I attended the Seventh International Congress of Voice Teachers from July 15 to 19, 2009, at the famous Folies Bergère in the Opera District of Paris, France. I have attended six of these conferences, and this is the first one held in a non-English-speaking country. Translations were attempted at the sessions! Click here for photos!

The congress theme was Singing Past and Present: Innovation and Tradition. I attended sessions related to "Solutions for Singing High Notes in Opera," "Baroque Singing: The Art of Good Singing," "The Richness of the Human Vocal Instrument," "Developing Healthy and Vibrant Male Adolescent Voices," "Resonance Strategies in 'Passaggio,'" and "Breathing and Support." The highlight of the congress was meeting so many wonderful and interesting voice teachers from around the world.

Some upcoming studio performances: Summer adult students will perform at Vinson Hall Retirement Community on Wednesday, August 12, at 7:00 p.m. George Peachey will accompany. Summer teen students will perform at the Sunrise Senior Living Community in McLean on Tuesday, September 1, at 7:00 p.m. Gillian Cookson will accompany.

Thank you again for your participation in the spring recitals! I was so pleased with all my students’ performances and I hope the students thought they were worthwhile experiences. I appreciated the fact that our audiences were so large. You can find some pictures HERE.

I will be teaching those of you who want lessons this summer. My summer teaching schedule is very flexible, but I prefer not to teach on Saturdays. For those who are studying, we will have a workshop in August. Please check my vacation schedule HERE.

If you have a preference for lesson days in the Fall, I would appreciate knowing which day and time you prefer. If you want me to save the same time you have had this year, let me know. My lesson rates beginning July 1 are $35 for ½ hour lesson and $45 for 45 minutes. If you feel the ½ hour lesson is not long enough, please consider the longer lesson. We can get a lot more done! I always offer scholarships if there is a need.

The Fall Workshop will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25, in the afternoon, and the Winter Recital is set for SATURDAY, Dec. 5, at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. The Spring recital will be on SUNDAY, May 23, at the Woman’s Club—this is a week later than this year’s recital. The fee for the workshop will be $8 and for the recital $35. I am hoping that every student will participate. George Peachey has agreed to play!

If you aren’t able to take any lessons this summer, please do sing the vocal exercises and practice new songs. I want everyone prepared to sing at the October workshop.

Try to attend some musical events this summer. I will be attending the Concert Opera Performance of “La Boheme” at Wolf Trap on Friday night, August 1. I would love to see lots of you out there! This is such a beautiful opera of great passion! I have also  already purchased my tickets for “Spring Awakening” at the Kennedy Center in July. I was lucky enough to purchase $25 tickets –“obstructed view”…They may still have some of these reduced priced tickets available, but you do have to purchase them at the box office. They really are excellent seats in the balcony!

Those of you who are attending summer music programs, please let me know about them and what you have learned or are learning! Keep in touch!

Rehearsals

By now almost all the students have signed up for rehearsal times with George Peachey…either on May 10 (Mother’s Day) or Weds, May 13. Please be on time to these appointments and if you wish to make a recording of the rehearsal, please bring a new CD. Please include the $30 recital fee with your May tuition. This amount helps to pay for George Peachey’s talent and time and for the church sanctuary rental. Please be sure that I receive the fee before the rehearsal. Thanks!

Rehearsal dates are as scheduled below, and all rehearsals will be held at the studio. Each student has a 10-minute rehearsal slot.

Teen Rehearsal Dates:
Sunday, May 10 (Mother’s Day), beginning at 2:00 p.m., OR Wednesday, May 13, beginning at 5:45 p.m.

 

Adult Rehearsal Dates:
Thursday, May 28, beginning at 6:45 p.m., OR Saturday, May 30, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

If you wish to have more time with Mr. Peachey, you may call him at 301-933-6454 and set up a private rehearsal at his studio; you will pay him directly for his time.

Recital — Click here for the flyer.

The First Recital will start at 1:30 p.m. and the second at 3:15 p.m. (I changed the time!) The Recitals will be held in the Sanctuary of The McLean Baptist Church, 1367 Chain Bridge Rd. Please invite your friends and families. Receptions will be held after each recital…Hopefully you can print them and give them to friends or send them by e mail. We’d love to have a large audience. We will honor our graduates! I look forward to seeing you all at the May 17 Recital. I am so glad that almost everyone of my high school students is able to participate. This fact means a lot to me as I teach these wonderful students! Thank you, families, for all your support. I know you will enjoy hearing these singers perform! Please try to stay for the entire program as this is only fair to those singers who perform at the end.

Lesson Schedule

I will not teach Memorial Day Weekend…The afternoon of May 22, and all day May 23, 24, and 25. I will conclude my spring schedule on June 10, but I will be here most of the summer for those students who can take some lessons. I will not be here June 10- June 16, July 15-27 and August 14-19. You might want to look at your calendars to determine how many lessons in June you will take and include this amount with May…especially if there’s only one lesson…

Work has begun on our patio so you will need to enter the studio through my front door this week.  Come in…don’t touch Rusty and enter the studio from the family room!  Today we heard the joy of the “jack hammer.”  I am hopeful that the worst of the noise is over! Thanks for your understanding.

Please check your schedules so you can sign up for rehearsal times with George Peachey.  The schedule is on the piano!

The Northern Va. Music Teachers Voice Competition was held last Saturday, April 25, at the Woman’s Club of Arlington and I am happy to report that several of my students received awards:

Division 1 (8th, 9th, and 10th graders):  Donya Mossadeghi, Honorable Mention

Division 2 (11th and 12th graders):  Lauren Bailey, First Place

                                                                 Ashley Fidler and Mariana Sterne, Honorable Mention

Division 3 (Over 18):  Calvert Thompson, First Place

                                       Amy Nicol, Third Place

                                       Jill Kester, Honorable Mention

Congratulations and best wishes!

The 2009 NVMTA Vocal Achievements Competition was held Saturday, April 25, at the Women's Club of Arlington. More than 25 teens and 10 adults participated.

CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS IN ALL DIVISIONS

CLICK HERE FOR ADJUDICATORS' BIOS, PARTICIPANTS, AND REPERTOIRE

Thank you to all adjudicators, voice teachers, and students who participated in the event!

I just want to tell you a little more about our upcoming May Teen Spring Recital. First off, I know how busy each one of these students is… I hear about it in every lesson! But I also want to stress that I feel these recitals are terribly important for the students’ musical education and growth. Since I can only sponsor two recitals a year and since I do go to a lot of trouble in reserving the recital hall and in finding a wonderful pianist, I expect every student to participate. We will not have another program until next December.

With this in mind, I will be very much disappointed if your young person cannot sing. They will need to rehearse with Mr. Peachey in my studio for a 10 minute interval—on either Mother’s Day afternoon, May 10, between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Choose a time! Or on Wednesday, May 13, after 5:30 p.m. I hope some of you can come on that Sunday so we can have plenty of time for each performance practice. Mr. Peachey, who teaches piano, is terribly busy and these are the times he can easily give to us. I am grateful because, as you all know, he is a wonderful musician and pianist.

Then, on May 17—Sunday afternoon—at the McLean Baptist Church—located right in the heart of McLean: We will have our recitals at 1:30 or approximately 3:00 p.m. You will only need to be there—at most—1 hour and 15 minutes. I don’t think this is asking too much of any one. Receptions will be held after each program, so please invite your friends and families to this program.

The fee is $30 to help to pay for the church sanctuary rental and for our pianist. Please add this amount to your May tuition. Thanks!

Good News! Arianna Zell, a junior at Langley High School, has been selected to participate at the State Governor’s School this summer, and Mary Peterson, junior at Herndon High School, is an alternate. Congratulations and best wishes!

I am happy to report that 14 of my students—10 teens and four adults—will sing in the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Voice Competition this Saturday. You are all invited to attend. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Woman’s Club of Arlington, 700 South Buchanan.

Again, I will see you all on May 17. I hope my new patio construction won’t be disruptive for my teaching schedule… it’s due to begin any day!

I do appreciate your remembering to drive slowly in my neighborhood! No incidents of speeding have been reported this spring! Thank goodness!

We had a wonderful trip to the West Coast, although the weather wasn’t that great.  Our grandson, Noah, at 7 months is absolutely beautiful, of course!

I just wanted to alert you to the fact that tonight, Weds, at 9 p.m. on “Great Performances at The Met”—Channel 26- you can watch the opera “Lucia di Lammermoor”---

We are going to be having a new patio constructed in our back yard in the next two weeks.  I am not sure how this will affect the studio entrance so look for signs on the gate!  You may need to enter my house through the garage for a few days…We’ll see!

Below is a website link to a very uplifting selection from “the Sound of Music”…Watching this  segment will certainly put a smile on your face…They are dancing at a Belgium train station!!  Wish I’d been there! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

Again – reminder about upcoming recitals—Teens-May 17, 2009 – afternoon.  Adults—Sunday, May 31, evening!  Teens, remember I need to know on which program you wish to sing!

During the weekend of March 6–7, eight of my students participated in the Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. I was very pleased with the results. My students performed in classical divisions:  Laynie Zell, a Freshman at Langley H.S., won second place in the Freshmen/Sophomore Women Division; Michelle Lerch, Sophomore at Westfield High School received a Superior Rating in the Sophomore Advanced Women Division; Ashley Fidler, Junior at Bishop O’Connell H.S., placed third in one of the Advanced High School Junior/Senior Divisions, as did Lauren Bailey, a Senior at Langley High School. Mary Peterson, a Junior at Herndon High School, and Arianna Zell, a Junior at Langley High School, both received Honors in another division of the Advanced high School Women Division. Calvert Thompson placed third in the Adult Continuing Education Division and Amy Nicol placed second in the same division.

Most of these students are eligible to sing at the Regional Division on April 4 in Boone, N.C. at Appalachian State University. It was a most inspiring weekend for me. There were master classes by outstanding musicians and it was a chance for me to make new friendships with other Virginia voice teachers. The event will be held at VCU in Richmond next year.

Many of my students will be on spring break from their private and public schools in the next several weeks and others will be making trips with their choral departments. I will not teach between April 5 and 12. I will teach on Saturday, April 4, for those wishing make up lessons and for my regular Saturday students who plan to be in town.

Please remember our Teen Student Voice Recital will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2009, at the McLean Baptist Church. There will be two recitals:  2:00 p.m. and approximately 3:45 p.m. George Peachey will be the pianist and rehearsals with him will be the week before in my studio. The fee will be $30. I expect every student to participate unless either as a performer or audience member.

Now that we’re enjoying daylight savings time, please be aware that the children in my cul de sac enjoy playing outside. Watch out for them and drive slowly.

Feel free to call me and do check my website. I am most grateful to Lori Peterson for the wonderful job she is doing as webmaster. You will see lots of pictures of our workshop and the “Student of The Week” Program and NATS.

I want to remind you that our Student Workshop is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 22. There will be two sections: 1:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. If you plan to sing in the first event, please arrive at my house by 1:20 so we can begin right on time when George Peachey arrives. Each student should be prepared to sing two selections… The music doesn’t need to be memorized, but learned very well. I expect every student to participate unless an emergency has occurred, etc. Each program will last approximately 1 hour 15 minutes… I want each student to remain for the whole program. Please include the $8 workshop fee with your Feb. tuition. This workshop is for students only… If by some chance you have a cold and can’t sing, please come and listen.

I will teach on President’s Day (Monday, Feb. 16) since this holiday is the week of our workshop. I hope the weather will allow each student to arrive for the next weeks’ lessons. Remember to call me even if school is cancelled. Sometimes the weather improves as the day continues.

Parents, if any of you will be free on Thursday morning, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m., I will perform on a program sponsored by the Friday Morning Music Club. The concert will be held at the Old Town Hall in Fairfax City, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax, Va. (corner of Main Street, Rte. 236 and University Drive).

