PAST WORKSHOPS OF THE 2021-2022 SEASON
Apr. 23, 2022
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Maria Ellis presents "Music For All - Creating a Fun and Inclusive Music Space"
Workshop Description: "I believe being a music educator is the greatest job in the world. We teach the one language that is truly universal. However, in my studies I was taught that one method of teaching is superior and other methods are not. This session is going to show multiple ways teachers can make music teaching fun and inclusive for all. Every student should be feel seen, heard and included in the classroom and I will show you how."
Maria A. Ellis is a passionate educator and conductor. She is the owner of Girl Conductor, a company that creates diverse
music education resources, and currently serves as the Director of The Sheldon’s City of Music All-Star Chorus and Choral
Director at Sumner High School. Maria is an active clinician, adjudicator and presenter throughout the United States and
abroad. She holds a B.M. in Music Education emphasis on Voice (K-12 Certified) Degree from the University of Missouri-
St. Louis. She has served as the Arts and Administrative Fellow for The St. Louis Symphony and has served as the
Community Engagement Manager for The St. Louis Children’s Choirs. Maria is the host of the Award Winning Show Bach
and Beyoncé on Classic 107.3 The Voice for the Arts in St. Louis and is a Host for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Live
on Air Concerts. Maria is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association of Music
Educators, Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, where she is chair of the RIDE (Race, Inclusion, Diversity & Equity)
Committee and holds Level 3 Certification from the CME Institute for Choral Teacher Education.
music education resources, and currently serves as the Director of The Sheldon’s City of Music All-Star Chorus and Choral
Director at Sumner High School. Maria is an active clinician, adjudicator and presenter throughout the United States and
abroad. She holds a B.M. in Music Education emphasis on Voice (K-12 Certified) Degree from the University of Missouri-
St. Louis. She has served as the Arts and Administrative Fellow for The St. Louis Symphony and has served as the
Community Engagement Manager for The St. Louis Children’s Choirs. Maria is the host of the Award Winning Show Bach
and Beyoncé on Classic 107.3 The Voice for the Arts in St. Louis and is a Host for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Live
on Air Concerts. Maria is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association of Music
Educators, Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, where she is chair of the RIDE (Race, Inclusion, Diversity & Equity)
Committee and holds Level 3 Certification from the CME Institute for Choral Teacher Education.
Jan. 29, 2022
9:45 - 10:45 am
Conversations on Race and Equity With Practical Applications for the Music Room
@ 2022 Illinois Music Education Conference
CAKE Board Clinicians: Janell Bjorklund, Alicia Brown, Larena Code, Vicki Long, & Jana Martin
Nov. 13, 2021
9:00 am - 12:00 pm, CST
Mirna Cabrera presents "Latin American Folk Music and Spanish-Language Instruction in the Music Room"
Workshop Description: This session will include both primary and older elementary Hispanic folk song repertoire. It will include phonetic practice of the lyrics as is available on West Music’s musiconstruced.com platform. It will also include Spanish-language lesson scripts to help teachers teach music lessons and concepts to Spanish monolingual students. These will include high/low, fast/slow, loud/soft, beat/rhythm as well as other more advanced music concepts.
Dr. Mirna Y. Cabrera, born in Holguín, Cuba, is a choral conductor and music instructor at McCook Community College,
McCook, NE, where she teaches music theory and directs all ensembles. She earned a M.M. (2007) and a D.M.A in choral
conducting from the University of Kansas (2011). She is a certified music educator specialized in the Kodály philosophy,
trained in both the U.S. and Hungary.
McCook, NE, where she teaches music theory and directs all ensembles. She earned a M.M. (2007) and a D.M.A in choral
conducting from the University of Kansas (2011). She is a certified music educator specialized in the Kodály philosophy,
trained in both the U.S. and Hungary.
Sept. 11, 2021
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm, CST
Rita Alway presents "We Love Rock ‘n Roll: Popular Music in the Kodály Classroom from Early Childhood Through Adolescence"
Workshop Description: "Why don't we ever do music that we know?" Kodály-inspired teachers often find themselves facing a huge gap between the folk music and art music we study in our classrooms and the popular music our students listen to and enjoy. Popular music is the native musical language of many of our students, and excluding this music from our classrooms sends the message that we don’t believe their music is valuable. The occasional use of popular music in the classroom can be a powerful tool to help students see the connection between music they know and love and the musicianship skills they’re building in class. This workshop will cover the use of popular music from early childhood through secondary levels, as well as other considerations and best practices for using popular music in the Kodály classroom.
Rita Alway teaches music at Berkley Maynard Academy in Oakland, CA, where she is proud to have created a TK-8th grade music program that includes both Kodály pedagogy and middle school rock band! Rita believes strongly in the importance of high quality, culturally responsive music education for ALL children. She received a bachelor's degree in music from Yale University and a master's degree in music education with Kodály emphasis from Holy Names University. Prior to teaching at her current school, Rita taught with Teach for America in the Mississippi Delta and with Cantare Childrens Choirs in Oakland. She is a past president of the Northern California Association of Kodály Educators and currently serves on the OAKE Equity committee.