WVAB Marching Band Awards ($100)
This award is annually given to two graduating seniors, an instrumentalist and a band front member of the Marching Pride.
WVAB Marching Band Award Recipients
2024 Instrumetal: Alexis Balliet
2023 Instrumental: Jacqueline Musselman
2022 Instrumental: Ethean Gilbert Band & Front: MacKenzie Bordner
2021 Instrumental: Emily Rautzahn
2020 Instrumental: William Klinger & Band Front: Alexis Leshko
2017 Instrumental: Jason Troutman & Band Front: Emily Herb
Danny Carl Memorial Percussionist Award ($100 senior high)
The Danny Carl Jr Percussion Scholarship was established in 2020 after Danny, his father, and sister tragically lost their lives in an auto accident. Danny was a percussionist from 4th - 12th grade who participated in concert, marching and jazz bands. As a first year alum, he would have been able to march with the WVAB for the first time at Homecoming '20. This scholarship is given out to a graduating percussionist.
Danny Carl Memorial Percussion Award Recipients
2024 Alexis Balliet
2023 Jacqueline Musselman
2022 Ethean Gilbert
2021 Faith Rebuck
Jimmy Lemmon Memorial Percussion Award ($100 Jr. high)
Jimmy Lemmon passed away January 12, 2023 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Williams Township.
He was a senior member of the class of 2023 at Williams Valley Jr. Sr. High School. While attending WV Elementary School he began taking percussion lessons and became a member of the WVES Concert Band in fifth grade. Jimmy continued to be a percussionist through junior high, participating in both concert and marching bands.
He had a great passion for baseball from a very young age and was a member of the Williams Valley Varsity Baseball Team.
A typical teenage boy, Jimmy enjoyed playing video games and hanging out with his friends. He could be found at every Williams Valley sporting event in the student section cheering on his friends. He was just that type of friend – always there for you and always encouraging you with a smile. If you were lucky enough to call Jimmy your friend, you were blessed.
Jimmy Lemmon Memorial Percussion Award Recipients
2024 Kenley Bressler
2023 Dameshio Jenkins
John F. Potlunas Memorial Award ($500)
Established in 2022, in memory of John F. Potlunas, former director, who dedicated 17 years developing the WV instrumental program into one of the outstanding musical gems of Schuylkill County. Under his direction the high school concert band expanded making it necessary to split in 3: 7th grade, junior high, and senior high bands. Mr. P also started a jazz band which eventually turned into both a junior and senior high jazz bands. He resurrected the Southern Anthracite Jazz Festival and established a percussion ensemble. The Marching “Pride” reached membership of over 120 including band front.
With such outstanding ensembles the Pride participated in Tournament or Cavalcade of Bands and took the ensembles on bi-annual tours in both the United States and Canada.
This award is presented to a senior who has exemplified outstanding service and dedication to the Williams Valley instrumental music department.
John F. Potlunas Memorial Award Recipients
2024 Alexis Balliet
2023 Rayce Miller & Ainsley Bressler
2022 MacKenzie Bordner
Valley Lifelong Alumni Instrumental Musician Award
The Valley Lifelong Alumni Musician awards were established in 2020 by the Williams Valley Alumni Band. The awards are given out to Williams Valley alumni that have been involved in some form of musical activity for at least 10 years after graduating from WV.
Through the people receiving these awards, the Alumni Band wanted the current students to be aware that participation in instrumental and vocal music can go beyond high school graduation. It is an activity that can be enjoyed for the rest of their lives. The alumni that have received this award are examples of that lifelong participation in music.
2024: Lauren Lower Shutt, class of 2000
From 4th through 12th grade, Lauren was an active member of the concert, jazz, and marching bands at WV. She participated in jr. and sr. honors bands in grades 7 – 12 including the Juniata College Honors Band (11, 12), Big 33 Marching Band (10-12), America Music Abroad (10), and All State Lions Band (12). Lauren was also a member of the chorus those years, participated in the WV Singers and the annual high school musical from 9th-12th grades.
