Professional Experience
The Record Studio, NJ and NC 1992-current
Keyboardist for the annual ‘Charlotte Squawks’ with NPR’s Charlotte Talks host Mike Collins presented in the Booth Playhouse at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Charlotte, NC, 2023-present
Keyboardist for the annual ‘Blumey Awards’ presented in Belk Theater at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Charlotte, NC, 2022-present
Keyboardist for Broadway National Tour of ‘Wicked’ (Munchkinland Tour, 2021), Charlotte, NC and Greensboro, NC
Collaborative Pianist for Carolina Voices, Charlotte’s premier choral ensemble providing the beloved annual tradition The Singing Christmas Tree. Most recent performances were with the Charlotte Symphony. 2019-present
Business owner and teacher for a highly successful by-audition-only piano and voice instruction studio. The studio regularly accommodates between 20-30 students, all of whom participate annually in National Federation of Music Clubs Festivals (piano performance and theory tests), private and public recitals, theory classes, music technology classes, and community service events. Accompanist and collaborative pianist for area schools and churches, including Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte, Northwest School of the Arts, Charlotte Latin School, and Central Piedmont Community College.
Westminster Choir College & WCC CoOPERAtive Program, Princeton, NJ 2016-current
Collaborative Pianist for an intensive program for operatic vocal soloists focusing on operatic style, performance techniques, dramatic presentation, language, diction, and body awareness. Collaborations and coachings with Eric Weimar (Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago), Howard Lubin (Juilliard, Oberlin, Cologne Opera), Joan Dornemann (Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Opera Paris), Susan Ashbaker (Opera Company of Philadelphia), Stephanie Sundine (Sarasota Opera), and Kathleen Kelly (Vienna State Opera, Wolf Trap, Glimmerglass). Private piano teacher for the Westminster Conservatory of Music and accompanist for the Westminster Suzuki Violin program. Responsibilities included juries, recitals, and master classes for undergraduate and graduate students. Performer/featured pianist for Westminster Conservatory Faculty recitals.
Professional Music Ministry Experience
Steele Creek Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Hill, Charlotte, NC, Music Director, 2023-present
Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte, NC, Collaborative Pianist and Substitute Music Director, 2011-present
Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church, Charlotte, NC, Music Director, 2019-2022
Mt. Freedom Presbyterian Church, Mt. Freedom, NJ, Music Director, 1999-2006
First Baptist Church of Bordentown, Bordentown, NJ, Music Director 1992-1996
Music Director; Organist/Pianist; Adult Choir Director; Children’s Choir Director; Handbell Choir Director; Congregational singing leader; Selecting a balance of musical styles to bridge generational/cultural differences; Create opportunities for youth involvement in the worship service; Teach, coach, and mentor all music ministry team members; Recruit volunteers; Utilize technology in planning and presenting music; Supply special music; Maintain the music library; Create and maintain a “Safe Sanctuary Space;” Ecumenical Choir Festival Music Director; Fundraising and Budgeting; Choral octavo arranging; Creator, director, and pianist for New Jersey-based touring male gospel quartet “Higher Ground.”
Public School Teaching Experience
Monroe-Woodbury Central School District, Central Valley, NY 2002-2006
Hillsborough Township Public Schools, Hillsborough, NJ 1999-2002
Cherry Hill Public Schools, Cherry Hill, NJ 1993-1999
Choral Director and General Music teacher for K-12 public school districts. Selected by the American Music Conference as one of the Best 100 Communities for Music Education in American in 2004. Choral Director, General Music Teacher, Orchestra Teacher for grades K-12. Kindergarten Festival producer and accompanist. Director and accompanist for Faculty Chorale and Faculty Follies. Accompanist for District-wide choral concerts, All County Festivals, NYS School Music Association Festivals. Long Range Planning and Professional Development Committee, Teacher Resource Team. Webmaster/Creator of music department website. Creator/Director of after-school Children’s Chimes instrumental group and all-female social issues choral group. Accompanist for yearly musicals and grade 6-8 choral program and director of faculty handbell choir. Co-director of 6 state and national award winning high school choral groups. Choirs performed L. Bernstein’s ‘Chichester Psalms’ with the Haddonfield Symphony and Alan Gilbert in 1994.