I attended a wonderful musical at Potomac School on January 31. Cat Andre and Madeline Page performed in “Guys & Dolls.” Congratulations! On Sat., Feb. 14, I will be attending a performance of “Grease” in Baltimore and one of the leads attended McLean H.S. and is a former student of mine. He is “on tour” with this musical!

I am encouraging my students to record their lessons on a CD disc. I am happy to lend students these discs, but would like to have them “replaced.” Remember that these CDs cannot be reused. CD-R is the format and they are not very expensive if you buy them in bulk.

The weekend of Feb. 14, the opera “Tosca” by Puccini will be performed at George Mason University. It would be wonderful if some of you young people could attend. This opera is “audience friendly” and will be performed by the outstanding Virginia Opera Company.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns and remember to check my webpage: www.PeggyMcNulty.com. Lori Peterson is doing a superb job of updating the site. You can read about “Students of the Week” and about my former students, etc. (see Noteworthy News).

I will not teach from Sunday, April 5, to Sunday, April 12 — Spring Break!

I hope you have all had a wonderful vacation and holiday season.  Our trip to Germany was very special…seeing the Christmas markets and old friends.  We visited Cologne, Heidelberg, Strausburg, Rothenburg, Tübingen, Nürenberg, and Wurzberg…a lot of traveling in 8 days. After we returned on Dec. 16, I taught  four days and then our daughter, her husband and the new baby arrived, but they couldn’t come until Christmas eve because of the bad weather in Seattle.  Sarah and the baby did stay until Dec. 30 so we had a good visit.

I resume my regular teaching schedule this Monday, Jan 5, 2009.  I have a very full schedule, so if for some reason you cannot make a lesson, please give me at least 48 hours notice.  In most cases I cannot reschedule lessons.  Also, tuition payment is due a month in advance.(Lessons are $33 per ½ hour and $43 per 45 minute lesson---I offer scholarships, if needed.)   I expect to be here all of January and I plan to  teach on Martin Luther King’s Birthday Holiday and on the afternoon of Inauguration Day.

I will sponsor a student workshop on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 22.  There will be two teen sessions:  1:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.  The cost is $8.  Please save the date!  Our Teen Spring Recital is set for SUNDAY, May 17, 2009  at the McLean Baptist Church. 

In case of snow when school is cancelled, please let me know if you CAN OR CANNOT get to the lesson. Often the weather improves by afternoon lesson times so don’t assume that I don’t expect you. 

Please drive slowly in my neighborhood and park as close to my house as you can.  Call me if you have any questions…I hope it’s a great musical year for all!  We saw “Les Misėrables” at Signature Theatre this week and it is excellent.  The show will play through February.

Best wishes and Happy New Year!

Summer has officially begun for all my teens, but there are some dates I’ll be available for those who wish some lessons during this vacation time. I will continue teaching until June 25, when I drive to Nashville, Tenn., to attend the National Association of Teachers of Singing Convention.

Please check the Calendar for the complete list of dates I will be available after the NATS convention.

Some of my adult students will sing at Vinson Hall on August 5. The regular lesson schedule will resume on August 18 and on into the school year. Since I know I will miss several days of teaching in September because of my grandson’s birth, I hope many of you can resume your studies at least by mid-August. If there are enough teens studying this summer, we will have an informal workshop before school resumes. 

I hope you will be able to attend some performances at Wolf Trap this summer. I will attend “The Gondoliers” by Gilbert and Sullivan on June 21. Perhaps I will see some of you out there that evening.

If you know when you would like to schedule your voice lessons for the Fall, please let me know immediately so that I can save this time for you. I am getting calls from prospective students now and requests for certain lesson times. Thanks!

Have a wonderful summer season!

(left) Donna Hamilton, accompanied by George Peachey.

(below) Most of the adult students who performed during the recital.

Click Here to View the
Adult Recital Program (PDF)

MAY 19 - I was so pleased by every student’s performance yesterday, and I want to thank the families for all their support. It was a lovely event and I am so happy that almost all my students performed. I was sorry that two students were sick yesterday and couldn’t sing  at the last minute, but I was so pleased that Elsa McCorkle could perform. She has been quite sick. Congratulations to all…I look forward to our next recital on Dec. 6.

Scroll down to see some of the photos taken after both recitals.

I will continue teaching my regular schedule until Friday, June 7, and for those interested students, I will teach most of the summer. I will take off a week in late June, a week in mid-July, and ten days beginning August 6 or 7. You may take a lesson when you are in town…If I make arrangements for an informal performance at a nursing home, I will let you know. If any of you have friends or family in a nursing home and you think they would enjoy hearing these young people sing, let me know.

I will miss my seven graduating seniors. Please check below for more information about these young ladies. They are my “Students of the Week!!” 

It is a joy for me to teach these wonderful young people. 

Jennifer Suragiat (left) is a senior at Westfield High School. She has studied for four years and will attend N.Y.U. as a voice major.

Jeanne Moran (right) will graduate from Potomac School in McLean. She has studied for five years and will attend Tulane University in the fall.

Genevieve Parker will graduate from Potomac High School. Because she was involved in a play in her school this past weekend, she could not sing in the final recital. Gennie will attend Hofstra University as a drama major.

Above, left to right:
Caitlin Roman is a senior at Langley High School and has studied for over two years. She will attend Miami University of Ohio.
Michele Lowe is a senior at Madison High School and has studied for three years. She will attend Brigham Young University in Idaho.
Melissa Solomon began lessons in the 8th grade. She is a senior at Langley High School and will attend Baylor University as a music major.
Joanna Wood is home schooled and began lessons with Peggy in January. She will attend Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City.

Pictured at left are all singers from the recital held at 2:00 p.m.
Click Here to View the Program (Part 1) - PDF

Pictured here are students who sang in the recital held at 3:45 p.m.
Click Here to View the Program (Part 2) - PDF

A week from today, May 18, we will hold our Spring Teen Voice Recital at the McLean Baptist Church. I am attaching a flier for you to give to your friends and families so they can attend. By now, each student knows on which program he/she will sing. I am encouraging you all to attend both recitals, if possible. I have tried to divide the teens so that each program will have a diverse group of singers. Therefore, I have divided the 7 graduating seniors.

