I started at UD in '92, and graduated in '97 with two degrees: a B.A. in Music, and a B.S. in Biology, and I want to pursue both careers sometime in my life, but right now I am utilizing my musical talents the most. I was an accompanist for U.D. Chorale for 3 years, and for Opera Workshop for 2 years. I also played with now-retired Prof. George Zimmerman for his Christmas Sing Along for 3 years and for many Christmas on Campus masses. For two years I directed mass choirs (8:30 pm and 10:00 am), and I was music director for three Studio Theatre musicals: Godspell, Pippin, and Nunsense. During my freshman year I performed on the Honors Recital, and I was fortunate enough, in my sophmore year, both to play with the music faculty for the Dedication Recital of the Jesse Phillips Center for the Humanities and to win UD's Concerto Competition, playing the first movement of Saint-Saens' Piano Concerto No.1 with the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra. I still love to accompany both singers and instrumentalists, and I was proud to accompany both Rhea Walker ('97) and Anita Rollo ('98), winners in the Ohio NATS competition last year.
In June of '97 I started as the music/choir director at St. Henry Church, a local Dayton parish. I began with a 35-voice adult choir, and I have established two additional choirs: a children's choir of about 25-30 students, and a contemporary group of about 10-13 (using instruments like acoustic/electric guitars, flutes, piano/organ/ keyboards, wind chimes, etc. etc.). Both are doing quite nicely, and the response from the parish has been overwhelmingly positive. Positive enough to allow us to purchase the new Gather Comprehensive hymnals. I am currently developing yet another group which will involve children from the parish, who play musical instruments, a youth instrumental choir.
My other job is being the music teacher at Bishop Leibold School, adjacent to our parish. I presently teach K-6 and will soon work on getting my teaching certification. Already the response that I'm getting from the students is very impressive. The children's choir for mass has gone from 15-20 in past years to 45-50 every week this year. In addition to over 30 talented singers, we have 4 flutes, 3 violinists, 3 keyboardists, and 1 percussionist! I just completed the Bishop Leibold School Christmas Musical, which involved much hard work and time, but which was a smashing success. Our choir looks forward singing at various malls and bookstores.
I also keep myself very busy, by teaching piano. Currently I am up to 23 students (age 6 to 48) a week. I really enjoy watching people excel in something they really like. And I still help out as much as I can at UD, with accompanying. I accompanied Kevin Shea on his recent recital, and I will be doing Carrie Harrigan's recital on the 7th of March.
I do plan on using my Biology degree, eventually entering a dental school and becoming something I've always wanted to be: an orthodontist, but right now, I've got my hands full, just making some money to save for that task later on.