Additional Experience
Fulbright U.S. Student Program National Candidate 2018
Project proposal title: “The Multicultural Songbridge: A Musicultural Exchange Between South Africa and the U.S.” The project proposed establishing a bridge between piano teachers of South Africa and the U.S. by offering both countries unique access to the pedagogical aspects of the indigenous musical heritages of the other. Emphasis on using cultural music in piano lessons, along with proven pedagogy techniques, music technology, and community outreach would contribute toward elevating piano teaching to an art form that relies on the interdependence of the musical treasures found in the greater worldwide community. The proposal had the full support of the University of Pretoria Music Department of South Africa.
Community Outreach: Music & Memories Recital Series 2006-2020
The Music & Memories program was established in 2006 through The Record Studio in Charlotte, NC and was initially designed to bring high-quality, memory-provoking piano performances to senior citizen establishments. In 2011, it was expanded to include the professional female vocal trio known as Pandora. For five years, Pandora brought high quality, authentic vocal representations of the music enjoyed by senior citizens in their younger days to senior homes in the Piedmont region. Each choreographed performance utilized a variety of costumes and props from their respective eras. In 2018, the program has been extended once again to create a link between the students of Westminster Choir College and senior citizens in the Princeton, NJ area. The program is currently presenting a recital series featuring vocal music from genres popular during the first half of the 20th century, including spirituals, folk music from around the world, standards, Great American Songbook repertoire, and opera classics.
Pandora Vocal Trio 2010-2016
Co-creator, co-director, vocalist, pianist, and arranger for a professional female vocal trio located in Charlotte, NC. Experienced with Sibelius, GarageBand, and Audacity for arranging and creating performance tracks. The group performs for private and public functions.
Choral Arranging 1993-Current
Dozens of church, folk, and pop musical vocal arrangements for SSA, SATB, TTBB/TTTBBB voices, including most recently for the Princeton University-based a cappella rhythm and blues group “Old NasSoul” and Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church.
Education
Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ 2016-2018
Master of Piano in Accompanying and Coaching with high distinction
Degree coursework partially fulfilled through Princeton University
California State University, East Bay, CA 2003-2004
Master of Science in Computer Education with high distinction
Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ 1988-1992
Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Kodály Certification - cum laude
Degree coursework partially fulfilled through Princeton University
Awards, Licensure, Publication, & Other Activities
Awardee: Beatrice B. Pearman Endowed Scholarship 2016-2018, Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ
Board of Trustees member for The Westminster Foundation of Princeton
Spokesperson for Coalition to Save Westminster Choir College, 2016-2017
Board member for The Record and Little Irrevocable Educational Trust Scholarship Fund
Member: American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Organists, Music Teachers National Association, Organization of American Kodály Educators, Society for Ethnomusicology
Technology skills include MainStage, Logic Pro, ForScore, Final Cut, Sibelius, Audacity, raw HTML web design as well as WYSIWYG editors, Photoshop, all Mac OS and Windows operating systems
Taubman Approach training for pianists through the Golandsky Institute in Berkeley, CA with John Bloomfield
K-12 Music Teacher licenses obtained in NJ, PA, NY, MD, and NC
Master degree work published in several online journals, including “Remote Learner”, Tech Learning”, and “Technology for Teachers”
