PALISADES ELEMENTARY

 

Mrs. Sharon Evans hails from Connecticut, has been teaching music since 1983 and has been with CUSD since 2015.  Mrs. Evans received a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ and completed her CA Clear Credential at CSU San Marcos.  She is Level II certified in Orff-Schulwerk. Her principal instrument is voice although she also plays the piano, trumpet, djembe and guitar.  Over the years she has taught K-12 vocal and general music in both public and private schools in Massachusetts and California.  Mrs. Evans also has been ringing and directing handbell groups for over 30 years and enjoys drumming, reading and walking by the beach.  She is married with 2 grown children.

 

Macy Whitesell is a new choir and general music teacher. She started her musical journey taking piano lessons at age 5, which began a love for music in all its forms. All throughout her life, Mrs. Whitesell has enjoyed experiences like performing musical theater, playing in a fife and drum band, and singing in choirs. She started teaching piano lessons almost a decade ago, and has loved sharing her enjoyment of music ever since! In 2019, she earned her B.A. in Music with an education concentration and choral emphasis from Cal State Fullerton, graduating summa cum laude, and followed it with a teaching credential in 2020. Outside of teaching music, Mrs. Whitesell enjoys playing the piano at her church, collaborating with other musicians, and spending time with her family! 

 

 

 

Mr. Jeff Long is an Orange County native, happily residing in Dana Point. Mr. Long graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in Trombone Performance, he received his teaching credential from CSU Fullerton, and he recently obtained his Masters of Music in Music Education from the American Band College.  Mr. Long has been a Capistrano Unified music teacher for nine years, teaching both elementary block music and middle school band and orchestra during that time. In his spare time, he enjoys playing trombone, catching up on reading, and spending time with his family.

 

 

Mrs. Evelyn Lee received a master’s degree of Music Education from University of Illinois,Urbana Champaign, and a bachelor’s degree of Music Performance, Cello at the same university. She is certified in multiple areas including a California Single Subject Teaching Credential: Music, Pre-K-12; Illinois Professional Educator Teaching Certificate: Music, K-12; and California Cross-cultural, Language, and Academic Development Certificate. As a versatile individual, Mrs. Lee had the opportunity to hold a number of professional roles including the Chair of music festivals and competitions from Music Teacher Association of California, the instrumental and ensemble judge of various school districts, the music teacher at public school districts, the chamber music instructor of high school and middle school music ensembles, and private music instructor in Cello and Piano. Through these experiences, she has been fortunate enough to educate a diverse group of elementary, middle school, high school, and college students in both orchestra and band. Many of them have been accepted into honor state orchestras and bands under her supervision. In addition, as a veteran music teacher of different programs, she enjoys collaborating and finding new inspiration with other teachers in integrating music technology and pedagogy into the music curriculum, classroom teaching, and rehearsals. Mrs. Lee believes playing an instrument is one of the tools to appreciate, understand and build bridges with other cultures. Moreover, it is an opportunity for the students to make great friendships with others in the future. Mrs. Lee’s greatest joy is to see her students, who have grown tremendously from a beginner when they started young with her, grew into respectful young adults who can perform music passionately from the bottom of their hearts.