In the community, she performed with the Williamstown Military Band (5-12), Tremont Community Band (9-12), and the Tower City Community Choir (9-12).
At graduation Lauren received the John Philip Sousa Award, along with various other music awards and scholarships.
At Mansfield University she was a member of the festival chorus, concert band, and marching band. As a sophomore Lauren was inducted into the Tau Beta Sigma Music Sorority holding the office of vice president her last two years in college.
Upon graduating from Mansfield she was the Assistant Band Director of the WV Pride from 2005 to 2010. She continued to participate as a member of the WVAB at homecoming and at the Les Brown Big Band Weekend in the alumni jazz band.
Lauren has this to say about music in her life:
Staying active in music even after high school has proved that music is a skill that will always be with you, it is like riding a bike. It gets more challenging the older you get to remember but definitely keeps your brain working! Also knowing how to play multiple instruments helps as you get older since I may not always be able to carry my tuba but that doesn’t mean I have to quit I can just drop down to a lighter instrument!”
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Advice for current students:
Just keep practicing and strive to be better then you were yesterday!
2022: Russel Lower Jr., class of 1966
In high school Russel played baritone in both the concert and marching bands. As a member of the marching band, not only was he on the field during halftime but he was also on the field during the games as a member of the football team. He performed with the Williamstown Military Band and was their equipment manager from 1965 until 1993 when the band dissolved. From 1982 until 2000 he was a member of the Williams Valley Band Boosters. With this organization he took on the position of equipment handler of the Marching Pride from 1995 through 2000. This gave him time to interact with students giving him a better appreciation for music and what goes into their presentations, especially how hard they worked to perfect the field shows.
Sadly, Russel passed away in 2021. His daughter Lauren Lower Shutt accepted the award on his behalf.
2022: Brenda Lower, class of 1977
Brenda’s time at Williams Valley was indeed filled with participation in music. Throughout high school she was a member of both the concert and marching bands. From 9th through 12th grade she played in the woodwind ensemble, brass ensemble, and commencement band. She played in the Jr. and Sr. Twin Valley Honor Bands from 9th grade through 12th. Brenda also sang in the chorus starting in 7th grade and was a member of the WV Singers in 12th grade.
Outside of school she began playing with the Williamstown Military Band in 8th grade and remained a member until 1993. As a member she also was the secretary/treasurer. In 1981 Brenda joined the community choir and sang in that group until 2002. During the years 1988 to 2005 she taught private lessons to flute, trumpet, and French horn students. From 1977 until 2000 she was a member of the Marching Pride band boosters. In the boosters she was secretary, worked band camp, distributed uniforms, and worked with fund raising among all the other booster duties.
Advice for the current students:
Just do you best and remember you aren’t just a band member but part of a family. When you participate in band you are just as important as the next because it takes everyone doing their part to make the wheel turn, not just a few.
2022: Mike Stahl, class of 1984
Mike has been involved in music on all levels. In high school he was a member of the concert, marching and jazz bands. He also participated in six honors bands sixteen times. Mike was in chorus and WV Singers plus three honor choirs. During high school he began his participation in drum & bugle corps which has lasted over 20 years. In college he was a member of the Penn State Marching and Symphonic Bands and the Penn State Singers. Upon graduation he became a member of the Montgomery County Wind Ensemble and Maryland Band Directors Band. Although his is not a music educator, for seven marching bands he has been a movement/visual and brass instructor plus everything from a booster, to cook, medic, truck driver, recruiting coordinator, circuit liaison, and assistant director.
Words of advice for the current students:
1. Get better every day. Day after day, practice after practice, make one thing better every time — do the things that need to be done. These are lifelong skills, regardless of your chosen profession. However, if you apply them to your music & performances, you will enjoy yourself more, enjoy your performances more, perform better and more proficiently, and be given greater opportunities. You don’t have to be a professional to enjoy performing, or to let it inspire you – or someone else. Music (& the arts) is one of the great things that makes us human!
