Now that the school year has finally ended, I wanted you all to take a look at your schedules to see when you wish to take your voice lessons next year. I am accepting new students and want to be sure that my current students are able to get their “first choice” for lesson times. It may be impossible for you to know now what the Fall school year will bring, but if you can let me know some kind of time preference, it would help me. I know some of you have already scheduled your spot. Thanks!

I want to encourage you to take advantage of the many events and performances which are being given at Wolf Trap this summer. We are so lucky to have this wonderful theatre in our “back yards!” There are two free vocal recitals ( “Vocal Colors” ) scheduled at 1 p.m. on Thursdays, July 8 and July 22, at the Center for Education at Wolf Trap—next to the Barns. These concerts are given by the singers who make up the Filene Youth Artists. You may also like to see “The Sound of Music” over the Labor Day weekend. I will be bringing my granddaughter to the matinee on Sunday, Sept. 5.

When I am in town, I will be teaching and I hope to see some of you for lessons when you, too, are at home. I leave for California this Thursday and I return on June 29. Lessons will then be given until July 15. I have a very flexible schedule….each week is different, so just let me know if you’d like to study. …I hope to take 10 teens to perform at a retirement home the very last week of August. My vacation schedule is listed on my website.

Have a wonderful and enriching summer!

The Teen Recitals are set for next weekend, Sunday, May 23, at 1:30 and at 3:15 p.m. The rehearsals with George Peachey are this Sunday afternoon and then Tuesday evening in my studio. Please be prompt to these practices. I have reserved these times for you! Bring an empty CD disc for recording the session and also be sure to bring your own music, taped and ready for George to use. If you haven’t given me the $35 recital fee, please bring this amount to the rehearsal.

The programs will take place at the Woman’s Club of Arlington, 700 South Buchanan St., Arlington. Click below for a flier for your use in inviting friends and families to these events. Receptions will follow each program and we will honor our graduating high school seniors. I hope you will all be there to support these young people in their musical studies!

CLICK HERE FOR RECITAL FLIER

I plan to continue teaching for the weeks when I am here in the summer. Please be sure that I know your plans. I will know about my jury duty commitment by next weekend. I will play the recital videotape for you at your next lessons.

During the summer months, I hope many of you can attend programs at Wolf Trap. The Sound of Music will be performed over Labor Day and I plan to attend the Sunday matinee performance! I will also see the opera, Zaide, by Mozart at the Barns on June 15. I would love to see some of my students there! www.wolftrap.org

I will not be home on Sunday morning. If you need to reach me, my cell phone number is: 571-277-2286.

Thank you for all your participation. I am so pleased that almost every teen will sing on the 23rd. You are all welcome to attend both programs! My adult students will perform at the Woman’s Club on June 6 at 7 p.m. Again, you are invited to come to this recital. A special end-of-the-year thank-you to Lori Peterson, designer of my web page. She has done a superb job.

Our teen end-of-the year recital is in three weeks! We will have two programs:  1:30 P.M. and 3:15 P.M. on SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2010, at the WOMAN’S CLUB OF ARLINGTON.  George Peachey will accompany and the rehearsals with him will be held in my studio on either SUNDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 16, starting at 2:00 p.m., OR on Tuesday, May 18, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Please let me know now which date will work best for this 10 minute rehearsal. The fee is $35 to cover the cost of the hall rental and the pianist fee…Thanks for including this with your May tuition. Also I need to know on which program you wish to sing…If everyone signs up for the same time, I will have to ask you to change. I need to balance these programs and I would like to have half the graduating seniors on one program and vice versa. I know you understand the logistics of this request. It will be on a “first requested” first served basis

.

I plan to keep my spring teaching schedule until June 11—or if you wish to continue all summer, I will be teaching. I will be gone from June 24 to June 29 and some in July.

If the seniors would rather discontinue their lessons after the recital, I will understand…or let’s say until the end of May so you can all see the recital video. There is a possibility that I won’t be able to teach weekday afternoons between May 24 and June 4. I will be “on call” for the Federal Court Jury duty…I will know my commitment on May 21. If you do pay me for the last week in May and I can’t teach, I promise to make this up to each of you sometime in June—at your convenience. When I teach in the summer, my schedule is on a “week-to-week” basis. I will encourage all my undergrads to take a few lessons this summer. We will try to have a nursing home recital at the end of August as we did last summer. I am hoping not to teach on Saturdays next year so if you do study on Saturdays and plan to continue lessons next year, please tell me immediately what other time might work…I will give you all the first choice for the Fall…I will continue to teach Monday nights, and there may be one opening then and on another week night…possibly Wednesdays…but only until 8 p.m. It would be great if everyone could take his lesson right after school…

Another matter! I have lent CD discs to many students throughout the year. If you think you owe me some, I’d love to have you pay me back in kind. I have been very generous…also Xeroxing music…I’d love to get some money for the copies I’ve made…5 cents a page would be fair…The toner to my copier costs $140 to replace…Thanks!

Please invite your friends and families to our recitals. Receptions will follow each program. Also check the webpage to see who has been selected “Student of the Week”, award winning students, etc. I chaired the Northern Music Teachers Assoc. Voice Competition on Saturday and 4 of my students received honors or awards…They are pictured on the webpage…Thank you to Lori Peterson for her excellent work as web page designer. I can’t thank her enough!

It’s been a great year and I wish all the seniors the best of luck next year and continued singing and music making!

I am very pleased that so many of you were able to participate in yesterday’s NVMTA competition.  I know you all benefitted from singing and from hearing so many outstanding performers.  I am so glad that most of you were able to stay for the whole event….I think the comments made by the judges were all excellent and I look forward to reading them to you and to showing you the video that I made…It’s not the best filming since I had to remain so far back.

I know some of you will be disappointed that you didn’t “place” and I don’t blame you…but the most important thing is that you participated!  It was a very competitive event.  Those of you who aren’t graduating will have another chance  next year to participate in this event and in NATS…With each experience, you always improve!  I know from my own experience…Click here for the results. You can see that several of my students received “awards”…Congratulations to them!

NVMTA Participants:

I am so pleased that so many of you are participating in Saturday’s Voice Competition which is sponsored by the Northern Va. Music Teachers Assoc.

