with a Bachelors in Music Education--voice concentration. While at IU, Melinda had the distinct privilege of studying with renown soprano Camilla Williams. Also, she performed and toured all over the United states with the Singing Hoosiers and Varsity Dancers. The Singing Hoosiers recorded the Grammy nominated "A Disney Spectacular" with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra on Telarc Records. Melinda started performing with Ross Summer Music Theatre, under the direction of Jerauld Reinhart, longtime director of the Merrillville High School choirs, in 1986.
Melinda graduated from the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana in 1989
Melinda is certified K through 12 grades, and is currently in her 11th year with the Merrillville School Corporation. She is the choral director/music teacher at Merrillville High School. She is the performing arts department head and director of the high school musicals. For 10 years Melinda was the choral/music teacher in the Whiting School system. While at Whiting she was, also, in charge of the Drama Club and served as drama director, musical director, and choreographer of all the high school plays and musicals. In her last four years at Whiting she was also in charge of the entire choral program K-12 where she directed 5 major programs a year.
While at Merillville her choral students and ensembles have had great success. From 2010 till 2013 her state contest participants have received over 100 gold medals to only three silver. Melinda directed Merrillville High School’s area premier of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” . The show got rave reviews and played to sold out houses.
Melinda is the choreographer for all of the M & M
Production and Ross Music Theatre's productions including the productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat performed at the Star Plaza Theatre. In addition, Melinda is currently director of the Chancel Choir at Augustana Lutheran Church in Hobart and musical director at St Joan of Arc Church in Merrillville.
