Tag Archives: Performing Arts Teachers

CA Choir Director David Moellenkamp inspires students

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David Moellenkamp, Director of Choral Activities at Los Alamitos High School in California, inspires his students to excel in the performing arts. Photo Credit: David Mellenkamp

All over the country, our young people are fortunate to have access to talented and dedicated performing arts teachers. One of these is David Moellenkamp, the Director of Choral Activities at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California.

During his 14 years at the school, David’s choir groups have been named Grand Champions over 175 times, and they have garnered no less than 12 National Grand Championship titles. Prior to coming to Los Alamitos, David spent the first 16 years of his teaching career in central Illinois. There he led the Sullivan Singers Show Choir program to over 100 first place wins, including four National Championships.

David’s choirs have recorded and performed with numerous famous artists, including Barry Manilow, Patti Lupone, and Foreigner. In 2013, he collaborated with the Los Alamitos Education Foundation to produce and direct the Xcite! Show Choir Camps.

In addition to directing school choirs, David spent 14 summers directing and choreographing students at Stagedoor Manor, a well-known performing arts training center in New York. As a result of his work there, more than 100 of his former students have performed on Broadway, appeared on network television, or starred in major motion pictures. David has also spent 14 summers presenting workshops at the Arizona and Missouri Music Educators All State Conventions, and he is a show choir adjudicator and clinician for festivals and schools around the world. And as if all that were not enough, he also teaches Music Education classes at Cal State Long Beach.

Throughout his 31-year career as an educator, David has earned many accolades. Playbill, the iconic Broadway magazine, named him one of the most influential educators inspiring Broadway’s youth. He was named the Kennedy Center Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher of the Year. In 2018, he received the Excellence in Special Education from SELPA. Also, the Fame National Show Choir Series awarded him their Aspire Choir Director of the Year in both 2015 and 2017. Also in 2017, he was named the Teacher of the Year for Los Alamitos School District. In addition, David was a finalist for the 2016 Grammy Teacher of the Year, and in 2015, he was named the Orange County Department of Education Outstanding Secondary Music Educator of the Year.

David earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and his Master’s degree in Administration from National University.

Exceptional music educators lead students in 2022 Macy’s Parade

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Once again, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year has wowed spectators, both in person and on television, including me! After watching the talented high school musicians who performed in the annual spectacular, I am always left in awe of the superlative music educators who prepared their students for this event. Here is a little about each of these educators.

 

The Carmel Marching Greyhounds, Director Chris Kreke

Director of Bands Chris Kreke led the Carmel Marching Greyhounds in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: Jacob Musselman

The Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds from Carmel, Indiana, made their second appearance in the parade, this one under the direction of Director Chris Kreke. Chris earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Ball State University in 1995 and his Master’s degree in Music Technology from Indiana University in 2000.

The Marching Greyhounds garnered the Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Champion Award five times, and was a Grand National Finalist a whopping 24 times. They were named the BOA Super Regional Champion six times and the BOA Regional Champion 17 times. At the state level, the Marching Greyhounds are five-time ISSMA State Champions and have made State Finals for 30 years. The 300-member group made their previous appearance in the Macy’s Parade in 2011, and they also performed in the Rose Parade in 2014 and the London New Year’s Parade in 2004.

The Bourbon County High School Marching Colonels, Director Michael Stone

The Bourbon County Marching Colonels under the direction of  Michael Stone appeared in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo credit: Bourbon County High School

The 100-member Bourbon County High School Marching Colonels marched in the parade under the leadership of Director of Bands Michael Stone. This was the first Macy’s Parade appearance for the group, who hail from Paris, Kentucky. Michael earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2014 and his Master’s degree in Music Education in 2017, both from Eastern Kentucky University. In 2020, Michael was named the Phi Beta Mu Young Bandmaster of the Year in Kentucky.

Under Michael’s leadership, the Marching Band won the 2018 KMEA Class AAA State Championship and the 2018 and 2019 Bands of America Class A National Championship in his first year as Director. What an accomplishment!