We will begin promptly at 10 A.M. with Division 1---8th, 9th and 10th graders—at the Woman’s Club of Arlington, 700 S. Buchanan, Arlington …for directions, check www.nvmta.org

We plan to begin Division 2—11th and 12th graders at 11:30 p.m. (This time will depend upon the length of the Division 1 portion of the program)

Please wear your “best clothing”…no very short skirts and nice shoes, etc…Appearance matters! Smile, enjoy yourselves…If all goes well, I will make a video of your performance so we can watch it at your next lessons.

At the conclusion of each Division, we will have a ceremony where certificates will be presented and where you can meet the other students and learn from where they come!

You will not begin to sing until the judges indicate they are ready! Don’t be offended if they are writing during your performance. They must if you are to receive any comments.

I will cut you off during your second song, if it doesn’t look as if there’s enough time for your third selection…Everyone has to sing at least part of each song..

You present your adjudication forms and extra copies of your music to the judges before you begin.

I hope this is a great experience for you….If you won any award, I will call you by Sat. night.

I plan to leave my house on Sat. at 9 A.M. If you really need me, my cell phone number is: 571-277-2286….I will not be able to answer during the competition.

Please don’t act as if you know me very well in front of the judges…They shouldn’t know that you are my students.

We’ll hope to take a picture at the conclusion of the program and when the judges are out of the room…or before when they aren’t looking! If a parent can help me do this, I very much appreciate it.

Good Luck to everyone. I am very proud of you all!!

I am just back from a great trip to Morocco!

The application deadline for the NVMTA Voice Competition is this Sat., April 10. I would appreciate it if you could all pay me the $25 application fee this week as well as $35 for the pianist fee—which includes the rehearsal on April 16 in my studio and the actual event. If you have to schedule a rehearsal with Ruth at her home, the cost might be more…When you meet with her, you can discuss this…

I am hoping that you all plan to participate…Division I which includes 8th, 9th and 10th graders will begin by 9:30 on April 24. ---not absolutely sure…depends on the number of entrants…Then Division II, which includes High school Juniors and Seniors will begin at approximately 11:30 p.m. You are welcome to invite friends and family to this event…Three prizes will be awarded in each division. In the afternoon, the adults will compete in Division 3. You should plan to stay for one hour…or longer if you can!

The event will be held at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. This is a wonderful opportunity for these young singers to hear students from other studios and also for these students to have another “performance opportunity!” Next week I will be able to give you a better idea of the competition schedule. Each teen will perform three selections in the order we decide.

If you cannot rehearse with Ruth Locker on Friday evening, April 16, please call her to make your own rehearsal arrangements. She lives in Falls Church: Ruth Locker-703-237-7623, e-mail: Ruthl@mrbabshouse.com

I will see you all this week! Practice hard!

A reminder that I won’t be teaching between Thursday, March 25 and Sunday, April 4. Lessons will resume on Monday, April 5. Please look at your schedules to see if you will need to miss a lesson in April. I know many of my choral students have festival trips this month and it would be helpful if I knew about them in advance. Thanks!

On March 6 several of my students participated in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Virginia Chapter’s State Audition at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. I am happy to report that: Melissa Murray, Madison High School Junior, received honors in the Advanced Female High School Division; Donya Mossadeghi, Junior at Langley High School, placed Third in the Advanced Female High School Division; Ariana Kruszewski, Sophomore, South Lakes High School, received Third in the Advanced Beginning High School Female Division. It was a very memorable weekend for me. I judged several categories of singers and renewed acquaintances with many Virginia voice teachers. Next year the event will be held the first weekend in March at James Madison University. I do hope many of my students will wish to participate.

Now that the weather is improving, please be careful driving in our neighborhood. As you know, there are often lots of children playing in my cul de sac…The speed limit is 25 mph. Thank you!

On Sunday Afternoon, May 23, I will sponsor two teen student recitals. The first will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the second at 3:15 p.m. I hope that all my students will participate. The fee is $35 to cover the hall rental and the pianist fee. The event will be held at the Woman’s Club of Arlington and hopefully we will have better weather than we did in December! Please invite your friends and families to these recitals. There will be at least two rehearsal times before the concert and your student will sign up for one. These practices will be in my studio and each student will have a specific time slot…I’ll let you know about these dates as soon as I set them with Mr. Peachey. At the recitals we will honor the 11 graduating seniors!

Have a wonderful spring break!

I want to thank Lori Peterson again for her wonderful work designing and maintaining my website. Please check the site to see the recent “Students of the Week!” and other current Studio information.

NVMTA Voice Achievements Competition - April 24, 2010

I have spoken to most of you about our NVMTA Voice Achievements Competition on April 24, 2010, at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. The competition will begin at 9 A.M. with the young teens, and then we will hear the Juniors and Seniors. There is also an adult division in the afternoon. You may invite your friends and families to listen. Each teen will have 6 minutes in which to sing most, if not all, of his three selections. Each teen should plan to stay for at least one hour. They will enjoy hearing the other singers perform.

The rehearsals with our pianist, Ruth Locker, will take place in my studio beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 16. If you can’t come then, I will give you Ruth’s phone number and you can make your own arrangements. She lives in Falls Church and is an excellent pianist. 703-237-7623.

The application fee is $25 and then the pianist fee is approximately $32, to cover the performance and the rehearsal. I am encouraging you all to sing…This will be an excellent experience. Please let me know if you do not plan to participate as I am limited in the number of students I can enter. I am only one of at least 9 teachers entering students. Three judges will listen and provide written comments to the students. Please check the web page for more information: www.nvmta.org

I will not teach between March 25 and April 4 so these students must work hard now…Most of them have chosen their three songs…Please let me know if you have any questions!

FCPS IS CONSIDERING EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DAY

As you know, the Fairfax County Board of Education is considering adding time to the current school day to make up for lost winter instruction days. I have sent a letter to members of the School Board expressing the adverse impact that the adoption of this plan will have upon my students. Briefly, the extension of the school day will mean that I will not be able to provide lessons to some of my current students. If you have a chance to express your views on this proposal, I am sending you the website link. The Board will consider this issue on March 4 so it is important to write to them immediately. In another e-mail, I am sending you a copy of the letter I have sent. < SCHOOL BOARD CONTACT INFO HERE >

Click on this website. I have voted for Option Three to extend the school year by three days: http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=1357. This proposal will affect the schedule of my private school students as well. Thanks for your help!

