VT Music Chair

Are you a high school student that wants to learn more about Virginia Tech? Are you interested continuing your musical studies as a music major, minor, and/or by playing in ensembles? If so, summer is a GREAT time to visit Blacksburg. Send me a DM and we’ll find a time for you to meet with one of our outstanding faculty or staff to discuss our music curriculum and how special it is to be a Hokie. Virginia Tech is a great place for musicians, don’t miss the opportunity to see this for yourself! Check out the link in my bio to learn everything you need to know about visiting Blacksburg.

Graduation Spotlight: Kieran Casey

2024 graduate Virginia Tech Keiran Casey has been accepted to the graduate Music in New Media program at the Peabody Institute! A native of Richmond, VA., Keiran is a graduate of Douglas Southall Freeman High School. He chose Virginia Tech because he ”saw opportunities and facilities that would help me build my career.”

Keiran praises Virginia Tech’s music program for placing “an emphasis on becoming your own musician. Virginia Tech’s music program allowed me to experience the wide range of responsibilities a composer has to have while also supporting my interests. This led to the creation of my first movie that I directed, composed and wrote titled The Tale of Two Brothers!

Keiran is excited to be a part of the inaugural class of the Music in New Media program and plans to pursue a career in Film and Video Game music.

Incoming Student Feature: Gwen Moore

Welcome to Virginia Tech Gwen Moore! Gwen is an incoming music education major (clarinet) from Yorktown, VA. A graduate of Grafton High School and an alumnus of , she has been a student of ( ) Mr. Darren Kirsch and Mr. Percy Ironmonger. A 3-year member of the All-Virginia Band, Gwen also enjoys playing saxophone in marching band and jazz ensemble.

Gwen chose Virginia Tech because she was “drawn to the tight-knit community in the music program and how welcoming and kind all of the faculty and students have been!”

Congratulations to Gwen on all of her success. We all look forward to having her on campus this fall.

Graduation Spotlight: Annabell Graham

Congratulations to 2024 graduate Virginia Tech Annabell Graham on her appointment as the Elementary Music Teacher at Cloverdale Elementary School and Troutville Elementary School in Botetourt County, Virginia! A graduate of Marian High School in Marian, Virginia, Annabell chose Virginia Tech “because of Dr. Catheryn Foster. She spent a lot of time and energy making it possible for me to complete my Masters at VT. Throughout my two years at Tech, she continuously went out of her way to make sure I would be prepared to have my own classroom...I was also able to connect with the music faculty and gain mentors throughout my experience. ”

Annabell worked with several faculty to develop her professional profile, stating “The Virginia Tech faculty introduced me to opportunities that have helped prepare me for my career. Dr. Emmett O’Leary connected me to an Orff-Schulwerk teacher education program that has significantly helped me grow as a music teacher.”

As she begins her career Annbell is excited to “share her passion and help students find what they love about music. I hope to shape children into lifelong music-makers and music-lovers!”

Congrats to Annabell on all her success, the students in Botetourt County are very lucky to have you!

Incoming Student Feature: Annalyse Hasty

Welcome to Virginia Tech Annalyse Hasty! Annalyse is an incoming music performance (voice) and Music Technolgy major from Smith Mountain Lake, VA. A graduate of Franklin County High School, she has studied music with Mr. Jerry Wimmer. Annalyse is also an accomplished guitarist and singer/songwriter.

Annalyse chose Virginia Tech because “when I met with artists and professors at VT, I immediately felt a sense of belonging. The campus and the people there created a welcoming and supportive environment that made me feel at home. As a performer, I wanted to broaden my skills by exploring both music production and music performance. Virginia Tech stood out to me because it offers a comprehensive program that covers both aspects of music.

Annalyse is excited to “make new friends, join clubs, and attend ball games, but I am most excited to explore my creativity through music in my Living Learning Community, Studio72. I can’t wait to join the Blacksburg music community!”

Congratulations to Annalyse on all of her success. We all look forward to having her on campus this fall. .

Graduation Spotlight: Peyton Gentry

Congratulations to 2024 graduate Virginia Tech Peyton Gentry on his appointment as the Band Director at Liberty High School in Bedford, Virginia! An alum of and a graduate of Northside High School in Roanoke, Virginia, Peyton chose Virginia Tech because “of the incredible professors and staff. These mentors have taught me so much and I’m forever thankful for each of them. The support and insight that each professor offers to their students is absolutely remarkable and truly makes you feel a part of a team.”

