2010 - 2011

 

Kari Kohanski,  BM '11 (music education), is teaching 6th and 8th grade general music, K/1st general music, and team teaching 6th grade choir  at the Fairport School District.

2000 - 2010

Clare Arezina, MT-BC,CCLS, BM '06 (music therapy), is pursuing a Master's Degree in Music Therapy at the University of Kansas, where she has accepted a position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

Brendan Ayers, BM '08 (music education) is teaching General Music at the Wilson High School Foundation Rochester, New York. He is also teaching a Music for Special Learners class with Genesee Community College.

Alexandra Barbato, BM (music education) is a flute instructor at the Rochester Contemporary School of Music.

Jessica Best, BM '06 (vocal performance) has just finished a 10 day stint in NYC with her coach Sherrill Milnes from Northwestern University. He has taken her under his wing and is exposing her to some of the top Opera coaches in the world. She will be off to Tampa in April with him again, doing his program, Voice Experience. It will be another 10 day period of time where she will be coaching and performing with various opera singers. The most exciting news is that Jessica has been contracted to Santa Fe Opera beginning in May. She will be participating in the young artist apprentice program and is cast as Marchelina, from the Marriage of Figaro, in this upcoming summer opera season. In June, she will be graduating from Northwestern in June with her Masters.

Last year Jessica was given a full scholarship from the Bel Canto Foundation of Chicago to attend V.O.I.C.E. Experience: Sherrill Milnes and Friends - this August in Disney World. This past February, she appeared as Hata in the opera, The Bartered Bride in Cahn Auditorium. This summer she has been accepted to the Santa Fe Opera program to cover Marcellina.
You can listen to some of her performances on YouTube: Non oiu mesta, Ave Maria

Nikki Bell, BM '07 (music education) is teaching General Music and Strings Grades 4-6 full time at William Street School (Lancaster Central Schools) and she is working on a master degree in international studies at St. John Fisher College, Rochester.

Tony Bisbano, BA '06 has created an orchestral arrangement of Believe from the movie Polar Express which was performed in November by the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winning composer Marvin Hamlisch has hired him to orchestrate a medley of songs from the Barbra Streisand movie "Yentl", for him to conduct with the Nashville Symphony later in April, 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu1_3JL4wS0

Julia Broman, BA '09 completed a semester of study abroad in Japan last year and will attend the Eastman School of Music to pursue a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology in the Fall, 2009.

Nicole Brooker, BM '06 (music education), is accepted into the master's degree program in music education at Nazareth College. She is teaching 5th grade band and lessons in the Honeoye Falls Central School District.

Adrian Catucci, BM '06 (music education), is teaching Elementary Vocal General in St. Monica Catholic School.

Sarah Chasey, BM '09 (music performance) will attend the Manhattan School of Music to pursue a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance

Nick Cicero, BA '09 (music) will attend the Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, to pursue a graduate degree in advertising.

Melissa Cook, BM '05 (music therapy),has completed her Master of Science in Music Therapy at SUNY New Paltz. She is a Board Certified Music Therapist working full time in the pediatric unit at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey.

Kattie Cordeiro, BM '05 (music therapy), has successfully completed her Board Certification for Music Therapists. Currently she is enrolled at the University of Rochester in their Master's in Mental Health Counseling Program.

Danielle Conner, BM (music education), is teaching fourth grade to eighth grade band at the Keshequa Central School District in Nunda.

Sarah Decker, BM '06 (music education), has been accepted into the master's degree program in music education at Nazareth College. She is teaching at the DeSales High School in Geneva New, York.

Bethany Donovan, BM (music education) is teaching 7-12th grade general/vocal music at Dolgeville Central School.

Chris Edelman, BM '04 (music education), is teaching English in Japan.

Jessica Edic, BM '08 (music education), is teaching K-5 Vocal Music at Deerfield Elementary in Whitesboro. She is also enrolled in the Masters in Music Education degree from Boston University.

Marissa Emple, BM '07 (music therapy), will be working for the Hebrew Home, a long-term care facility at Riverdale, Bronx.

