Canton Public Schools

K-12 Performing Arts Department

Sarah Gardner Collmer, K-12 Performing Arts Coordinator

K-12 Performing Arts Department Faculty

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SARAH GARDNER COLLMER, K-12 Department Coordinator/ CHS Chorus & Electives

Sarah Gardner, the new K-12 performing arts coordinator for the Canton Public Schools, said her love for music began almost immediately when she walked up to her family’s piano at age 3 and began to press the keys. Gardner continued her musical pursuits throughout her schooling, working primarily with piano, flute and percussion, and picking up guitar after college. A graduate of UMass Amherst, Gardner has taught elementary and middle school students in Franklin and Wellesley. Now teaching high school students Gardner said, “High school students are very different, but a nice change. The music we work on is more sophisticated and the focus is on a higher level of mastery. Gardner has spent the beginning of her year meeting with students and teachers in her department to discuss their visions and goals for the upcoming year. When asked to pick her favorite musician, she said that many come to mind. The person who tops her list as her “musical hero” is Yo-Yo Ma for his beautiful musicianship and his love and appreciation of all genres of music. Other favorite musicians at the present time include Carol King and Coldplay. In her free time Gardner said she enjoys cooking, running, playing tennis and spending time with her family and friends.

BRIAN THOMAS, CHS Band & Electives

BIO coming soon!

BARBARA GORCZYCA, GMS Strings & Electives

ANNELISE LESSER, Hansen Music & Elementary Strings

LESLEYANNE NEWSTED, GMS Music & Electives,  CHS Jazz

LesleyAnne Newsted  received a Bachelor's degree in music education and is currently working on her Master’s degree from Michigan State University.  While in college Ms. Newsted’s  major instrument was saxophone and she performed in numerous ensembles including the Wind Symphony, Spartan Marching Band, Jazz Band I, Symphony Orchestra, Women's Glee Club, and the Little Blue Saxophone Quartet.

In addition to middle school general music, Ms. Newsted has taught k-6 elementary general music and high school concert and marching band. She also worked as a saxophone clinician and marching drill instructor for numerous high schools throughout mid-Michigan.

Besides teaching music and playing my saxophone, Ms. Newsted loves to swing dance and has performed and taught many vernacular jazz dances including Lindy Hop, Charleston, East Coast, and ShimSham to both grade-school and collegiate students.

In her free time you will probably find Ms. Newsted playing my favorite video games (Rockband and DanceDance Revolution of course!!!), tossing a frisbee, creating crazy paper mache animals, or reading a good book!

 

JOHN RUSSELL, GMS Chorus, Band, Jazz Band & Electives

by Kevin Fortin

Mr. Russell is the Band Director at the Galvin Middle School. He also currently directs the 8th grade chorus. His whole teaching career has been here in Canton. He went to Westfield State College in Massachusetts as a vocal major where he studied Music Education. In addition to studying voice he has also studied various brass and woodwind instruments. While growing up, music was all around him; his mother was a “wonderful pianist” and they would always sing on holidays and family celebrations. His interest in music education sprouted when he was a student at Canton High School, where he participated in chorus and drama. He loved performing, and that and his music teachers, Dick Lavache and Gary McNamara, helped build his interest in Music Education. His favorite music teacher of all time, though, was his college choral professor Dr. Ted Davidovich, who taught him a multitude of choral repertoire. He even learned songs in Greek and Gaelic. Mr. Russell is currently a member of the Canton Choral Society and also is a Cantor at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Milton.

REBECCA SMART, Kennedy Music, Chorus & Band

Anna Maria alum Becky Smart teaches music, band, chorus and xylos at the Kennedy School.  Ms. Smart plays the flute, piano, guitar and loves to sing.  Although she wanted to become an engineer, she also was interested in music.  Ms. Smart loves sharing many types of music and musical experiences with her students as well as guiding students in their own compositions and seeking out music they love.  The music that Ms. Smart loves includes James Taylor, the John Butler Trio, Beethoven, Bach, Copland, and Coldplay.  In her fifth year of teaching, Ms. Smart says, “I still find this job interesting, challenging and rewarding.”  Outside of music education, Ms. Smart enjoys spending time hiking, biking, kayaking, reading, traveling and is currently learning French!

STEPHANIE SHAPIRO, CHS Drama Club Advisor

By Lucca Chen

Stephanie Shapiro is not only a guidance counselor at Canton High School but also the director of the Drama Club's fall musicals, including this year's Little Shop of Horrors. She first fell in love with theater when she was only five years old and saw a musical with her family. After it was over, she went to the main lobby of the theater and began to sing some of the songs from the show. From that point on, she knew that she wanted to be involved in theater and participated in plays and theater classes. As a child, Ms. Shapiro also played the piano and the clarinet, but she found her real passion with theater. She was inspired to become a high school theater teacher after working with her own high school theater teacher, who "was and still is the example I try to model my teaching after." After graduating from Emerson College, Ms. Shapiro began her teaching career as a theater specialist for students in grades K-5 in the Boston Public Schools. At the same time Ms. Shapiro got involved at the Galvin Middle School where she directed the musicals.  When she became a full time teacher at the Galvin she taught performing arts and communications. When the former director of Canton High School's musicals retired, Ms. Shapiro seized the opportunity to fulfill her dream to become the brilliant high school theater teacher that she is today.

JENNIFER TOWER, Luce Music, Chorus & Band

Mrs. Tower has been teaching music in the Canton Public Schools for the past 3 years; first at the Hansen and now at the Luce!  Before coming to Canton, Mrs. Tower taught in both elementary and middle schools in New York and Arizona.  She loves being a music teacher and feels so lucky to have the opportunity to know all the kids in the school, and to get to spend the day singing, moving and playing instruments!  Mrs. Tower recently moved to Canton, so when the weather gets warm you may see her walking to and from school.  She lives with her husband and three cats named Conan, Max and Cleo (her husband is Steve).  In her spare time, Mrs. Tower enjoys going to the beach, reading, making jewelry, exercising, and of course, playing music. Her main instrument is the bass clarinet.