Mary Ober

Background

About Mary Ober

Choral director 30+ yrs, incl. 12 yrs @Faith UCC. Faith Choir chosen as one of 6 finalist choirs for WCLV "Jubilation!" choral festival on live broadcast 5/20/10. Left position at Faith in August, 2015. Retired Music & French teacher (Bedford City Schools: 20 yrs; Elyria City Schools, 9 years). PhD, University of Pittsburgh, completed April 2012. Dissertation title:"Expressive Prosody in French Solo Song: Gabriel Fauré's Mélodies and their Historical Antecedents." Associate and studio photographer, Revy Fair Trade Products (with husband Ron Ober): since spring 2010. Speak, read, write: French, German, Danish. Publication: title article in American Choral Directors Choral Journal, Dec. to an Historically Accurate Performance of Edvard Grieg's 'Fire Salmer.'(Four Psalms), op. 107," including complete English translation and IPA guide to the original Norwegian. Article based on research completed for MMusic, Kent State University, 1998. General music teacher, grades K-8, 29+ years, secondary French 5 yrs. Developed World Music curriculum for elementary to middle school grades. Handbell director 15+ years, both church and public school positions (Heskett Middle School, Faith UCC, two other churches). 1998-99 Created, organized and led "International StreetChoir" on 15-day custom tour in Europe (Venice, Munich, Heidelberg, Bruges, Paris, London); 18 teens + 8 adults, under the auspices of EF Tours. Private studio for piano and voice, periodically, total 4 yrs Specialties: Teach beginning through intermediate French; beginning keyboard pedagogy; Choral & instrumental conducting; leader youth organizations, tours; instructor world music; beginning instrumental instruction, band/orchestra.