Title: Head of Music
Years at Camp: 11th summer in 2011
Department: Theater, Music, Administration
Camp Bio:
Mel is returning for her 11th summer on staff at the Ballibay Camps! Through the years she has worn many hats. She began her Ballibay career as a lighting instructor and designer for her first 3 years and then switched to teaching voice. While on the music staff, Mel has served as voice teacher, chorus director, music theatre director, and strings teacher. She has been music director for many shows including Beauty and The Beast, Peter Pan, Aida, Snoopy!!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and many others. She has also co-directed many Music and Dance Reviews with Kristin Fieseler including Cole Minors and Viva Las Vegas!.
Other duties have included being the C.I.T program coordinator and adviser, lighting designer, cabin counselor, and office assistant.
Professional/School Bio:
Public School Teaching:
Melissa has spent the past two years as Music Director and Voice Teacher at the Fostertown ETC Magnet school in Newburgh NY. While at Fostertown, Melissa has created and directed 12 Kindergarten/First Grade vocal/theatre performances. The highlight of her K/1 experience being a concert performance of 'The Polar Express'. She has music directed 4 "classroom musicals" with the 2nd and 3rd grade levels. Her 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes come together to produce a fully staged musical. She has music directed and choreographed 'Aladdin Jr.' (2010) and 'The Wizard of Oz' (2011).
Professional Voice Teacher:
Melissa has spent the past 8 years teaching singing to students of all ages. She teaches many genres of voice including Broadway, Classical/Opera, Jazz, Pop, Rock, and Folk. A strong believer in 'thinking outside of the box', Melissa teaches from the heart and makes sure each student feels comfortable enough to 'get out of their head' and 'sing from the heart'. With a gentle and fun personality but high expectations, Melissa is able to get the best out of all her singers and makes every lesson, even your first, feel like a success!
Professional Singer:
Soprano, Melissa Howe, continues to build her career as a professional singer. Melissa has recently completed her Masters in Vocal Performance from Ithaca college where she studied with Carol McAmis. During her time at Ithaca she sang with the Ithaca Opera Workshp and with the Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton NY. She has sung in the chorus for 'La Boheme' and 'The Merry Widow' at TCO. In her undergrad studies at SUNY Potsdam/Crane School of Music, Melissa sang in the chorus for 'La Boheme' and was a soloist in the staged production of Bach's 'St. Matthews Passion'.
Melissa has been lucky to work with many talented musicians and performers. In the Summer of 2006, Melissa studied at the Asolo Song Festival in Paderno del grappa, Italy. At Asolo, she sang the First Lady in a scene from Mozart's 'Magic Flute' as well as many songs from the art song and opera repertory. In the Summer of 2007, Melissa was a participant in the 4-Week Opera Intensive Session at OperaWorks, headed by Ann Baltz in Los Angeles.
Recent performances include soprano soloist in 'The Messiah' and Soprano soloist in Rutter's 'Requiem' and 'Magnificat' with The Masterworks Chorale of Skaneateles NY. Melissa will be auditioning for Portland Opera in the Winter of 2011.
Free Time?!:
When not singing, playing piano, music directing shows, or doing anything related to music... I can be found enjoying nature, reading a good book, or creating beaded jewelry. Oh, and spending time with my new cat Jack and playing online scrabble with my Twin Sister, Melanie. I also love a good game of Uno... watch out.. I win EVERY time!
Arrival Date at Camp: June 25, 2011
Home Town: Bainbridge NY / Portland OR
Email Address: melissahowe@gmail.com
Keywords: Returning Staff, Department Head, All Staff
