Professor Rebecca Schaffer Wells has been named director of choirs at Thomas More College. In addition to directing the choir and recruiting new members, she will continue her role as an adjunct music professor. She is a 1983 graduate of Thomas More College and has been employed at the college since 1997.
In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Thomas More College, Wells studied jazz/studio music on the baccalaureate level at UC/College-Conservatory of Music, earned a Bachelor of Music/Performance from Northern Kentucky University in 2005 and a Master of Music Performance from Miami University in 2007. Choral teachers and mentors include Randy Pennington and Earl Rivers, Joe Simmons and Melodie Coddington, and her parents, Robert J. and Rita Avram Schaffer.
Although this is a new position, choir is not a new program at Thomas More. Wells has been directing the choir at the college for the past four years. Prior directors include Professor Stephen Goforth, Mark Schaffer, Bob Shaffer and George Higdon.
Current choirs include TMC Singers (non-auditioned) and the Chelsean Chamber Choir (auditioned). Plans are under way to add additional choirs: jazz/rock, acapella, and liturgical/sacred music. Choral opportunities are growing for interested students, regardless of major.
The college continues to offer the Associate of Arts in Music as a pre-professional or para-professional degree. Students can apply for up to $8,000 in choir scholarships. There are no plans to develop a four-year program.
On February 14, the college will offer a Music Experience Day for high school students. Students will get the chance to rehearse with the college band and choir members and will perform with them at the home basketball game that afternoon.
Transfer students for the Spring 2015 semester, which begins Monday, Jan. 12, can join the choir.
Concerts offered on campus will be free and open to the public. The first concert is being planned for mid-March and is a joint effort between choirs at Thomas More College, Covington Latin School and Roger Bacon High School.
Thomas More College music studies help students develop the skills, knowledge and experience to continue participating in music for their whole lives.
From Thomas More College