2. A quote from Socrates: You have two ears and one mouth; use them proportionately.
3. Never stop listening, never stop learning, be open to new ideas, new music, new ways to perform, and to the thrill of being in an audience or the thrill of performing. It reminds you that you are alive! You can share that vibrancy with anyone on the planet, even if you don’t speak the same language. May you never walk alone.
2021: Chris Coles, class of 1997
Chris began his love of performing jazz as a fourth grader in the Williams Valley Elementary Jazz Band. He continued playing drum set in the WV jazz programs up through 12th grade. During those years he also participated in concert band, chorus, and percussion ensemble. During his high school years he also played in county band as well as District and Regional band, orchestra, and Schuylkill County Youth Symphony. As a senior Chris was band president and received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.
After graduation Chris enrolled at Lebanon Valley College as a music education major and received the Outstanding Male Freshman Music Major Award. He was a member of the marching band, orchestra, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and numerous recording sessions, recitals, etc. for student projects.
From 1999-2005 he studied privately with drumming legend Joe Morello, a true blessing to be able to go from a fan of his to a friend of his, spending so much time learning and just talking drums, music and life. During those years he taught private lessons full time and performed live regularly with a jazz trio called New Jazz Trio, the rock band Swift Kick and funk band called Life On Mercury that performed regionally through the northeast United States. I subbed for other bands and groups as needed.
From 2007 to the present, Chris continues to play drums every day and teach privately, though on a smaller scale. He participates in monthly jam sessions with friends and take recording sessions when able.
In 2013 he started a community for musicians called Musicians Unite which has grown to over 420,000 musicians and encompass a strong presence on all social media. A brand-new website will be launched in May 2021 that is designed with a whole host of tools and content for musicians to use so they can more easily network with, learn from, support and inspire each other. Chris has been driven to dedicate his time to help other musicians hopefully more easily achieve their goals and have more fun along their lifelong musical journeys.
2021: Nicole Neidlinger Aaronson, class of 2004
Nicole started out as an oboist in the elementary concert band. By sixth grade she was doubling on saxophone in jazz band continuing with jazz until graduation. In junior and senior concert bands she continued playing oboe and was a member of county band every year and several honors bands. Nicole marched in the Pride during grades 6 through 12 being drum major her junior and senior years.
Non-instrumentally she participated in the school’s musicals for all four years of high school and was an indoor guard member starting in 9th grade. As a junior and senior, outside of school she played with the Lehigh Valley Knights Drum and Bugle Corp.
Upon graduating, Nicole studied music education at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was a member of the IUP Concert Band, Symphony Band, and Wind Ensemble for four years. Freshman through junior years she was in the IUP Marching Band’s color guard. In 2007 Nicole was the principal oboist with the University of Stellenbosch’s Symphony Band and Orchestra during her study abroad in South Africa.
Since receiving her music degree in 2010 she has taught pre-K through 8th grade instrumental and vocal music in Iowa, then Pittsburgh, and now Michigan. Nicole also runs an after school musical theater program and summer performing music camp. She has continued her studies gaining Kodaly and Orff certification. In her post IUP years she has been a member of the Fort Dodge Symphony Orchestra, Karl King Band, Trinity Lutheran Church choir conductor and Hand Bell Choir participant.
2020: Jason Wetzel, class of 1994
As a WV student, Jason was a member from 4th grade on, of the concert, jazz, and marching bands; also all choruses and WV Singers. In addition, he was accompanist for chorus and Singers, drum major and quarter master for the Marching Pride. He performed numerous years in county, district and regional band, orchestra and chorus and at the state band level.