Honorable Mention in the International Photography Awards competition for best amateur photo in the ‘Natural” (2015) category, “Family of Man” (2016) category, and “Deeper Perspective” (2018) category
Hundreds of community service hours for ‘Room in the Inn’ through the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte
Extensive travel throughout the U.S., South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa (including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Zanzibar
Choral Performance Repertoire/Westminster Symphonic Choir, 1988-2018
Lincoln Center/Avery Fisher Hall/David Geffen Hall, New York
Zubin Mehta conducting Bruckner’s Te Deum, NY Philharmonic
Zubin Mehta conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, NY Philharmonic, American Boychoir
Kurt Masur conducting Mendelssohn’s Elijah, NY Philharmonic
Zubin Mehta conducting Mozart’s Davide Penitente, NY Philharmonic
James Levine conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, NY Philharmonic
Robert Shaw conducting Mozart’s C Minor Mass, NY Philharmonic
Alan Gilbert conducting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, NY Philharmonic
Otto Werner Mueller conducting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Juilliard Orchestra
Otto Werner Mueller conducting Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, Juilliard Orchestra
Andrew Manze conducting Handel’s Messiah, NY Philharmonic
Carnegie Hall, New York
Leonard Bernstein conducing his Chichester Psalms, NY Philharmonic
Centennial Celebration with Robert Shaw
Pablo Heras-Casado conducting Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting Machover’s Philadelphia Voices, Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Academy of Music/Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA
Riccardo Muti conducting Verdi’s Nabucco, Philadelphia Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conducting Cherubini’s Requiem, Philadelphia Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conducting Puccini’s Tosca, Philadelphia Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conducting Mozart’s Requiem, Philadelphia Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conducting Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci with Luciano Pavarotti
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, Philadelphia Orchestra
Charles Dutoit conducting Britten’s War Requiem, Philadelphia Orchestra
Cristian Macelaru conducting Holst’s The Planets, Philadelphia Orchestra
War Memorial/New Jersey Performing Arts Center, NJ
Hugh Wolff conducting Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, NJ Symphony
Hugh Wolff conducting Brahms’ Nänie, NJ Symphony
Hugh Wolff conducting Britten’s War Requiem, NJ Symphony
Hugh Wolff conducting Verdi’s Requiem, NJ Symphony
Other
Joe Miller conducting Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, NY
Rossen Milanov conducting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, NJ
The following lists are only representative of works performed; they are not comprehensive.
Collaborative Piano/Coaching/Vocal Repertoire
Collaborative Piano German Opera (selections)
Berg, Alban; Lulu
Mozart, W.A.; Die Zauberflöte
Strauss, Johann; Die Fledermaus
Strauss, Richard; Arabella, Ariadne auf Naxos
Weber, C.M. von; Der Freischütz
Collaborative Piano French Opera (selections)
Bizet, Georges; Carmen
Donizetti, Gaetano; La fille du regiment
Gounod, Charles; Roméo et Juliette, Faust
Poulenc, Francis; Dialogues des Carmélites
Ravel, Maurice; L’enfant et les sortileges
Collaborative Piano Italian Opera (selections)
Bellini, Vincenzo; I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Mozart, W.A.; Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte
Puccini, Giacomo; Suor Angelica
Rossini, Gioacchino; Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Verdi, Giuseppe; Don Carlo, La Traviata, Falstaff
Collaborative Piano English Opera (selections)
Britten, Benjamin; A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Dove, Jonathan; Flight
Moore, Douglas; The Ballad of Baby Doe
Stravinsky, Igor; The Rake’s Progress
Walton, William; Troilus and Cressida
