| Susan Kellerman Chair, Music Department  Susan has been teaching music in both public schools and private studios for the past nine years. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois in 1998, with her focus on instrumental music. After teaching elementary and middle school band for four years in the suburban Chicago area, Susan relocated to Colorado to complete her Master of Music Education degree, with a minor in conducting, from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While at CU, her areas of interest expanded to educational assessment and research. She was awarded a College of Music Graduate Student grant and was given the opportunity to present individual and joint projects in both areas at the Colorado Music Educator’s Association annual conference in 2004 and 2005. Other professional activities and honors include: adjudicating large ensemble festivals in both Illinois and Colorado; conducting pit orchestras for shows such as Little Shop of Horrors, Carousel and South Pacific; instructing and performing with the International Jazz Ensemble from Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Muskegon, MI; and having a joint research study “A Trend Analysis of High School Music Positions” published in the Colorado Music Educators Journal. Susan began her career in music - and a fierce streak of independence - in the third grade, when she decided to play the violin against her mother’s wishes (her Mom was hoping for the cello) and subsequently demanding to also play the saxophone in fourth grade (her mom won this time by supplying a clarinet). These days, Susan has finally learned that it really is important to listen to your parents; however, she won't give up her independence. E-mail: skellerman@palcs.org |