As an undergraduate at Penn State, Jason’s focus was piano performance with some vocal and theatre training. He sang and accompanied the concert choir, was assistant director for the Singing Lions, director of the Thespians, and staff accompanist for the Theatre Department. After leaving PSU was employed as Asst. Director of Purdue University Musical Organizations, accompanying and directing the varsity glee club, The Purduettes, PMO Express vocal jazz ensemble, and the PMO Handbell Choir.
Since 2000, Jason has earned a living as a freelance musician. He’s performed around the world, from Australia to Indonesia to Qatar. As a theatre musician, he’s been on ten Broadway national tours, performs annually in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, worked at regional theatres across the country and continues to be a successful gigging and teaching artist in New York City.
How has music AHS (after high school) enriched or affected your life for the better?
“I have been fortunate enough to earn a living solely from music since 2000. My career has taken me around the world to some of the most fascinating and beautiful places, giving me a better understanding of where and how we fit into society.”
2020: Rich Rodichok, class of 1989
As a student at Williams Valley Rich was involved instrumentally and vocally from fourth grade until graduation. As a member of both elementary and high school concert and jazz bands he played alto saxophone with the exception of performing on baritone sax in the high school jazz band. Rich sang in the elementary and high school choruses, and with the select vocal group the Williams Valley Singers. His senior year he was awarded most valuable male choir member.
Post WV, Rich has continued his life-long love of music by sharing it with and musically encouraging his sons. Through their musical activities he has been supporting the Mifflinburg Area High School music department as a chaperone, marching band field support, and in the pit orchestras for their high school musicals. He is an active member and participates annually at homecoming in the WV Alumni Band on bari sax. As a member of the Williams Valley Alumni Jazz Band he performs in the Town of Renown Alumni Jazz Band every year at the Les Brown Big Band Festival. He also continues to use his vocal talents singing in the Mifflinburg United Methodist Church choir.
Rich, his wife Lori (a WV music alum) and their two sons reside in Mifflinburg, PA.
How has music AHS (after high school) enriched or affected your life for the better?
“I’ve been able to share my love of music with my two children, even playing/singing with them on occasion. I’d like to believe that I had a major role in encouraging my son to pursue a degree in music performance at Kutztown University.”
2020: Shawn Hart, class of 1994
In high school, Shawn, a percussionist, was a member of both concert and marching bands and percussion ensemble. He participated in many festival bands including Twin Valley, county, and district bands. He also performed with district, regional and state orchestra. His junior and senior years he was percussion section leader and band president as a senior.
He attended Wilkes University (B.S. in Music Ed) and performed with orchestra, wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, and intercollegiate band. His first two years he sang in the choir. While getting his Master of Music degree at Bowling Green Shawn was a teaching assistant, performed in orchestra, wind and percussion ensembles and a member of those groups while at the University of North Texas where he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree.
Since graduating from WVHS Shawn has taught about 1,000 percussion students, 250 private lesson students and drum corps. He’s performed in drum corps, various musicals, and choir and orchestral concerts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Shawn is currently the Associate Director of Bands/Percussion Co-Coordinator for Mansfield Summit High School in Arlington, Texas.
How has music AHS (after high school) enriched or affected your life for the better? “Being both a performer and teacher of music has allowed me to remain balanced in my life. In particular, having to teach a fresh class of 10-20 beginners each year forces me to re-think how to do everything from holding a pair of sticks to how to subdivide a beat into various parts. Performing allows me to remain revitalized and to remember the unique experience that only live performance will create. Teaching private lesson students allows me to foster independent thinking, particularly for upper-level (college bound) musicians.”
2020 David Minnich, class of 1969
David Minnich’s first musical training began on piano which landed him, as a fourth grader, his first public gig: playing the National Anthem most mornings to start the school day. As a cousin of Les Brown he was under the watchful eye of Les’ father and director of Valley bands, R.W. Brown who had David instrumentally involved starting in eighth grade. He began as a baritone player in both concert and marching bands but in ninth grade when there was no tubist, R.W. had him switch to tuba. His senior year he was student conductor and received the John Phillip Sousa award.