Art Song/Oratorios
Bach, J.S.; Magnificat, B Minor Mass
Debussy, Claude; Ariette oubliées
Fauré; La Bonne Chanson
Handel, G.F.; The Messiah, Semele
Korngold, Erich; Abschiedslieder
Rodrigo, Joaquin; Cuatro Madrigales Amatorios
Schubert, Franz; Die Schöne Müllerin, Winterreise
Schumann, Robert; Frauenliebe und –leben, Dichterliebe, Liederkreis
Strauss, Richard; Brentanolieder
Major Choral Works (conducted, sung, or accompanied)
Barber, Samuel; Prayers of Kierkegaard
Bernstein, Leonard; Chichester Psalms
Brahms, Johannes; Nänie, op.82
Britten, Benjamin; Ceremony of Carols, War Requiem
Bruckner, Anton; Te Deum
Cherubini, Luigi; Requiem in C Minor
Fauré, Gabriel; Requiem, Cantique de Jean Racine
Handel, G.F.; The Messiah
Mahler, Gustav; Symphony No. 3
Mendelssohn, Felix; Elijah
Mozart, W.A.; Mass in C Minor (KV427), Ave Verum Corpus, Davide Penitente (KV469)
Rossini, Gioachino; Petite Messe Solennelle
Stravinsky, Igor; Symphony of Psalms
Verdi, Giuseppe; Requiem, Nabucco
Theatre Productions (conducted or accompanied)
‘Annie’ by Thomas Meehan
‘Cabaret’ by John Kander
‘Fiddler on the Roof’ by Joseph Stein
‘Give My Regards to Broadway’ by George M. Cohen
‘Godspell’ by John-Michael Tebelak
‘Grease’ by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ by Tim Rice
‘Little Shop of Horrors’ by Howard Ashman
‘Oklahoma’ by O. Hammerstein II and R. Rodgers
‘Peter Pan’ by J. M. Barrie and Libby Hamilton
‘Pirates of Penzance’ by W.S. Gilbert and A. Sullivan
‘Runaways’ by Elizabeth Swados
‘Shrek The Musical’ by David Lyndsay-Abaire
‘The Secret Garden’ by Marsha Norman
‘The Who’s Tommy’ by Des McAnuff and Pete Townshend
‘Wicked’ by Stephen Schwartz
‘Wizard of Oz’ by Weber, Arlen, and Stohart
Zémire et Azor, an opéra comique in four acts (Beauty and the Beast) by André Grétry
Lead Vocal Roles Performed
Role of Audrey in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
Role of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in ‘Wizard of Oz’
Role of Grace Farrel in ‘Annie’
Role of Mabel in ‘Pirates of Penzance’
Church Music Genres (conducted or accompanied)
Christian Pop
Gospel
Barbershop
Oratorios/Cantatas
Praise and Worship
Standard Church Music repertoire
The following lists are only representative of works performed; they are not comprehensive.
Solo and Ensemble Piano Repertoire
Piano Solos: Baroque
Bach, J.S.; Preludes & Fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Inventions & Sinfonias
Couperin, François; Pièces de Clavecin
Scarlatti, Domenico; Great Keyboard Sonatas, Series I
Piano Solos: Classical
Beethoven, Ludwig van; Piano Sonata No.14, op.27 No.2 (C sharp Minor)
Haydn, Joseph; Keyboard Sonata in G Major, No.42, Hob.XVI:27
Mozart, W.A.; Piano Sonata No.16 in C Major, K.545
Piano Solos: Romantic
Brahms, Johannes; Hungarian Dance No.5 in F-sharp Minor, WoO 1
Chopin, Frédéric; Impromptu No.1 in A-flat Major, op.29
Chopin, Frédéric; Nocturnes, op.9, No.2 in E-flat Major, op.15, No.3 in G Minor, op.37, No.1 in G Minor
Mendelssohn, Felix; Songs Without Words, Book V, op.62, Book VII, op.85
Schubert, Franz; Moments Musicaux, D.780, op.94, No.2 in A-flat, Impromptu, op. 90, No. 3 in G-flat, D.900
Piano Solos: 20th Century
Albéniz, Isaac; Prelude from Cantos de España, op.232
Debussy, Claude; Deux Arabesques, Rêverie
Ginastera, Alberto; Tribute to Roberto Garcio Morillo from ‘Twelve American Preludes’
Hovanhess, Alan; Macedonian Mountain Dance, op.144
Mompou, Federico; Canciónes y Danzas
Prokofiev, Sergei; Prelude in C from ‘10 Pieces for Piano’, op.12, No.7
Rachmaninoff, Sergei; Prelude in D from ‘10 Preludes’, op.23, No.4
Piano and String Ensemble/Chamber Music
Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel; 5 Negro Melodies (for Piano Trio)
Haydn, Joseph; Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano in G Major, Hob.XV:25 ‘Gypsy’
Holst, Gustav; Seven Scottish Airs
Stanford, Charles Villiers; Piano Quartet No. 1 in F Major, op.15
Vaughan Williams, Ralph; Suite de Ballet (for flute and piano)
Haydn, Joseph: Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano in G Major, Hob.XV:25 ‘Gypsy’