Sarah Elizabeth Toca
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COLLEGE CHORAL AND MUSIC THEORY TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS
Highly motivated teaching professional, with success teaching college-level choral-musicians to achieve the highest
musical excellence, using skills of rehearsal techniques, curriculum formation, and concert programming.
Capable of utilizing a dynamic conducting style in rehearsal, actively engaging thinking musicians with a holistic
approach to their learning: one that encompasses various aspects of their musicianship.
Trained in Music Theory Pedagogy and advanced ear-training practice.
Advanced classical music training, skilled in both piano and vocal performances, piano accompanying, with a
commitment to continued solo performance in an effort to maximize teaching performance and opportunity.
Ability to draw on diverse choral experiences in college choral conducting, church and community choirs, high
school womens and mixed choirs, and middle school choirs.
MUSIC EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND VOCAL STUDIES
Eastman School of Music
Master of Music in Music Education: Vocal Music Emphasis
NY State Initial Certification in Music,
Rochester, NY
2010-2012
Graduate studies included exploration and discussion of teaching methods, techniques, and current trends in music
education and application of these methods in on-site fieldwork and student teaching placements.
Educational focus included choral and vocal teaching methods, music theory pedagogy, private vocal instruction with
culminating recitals.
Wheaton College Conservatory of Music
Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance
Wheaton, IL
2006-2010
Undergraduate studies encompassed liberal arts and music courses, private instruction, and ensemble experience.
COLLEGE CHORAL AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Rochester Institute of Technology
Full-Time Lecturer, Department of Performing Arts and Visual Culture
Courses Taught Include:
RIT Singers
Rochester, NY
2013-present
2013-present
A 45-member mixed ensemble; responsibilities include recruiting members, organizing and presenting 2 concerts per
semester and rehearsal instruction; choral program began with 30 members and has grown to 60 current members.
RIT Chamber Singers
Spring, 2014- present
Developed and founded this course, Spring, 2014; a 20-member ensemble of mixed voices, showcased in 2 performances each
semester; highlights include a performance of AWAY, by composer David Liptak, Eastman School of Music Composition
Professor, accompanied by RIT Chamber Orchestra.
Advanced Music Theory
Spring, 2014, 2015
The second-level of theory offered at RIT; course development included the implementation of 5 skills of: sight-singing, dictation,
piano skills of chord-progressions in various keys, score analysis, and written theory and compositions.
Introduction to Music
2013-present
A lecture course with 40 students, twice per week; course development included creating and presenting lectures, creating
listening assignments and exams, with the core skill of the class being listening skill development within repertoire from each era
of music history.
Sarah Elizabeth Toca
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COLLEGE CHORAL AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE continued
Eastman School of Music
Undergraduate Music Education Courses, Teachers Assistant
Rochester, NY
2010-2011
Facilitated the courses of Intro. to Music Education and Music for Special Learners by carrying out facilitation
duties (attendance, monitoring course blackboard site, etc.), and lecturing when needed.
Wheaton College Conservatory Music
Assistant Conductor, Wheaton College Concert Choir
Wheaton, IL
2009-2010
Conducted and led rehearsals and collaborated in auditions and meetings throughout the year with Dr. Paul Wiens,
including conducting a spring concert and Haydn Concert presentation, and selecting singers for choir placement. Helped
plan, facilitate, and conduct the choir during a spring tour of Washington D.C. Duties included interaction with various
church members, and making concert decisions to help ensure a good performance and representation of the choir.
SECONDARY CHORAL AND AP THEORY TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Garden City High School
Womens Chorus Director
Garden City, NY
2012-2013
Garden City School District, ranked #1 in New York State by ProPublica Foundation for percentage of students
enrolled in AP courses, with a long-standing tradition of excellence.
Instructed the Womens Chorus, a 45-member ensemble, presenting four performances in the school year. Designed
lesson plans for choral warm-ups to improve students vocal technique, implementing music-theory chord fundamentals.
Rehearsed concert repertoire, characterizing a variety of genres, styles, and languages. Conducted two select instrumental
ensembles to accompany the chorus in the winter concert.
Worked as part of a team of music staff to create a culminating finale-performance in the spring pops concert,
collaborating with the band and wind ensembles.
AP Music Theory & Aural Skills Instructor
2012-2013
Developed a full-year curriculum for the AP Music Theory course, including a course website; created progressive
aural skills assignments, to include practice AP questions and music excerpts for exam preparation, using a current
textbook with the most up-to-date theory pedagogy.
Developed AP Theory lesson plans that combine composition, ear-training, written theory, and score analysis.
Taught students fundamentals of Sibelius, a music software program, in which students created compositions.
Implemented use of backwards design, formative/summative, and informal/formal assessment, varied lesson activities,
and formation of objectives, aims, curriculum goals in curriculum planning by use of Understanding by Design curriculum
template, and use of questioning techniques.
Piano Accompanist
Accompanied students for NY State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Solo Festival in grades 9-12,
giving individual instruction, vocal coaching, interpretation, language pronunciation, and sight-singing
instruction.
Pit accompanist in the performances of the spring musical, The Pajama Game.