Lindsey Everitt, BM '09 (music therapy) will provides in-home care and services for adults and children with developmental disabilities through Heritage Christian Service

Becky Farrell, BM' 03 has published a new book entitled "Across the Water: Teaching Irish Music and Dance at Home and Abroad", based upon her work towards her Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland.

Jennifer Forster, BM '05 (music therapy), MT-BC, is a music therapist in Louisville, Kentucky.

Christa Fortin, BM '09 (music education), is the new band director at Canaseraga Central School, she will be responsible for 4-12 instrumental, 7-8 general, and marching band

Nathan Frink, BA '09 received a full four-year fellowship from University of Pittsburgh to pursue a PhD in Ethnomusicology with a concentration in Jazz studies.

Elliot Kirby, BA '06 has been hired as an audio and print production artist at EM2 Advertising in Rochester, New York. He is responsible for generating music and jingles for clients, recording and producing audio for TV, radio sports and designing print advertisements.

Leah Kirby, BM '08 (music therapy) is attending the Creative Arts Therapy graduate program at Nazareth College. She is also working as a part-time as a graduate assistant in the Music Therapy Program at the Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial Hospital. Leah passed her Board Certification examination in 2009 and has a MT-BC.

Mary Holzhauer, BM '06 (piano performance), has completed a master's degree in piano performance and organ at Ithaca College. She is currently freelancing in the Ithaca area.

Jeff Hoffman, BM '05 (music education), is teaching at Eastridge High School.

Leticia Kalweit, BM '06 (piano performance), is a piano instructor at Mary Anne Bruce Studio and the organist of First Baptist Church in Newark, New York.

Cassandra Kennedy, BM '06 (music therapy), is accepted into the master's program at Kardon Institute of Creative Arts Therapy in Pennsylvania. She is also working as a part-time music therapist.

Kari Kohanski, BM'10 (music education) has accepted a teaching position  at the Fairport School District in Rochester. She will be teaching mostly 6th and 8th grade general music, one period of K/1st general music, and team-teaching the 6th grade choir

Kathryn Lent, BM '06 is attending Bowling Green State University to pursue a masters degree in music history.

Matthew Locke, BM '08 received the Outstanding General Music/Vocal Student Teacher Award, and found employment through the Gates Chili Central School District teaching General Music (K-5) and Chorus at Paul Road Elementary. He worked there from 2008-2010 as a long-term substitute, but recently was hired in Washington, DC teaching General Music (PreK-5) at DC Scholars Stanton Elementary, a turnaround school. Both the art and music programs are new this 2010-2011 school year, and the school is looking begin a chorus program.

Stephanie McKay, BM '08 (music education) is a long term substitute teacher in the Rochester City School District teaching 4-6th grade band and instrumental lessons at school 1 and school 35. She is also working on the Masters of Music Education at Roberts Wesleyan College.

Michael McNeill, BM '04 (music theory), earned a Master of Music Degree in Modern American Music at the Longy School of Music on Boston.

Bethany Miller, BM '06 (music therapy), received internship opportunity at Bethany Children's Home in Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania.

Melissa Miller is working as a long term substitute teacher at the Brighton Middle School.

Jason Mincer, BM '06 (music education), is teaching at Gates Chili High School and Gates Chili Middle School.

Jane Morale,  MS '02 (music education), recently received the Outstanding Music Educators, Instrumental Music–Strings Award from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Morale is the orchestra director at Webster Spry Middle School and currently serves as the elementary all-county orchestra coordinator for Monroe County.

Aubri Ordway, BM '06 (music education), is teaching General Music and Choir K-12 in Belfast, New York.

Scott Paeplow, BM '08 (music education) has found employment for the 2008-2009 academic year at the Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda, New York. It is a part time choral music position aimed at starting a new program.

Rebecca Perlman, BM '08 (music education), will be teaching music in Lyndonville, Fall 2008.

Amanda Payne-Shamrock, BM '05 (music education), is teaching vocal/general music k-3 in the Lancaster School District. She is also the choral director for Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Lockport, NY. She is working on her master's in music education at the University at Buffalo.

