Master of Music Alumni Spotlights
Brianna Borger
Class Year: ’22
Majors: M.M. in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy
Current Hometown: Evanston, Illinois
Job:
Assistant Professor of Instruction & Academic Advisor at Northwestern University
“I utilize the vocal pedagogy knowledge I learned at Carthage with my private voice students daily! While that learning didn’t directly prepare me for my role at Northwestern, the experience I gained watching my Carthage professors at work definitely did. Their mentorship has been hugely helpful in my success at NU.”
Raven Dockery
Class Year: ’20
Majors: M.M. in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy
Current Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Job:
Performer with Skylight Music Theatre, Private Voice Instructor, Vocal Director at Shorewood High School, Hairstylist at Great Clips in Shorewood, Freelance Hairstylist/Makeup Artist
“The amount of work you put in will make your experience all that much better. Just give it your all because if there is one thing nobody can take away from you, it is your education.”
Tiantian Dong
Class Year: M.M. ’20
Majors: M.M. in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy
Current Hometown: China
Job:
Self-employed Voice Teacher
“At Carthage, I learned how to sing effectively, how to teach students to sense the movement of the anatomies in their vocal tract and the whole body, and how to teach students in a way that they can understand.”
Rita Gentile
Class Year: M.Ed. ’17, M.M. ’20
Majors: M.M. in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy/Master of Education in Teacher Leadership
Current Hometown: Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Job:
Choir Director at Kenosha Unified School District/Lance Middle Schoo, Music Director at Kenosha Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Owner/Voice Instructor at Kenosha RG Performing Arts Studio
“Professor Corinne Ness also played a vital part in my time at Carthage. She is a constant mentor, supportive problem-solver, and expert colleague who I often turn to for both musical and career advice.”
Tommy Novak
Class Year: ’11, MM’20
Majors: M.M. in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy, Directing, Acting
Current Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Job:
Teaching artist, director, assistant director, AEA actor and AGMA actor at Lyric Opera, Mercury Theatre, First Stage Children’s Theater, Orlando Rep, Paramount School of the Arts, Carthage College
“Make the most of your education and the opportunity the school provides you.”
Kristen Singer
Class Year: ’20
Majors: M.M. in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy
Current Hometown: Kenosha, Wisconsin
Job:
Instructor at Harborside Academy; director of Kenosha Youth Performing Arts Company (KYPAC); freelance music director in the Milwaukee/Chicago area.
“I’ve always wanted to get my master’s degree, but the length of most programs prevented me from pursuing it and also the inability to be able to work simultaneously. This program let me continue my job (which was very important to me) AND earn my master’s, and for that, I’m very thankful.”
Deonte Warren
Class Year: 2021
Majors: M.M. in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy
Current Hometown: Clarksville, Tennessee
Job:
Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Voice at Austin Peay State University
“I use everything I learned at Carthage in my current position. The M.M in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy program prepared me thoroughly for life as an academic and continues to be an invaluable resource!”
Austin Winter
Class Year: ’18, M.M. ’21
Majors: Music Theatre (B.A.); M.M. in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy
Current Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Job:
Freelance Artist
“The culture of Carthage is very eclectic. The environment encourages students to think beyond themselves as ‘one thing.’”
Xiaomin Zhang
Class Year: ’19
Majors: M.M. in Music Theatre Vocal Pedagogy
Current Hometown: Shanghai, China
Job:
Music Theatre Actress; Academic Leader of Music Theatre, Music Department