Applicants for the position of Secretary
Luke Miller is the High School Orchestra Director, Middle School Orchestra Director, and one of the elementary school string specialists in the Melrose Public School System. Luke has been involved with the MMEA Northeastern District since his first year teaching in 2010. He has served as assistant manager/manager for the Junior District Festival Orchestra, as assistant manager for the Senior District Festival Orchestra, and will be the manager for the Senior District Festival Orchestra next year (2014/2015). Outside of Melrose, Luke teaches private string lessons through the Chelmsford Community Education Program. As a violinist, Luke currently performs regularly with the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra, the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, and occasionally with other community orchestras in the area. Since graduating from the University of New Hampshire, Luke has spent 3 weeks every summer on the faculty at UNH SYMS (Summer Youth Music School.) He is generally hired as one of the violin and chamber music instructors, and was also brought on as the Junior SYMS Orchestra Conductor last summer (2013). Luke is excited to get more involved at the District level, and would love to be part of the Executive Board.
Luke Miller is the High School Orchestra Director, Middle School Orchestra Director, and one of the elementary school string specialists in the Melrose Public School System. Luke has been involved with the MMEA Northeastern District since his first year teaching in 2010. He has served as assistant manager/manager for the Junior District Festival Orchestra, as assistant manager for the Senior District Festival Orchestra, and will be the manager for the Senior District Festival Orchestra next year (2014/2015). Outside of Melrose, Luke teaches private string lessons through the Chelmsford Community Education Program. As a violinist, Luke currently performs regularly with the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra, the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, and occasionally with other community orchestras in the area. Since graduating from the University of New Hampshire, Luke has spent 3 weeks every summer on the faculty at UNH SYMS (Summer Youth Music School.) He is generally hired as one of the violin and chamber music instructors, and was also brought on as the Junior SYMS Orchestra Conductor last summer (2013). Luke is excited to get more involved at the District level, and would love to be part of the Executive Board.
Kate Ferris is the Band Director for the Village School in Marblehead, MA. She is a committed music educator and conductor with proven dedication to leading a high-quality scholastic music programs and strong experience in educational leadership and arts management. Strengths include curriculum development, managing PR and community relations, and facilitating successful implementation of effective instructional practices in the Fine and Performing Arts. Actively performing and conducting with many community music groups, she firmly believes in access of performing opportunities for all.
Ferris has been a member of the MPS music faculty since 2006, directing and managing the instrumental music program as well as providing leadership and forging collaboration among peers and colleagues in her role as the Specialist Lead Teacher (representing music, art, theater, library sciences, foreign language, and physical education). She has a strong background in both instrumental music pedagogy and cultural programs organization; maintaing and growing the Village School instrumental music program, supporting the maintenance and growth of the other Fine and Performing Arts programs in the district, and promoting the educational mission of the Village School.
Ferris served in a number of similar roles before coming to Marblehead. In 2005 she was directly responsible for building a comprehensive music curriculum appropriate for an urban middle school that was attempting to bring the Fine Arts back into its building (piano instruction, composition, and contemporary music history). Further responsibilities consisted of leading the Unified Arts Cluster (music, art, dance, theater, physical education, and computer technology) in curriculum development, extended day restructuring, and interdisciplinary collaborations, as well as grant writing and intercollegiate outreach.
Involvement with leadership and outreach includes positions as Specialist Teacher Leader for The Village School in Marblehead, MA; Band Manager for Northeast Senior District Festival (2013); Acting-Arts Cluster Leader at Edison Middle School in Boston, MA, Arts liaison in the Mass 2020 Extended School Day Planning Committee, Charter School Grantwriting Committee, and Family & Community Engagement Subcommittee while at BPS; woodwind adjudicator for Chicago Public Schools All-City band (2004), and as the music specialist at the Horace Mann Lab School in partnership with Salem Public Schools and Salem State University' teacher prep program.
Ferris holds a master's degree in Music Education from Northwestern University where she studied conducting under Mallory Thompson, and a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Berklee College of Music where she was President of Berklee's collegiate chapter of MENC.
Ferris has been a member of the MPS music faculty since 2006, directing and managing the instrumental music program as well as providing leadership and forging collaboration among peers and colleagues in her role as the Specialist Lead Teacher (representing music, art, theater, library sciences, foreign language, and physical education). She has a strong background in both instrumental music pedagogy and cultural programs organization; maintaing and growing the Village School instrumental music program, supporting the maintenance and growth of the other Fine and Performing Arts programs in the district, and promoting the educational mission of the Village School.
Ferris served in a number of similar roles before coming to Marblehead. In 2005 she was directly responsible for building a comprehensive music curriculum appropriate for an urban middle school that was attempting to bring the Fine Arts back into its building (piano instruction, composition, and contemporary music history). Further responsibilities consisted of leading the Unified Arts Cluster (music, art, dance, theater, physical education, and computer technology) in curriculum development, extended day restructuring, and interdisciplinary collaborations, as well as grant writing and intercollegiate outreach.
Involvement with leadership and outreach includes positions as Specialist Teacher Leader for The Village School in Marblehead, MA; Band Manager for Northeast Senior District Festival (2013); Acting-Arts Cluster Leader at Edison Middle School in Boston, MA, Arts liaison in the Mass 2020 Extended School Day Planning Committee, Charter School Grantwriting Committee, and Family & Community Engagement Subcommittee while at BPS; woodwind adjudicator for Chicago Public Schools All-City band (2004), and as the music specialist at the Horace Mann Lab School in partnership with Salem Public Schools and Salem State University' teacher prep program.
Ferris holds a master's degree in Music Education from Northwestern University where she studied conducting under Mallory Thompson, and a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Berklee College of Music where she was President of Berklee's collegiate chapter of MENC.
