Mrs. Ruth Whatley is in her third year as the Ross Middle School Choral Director. She has the privilege to work with the middle school choirs and general music classes as well as Symphonic Chorale, Legacy Show Choir, and the award-winning middle school show choir, Next Generation. In addition, Ruth also works as the Director of Music Ministries at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Centerville, Ohio. In May 2017, she had the opportunity to conduct one of the best masterworks of all time, the Rutter Requiem, with her choir of Southminster and Grace United Methodist in Dayton, Ohio.
Ruth came to Ross after teaching three years at The Miami Valley School in Dayton, Ohio. There, she was the Coordinator of Choir and Performing Arts Department Chair. In addition, she taught courses in Music Technology, Songwriting, Evolution of Popular Culture Music, and Rock Band. She was the music director and conductor for On the Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie, 101 Dalmatians Kids, and Aladdin Kids. Both of her middle and upper school a cappella groups have been professionally recorded and the upper school group, Ars Nova, advanced to finals in the International Championship of High School A Cappella 2017 placing 5th in the nation. Throughout their two-year history in this competition, they won Outstanding Choreography awards three different times. Most notably, Ars Nova has been nominated for three Contemporary A Cappella Awards and have won two Hermes Advertising Awards for the music video Freedom.
Mrs. Whatley is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), and the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA). She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wright State University with degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance. She actively works as a clinician in the Cincinnati and Dayton area.
|
Ruth Whatley