After graduating from WV, in 1970 and 1971, David directed the WV Elementary Band at the Memorial Day programs because of the lack of an elementary band director. During his youth he played with the Tower City Community Band and took over directing it in 1972 for two years. In 1974 David founded the Williams Valley Community Choir which he directed until 1988. Other music involvement has been as the secretary/treasurer of the Local 401 American Federation of Musicians until 2004. He remains on the board of the 401. He has also been on the festival committee of the Les Brown Big Band Weekend from its’ inception to the present.
He also continued sharing his keyboard skills as organist/choir director at Zion United Methodist Church (now Christ UM) from 1974-1988. In 1980 until 1993 he played Saturday evening Mass at Our Lady Catholic Church, Lykens; Minster of Music from 1990-93 at Gyers United Methodist, Middletown; Choir director at Zion UM Church, Avon (1990-93); Organist from 1997-2004 at the Post Chapel in Fort Indiantown Gap. During the years 2005 through 2014 David was choir director three different times at his home church Metropolitan Community Church of the Spirit in Harrisburg. In 2005 he accepted the position of chapel organist at the Lebanon VA Hospital. In four years he will celebrate fifty years in church music ministry.
How has music AHS (after high school) enriched or affected your life for the better?
“Not only have I been able to continue my music, but I have met so many, many people with whom I have served or taught music to, and they have enriched my life more than words can tell.”
Valley Lifelong Alumni Musician Vocal Award
2024: Judith Schach, class of 1961
Mrs. Schach’s musical involvement in WV music spanned from 1956-1961. During that time she was a member of the concert band and was in the Twin Valley Honors Band her junior and senior years. In 1958 she was the pianist for the WV Baccalaureate Service and Commencement pianis in 1960 & 1961.
Outside of school Judith played a variety of 16th Century instruments in the Gloriana Early Music Consort during St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Madrigals and Renaissance Faires throughout eastern PA over a period of 20 years.
Her keyboard skills were used from 1970-2010 as organist and choir director at St. Peter’s UCC, Tower City and at Orwin from 1990-201. She was the accomanist at many community services and funerals.
In 1980, Mrs. Schach co-founded the Learning Tree Pre-School and introduced music to the curriculum.
According to her husband Claude Schach and niece Sheryl Hart:
Music was an outlet for relaxation and stress relief. It provided a way to provide an
important service to her home church, and in the 40 years she played, she returned every penny offered as payment back to the church. She achieved great satisfaction in enriching the lives of people around her with her music.
Advice for the current students:
Never stop enjoying music. Don’t limit yourself to one style of music but sample all the varieties that are out there. You will be surprised at what you might find. If possible, continue participating. There are local bands one can join, or perhaps organize one yourself. If you are really interested, pursue the study of music at the collegiate level. If you enjoy singing, there are the local church choirs and especially the annual cantatas. You might also want to give serious consideration the Schuylkill County Choral Society.
Mrs. Schach passed away on August 22, 2022. This award was accepted on her behalf by Claude Schach and Sheryl Hart.
2024: Sarah Bopp, class of 2007
Sarah Bopp was member of the concert band from 5th-7th grade and in chorus from 5th-12th grade. In 9th grade she joined the WV Singer and sang with them for 4 years. She also participated in the Schuylkill County Chorus and school musicals in grades 10-12.
Upon graduation Sarah attended Rosemont College joining the Rosemont Choir and Petaltones her freshman year. She remained a member of both her entire time a Rosemont and was choir president/director her senior year.
After college, she moved back to the WV area and sang with the Williams Valley Community Choir from 2017 to the present. She also sings for many special occasions, such as weddings, funerals, and baptisms and often at Trinity and St. Peter’s for holidays, special musical programs, and the Les Brown Big Band Weekend.
Her musical experiences have helped Sarah grow as a person; to find her voice and her place. Through music she has met many new people and had many great experiences and memories.
