About the Director
I am from Deerfield, but I hung out in Marshall A LOT when I was growing up because my grandparents lived in Marshall all my life, I attended church in Marshall, I participated in several Marshall Community Theatre shows, and Deerfield used to be in the same sports conference as Marshall. My mother, 5 aunts and 2 uncles graduated from Marshall High School.
Currently, I live in Sun Prairie with my husband (Matt), my 3 kids (Melanie-11, Daniel-8 and Charlotte-3), and a cat (Rocky) that does tricks. And, yes, we perform music together!! My son knows more Beatles songs than I do, and my eldest daughter is better at piano than I was at her age. Charlotte just loves anything from Frozen.
Music has been a part of my life since I was born. My parents both come from musical families, and singing 4 or 6-part harmonies randomly was always typical for a family gathering. I started piano lessons when I was 4 and was hooked with all things music. When I was 15, I sang the National Anthem at a Milwaukee Brewers Game. When I was 16 I became a member of the KIDS from Wisconsin, and I toured with them for 5 summers. When I was 18, I choreographed my high school show choir and musical, directed my high school band while the school was working on hiring a
director, and choreographed Cambridge High School’s show choir. After high school, I went to UW-La Crosse and was awarded scholarships in vocal musical theatre, vocal jazz, and piano. I was also awarded a scholarship to play piano for my college choir in England and Scotland, as well as a scholarship to sing with the top college jazz band in Germany and France.
Immediately after college I taught K-12 music/choir in Cashton, WI. My husband was also a music teacher, but decided he didn’t want to do that anymore. We moved to Madison, and I started teaching at Prairie Music and Arts Academy in Sun Prairie where, after 1 year, I was made Program Director. I was there for 6 years before, on a whim, I applied for a K-8 music position at Sacred Hearts School. I got the job, and I LOVED the elementary/middle school environment. I established a Middle School Choir and a K-8 theatre program there, coached volleyball, volunteered at school functions, donated voice and piano lessons for fundraisers…. I’ve also choreographed for 12 different college/high school/middle school show choirs over the course of 20 years, choreographed 10 musicals for various companies, directed 6 shows, and have a former voice student who is on Broadway. It’s been a crazy ride!
But after 5 years of doing all those things I realized I was tired when I came home to my family every night. I wasn’t giving them my best self. When Dr. Dan Grady told me the Marshall job was open I was hesitant to apply because it meant I’d be giving up time with my kids because I wouldn’t be teaching at their school anymore. He agreed to let me concentrate on High School Choirs and teach only on A days.
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And I honestly couldn’t be happier!
Everyone has been very welcoming – teachers, parents, students – and I’ve felt like this is where I belong right now in my life!! It’s been overwhelming the first few weeks (hence me not getting you this syllabus until now), but I’ve received a lot of help from Mr. Milock, Mrs. Kaukl, and Mrs. Denniston. On “A” days I have time to devote to my family by volunteering at their school, grocery shopping, cleaning my house, etc. And on “B” days I’m not exhausted when I go home at night because I’m only prepping for 8 classes a week – not 18. I am excited to teach music to high school students again, and I have lots of ideas for this program!