WORKSHOP NOTES

This Sunday, Feb. 28 is our Spring Student Voice Workshop. We will have two sessions: 1:30 and 3:15 P.M. George Peachey will accompany the students and the fee is $8. I expect every student to attend and at least listen if he/she cannot sing. We will have refreshments after each workshop. The 1:30 event will end at 3 p.m. It will help, if most of the students can get rides to my house. The snow here is still making it difficult for parking. There should be enough parking spaces for those who drive and live a distance from here…We can have three cars in the driveway and at least three parked in the cul de sac. This is an important experience for all my singers! I would appreciate it if the students singing at 1:30 p.m., arrive by 1:25 p.m. and those singing at 3:15 p.m., please come by 3:10 p.m. I have tried to divide the parts evenly! If students arrive after the singing has begun, please enter my house through the back patio doors.

Our spring recital is set for SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2010, in the afternoon at the Woman’s Club of Arlington. I will not teach between March 25 and April 4…Spring Vacation!

Thank you for all the efforts you have made to come to your voice lessons during this winter season. I know it has been difficult driving and parking and I am very grateful to all of you who have made it here under these challenging circumstances. Thank you!

I look forward to hearing you all sing on Sunday!

It looks as if the worst is over, we hope! We’ve been shoveling and shoveling and our street has been plowed! So, if any of you want a lesson and can get here, let me know. Please park in the driveway and for now, come through the garage. I hope to get the back steps in good shape…right now they are ice covered.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday students -- please let me know if you can get to your lessons! I would appreciate that … and any of you who missed lessons this week and can make it even this afternoon, tomorrow or Saturday, please let me know.

I am so sorry to hear “District” choir has been cancelled. What a shame! We will still have our student workshop on Sunday, Feb. 28, in the afternoon, so keep practicing and we will hope some of this snow will melt so you can park in the street!

Keep safe!

Our student workshop will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28 at either 1:30 p.m. or 3:00 p.m.  This  event is for the students only and I expect everyone to attend either as an audience member or performer!  George Peachey is such a wonderful pianist and this is an excellent opportunity for all my students to experience the joy of singing with a professional pianist  in front of a supportive audience. All students will be prepared to sing two songs!  Please include the $8 workshop fee in this month’s tuition bill. Also, please tell me at  which workshop you wish to perform. 

Since the new year, three students have been selected “Student of the Week”—Ashley Fidler, Nancy Pruett, Ashley Hill and this week Jamie Werner deserves the recognition. Please check my webpage for further information.

Victoria Todd will perform in “Little Women” at Madeira School the weekend of Feb. 19 and Michelle Lerch will sing in “West Side Story” at Westfield High School the weekend of February 12.  Leila Goldstein  and Jamie Richardson are starring in One-Act Plays at McLean High School the weekend of Feb. 5.  It’s a busy time of the year!

My former student, David Ruffin, who graduated from McLean High School in 1998 and attended Northwestern University is starring in “Grease” at the National Theatre beginning Feb. 9.  I had the pleasure of seeing him perform the role of Kenickie last winter in Baltimore.  He has been with the national tour since early December 2008.  The show runs from Feb. 9-21.  I hope some of you can attend.  Also worth seeing this spring are:  “Sweeney Todd” at Signature Theatre and “Light in the Piazza” at Arena.

I will not teach Thursday, March 25 through April 4, spring break. If you need to miss a lesson for any reason, please let me know as far in advance as possible.  I have a wait list and often can give one of these students a lesson if I know of an opening in advance.  I appreciate this.  If I don’t receive 24 hours notice for cancellations, you must pay for the lesson.  This is only fair!  

As the weather begins to warm-up (we hope), please remember to drive carefully in my neighborhood.  The speed limit is 25 mph and we have children often playing outside in my cul de sac.  Thanks!

I want you all to know how gratified and pleased I was by your attendance at the teen recitals today. When I decided to “go forward” with the programs, I knew it was risky. I was concerned that somebody might have an accident because of the poor weather…So far, I haven’t heard of any problems and only one student missed the concert because of the weather.

Thank you again and again. I thought all the students did their very best…It was just a wonderful program. I look forward to my continued work with all these singers. Our next event is a student workshop on Sunday afternoon, February 27, 2010…and then the May recital…No weather problems, let’s hope.

I’ll see most of you for one more lesson in December…after December 16. You are all terrific families!

Congratulations to all these young people!

SOME LAST-MINUTE REMINDERS ABOUT THE RECITAL!

I will begin both teen programs promptly at the designated starting times. Please be sure you start out early to locate the Woman’s Club of Arlington, 700 South Buchanan, Arlington, Va. 22204. On weekends, there can be heavy traffic on Rt. 66. I will leave my house by 12:30 p.m. If you need to speak to me, please call me early on Saturday. Thanks! If there is an emergency after this time, please call my cell phone: 571-277-2286. I am planning on good weather!

Don’t forget to bring your music!

I want all the performers to sit in the front of the auditorium and move to the back stage as quickly as possible (after the singer before completes his first song). Try to walk as quietly as possible! We must continue the program order as quickly as possible. I expect every singer to stay for the entire program. This is only fair to our last singers and the program shouldn’t last more than 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Happy Holidays! I am so pleased that most of my students are performing on Saturday. I know you will all enjoy hearing these young singers.

FLYER w/ DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Two weeks from today is the Student Voice Recital, Dec. 5, 2009. I am so pleased that almost all my teens will be performing….15 students in each recital. By now each student knows on which recital he/she will sing and when he/she will attend the rehearsals with Mr. Peachey in my studio. I am attaching a recital flier for your use in finding the Woman’s Club of Arlington and I am also hoping that you will invite lots of friends and family to attend. Receptions will follow both recitals. I have decided to start the second program at 3:15 P.M. – not at the later time. Please plan to arrive at the Woman’s Club l0 minutes before your program is to begin. I want to begin exactly on time!! Also, you are cordially invited to hear both recitals. I know you will enjoy hearing all these young people.

