Noteworthy News!

Spotlight on Students

This page spotlights some of the vocal achievements of my students.

View previous "Students of the Week"

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

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!