Education

EDUCATION

California State University, Northridge

MM, Vocal Performance (with Distinction), Focus: Pan African Studies, May 2010

Coursework includes:

  • Seminar in African American History- Black Aesthetics

  • Physics of Music

 

California State University, Northridge

BM, Magna Cum Laude,Vocal Arts, Minor: African American Studies, May 2008

Coursework includes:

  • Vocal Diction- English, French, Italian, German

  • Vocal Pedagogy

  • Music Entrepreneurship

  • Music Technology

  • Politics of Hip Hop

 

OperaWorks Advanced Artist, Northridge, California,  July 2009

 

CoOperative Resident Artist, Princeton, NJ, July, 2010

  • CoOperative Greco Scholar


 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

 

Founder, Program Director, Teacher 2011- Present

Music After School

 

Offering the convenience of music lessons in aftercare programs as an afterschool enrichment as well as in-home lessons. Serving approximately 150 students annually ranging from ages 4-18 in the metro- Atlanta area. Serving 3 school locations with 3 teachers. Offerings include piano and voice workshops, group lessons, individual lessons, and summer camps.


 

Voice Teacher 2008- Present

Jayme Alilaw Vocal Studio

Teach students ranging in age from 7 to mature adults and have a demonstrated ability to teach all levels of voice from beginners to postgraduates and performing professionals.

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Offerings include recital preparation, college audition preparation, role preparation, diction, repertoire study and selection. Students include singer-songwriters and recording artists.Teach in classical, opera, musical theater, jazz, pop, rap genres and train on recording studio techniques and coaching.


 

Senior Vocal Coach     July 2012- Present

Otis Redding Foundation Music Camp

 

Work with ages 11-18. Coach varied genres with vocal technique appropriate for commercial music and music recording/production. Teach recording studio techniques, songwriting, stage and microphone techniques, choreography,and stage management. Genres include Classical, R&B, Pop, Gospel, Rap, Rock, and Country.

 

Voice and Piano Teacher 2012- 2015

In Tune Studio

Ages taught from 4- 75

Classical Voice, Music Theater, Pop, Audition Preparation, Performance Techniques, Vocal Diction, Beginning Piano


 

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

 

 

Ammunition Supply Sergeant (E-5) 2000-2009

United States Army Reserves

 

Squad leader and Ammunition Supply Point Supervisor. Responsibilities included create soldier work schedules, inventory, inspect, and issue ammunition, support demolition of unserviceable munitions. One year wartime deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Qayyarah Airfield West, Northern Iraq.

Extra duties included singing for official military promotions and ceremonies. Certified Disabled Veteran.


 

RELATED SCHOLARLY EXPERIENCE

 

 

Teaching Artist 2018- Present The Atlanta Opera

 

Original programming created for The Atlanta Opera Tapestry: Explore and Create Spirituals- A historical journey of expression through song- February 2019 and Georgia Songbirds- highlighting African American Women Opera Singers from Georgia- Expected 2020


 

Teaching Assistant Spring 2010

California State University, Northridge

Course: Politics of Hip Hop

 

Responsibilities include guest lecturing, administer and grade exams, syllabus preparation, Hip Hop Think Tank  academic journal editor, research assistant.




 

Guest Lecturer

 

April 2019  Music Entrepreneurship and Creating Space- Clark Atlanta University 

March 2016 Music Entrepreneurship

Spelman College

May 2010 Black Voice: African American art song composers in recital

Lecture/Recital- California State University, Northridge

March 2009 From Spirituals to Hip Hop- an exploration of the influence of and

relationship between Spirituals and Hip Hop as social activist music forms- Politics of Hip Hop

California State University, Northridge

Works Presented At Conferences

February 2017 New Composers: Nailah Nombeko- African American Art Song

Alliance Conference

February 2012 Celebrating H. Leslie Adams- African American Art Song Alliance

Conference

March 2011 Black Voice: African American Art Song Composers in Recital- Black

Women Composers- National Council for Black Studies, New

Orleans, LA

March 2009 Moving Kinship: The Correlation Between Rap and Spirituals as

Social Activist Musical Genres National Council for Black Studies, Atlanta, GA

Clinician/Adjudicator

March 2018 Choral Workshop Clinician- Atlanta Girls’ School

April 2017 Spelman College Research Day Judge

March 2016 Atlanta University Center Masterclass Clinician presented by Coalition of

African Americans in the Arts

February 2016 National Association of Negro Musicians Vocal Competition

Adjudicator

September 2014 Maynard Jackson High School Chorus Masterclass Clinician

July 2012 & 2013 Vocal Workshop Clinician- Girls Rock Camp

February 2012   Vocal Workshop Clinician- Ladies Rock Camp



 

AWARDS AND HONORS- ACADEMIC

 

 

Association of Retired Faculty Graduate Project/Thesis Award- 2010

California State University, Northridge

Pi Kappa Lambda Musical Honor Fraternity 2008

Bill and Millenium Gates Scholar    2000-2005

 

COLLABORATIVE PERFORMANCES

 


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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

 

 

National Association of Negro Musicians

African American Art Song Alliance

National Council for Black Studies

COLLABORATIVE PERFORMANCES

La Femme Noire-         Feb 2016- Present

Celebration of contributions of African American women as composers, poets, and performers.- Collaborative with Actress, Poet, Narrator, Pianist, Composer