If you haven’t already given me the recital fee of $35, I would appreciate receiving this amount as soon as possible…This money is for the hall rental and the pianist’s fee. Students, please wear appropriate clothing for singing on a stage…no jeans, flip-flops or too short skirts for the ladies. Your appearance is part of the performance!

Also, I hope all of you will stay for the entire program. Each student has worked hard to prepare his music and it is only fair to the last performer that he/she, too, has an audience! The programs should only last approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. There will probably not be an intermission.

I will not teach between Dec. 6 and 16. Lessons will be held, however, from Dec. 16 to 22. I will take another break and resume teaching on Monday, January 4, 2010. I hope to be able to show you the video recording of the recital at the December lesson.

Would any parent be willing to video tape the recital? I will have my video camera in place…I just need an operator! I want to be able to focus totally on the young singers.

Each student should bring his/her music to the recital and to the rehearsal. George Peachey will want to play from the music he read at the practice. Also, feel free to bring a CDR disc to the rehearsal so we can make a recording for you…Arrive promptly for your rehearsal …Again, you are welcome to come early and stay late to hear the others practice. Please drive slowly as you come to my house for rehearsals and lessons! Thanks!

We attended the Signature Theatre production of “Show Boat” last weekend and it was most enjoyable…Also The Arena Theatre is presenting “The Fantasticks” over the holiday…Two holiday shows for your families. On December 23 at 9 p.m. on WETA TV 26, Great Performances presents a film adaptation of Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Some performances worth noting!

Happy Thanksgiving! I look forward to seeing you all on Dec. 5…Stay Healthy!

Thank you all for your participation in last week’s student workshops. Over twenty teens performed and I was so pleased with all the singing! I hope the students felt it was a worthwhile experience. We now have the Holiday Recital on Saturday Dec. 5, 2009 and there will also be a spring workshop on Sunday, February 28.

Almost all the teens have now chosen their music for the recital and now they should have plenty of time to memorize the pieces. Remember that we will have three possible rehearsals with Mr. Peachey: Sunday afternoon, Nov., 29, Monday evening, Nov. 30, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. as well as Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. I will have the rehearsal sign-up sheets available this week…The time allotted is only 10 minutes so be sure your student is prompt in his arrival. The practice time will be for you in my studio! I would like the $35 recital fee included in your November tuition. This fee will help to pay for the hall rental and for Mr. Peachey’s rehearsal and performance. I will certainly not charge admission for the recital and I encourage you all to invite friends and families. The first performance begins at 1:30 p.m. and the second one either at 3:15 or 3:30 p.m. I need to know on which program your student will sing and obviously everyone cannot sing on the same program!! I hope you will all stay for the receptions which will follow.

I will teach over the Thanksgiving break. Please let me know if you will be in town. I will be available to teach my regular Thursday students on Friday. We will discuss the times!

A reminder—I will teach the first week of December—not on the day of the recital…and then on Dec. 16, 17, 18, 19, 21 and 22. I will show the recital video on these days and assign new music for the break.

I just want to say how much I am looking forward to the Dec. 5 program and hope the students will enjoy performing for their families. If any of the students would prefer not to sing now, I encourage them and you parents to attend the recital anyway. We need an audience and I want the students to see the format for future programs!

Also — check the website. Lori Peterson is doing such a wonderful job as the web page designer. She has included so many items for the site. We have pictures of the workshop attendees and bios and pictures of the current “student of the week” — I am very much pleased with all the information which is contained therein….Please look at it!

One more thing! Langley High Choral Students will not have a conflict on Dec. 5. Their Madrigal Feast is scheduled for the following weekend. I was so relieved to learn this fact!

Happy November! Don’t forget to set your clocks back and please e-mail me or call me about any subjects of concern!

The Fall Student Voice Workshop will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25 in my living room with George Peachey, pianist.  I would appreciate if all the singers in the first program arrive by 1:20 p.m.  The second program begins at 3 p.m.   Please arrive by 2: 55 p.m. We will have refreshments after each event so that the students can meet each other. The three o’clock program will finish by 4:25 p.m. If you want me to make a recording of your performance, please bring along a new CD disc….and if you have borrowed some from me these last few weeks, please help replenish my supply.  I appreciate this.

If you arrive after a workshop has begun, please come around to the back of my house and enter through the patio doors.

If you haven’t paid me the $8 fee, please bring this to the workshop.  I hope you will all enjoy hearing each other!  Don’t forget that the Holiday Recital will be on Saturday, Dec. 5. 

We have had “Three Students of the Week” thus far:  Mary Peterson, Herndon H.S.; Robin Falci, Herndon H.S. and Richard Qin, Thomas Jefferson H.S.  I hope all the students will continue to practice diligently every week!

Next weekend, Friday, October 16 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, October 18, at 2 p.m., the Virginia Opera will perform La Bohème at George Mason Center for the Arts—on the Fairfax campus, six miles west of Beltway exit 54 at the intersection of Braddock Rd. and Rt. 123. I will be attending this performance on Sunday afternoon and I am encouraging you all to meet me there. You can purchase tickets by checking the website www.gmus.edu/cfa If you have never attended an opera, this is a wonderful experience. I would be happy to drive any teens who might like to go. I know you would all enjoy this opera. The musical Rent is based on this story.

Also, please note that the times for the workshop are 1:30 p.m. and 3:00, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. As of today, it looks as if the participants for each part are evenly divided. Please plan for your student to remain here for 1 hour and 20 minutes. I will serve refreshments and I am hoping that the teens will be able to meet each other before and after the singing! The fee is $8… Thanks!

I haven’t heard from some of you about your intention to attend. I expect each student to participate. If you have questions about the format, let me know. This workshop gives the students a chance to hear each other, listen to new music, and get an opportunity to perform for others. Also they get to sing for me with a professional pianist, George Peachey.

The Holiday Recital is set for SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2009. I rented the Woman’s Club of Arlington auditorium and again, and I expect every student to sing or to attend. I realize the students at Langley High School have a Madrigal Feast that day, but one of our recitals will begin at 1:30 p.m. The second program should begin at approximately 3:15 p.m. You will have plenty of time to arrive in time for your feast. The fee is $35 for our hall rental and pianist’s fee. Participation in this recital is a very important part of your vocal studies. I hope you will invite your friends and families to attend this special event.