Vandergrift High School Viper Marching Band, Director Katie VanDoren

Also appearing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was the Vandergrift High School Viper Marching Band from Leander, Texas, under the direction of Katie VanDoren. Photo credit: Four Points News

Director of Bands Katie VanDoren led the 300-member Vandergrift High School Viper Marching Band from Leander, Texas, in the parade. Katie has been teaching at Vandegrift since 2014. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She is currently in her sixth year at Vandegrift High School and her seventh year of teaching high school band.

Their selection for the Macy’s Parade is just the most recent honor the Vandergrift Vipers have earned. The group garnered first place in the 2022 UIL State Marching Band Contest held in San Antonio. They also won the Bands of America Grand National Championships in 2019. The group also captured the Sudler Shield International Marching Band Award and won the Bands of America Regional Championships four times.

Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble, Director Kevin Ford

Appearing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was the Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble under the leadership of Director Kevin Ford. Photo Credit: Pinellas County Schools

Hailing from Tarpon Springs, Florida, the Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble under the leadership of Director Kevin Ford also appeared in the parade. Kevin is presently in his 28th year of teaching in the public school system. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Florida. He is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Pinellas County Music Educators Association, and he serves as a member of the Bands of America (BOA) Educational Advisory Board.

The 200-member Tarpon Springs group is making its second appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in under 10 years. The ensemble was featured in the 2013 parade. In addition to their selection in the Macy’s event, they were named the BOA Grand National Champions in 2014. The group was crowned BOA Division AA and AAA Class National Champions seven times.

Clovis North Educational Center Bronco Band and Color Guard, Director David Lesser

The Clovis North Educational Center Bronco Band and Color Guard under the leadership of Director of Bands David Lessing also appeared in the 2022 Macy’s Parade. Photo credit: YourCentralValley.com

And finally, Director of Bands David Lessing appeared with the Clovis North Educational Center Bronco Band and Color Guard from Fresno, California. David was honored in 2020 by the John Philip Sousa Foundation as a Legion of Honor Laureate. In 2006, he was recognized as one of the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” by School Band and Orchestra (SBO) Magazine. In addition, he was the Fresno Madera County’s Music Educator Association Jazz Educator of the Year in 2005. This is David’s 22nd year of teaching.

The group has been named Western Band Association’s (WBA) Class or Grand Champions five times since 2010. This year’s appearance is the first time the 100-member Bronco group participated in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

NY dance teacher Persephone DaCosta earns coveted FLAG Award

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Dance teacher Persephone DaCosta started a girls’ empowerment club at her New York City public school that was so successful it was transformed into an academic class. The enterprise has earned her a coveted FLAG Foundation Award. Photo Credit: PATCH

I always enjoy sharing stories about creative educators who have earned accolades for their work with students. One of these is Persephone DaCosta, a dance teacher from New York who has earned a coveted FLAG Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

Persephone teaches traditional, West African, and Africa-Caribbean dance at Khalil Gibran International Academy, a public school located in Boerum Hill in Brooklyn, New York. The school offers a multicultural curriculum and intensive Arabic language instruction. There she inaugurated a young women’s empowerment circle she called ROSE, an acronym for Respectful Outstanding Sisters of Excellence. As part of the program, high school students gathered after school to talk about sisterhood and leadership. Before long, Persephone noticed the positive impact of the program on her students. Their attendance improved, they were getting better grades, and they were behaving better. Inspired by the students’ progress, Persephone transformed ROSE into an academic class that focuses on leadership and mentorship. In this course, students plan school-wide events, visit college campuses, and learn about mental wellness.

Of Trinidadian descent, Persephone began her dance training at the age of 6. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, and traditional African dance. She graduated from Stony Brook University, where she studied dance, anthropology, and “Community Development through the Arts.”

The FLAG Award “is meant to identify teachers, recognize them for the incredible things they are doing in and out of the classroom, and award them for all of their efforts,” explains FLAG co-president Risa Daniels. “These are teachers who are having an impact beyond the classroom and doing things that are having long lasting, ripple effects on their schools,” she continued. As a winner of the FLAG award, Persephone will receive $25,000 and Khalil Gibran International Academy will receive a $10,000 grant to spend on their arts education program. Persephone intends to use the grant to renovate her sparsely-equipped dance studio.

