Position
Academic Background
Sample Courses    
Teaching Philosophy
Research & Interests   
Notable Academic Appointments & Awards
Selected Scholarly Presentations 

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• Assistant Professor of Music
• Director of Choral Activities
• Music Education Program Coordinator

Academic Background        

• University of Hartford: Hartt School of Music - D.M.A. in Music Education: Choral Conducting, 1992 
• University of Rhode Island - M.M. in Music Education, 1978  
• University of Rhode Island - B.M. in Music Education / Voice, 1974

Sample Courses Taught at Providence College

• Conducting
• Advanced Conducting
• Teaching Music in the Secondary School: Vocal

Director of Choral Activities:

• Concert Chorale 
• I Cantori
• Women's Chorus
  

Teaching Philosophy

As a musician, I value the importance of a liberal arts education with its many strands that help form the basis of my own field of study.  Since music has been a part of man from his early existence, I welcome the opportunity to share with my students the connections necessary to fully understand music as an integral part of their lives.  One of the strengths of our society lies in its connection to the past.  In liberal arts education, students gain an understanding of this connection through exploring, in a disciplined fashion, the historical perspectives of the past.   It is through this understanding that our students develop into intellectual members of today's society.

We must help students build the bridges to more spiritual and moral lives through our classrooms and through our relationships.  Through the strengths of their spiritual beliefs, our students learn to confidently expressive themselves in the classroom, carry out community service projects and form stronger personal relationships that will, in turn, provide deeper knowledge and comfort to them in the future.  The Dominican Tradition, so visible in everyday life at Providence College, serves as a spiritual and moral model to both students and faculty alike.

Research & Interests

My major area of expertise and interest is conducting, both vocal and instrumental.  In that regard, I am also most interested in teaching conducting to students and preparing them to teach or conduct themselves.   As an undergraduate and masters student myself, my major instrument was considered voice.  As I completed my masters degree, my focus changed to conducting and that became my "performance" area for my doctoral work leading to a D.M.A in Conducting.  As a teacher and conductor, I find great satisfaction in nurturing young conductors and preparing them in terms of vocal pedagogy and conducting skills.  Besides conducting the Providence College Choirs, which I find most rewarding, the two classes I teach at Providence college, Teaching Music in the Secondary School: Vocal and Conducting, fulfill my strong desire as a teacher.  After twenty five years of teaching and conducting in the public schools prior to coming to Providence College, I find it rewarding to share my experiences with my students as I help them to prepare for a career in music.

As a professional conductor, I spend many weekends a year as a guest conductor in various parts of the country conducting All State and District Festivals.  My work as National President of the American Choral Directors Association helps to fulfill my interest in conducting.

Notable Academic Appointments and Awards

• American Choral Directors Association (ACDA):
  • National President 2005-2007
  • Chair, National Convention 2005, Los Angeles, CA
  • President Eastern Division:  1996-1998
• Music Educators National Conference (MENC): President, Rhode Island: 2002-2004

Selected Scholarly Presentations and Activities

Conductor:

• Quinebaug Valley Music Festival Chorus - Woodstock, CT, 2005
• Central District Music Festival Chorus - Baldwinville, MA, 2005
• New Hampshire All State Music Festival Chorus - Pinkerton Academy, Derry, NH, 2005
• Northern Connecticut Region Music Festival Chorus - East Hartford, CT, 2005
• Maine: District II Honors Choral Festival - Windham Performing Arts Center, Windham, ME, 2005 
• Massachusetts Southeast District Junior Chorus - Bourne High School, Bourne MA, 2004
• Champlain Valley District Choral Festival - Essex, Vermont, 2003
• Connecticut Eastern Regional Chorus - University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 2003

Workshop Clinician:

• ACDA Massachusetts Conference, Boston, MA -- 2006
• MENC National Convention, Minneapolis, MN, Developing Mentoring Partnerships: Ideas for MEA's -- 2004
• MENC Eastern Division, Providence, RI, Developing Mentoring Partnerships; What Beginning Choral Teachers Need to Know But Don't Know to Ask; The Humane Choral Rehearsal (co-presenter: Dr. James Jordan); Portfolio Based Music Teacher Education: Meeting the Beginning Teacher Standards (co-presenter: Dr. Patricia Cichy) -- 2003
• MA ACDA Summer Conference, Wenham, MA, Getting Organized: Nuts & Bolts for New Directors or Refreshers for the More Experienced; Developing Choral Sound; Selecting Quality Repertoire -- 2003

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