George Peachey will be here for rehearsals on Sunday, November 29 (Thanksgiving weekend), Monday Night, November 30, and Wednesday Night, December 2. The students will sign up for a 10 minute private rehearsal time slot. Please look ahead and save time on one of these dates.

Monday students: Remember that I am teaching on the Columbus Day Holiday!

Please e-mail me or call me with any concerns you may have! So far, it’s a great musical year! It would be wonderful if you could attend the opera next weekend. There are tickets priced at $45.

I have just returned from a wonderful trip to the Amalfi Coast of Italy. We were on a tour sponsored by the U.C. Berkeley Alumni Association and we are so happy we were not driving on own car along these treacherous, steep, narrow hills! Our hotel was located on top of the hillside with views from our balcony of the Mediterranean Sea and all the beautiful buildings, churches, and terraces that are built on these steep inclines. We had wonderful weather…We visited Pompeii, Capri, Paestum, Sorrento, Ravello, etc. I hope you will all have an opportunity to visit this beautiful part of the World!

I am back to teach and hope the beginning of the school year has gone well for every student. Please give me plenty of notice if you REALLY need to cancel a lesson. I will do my best to make up a lesson if I can. My schedule is very tight and your lesson time is for you! Please pay me for a month of lessons in advance, and for Oct. add the $8 workshop fee. The workshop is for students only on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:30 or 3:15 p.m. Please tell me your preferred time and even if you don’t want to sing or are “a bit under the weather,” plan to attend as an audience member. I will teach on the Columbus Day Holiday. If you are not going to be here, let me know, or if you wish to have your lesson in the morning, we can make that change.

Our holiday recital will be on SATURDAY, DEC. 5. There will be no lessons between Dec. 6 and Tuesday, Dec. 15th. I do plan to teach, however, from Weds., Dec. 16 to Tuesday, Dec. 22…just so you can make your plans. Before the recital, we will have three possible rehearsal times with our pianist George Peachey. I will give you more information next month.

Remember to bring new CDRs to the lesson and some money for Xeroxes. I do appreciate this! Stay healthy and practice! Check the webpage for “The Student of the Week.”

Just to remind you all that I am teaching this week. I am hoping that all my teens will have had at least two Fall lessons before my departure and that they will have enough assigned music on which to practice during my absence. If anybody wants another lesson, I have time next Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19, after 3 p.m. - after my normal Saturday teaching schedule.

I hope the Fall school semester is beginning well for each student. This week I will take pictures of my students for the “Student of the Week” file! I am hopeful that every student will deserve this honor at least once this year! Parents, your student may feel more comfortable practicing when nobody is home or in his room. Singing is a very personal experience.

I will resume teaching on Friday, Oct. 3 and our student workshop will be Sunday afternoon, Oct. 25. Two sessions: 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. The cost is $8.00 for the accompanist.

I will expect to teach all my teens this week now that Fairfax County Schools are open! I am so happy that many of the teens were able to take lessons in August. Our performance at Sunrise Assisted Living Residence on Sept. 1 was very fine. I was so proud of the ten students who performed!

As you know, I will not be teaching lessons between Sept. 21 and Oct. 3. This means that I will miss two weeks of lessons for some students, but for the Friday and Saturday group, I only miss one. I hope the students will practice hard while I am gone. We have a student workshop set for Sunday, Oct. 25 and I expect every teen to attend either to sing or listen! Also, don’t forget our holiday recital on Saturday, Dec. 5. Parents and friends are cordially invited to attend this event.

Please bring CD-R Audio discs to the lesson. These CDs cannot be reused. You can buy them at COSTCO in packs of 100…
I want all my students to listen to these recordings of the lessons…This is an invaluable teaching tool. Also, for many students I will make copies of music…I would appreciate it if the student can bring me five cents for each page. Replacement toners for my copying machine are very expensive! Thanks!

Another reminder! Students, please be punctual in your attendance. You are welcome to walk right into the studio at your lesson time. If you need to use the restroom, please enter a few minutes early. I want you all ready to begin to sing at your proper time! I expect 24 hours notice for any cancellations. These lesson times are saved for YOU.

This year I will again reward a “Student of the Week” based on how hard the student has worked for that particular week. The student will receive a little prize and his picture and a brief bio will appear on the webpage… Thanks to Lori Peterson, the webmaster. I hope you will check the webpage regularly… It contains lots of information and pictures. If you don’t want your student's name or picture to appear on the internet, please let me know immediately. Thanks!

One of my most favorite American classical singers, Dawn Upshaw, will perform at Strathmore Auditorium on Friday Night,
Oct. 23 and tickets are still available by calling: 301-581-5100—no handling fees! I think the teens will find her expressive singing very appealing… She is very “down to earth” and often performs selections from musical theatre on her concerts. I will definitely be attending.

I hope the school year begins on a happy “note” for all of you and I look forward to seeing you this week!

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra is offering 100 free student tickets to elementary, middle and high school students for each of our concerts again this season!  We hope that your students and their families will attend an FSO concert this season as we welcome our new Music Director, Christopher Zimmerman.  The first performance will be on Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts.

After the first 100 tickets are reserved, students may obtain reduced-rate tickets at $15.  Accompanying adults receive the special rate of $35 each when attending with a student.  Maestro Zimmerman has planned a spectacular opening concert featuring Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro for Strings, and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring!  Free student tickets must be reserved by Friday, September 11, by visiting our website: www.fairfaxsymphony.org.

This season, we will invite students who have attended our performances to come to a special open dress rehearsal in March. 

Click here for the flyer about our free student ticket program for this performance.  Please forward this on to students and parents and invite all families to attend Fairfax Symphony performances this season.  As we welcome our new Maestro, we look forward to wonderful performances, continued outreach and educational programming, and a commitment to impacting the cultural landscape of the Northern Virginia region.  Thank you for forwarding this information and for your support of the FSO!