Kim Potter Winden, BM '06 (music education), is teaching Instrumental and Vocal General Grades 7-12 at the Wilson Foundation Academy, Rochester City School District.

Kyle Potter, BA, will attend Towson University to pursue a Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology & Certificate in School Psychology

Ashley Poulin, BM '06 has been accepted into the master's program of library sciences at SUNY Albany.

Melissa Reed, BM '02, MS '06 recently received the Outstanding Music Educators, Choral Music Award from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Reed is a music educator and music therapist in the Hilton Central School District and a music education lecture at Nazareth College.

Anne Rimbach, BA '09 is currently working for the Philadelphia Orchestra as a Library Fellow in the orchestra library. She is also attending Temple University for her M.M. in Music History.

Lindsay Rock, BM '06, is a 6th grade band director at Goff Middle School in East Greenbush Central School district. She is also starting her M.S. in Music Education at St. Rose in Albany.

Michael Roddy , BM '08 (performance), teaches in the Ilion Central School District in Utica. He sang in the Mercury Opera Rochester's production of Tosca and La Traviata. In spring 2009, Michael took over a semester sabbatical conducting the Mohawk Valley Choral Society. He performed uilleann pipes on the world premier of a piece by composer Ann Reid on a concert with the Genesee Valley Orchestra.

Shelby Rosenblum, BM '06 (music therapy), is offered position as music therapy intern at River Oaks Psychiatric Hospital in New Orleans.

Lisa Salvaggio, BA '08 (music), is accepted into the M.Ed. program at Suffolk University in school counseling.

Michael Shamrock, BM '05 (music education), is teaching vocal/general music k-3 in the Lancaster School District. He is also the music director for The Church at Shawnee Landing, in Wheatfield, NY. He is working on his master's in music education at the University at Buffalo.

Michael Sapienza, BM '06 (music education), is teaching East Irondequoit Middle School Band.

Dave Savine, BM '05 (music education), is working for Em2 Advertising/Warehouse Studios.

Nicole Siniscarco, BM '06 (music education) has been accepted into the master's program in music education at SUNY Fredonia. She is now teaching at Holland Patent Middle School. She teaches Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, 4th and 5th grade band lessons and 5th grade band.

Megan Smith, BM '09 (music therapy), was awarded a prestigious music therapy internship at Beth Israel Medical Center and plans to travel to Kenya to implement Arts in Medicine programs at hospitals specializing in the treatment of children with AIDS.

Steven Smith, BA ' 08 has joined ITS of Nazareth College as a Web Developer for the Web & Academic/Digital Technologies team. Steven is no stranger to ITS. He worked in the User Support Center while he was a student and recently has been helping Marketing & Communications with projects related to the Web site.

Jennifer Stocki Johnson, BA '06, is currently the Music Director at St. Maria Goretti Church in Laflin, PA.

Kayoko Takahashi, BM 04' (music therapy), earned the Masters of Music Degree in Music Therapy at Florida State University, December 2007.

Heather Taylor, BM '08 (music education) received the 2008 Outstanding Instrumental Student Teaching Award. She is teaching at Greece Athena High School.

Eric Traugott, MM '07 BM '05 (music education) received the 2007-2008 Rochester Teacher of the Year.  He is teaching in the Rochester City School District.

Deanna Spiotta, BA ' 09 has been accepted in the inaugural class at Liverpool Hope University in the UK to pursue the new Masters of Arts in The Beatles and Popular Music and Society.

Ryan Thomas, BM '06 (music education), is teaching in LeRoy High School.

Jaclyn Urban, will be undertaking the role of Francisca in a performance featuring songs from West Side Story, with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on October 20, 2007.

Kathy Wakeman, BM '0 (music education), has a one year appointment at Oliver Middle School in Brockport.

Joy Walcek, BM '06 (music therapy), is a music therapist at Upstate Music Therapy Center in Penfield, New York.

