the greater program, Encore Creativity for Older Adults. This non-auditioned choir provides singing opportunities for adults 55 and older and promotes singing for physical, mental, and social health. She also teaches a movement course for the Encore program. Krystal directs the Sanctuary Choir at Hollywood United Methodist Church in Hollywood, Maryland and is president of the Maryland/DC American Choral Director’s Association.
From 2007-2010 Ms. Rickard McCoy taught choral methods, choral conducting, choral literature, and supervised secondary choral
student teachers at the University of Delaware. She also conducted the University Singers, Concert Choir, and co-directed Schola Cantorum. Before arriving at Delaware, Ms. Rickard taught high school choral music in New Jersey for five years. Under her direction her choirs won superior awards, performed in Carnegie Hall, and performed in the Sydney Opera House.
Ms. Rickard McCoy adjudicates at choral festivals and clinics in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. She presents at conferences and choral reading sessions and conducts honor choirs in Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In August 2010 she traveled to Beijing to present on school and community music partnerships at the International Symposium for Music Education. In March 2012, she will conduct the Middle School Honor Choir for the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association.
McCoy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Bucknell University and a Master's Degree in Choral Conducting
from Westminster Choir College. She has studied conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt, Andrew Megill, James Jordan and William Payn. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University. Her research interests
include choral music education, preservice teacher education, movement in music, community engagement, and adult music education.
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Dr. Alyson Shirk
Dr. Alyson Shirk joins the Children’s Chorus of Maryland as its Artistic Director after a 24 year hiatus, having graduated from the organization as a chorister in 1988. Alyson has degrees in Music Education and Vocal Pedagogy from Susquehanna and Marywood Universities and she recently earned her doctorate in vocal performance from the Shenandoah Conservatory in May 2009. She was awarded the Dean’s Graduate Scholar Award for excellence in scholarship for her dissertation “Mad Women in Opera: An Investigation of Madness and Selected Mad Scenes for Soprano. In 2009, Alyson taught master classes and performed the Brahms’ Requiem with the Ho Chi Minh Symphony Orchestra in Vietnam. In 2010, she traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina to
research and perform the music of Argentine composer Carlos Guastavino. Alyson recently returned from Hungary where she studied advanced solfegge and choral techniques. In addition to her regional and international work as a soloist, Alyson conducts the Bryn Mawr School’s Upper School choirs and serves as Director of Music for the Bryn Mawr School.
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Melva Sunday
Mrs. Sunday has been employed for 36 years with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Currently Mrs. Sunday is a vocal/general music specialist at Folger McKinsey Elementary school, a National Blue Ribbon School, located in Severna Park Maryland. She earned her BA in Music Education from Bridgewater College, Bridgewater Virginia, MMEd from the University of Maryland College Park and achieved as a National Board Certified Teacher. Currently, Mrs. Sunday is serving as a candidate support provider for the Anne Arundel County Cohort of National Board Certified Teacher Candidates. Recently Mrs. Sunday has been working closely with her colleagues to integrate the arts fully in all curriculum areas. In the past 2 years Melva has been a part of the Anne Arundel County/AEMS 21st century arts integration conferences as well as attending many conferences and professional development workshops in the area of arts integration. Currently she is a member of the Anne Arundel County cohort working toward a certificate in Arts
Integration from Towson University.
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Linda L. Tedford
Linda L. Tedford is Director of Choral Activities at Messiah College in Grantham, PA, where she conducts the Concert Choir, the Chamber Singers, the Messiah College Choral Arts Society, and Men’s Ensemble. She also teaches voice and graduate and
undergraduate level conducting. In addition, she is the Founder, Artistic Director, and Conductor of the award-winning Susquehanna Chorale, established in 1981. She is responsible for the creation of the Chorale’s Educational Outreach program, which reaches hundreds of local student singers annually. Choirs under her leadership have performed at regional and state conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA); for the Legislature and Governor of Pennsylvania; and in several European venues. Her work is featured on over sixteen professionally produced CDs, and her choirs appear regularly with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. In 1994 Ms. Tedford and the Susquehanna Chorale received Chorus America’s highest lifetime award, The Margaret Hillis Achievement Award for Choral Excellence. Ms. Tedford is the 2011 recipient of ACDA-PA’s Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence for outstanding lifelong work in the choral art.
Ms. Tedford holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University, where she studied with internationally
renowned conductor Robert Page. She pursued additional study at Westminster Choir College, as well as with prominent conductors such as Robert Shaw, Gregg Smith, and Dale Warland, and with voice teachers Robert Grooters and Thomas Houser. As a member of the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, she has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of such conductors as Eugene Ormandy, Ricardo Muti, and Claudio Abbado. She has served as a member of the Choral/Opera Panel for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and she has been the Community Choruses Repertoire and Standards Committee Chairperson for ACDA in Pennsylvania and in the Eastern Division. She is an active member of Chorus America, the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the Music Educators National Conference. Ms Tedford is a frequent guest conductor and clinician.
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Laurel Wacyk
Laurel Wacyk graduated cum laude in 2007 from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education (Choral/General Emphasis). At WMU, she studied voice with Dr. Carl Ratner and sang under conductors Dr. Dee Gauthier and Dr. Joe Miller. Mrs. Wacyk received the Lannom Award for Young Conductors through the Massachusetts chapter of the American Choral Directors Association in the summer of 2011, and studied choral/orchestral conducting with Dr. Ken Fulton from Louisiana State University. Currently, Mrs. Wacyk is the choir director at Perryville High School in Cecil County, Maryland where she conducts five choirs and teaches piano. Under her direction, PHS choirs (doubled in size since her first year) have been invited to State Choral Festival and High School Choir Invitationals at University of Delaware and University of Maryland. In January 2012, she was
honored to conduct the Harford County Middle School Honor Choir. She has participated as a member-at-large of Maryland Choral Educators Association for several years, and has served as site manager for all state auditions, judge, and chaperone, as well as presenter for MMEA conference sessions. Mrs. Wacyk is a member of Maryland Music Educators Association and the
American Choral Directors Association.
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Maryland Music Educators Association Office
791 Aquahart Road, Suite 117, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 |
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