Best regards,
Tara Nadel
Patron Services Manager / Education Director

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra’s 2009-2010 Season Calendar:

9/12/2009
BERNSTEIN:              Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
ELGAR:                        Introduction and Allegro for Strings
STRAVINSKY:             The Rite of Spring

10/3/2009 – Jon Manasse, clarinet
Glenn Quader, Associate Conductor
MENDELSSOHN:     Overture to The Fair Melusina
MOZART:                    Clarinet Concerto
BEETHOVEN:            Symphony No. 4

11/21/2009 – Chu-Fang Huang, piano
FALLA:                         The Three-Cornered Hat, Suites 1 and 2
GERSHWIN:               Rhapsody in Blue
RAVEL:                         Piano Concerto in G
GINASTERA:               Estancia

1/23/2010 – Augustin Hadelich, violin 
HAYDN:                       Symphony No. 92 
BARBER:                    Violin Concerto
SIBELIUS:                   Symphony No. 1

3/13/2010 – Alon Goldstein, piano
BORODIN:                  In the Steppes of Central Asia
DORMAN:                   Piano Concerto (East Coast Premiere!)
SIBELIUS:                  The Lemminkäinen Legends

5/1/2010 – Julie Albers, cello
Glenn Quader, Associate Conductor
HIGDON:                    blue cathedral
ELGAR:                       Cello Concerto
MOZART:                    Symphony No. 38, Prague
BARBER:                    Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance

Ten teen students will perform for the residents of Sunrise Assisted Living-McLean on Tuesday, September 1. We will perform in their lovely living room with Gillian Cookson, pianist. The program will begin at 7 p.m., but please arrive by 6:50 p.m. As you give your music to Gillian, be sure she understands if you have any "repeats" or changes in the music. She is a professional pianist with years of experience and I have given her some of your music in advance.

I would like you all to give me $10 to help to pay Gillian's fee. If you need community services points for school, I am happy to write you a note for your school verifying this performance for "community outreach." You will enjoy sharing your talents and personalities with these senior citizens. I hope it will be a meaningful evening for you. Please enjoy yourselves!

The Sunrise Home is located at 8315 Turning Leaf Lane, McLean, 22102…To find directions , Google "Sunrise Assisted Living-McLean," phone 703-734-1600. Turning Leaf Lane is just off Springhill, right near the Dulles access Rd.—Lewinsville leads into Springhill near the Rec. Center at the stop light. Please feel free to call me for better directions, if you need them!

I thank you in advance for your interest in performing. Families, please come to support these young people!

I have returned from a wonderful trip to France where I attended the Seventh International Congress of Voice Teachers. I enjoyed attending many interesting sessions about repertoire, vocal technique, languages, interpretation, etc. I especially enjoyed meeting voice teachers from many other countries. Approximately 300 teachers attended and there were over 100 teachers from the United States. I think I was the only teacher from Virginia! View photos here.

And now I am back and setting up my Fall Teaching Schedule. Most of you have already  requested lesson time slots. My schedule is almost full so if you have not contacted me and if you don’t have a definite time set for lessons, please call me immediately!  If each of you could reply to this e mail, I would appreciate it. I want to be sure that we agree on our schedule.

I expect all my students to practice as much as possible this year …. and to record the lessons, and to learn at least 3 or 4 or more songs per month. We will have a student workshop on Sunday, Oct. 25, and our Holiday Recital is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009. The workshop fee is $8 and the recital $35. This helps to pay for our professional pianist and for the hall rental. The Spring Recital will be held on May 23, 2010. Mark your calendars!

I have been teaching almost all summer and some of the teens will present a program on Sept. 1 at the Sunrise Retirement Home at 7 p.m. If any of you are interested in singing, please contact me. The home is located in McLean near the Dulles Toll Rd. I would like as many of the teens as possible to begin lessons the week of August 24. I will not teach between September 22 and Oct. 1 so I am anxious to work with my teens before school begins.

I remind you all to drive very slowly in my neighborhood. The speed limit is 25 miles per hour and as you know, many children live in this cul de sac and in good weather they are often playing in the street.

Fees for lessons this year are: $35 per ½ hour and $45 per 45 minute lesson. I would like to be paid in advance at the beginning of each month and I will send a bill. I do plan to teach the Columbus Day Holiday, Oct. 12. You must give me at least 24 hours notice if you can’t make a lesson. I will try to make up the time, but there is no guarantee that I will be able to do so.

Virginia Opera will present four performances at George Mason University this year. "La Bohème," "The Daughter of the Regiment,""Porgy and Bess," and "Don Giovanni." Tickets are reasonably priced and the performances are excellent. I would hope that some of the teens can attend a performance or two. For more information, visit www.gmu.edu/cfa.

I hope your summers have been restful and meaningful. I look forward to seeing you all soon!

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. 

DONYA MOSSADEGHI

Week of May 17 - 21, 2010

Donya is our last Student of the Week for this school year! She has learned some very difficult music this year and will perform a song in Italian and one in French for our Teen Recital on May 23. Donya is a junior at Langley High School where she most recently sang in Women’s Chamber Choir. She has just been selected to be a member of the prestigious Madrigals next year. Donya placed second in the NATS Advanced High School Division this year at Virginia Commonwealth University, and last year she won honors in the Beginning High School Division in the Northern Va. Music Teachers Voice Achievements competition. Donya is also a member of a Club Soccer Team which keeps her very busy! She recently played the part of a "princess" at her young neighbor’s birthday party and the kids loved her!! Congratulations on all your successes this year!

MEABHE FLEMING

Week of May 10 - 14, 2010

Meabhe lives in Herndon and is a sophomore at Flint Hill School. She just celebrated her 16th birthday! She is named after the Celtic goddess of intoxication, who was a warrior queen of Connacht (one of the provinces of Ireland) in the legends of ancient Ireland who lead her men into battle because she wanted to steal a magical bull from the hero Cuchullian. Meabhe sings in Flint Hill's symphonic choir and has studied piano for 11 years. She began voice lessons this fall. In the past year she has contributed many hours of volunteer time, including help with the McLean Bible Church’s clothing drive….she has sorted and labeled dresses, shirts, etc. Meabhe is also on the Flint Hill softball team; she loves to listen to all kinds of music and to read a lot. Last summer she attended the Institute for the Arts at Robinson High School. She has performed in two student workshops and one recital and she is looking forward to singing in our Spring Recital on May 23.

Congratulations and keep up the good work!

