Educator
From 2020-2021, Zoë served as a board member of QuaranTunes, a teen-run artistic education program that offers free music and art lessons to children. As schools closed in March, countless children lost their only access to music education. The program was founded near the beginning of the pandemic and Zoë joined early on, eager to ensure that children had access to music education during the shelter-in-place. Through this program, they taught up to fourteen music lessons each week. Their students’ skills grew every day as they accomplish more and more, one student even becoming a finalist in an international music competition. Zoë held the positions of Chief Outreach Officer and Head of the Instrument Donation Program and Community Class Program, the latter of which they founded. Through the Instrument Donation Program, they provided free musical instruments and free music lessons to children who otherwise would not be able to afford them. Zoë's Instrument Donation Program has been highlighted by The Kelly Clarkson Show, National Public Radio, and numerous other media outlets. Through the Community Class Program, they organized free weekly music classes for organizations that benefit the well-being of children, such as preschools and child care centers for low-income families. For students who can afford lessons, QuaranTunes encourages a donation to a charitable cause in lieu of payment. Through this, QuaranTunes has raised over $70,000 for numerous organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Save the Music Foundation, a program that works to make music education accessible for all children.
Zoë served as a volunteer teacher for Lara Downes’s My Promise Project, a program that uses Freedom and Protest Songs to inspire children to create their own artistic statements of activism. This program helps children reflect on the history of Freedom and Protest Songs as anthems for social justice, engage and collaborate with a diverse group of their peers across the country, create their own works of protest and activism through multiple artistic disciplines, and become part of a nationwide movement of young voices calling for social justice, progress, and change. Through My Promise Project, Zoë taught children about the history of Freedom and Protest Songs, the impact of art on society, and the power that their unique art and perspectives hold. They helped students explore the development of Freedom and Protest Songs as they developed their own incredible pieces of art, ranging in topic from body image to racism. Music has the power to open minds, share the perspectives of artists, and change the world, as has been shown by the numerous pieces of music that have catalyzed social movements. Zoë is proud to have had the opportunity to help countless children discover and explore their power through art.
From January 2023-May 2023, Zoë held an internship at an elementary school in Prague. There, they taught weekly English classes for 20 first grade students who were learning English as a new language. They collaborated with mentor teacher to design and implement lesson plans that fostered language development and social and emotional learning through music and theatre.
Zoë was a prominent leader of College Park High School Choirs from 2018-2021. They served as the program's Student Director, Student Teacher, and Alto Section Leader. As Student Director, Zoë conducted three choirs, directed choral musicality and technique, led warm-ups, helped in the selection of repertoire, and organized, planned, and ran concerts. As Student Teacher, they taught students about the fundamentals of music theory. Zoë served as the alto section leader for the school's Honors Chamber Singers, advanced treble choir, and Concert Choir. As section leader, she taught the altos and directed their musicality and technique. Throughout Zoë's time with the program, they were invited to perform in an international music festival at Carnegie Hall and earned Unanimous Superior rankings at the California Music Educators Association Festival every year of attendance.
Zoë was cast in their first Star Quest production in 2014, while in elementary school, and continued to be heavily involved for numerous years. Star Quest is a Rotary Club sponsored program that provides children with the opportunity to learn about the performing arts and put on productions. It is the only performing arts company in the area that offers children this opportunity for free. They learned a great deal about performing through Star Quest and put their all into each and every aspect of performance. They grew through the ranks and, a few years after initially being cast, were asked to take on the role of assistant director. As assistant director, Zoë taught the cast about the performing arts and worked roughly eight hours each week during production seasons to lead rehearsals and direct production. They grew so much through this program as both a performing artist and an artistic educator.
What Students Have To Say
“Zoë is always professional - prepared, responsive to student’s interest, helpful with great song suggestions, offers expert tips to build vocal range and acting, positive and fun. [Zoë] personalizes the lesson to help develop the vocal and acting skills desired by the student. [Zoë] must keep good notes for continuity and progression and [they] must be reviewing those notes because [Zoë] is never out of step. Zoë is one of the best teachers we have encountered. We hope [Zoë] will continue teaching.”
“Zoë has been an amazing vocal teacher for my 7-year-old daughter [...] Previously, [my daughter] was a student at a local Chorus school with two highly educated and experienced chorus school music professionals. Despite their experience, they had a hard time getting her to open up and enjoy singing. She was self-conscious and very nervous despite having a clear, pretty singing voice. [...] Zoë was the third teacher we tried, and we were so lucky! Zoë has an amazing ability to make [my daughter] comfortable and happy. [Zoë] is very encouraging at every step, but not at all pushy, which really works for [my daughter]. [Zoë is] the only person who can get [my daughter] to sing out loudly and clearly. [...] It is extremely difficult to teach successfully to children over Zoom, but Zoë has an amazing personable, affectionate, calm and reassuring teaching style that works for children. We feel very blessed to have found [Zoë].”