Directors

Experience

Mrs. Beard has been involved in Choir for 30 years - elementary, high school, college, community, and church choir. She was a member of the Rochester Oratorio Society in Rochester, NY, did opera performances in college, and has performed with ensembles and done solo work for church productions. She has directed both children and adult choirs along with vocal ensembles in church. She is the former Adult & Children's Choir director for Oakland Christian Church.

Mrs. Beard started the Vocal Music program at OHMI, whose students have been chosen for State Honors Choir, and received multiple Division I & II ratings at MSVMA festivals. Her choirs will also perform at MSVMA State Choral Festival. She is the Communications coordinator for MSVMA District IV, and the All-State Honors Choir Coordinator for the Michigan Homeschool Music Network.

Mrs. Beard graduated from Oral Roberts University with 28 credits in Music, and received a Minor in Vocal music along with a nursing major. While at Oral Roberts University she studied voice with Dr. George Stephenson. She adds to her choral experience by taking classes in Choral techniques and conducting at music education conferences.

Mrs. Beard homeschools her three children, and does all the administrative duties for OHMI. When she has the time, she practices piano and is learning to play the harp. She also enjoys organic gardening, canning, cross-stitch, and is an avid reader.

Experience
Mrs. Boelter teaches private flute, recorder, and voice lessons. Her teaching experience includes ten years of homeschooling, teaching German language classes and recorder for homeschool students. Mrs. Boelter has also taught corporate German classes for over a decade.

Education & Professional Involvement
Mrs. Boelter has a Bachelor of Music in Early Music Performance from Oakland University, and has completed graduate studies towards a Masters of Music in Early Music Performance. While at Oakland University, she studied period instruments with Lyle Nordstrom, voice with Edie Diggory, and flute with Ervin Monroe (Principal Flute, Detroit Symphony Orchestra). Mrs. Boelter has performed recorder solos with several local symphonies, and was a featured soprano soloist with the DeHavan Chorale for eight years. She also conducted the Collegium Musicum at Oakland University for two semesters. She played bassoon for several seasons with the North Oakland Concert Band, and is currently a staff singer at Christ Church Cranbrook.

Personal
Mrs. Boelter is a homeschooling mother who lives in Auburn Hills with her husband and four children.

For nearly twenty years Mrs. Lewis has been actively involved in her church as worship accompanist on the piano, choir member, and children’s choir director. Her involvement with music goes back to childhood when she began singing solos at school for homecoming each year, and accompanied her school choir for concerts and graduation ceremonies. She also enjoyed entering piano and vocal competitions. During her freshman year in college, she began to learn to play the violin. After college, she spent a summer in Europe touring as a vocalist with the Continental Singers. She spent four years teaching elementary and junior high music at a Christian school and has taught private piano and violin lessons in her home.

Mrs. Lewis began her college education at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. After a year at Messiah, she accepted a scholarship to Valley Forge Christian College and spent a semester there studying music education and piano performance. She graduated from Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey with degrees in Psychology and Education.

Mrs. Lewis moved to Michigan in the fall of 2005, after living in New Jersey her entire life. While in college, she met her husband, Ed, and they now live in Novi. Mary Beth spends most of her daily time and energy home schooling their three daughters. Outside of playing the piano and the violin, she enjoys rubber stamping, sewing, reading and cooking.

Education
Allison Rhoades received her Bachelor and Master of Music Education from Florida State University.

Personal
Mrs. Rhoades has lived in Rochester Hills with her husband and two daughters for the past four years, having previously lived in the Toledo, Ohio area. In addition to teaching for OHMI, Mrs. Rhoades is a violinist with the Bloomfield-Birmingham Symphony. In her spare time, she enjoys biking with her family, tennis and gardening.