Recital Invitation Flier

We will begin PROMPTLY AT 2 O’CLOCK p.m.  For those teens singing in the first program, please arrive by 1:50 so we can begin ON TIME. I am hoping that all of you will stay for the whole program. This is only fair to those performers who are singing at the end. I know two families must leave and they have told me why. A reception will follow each program and I hope you can stay for a few minutes to meet all the young students.

Don’t forget to bring your music! I am not responsible for it!!! Please sit up front on the left side of the sanctuary so that you can hear and see the students. I am bringing my new digital video camera and I would appreciate it if somebody could take the video for me.

Also I have learned that the elementary school across from the church will hold a “fair” at the same time as our second program. Families, please arrive early to find parking for the voice recital. The second program will begin at 3:45 p.m.

The rehearsals with George Peachey, our pianist, will be held this Tuesday and Wednesday evening in my studio. Please don’t be late for your practice and you are welcome to come early to hear the others. Also, if you haven’t given me the $30 recital fee, I would appreciate receiving it by then. You might like to bring a cassette tape or CD to record your rehearsal session.

I am so looking forward to the performances and will look forward to meeting everyone next Sunday. Please feel free to call me with any questions…and stay healthy!

The Teen Voice Recital will be held on Sunday afternoon, May 18, 2008, at the McLean Baptist Church,1367 Chain Bridge Road, in the heart of McLean.

We will present two recitals: 2:00 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. (perhaps 4:00 p.m.).  If one of these times works best, please tell me immediately; otherwise, I will schedule the students as I think works well. I don’t want anyone singing the same song so that’s why I need to know now. We are assigning the musical selections now.

As you know, I am very fortunate to be able to have George Peachey, pianist, working with these young people. We will rehearse in my studio the week of the program. Each student will sign up for a 12-minute rehearsal. Please be sure that these times will work. George’s time is valuable and we won’t be able to give you another time if you fail to be present for the time slot assigned to you! He will be here to rehearse on Tuesday night, May 13, and Wednesday night, May 14, between 6:30 and 9:00 p.m. Please look at your calendars to be sure one of these evenings will work and if you have a time you need to save, please let me know now. The fee for the recital will be $30. Please include this amount in your May tuition.

We will honor our graduating seniors at both recitals. Please invite your friends and families! A reception will follow and I am expecting every student to participate either as a performer or as an audience member.

I will continue with my spring teaching schedule until June 6 or later, depending on your student’s wishes. I will be teaching all summer on a week-to-week basis. I will be out of town several times.

Please let me know your wishes regarding the May 18 date! I’ll write again and please continue to check my website … I am most grateful to Lori Peterson for her hard work on this design.  www.peggymcnulty.com

I hope all the teens enjoy the rest of the school year without too much anguish...and seniors, savor these last moments of high school with your friends and dear families. Time passes all too quickly as we adults know.

Keep in touch!

We held an optional, informal "Performance Workshop" in the studio yesterday. Eight students participated, and it was an excellent experience for all. Each student sang two songs after we all “warmed up” together.  I plan to present this informal class again, if possible. 

I am back from a wonderful two week trip to India with the National Geographic Expeditions. We visited many historic sites, including the Taj Mahal and the Ganges River—two sites worth the trip! We also visited a bird sanctuary and tiger preserve (we saw no tigers—lots of monkeys and a crocodile). We were with a group of 30 and everyone was so interesting. The real highlight of our trip was being invited to the homes of two Indian families. We were also invited to attend an Indian wedding reception. We have never seen so much food! Anyway, it was a cultural experience and I am very glad that I live in America!

I know that several of my students will be out of town on high school choral trips in the next few weeks. The Langley Choir leaves this Thursday for Italy. For those of you who are in town this Saturday, April 5, and would like to have another opportunity to sing for each other, I will have a class at 4 p.m. Please let me know if you can attend. It will last one hour and I will be the pianist!! There is no fee.

I want to thank Ms. Lori Peterson who has designed my new web page. I am most appreciative to her and I hope you will visit the site: www.peggymcnulty.com. Lori’s daughter, Mary, is a sophomore at Herndon High School and a voice student of mine. Lori is webmaster for the school’s choral website (www.herndonchoir.com). Her e-mail address is: loripeterson1@cox.net.

Since I am “new” to this whole website thing, I forgot to mention one important fact—if you do not want me to print your student’s name and/or photo on the site, please let me know. I am certainly mindful of people’s wish for privacy and I apologize for not mentioning this fact sooner.

The Spring Recital will be on Sunday afternoon, May 18, at the McLean Baptist Church (view Calendar). 

My weekend at Virginia Tech with the National Association of Teachers of Singing was very enriching and memorable. Our Virginia chapter of this organization is very strong.  There were over 350 singers performing in two days. Ashley Fidler and Jennifer Suragiat attended from my studio. Unfortunately Mariana Sterne was also planning to sing, but she got the flu. I also took an adult student — Maureen Fitzgerald — who sang in the “General Evaluation” category. Jennifer received third place in her “advanced high school womens’ category.” Congratulations! Next year I hope the event will be held at a university campus closer to McLean. I do want you all to know that Virginia Tech has a very excellent music department and next year they are building a new performing arts building. You may want to include a campus visit in your future plans.

I leave for my National Geographic two week tour to India on March 15 — Saturday in the evening. I return on Monday, March 31, and will plan to teach three students that evening. I am “chairing” the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Assoc. Voice Achievements Competition on April 19 at the Women’s Club. If any of you wish to attend this event, it is open to the public. 

I will resume my spring schedule of teaching on Tuesday, April 1. On SATURDAY, APRIL 5, AT 4 p.m., for students who can attend I will sponsor a “performance workshop” in my studio. I will accompany the students and this will be a very “casual” event. I want my students to have more chances to sing for each other. I know the Langley students will be in Italy and I am sorry. I will hopefully have another event such as this in early May, if there is interest. There is no fee for this event.