Peyton praises Virginia Tech’s music education program for “helping me reach my goals as a music educator by equipping me with the necessary resources and opportunities needed to develop my teaching skills. Not only did my time here teach me the skills needed for this profession but allowed me to collaborate with numerous musicians that all helped me develop my own artistry.”

As he begins his career Peyton is excited to “actually do the thing I’ve been wanting to do for so long! It feels so crazy to be at the finish line and now that it’s here there is so much to be excited for! I’m really excited to learn more about this program and hopefully begin to change the lives of many students with my passion for music.”

Congratulations to Peyton on all his success! The students at LHS are lucky to have you!

Graduation Spotlight: Josie Chase

Congratulations to 2024 Virginia Tech graduate Josie Chase on her appointment as the strings teacher at James Madison Middle School in Roanoke, Virginia! A graduate of Mills A. Godwin High School in Richmond, Josie was an active member of the orchestra led by Mr. William Raposo. Josie chose Virginia Tech “because of the amazing music faculty as well as the Virginia Tech String Project (VTSP). I had the opportunity to gain teaching experience through VTSP since I was a freshman, all the way through my grad year.”

Josie praises the extensive teaching experiences embedded in Virginia Tech’s music education program, “Virginia Tech has helped me to feel confident in being a first-year teacher because we spent two full semesters on our student teaching/internship. I feel very prepared going into teaching music in public school.”

As she begins her career Josie is excited to “work with the students at James Madison and grow a strong strings program.” She’s also thankful for the professional community she will be a part of, “I was able to do my student teaching in Roanoke City, and am looking forward to working again with the amazing strings teachers (including Jeff Midkiff) that helped me to be the educator I am now.”

Congrats to Josie on all her success, the students at JMS are lucky to have you!

Graduation Spotlight: Jeffrey Gill

Congratulations to 2024 Virginia Tech graduate Jeffrey Gill on his appointment as Director of Bands at Floyd County High School in Floyd, Virginia! A graduate of King George High School and alumni of the , Jeff’s music teachers included Mr. Tommy Daniels and ( ) Mr. Kevin Cheatham. Jeff chose Virginia Tech due to the “the lovely people who made you feel like family from the moment you stepped foot on campus, and the infectious school spirit that made you yearn to be a Hokie yourself!”

Jeff praises his professors as “some of the most supportive, effective, and well-read instructors in the profession. Their constant, clear, and helpful feedback helped me build upon my skills both in and outside of the music classroom.” He also values “the connections I have created through my time in the music education program [that] have helped provide me with a strong network of mentors and peers who I can rely on as I enter the field this year.”

As he begins his career as a music educator Jeff is excited to “to begin changing lives for students through the power of music. As cheesy as it may sound, the effect I can have on students and their overall experiences in high school and beyond is a major reason I joined the profession. Some of the best memories I have of public education occurred within my band classes, and I plan to create those same lifelong memories with my students in the coming years!”

Congrats to Jeff on all his success, the students in Floyd are lucky to have you!

I () had a great time listening to some fantastic jazz ensembles yesterday at District 8 jazz assessment. Congrats to all the ensembles and their directors! It was especially cool to hear groups led by (and alums) Mr. Ben Lawson, Mr. Robert Deis, Mr. Doug Spruill, Mr. Brian Grieb, and Mr. Darren Kirsch. All these teachers are making a huge impact on their communities by serving students and their families. My colleagues and I couldn’t be prouder of them. It was also great to run into a few future Hokies like . Congrats again to all the groups!

Thanks to everyone that stopped by and said hello today! Dr. .oleary and I have had a great time meeting friends, colleagues, and students (including a TON of future ) at the All Virginia Band, Choir, and Orchestra Event! We’ll be back in the morning and we still have an amazing selection of (free!) VT swag!!! Stop by and say hello!

Students! Alumni! Music educators! Friends! Well wishers! Don’t forget to grab some free swag (!!!!) say hello to Dr. and Dr. .oleary at the All Virginia Music Band, Chorus & Orchestra event this week.

Congratulations to Dr. , Dr. Dallin Baldwin and all the singers in Virginia Tech Choirs for an outstanding performance this afternoon!