Deryl Harter

Background

About Deryl Harter

As a passionate music educator and conductor, I've dedicated my life and career to fostering a love of music and nurturing young talents. Upon graduating from The University Of Washington with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education, my professional journey began in Seattle Public Schools, where I spent eight enriching years shaping young minds in the music classroom. Leading a choir of 80-100 students, I instilled discipline and a love for choral singing. We performed multiple concerts throughout each school year for our local community, as well as our greater Seattle community. My choir's performances of the National Anthem at esteemed events including Seattle Mariners, Seattle Storm, and UW athletic events were cherished milestones that grew our community and strengthened our program each year. At Charles Wright Academy, I continued to hone my skills in teaching young musicians. I developed and implemented an innovative and holistic curriculum that emphasizes creativity, movement, singing, instrumentation, and literacy, empowering students to express themselves through music and grow in their musical confidence. In my three years at CWA, I made a strong impact on our community by growing the music program offerings to include a comprehensive curriculum for grades K-4, and focused instrumental program units in both the recorder and ukulele. I also composed many music works to implement in and out of the classroom including a school anthem, which students and faculty are proud to sing at community events and assemblies. Beyond the classroom, I've lent my voice as a tenor and soloist across various Seattle-Tacoma ensembles including Symphony Tacoma Voices, The Esoterics, Solaris Vocal Ensemble, and Whateverandeveramen. My passion for music also spans into conducting, where I have experience in leading diverse age groups and levels of talent, from guiding young voices to directing adult ensembles. When I am not teaching, singing, or conducting, I enjoy composing music, as well as finding new music, artists, and composers to help grow my repertoire and my understanding of music as an expressive artform.