User Name
mstonewall
Name
Merrilie Stonewall
Member Since
March 19, 2010
Bio
I am a high school band teacher who began teaching band and Biology over thirty years go. My music students needed more than just band with its limited curriculum so I began offering musical theatre after school. The extra curricular option was very popular and ten years later became an after school curricular course called performing arts. I no longer teach biology but concentrate on band and performing arts.
Educational Background
I have an education with a double major - biology and Music -voice. I studied voice and piano from early on. I have won many vocal competitions and am twice a silver medalist. I studied voice at the Banff School of Fine Arts under the late Dr. Vinci and studied with Polyna Savridi at the University of Calgary.
Number of years teaching
36
Favorite Playwright
Oscar Wilde
Favorite theatrical moment
I was privileged to see Colm Wilkenson perform Val Jean in Les Miserables.
Sondheim or Rodgers and Hammerstein?
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Interests
My interests include learning, laughing, reading, local theatre including plays and musicals, making costumes. As well, I enjoy traveling.
Something you should know about me!
I love to laugh. I enjoy a good glass of red wine, I enjoy shoe shopping. I had tea with the queen.
Accomplishments
In my teaching career I have produced over 60 musicals none of them the same. I gave my first piano concert when I was two. I have won numerous Pan Canadian Student Choice Awards and was an Alberta Education 2009 Excellence in Teaching Award semifinalist. I have 2 children. I have taught many students who have gone onto work as music teachers, actors , directors and sound and light engineers.
I have gone on over 30 band tours with my students in my career.
Upcoming Projects
The latest show I am working on is Les Misérables. The show goes up March 23 and runs to March 27th. It has been a significant challenge. I take my Concert Band on tour to Florida and then on a Carnivale Cruise where we are part of the ship's entertainment.
School/Organization Name
Cochrane High School