Advice for the current students:
Always have fun and never let anyone silence your voice. You have a gift that creates joy and inspires hope!
How has music after high school enriched or affected your life for the better?
It has helped me grow as a person; to find my voice and my place. I’ve met many new people and have had many great experiences and memories.
2023: Sheryl Hart, class of 1971
Mrs. Hart began participating in band, chorus, and Porter Tower Community Band in elementary school through her senior year of high school. She has sung with Trinity UCC Choir since 1966. As a senior she received both Loser’s Music and Zeswitz Music Awards.
After college she sang with the WV Community Choir and Calvary UMC Choir. Sheryl has been the organist at Trinity and St. Peter’s UCC for over 10 years. She has been Trinity’s choir director for 20 years as well as directing their Children’s and Bell Choir form 12 years.
Advice for the current students:
I am not a professional musician. I did not major in music in college and yet music is a part of my life on a daily basis. Music is a wonderful form of self-expression. You don’t have to compose your own music. It is just as fulfilling to interpret someone else’s composition instrumentally or with your voice. You don’t have to be a super talented soloist either. If you look around you will find groups you can sing or play along with, such as church choirs or community choirs and bands. Taking part in musical organizations can lift your spirits and those around you as well. It can help you to make friends. Music can fill empty spaces in your life and help you deal with stress. It is better to have a song stuck in your head than the news of the day.
Music doesn’t have an age limit. You don’t have to be young and physically fit to take part. Every community has opportunities for amateur musicians .no matter your age. As you grow older and get arthritic knees and a bad back, you can still take part in something that you enjoy.
My greatest regret is that I didn’t practice more when I was young. If I could go back to my childhood, I would practice every day. Mom was right again.
2023: Melanie Waters, class of 1970
Melanie participated in chorus, marching, and concert bands during her education at Williams Valley. After graduation, she was a piano accompanist for Men in Harmony, Lykens Minstrel Association, Trinity UCC, Tower City and St. Peter’s UCC, Orwin. She was organist for various churches in Wiconisco, Williamstown, and Loyalton.
Melanie also choir director at Wiconisco Evangelical Congregational Church and the Williams Valley Community Choir. She is a choir member at Trinity UCC, Tower City.
From 2008 to 2010 she offered piano lessons to area students.
Advice for the current students:
Enjoy it! Whatever musical talent God has given you, embrace it and use it in whatever way makes you happy.
2022: John Paul, class of 1984
John began singing in the Williams Valley elementary school in 4th grade and continued singing until he graduated. He also participated in the school musical from 9th grade on. During grades 9 through 12 he was sang in the Elizabethtown Honor choir and County Choir as a senior. Instrumentally he performed with the Williams Valley high school jazz band and was a assistant with the Marching Pride from his sophomore through senior years.
Outside of school his musical involvement included being the organist at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Williamstown from 1980 to the present. He is also the choir director at that church. In 2000 he became the organist at Lykens United Methodist Church, a position he still holds. He has also played for weddings, funerals, and has been a substitute organist at various local churches over the years.
Advice for the current students:
Continue to be active in music as long as you can. Never settle for the level you are at now – practice is the key. As a former student who participated in both sports and music in high school, music is the one that I was able to continue until now. And yes, I still practice.
2021: Dylan Smith, class of 2010
Dylan had his vocal debut as a third grader at Williams Valley which he continued from 5th grade through 12th. During that time his was selected to sing in the Schuylkill County Chorus, and both district and regional choruses. Instrumentally he played baritone horn and percussion. Dylan was a concert band member starting in 3rd grade and a jazz band member since 4th grade. All senior high he participated in Schuylkill County Band and District Band in 12th grade. As a senior he was awarded the John Kehres, John Philip Sousa, and Carol Myers Awards.
