Tom Pedas's Résumé
[photo - Tom Pedas]

Tom Pedas
tpedas@aol.com

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • New Castle(PA)Public Schools —Music Teacher (1971-1973)
    • General music and chorus - Kindergarten through sixth grades

  • Hickory Township (PA) Public Schools — Student Teaching (1970-1971)
    • General music, music theory, chorus, band and orchestra

Founder/Director — Linden Summer Playhouse (NJ)
(1979-1985)
A non profit theater organization for ages 13-22

  • Producer, Director, Vocal Music Director and Orchestra Conductor for the following productions:

    Guest Lecturer at Kean College, Union, NJ
    and
    Teachers College/Columbia University, New York, NY (1981-1983)


    Lectured and conducted classes on topics which included:

    • Teaching Basic Skills Through Music
    • Music Theater Production.

     

    Educational Background

    • Columbia University/Teachers College, New York, N.Y
      Master of Arts in Music Education (1978)
      specializing in choral music

    • Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ
      Graduate Study (1972-present)
      Kodaly-Orff methods, choral methods, choral conducting, group vocal techniques,
      vocal pedagogy, madrigal singing, show choir direction etc.

    • Edinboro State University (Edinboro, Penn)
      Bachelor of Science in Music Education (1971)
      Major/piano; Minor/voice
      Honors and activities: Dean's list, Concert Chorale President, Glee Club Piano Accompanist, Participation in Madrigal Singers,
      Concert and Marching Bands, Drama Productions.

    • Farrell High School (Farrell, Penn)
      High School Diploma (1967)
      Honors and activities: Honors Choir, District Chorus, Region Chorus, School Choral, Instrumental and Drama Organizations.

    Awards and Recognition

    Music Teacher Tom Pedas inducted into
    New Jersey Theater Hall of Fameby NJ Association of Community Theaters (Sept 20, 2015)

    Selected as guest conductor
    New Jersey's 2000 Junior High All State Honor Choir (May 6, 2000)

    Selected as guest conductor
    Central Jersey Region II High School Chorus (1989)

    Nominated ‘Outstanding Musical Director
    New Jersey’ by the Achievement in Community Theatre Awards
    (for direction of “West Side Story” —Mystic Vision Players.

    Recipient of “Distinguished Service Award”:
    Edinboro (Penn) University Alumni Society (1983)

    Recipient of Linden, New Jersey Public Schools
    “Outstanding Teacher” Award (1982)

    Recipient of “Master Music Teacher” Award
    New Jersey Music Educators Association
    for “dedicated service to the education of youth” (1979)

    Professional Involvement

    Founder and Music Director
    The Celebration Singers Children's Chorus (1995 - May 2010)
    New Jersey's only tuition free children's choir

    Music Director
    The Celebration Singers (1995 - 1999)
    a New Jersey mixed-voice choral group

    Board of Directors
    American Choral Directors Association (NJ) (1991-present)

    Manager
    ACDA All Eastern High School Honor Choir
    (performed in Boston under Paul Salamunovich)

    Manager
    New Jersey Elementary Honor Choir (1993 - 2000).

    Appointed to Choral Procedures Committee
    New Jersey Music Educators Association (1987-1993)

    Manager
    American Choral Directors Association All Eastern Chorus (Boston, Mass) 1992

    High School Chairperson
    Central Jersey Music Educators Association (1986-1992)

    Guest Clinician
    New Jersey Music Educators Association State Conferences (1977-1980)

    Appointed Assistant Music Director
    Metropolitan Greek Chorale, New York, N.Y. (1977)

    Conducted workshops for
    New Jersey Music Educators Association,
    American Choral Directors Association
    Richmond Choral Society.

    Major accomplishments while teaching at
    CRANFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
    1988 — 2004

     

     

    Major accomplishments while teaching at
    LINDEN (NJ) HIGH SCHOOL
    1973 —1988

     

    • Expanded the enrollment in the vocal music program from 26 students to over 125 students.

    • The Linden High School Concert Choir received a ‘Silver Medal’ at the Montreal International Music Festival and ‘Excellent’ ratings at the state American Choral Directors Association Festival.

    • The Madrigal Singers received a ‘Superior’ rating and ‘Best Over All’ score out of 21 competing choirs and bands at the Heritage Music Festival in Newport, Rhode Island.

    • The Madrigal Singers won the Union County Teen Arts competition, the Union County Talent Expo competition and were selected by the New Jersey P.T.A. Association to perform at their annual convention at Resorts International Hotel in Atlantic City.

    • Averaged 7 students a year chosen to the Central Jersey Region II Chorus

    • Averaged 5 students a year chosen to the New Jersey All State Chorus.

    • 3 students chosen for All Eastern Chorus

    • 3 students chosen for the Governors School for the Performing Arts.

Index
Tom Pedas, The Celebration Singers and Children's Chorus
[MusicLine]
[Conductor][piano]
e-mail Tom Pedas at: tpedas@aol.com