Eight Music Education Alumni Land Jobs or Begin Graduate School This Fall

Eight undergraduate music education alumni have landed jobs in local schools or are beginning graduate studies this fall:

• Zach Freshwater ’23 – Caroline High School (Caroline County, Virginia)
• Zach Gnall ’23 – University of Denver (Master of Music in oboe performance)
• Sarah Gorman ’23 – Robert E. Aylor Middle School (Frederick County, Virginia)
• Bailey Kinsella ’23 – Bren Mar Park Elementary School (Fairfax County, Virginia)
• Ada Rexrode ’23 – Hybla Valley Elementary School (Fairfax County, Virginia)
• Catherine McKenzie Smith ’22 – Spring Mills Middle School (Berkeley County, West Virginia)
• Ethan Smith ’23 – Bull Run Middle School (Prince William County, Virginia)
• Laila Schwartz ’22 – Hunter B. Andrews PreK-8 School (Hampton City Schools, Virginia)

Ethan Smith and Gorman are chorus teachers; Kinsella, Rexrode, Schwartz and McKenzie Smith are teaching general music; and Freshwater is teaching high school band and choir.

“I am thrilled to be taking on the role as choir director and drama teacher at Aylor, and am so thankful to my professors and cooperating teachers at SU who continuously supported me in achieving this goal,” said Gorman.

“Working with the amazing musicians and educators at Shenandoah allowed me to develop my own teaching style and gain confidence in my performance abilities,” said Kinsella. “I look forward to inspiring a new generation of musicians!”

“I am very excited to be able to get into the field of music education,” said Rexrode. “I am so grateful to Shenandoah Conservatory and the music education department. The experiences I have received, from professional development to the genuine care of the professors, have set me up successfully to do what I love.”

“The different perspectives from all the musicians and educators at Shenandoah have allowed me to develop a unique teaching style that works for me, said Ethan Smith. “I look forward to putting it to use in my new teaching career!”