Band Director | Music Teacher, Paint Valley Local Schools
BS Music Education; Mathematics minor
Since graduation, I have: founded TEDxYouth@NAHS that has expanded to become an annual 500+ person event that teaches student leadership, business communication, and massive event organization and planning skills; consistently grown recruiting numbers by over 200% in each school I have taught; founded and maintained the Paint Valley Community Band to keep music in the lives of graduates and adults in the Paint Valley community.
2013 - Jimmy Wiederhold
Cardinal Stage Company (Bloomington, IN), Reed 1 player; IU Department of Drama and Theatre, Reed player
BA Music Performance (Multiple Woodwinds)
Aside from working full-time outside of music to pay the bills, I have accepted jobs with the two local theatre companies and have played four musicals since moving to Bloomington. I recently visited New York City to have lessons with some of Broadway's best woodwind doublers. Come June 2015, I will be moving there myself to begin subbing for gigs and slowly making my way into the Broadway music scene.
2013 - Tim Graulty
Sycamore Community Schools, 5th and 6th Grade Band Director, Cincinnati, OH
BS Music Education
I teach 5th and 6th grade band at E. H. Greene Intermediate School. In addition, I am an assistant marching band director and coach the men's JV volleyball team at Sycamore High School.
2012 - Mike Franzosa
IT Consultant, Sogeti USA
BA Music Performance; BS Computer Science
Xavier Music, without a doubt, prepared me for the challenges I face every day in my job. Even though my career is in the technology field, the faculty and the friends that I made in the music department, in addition to being some of the most amazing and kind people I know, immensely helped my social skills and my communication skills. People often questioned why I double majored in music, but I cannot put into words how valuable the experience was for me. Majoring in Vocal Performance, I really did find my voice, in so many ways. After I get done with the 9 to 5 grind, I still find myself spending several hours composing, singing, playing piano, guitar, and whatever else I can get my hands on. I do plan on going back to graduate school for music theory/composition. Music is still the main influence in my life, and I would not be the same person without a Xavier education in music.
2011 - Hannah Balash
Graduate Student, Chicago College of Performing Arts
BA Music Performance
I am a mezzo-soprano entering my second year of my Master's degree at Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where I study with bass-baritone David Holloway. This year, I am the graduate assistant for the opera program, which means I coordinate OperaFest, our scenes program and help manage the opera ensemble all year. I also will make my solo opera directing debut this fall with several scenes featuring our undergraduates. Otherwise, I am busy practicing and planning my Masters recital for next spring!
2010 - Dusty Francis
Music Director, Repertory Opera Theater of Washington
BS Music Education
The education I received at Xavier was invaluable in preparing me for both graduate studies and a career in music. Xavier gave me the necessary skills, knowledge and experiences to complete my MM in choral conducting and to launch a career as a professional conductor and singer. Thanks to Xavier's outstanding faculty and curriculum, I have had the opportunity to work in schools, churches and universities, as well as professional choruses including The Washington Master Chorale, The Philadelphia Singers and The Tucson Chamber Artists. Without the chance to perform in high-level ensembles like the Concert Choir and the Edgecliff Vocal Ensemble or to gain valuable conducting experience as a student teacher, I would not have had the confidence or the skills to pursue the opportunities now in front of me. My Xavier education laid the foundation for a lifetime of music making, and, for that, I could not be more grateful.
2007 - Tracey Michalak (Book)
K-4 Elementary Music, Sycamore School District
BS Music Education
I teach K-4 elementary music at Montgomery Elementary School in the Sycamore school district. I finished my Master's in Music Education with an emphasis in Orff-Schulwerk in 2010 from the University of Kentucky. I have completed Levels 1, 2, and 3 of Orff-Schulwerk teacher training as well as training in World Music Drumming and Orff Curriculum Development. I serve as the secretary of the Greater Cincinnati American Orff Schulwerk Association.
2007 - Kaitlin Stephens
Director of Choral Activities, Clermont Northeastern Middle and High School
BS Music Education
After graduating in 2007, I have been able to obtain a career in music education, which allows me to work with many different grade levels throughout the day. I am currently a chorus teacher that travels between the middle school and high school of a local school district. I know that I would not have been able to accept this position if it wasn't for the training that I received through Xavier's music education program. During my years in the department, I was able to hone my skills in teaching music to students of different age groups through relevant lectures and lots of practical application. I feel absolutely confident in my teaching abilities and am very prepared when it comes to organizing concerts and performances outside of school. Through the knowledgeable professors, excellent private instructors, and opportunities to perform at Xavier University, I have attained the abilities necessary to succeed in my field. I wouldn't change that for the world.
2004 - Becky Reidy
Regional Director of Recruitment, St. Louis University
BS Music Education
My degree from Xavier's music education program has given me many skills to enrich my current career as a regional admission recruiter. I may not teach music in a school right now but I still use my skills in student development to work with high school students in helping them find a college that will give them the experience they are looking to have. The biggest skill I took away from my experiences in the music education program is public speaking and performing. I speak to groups that range from 2 students to 200+ students and families. Through my public speaking in the classroom and performing concerts each semester I have the confidence in myself to stand up in front of these groups. The biggest thing about graduating from Xavier's music education program is the experiences you can have outside of the classroom. Whether that is getting involved with clubs and organizations or your core class requirements you get to learn more about your interests and skills than you ever imagined.
1993 - Gayley L. Hautzenroeder
Retired Public School Music Educator, Northwest High School
MEd Education
I retired from being a Public School Music Educator after 35 years, in June of 2007. I received my initial Bachelor's Degree from U.C.'s College-Conservatory of Music. I received my MEd from Xavier in 1993. Getting my degree not only gave me an increase in pay, but it also allowed me to be the Music Department Chair at Northwest HS. I also taught String Methods for several years at X.U. In addition, I have also been a part-time faculty member at Miami University's Music Dept.
Over the years, I have received numerous awards for Music Education, including Ohio's Best Practices Award, OOSTA Outstanding Public School Orchestra Director, the University of Cincinnati's USA Outstanding Educator Award, and the Great American Outstanding Educator Award. I have been very active in OMEA, and currently serve as the state's Orchestra Affairs Chair for Adjudicated Events. I have been a supporter of the Cincinnati Symphony and have worked in curriculum writing for their Young People's Concerts for years. I believe I was given the tools to accomplish these things, plus develop an extremely successful Music and Orchestra program due to the extended coursework and Master's Degree I received at Xavier. I enjoyed working with the faculty both as a student and colleague. I'm appreciative of the opportunities X.U. has provided over the years.