PA dance teacher LaDeva Davis successful in Show Biz

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Beloved dance teacher LaDeva Davis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also earned fame in Show Biz. Photo Credit: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Many excellent educators have also earned fame in the entertainment industry. One of these was LaDeva Davis, a dance teacher and choreographer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was also successful in Show Biz.

As a young woman, LaDeva studied at the Philadelphia Musical Academy. Once she completed her education, she accepted a position as a junior high school teacher in 1965 in the Philadelphia School District, where she taught her entire professional life. In 1978, she became a member of the inaugural staff of the famous Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). She worked there as a full-time teacher for 44 years. In all, her career as an educator spanned 57 years.

Without exception, her students report that she genuinely cared about them. She made sure her kids got to their classes on time and checked up on their academic progress. And if one of them couldn’t afford new ballet shoes, she bought them a pair from her own pocket. She had a reputation for being a stickler for perfect grammar, good posture, and respect. And she helped them develop into accomplished performers. During her years at CAPA, LaDeva’s students performed in many Thanksgiving Day Parades, and in shows which she had choreographed in both California and Florida.

In addition to her work at CAPA, LaDeva taught at Swarthmore College, served two terms as President of the Board of Philadanco, and worked as a choreographer for commercials, local theater companies, and a Mummers fancy brigade.

In fact, LaDeva’s work in the entertainment industry began when she was very young. As a child, she made weekly appearances on the Parisian Taylor Kiddie Hour Radio Show. Later, she sang in supper clubs. In the 1970s, she hosted What’s Cooking?, which became so popular she became the first African American woman to have a nationally syndicated cooking show. Behind the camera, she co-produced the 2007 Dixie Hummingbirds album Keeping It Real: The Last Man Standing, and for her work on the album she was nominated for a Grammy. At various times in her life she performed with such notable entertainers as Josephine Baker, Pearl Bailey, Natalie Cole, Billy Dee Williams, Danny Thomas, Jamie Farr, Alan King, Jimmy Walker, and Gregory Hines.

For her work as an educator, the beloved teacher garnered several honors, including a Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, a prize given each year to Philadelphia’s best educators. In 2015, she earned the Mary McLeod Bethune Award for leadership, excellence, and achievement in education from the National Council of Negro Women.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away on Sept. 8, 2022, after suffering a stroke. She was 78 years old.

Annelise Tedesco named Louisiana’s 2022 Teacher of the year

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Music educator Annelise Tedesco of Chalmette, Louisiana, has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. Photo Credit: Louisiana Life Magazine

There are many fine educators who support music education, and some of them have even earned recognition for their work in this area. One of these is Annelisse Tedesco, a music educator in Louisiana who has been named her state’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Annelise currently teaches music and arts electives to students in grades 9-12 at Chalmette High School in Chalmette, Louisiana. Her career as a music educator has spanned 14 years, but she’s been employed at Chalmette since 2008. Annelise coaches many scholarship winners and award-winning soloists and ensembles in her work as the school’s Music Director.

Passionate about providing music education to underprivileged students, Annelise is the co-founder of the Performing Arts Academy, a district-wide program dedicated to in-depth training in the arts at little or no cost to the participants.

The honored educator says part of working with students is remembering that many things are going on in the students’ lives outside of the classroom, both at home and on social media. She asserts that leading by example is important, not just in teaching students the material, but also in teaching the students how to navigate in the world. “Shakespeare once wrote that all the world’s a stage,” she declares. “We’re teaching kids how to perform on the stage of life,” she concludes.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Annelise serves as the Educator Advisor to the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. With Donna Edwards, the current First Lady of Louisiana, the honored teacher serves as a vocal advocate for the importance of arts education in Louisiana schools.

As if all this were not enough, Annelise also works as a professional musician. She has collaborated with musicians from the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, where she was once designated a featured soprano soloist. She has also performed in Mahler for the Children of AIDS; Beethoven for the Indus Valley; as Hucklebee in The Fantasticks; as Annina in La Traviata; a summer season with Opera in the Ozarks; and two Carnegie Hall benefit concerts to raise funds and public awareness for pediatric AIDS patients and victims of the floods in Pakistan.

Annelise earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music from Loyola University, summa cum laude, and her teaching credential from the University of New Orleans.

To learn more about this remarkable educator, click on this link to an article about her published on nova.com.