Accompanied and conducted the combined choral ensembles in the final performance of the season.
2012-2013
Sarah Elizabeth Toca
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SECONDARY CHORAL AND AP THEORY TEACHING EXPERIENCE continued
Garden City Middle School
Garden City, NY
7th Grade Chorus Director, Piano Accompanist
2012-2013
Instructed an ensemble of 107 students, performing 2 concerts in the school year, and a final assessment.
Created vocal warm-up sequences that address the needs of the adolescent voice.
Accompanied the 6th and 8th grade choruses in the winter and spring concerts.
Accompanied and coached students in grades 6, 7 and 8 for NY State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Festival.
PIANO ACCOMPANYING, PERFORMANCE & ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCE
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY
Faculty Voice Recital
Spring, 2014
Performed excerpts of Schumanns song cycle, Frauenliebe und Leben, among other works, as part of the Performing
Arts Artist Series at RIT.
Eastman School of Music
Rochester, NY
Voices Ensemble Member
2010, 2014-present
A current member of this professional chamber vocal ensemble, under the direction of Dr. William Weinert, choral
conducting Professor at Eastman.
Lecture Recital
Spring, 2012
Presented a lecture recital of Robert Schumanns song cycle, Frauenliebe und Leben, as a National Association for
Music Education (NAFME) Benefit Concert.
Christ Church
Rochester, NY
Schola Cantorum Singer
2014-present
A current member of this semi-professional ensemble of Christ Church, performing sacred and early music each
Sunday evening in a Compline service.
Hochstein School of Music
Rehearsal and performance accompanist
Rochester, NY
2011-present
Accompanied the Hochstein Choral Ensembles for their Winter and Spring performances.
Wheaton College Conservatory of Music
Rehearsal Accompanist, Opera Music Theatre
Wheaton, IL
2007-2010
Opera Scores included: Little Women, Patience, and Rape of Lucretia by Mark Adamo, Gilbert & Sullivan, and Benjamin
Britten, respectively.
Performance Accompanist, National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
2007-2010
Accompanied voice majors and voice primaries for their auditions during NATS competitions.
Voice Studio and Master-class Accompanist
North Babylon & Garden City High Schools
NYSSMA Accompanist
2007-2010
Long Island, NY
2007-2012
Accompanied students of all levels, including All-State, for the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA)
Festival.
Sarah Elizabeth Toca
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COMMUNITY CHORAL TEACHING AND FIELDWORK EXPERIENCES
Hochstein School of Music & Dance- Rochester, NY
Youth Singers Choral Teacher Intern
2011-2012
The Hochstein School, an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music
(NASM), is a dynamic community music school reaching a broad scope of musical activities and interests,
including early childhood music classes, private lessons, choir, orchestra, and band ensembles, chamber
ensembles, jazz trios, music technology, and dance.
Served as an intern with the Hochstein Youth Singers (grades 3-12), Hochstein Singers (grades 7-12), and
accompanist to the Little Singers (kindergarten-grade 3).
Activities included directing and conducting rehearsals in cooperating teachers absence, conducting extra
rehearsals for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) choir participants, accompanying both
groups in regular accompanists absence, and conducting a piece for the final concert.
West Irondequoit High School
Student Teacher, Chamber Singers & Chorale
Irondequoit, NY
2012
West Irondequoit High School is ranked among the top 2 percent of schools in the nation, and has an awardwinning music program, with a comprehensive curriculum and many Advanced Placement course offerings.
Served as student teacher, working with the Chorale, a select group of 41 singers, and the Chorister/Chamber
singers, a group of 55 members. Worked as part of a team of music staff to create a culminating off-site performance,
with collaboration among the choirs and school orchestra.
Rehearsed both choirs concert repertoire, which characterized a variety of genres, styles, and languages.
Designed lesson plans for warm-ups to improve students vocal technique, implementing their knowledge of
music theory and chords.
Taught music history lessons within a six-cycle rotation, to include music of the medieval, renaissance, baroque,
classical, and romantic time periods, using musical examples from each period.
Accompanied students for NY State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Solo Festival, giving individual
instruction, vocal coaching, interpretation, language pronunciation, and sight-reading instruction.
Taught students fundamentals of Sibelius, a music software program, in which students created compositions
Webster-Thomas High School
Fieldwork Teacher, Concert Choir/Chorale
Webster, NY
Fall, 2011
Taught the ninth-grade concert choir (approximately 30 students) and a select chorale (approximately 55 students) at
Webster-Thomas, a high school ranked as one of the best in the nation.
Designed warm-up and sight-reading sequences, implementing vocal technique and repertoire teaching.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, & DEVELOPMENT
ACDA Regional Conference attendee, Baltimore, MD
Eastman Summer Artistic & Advanced Choral Conducting Institutes, Dr. William Weinert
Eastman Theory Pedagogy course, Dr. Steven Laitz, Rochester, NY
OperaWorks Advanced Artists Program, Anne Baltz, CSU, Northridge
American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), member
ew York State School of Music (NYSSMA), Member
February, 2014
Summer, 2014
Summer, 2012
Summer, 2009
