Music Consultation, Education, and Music Composition
Two-fold Objective
01
Use my gifts to facilitate the work of others by providing consultation in music education, performing arts, and worship arts.
02
Create or arrange music for film/television, stage & piano accompaniments for instrumental and vocal performances.
Education
Benedict College, Columbia, SC; BA in Music, August 1972
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; M.M.Ed., August 1977
Specialized Training
Mentors:
- Chicago Blues Artist Katherine Davis
- Savannah Jazz Hall of Fame Artist Willie Draper
- Columbia (SC) Theater Actress and Director Bette Herring
- Metropolitan Opera Company Education Guild (New York, NY) Creating Original Opera Program
My Professional Experiences
Portman’s Music Academy
2008-2014
Instructor of Piano
Provided private instruction to students aged 4 through 72; provided class instruction to teenagers.
St. Paul Academy for Girls
2003-2004
Principal
Created a learning environment for girls who were having problems adjusting to the public school setting and/or whose parents wanted a morality-based education; converted a small shopping mall into a school building; designed curricula; scheduled classes; hired faculty and staff; counseled and disciplined students; spearheaded fundraising; accompanied school choir.
Savannah State University
2001- 2003
Assistant Professor of Music
Concert Choir Director; Instructor of Music Theory, Music History and Piano; revised and aligned the grid used for student advisement for music majors with the standard University of Georgia System curriculum requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Music and with Savannah State University’s core curriculum and nomenclature; contributor in the writing of a proposal for an interdisciplinary degree major; served as organist for convocations and graduations; served as pianist for special receptions and programs on campus and in the community.
New York City Board of Education
1998-2001
Vocal Music Teacher – Community School District 13 (Brooklyn)
Provided vocal music instruction to students K – 8; provided musical direction for theatrical productions; prepared vocal ensembles for evaluation festivals; facilitated staff development for district vocal music teachers; provided keyboard music for district banquets and international receptions hosted by the district superintendent; prepared students for auditions to attend performing arts high schools; prepared choruses and soloists for school and district performances; played keyboard for graduations and other ceremonial programs.
Orangeburg County School District 7, Elloree, SC
1996-1998
Choral Music Teacher – Elloree High School
Same job description as in New York City, with the exception of providing piano music for community receptions/banquets and playing the organ for graduation; contributor for the district’s vocal music curriculum guide outline.
Richland County School District One, Columbia, SC
1974 – 1996
General and Choral Music Teacher –
Alcorn Middle School
Crayton Middle School
Rosewood Elementary School
Watkins Elementary School
Webber Elementary School
Sandel Elementary School
Same job description as in New York City, with the exception of providing vocal student presentations for district receptions/banquets, singing/playing keyboard with the school district’s Faculty Jazz Combo, and accompanying district middle and high school choruses in concert, assisting the directors of and accompanied the district’s Elementary Honors Chorus and the Middle School Gifted and Talented Chorus, and provided beginning string instruction; accompanied instrumental music students at evaluation festivals; trained student-teachers from local universities; Artist/Assistant Teacher for Blues in the Schools” Program provided by a grant which brought Chicago blues artists to Richland One schools.
Workshop Theater, Columbia, SC
Children’s Upstage Theater, Columbia, SC
Community School District Thirteen, Brooklyn, NY
Richland County School District One, Columbia, SC
Savannah State University, Savannah, GA
1968 - 2003
Actress, Vocal Coach, Rehearsal Accompanist, Pit Orchestra Keyboardist, and/or Musical Director
Credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Purlie; Bye, Bye Birdie; The Wizard of Oz; West Side Story; You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The Wiz; Musical Setting of God’s Trombones.
Gene Dykes Big Band, Columbia, SC
Mousetrap Restaurant, Columbia, SC
Cinnamon Hill Restaurant, Columbia, SC
Jerry’s Fine Dining Restaurant, Columbia, SC
Jazz Café at Sutton Place, Columbia, SC
Hannah’s East Atop the Pirates House, Savannah, GA
Adagio Jazz Club, Savannah, GA
Foolish Frog, Beaufort, SC
Dataw Island Country Club, Beaufort, SC
1980 – 2019
House Musician, Pianist in Jazz Quartet, Vocalist
Played piano, sang, and/or hosted weekly jam sessions.
Commissioned Works
2007-2008
Composed the music for two original stage plays, entitled The Mission (The Way, The Truth, and The Life Christian Center) and Love Is (Carver Bible College), which were performed at the Woodruff Art Center’s 14th Street Playhouse in Atlanta, GA. Recorded, the original soundtrack for Love Is on compact discs.
St. Mark Baptist Church, Columbia, SC
Northminster Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC
Ridgewood Baptist Church, Columbia, SC
Bridge Street United Methodist Church, Brooklyn, NY
St. Matthew Episcopal Church, Savannah, GA
First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Island, Hilton Head Island, SC
Butler Chapel AME Zion Church, Tuskegee, AL
1958 – Present
Organized Children’s Choir, Director of Music, Organist, Pianist, Choir Director, Consultant, Composer/Arranger for recordings, guest accompanist, Music Teacher in After-school Program, Vacation Bible School music teacher, and/or Bible Study Teacher, Director of Worship, Praise and Worship Leader
Affiliations
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Music Educators National Conference (1974-1998)
Benedict College Alumni Association