MAGGIE DUNLAP

Week of May 3 - 7, 2010

Maggie began voice lessons with Peggy this winter. She has participated in one voice workshop and she will sing in our spring recital. She is in 8th grade and is home-schooled. Maggie was a member of the Children’s Chorus of Washington for two years, and during this time she performed at many venues in the Washington, D.C., area. Besides singing, she has also studied the violin since third grade. Her teacher is James Batts. Maggie’s hobby is genealogy. Congratulations, and keep up the good work!

ALLISON MOATS

WEEK OF APRIL 26–30, 2010

Allison Moats is a senior at Madison High School. She has studied voice for three years and during this time she has learned many songs, in English, Italian and French. She has sung at several student workshops and in one recital. Allison is very involved in dance – as a teacher, student, and member of a competition team. She is also active in the church choir at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Vienna. For several years Allison studied clarinet. In the fall Allison will attend Georgia Tech as an engineering student. Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

ALLIE GRAHAM

Week of April 19 – 23, 2010

Allie, who is a seventh grader at Langley School, loves drama and theatre! She began voice lessons in the fall of 2009. She has performed in two workshops and in one recital. At Langley School, where she has attended for 8 years, Allie has played leading roles in “The Envelope, Please” and in “Alice and Wonderland”—to name a few. She has attended Theatre Camp at Potomac School for four summers, and this year she will work there as a Counselor.  Allie also plays lacrosse. She celebrates her birthday this week! Congratulations!

JAMIE RICHARDSON

Week of April 12 – 16, 2010

Jamie has studied private voice since fall 2008. She has always prepared diligently for her lessons. Jamie has participated in three student recitals and three workshops. Jamie, a senior at McLean High School, is very active in the school’s theatre department and she has performed in many school productions. Currently she is the producer of McLean’s spring show. She is also on the “Cappie Critique” staff. Jamie will attend Indiana University next year. We wish her much success in her future college studies!! Congratulations!

ARIANNA GOVER-CHAMLOU

Week of March 22–26, 2010

Ariana is a senior at Langley High School, where she is a member of the prestigious Madrigals. Ariana has studied private voice for over two years. She has been selected to participate in the All-Virginia State Choir for two years, and last fall she was chosen for the Virginia Senior Honors Choir, for which only seniors may audition. Ariana is secretary general of the Model U.N. at Langley High School. This position keeps her very busy. She has studied piano for 13 years and has performed in many piano festivals and recitals. We wish her much success in her future college studies!! Congratulations!

RACHEL ROBERTELLO

Week of March 15-19, 2010

Rachel began voice lessons in September and she has participated in one recital and two student workshops. She works hard to learn her music! Rachel is a sophomore at Paul VI High School, where she is a sophomore. Rachel is a member of the concert choir, and last year and this year she was selected to participate in the All-District XI Choir. Rachel is a Panther cheerleader and was a power tumbler with Capital Gymnastics. She went to states three times – first place – and to regionals two times – second place. Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

< MORE PHOTOS HERE! >

Six students attended the Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (VANATS) Student Auditions on Saturday, March 6, at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. All six students worked hard to prepare for the event, so all six are Students of the Week!

I am pleased to announce the following results.

Ariana Kruszewski won third place in the Advanced Beginning High School Division

Donya Mosadeghi won third place in the Advanced High School Division.

Melissa Murray won honors in the Advanced High School Division

Mia Englehardt,  Paige York, and Rachael Woody received “excellent” ratings, but we were disappointed that no winner was awarded in the “Continuing Education” category.

VICTORIA TODD

Week of March 1 - 5, 2010

Victoria is a sophomore at Madeira School in McLean, where she is very active in the drama and music departments. Recently she played the part of Clarissa in the Madeira School's production of Little Women. After her Friday night performance (see photo, above), she appeared for her regular voice lesson at 9:30 a.m. and she had two more productions on Saturday...this is a dedicated student!! Through her school, Victoria teaches children at Garfield Elementary School in Springfield. She teaches math, reading, music, and social studies to these lucky young students.

Victoria is an active participant in the youth group at Trinity Methodist Church in McLean. She has sung several solos at her church. She also plays the trombone in the school orchestra. She is a busy student. Keep up the good work!!

DANIEL HEINS

Week of February 22–26, 2010

Daniel will graduate from Sidwell Friends School this June where he has sung with “Consensual Sounds” – an all male a cappella group. He also sings with the school’s chorus and chamber chorus. Last year the chamber chorus won a silver medal at the Young Prague International Music Festival. Daniel has studied voice with Peggy since ninth grade. He loves to sing and has participated in all our student workshops and most of the recitals. Daniel is also an accomplished pianist. He has taken lessons with Joan Fairbanks since age 9. With Joan’s help, he received a perfect 5 on the AP Music Theory test. He has attended Interlochen Arts Camp for two summers, where he participated in the World Youth Honor Choir. This past summer Daniel was selected to attend Hampshire College Summer Studies In Mathematics, an intensive six-week program for highly motivated high school students. He loves participating in math meets and competitions and he is currently tied for first place of all students in the Maryland Math League. He was just awarded honorable mention in the 2009 University of Maryland High School Mathematics Competition. Congratulations, Daniel!!!

PAIGE YORK

Week of Feb. 8–12, 2010

Paige just started voice lessons in late October. She is a junior at Oakton High School, where she sings in Select Women’s Chorus. Paige performed at our fall workshop and in the December recital. She will participate in NATS in early March. Paige attended the Institute for the Arts (IFTA) at Robinson High School in the summer of 2009 where she took classes in musical theatre, acting for film and TV, and acting 2. She has a horse named Carumba and he is boarded in Oakton. Last summer she competed in two horse trials. She is a busy student and hopes to study music in college!

Paige is pictured here with Peggy and Edrie Means Weekly, Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice, Shenandoah University and Conservatory of Music. Ms. Weekly gave a coaching session to Paige in preparation for her March NATS Audition in the Musical Theatre Category.

JAMIE WERNER

Week of February 1–5, 2010

Jamie, baritone, is a sophomore at Langley High School, where he sings in the concert choir and in the Voicemale ensemble. He began private voice lessons this fall. Jamie spent the past two years in New York.  He attended Riverdale Country School in the Bronx and in the ninth grade he sang in the school choir. He studies Chinese and takes his instruction at Marshall High School three times a week. Jamie loves to sing and has performed in one student workshop and voice recital. He has worked very hard preparing for his lessons. Congratulations!! Keep up the good work!!

