 Ashley Keenan is the current Board Vice President and Webmaster for the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale. This is her third year as a member of the organization, and her second year on the Board.
Ashley was born and raised in the Cedar Rapids area, but currently lives in Iowa City. She is a Title I Reading Specialist for the West Liberty Community School district. Past experience includes time working as a fourth grade teacher, special education associate, and substitute teacher in various districts. In addition to her work with students and participation in CRCC, Ashley is also the president of the Sigma Alpha Iota Iowa City Alumnae chapter and the Entertainment Co-Chair for the Linn County Relay for Life Event Leadership Team. She co-captains “Team Super Bob!”, a Relay for Life team that raises money for the American Cancer Society in memory of her father. Ashley has her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Vocal Music from the University of Iowa. She has a partial master’s degree in progress from Drake University. Ashley is a dedicated theater fan and actress. She attends as many shows as she can and has performed with Starlighters’ Theater, Theatre Cedar Rapids, and the Ushers Ferry Theater Company in recent years. She has an active social life and busy volunteering schedule, but her favorite times are spent cooking, relaxing, and planning a July 2016 wedding with her fiancé, Nick, and their two feisty cats.
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 For the first installment of Meet the Board, I would like to introduce you to our new director, Dr. Gerald Kreitzer! We are so happy to have Dr. Kreitzer as a part of our program, and we are so excited to see where our chorale can go under his direction!
Dr. Kreitzer is Director of Music Activities at Mount Mercy University, and Artistic Director of the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale in Cedar Rapids, IA. He earned his D.M.A. in Choral Conducting at the University of Iowa where he studied conducting with Don V Moses and James Dixon. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters in Music degrees from the University of South Dakota. At Mount Mercy he directs the University Choir, Jazz Connection, Madrigal Singers, initiated and directs the University Band and String Programs, and organizes the Summer Academy which features the Five Seasons Chamber Festival, the Cedar Brass Festival, an All-State Choral Workshop and offerings for music educators. He also teaches an Introduction to Music class and has taught Elementary Music Methods for the Classroom Teacher. Mount Mercy now offers a Chamber Choir Festival and a String Quartet Festival as it reaches out to high school musicians and educators. Dr. Kreitzer spent 22 years as Director of Choral Music at George Washington High School, where he directed the Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, Washington Men’s and Women’s Choruses, the show ensemble Momentum, and was the musical director of Musical Theater productions, and was Director of Orchestra at Washington High School in 2012-13. Before his tenure at George Washington High School, Dr. Kreitzer served on the faculties of the University of South Dakota (Vermillion) and the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls). In addition, he was a professor at Indian Hills Community College (Ottumwa, IA), and taught at Clear Creek and LaSalle High Schools. Dr. Kreitzer is a Past President of the Iowa Music Educators Association, a member of ACDA, MENC, ISTA, IBA, and a former board member of the IMEA. Among many musical involvements, Dr. Kreitzer was the Musical Director of the Metropolitan Chorale in Cedar Falls/Waterloo, IA, which performed two major choral works with orchestra each season, was Musical Director of the Black Hills Playhouse, has served as Chorus Master for Cedar Rapids Opera productions, directed the Iowa Ambassadors of Music bi-annual tour. Dr. Kreitzer directs the Chancel Choir of First Congregational Church in Cedar Rapids, and is a frequent guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. Dr. Kreitzer and wife Kelley are parents of four wonderful daughters. Our rehearsals have been going wonderfully, and I know that I am personally LOVING the music we are working on. This upcoming concert will not be one to miss.
We are now one week away from our first group rehearsal, and I couldn't be more excited to return to our weekly schedule! As we begin this new season with a brand new (and fantastically talented) director, I see a bright and promising future for our group. Dr. Gerald Kreitzer will be taking us on a musical journey this year as we return to a few favorite composers and are introduced to a few new ones. This is not a season to miss!
The men will start us out as they support Orchestra Iowa during their Brucemorchestra performance of 1812 Overature on September 12th. Their rehearsals will begin on Sunday, August 30th at 1:00 at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids (1000 3rd Ave. SE). Men are also asked to arrive at 6:30 on Tuesday, September 1st, with women arriving at 7:30. The men are also asked to come rehearse on Sunday, September 6th at 1:00 and on Tuesday, September 8th at 6:30 (with women, once again, arriving at 7:30). Regular Tuesday evening rehearsals will begin after that, with the whole group arriving at 7:00 and rehearsing until 9:30. If you are interested in joining us this year, we are having audition-free recruitment! If you are a singer, please come join us for a rehearsal. Email [email protected] to set up a part-placement time with our director. Welcome to the new, updated Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale website! We have added many new items, and we have updated all the information presented to you! I hope you enjoy our new site. Please contact us using our contact form (or by emailing us at [email protected]) if you have additional suggestions that would make our page even better!
Thanks for stopping by! Ashley Keenan Webmaster |
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