Our recent “Student of the Weeks” have been Rebecca Stricker, Mary Peterson, Ashley Fidler, and Nora Mueller. This recognition is based totally on how well a student learns the assigned music for the week.

I hope that you will all enjoy your spring breaks and do some singing when you can!  Please remember our teen recital is set for Sunday, May 18. 

The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) held its annual auditions the weekend of February 28 at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. 

The event went very well. Jennifer Suragiat won third in the Advanced High School Junior/Senior Category. She is eligible to proceed to the Mid-Atlantic States Regional Conference, which will be held the weekend of April 4 at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

Ashley Fidler, a sophomore at Bishop O’Connell High School and my adult student, Maureen Fitzgerald, also participated. We were most impressed with the facilities of the performing arts department at Va. Tech. as well as the friendliness of the music students who acted as hosts for the weekend. The Va. Tech. Chamber Choir is excellent. All in all, I am going to encourage my teen students to look into attending this school for a good, affordable music education.

About NATS...
At this event, singers from all over the state convene to sing before other teachers and to receive their comments and critiques. Each student receives a written comment sheet from three adjudicators. The high school students are divided by their year in school and years of study…which is very fair!  Males don’t compete with females! The winners in each category perform at an honors recital at the end of the auditions. Throughout the day, classes of interest to singers are held. I was involved in judging the college students this year.

Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA)
Annual Voice Achievements Awards (Competition)
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Women's Club of Arlington, 700 S. Buchanan Street, 10:00 a.m.

Some of my "more experienced students" will participate in this competition. The application deadline is fast approaching. The application fee is $25, and if you plan to enter I would like to have this fee paid by March 7. Please fill out the General Application Form (follow link below) and submit it with your payment.

This is excellent experience. You will receive written comments from our panel of three adjudicators. There will be three prizes, but that is not the reason you will sing!! 

Accompanist for NVMTA Competition
We have made arrangements for a pianist, Ruth Locker, to accompany singers at the competition. Our rehearsal with her will be held in my studio on Saturday afternoon, April 12. This will be a separate charge; her fee will be approximately $40 to $45, which should include the rehearsal. If you cannot attend this rehearsal, I will give you her telephone number and you can make your own arrangements. She lives in Falls Church. You will pay for the pianist at a later date.

FEB. 24 — We had a wonderful turn out for today’s workshops. This performance opportunity was invaluable for all who sang. I tried to give all the students the opportunity to sing their songs again, if they wished! Hopefully all the teens enjoyed the event. Thank you for supporting my program.

I now have a wonderful new CD Recorder which seems to be a great substitute for the tape recorder. Please have your students bring a blank, new CDR disc to each lesson. They can be bought in bulk and can be very reasonably priced. We cannot use CDRW discs…I just learned this…I would have to erase what is on the disc on my recorder…This procedure will take too much time. If you regularly shop at COSCO,  you can buy 75 discs for only $17…a real buy.

I will not teach on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 28 or Feb. 29 or Saturday, March 1. I will be attending the National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions at Va. Tech. A reminder to Saturday students that I will teach on Saturday, March 15 before I leave that evening for my 2 week trip to India. I return on Monday, April 1.

Our next big event will be on May 18, our spring recital. 

This recognition is based on how well a student has learned the music assigned for the week.

ARIANA GOVER-CHAMLOU

Week of May 11-15, 2009

Ariana has studied voice with Peggy for over a year.  A junior at Langley High School, she is a member of the Madrigals, and she was selected to participate in Virginia’s All State Choir, held on April 25, 2009. Ariana has studied piano for 12 years. and she participates in many piano festivals and recitals. She also plays club soccer for the McLean Maverick team, and in the summer she is a medical intern at local hospitals. She and her family traveled to Egypt over the winter holiday. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

MADELINE PAGE

Week of May 4-8, 2009

Madeline is from Great Britain and has been living in the United States for three years with her family.  She is an eighth grader at the Potomac School.  Madeline began voice lessons almost two years ago.  She loves to sing and was in a production of “Guys and Dolls” this spring. Madeline is also an equestrian and loves to ride as often as she can. She and her family have travelled extensively in the United States during their American stay. She returns to Britain in August and will attend Ampleforth College in York. We will miss her and wish her much happiness in her new school.

ANNA PICK

Week of April 27 - May 1, 2009

Anna is a sophomore at Langley High School where she sings in the Women’s Select Choir.  She has studied voice since the eighth grade and last summer she went to Europe with the Virginia Ambassadors of Music. She sang in five different countries. Anna is very busy as she works one day a week at the Mclean Family Restaurant. She also plays MYS League Soccer and she just got her license!! Yea!! Congratulations and keep up the good work!

ASHLEY HILL

Week of April 20–24, 2009

Ashley, a junior at James Madison High School, began studying voice in February. She has made excellent progress and has studied very hard! Ashley is very active in the choral department at Madison, and presently she is helping with their upcoming production of “Bye, Bye, Birdie.” Ashley also plays soccer with the Vienna Youth Program. She also sings in the Vienna Presbyterian Church choir. Ashley has been singing since she was in fifth grade!! Congratulations, and keep up the good work!

ALLISON MOATS

March 30 - April 3, 2009

Allison is a very conscientious junior at Madison High School. She has studied voice with Peggy since September 2007, and she has performed in one voice recital and in several voice workshops. Allison is an active member of DECA, a national high school marketing program. She is also a serious dancer and studies at the Vienna Dance Academy. Allison is a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Vienna. She is a very busy and hard-working teenager, and we wish her lots of success! Congratulations!

KIMIYA HAGHIGHI

Kimiya is a freshman at Langley High School, where she plays violin in the high school orchestra. She began studying voice with Peggy in eighth grade and she has participated in two recitals and at least two workshops. She sang for her grandparents at their fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration. Kimiya has studied violin since she was eleven and she plays beautifully!! She hopes to study in a summer program. She is active in the youth group of her Baha’i organization. Congratulations, and keep up the good work!