	Directors
	Mr. Merlyn D Beard II Music Director - Waterford/Troy Experience Mr. Beard has been teaching for eighteen years in public and private school, as well as providing lessons for numerous private students. He has taught all levels of music from elementary through high school, and is presently the director of the Waterford Kettering High School orchestra program which includes Chamber, Symphony, and Concert orchestras. His Chamber Orchestra has received frequent "Superior" ratings at MSBOA State festivals and performs regularly around the area. Mr. Beard is the Treasurer for the Michigan Homeschool Music Network. In the 2007 - 2008 school year, Mr. Beard was chosen MSBOA District 4 Orchestra Teacher of the Year. Education Mr. Beard graduated from Oral Roberts University with a Bachelors in Music Education. He received his Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Oakland University. He has done post-graduate study in string music education at University of Michigan and orchestral conducting at Illinois State University. Mr. Beard has studied orchestral conducting with Maestro Kurt Musprat, Dr. Glen Block, Dr. David Daniels and Dr. Gregory Cunningham. Personal Mr. Beard has lived most of his life in Oakland County and grew up in Clawson, Michigan. He presently lives in Springfield Township with his wife and their three children, who all play string instruments - cello and violins - and sing. Mr. & Mrs. Beard have homeschooled their children for six years. Click here to see homework and announcements. Mrs. Cherub Beard Choir Director - Waterford/Troy Experience Mrs. Beard has been involved in Choir for 30 years - elementary, high school, college, community, and church choir. She was a member of the Rochester Oratorio Society in Rochester, NY, did opera performances in college, and has performed with ensembles and done solo work for church productions. She has directed both children and adult choirs along with vocal ensembles in church. She is the former Adult & Children's Choir director for Oakland Christian Church. Mrs. Beard started the Vocal Music program at OHMI, whose students have been chosen for State Honors Choir, and received multiple Division I & II ratings at MSVMA festivals. Her choirs will also perform at MSVMA State Choral Festival. She is the Communications coordinator for MSVMA District IV, and the All-State Honors Choir Coordinator for the Michigan Homeschool Music Network. . Education Mrs. Beard graduated from Oral Roberts University with 28 credits in Music, and received a Minor in Vocal music along with a nursing major. While at Oral Roberts University she studied voice with Dr. George Stephenson. She adds to her choral experience by taking classes in Choral techniques and conducting at music education conferences. Personal Mrs. Beard homeschools her three children, and does all the administrative duties for OHMI. When she has the time, she practices piano and is learning to play the harp. She also enjoys organic gardening, canning, cross-stitch, and is an avid reader. Click here to see homework and announcements. Mrs. Sonja Boelter Band Director - Waterford Experience Mrs. Boelter teaches private flute, recorder, and voice lessons. Her teaching experience includes ten years of homeschooling, teaching German language classes and recorder for homeschool students. Mrs. Boelter has also taught corporate German classes for over a decade. Education & Professional Involvement Mrs. Boelter has a Bachelor of Music in Early Music Performance from Oakland University, and has completed graduate studies towards a Masters of Music in Early Music Performance. While at Oakland University, she studied period instruments with Lyle Nordstrom, voice with Edie Diggory, and flute with Ervin Monroe (Principal Flute, Detroit Symphony Orchestra). Mrs. Boelter has performed recorder solos with several local symphonies, and was a featured soprano soloist with the DeHavan Chorale for eight years. She also conducted the Collegium Musicum at Oakland University for two semesters. She played bassoon for several seasons with the North Oakland Concert Band, and is currently a staff singer at Christ Church Cranbrook. Personal Mrs. Boelter is a homeschooling mother who lives in Auburn Hills with her husband and four children. Click here to see homework and announcements. Mr. Chris Braue Band Director - Waterford Experience Chris Braue has taught band - marching, symphonic, & jazz - at the high school & middle school level in Waterford for 13 years. He has also conducted the Big Band Jazz ensemble at Oakland University. Along with teaching in the classroom, he teaches privately, and is in a professional jazz quintet that has performed all over Michigan - the Detroit Montreaux Jazz Festival, Petosky Jazz Festival, and the Idlewile Jazz Festival. Education Mr. Braue graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Music Education and Saxophone Studies. He also attended Wayne State University where he earned a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance. Personal Mr. Braue was born in Nebraska, but has spent most of his life in Michigan. He participates in his church music program and worship team when he has the time. He also enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and backpacking, and lives in Holly with his wife and two children. Click here to see homework and announcements. Mrs. Jo Anne Kroll EMC Teacher - Waterford/Troy Experience Mrs. Kroll has been working with young children in the church since her early teen years. She has also been a member of several children, teen and adult choirs, including competition groups in high school and the exclusive Alma College Women’s Glee Club which is featured in annual recordings. She combined her passion for music with her love for children in 2003 when she founded the Music and Mission choir for preschool and primary children, which presents concerts for local nursing homes. She also leads her church’s annual preschool Christmas program and acts as the preschool church class director during Sunday and Wednesday evening services. Education Mrs. Kroll minored in Vocal Music Performance at Alma College (which she attended through academic and vocal music scholarships) while completing a degree in Religious Studies (Christian Education emphasis). She studied children’s choir directing for three terms as an intern at First Presbyterian in Alma. Mrs. Kroll also attends frequent workshops regarding using music as an educational tool through her denominational lay studies opportunities. Personal Mrs. Kroll moved from Seattle Washington a decade ago and currently lives in Waterford with her husband and three home-schooled children. Click here to see homework and announcements. Mrs. Mary Beth Lewis Orchestra Director - Waterford EXPERIENCE For nearly twenty years Mrs. Lewis has been actively involved in her church as worship accompanist on the piano, choir member, and children’s choir director. Her involvement with music goes back to childhood when she began singing solos at school for homecoming each year, and accompanied her school choir for concerts and graduation ceremonies. She also enjoyed entering piano and vocal competitions. During her freshman year in college, she began to learn to play the violin. After college, she spent a summer in Europe touring as a vocalist with the Continental Singers. She spent four years teaching elementary and junior high music at a Christian school and has taught private piano and violin lessons in her home. EDUCATION Mrs. Lewis began her college education at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. After a year at Messiah, she accepted a scholarship to Valley Forge Christian College and spent a semester there studying music education and piano performance. She graduated from Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey with degrees in Psychology and Education. PERSONAL Mrs. Lewis moved to Michigan in the fall of 2005, after living in New Jersey her entire life. While in college, she met her husband, Ed, and they now live in Novi. Mary Beth spends most of her daily time and energy home schooling their three daughters. Outside of playing the piano and the violin, she enjoys rubber stamping, sewing, reading and cooking. Click here to see homework and announcements. Mrs. Allison Rhoades Orchestra Teacher - Waterford & Troy Experience Allison Rhoades is active in the metro-Detroit, Michigan area as a violinist, clinician and Director of Vivace Summer Orchestra Camp in Perrysburg, Ohio. Originally from New York, Mrs. Rhoades taught middle and high school orchestra in the Clayton County, Georgia schools and directed the Clayton County Honor Orchestra. In recent years, she has served as guest conductor of the All-County Music Festival and Long Island String Festival and has been involved in many summer music camps including those at Furman University and Florida State University. Mrs. Rhoades has served on the American String Teacher's Association board and is a published author on violin literature. Education Allison Rhoades received her Bachelor and Master of Music Education from Florida State University. Personal Mrs. Rhoades has lived in Rochester Hills with her husband and two daughters for the past four years, having previously lived in the Toledo, Ohio area. In addition to teaching for OHMI, Mrs. Rhoades is a violinist with the Bloomfield-Birmingham Symphony. In her spare time, she enjoys biking with her family, tennis and gardening. Click here to see homework and announcements.
	Oakland Homeschool Music, Inc.