FYI Staff

FYI! Staff

Dr. Elizabeth Cassidy Parker
Co-Artistic Director, Commonwealth Youthchoirs
Music Director, Find Your Instrument

Dr. Elizabeth Cassidy Parker is Co-Artistic Director of Commonwealth Youthchoirs and an Associate Professor of Music Education at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University. An active clinician for children’s and youth choirs, Parker held the position of Director of Music for a large New York City not-for-profit where she grew a children’s choir program of more than 250 voices. While on music faculty at Columbus State University in Georgia, she was appointed the Artistic Director of the Voices of the Valley Youth Choir. Parker has also taught P-12 school and community choirs in New York, Nebraska, and Georgia, focusing on the vocal development of young people in choral contexts. As a choral singer, she performed for several seasons with the Marble Collegiate Sanctuary Choir in New York City, and sang in Carnegie Hall with James Conlon and Robert Shaw. Her choirs have engaged in several tours and commissions of emerging composers. Parker’s research interests include the social and philosophical development of adolescent choral singers as well as emerging identities of preservice music educators. She frequently presents her research nationally and internationally at such conferences as the American Choral Directors Association, The American Educational Research Association, NAfME’s Society for Research in Music Education, the Society for Music Teacher Education, and the International Society for Music Education. Parker is published in research journals such as The Journal of Research in Music Education, The Choral JournalMusic Education ResearchResearch Studies in Music Education, and The International Journal of Music Education. She frequently engages educators in practitioner workshops, guest conducts in honor choirs, and adjudicates choral festivals. Parker holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory (BME and MME) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (PhD).

 

Marlis Kraft
FYI Teaching Artist

Marlis Kraft is a teaching artist for Find Your Instrument. Marlis grew up in Switzerland and earned her teacher’s degree at the Pädagogisches Seminar in Zurich. At Lesley College in Boston she obtained her MA Ed. She is Orff trained and taught for 20 years at Oak Lane Day School, at Community Partnership School from 2010 – 2018.

 

 

Ebonye Holmes
FYI Program Manager

Ebonye Holmes is the Rehearsal & Performance Manager for Keystone State Boychoir (KSB) and the Program Manager for Find Your Instrument (FYI). Ebonye joined the staff in 2019 after several years as a dedicated parent volunteer. Ebonye coordinates all aspects of rehearsals, including logistics, space, set-up, and attendance. She also coordinates our FYI! Program and works with the schools, staff and children to ensure a successful experience at the various sites. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she attended Philadelphia public schools and Eastern University where she earned a bachelor of arts & science in Elementary Education.  Ebonye has worked with Philadelphia public schools students for 10 years of her professional career.  She is also a mother of two boys and proud parent of a KSB singer.