AMY COHEN

Week of March 16–20, 2009

Amy is a junior at the McLean School in Potomac, Maryland. She is in the choir at her school and has been singing since she was in kindergarten. She just started private voice lessons this fall. Amy has studied the piano since she was in third grade and she loves music! She is also very active in youth programs at Temple Rodef Shalom in McLean. This spring she will be making a tour of college campuses and she hopes to study cantorial music in college and post-college. Congratulations!

NATS PARTICIPANTS

Week of March 9–13, 2009

Over the weekend of March 6 and 7, 2009, eight of Peggy’s students participated in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Virginia Chapter Auditions at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va.  Seven students received "Honors" and may advance to the Regional Auditions, which will be held at Appalachia State University in Boone, N.C. , on April 4. Laynie Zell, freshman at Langley H.S., won second place in the Freshmen Women Classical Category. Michelle Lerch, sophomore at Westfield H.S., received a very high score—missed receiving “Honors” by .67 points. Ashley Fidler, junior at Bishop O’Connell H.S., placed third in one of the Advanced High School Women Classical Divisions. Lauren Bailey (not pictured), senior at Langley H.S., placed third in another division of the Advanced High School Women Classical Division. Mary Peterson, junior at Herndon H.S., and Arianna Zell, junior at Langley H.S., received Honors in another division of the Advanced High School Women Classical Division. Amy Nicol, a resident of Leesburg, placed second in the Women’s Continuing Education Classical Division. Calvert Thompson, a resident of Herndon, placed third in the Women’s Continuing Education Classical Division. Rosanne Conway was the pianist for all the auditions. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS!

VICTORIA TODD

Week of March 2–6, 2009

Victoria is a freshman at the Madeira School. She has studied voice with Peggy for over a year and she has been a very loyal and dedicated student — her lessons are given at 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays! Victoria is very active at her school, as she plays trombone in the orchestra and is very involved in their drama and music program.  Last weekend she performed in “Once Upon a Mattress,” and even with her very busy schedule, she participated in last weekend’s workshop.  Victoria also plays soccer on the McLean Vikings team and she is an active member of the Trinity Methodist Church. Congratulations!  Continue to love to sing!

MANDY MILES

February 23-27, 2009

Mandy is a new student, having just begun her lessons in January. She is a freshman at Langley High School and is enjoying singing in the freshman choir. Mandy was selected to sing in the All-District Choir! She is a very fine equestrian and travels to competitions and events almost every weekend. Unfortunately she couldn’t sing in our February workshop.

Mandy also plays the flute at her church in McLean, and before her freshman year she played with in the band at Cooper Middle School. This is her first year singing in a choir.

She has worked hard these past weeks. Congratulations!

JAMIE RICHARDSON

Week of Feb. 16–20, 2009

Jamie began voice lesson this fall and participated in our holiday recital.  She is a junior at McLean High School, where she is very active in the theatre department. Jamie also participates in several activities at Temple Rodef Shalom in McLean. She has worked hard preparing for her Saturday voice lessons! Congratulations!

DANIEL HEINS

Week of February 9-13, 2009

Daniel is a junior at Sidwell Friends in Washington, D.C. He has studied private voice with Peggy for 2 years and has performed in many recitals and workshops. Daniel has also taken piano lessons for 7 years.  He loves music and singing!! He is also a fine math student and recently participated in the Sidwell Friends math meet. Daniel is a member of the Sidwell Friends chamber choir and will be traveling with this group to eastern Europe this spring. Congratulations!

CAITLIN SIMPSON

Week of February 2-6, 2009

Caitie is a sophomore at Langley High School, where she sings in the women’s choir. She was selected for the All-District Choir. Caitie has studied voice with Peggy since fall, 2008. She was the first performer at the 1:30 p.m. Christmas recital. Caitie is also a member of the Gymini Club and participates on the Langley High School gymnastics team. She has been interested in gymnastics since she was 11. Caitie is a hard worker and we wish her well with her voice studies. Congratulations!

MARIANA STERNE

Week of January 26-30, 2009

Mariana is a home-schooled senior and has studied voice with Peggy for over two years.

Mariana is also a very talented actress and has performed the part of Dolly Levi in “The Matchmaker” as well as Celia in “As You Like It.” She is an active member of Alexandria Presbyterian Church, where she sings with the choir and often as a soloist. She has studied piano for many years and is also a member of the CFCA Debate and Speech Team. We wish her well in her college search and congratulate her!!

(Mariana is shown at left at the Winter Recital in December 2008, presenting a poinsettia to accompanist George Peachey.)

Mary is a junior at Herndon High School, where she sings with the Madrigals. She has studied privately with Peggy for 1½ years. She represented Virginia in the Music Teachers National Association Southern Division Senior Voice Competition this past weekend.  The event was held at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va.  Mary did a beautiful job singing four classical pieces in four languages. She is a candidate for Governor's School and we wish her well!

Week of January 12-16, 2009

Donya is a sophomore at Langley High School, where she has sung in the choir for two years. She has studied voice with Peggy McNulty since September and has performed in one student workshop and at the holiday recital. Besides her love of music, Donya is a serious soccer player and a member of the Annandale Express Team-4 Time League champions.

ASHLEY FIDLER

Week of November 24-28, 2008
Ashley is a junior at Bishop O’Connell High School, where she works very hard to maintain an outstanding academic record. She has studied voice with Peggy Mcnulty for over 3 years! She was a member of the Washington Childrens Choir for 2 years and presently she sings with Choralis. Last year she performed the part of Wendy in the O’Connell production of “Peter Pan.” Keep up the good work!

NORA MUELLER
Week of Nov. 17-21, 2008
Nora has studied voice with me for over a year and has participated in two recitals and two student workshops. She is a sophomore at Langley High School, where she sings in the Womens Chorale. She loves to dance and attends the Cupette School of Dance in Vienna, where she receives instruction almost every day after school!! She also speaks German and takes classes at the German School in Potomac every Saturday. Nora is a very busy teen, and she still finds time to practice her singing assignments. Keep up the good work!