Kevin Weber, BM '07 (music education), is accepted into masters degree program in music education at Nazareth College. He is currently teaching in the Hilton Central School District as the middle school brass instructor, and high school brass ensemble director. Next fall he will be the 4-8 instrumental band director in the Hornell City School District. He will also returning for his 3rd season with the Hochstein Music Educators Wind Ensemble.

Jesse Whitney has been awarded a Teaching Assistantship at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and will be attending there in the fall for work on my Masters of Music in Music Theory.

Kyle Yacobucci, BM '09 (music performance) will attend Bowling Green State University to pursue a Masters of Music in Oboe Performance.

1990 - 2000

Elizabeth McAnally, BS '90 (music education) will be sharing her experiences teaching middle school general music at the MENC/Rowman meeting. Littlefield will be publishing her book, "Middle School General Music: The Best Part of Your Day." and it will be available in December, 2009. Ms. McAnally is teaching at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Philadelphia.

Michael Park, BS '90 earned his second Best Actor Emmy in a role for his work as character Detective Jack Snyder on CBS's daytime drama As the World Turns. Park, who joined the cast of the soap in 1997, is currently starring with Daniel Radcliffe in the Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying.  

Maria Russo, dramatic soprano of international renown, sang all the Brunnhildes in the history-making, four-year project culminating this spring in the very first "Ring of the Nibelungen" ever produced in Brazil. It took place in the famous theater in Manaus, Teatro Amazonas which garnered a large international audience and world-wide press in the exotic location.

The conductor, Luis Mahhiero, was the driving force behind producing the "Ring, beginning with "Die Walkure" in 2002, "Siegfried" in 2003, "Gotterdammerung" in 2004 and all four of the operas this year. The direction was done by British team of director, Aidan Lang, and and set/costume designer, Ashley Martin-Davis.

Most of the singers were Brazilian but some exceptions, aside from Brunnhilde of Maria Russo, were the Canadian "Siegfried," Alan Woodrow, and the American bass, Stephen Bronk as "Fasolt," "Hunding," and "Hagen." Maria Russo will continue to sing Brunnhilde as the production moves to Sao Paulo over the next four years.

Congratulations to Michelle Murphy, BME 96 who was recently named to a position as visiting professor at Columbus State University in Georgia where she will teach studio voice, diction, and vocal pedagogy.

Entertainer Christopher Johnson, BM' 94 recently accepted a contract with Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, PA for the upcoming world premier musical "Psalms of David" running June 16 through December 30, 2006. He also has launched a new website where you can view his credentials, see pictures, and view some clips of his performances. Recently he spent a year literally singing all over the world as the lead male vocalist aboard both the Oceania Regatta and Radisson Seven Seas Voyager.

A lover of Opera, Christopher has performed extensively with Rochester Opera and New Jersey Opera in productions of "Pagliacci", "Cavaleria Rusticana", "Rigoletto", "Tosca", and "Il Trovatore". He has performed leading roles in "The Marriage of Figaro", "The Telephone", "The Mikado", "Pygmalion", "Gypsy", "Kiss Me Kate", "The Stonewater Rapture", "The Spoonriver Anthology", and "Little Red Riding Hood". For many summers, he was the baritone soloist at the "Camp-of-the-Woods" summer resort in upstate NY.

Christopher is also grateful for the opportunity he had to sing at Carnegie Hall in a performance of Mozart's "Requiem". Before deciding to give his full attention to performing, he was the Upper School Choral Director and Dean of Students for the prestigious Warldaw-Hartridge School in New Jersey where he developed an award winning choir and was musical director for "The Fantastics", "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", and "Annie".

Jack Allocco,  '72, received another Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series (The Bold and the Beautiful), making for a career total of six Emmys. Allocco is a composer, conductor, music producer, and director whose career spans television, film, and theater. 

Geraldine Elliott, BM, '43, after more than 60 years attending Nazareth, "Jerry" was invited by the Nazareth College Percussion studies director, Kristen Shiner McGuire, to play with her current students in 2009. You can find out more by visiting: http://www.naz.edu/spotlights/beat-goes-on