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BA, University of Connecticut, Vocal Performance
2011 - CMEA Western Region Honors Choir 2012 - CMEA Western Region Honors Choir 2014 - Performed at Carnegie Hall with UConn Concert Choir twice Various church choir paid positions, currently professional singer with CONCORA, Hartford Chorale, and the South Church Chancel Choir
I am a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut music department holding a bachelor's degree in music - vocal performance. I currently sing for a number of professional choirs, and teach private voice, piano, and guitar. I took voice lessons for 8 years, piano for 15, and guitar for 9. I have been grateful to perform in venues such as Carnegie Hall, as well as travel and perform in various locations in the US and abroad. My professional goals involve continuing private coaching as well as becoming a certified full-time music teacher.
In May of 2016, I graduated from the University of Connecticut holding a bachelor’s degree in Music. At UConn, I took - and currently take private lessons with Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone Rod Nelman. My time at UConn was diversely beneficial, granting me opportunities to perform in operas, musicals, an a capella group, a marching band, and professional-level choirs that have performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall. I spent a semester taking classes with the Neag School of Education, working a teaching clinical in a nearby middle school, and a semester with the School of Business, studying entrepreneurship and managerial/interpersonal behavior. My junior year culminated with a semester in New York City working in an administrative/artistic internship at the Metropolitan Opera. During school, and immediately upon graduating, I was fortunate enough to see my interest in music and theatre education realized in my work opportunities. For the past few summers, I worked at four community arts organizations, as both a teacher and an administrator. I currently work at Hartford Stage company as an education apprentice, where I serve as a teaching artist in a variety of capacities, as well as assisting with general education department logistics. My time at Hartford Stage has brought me to schools all over the Greater Hartford area, teaching theatre to students of all ages, and working with professionals to design theatre curricula of the highest quality. In addition to this, I also was lucky to handle many administrative matters, specifically a benefit performance of A Christmas Carol for the various communities of Hartford.
I cater the lessons towards what the student wants while emphasizing the importance of fundamentals and theory. I incorporate songwriting and improvisation into my lessons, as well as songs the student wants to learn. I believe all students should be encouraged to be creative, while still maintaining a strong emphasis on fundamentals, thus leading to the creation of their unique musical style. I generally tend to split the lessons up into warm up techniques, repertoire, sight reading, listening/dictation, discussing music the student likes/wants to learn, and improvisation and songwriting.
As I mentioned, I believe creativity should be encouraged. I am okay with any pace the student goes at, however I will still hold them to a high standard in terms of effort put in. I try and make each lesson fun and enjoyable, as well as a creative experience that still focuses on theory and fundamentals. I generally tend to split the lessons up into warm up techniques, repertoire, sight reading, listening/dictation, discussing music the student likes/wants to learn, and improvisation and songwriting.
My daughter is making good progress and she enjoys working with Ishaar. Everything great so far.