EILEEN FINLEY - Touring Choir and Senior Choir
Ms Finley, founder and Artistic Director of the Chorale, has studied music and choral conducting at the Kodaly Institute in Kesckemet, Hungary; at Southeastern Massachusetts University; and at the Royal School of Church music at Princeton University. She received her masters of Music Education at the College of New Jersey and her Kodaly Certification from the Kodaly Center of America in Massachusetts.
In Addition to her 36 years of teaching experience on the elementary level in the Neshaminy School District, Ms Finley has considerable teaching experience on the graduate and undergraduate level. She has taught courses and workshops at College Misericordia, College of New Jersey, Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, University of Pennsylvania, University of West Texas and Westminster Choir College of Rider University.
Ms Finley is the recipient of the "Citation of Excellence" from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, "Recognition of Excellence" from the Neshaminy School Board, "Citation of Appreciation" from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the College Misericordia Alumni Award presented by the Music Department, and has been listed as an "Accomplished Teacher" by the Music Educators National Conference.
EILEEN FIELDS - Junior Choir
Ms Fields career as a music educator has provided her with experience at every grade level through high school. She has taught classroom and choral music to grades K-12, and has worked with high school students in musical theater productions as pit orchestra conductor. She is presently teaching choral music at Upper Moreland Middle School. Ms Fields holds two degrees from Temple University, Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Education. Ms Fields has been honored as one of two "Up and Coming" Teachers in Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.
MICHELLE GARIE - Senior Choir Assistant
Mrs. Garie received her Bachelor of Elementary Education with a minor in music from Bloomsburg University and a certification in Nursery School from Fairleigh Dickenson University. Mrs. Garie spent four years as the educational coordinator of the Dover Child Care Center. She has remained active in music by directing the Girls and Youth Choirs at the First Baptist Church of Newtown where she is also a member of the adult ensemble and the adult choir. Mrs. Garie assists in preparing and leading worship and is often a soloist with the adult choir. Mrs. Garie has been accompanying school choirs in the Neshaminy School district since 2000.
ACCOMPANISTS
EILEEN FIELDS has been accompanying the Touring Choir and/or the Senior Choir since 1992. She began her accompanying training in high school when she played for her high school choir under the direction of David Hall. Ms. Fields studied two years as a piano performance major at Temple University where she often accompanied voice and instrumental juries. Her professional experience has included accompanying Masterworks Chorale, Summer Stage, Neshaminy Valley Musical Theater, in addition to playing in pit orchestras for several high school productions.
MARYANN MEINHART accompanies the Senior Choir. She presently teaches music at the Upper Moreland School District's Primary School, grades K through 2. During the first ten years of her career, she taught mostly instrumental music to students grades K-8 and some general music classes at the middle school level. MaryAnn holds degrees from both Pennsylvania State University and West Chester University. She enjoys accompanying vocal groups. In the past MaryAnn accompanied various choral groups in Upper Moreland and is enjoying her first year with the PYC.
