Olivia Black is the choral director at Wheeler Middle and High School in North Stonington, Connecticut, leading a strong program of middle and high school choirs, an advanced high school chamber ensemble, and teaching courses in piano, ukulele, and music theory. Olivia is an avid vocalist throughout New England, currently on the roster of professional ensembles including Voce (Hartford, CT), and Collegium Ancora (Providence, RI), the latter of which she also serves as Executive Director. Olivia earned a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Rhode Island College, studying voice and advanced conducting. Passionate about music education, Olivia was a staff conductor with the Rhode Island Children’s Chorus for five years, and conducted the ensemble for the ACDA Eastern Division conference in 2024. In addition to her current teaching responsibilities, Olivia is a frequent guest conductor, and will be conducting the SAB Premiere Choir at the 2024 CT-ACDA State Conference and at the Middle School Eastern Region Festival for CMEA in March, 2025.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Kelly Jones pursued her love of music at Temple University and received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from West Chester University where she had the honor of performing at prestigious venues like the Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music. Kelly also holds a graduate degree for "Curriculum and Instruction" from the University of Saint Joseph. Inspired by the profound impact a teacher had on her life, she has always aspired to make a difference in her students’ lives and instill a passion for music. Her commitment to excellence was recognized when she was named 'Teacher of the Year' for Milford Public Schools in 2023.
Starting her musical journey as a flute major, Kelly served as the principal flautist in the Chamber Wind Ensemble before finding her true calling in choral music. Her dedication to creating personal connections through singing was evident in her work as the musical director for Saint Joseph Parish in Pennsylvania, where she established a youth group, developed the adult choir, and organized cantors and small ensembles. Kelly was also instrumental in the building and development of the parish's new facility.
In 2010 Kelly joined the Milford Public Schools music department. And, in 2016 became the choir director at Jonathan Law High School bringing boundless passion and energy to her role. For the past eight years, she has inspired students with her dynamic teaching style, fostering a love for choral singing and building the program into a flourishing choral community that fosters leadership, acceptance and growth. Her students have found success performing in CMEA region honors festivals, All State, ACDA and Nafme All Eastern, All National, with Concora and recently, the JLHS Advanced Vocal Ensemble was honored to be showcased at the CMEA All-State Conference in 2022.
Her passion for music and teaching continues to inspire students and enrich the community around her. She owes all of her growth and success to the inspiring students she has the honor to work with every single day!
Leslie Imse is presently a College Supervisor of Student Teachers for the Ithaca College Music Department. She is also an Arts Grants Reviewer for the Connecticut Office of the Arts.
She recently retired as the K-12 Music Department Chair for the Farmington Public Schools in Farmington, Connecticut. Under her leadership the Farmington music department was recognized with numerous education awards. Most notably the Town of Farmington was named one of the Best Communities for Music Education and the Connecticut Arts Administrators Association’s Excellence in Arts Education Award for the district’s outstanding K-12 music program.
Leslie Imse is the recipient of music and educational awards. Recently she was celebrated by the Connecticut Music Education Association as the Connecticut Arts Administrator of the Year in 2022 and the Connecticut Arts Advocate of the Year by the Connecticut Arts Administrators Association in 2023. She was named Connecticut Choral Director of the Year by the Connecticut Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association in 2005 and 2016. The Connecticut State Department of Education awarded her with the Celebration of Excellence in Education Award in 1989 and Teacher of the Year Award in 1992. An active member in educational leadership, Leslie has served on the following Connecticut State Department of Education committees: Connecticut Arts Administrators COVID Task Force, State Teacher Competency Standards, Arts Interdisciplinary Standards Committee, Model Curriculum in Arts Committee, Review Board of CT Music Standards and Portfolio Scoring, TEAM/EDTPA reviewer. At the national level, she is an Advanced Placement Music Theory Reader for the College Board’s Educational Testing Services and reviews music theory textbooks for Barrons.
Leslie regularly authors articles and is a contributor to national arts organizations including museums. Her co-authored article, Student-Centered Classrooms: Past Initiatives and Future Practices was published in NAfME’s Music Education Journal in the December 2016 issue. Leslie was a contributor to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 2021 publication, Art for Life’s Sake: The Case for Arts Education, a project by the Commission of the Arts. During the pandemic, she partnered with museums and community organizations to facilitate innovation in public schools. The Arts Educational Partnership published her article, ”Novel Music Partnerships Foster Creative Performance Opportunities”outlining an innovative partnership with the state public school music programs and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra with the Hartt School of Music for free programming benefittng all organizations. She created a museum program supporting public school vocal music with the Mark Twain House and Museum and is published on their website: “Farmington High School Making Music with the Mark Twain,” 2021. This museum program was later featured in the New England Museum Association Journal. The Creative Generation, a non- profit organization specializing in cultivating creativity, published this education blog: The Mutual Benefits of Arts Partnerships Ignites Post-Pandemic Community Engagement In Cultural Life in 2022.
Under Mrs. Imse’s direction, her choirs have performed and collaborated with the following organizations: The Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut All-State Highlighted Ensemble, the Connecticut Opera Company, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, CONCORA, University of Connecticut Choirs and Orchestras, Hartford Chorale and the Manchester Symphony Orchestra. Some notable performance venues include: The HSO Talcott Mountain Music Festival, Bushnell with Hartford Symphony, Lincoln Memorial, Kennedy Center and the National Basilica of Washington DC, Grand Amway Hall in Grand Rapids MI, MGM Foxwoods, CT and numerous music conferences. Leslie is passionate about advocacy for the arts and innovations in music education.