After graduating from Williams Valley, Dylan attended Lebanon Valley College majoring in Music Education, graduating in 2014. As an LV student he was a member of the college choir and the college concert choir. He has been the Williamstown American Legion Memorial Day singer from 2010 to the present and performed in various concerts and cantatas throughout the Dauphin and Schuylkill counties. In 2015 Dylan joined the Hamilton Gibson Community Theatre.
Dylan is currently employed as an elementary general/choral music teacher at Westfield Area Elementary School for Northern Tioga School District where he presides over general music classes grades K through 6, 5th/6th grade chorus, and both elementary and high school drama clubs. After school hours he gives private music lessons and coaches both varsity football and basketball.
2020 Michele Moore, class of 1994
As a child Michele’ parents started her on her life of music with private voice and piano lessons when she was of kindergarten age which she continued until college. School musical participation for Michele at WV began as a member of the chorus in elementary school and kept singing with the school choruses through graduation. In high school she also sang with the WV Singers in grades 9-12. During those years she tried out and made county, district, and regional chorus and performed in the school musicals landing the role of Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes as a senior. Her junior and senior years she studied voice and music theory with Carol Myers, the head of the music department at Millersville University and was the primary National Anthem vocalist for the Hershey Bears AHL hockey team. Her last three high school years Michele placed in St. David’ Society Schuykill County Voice Competition.Although she wasn’t an instrumentalist, she was a member of the WV Marching Pride as a majorette for four years where she first served as a co-captain and then as majorette captain. Another instrumental group she performed with was the WV Jazz Band as their vocalist. In 1994 she was awarded the John Kehres Vocal Music Award.Michele enrolled at Westminster College in Princeton, NJ to earn a degree in music education. Her musical performance organizations included the Westminster Chapel Choir, Westminster Schola Cantorum, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir that performed with the NY Philharmonic at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s televised performances. During those years she also performed with the Westminster Singers, Westminster Players, and Summer Bach Festival Chorus. Sacred music performances included soloist and section leader at Lamington Presbyterian Church and wedding vocalist for the Princeton University Chapel.In 1999 Michele was employed by the Pennsbury School District of Fairless Hill, PA teaching grade K-5, 4thgrade hand chime choir, and 5th grade chorus. From 1999-2002 she taught grades 1,2, and 5 and directed their 350+ voice 5th grade chorus the Bridgewater-Raritan School District. She then taught choral readiness to children ages 5-8 and directed recitals at the Westminster Conservatory of Music. Michele started giving private music instruction for developing vocal technique through classical, vocal jazz and improvisation as well as art song in 2009. With her joining the faculty at East Brunswick School District’s Irwin School, she contributed to the development of the District Chorus Festival and has been a co-director of the East Brunswick Elementary All-District Chorus for the past fifteen years. In 2011, she directed her Irwin School Chorus to perform at the NJ Music Educators Association State Convention. One of the highlights of her teaching career included preparing and conducting students to sing with Kenny Rogers for his 2011 Greatest Hits/Christmas Tour at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.Michele has received numerous awards including the Middlesex County Governor Teacher’s Award for Irwin Elementary School in 2006, the 2018 NJMEA Master Music Teacher Award, and in 2019, being one of two public school teachers to receive the NJ Governor’s Award in Arts Education.At home, Michele is devoted to her husband, Shahriar, and her daughter, Sophie. She enjoys traveling and singing. She loves spending time with extended family and friends, and especially loves taking trips to visit her mother in her hometown in Tower City
How has music AHS (after high school) enriched or affected your life for the better? “Without hesitation, YES! Given the fact that I’ve devoted my life’s work to music and teaching, it goes without saying that my life is both enriched and affected by music on a daily basis. When I reflect on the defining moments of my life, the biggest influences in my life (other than my parents), and my proudest personal accomplishments, there is one common denominator – music. Some of my greatest friendships formed over the years were through a musical experience, and by far, most of the greatest teachers in my life were music educators. Even in my very humbling profession of teaching young children to listen, sing, create, and play music, they are also my teachers. Through my own teaching, music has helped me understand more about myself and others.”