Mary A. Rashid
Assistant Director
Choirs: Chorale, Encore, #JTS
“Every night our Mom sang to us before bed. Her lullabies soothed and delighted, me, my five brothers and two little sisters. We sang her songs to our children and now our kids sing them to their little ones. What a legacy. Our lives were full of music, piano lessons, shows, backyard carnivals, haunted houses and church music. No wonder at 9 years old I knew I wanted to direct choirs and musical theatre.” MAR
In a fulfilling 40+ year teaching career in the Catholic Schools, Public High Schools and Universities in Michigan, Ms. Rashid experienced the magic of Choral Singing and Musical Theatre. At Oakland University, as Director of the Musical Theatre Workshop and AD to the Meadowbrook Estate, she traveled with the Show Choir performing all over the country. She also taught Music Theory & Lit, Choirs, Show Choir and directed Musicals. She was also an adjunct professor at University of Detroit and Marygrove College.
At each school, Broadway Musicals & Madrigal dinners were yearly events. For ten years, the WLCHS Chamber Singers led the carols for “WJR 760 Radio’s Annual Christmas Sing” which was broadcast all over the Midwest on the Paul W. Smith Show. The choirs would sing for dinners, luncheons, breakfasts, Relay for Life, Fundraisers. Her choirs hosted “Sing for Haiti” to support 2011 Hurricane Relief. Being of service to others was what she wanted to teach and have her students experience.
Mary is a perpetual student: Bachelor of Music from the University of Detroit and Master of Arts in Music Theory & Lit from Eastern Michigan University, a Master of Science in Administration for Non-profit Organizations through the Mendoza College of Business of University of Notre Dame. She wanted to continue learning, to hone her art, so she took post grad courses in choral conducting and vocal technique at Westminster Choir College with Dr. James Jordan, the late Frauke Hassemann, Dr. Richard Miller, and more conducting with Dr. Rodney Eichenberger through Portland State U. Most recently, she studied with Jeanette LoVetri- Somatic Voicework™ to be certified in The LoVetri Method-L1.
In 2015, Mary spent a summer semester teaching in China. Chinese High School English teachers came to the University of Liupanshui in Guizhu, China to learn American Teaching Methodology. Her curriculum used Vocal Music techniques to give the Chinese teachers systems and ideas to help youngsters speak English more fluently.
Choir tours took her all over the globe. Her students performed to a sold-out audience at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. They sang the Kodaly Mass in D Minor at the Salzburg Cathedral with the Cathedral Choir. Choirs have sung in Toronto, Florida, Hawaii, Chicago, Washington DC and all over “the Mitten.” In New York, her choirs sang at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. John The Divine, Holy Innocence and St. Paul’s Church near Ground Zero. Moses Hogan directed her students in an All-Michigan Honors Choir at Carnegie Hall. An indelible experience in her life and her students’ lives was when the singers sang a Memorial Service at Dachau in the Hebrew Memorial.
As an active Emeritus Member of the MSVMA, and serving as a clinician/consultant allows her to continue work with young singers in the State of Michigan. For many years, she was on the Full Board as a State Solo & Ensemble Coordinator and Manager for District IV. Hosting many festivals and clinics gave students and their parents the chance to “give back” to the organization that offer deep opportunities to young musicians. Service is crucial in life and events become a way to encourage that mindset and lifelong commitment.
While working as full time Choral Music/Musical Theatre teacher, she had a small, private voice studio. Then, after retiring from full time teaching, her voice studio filled up with students. Ms. Kelli Falls called and asked to be her assistant. Ms. Rashid is honored to become Assistant Director of the Livingston County Chorale. The people are inspiring, full of enthusiasm and wonderful musicians. Musical Theatre is her other great passion. Directing productions for Universities, Community Theatres, High Schools and Middle Schools have been truly rewarding. Training singers and performers doesn’t stop when school’s out. In summers, Ms. Rashid founded and developed the curriculum for the Musical Theatre Workshop at Madonna University. Headliners were former students who
are Broadway stars.
Former students perform in community choruses, church and temple choirs. Many have careers as music teachers at all levels, or they’re composers, arrangers, technicians, college a cappella performers, pop musicians, Gospel performers, youtube/tiktok/Instagram and “Facebook” performers. There are choir directors, university professors, directors for regional and community theatres. Some are music ministers, accompanists, musical directors, cantors, cantorial soloists, performers in Regional Theaters and community theatres, have Professional Opera careers, run opera and theatre companies. Some have Pop Music Careers. Some are on Broadway, Tony nominated, and are well known TV and Movie actors. What a joy to have been a small part of their lives. Ms. Rashid has been honored in her career by being chosen Teacher of The Year at Shrine HS, and at Walled Lake Central HS, Metro Parent Magazine Teacher of the Year. She is an Emeritus Member of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association.
Her wish for everyone is that “Music be part of your life forever.” Livingston County Chorale Members clearly convey that personal commitment by continuing to bring inspiration to their audiences and each other!