DOMINIQUE AMIRI
Week of November 10-14, 2008
Dominique has studied voice since September 2008.  She is a senior at Potomac School in McLean, where she has been very active in their music program. In 2007 she played Oliver in the musical Oliver!  She is a member of the madrigals and the female a cappela group, Quintessence. Dominique travels to England in the summer to visit relatives and she has also visited Kenya. Best wishes to Dominique as she completes her college applications.

MARY PETERSON
Week of November 3-7, 2008
Mary has been studying privately with me since the summer of 2007. She is a junior at Herndon High School, where she sings soprano in the Madrigals ensemble. Mary has been selected for District XII Chorus for the past five years and All-State Workshop Choir during her middle school years. For the 2008-09 District XII audition, she scored #3 among Soprano 2 singers in the SATB chorus. She will represent Virginia at the MTNA Senior Voice Competition in Petersburg, Va., in January 2009. Mary enjoys ice skating and works as a skate camp counselor during the summers and other school breaks.

KELSEY KOLBE
Week of October 20–24, 2008
Kelsey began voice lessons in August.  She is a junior at George C. Marshall High School where she is very active in their drama program.  Kelsey also plays violin in the school orchestra. She is an excellent student and has worked hard since she began her voice studies. Best wishes! Keep up the good work!

ARIANNA ZELL
Week of October 13–17, 2008
Arianna is a junior at Langley High School. She has studied voice for over a year and has made excellent progress.  She is a member of the Madrigals at Langley High School, as well as the Concert Chorale. Arianna is also an athlete and keeps in shape by running. She has been selected for District Choir since freshman year!  She is from a very musical family—her parents and sister all sing…and maybe her brothers!

LEILA GOLDSTEIN
Week of October 6-10, 2008
Leila, a junior at McLean High School, has just begun voice lessons this fall and she is practicing very hard. She loves to act and is very involved in the theatre department at McLean High School. She has played the oboe. Leila is active in the “STAND” (Students Taking Action Now Darfur) organization, which raises awareness about genocide in Darfur.

LAUREN BAILEY
Week of Sept. 29, 2008
Lauren is a senior at Langley High School. Although she has studied voice for several years, she has just begun studying with Peggy. Last year Lauren was selected to sing in the Virginia All-State Choir, and she has been a member of the Langley High School Madrigals for several years. She is also an active singer at St. Thomas á Becket church in Reston, Va. Lauren loves to sing and perform!!  She has worked very hard on her music since school began.

LAYNIE ZELL
Week of September 15-19, 2008
Laynie is a freshman at Langley H.S. She has studied voice for 1½ years. She received honorable mention in the High School Division of the NVMTA Voice Achievements event last year, and third place at Reston Lion’s Club Bland Contest in Feb. 08. 

LAYNIE ZELL
Week of May 5 - 9, 2008
Laynie is an 8th grader at Kilmer Middle School. She will attend Langley High School in the fall. Laynie received an honorable mention in the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Voice Achieve-ment Competition in April. She placed Third in the Reston Lion’s Club Bland Contest in February. Laynie loves to sing and act and participates in an acting troupe.

MELISSA SOLOMON
Week of April 28 - May 2, 2008
Melissa is a senior at Langley High School. She will attend Baylor University in the Fall. She has studied voice for me since eighth grade and this year she was selected for Honors Choir and for All-State. She celebrated her 18th birthday on January 8. She has worked hard in her voice lessons and has learned an extensive song repertoire. She is a member of the Concert Chorale and Madrigals at Langley High School.

CAITLIN ROMAN
Week of April 21-25, 2008
Caitlin, a senior at Langley High School, has studied with me for over two years and will attend Miami University of Ohio next year. Besides being an active member of Langley’s choral groups, she ice skates with the “Capitol Steps” troupe. Caitlin has learned a tremendous amount of repertoire in the last two years and has performed in at least three student recitals.

WHITNEY DIAMOND
Week of March 30 - April 4, 2008
Whitney is a sophomore at James Madison High School, where she is an active participant in the choral group. She is in the cast of “Fiddler on the Roof,” which will be performed in early May.

NORA MUELLER
March 3-7, 2008
Nora is a freshman at Langley High School. She studies dance and is a student at the German School. She sings in the chorus at Langley.

ASHLEY FIDLER
February 25-29, 2008
Ashley is a sophomore at Bishop O’Connell High School. She recently attended the NATS event at Va. Tech.

MARY PETERSON
February 18-22, 2008
Mary is a sophomore at Herndon High School. She sings soprano in the Women's Chorale. Mary has been studying privately with me since the summer of 2007.

STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARCHIVE

May 2009

The NVMTA Voice Achievement Winner Recital was held on May 27, 2009, at the Women's Club of Arlington. Calvert Thompson, winner of Division 3, and Lauren Bailey, winner of Division 2, both performed. View photos >

Ernie Abbott, adult student, is performing with the Cathedral Choir on Sunday, May 10, in Berlioz’s ‘”Te Deum.” 

A busy time for all singers! Katie McIntosh, who attends Flint Hill School, is in a performance of “Kiss Me,Kate” this weekend and next. Ariana Kruszewski is finishing up her performance as an angel in South Lake High School’s production of “Anything Goes” and Leila Goldstein and Jamie Richardson are singing and dancing in McLean High School’s production of “Grease” this weekend (view photo here). And on Sunday at the Kennedy Center, Jamie Goodson portrays the role of “The Little Girl” in “Ragtime.” Congratulations to all these young people! Also, the Langley High School Choir Spring Show Production is the weekend of May 29. Michelle Lerch plays Rapunzel in Westfield High’s performance of “Into the Woods” the same weekend as our recital.

April 2009

I am proud to report that 14 of my students—10 teens and 4 adults—participated in the NVMTA Competition on April 25. Donya Mossadeghi received honorable mention in Division 1. In Division 2, Lauren Bailey received first place, and Ashley Fidler and Mariana Sterne both received honorable mention. In Division 3, Calvert Thompson received first place, Amy Nicol received third place, and Jill Kester received honorable mention.