ASHLEY HILL

Week of January 25-29, 2010

Ashley is a senior at James Madison High School, where she sings in the women’s select choir. She also performs as a chorister in the Vienna Presbyterian Church Youth Choir. She is also on the worship team and is a very active volunteer at the church. Ashley works several hours a week at the Dandelior Patch store in Vienna and still manages to find time to practice for her voice lessons! She has sung at two voice recitals and one workshop. We wish her well in her college experience next year. Congratulations!! Keep up the good work!!

NANCY PRUETT

Week of January 18-22, 2010

Nancy has studied voice with Peggy since September. She participated in the fall student workshop. She is an eighth grader at Longfellow Middle School where she played a leading role in the fall play. Nancy has played the French horn for three years. She is an active member of the Andrew Chapel Methodist Church and this past summer she played the part of the wicked witch in a church production of ‘The Wizard of Oz.” Nancy has been working hard in her voice lessons! Congratulations!!

ASHLEY FIDLER

Week of January 11–15, 2010

This weekend Ashley will travel to Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where she will be the Virginia representative to the Music Teachers National Association Southern Division High School Voice Competition. We wish her all the best!! Ashley is a senior at O'Connell High School, where she has been active in areas of drama, debate and music. She has studied voice for 5 years and has performed in innumerable voice recitals and workshops. She won first place in the beginning high school division of the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Voice Competition when she was in eighth grade. Last year she received honors at both the Virginia National Association of Teachers of Singing advanced high school division and at the Northern Va. Music Teachers Association competition. As a member of the Childrens Chorus of Washington, she has performed at the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Center, etc. She now sings with Choralis, a select Falls Church adult choir. Congratulations!!

NOAH ISENBERG

Fifteen-month-old Noah received this toy piano for Christmas. He loves music and says “boom boom” for anything music-wise. He's shown here practicing with his adoring grandmother.

ASHLEY FIDLER

Week of November 23-27, 2009

Ashley is a senior at Bishop O’Connell High School, where she has been active in areas of drama, debate, and music. She has studied voice for 5 years and has performed in innumerable voice recitals and workshops. She won first place in the beginning high school division of the Northern Virginia Music Teachers voice competition when she was in 8th grade. Last year she received honors at both the Virginia National Association of Teachers of Singing advanced high school division and at the Northern Va. Music Teachers Association competitions. As a member of the Children's Chorus of Washington, she performed at the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Center, etc. She now sings with Choralis, a select Falls Church adult choir. Ashley will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, in January to represent Virginia at the Music Teachers National Association high school voice competition. We wish her all the best!! Congratulations!!

MICHELLE LERCH

Week of November 16-20, 2009

Michelle is a junior at Westfield High School in Centreville, where she is a member of the chamber singers and vocal jazz groups.  She has studied voice for one year. Last year she played a leading role in her school’s production of “Into the Woods.” She also participated in the Virginia NATS auditions at Shenandoah University. For several summers Michelle has attended the Appel Farm Performing School in Elmer, New Jersey, where she has studied theatre and music. Michelle is learning to drive! Keep working hard! Congratulations!!

ARIANA KRUSZEWSKI

Week of November 9-13, 2009

Ariana is a sophomore at South Lakes High School in Reston and she has studied voice for over 2 years. She sings with the Bella Voce Choir at South Lakes, and last year she was selected to be a member of the District Choir. As a member of the varsity dance team, Ariana performs at the school’s football and basketball games. She has been studying dance since second grade. Last summer Ariana participated in Arena’s Stage’s Academy where she took classes in dance, singing, and acting. In June she performed in the Cappie high school production at the Kennedy Center. We wish her lots of luck in her future studies!! Keep up the good work!

NORA MUELLER

Week of November 2-6, 2009

Nora Mueller is a junior at Langley High School, where she has sung in their choral groups since her freshman year. She is currently in the Woman’s Select Choir. Nora is also a very talented dancer. She began dancing 13 years ago. She now dances with the Cuppett Performing Arts Center in Vienna, where she takes almost daily classes!! Nora also speaks fluent German and since her childhood, she has studied at the German School in Potomac, Maryland. Nora is a very hard worker and has learned so many songs since she began her voice studies three years ago!! Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

MANDY MILES

Week of October 19–23, 2009

Mandy began private voice lessons last winter, and she has participated in a performance at Sunrise Assisted Living in September. She is a sophomore at Langley High School, where she sings with the Select Women's Choir. She was chosen to perform in All-District Choir last spring. Mandy is a very talented equestrian and she and her horse, “Upshot” won the distinction of performing in the International Horse Show in Washington, D.C., this past weekend. (Photos courtesy Steven Miles.) For many years Mandy studied flute and because of this invaluable musical experience, she is an excellent musician! Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

RICHARD QIN

Week of October 12-16, 2009

Richard began voice lessons during the summer.  He is a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School. He has studied piano for ten years and has enjoyed singing for many years. Richard has travelled to China on three different occasions. He is president of the Gavel Club which is part of the New World Bilingual Institute. He is also captain of the Dragon Dance Team and the group performed in the 2009 inaugural parade (see below). Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

ROBIN FALCI

Week of Oct. 5-9, 2009

Our second Student of the Week is Robin Falci. She is a sophomore at Herndon High School, where she sings in the Chorale. She has studied private voice for one year and has performed in several student workshops and in one student recital. Robin has spent several summers at the James Madison University summer musical high school program. Robin also loves to play soccer and she is a member of the Reston Nightmares team. Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

MARY PETERSON

September 14-18, 2009

Mary is a senior at Herndon High School, where she sings in the Madrigals ensemble. She has studied private voice for two years and has performed in many recitals and workshops. She also studies piano and guitar. Mary was selected for Virginia’s District XII and All State choruses last spring, and she received honors at the spring 2009 Virginia NATS Auditions. She also participated in regional NATS in Boone, North Carolina. Last year Mary represented Virginia in the Music Teachers National Association High School Voice Competition, where she competed at Virginia State College in Petersburg, VA. Last summer Mary attended the Shenandoah Conservatory Performing Arts Camp, where she won a soloist competition and performed at a winners recital. She also sang with some of the other students at Sunrise Retirement Home.

Mary plans to major in music in college. We wish her much success in her future studies. Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

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.

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.