Arianna Zell, a junior at Langley High School, has been selected to participate at the State Governor’s School this summer, and Mary Peterson, junior at Herndon High School, is an alternate. Congratulations and best wishes!

Mary Peterson traveled to Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, to participate in the Mid-Atlantic Regional NATS Student Auditions on April 4.

March 2009

Rosalie Griffith and Maureen Fitzgerald performed in a concert March 21, 2009, with the Vienna Choral Society at Vienna Presbyterian Church. It was an all Haydn program.

SCHOOL BOARD VOTED AGAINST CHANGES TO SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULE

I am happy to report that the Fairfax County School Board voted not to continue with its study on changing the school day hours. I did attend a meeting on this proposal at Longfellow Middle School, and I appreciate the fact that many of my students and their families voted online against this possible change. It’s good news for music students and athletes, etc. < Click here for summary >

February 2009

Teen students Samantha Dockser, Dominique Amiri, and Will Callahan had leading roles in the Potomac School's presentation of Once on This Island in February.

My former student, Claire Sampson, gave her George Mason University Senior Recital on Feb. 27 at Providence Presbyterian Church in Fairfax.

Congratulations to the following students for being selected for the 2009 All-Virginia Chorus. From Langley H.S.: Arianna Zell (Alto 2); Ariana Gover-Chamlou (Alto 1); and Lauren Bailey (Alto 1 – Alternate). From Herndon H.S.:  Mary Peterson (Soprano 2). All-Virginia Chorus will be held April 23–25 at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, Va.

David Ruffin, a former student, is playing the role of Kenickie in the national touring company of "Grease." The production is playing now through Feb. 15 at the Hippodrome Performing Arts Center in Baltimore. I'll be there to see David's performance on Feb. 14! David studied with me for two years before graduating from McLean High School in 1998. He majored in voice at Northwestern University, and he currently works as an actor and singer in New York City.

Chadia King, an eighth grader at Langston Hughes Middle School in Reston, was selected for District XII Chorus. Congratulations, Chadia! I saw Melissa Solomon at Christmas! She studied with me from the time she was in eighth grade through all four years at Langley High School. She is now at Baylor University in Texas studying music education. She loves it out there. I wish her well.

January 2009

One of my former students, Katie Shinay, will perform in February in a production of "A Grand Night for Singing," a revue of Rodgers and Hammerstein music, with an often jazzy twist and really interesting arrangements of classic songs. It's just five singers, some stools, an on-stage band, and two hours of great music! Go to www.fiddleheadtheatre.com for tickets and more info. I'm very proud of Katie and congratulate her for this exciting news!

Katie graduated from Herndon High School in 1996. She attended Northwestern University where she received her BM in Vocal Performance and Opera, and a certificate degree in music business. After graduating from NU in 2000, Katie attended the Boston Conservatory, where she received her MM in Musical Theater. She is now Assistant Director of the Theater Division at the Boston Conservatory.

Nov. 2008

Ten of Peggy’s high-school students were selected to participate in the 2009 District XII Chorus. Congratulations! From Langley High School: Mia Smith, Lauren Bailey, Ariana Gover-Chamlou, Arianna Zell, Donya Mossadeghi, Anna Pick, Caitie Simpson, and Laynie Zell. From South Lakes High School: Ariana Kruczewski. From Herndon High School: Mary Peterson.

Oct. 2008

Lauren Bailey, senior at Langley High School, was selected for the State Honors Choir. Choralis, of which Ashley Fidler from O’Connell High School is a member, will perform “The German Romantics” on Friday night, Oct. 17, at The Falls Church. www.choralis.org

Ernie Abbott, an adult student, a member of the Cathedral Choral Society, will perform "Ein deutsches Requiem," at the Washington National Cathedral on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 4:00 p.m. www.cathedralchoralsociety .org

June 2008

6/3/08: The following students were selected to sing in the Madrigals choruses at their schools during 2008-09: Mary Peterson (Herndon High School); Mia Smith, Arianna Zell, and Ariana Gover-Chamlou ( Langley High School).

April 2008

4/27/08: Melissa Solomon and Mia Smith participated in All-State Choir the weekend of April 24-26 in Harrisonburg, Va. Congratulations to them! They both attend Langley High School.

4/12:08: The Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA) held its annual Voice Achievements Awards Competition on Saturday, April 19, at the Women’s Club of Arlington. In its 29th year, this is a very positive competition, with some wonderful singers doing great songs.  Click here for results and photos!

I am so happy that so many of my teen students participated. In Division I, Laynie Zell and Eve Spielberg won honorable mentions…I was very pleased! Daniel Heins also participated in Division I; unfortunately, Mary Peterson was not able to sing because of laryngitis. In Division II, Mariana Sterne and Mia Smith participated, and unfortunately one of my most experienced high schoolers, Jeanne Moran, had a flat tire en route and wasn’t able to compete.

I am very excited to announce that Linda Murray, who has studied with me for years and who has a daughter who won the competition several years ago, won Division III for students over the age of 18. Congratulations! My other adult students who sang were Mac Destler, Rosalie Griffith, Lisa Boone, and Maureen Fitzgerald.

March 2008

3/10/08: Two of my adult students were in productions the weekend of March 7. Rosalie Griffith sang in the Vienna Choral Society performance of “The Sound of Music” on March 8. Sally Cusenza played “Ropeen” in “The Hostage” at the Keegan Theatre at the Church Street Theater in D.C. The performances continued until March 29, 2008.

3/4/08: Jennifer Suragiat won third in the Advanced High School Junior/Senior Category at NATS. She is eligible to proceed to the Mid-Atlantic States Regional Conference, which will be held the weekend of April 4 at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

Melissa Solomon and Mia Smith, from Langley High School, have been selected for All-State Choir. 

Laynie Zell of Kilmer Middle School placed third in the Reston Lion’s Club Bland Contest last month.